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You Made Our Wishlist: What We Want to See in 2024
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Happy New Year! Before we hit you all with our best of 2023, let's look ahead to 2024 (and beyond). In this episode Dave and Erik sit down to chat about some of their favorite toy lines and what we hope they'll show us going forward!
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Transcript
Introduction to Adventures in Collecting Podcast
00:00:03
Speaker
Are you ready, kids? Get your parents' permission, check your mailbox, and grab your shopping cart. It's time for the Adventures in Collecting podcast. I'm Eric. And I'm Dave. Welcome to Adventures in Collecting, where we talk toy news, culture, and halls. Along with our journeys as collectors. Hello, everybody, and welcome back to Adventures in Collecting.
2024 Wishlist Week Announcement
00:00:32
Speaker
you thought it was news but it's not it's it's a happy new year no uh it's 2024 happy new year everybody uh we made it another year um as as the uh the wonderful
00:00:49
Speaker
gang of Appling 22 like to say, another year not in the coffin. We did it. We did it. Yeah. So what better way to start off 2024 this week throughout on our social media channels. We are going to be posting our 2024 wish lists leading up to next week's episode, the reveal of our 2023 top tens.
00:01:15
Speaker
So we figured as we kind of, to kind of kick off this week of wish listing, Dave and I would give you a little bit of insight into our wish lists by kind of hitting the different categories we're gonna cover and just talking about one or two wishes for each of these categories. Yeah, but I did mention that we're gonna be posting these full lists on social media.
Engaging with AIC on Social Media
00:01:42
Speaker
Dave, would you like to tell our guests
00:01:45
Speaker
Where can they find us on social media in order to, uh, to see these full lists? Yeah. So you're going to go to the Instagram at AIC underscore podcast, and you're going to see these beautiful pictorial tutorials. Yeah. And, um, yeah, just make sure to subscribe, like comment, let us know what you wish for and, um, go to YouTube and check out our lovely comment there or comment content there.
00:02:15
Speaker
Um, sorry, I'm just drinking my cup of coffee today. And, um, we're recording earlier than normal. So it's, uh, it's YouTube at AIC underscore podcast, subscribe, hit the bell. So that way, you know, when things are coming and help us out, get us more subscribers.
00:02:39
Speaker
Help the algorithm. Listen to the podcast. There's algorithms there, too. And you can check out Dave's latest heartbreak. His latest AEW heartbreak is on YouTube.
00:02:51
Speaker
Yeah. So I think that, that about covers it. Um, let's, uh, let's, let's start jumping into some of these, these wish lists, uh, wish list options.
WWE Figures Wishlist
00:03:00
Speaker
I guess we'll start with wrestling since that's kind of where the most of our crossover, uh, happens. Um, let's, let's start with, with WWE. What's, what's something from, uh, from the gang at, uh, at Mattel that you want to see come to the WWE or actually let's just say brief parameters.
00:03:19
Speaker
we're either hoping that these things are, we understand the life cycle of toy creation at this point. If they're not revealed or if they're not released in 2020, 24, we're hoping they're at least revealed in 2024. So correct. Yeah. Um, yeah. Start us off with WWE, Dave. Yeah. Cause I feel like like the first quarter, if not half of 2024 is already known. Um, so I'm going more,
00:03:45
Speaker
with a couple of exceptions as things I just kind of dip my toe in, I'm going with kind of conceptual things for the things I really collect most. So for WWE, my biggest hope, and you'll see this play out significantly in my list, is there's a big hope for me for pre-rock and wrestling, pre-1984,
00:04:16
Speaker
WWE talent to be featured in the toy line. We're seeing that with the Maivia box set with Rocky Johnson and Peter Maivia. Bruno's getting another figure. We've seen it in the past with superstar Billy Graham and Freddie Blassie and people like that. We need more.
00:04:40
Speaker
There was a lovely large green belt in the Then Now Forever Together box. I think there are a couple other people that have worn that that could be made figures.
00:04:56
Speaker
I think that's a safe bet. And something that Steve and Bill have kind of hinted at in some of their previous conversations. And you know what? For WWE, I'm going to kind of stick with you, Dave, with this kind of more conceptual thing rather than just saying a specific figure.
