Hikari Variants

Postby **Poncho Pete** » Sun Dec 14, 2014 8:57 am

Just for fun I counted the number of variants of each figure made so far of the main stream US releases and this is what I got.

TMNT: 14--Donatello-2, Leonardo-4, Michelangelo-3, Raphael-4, Turtle-1
Batman: 9
Astroboy: 8
Transformers: 8
Frankenstein: 8
Creature: 6
Skeletor: 6
Stay Puft: 5
Spiderman:4
Groot: 2
Deadpool: 1
Metaluna Mutant: 1

Very curious if they keep up with so many versions. It seems like 3 or 4 may be a little better, but they didn't ask me.

Postby **Squird** » Sun Dec 14, 2014 9:16 am

Keeping up with vinyl toy colorways can get expensive. It's the economics. If you tool up to make a piece, why limit yourself to just making a couple hundred. Make 6 or 7 paint schemes or increase the edition sizes.

Don't forget the unpainted 'scrap' editions from China.

Postby **Poncho Pete** » Sun Dec 14, 2014 9:22 am

Squird wrote:Keeping up with vinyl toy colorways can get expensive. It's the economics. If you tool up to make a piece, why limit yourself to just making a couple hundred. Make 6 or 7 paint schemes or increase the edition sizes.

Don't forget the unpainted 'scrap' editions from China.

Agree. It's interesting to follow. I am curious how many variants an "average" collector would want and what happens to the less popular lines. I've seen the ebay prices drop a ton on transformers and skeletor.

Postby **TulaBug** » Sun Dec 14, 2014 9:32 am

Pete, which ones do you like best?

Postby **Poncho Pete** » Sun Dec 14, 2014 9:45 am

I really like the Creature, Frankenstein and Asia ones, but the source material doesn't do much for me. I'm really looking forward to what's coming next, but wonder how things will evolve with time, especially with the higher price point. They could do some amazing things with the star wars one's Brian posted. I hope Disney gives/gave them the green light to get crazy.

Postby **Squird** » Sun Dec 14, 2014 9:48 am

Hikari would be an expensive line to be a completeist. I think the amount of colorways will depend on the character. Transformers don't look right, I can't see a ton of releases there. Spidey is nice looking, but he's out of scale with the rest of the line. Shrink him down and go nuts. Except for that black and white zebra edition. Hate it.

Skeletor could be cool.

I think they could go all kinds of ways with the Creature. He's my favorite sculpt so far. The red and green Toy Tokyo/NYCC 'Christmas' edition is nasty, but I would love to see a flame or ice version of him.

This is definitely a 'cherry pick' line.

Postby **TulaBug** » Sun Dec 14, 2014 10:03 am

It will be very interesting to see how the MLP turn out. I can't imagine them as a Hikari. I agree Pete, Disney would be hard to resist.

I think Carol is the only one who has gotten them all.

Postby **ShoMeNodder** » Sun Dec 14, 2014 10:05 am

And I'm re-thinking collecting them all....never thought there would be so many of them.

Postby **Alleycat** » Sun Dec 14, 2014 12:15 pm

Just the tip of the iceberg. Soon one could fill an entire Galleria with these things. ;-)

Postby **Squird** » Sun Dec 14, 2014 12:27 pm

I'm curious to see how they pull off MLP. I just don't see how they'd translate to the Hikari style.

Postby **dustman94** » Sun Dec 14, 2014 1:04 pm

THATS WHAT KILLS ME WITH THESE. LIMITED TO 500 TO 2000 PIECES BUT TEN DIFFERENT COLORWAYS

Postby **AddictToPOPpinVinyl** » Sun Dec 14, 2014 2:08 pm

Its getting to the point where Im thinking of just going collecting the lower edition sizes of characters unless the higher edition is too beautiful to resist. May just get them at le:500 of lower. Its far too much. Now with SW, Marvel and Disney on the horizon, space becomes a huge problem.

Postby **hpellot** » Sun Dec 14, 2014 4:32 pm

Exactly
I am also thinking of just doing one or two of each character as with this many variants space is an issue as well as cost

Postby **coastosc** » Sun Dec 14, 2014 5:06 pm

I hate having to adjust shelving for the different sizes, I like them but the variance in sizing from one to the next makes it hard to display.

Postby **eastWOLF** » Sun Dec 14, 2014 5:17 pm

Poncho Pete wrote:Just for fun I counted the number of variants of each figure made so far of the main stream US releases and this is what I got.

TMNT: 14--Donatello-2, Leonardo-4, Michelangelo-3, Raphael-4, Turtle-1

Donnie gets no love lol

Postby **SnackDaddy** » Sun Dec 14, 2014 5:40 pm

They had three different greedos at the HQ's. The pyro greedo was the best looking one.

Postby **BigM** » Sun Dec 14, 2014 7:54 pm

I plan on getting all of the Batman ones but I haven't shelled out the money for the last two I need. I was going to go complete with frankenstein but with 8 now I'm only getting a few.
I think the Asia ones are the best despite being unfamiliar with the characters.

I would like to see a glow hikari though.

