Sigh.
As an action figure collector this is one of my least favorite times of the year. It’s the Countdown to the San Diego Comic Con, and the toy news lull the preceeds it.
In recent years San Diego has become almost a better outlet for action figure news than Toy Fair. The toy companies who attend have up close access to their target audience, and fans have unprecedented access to the creators and managers of their favorite toylines. So, it seems, we get teased at Toy Fair and get a fuller reveal at San Diego.
It’s been a few years since I’ve been able to attend the show myself. I used to go every year when I lived in California. But since moving to Ohio in late ’99 it’s become increasingly more difficult to make the trek out there. Thank goodness for sites like AFI that keep us non-attendees informed about all the cool stuff that get’s revealed at the Con.
So, anyway…the Lull.
It’s here. In a big way. As we wait and wonder what coolness awaits…we endure the near complete news vacuum that preceeds it.
I’ve always referred to myself as a newshound. I don’t know if that’s really the right term, but I hang on every scrap of news about the stuff I am interested in. I look forward to Previews catalog more than the actual comics it seems. So when the news dries up I get antsy…twitchy…and even a little anxious.
It’s a double whammy for me as my other major hobby is tabletop gaming (which should be no shock since I own a gaming store). Gamers are in something of the same predicament right now as the big gaming convention, Gen Con, is held in August. Most game companies hold their big reveals for Gen Con. So game news is slim right now too.
So, I’m dyin’ here…waiting. Waiting for more information about Mattel’s DC Universe: Infinite Heroes line and DCUC line. Waiting to find out what’s coming in the new Masters of the Universe collector’s line. Waiting to see if Hasbro finally mentions anything about the long-rumored and dang overdue Marvel Universe 3-3/4" line.
I’ve made it through these lulls before, and believe me there is plenty of more important real-life stuff to keep my attention span occupied in the meantime. But that doesn’t mean I have to like it! 
Me too m’man. This span before SDCC seems to take forever, and then we get hit with too much info to process. I can’t wait to see news on the DC lines, Joes, Hellboy, etc!
I hear ya, bud. Especially with the lack of product at the store, to always check the online news sites and see nothing but Mike’s countdown threads has me twitching as well.
Peace,
Chip
I’m suffering more from the lull between DCUC2 and DCUC3, but I certainly know where you’re coming from. I make up for it by posting reviews of strange, terrifying random toys.
I’m right there with you guys. I’m anxiously waiting to see what Mattel has planned for not only the DCUC line (please JSA….) BUT I’m anxious to see improvement (yes improvement) on the DC Universe: Infinite Heroes line. As a Flash fan this line is offering up characters that I have been begging for from DCD, BUT I am horrified at the 1990′s styled sculpting & lack of articulation. I know that Mattel can do better. They just need to take a page from both Hasbro & Mezco to see how to do that size proper. I mean hell if Mezco can do the sort of sculpts for the HB II 3 & 3/4″ figures I see no reason why Mattel can’t do the same thing.
Bring on SDCC!!!
What makes it even worse (for me at least), is the lull in products available right now. All the lines I collect have had a major drought or haven’t been released yet. So for months, no new big news, and no new products. I’m really getting impatient for new JLU, Infinite Heroes, and Clone Wars. Why can’t it be August already?!?
Jeff, you just named the exact three lines I most want to know about.
As a huge 3-3/4” inch enthusiast, I’ve long salivated for ANY scoop on the “now you know about ‘em, now you don’t” Marvel figures from Hasbro. Same for the new 6” MOTU collector series. If they’re retro enough as the 25th anniversary Joes, I’m behind them all the way.
Went to SDCC only once, in 2001. Relaunches for G.I. Joe and Masters of the Universe were announced and I remember the stuff shown there blowing my mind at the time. Someone even had an A-Team booth playing the title theme! What a weekend that was.
none of the big comic con news will matter if
Mattel and their pal Target does not start stocking their stores with new JLU sets of Grodd/deadshot/Barda/and volcana as well as DCUC wave two.