00:05:17
Speaker
I want more, uh, we're seeing kind of a trend of getting, uh, more non wrestler talent. Uh, you know, we have the, the, uh, not, not Michael cone. Um,
00:05:33
Speaker
John Cone. John Cone, thank you. We have the John Cone Build a Figure coming out next year or this year as part of the SummerSlam wave, which is really exciting because we haven't had ever had a referee in the Zebra Stripes, which is awesome. We have the
00:05:56
Speaker
I forget what wave it is now, but we have two different versions of Paul Bearer coming, you know, one of the most iconic managers. I want to see more of that, like, like the, the characters that kind of help you world build. And I guess that's, it's kind of funny saying that thinking of wrestling, you know, world building typically applies to more, uh, of like the, the action fantasy brands, right? You know,
00:06:23
Speaker
play sets and everything. But I think world building is really, really important in wrestling figure, especially if you take wrestling figure photography. Give me more managers. Give me more ring announcers. Give me more commentators. It's been a long time since we've had some of those kind of pieces. And there are a lot of really great third parties out there that make
00:06:46
Speaker
commentator tables and they already do kind of the Structural stuff, but we need the we need the people so You'll see a little bit of that in my my list when we post that but yeah world building Let's go right from WWE into a W while we're while we're still talking about wrestling And my a w1 I'm actually gonna give a specific
00:07:11
Speaker
instance here before I toss it over to you.
AEW Figures Discussion
00:07:14
Speaker
I love what AEW has done with kind of this luminaries aspect, where they've taken current talent and kind of shown them in a previous light, right? Like we saw the Lionheart, or not Lionheart but from his time in Japan.
00:07:32
Speaker
that was Mexico Mexico sorry we've seen you know now we have Ring of Honor CM Punk is is coming in this in this most recent unmatched wave they have an opportunity and of course Owen Hart I think they have a really good opportunity on their hands with Taz I would love to see illuminaries Taz and you know you could put them in just a
00:07:56
Speaker
you know, unbranded black and orange singlet, call it a day, you know, even if it's just full black. Um, yeah, I was looking up some, some previous pictures of him like out, like prior to ECW and he, he has that, that look, um, that from, from the Indies, you know, I think they could absolutely get away with that. Um, but I would love to see a luminaries Taz put them in some ring gear. Um, and he can start suplexing all of my other figures tomorrow.
00:08:27
Speaker
but yeah, that's my AW pic. So my, and this is kind of where I literally just like wanted to put this out into the world, which is why when we were discussing this, I'm like, yes, this is the episode I want to do. This did not touch my list because this is really pie in the sky. Like this is,
00:08:53
Speaker
something that I would love to see and I think is possible. I don't know if it's impossible or not, but based off of how wrestling works, I would imagine it's not impossible. I would love to see, even if it's just ringside exclusives, let's get some Forbidden Door two packs out there.
00:09:18
Speaker
representing like matches from the pay-per-view or anything along those lines. Cause that's something the line loves to do is represent like specific days, not necessarily like, this is what MJF wears 90% of the time. This is what MJF wore at this specific moment. So like, you know, a Daniel Sinokada two pack or something along those lines. Like I think, I don't know where New Japan like lives at this point.
00:09:49
Speaker
but I don't know if you could necessarily rule it out as impossible. Yeah. Maybe they could test the waters too with now that they have Osprey, you know, maybe they test the waters with a Kenny and Osprey two pack. Like they use that as like the branding to kind of show like, Hey, you know, here's the handshake. You know, look how good, look how well this is doing, you know, let's work something out. Yeah. That's a really great idea. And that definitely fits into their, their whole,
00:10:18
Speaker
You know their whole MO in terms of delivery since that's a great call From wrestling to Marvel Legends Dave, why don't why don't you go first on this one since I'm almost
Marvel Legends Wishlist
00:10:30
Speaker
positive. I know what it's gonna be. Um, it ghost rider ghost rider 90s ghost rider and Spirits of vengeance mullet Johnny blaze. Yeah Yeah Mine mine
00:10:47
Speaker
I mean, there, there are so many figures from the MCU that I want, but 2023 was an amazing year for me as an incredible Hulk collector. There, there were amazing hulks that were released outside of MCU looks, a great update to the gladiator Hulk from Thor Ragnarok. And then of course, you know, finally getting that infinity war, Mark Ruffalo, Bruce Banner.
