So, this was
Web Slinger Weekend - the date when the
Spider-Man 3 toys were finally released. Well, I hit up my local TRU and saw the big display in the front of the store. While I applaud the attention Spidey's getting, I have to urge you all
not to buy any of the movie figures.
Want the Minimates? Sure, go for it. The Superhero Squad? Do it, they're awesome. But the action figures?
No. Leave them on the shelves. Why this hate for the new movie figures? Because they're the wrong damn scale. Hasbro is making a lot of nice toys, but they're all 5" tall rather than 6". That inch makes a big difference, and that's why you should ignore them. Yes, they're sculpted well. yes, the packaging is nice. But you know what?
They're too small! We have collections, Hasbro. We've been buying Marvel Legends and DC Super Heroes for years now. We've been buying a 6" scale, and that's what we want. Yes, oil prices are going up. Yes, you want a low price point for a mass-market media push. Too bad.
Spider-Man 3 is free advertising, and kids would buy the toys no matter what size they were - but collectors won't. By dropping that inch, you've cut off a big portion of your customer base. Get in touch with Mattel, and ask them how their
Batman Begins and
Superman Returns toys did. Or better yet, go look at the discount aisle in any toy store, and see what's still there.
You want Ultimate Kraven? Too bad, he's the wrong size.
You want a good Lizard? Too bad, he's the wrong size.
You want the new movie villains to fight your old movie Spidey? Too bad, they're the wrong size. All of them.
Hasbro really farmed this one up. So fans, I'm charging you with this mission:
do not buy! Ignore the figures, no mater how cool they seem. Don't give in to temptation, just because you haven't bought anything in a while. Because if you do, they'll just keep making them. They're already planning for the
Fantastic Four 2 toys to be 5". Do you want this cancer to spread, or do you want to help cut it out of the industry now?
Don't support bad toys!