Friday 18 February 2011

Whipped into shape???

Hi guys,

I thought I wouldn't be in the office today (and so would have to update yesterday) however, thanks to the 'great' guys at BT (yeah, right) I'm sitting at my desk ploughing through my work.

So anywho, here's this week's slightly quick update.

Dan our designer mentioned we tried a different pose for Captain Marvel, well below is how this turned out. While I don't really agree with Dan about the 'fetish' look, I do think it doesn't work. The pose was too rigid and not natural enough. The legs are also too close together, we considered putting him on a larger base but then the figure had too much dead space in front and behind.

Hopefully you will agree we made the right decision.



Your sneak peeks for this week are Forge and Thunderbird painted.






One final comment from me, thanks for all the debate about subsets. I've only had time to skim read them but some of the suggestions are great. As I mentioned we're not planning to make any for Marvel just yet but you never know. Personally I'd like a 20 issue extension over a subset but that's just me.

Have a great one everybody and enjoy your President's Day holiday on Monday, you lucky Americans.

247 comments:

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Robert said...
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pirate adam said...

i feel your pain Robert, i tried to collect the new Hulk run but got lost after about 16 editions it broke up into different parts and i didn't know what to get to follow the main story so i gave up, now all i get is Thor's main run and Avengers

PA

Robert said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
John said...

New Mutants
Starjammers
Young Avengers
New X-Men
X-factor
Guardians of the Galaxy (Original)
Heralds of Galactus
Thunderbolts
Excalibur
Guardians of the Galaxy (Modern)

This is the Top 10 list off the forum for Most Wanted Teams. (I encourage all of you to go vote in it, as the scores are still pretty low.) But if EM did decide to do a Team-Based Subset, here's what people are asking for.

Further down the list you'll find things like "Serpent Society" or "Carnage Family." (Agents of Atlas and New Warriors could really use some votes. Hint, hint. ;)


I still propose getting 3-5 of a given team or theme once a year though. So if we were going down the list we might get Dani Moonstar, Warlock and Sunspot in 2012, Corsair, Ch'od, Hepsibah and Raza Longknife in 2013, Wiccan, Hulkling and Patriot in 2014 (or more or less characters, you know. This is just for example.)

This hardly upsets the balance of the collection, doesn't change your budget by much, but adds something very interesting to the collection.

I think people not currently collecting would like to see an instant grouping pull together as they'd be so late into the collection as it is. It may also tempt them into pulling the earlier issues.

And to ease Robert's mind (or anyone else, including me) I know this list is X-Character heavy, but I doubt EM would release X-Men year after year. Vote in the poll and let your voice be heard.

Robert said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Miguel Angel Jiminez said...

Well the forums went teats up, their security is non existant. if i can remember all my id's i could get the wrecking crew to the top of the list......or Avenger pets ;0
Jist bought a pile of DHOKF, Kull,Savage Tales and various other Curtis B+W mags. Happy days

Unknown said...

Robert, I like the forum more as its more focused in it's discussion, and has a more diverse interest. There's a good mix of newer readers and *cough cough* old timers like yourself. :) Whereas the blog tends to be about 10 of the same people saying the same things over and over to each other.

If I could speak honestly, I'd really like you to join because I know what you could add to the discussion on the forum. There are a few others that have very similar interests to you, but not too many and your fresh take would be most welcome.

If you don't want to join due to the way they ban people, just remember that the person you're sticking up for just admitted he had multiple accounts to get characters through in polls (no offense Ted.)

pirate adam said...

i do enjoy the forum, but i mainly use it just to vote or to wind Beast up, thats always fun, there is an excellent forum of peoples custom figs on there, some very talented guys and i enjoy looking at there work

Robert said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Miguel Angel Jiminez said...

No offence taken Edward, There is one thing to bear in mind when reading my posts,NEVER BELEIVE A WORD I SAY. On occasion i go out of my way to wind up the forum, but as obnoxious and ill behaved as i have often been, I have never cheated in any poll, i just merely point out how easy it would be, for a person of less moral fibre than our goodselves to affect any vote.I must get bak to my knitting, i'm making bonnets for rabbits with alopecia.
your friend
Theodore Sallis

Robert said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
pirate adam said...

dont bother with the bonnets Ted, lets have a nice Rabbit sew instead or even better some nice (Howard the) Duck stew

PA

Miguel Angel Jiminez said...