00:11:10
Speaker
amazing we're pretty much we they pretty much have all the bases covered with the MCU hulks with the exception of one there hasn't been ever from the Marvel Legends team the Hulk in the end game
00:11:27
Speaker
it's it's not the quantum suit because it's not that like red white and black suit it's that purple and gray suit that he wears at the end of the film like the final battle Hulk would love to see that in in Marvel Legends figure form you know hopefully there seems to be at least one wave or so of infinity series or infinity saga or you know MCU based stuff it seems to happen once or twice a year so you know that would make
00:11:57
Speaker
either an amazing deluxe figure, since he's obviously big, or a great builder figure. So let's get that endgame Hulk. You know what I want for you too? I want an Agent May and a Quake. I used to include all of those on my
00:12:19
Speaker
You know, on my want list, I actually have the last two years. This is the first year that I haven't included them. I've given up. I've given up. I don't think they're ever going to happen unless they show up somewhere again in the MCU, which I think is probably more likely to happen for say, you know, Quake, Daisy, Quake. I think that's a little more likely, but I'm not keeping my fingers crossed. I'm holding my breath on that one.
00:12:47
Speaker
Um, sticking with superheroes, let's go from Marvel legends to, uh, the DC multiverse.
Issues with DC Multiverse Figures
00:12:54
Speaker
So, um, for me, the DC multiverse, I think they're what McFarland does with the Arkham verse figures, um, are amazing. I'm very excited to see what, you know, what happens with this new, um, suicide squad kills the justice league game that's coming from rock steady, uh, that takes place in the Arkham verse.
00:13:16
Speaker
I know there have been leaks out there, I have avoided them like the plague, but going back to the existing Arkhamverse games, I just want to see generally more of that. There are so many characters from those games that have not been made both in the
00:13:36
Speaker
the previous DC lines and obviously in the McFarlane DC multiverse, but going all the way back to the first Arkham Asylum game through Origins, through City, through Arkham Knight, there are a ton of rogues.
00:13:53
Speaker
that they could put out and some heroes that they haven't touched on yet. So I hope the offering from the Archonverse was kind of light this year or last year. We did get the Riddler, which was awesome, but I really hope we revisit the Archonverse in 2024. So as somebody who's
00:14:19
Speaker
I wouldn't say like as deep into the DC multiverse as someone say like Toi Shiz, but somebody who cares a fair amount about it and collects a fair amount for it. Um, probably it's not close to wrestling for me, but it's, I would say probably like underwrestling. That's, that's safe to say, right? I think.
00:14:47
Speaker
Yeah, I think that's fair. I'd say it's your second, second most collected category at this point. Yeah. Um, so this is a tough one because having kind of been now in this sphere for a little bit, there are things that, you know, you understand about how the business works, but it feels like there's like still a weird disconnect from McFarlane as to
00:15:17
Speaker
what works and everybody can get their hands on and what doesn't or and what works and nobody can get their hands on. If that makes sense. So like pretty much if you were able to pre-order the Batman and Robin wave you got it. If you were able to pre-order the Dark Knight wave you got it. Like I've never seen the to the point where I've just stopped I
00:15:45
Speaker
kind of gave up because the second-hand market is way too costly unlike you know the as bat or you know you can Wonder Woman is sold as the classic Wonder Woman is the figure from the collection that everybody's wanted since day one and you can't order it anymore yeah there have been a couple of those figures that are that are have been weird um couple green lanterns like there's
00:16:13
Speaker
But you know what? A good example of 2023, Dave, that gives credence to kind of your request here. The Batmobile coming in and out. The Batmobile is a great one, but also that Target exclusive red and blue Superman from the Snyder Cut. That figure was two years old and came back in stock readily available in like out of nowhere without any kind of pomp and circumstance. And I was able to get it.
