In honor of New York Comic Con 2017 (translation: we’re all busy as $#!& to be living normal lives between October 5th-8th), we’re going to be doing things a little differently this week. Because a decent chunk of these five days has been dedicated elsewhere, we’re going to take a break from looking back at the week that was and answer some of the questions/comments you sent me through social media (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram).
As I’ve mantra’d for the past seven episodes, The Weekly Static is my righteously desperate-yet-endearing attempt at finding the lighter side and an interesting perspective on the past week in the land of the networks, cable, streaming, smoke signals, cloud formations, and shadow puppets.
Our goal for this week? It’s even simpler, people!
● Offer a blunt, honest perspective on a handful of random TV questions/comments that were submitted by others on either my Facebook, Twitter or Instagram account
● Spotlight a news item we might’ve missed that you should find interesting.
● Feed my insatiable ego with humble offerings of praise, adulation, social media shares, pizza, Superman Funkos, and a plethora of Eisner Award nominations.
So before I have to spill out on the streets of stars and ride away; and you find out what you are, face to face…let’s roll!
Bleeding Cool Chatter is a new web series hosted by Bleeding Cool’s head film writer Kaitlyn Booth, and I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of it with her, film/TV writer Bill Watters, toys and collectibles writer Jeremy Konrad, and film writer/novelist Adi Tantimedh. Here’s a quick rundown on what we’ve got:
Getting your hands on exclusive items is a big part of the New York Comic Con. Image Comics is selling exclusive G.I. Joe-themed Walking Dead figures, BOOM! Studios is offering a deluxe hardcover Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers collection, and let’s not forget all the adorable pins you can buy from the Marvel booth. Most of those exclusives are readily available anytime of the day. Then there’s another type of exclusive: Funko exclusives.
Over the last few years, Funko has been a huge draw at all the major comic book conventions. Some of the exclusives are shared with stores like GameStop and Hot Topic, but there’s always those few items a very elusive.
If you are interested in buying your exclusives at the show, Funko tries to make it easy doing a lottery system. You enter the lottery, and if lucky, you win a spot to shop at their store during a set time of day. The system works pretty well, and with the lottery, you only have to worry about your favorite items being sold out before it’s your turn. If you didn’t win a lottery spot, you can easily get in line at 5 p.m. when the store opens to the public. Wait a second, did I say “easily”? Because what I meant to say is that you can sacrifice a part of your mind and soul to attempt to survive the wasteland that they call Open to the Public.
At 5 p.m., the Funko Lounge opens to the public. Above is a picture of the “line” that started to from at 3 p.m. Being the risk-taker I am, I welcomed this challenge head on.
Right away there were signs of concern, as they only had one person working security for the line. As the line continued to build in length it also started to growth in width as more and more people pulled off the classic “Chat & Cut”. As I stood in line, I made allies, as I knew this quest was too dangerous to go alone.
After about 40 minutes, the first real drama started as the line started to move. Quickly people moved towards the Funko booth as they were led away by a security guard. My group and I got right to front when we were told to stop. The guard promised to come back and get us but we knew this could be game over. The crowd that was wrapped around the Funko Lounge continued to swell. Minutes passed, and each felt like days. The group was getting restless and morale was not great. Out of the crowd we spotted our security guard. We knew he was either bringing us hope or telling us to get lost.
“Okay, who is in group here?”
I spoke up quickly, “My group is right here, it’s all four of us.”
The security guard looked at us, not knowing that I didn’t even know anyone’s name in my group. “You four come with me.”
We were moving on to the phase of this dungeon, and doing so as a group.
We were brought up closer to the Funko Lounge. No one in front or back of us were from the previous line. I can only assume that anyone else from the previous line was fed to a Rancor, or dropped through a trap door. As we waited in the new line it became very clear the volunteers working line control would still be an issue. The area we were standing in was directly in front of the Lounge. This area had a ton of traffic walking through and many were trying for the Chat & Cut. As people continued to sneak into line a new voice began to speak up against the line-cutting scoundrels.
“Secuirty! Security, those people up there are cutting the line!”
This man was determined to get his hands on a Dragon Zord pop and didn’t care who he snitched on to get one.