Och, you made me drop a stitch Robert, the wifes on her second wine spritzer am getting the negligee out, hopefully when she sees mine she'll put hers on.
night boys ;)

Robert said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

"I think I would fall foul of these rules fairly quickly and get banned as well."

Please, Robert... You are one of the most polite people I know. There's nothing wrong with debate, or even arguing about these character wants. ...as long as that argument holds no inappropriate language a child shouldn't see (which is the mods main thing, keeping it family friendly.)

Speaking of multiple accounts though; I never know which email account the blog is going to log me into when I make a post... so if you see a post from John or Edward1d8, its the same guy. Edward was the name of my D&D character from high school (doing 1d8 damage) and John is my real name. ;)

pirate adam said...

looks like we've got another mad thinker AKA smiffy AKA whatever else he called himself on our hands

word verification...soracist

whats that??

i'm not though

Robert said...

I was just about to join after your appeal, John - I'm a sucker for the word "please" - when I saw Adam's post. It reminded me of something I had almost forgotten about. You might be too new to this blog to know that I've had a few noisy and long-running arguments with a certain Smiffy/ Slapstick/ now-Mad Thinker over the last eighteen months or more. The main barney really kicked off because he insulted my wife and swore at me several times, amongst other childish nonsense and stupidity, and it probably wouldn't be a good idea for us to be in the same place. I'm pretty sure he posts on the forum and I wouldn't be able to stop myself pointing out what an ignorant and brainless nincompoop he is. And I know the forum members don't want that kind of stuff on there. (Just realised that means I'd actually get banned even quicker than I thought! Which is kind of amusing in a way.) Honestly, I was about to join after your post (albeit with slight misgivings), but I have to decline. It's for the best.

I do appreciate your honesty and the compliment a great deal, however, and want to apologise to you for not joining.

Miguel Angel Jiminez said...

Och, i hate being outbid when i'm sleeping, nearly got Jack of Hearts 1st appearance, i was outbid in the wee small hours. I did get Monsters Unleashed #8 which features an early Man-thing story, so hey ho swings and roundabouts.
Robert, people are actually courting you to join the forum, How long can the multi No-Prize winning son of Stan Lee say no?????
they want the Precious :)

Robert said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Miguel Angel Jiminez said...

Yep it was an old issue of DHOKF,i did manage to win (for 99p ) An issue of Rampaging Hulk with a Jim Starlin Man-Thing back up story.That must be over 30 mags n comics i have read this year, I must have an enormous brain, Really love The painted covers featuring White Tiger, would he look this cool in the collection just painted plain white?

pirate adam said...

Robert, whats to stop you visiting the forum just to check it out, then if you dont like it nobodys gonna force you to go back

PA

Miguel Angel Jiminez said...

Yeah, Robert they say once you try it you'll never go back......it's like the first time you go gay.
I was on the forum as ( like PA ) i really enjoy checking out the customs, There is a guy their that has built an enormous Venom, words fail me, the guy must work for Bowen, his has a work in progress of Iron Man? ( there are 2 huge armoured legs so far, i think it's shellhead ) it's astounding.

Robert said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
pirate adam said...

well you may have to register, sorry i wasn't very clear but as i said if you dont like it you wont have to go back, heres a link

http://www.superherofigurineforum.com/index.php

PA

Robert said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
BobDiamond said...

Robert,
I've been on the 'other' Forum for about a year or so now- and this was after I thought I'd never sign-up for it too.
What's good about it is the diversity of subjects- you don't just have to endlessly talk about the figurines. F'instance there's a Comics Forum where you can discuss old or new comics/ stories etc, a weekly Top Ten Poll- purely for fun, with different themes, the afore-mentioned Customs Blog with excellent work on display, a Games section....etc.
It'll never replace the light- hearted and often Surreal banter of this blog, but it is still a lot of fun, and there are a lot of cool guys on there from all round the world.
I know you'd love the comics bit- ample space for a bit of a moan!!:)

BD (PS ..not BD on the 'other' Forum)

Barnabas said...