00:16:41
Speaker
You know, Batman Beyond was relatively easy to get. Like, there's some where you can and then there's some where it's just like, nah. And that Batman Beyond was also the exclusive one with a different face with like the cartoon, the animated series style was pretty tough to find. Oh, see, I saw that one a lot. And like there are ones that even some of the Walmart ones, you see them a lot.
00:17:13
Speaker
But then there's somewhere like I've never seen them ever. Yeah, I've I've only ever seen that the the blue and yellow as bat the the nightfall. I've only seen it. I've only seen it on Mercari. Yeah. Yeah, I've seen it at toy shows and we saw it at Comic Con. But that's yeah, no, I've never seen it. And obviously, if I saw it on the shelves, you would have it.
00:17:37
Speaker
Yeah. And it's one of those ones where it's like, I know it's tough to gauge and it's tough to like see, like, but also there's a point where it's like, wow, everybody's kind of been clamoring for this figure since day one. Maybe bump up that production a little bit. Well, maybe, maybe 2024 will be the year it, uh, it recirculates.
McFarlane Toys Availability Challenges
00:18:01
Speaker
Yeah.
00:18:03
Speaker
Uh, but otherwise I've like, I love, I loved the Batman and Robin series, the Joker. I'm looking at them right now. The Joker interrogation set was cool. That was the Dark Knight trilogy. That interrogation set I think is, might be the coolest
00:18:24
Speaker
special edition they've done so far like and like it wasn't one of those ones where it was just like hey it showed up on McFarland shop and if you happen to be there cool like they told you about it yeah yeah well if people are noisy enough I mean maybe they'll they can put it back into into production and if you're listening to this and you happen to have an extra one
00:18:49
Speaker
and want to sell it to us for a reasonable price. Hit us up on the DMs. We'll make something work out. Yeah. I mean, it's complaining about too much of a good thing, right? Yeah. That's a good way to put it. But yeah, it's kind of one of those things where it's like the only thing that would make this line better is if you could find the figure. You know what I mean? Like if you could get everything. Yeah. Yeah. And I'm trying to think.
00:19:19
Speaker
McFarland tends to be, again, like you said, for the most part, if you want something, as long as you move with intention, you can get it. Because stuff will sell through, obviously, but like anything else. But there are certain figures, like you said, that just... We've said this before about McFarland Hoists. They're very much so peaks and valleys.
00:19:47
Speaker
And, but when they hit one of those peaks, that figure gets scorching hot and it can be difficult to find pretty quickly. Um, and then there are ones that accelerate past those peaks and, you know, head into orbit and then forget it. If you weren't, if you weren't paying attention or extremely lucky, um, you weren't getting it. And it typically happens with the vintage era Batman stuff.
00:20:17
Speaker
that's yeah say what you will about there being too you know possibly being too many Batman figures which is not really a thing you know bullets Superman and crypto like that it was it was a huge figure yeah yep yep but it also had some lead time to pre-order
00:20:36
Speaker
And that nightfall, Batman 2, the blue and gray one. That was pretty challenging to find in person, but it was available for pre-order a bunch. It showed up on GameStop. It showed up at Target. It showed up at Walmart. But even if there was a point before the holidays, I saw it when you were like, oh, that's a difficult one to find. I just saw six of them for a week straight. Wow.
00:21:01
Speaker
Yeah, I found the one that we used for the giveaway on social media was sitting on the clearance cart. I couldn't believe it. I got to it before they stickered it. Yeah, I saw a bunch of them. When you told me they were $6, I'm like, man, I should have bought an extra one. All right, so from... I would have done with it, but I would have had it. And now, a word from our sponsors.
Advertisements and Promotions
00:21:35
Speaker
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Speaker
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Desire for Godzilla and GI Joe Figures
00:24:16
Speaker
Up to you. This is more your...