Postby **arte622** » Sun Dec 14, 2014 9:05 pm

Keeping up with all the hikaris will be too expensive. I think I only want a complete set for batman and iron man.

Postby **AbelBeja** » Sun Dec 14, 2014 10:38 pm

SnackDaddy wrote:They had three different greedos at the HQ's. The pyro greedo was the best looking one.

What were the other two if you can spill the beans?

Postby **swind15** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 1:05 am

I'm obsessed with the Hikari line, but I can only afford/have space for one of each of the characters that I want. I'm also a little OCD in that regard as well lol

Postby **funkystark** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 1:09 am

Bigm wrote:
I would like to see a glow hikari though.

Yes please

Postby **nikko** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 2:30 am

a GITD Hikari would be great!

Postby **Poncho Pete** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 5:54 am

Pyro Greedo. Sounds amazing.

Postby **Scotty** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 3:46 pm

Pete, I seem to remember at Toy Fair, when Brian was describing the Hikari line, he talked about them with great enthusiasm and that there would be "lots" of colorways for these puppies. If I had to guess, I'd say the licenses that show the right amount of interest (i.e., sales), the colorways will be plentiful. For me, these are definitely a pick-and-choose collectible. I think it's pretty cool that there is so much variety so more collectors get a chance to have something unique that really speaks to them.

Postby **h3wi3** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 3:53 pm

Too many variations to collect them all, i'm sticking to the Pop Asia stuff and maybe the Star Wars line. Like Scott said, with so many colors options, it leaves a lot of choice for everyone who wants to collect them.

Postby **kevinbuddha** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 4:12 pm

I am only collecting what I like................

Postby **SnackDaddy** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 4:18 pm

AbelBeja wrote:
SnackDaddy wrote:They had three different greedos at the HQ's. The pyro greedo was the best looking one.

What were the other two if you can spill the beans?

Don't remember, think one was a clear glitter kind of hikari like the turtles

Postby **Poncho Pete** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 5:44 pm

Scotty wrote:Pete, I seem to remember at Toy Fair, when Brian was describing the Hikari line, he talked about them with great enthusiasm and that there would be "lots" of colorways for these puppies. If I had to guess, I'd say the licenses that show the right amount of interest (i.e., sales), the colorways will be plentiful. For me, these are definitely a pick-and-choose collectible. I think it's pretty cool that there is so much variety so more collectors get a chance to have something unique that really speaks to them.

.....I'm not sure I am very good at pick and choose.... lol

Postby **Alleycat** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 6:16 pm

I'm only collecting what I can't really afford #-o

Postby **swind15** » Mon Dec 15, 2014 11:54 pm

kevinbuddha wrote:I am only collecting what I like................

I agree. In the end, you enjoy it more and don't get burned out as easily. $\:D/$

Postby **googe** » Tue Dec 16, 2014 12:25 am

I really like the Creature, Skeletor and Frankenstein! I like all the choices, but way too pricey to get em' all...WOuld be great to get a GITD... The wacky Freddy headed ones coming out of Asia are kinda cool too!

Postby **kevinbuddha** » Tue Dec 16, 2014 10:31 pm

Poncho Pete wrote:
Scotty wrote:Pete, I seem to remember at Toy Fair, when Brian was describing the Hikari line, he talked about them with great enthusiasm and that there would be "lots" of colorways for these puppies. If I had to guess, I'd say the licenses that show the right amount of interest (i.e., sales), the colorways will be plentiful. For me, these are definitely a pick-and-choose collectible. I think it's pretty cool that there is so much variety so more collectors get a chance to have something unique that really speaks to them.

.....I'm not sure I am very good at pick and choose....

You're better at buy all and make room later ;-)

Postby **Poncho Pete** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 7:44 am

Postby **unoudid** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 5:56 pm

I would love it if there were 3 main variants and maybe 1-2 rare/ultra-rare.

Postby **Poncho Pete** » Wed Dec 17, 2014 9:38 pm

Except if the made Master Chief. Then no variants.

Postby **unoudid** » Thu Dec 18, 2014 10:47 am

Poncho Pete wrote:Except if the made Master Chief. Then no variants.

Blasphemy!!!!!

Then you just get a Red and a Blue Varient. That's what happens when McFarlane or Sideshow does a Master Chief piece

Postby **Poncho Pete** » Thu Dec 18, 2014 10:55 am

Aren't master and chief synonyms? Seems redundant.

Postby **unoudid** » Thu Dec 18, 2014 12:09 pm

The name was actually a generic placeholder. However, the name stuck and we now have "Master Chief" as the main character in a 13-year old franchise.

Postby **case** » Thu Dec 18, 2014 12:34 pm

Poncho Pete wrote:Aren't master and chief synonyms? Seems redundant.

Seems similiar but I would say slightly different, as for the term Master Chief it is the most senior enlisted rank in the USN and USCG. Usually, E-9's are called Master Chief [Last Name], but for Halo I always thought it was something the devs put in as a reference to that old Spartan saying where they would only send one man when allies requested Sparta's help. Usually, that one man was a badass.

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