Yes money is at the root of things, but I also feel that that creative teams at the top should be changed on a regular basis, say every 3 years. That way lines can be injected with new ideas and direction. For example, Rick Berman was heading up Star Trek for far too long. There was a creeping morbidity as ideas ran out of steam and especially Voyager, became stale and samey. As soon as he was replaced as show runner for the last season of Enterprise, the quality improved no end. Unfortunately, the damage had already been done. I've seen the same in the Dr Who novels and marvel comics.

Barnabas

Miguel Angel Jiminez said...

The forums gone haywire again. It says i am banned,,and then rather amusingly " better luck next time"
Everytime i post up a picture of a mosaic i seem to be banned??, There comes a time when a feller just has admit they are just too darn clever for me.
I'm reading a comic......on an ipod.!!!?? whatever next?

Anonymous said...

A big yes to all of the above teams, please! Subsets would be perfect for covering teams. To get a decent number of representatives from all of those teams, we would need 3 CMFC extensions - and that's if the CMFC was wholly dedicated to them! Which is not the case. The CMFC already has plenty of great characters left to cover, so subsets are the logical solution for coverage of Marvel teams. I know I would buy them all. And I know I don't want to wait 5 years to get them.

Robert said...

Has anyone tried moving Mr Fantastic's arm so that it projects out more? Ever since I bought it, I've been thinking of heating the arm up and trying to bend it but haven't been brave enough to try it. Will it just break off?

LAWay said...

I wouldnt advise it Robert. It will either snap like a twig or bend slightly but crack the paint...before snapping like a twig.

While it was a nice idea of incorporating his power in the sculpt, damn do I hate that Mr. Fantastic stretchy arm.

Robert said...

Thanks, Leigh. I accepted a repained arm was inevitable but wasn't sure if I could heat and bend the arm a little at a time until it was in a better position.

Miguel Angel Jiminez said...

Robert just look out your old Sretch Armstrong from the attic and get the wife to knit him a FF jumper. It would look a damn sight better than the official fig

Robert said...

Does anyone know if the release date for Odin has been announced? I know that Rich said in the 22nd December post that the All-Father was at the sculptors' and I think in another post he said something about an April-May release date but I can't recall anything more specific. (Thor is released in May, incidentally.) Anyone know anything?

Word verification: "arsomyce"!

pirate adam said...

hey Wobert, i think the Odin sculpt is due for a movie tie in welease, cant wait he should be gweat

did you ever pay a visit to the fowum??

and....Wich, will we be getting an update this fwiday?? Odin pweview??, next extension??, subsets??

Piwate Adam21

Robert said...

Thought you had lost your marbles for a second or two and then remembered the Daffy reference, Adam!

Decided against joining forum. Bagman F.F.F. very kindly forwarded pics of the jaw-droppingly amazing Iron Man Hulkbuster armour, so my curiosity was sated.

Very keen to see Odin. I know Rich showed us an image a while back, but as far as I can remember Rich did not say it would be exactly the same, just that it was likely to be very similar. So, let's hope for an update on Friday. And the update has photos, even unpainted ones, of the wearer of the famous bristling beard.

Miguel Angel Jiminez said...

Aaaaaaaaaaaah! Don'y tou just love the Thursday before an overdue update? The sound of tumbleweeds blowing accross the blog. And the desperate pleading for an update.
Know your a busy bee Rich so i have written down the request list for you.
3 daddy Odin
2 Blackheart
1 deep crust meat feast
good lad now jog on

Robert said...

Rich's sneak Peeks, with mutants in capitals.

16 Feb: FORGE & THUNDERBIRD
11 Feb: DESTINY & Mar-Vell
14 Jan: SAURON & Dracula
22 Dec: SPIRAL & Songbird
10 Dec: FIRESTAR & Prowler
19 Nov: SPIRAL (unpainted), Wrecker & Quasar.

Is there a pattern emerging...?

Jacadoo said...

Hi Thor8, PAdam and Roberto!!

Can't understand why we need to have debates on EITHER having a sub-set OR an extension - DC have allways had a smaller following - so why should we need to sacrifice or de-value the collection??

On many occasions we have debated alternate costume and the like and also had the debate regarding cost and padding out the collection - this option clearly leaves the collector the choice - come on Rich!!