00:24:19
Speaker
All right. Well, we're genres. So let's do, let's talk about, um, Tamashi nations Bondi. Okay. Uh, another awesome year for them. Uh, you know, they've been, uh, and this one I'm, I'm going to do a specific, uh, a specific figure, um, only because not only has it been a banner year for, for Bondi and Tamashi nations, but,
00:24:47
Speaker
One of their, their biggest licenses, uh, Toho, you know, Godzilla has been absolutely everywhere. Like not, not even an argument for me. It was my favorite. Uh, minus one was my favorite movie of, of 2023. Um, and it, you know, with the Monarch, uh, Apple TV plus series and the new Godzilla and Kong movie coming up later this year.
00:25:12
Speaker
It's just keep that ball rolling. And I want to see them dip back into Godzilla's past. And I want to see them put out a monster arts figure that I think would be like a sleeper hit. And, you know, I know, again, this is kind of a pie in the sky moonshot thing. We've talked to, you know, we've been in friend of the pod, Justin and Dave at Bondi. We've been in their ears about it.
00:25:37
Speaker
But I think it's time. I think it's time you have. I don't need this. I think it's time we get 1998 Godzilla in a monster arts figure. He had a brief cameo in a Toho film. So he was included in that universe. They don't have to.
00:26:00
Speaker
They don't have to go. He was in Final Wars. He was in Final Wars. So you could put him in the Final Wars packaging. I think it would be hilarious. Um, yeah, no, I, I, I think it's, it's a, you know, there are parts of Godzilla's past that are not as shiny as others, but they do have a cult following. And, um, you know, if, if, uh,
00:26:27
Speaker
I think it's time. That's, I'm leaving it at that. Give me 1998 Godzilla. Let's, let's make it happen. So since I'm new to the, um, Figuarts and monster arts kind of team or not team, but like, you know, kind of collecting in a way, um, you've got to let me know if this exists or not. Okay. Um, cause I feel like, you know,
00:26:56
Speaker
I'm late to the party, as it were. I'll do my best. Have they made Manila yet? Yes. Okay. Yeah, but he's technically you could say he's due for a... Shout out to my friend Tim. I want Manila.
00:27:14
Speaker
And you know what, if we're, I guess this entire- For the second episode in a row. Yeah, this entire segment is dedicated to Godzilla's not-so-shiny past. So from Bala and Tamashi Nations, let's head over to GI Joe so Dave can ask for the fridge again.
00:27:40
Speaker
Okay, the fridge. Which I still think is in the realm of possibility. I don't think anything is off the team. Rocky Balboa. Yeah. Also, may or may not be on the list. My big thing is, you know, they've been doing a great job of building out teams in this line. Yeah. More dread knocks, of course, always welcome. But for me growing up,
00:28:10
Speaker
playing with the GI Joes there was there was one character that was like always in my squad and they've pretty much given me my entire squad at this point with the exception of one figure and I need Jinx I need I need that red I need that red ninja
00:28:25
Speaker
And I would love the two heads, too. They've been dabbling and giving figures multiple looks, either with swappable hair or swappable heads. But I want the G.I. Joe movie jinx look, where she's got the hood off. And then I want the classic figure look for jinx. But one of my favorite G.I. Joe characters of all time, and really the last one I need to complete my
00:28:52
Speaker
my team that I had when I was a kid. They're making my, they finally got my favorite figure from when I was a kid up. Who's that? Boa. Oh yeah, he looks awesome too. The unmasked head and the bloody knuckles on the bare hands are amazing. But yeah, like I said, there'll be more on the final list there.
00:29:22
Speaker
All right. So let's see. What's up next? Next we have Star Wars. Um,
Star Wars Figures Wishlist
00:29:31
Speaker
Dave. I actually do have one. I have one that I want. Okay. And now so mine is, is going to be vintage collection. I'm not sure which direction you're going to go with you with yours, Dave, but no, you know, which figure I want. I don't know. So let's go. Um, I would like life day chewy and holiday black series packaging. Thank you.
00:29:52
Speaker
That's a great idea That's a great idea. What would you other than the orb? What would you want them to come with? Like do you because usually with the holiday ones they give them they usually give them like a little like buddy. I Mean could be lumpy like oh my god so you that officially that in Star Wars terminology Dave you've officially made it a deluxe figure now and
00:30:16
Speaker
Okay, well then get just just throw me a porg then give me another snow board or something like that life day chewy and black series I you know what if they if they can pull it off on TV see And if for those that didn't listen to the roundtable interview because it's it's black holiday black series is my favorite thing Yeah, yeah, I love it because it's ridiculous and I love it. It's I
00:30:41
Speaker
There, I, I'm with you. It's, I think it is a lot of fun. I think they've, they've like pushed past the initial like, ew, what is this? And people are really starting, it's starting to start on a lot of people. I have every single one. I love them. They will be Christmas decorations forever. I love them. The, the, uh, what should we call it? The, um, uh, the nutcracker painted
00:31:05
Speaker
purge trooper from this year, I think is like legitimately. Oh, it was gorgeous. Like it's yeah. I like, I, part of me was quietly hoping that like I'd hit them on clearance at some point, but they, they sold through to get like 12 of them. Yeah. Those at this point have become like. Yeah. They're, they're made in limited runs. They're made in limited quantities every now and then you get one that's like,
00:31:31
Speaker
Not a dud, but it's not as well received. The one I've seen a lot is the Walmart K2. Yeah, yeah. But yeah, those are really cool. And that's a great idea. And I was going to say, if you haven't had a chance yet, go back and listen to our last Star Wars roundtable. We actually talked a little bit about Life Day Chewy with Chris and Jing from the Hasbro Star Wars team, kind of about how that came to be.
00:32:01
Speaker
You know, because it's wild. It's absolutely wild. If you've been a Star Wars fan for a long time, you know that, like, they do not discuss the holiday special. It's not canon. It doesn't exist. But basically, since the Disney parks have kind of embraced Life Day as an actual, you know, canon holiday. Yeah, there's plush and stuff like that in the parks. That was a request for that figure specifically from Disney parks. That was where that came from.
00:32:30
Speaker
So yeah, maybe, maybe the black series one will be next year or this year. Um, so mine is I'm going to throw a request out here for the vintage collection. I have been, while granted, you know, they don't get as many, we don't get as many new releases as say the black series does in terms of character selection. And, you know, there's always that kind of push and pull figuring that out, but there is a character that has not had a figure since the nineties.
00:32:58
Speaker
And it's a character that continues to grow in kind of like popularity, you know, cult popularity. Um, they're coming up on a big anniversary. I forget whether it's 25 or something like that, but it's a, it's a big anniversary of shadows of the empire. And I think it's a time that we get, um, dash render. I think they need to make a dash render figure, uh, vintage collection. Definitely. Obviously, you know, I love the vintage collection.
00:33:26
Speaker
Um, but, uh, I think black series fig, uh, you know, collectors are clamoring for him as well. So I would love to see dash render come to, um, both of the scales. I think that would make a lot of people really, really happy. Um, okay. Yeah. There are a bunch of game ones that I did. Did they ever do like Kyle Katarn? No. Um, not recently. Cause wasn't he that was, he was the character in dark forces, right? Uh, Jetta, uh, uh,
00:33:55
Speaker
Jedi Knight? Jedi Knight? I'm confusing all my games because... Yeah, it's hard to keep between the games and the novels and stuff. Yeah, it's Jedi Knight. But yeah, that would be a cool subset. I mean, well, actually... Yeah, they have those GameStop ones. They already have the Game and Grades. So you could put... Technically, Dash Render is more of a...
00:34:20
Speaker
more of a comic figure. So, you know, which again, they, there's also a precedence for that. They released all those comic book variants of, um, of, uh, Boba Fett last year. Um, you know, they have marriage aid from the comics. Yeah. He was in shadows of the empire. Like, yeah. Either way you either way you slice it, you can, you can make that work.
00:34:45
Speaker
Before we head into our final category, which is NECA, I realize there's one that we didn't have on this list that we're going to go off the cuff here.
Unique WWE and Muppets Christmas Carol Collectibles
00:34:57
Speaker
Funko. I mean, they already make everything.