My choice - easy Planet Hulk!!

Robert said...

Yaay, Jacadoo's back!

And making a very valid point.

The CBR website reported this week that of the top 300 comicbooks Marvel had 48.49% of the total sales, with DC trailing behind with 32.74%. That's a pretty considerable difference. Does anyone know if that is reflected in the sales of Marvel and DC figurines? If it is, even if the difference is less, then that's a great argument for not only an extension but a subset.

And since Jacadoo was the one to point this out, he should get to pick the subset! Seems only fair!

Word verification: "brando". Appropiate when we are taking about Brand Echh and Marvel!

pirate adam said...

Jacadoo me old mucker, you seem to post far to little days but when you do it always seems to make sense

sign me up for a Planet Hulk subset, like the tiger says that'd be

GRRRRRRREEEEAAAAT!!!!

PA

Anonymous said...

Rachel Summers - MY REVIEW
I now have the figurine. Actually it's quite good. If it doesn't have a 'WOW!' factor, it's only because the character does not have it. Rachel's most famous costume is not an interesting design, and the problem (for me) is that it's so non-descript that
she does not look like a superhero. Not particularly.
It works better on the page, and
was never going to make a great sculpt.

However, the figurine herself is actually really well executed. The paint job is excellent, and I praise the details - especially the tiny earrings and necklace, incredibly well painted. In my opinion, it's a shame that such attention to details has gone towards her jewelery.

Great earrings, but not-so-great phoenix symbol.
It would have been great to have a well-detailed phoenix symbol around her eye. Instead the symbol is not very clear. It's hardly recognisable. It could have been
more embossed, and neatly painted. This would have made the figurine more iconic and attractive. Also, instead of wasting time painting the freakin' necklace, I would
have preferred a phoenix tattoo on her back. There is no tattoo.

Choice of details in character's design. Choose the iconic, not the superfluous!
My conclusion: if EM are willing to create a precious detail, like Rachel's earrings and necklace, I suggest that this level of attention should be given to more important details of the character's design. Rachel's necklace or Rachel's phoenix symbol? Which one would you have gone for? As things stand, the figurine has great earrings
and necklace, but not a great phoenix symbol. A bit of a shame, really.

Other than that, all in all the figurine is a sufficiently good representation of Rachel Summers.

LAWay said...

Surely we all knew marvel outsells dc, its been happening for over 10 years now surely?

I think the most popular titles are the xmen ones...so maybe that explains the pattern of the update previews. Of course, there are also more x-characters, and the comics probably riding high on the sales fronts are not the characters that are being mentioned for future extensions.

but i dunno, i dont now the full stats, would love to though. love a good ol' marvel is better than dc debate. ^_^

Miguel Angel Jiminez said...

Jeremy Kyle show approx 2 million viewers.
Newsnight approx 1 million viewers
So Jeremy Kyle is betterer than Newsnight.. it's science.
therefor, ergo, thus if Marvel has a 42% share and DC only 37%. Then clearly Marvel is betta innit?
Mmmmmmmm the Jeremy Kyle collection, I'd buy it ,You could by the licencsing rights for 300 marlboro lights and a case of WKD

LAWay said...

You cant compare tv scheduled audiences to comic sales due to different target audiences and how many people watch tv at certain times.

Now, you could compare the critically acclaimed transformers being a better movie than Shawshank Redemption because it sold more tickets. As we all know, this is a widely known movie fact.

I am more of a marvel fan than a DC one, posting in a marvel blog. While sales could be argued dont reflect what is better, it does state what is more popular, and more popular because that amount of people like it more, so in their opinion is better. With comics the same people are really buying the comics as opposed to other mediums which can get tricked by marketing and hollywood stars into going to watch something awful.

Update day!
Predict an X-character and someone random.

I guess LONGSHOT and D-Man.

pirate adam said...

the anticipation is killing me

will we? wont we?
who? or what?

Miguel Angel Jiminez said...

Great update Rich, The announcement of a further extension is most welcome, and as for the inclusion of the invisible man. well let's just say i never saw that coming.
3 cups Rice Crispies
3 TBS Golden Syrup
1 TBS Sugar
1 TBS Butter
few drops of vanilla
best rice crispy cakes you will ever taste.
superb update

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