00:35:13
Speaker
Yeah, I guess here. Um, so they made like a stone cold soda. I wouldn't hate more WWE sodas. I'd be into it. Is he the only soda so far? He's the only WWE soda so far. Yeah. I figured like the, the core ones would work like an undertaker, a rock, Cena. No, just him. Um, but yeah, as far as like in, in pops go, I mean, like, what more can you add? But.
00:35:43
Speaker
You know, I think like, you know, they've done wrestling and other formats. So I'd like to see it. Like they've done the advent calendar. They've done pint size back in the day. They've done the mystery minis, but only stone colds, Minnesota. So there's one because, and this is your fault. Blame blaming you. There's one Funko pop that I would really, really like. Um, so.
00:36:09
Speaker
for Christmas this year, Dave, which is amazing that I didn't know that these existed with the amount of time I spend on the internet. That's like two Christmases in a row. Well, the other one I knew that figure existed. I just wasn't expecting it. So Funko in 2023 made an entire wave of pops
00:36:35
Speaker
from the greatest Christmas movie ever made, Muppet's Christmas Carol, and they made Scrooge, The Marlies, Bob Cratchit,
00:36:53
Speaker
Ms. Piggy as Mrs. Cratchit, they did Fozziwig, they did Gonzo and Rizzo as Dickens. They're awesome. And they are going forward. They're going to be part of my Christmas display. They're adorable. Every year. They're amazing. They really are. The Marlies are by far the... They're gorgeous.
00:37:18
Speaker
Two of the coolest-looking Funko Pops I think I've ever seen in my life, period. Before I put them away and... Or maybe I'll just wait until next year. I don't know. I gotta shoot them, though. They look amazing. But with that, I want one of those jumbo-sized pops. Not like the... I don't know if jumbo is the right word. Not like one of the porg ones you have, like the yard-nome-sized
00:37:42
Speaker
Pops. Like the size of like Big Brut or Andre? Yeah, yeah, yeah. One of those. Like a deluxe. I want a Ghost of Christmas present in that, for that line. I think that would be awesome. Um, you know, just as that big, like, I love those, those big, like, like, Sweetums style Muppets where it's like a guy in a very large suit with a big, like, you know, big head.
00:38:08
Speaker
They lend themselves, as I've now discovered with this wave of pops, they lend themselves really nicely to the conversion, to that style. So give me the Ghost of Christmas present. I think then that's it. I think we're good. I think we don't need any more from that. Maybe a Scrooge is like nightgown would be fun. You'd need the ghosts if you're doing one. Yeah. I mean, the Ghost of Christmas future is just a grim reaper. I mean, there's really not
00:38:37
Speaker
anything terribly special about it that makes it like Muppet-y but like yeah you can make a jumbo one of those two and then make a regular size pop on the same kind of little like translucent flight stand they put the Marley's on for the Ghost of Christmas Pass yeah and then give me a screw there there you go there's your wave Ghost of Christmas Future, Ghost of Christmas Present, Ghost of Christmas Pass, Scrooge and his in his like nightcap and nightgown and and call it a day and then you can be done with with Muppet Christmas Carol
00:39:07
Speaker
Um, all right, final category here. So we're going to go into, uh, NECA. So Dave, you actually did get a NECA figure in 2023. You got your first NECA ultimate. My first one, the fiend. Um, and it was great. So, uh, is there, now that you've kind of, you kind of have the taste, is there anything you would like to see from, from NECA in, in 2024, anything that would, that would make you come back and get another one?
00:39:37
Speaker
I mean, the same thing I've always wanted, you know, um, the one thing where I've said, like, there's too many of these to choose from and I'd want every movie, but if they'd make this one, I would absolutely get it and not have to worry about getting any other one. And that's, uh, Jason X, Uber Jason. Yep. He's on, he's on our, on our, on our list. Um,
00:40:02
Speaker
Mine, I added something new this year to the list. Very top of mind. NECA has been doing a great job with both their eight-inch cloth figures and their ultimates in dealing with kind of music and musicians. They announced coming out later this year the Bon Jovi figure, which looks amazing, designed by a friend of the Podblame. Good job on that, buddy.
00:40:33
Speaker
I would love to see them tackle Kiss. I think Kiss ultimates would be...
00:40:39
Speaker
Unbelievable from from NECA Just like thinking about I'm sitting here looking at it their war Duke from From Dungeons and Dragons and in the way that they do soft goods. So like looking at the soft goods on say like the the movie The 1990 shredder the way that they handle textures The way that they are able to include real chains in places. I think I
00:41:06
Speaker
Align of kiss figures like say you know saying like their lovegun attire, right? I think that's probably their they're more one of their more iconic looks at a destroyer destroyer. Yeah But yeah, I get and I know you know that they have a ton of fans You know of the band and of kind of that aesthetic there at NECA obviously licensing is a thing but you know with
00:41:34
Speaker
you know, with Kiss hanging it up on the road, you know, maybe maybe it'll be more open to to getting some some more figures out there. You know, it would look fantastic, the dynasty ones. Yeah, with the feathers and stuff and the bones, different colors. Yeah. Yeah. But yeah, either way, it goes like I'm just just thinking about how how cool Kiss figures would look from NECA, I think as Ultimates would be, that would be amazing.
00:42:03
Speaker
and gives them an opportunity to put them in a four-pack for a convention, make a great New York Comic Con pack. Yeah, so kiss. Let's kiss. You know it would work as a New York Comic Con pack because you couldn't put these out in normal. What? The elder outfits. Oh, Jesus.
00:42:30
Speaker
Yeah, but so here's the thing, though. I get it. No shit. You would get it. Here's the thing. Yeah, I would like usually those those sets like it's the same figures that are released individually, just packaged a little bit differently. If you're going with elder looks for the fit, that those are completely like top to bottom redesigns on everybody. Gene with short hair. Yeah, short hair. Yeah.
00:42:57
Speaker
God. Yeah, no, but I would love to see I get our car. I don't know how how the licensing works at this point. Like I, I would be totally okay with a Tommy Thayer figure and a Eric Singer figure if that's, you know, if that's where we're at. But like, you know, if it could be destroyer kiss or, or lovegun kiss, that would be, you know, that would be awesome. I think that would be very, very cool. And we know that
00:43:24
Speaker
Companies are still producing kiss figures. Syndicate Collectibles has that amazing Gene Simmons huge statue piece with the big demon wings and everything. And we saw at Toy Fair last year that McFarlane has a Gene Simmons coming out in some form or fashion in that movie maniacs line, music movie maniacs.
00:43:53
Speaker
But yeah, but I would love to see NECA tackle, or for that matter, I know we didn't talk about Super Seven, but that would be another amazing route. Super Seven making ultimate kiss figures in their music line too, and Kyle taking a swing at them. I think that would also be really, really cool. Same sort of deal. Because their music figures are excellent as well. The pictures I'm seeing of everybody's Cliff Burton,
00:44:24
Speaker
and Lemmy that are hitting now, they look fantastic. So, you know, that would, that would hopefully, hopefully those Motley crew reactions so well. Cause I would, I would love some Motley crew ultimate. Yeah. Yeah. So with that, that kind of, that, that wraps up our, our top level take on our 2024 wish lists.
Encouraging Listener Participation in Wishlist Week
00:44:44
Speaker
Like I said, at the top of the episode, um, you know, stay tuned on our social media. We're going to post our full lists and you know, we, we love posting the wish lists. We love hearing what your wish lists are, um, you know, in the comments section. So, uh, definitely keep an eye out for those lists to kind of start coming out.
00:45:01
Speaker
throughout the week this week. And then next week, we'll tackle our top 10 of 2023. And we'll also then post our categorical top 10s once the big list is out. So yeah, Dave, how would you like to send our audience, our listeners home to kick off their 2024?
00:45:30
Speaker
Happy New Year, everybody.
00:45:51
Speaker
Follow us on social media at AIC underscore podcast on Instagram and Twitter. Stop by and say hi. Show us your toy hauls and share your toy stories. Maybe we'll talk about it in a future episode.
00:46:15
Speaker
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