Things started to look better, even though we had not moved for about an hour. The customers who won the lottery had all taken their turns. It was only a matter of time before the line would start moving. As long as no other major attention was brought to the booth we would be okay. Before we could take a sigh of relief the Funko Gods threw another curveball at us.
“Hey, it’s Mary Poppins, y’all!”
Enter Michael Rooker to the mix.
The crowd went crazy as Yondu himself showed up to the Lounge. Michael Rooker is a true rockstar at these events. From the looks of it he could not be friendlier. Right away he started hugging people and taking pictures. He even stopped by with my group to talk to us about the best Pops to get.
After the excitement of Rooker’s visit subsided, it was time for the main event. The Funko Lounge would officially open to the public at 4:50 p.m. The line started to move, no more worries of people cutting the line as security tightened up. Now was the time for crossing your fingers and saying your prayers to the Funko Gods that your Funko would still be waiting for you when your turn approached. Everyone copes their own way with this anticipation. Some would look for constant updates from people closer to the front of the line.
“How many Dragon Zords are left? Anyone in front of me NOT getting one?”
Then you would have the superstitious ones who kept covering their ears when anyone shouted out an update.
Time now started to speed up as each person got closer and then disappeared into the Lounge. I would love to tell you the happy ending of each person in my group, but I can’t. Once you get to that point where you’re next in line, it’s like you’re in our own pocket of reality. The rest becomes a blur. I know I got my turn and listed off a bunch of Funkos. Someone swiped my credit card and handed me a huge blue bag. I never saw my group again, but for the sake of the story, let’s say they all got Dragon Zords.
If you have a few extra hours to kill at the show, I highly recommend you have an adventure and try for the Funko Lounge.
Mighty Muggs were all the rage before Funko Pops were a thing. I have very fond memories of going into Walmarts and Targets and almost always finding new figures on shelves. Man, the feeling of finding the ever-elusive exclusives always brought a sense of accomplishment. They were also a precursor to a lot of what we see with vinyl collectibles now. The stackable boxes, emotion-filled expressions, exaggerated features — they really had it all.
And now they are coming back!
As revealed at NYCC this week, Mighty Muggs are back with a vengeance. Coming before the end of the year, both Marvel and Star Wars will be represented. Just like the old days! But now they have an added twist. Literally!
Marvel Mighty Muggs
This time, the Muggs will have different expressions! Just by easily tapping the head of the figure down, you can display the figure with one of three expressions. The figures retain the classic Muggs look, but with added sculpting details to modernize them a bit from their earlier incarnations. And just because someone wears a mask does not mean they cannot be expressive, too! Take that Spidey up there — by using his eyes instead of the mouth, we get a great sense of how any character can be made for this line.
Star Wars Mighty Muggs
The same can be said for Star Wars. The paint aps on these look incredible in person (I got hands on with them on Thursday) and it is super simple to change the expressions on each. They actually had to basically take the Kylo out of my hands so I would stop playing with it. And the stackable cases! They are hard plastic, compact, and MOC collectors rejoice: you can change the expressions from the top of the package! The cases interlock with each other, too, and easily come back apart if you feel like changing up your display.
At the $9.99 price point, these will be immensely popular. Hasbro said that there will be around 50 characters available between Star Wars and Marvel to start, so happy hunting everyone! If you see someone standing in a toy aisle relentlessly pushing the top of one of these, it is probably me.
Hasbro’s popular Mighty Muggs vinyl figures have been missing from store shelves for several years, but the line will be making a triumphant return in 2018.
The company’s new line of figures will include some of the most popular Marvel and Star Wars characters, but with a new twist. These new figures will have a suggested retail price of $9.99 USD and have a brand new push-and-turn feature to change the character’s facial expressions.
IGN debuted the fist photos of the toys, which are set for a January 2018 release. The Marvel set includes Spider-Man, Captain America, Groot and Black Widow. The Star Wars set has Darth Vader, Rey, Kylo Ren, Princess Leia, and Luke Skywalker. Other figures are on the way, including a Deadpool toy slated for a Spring 2018 release, which has been previewed on Marvel’s Twitter, along with the figures’ new face-changing feature.
Hasbro’s initial collectible vinyl toy series proved to be very popular with collectors, featuring franchises like Star Wars, Marvel Comics, Indiana Jones, G.I. Joe and Transformers. The company expanded into smaller versions called Mini Muggs and even blank Mighty Muggs for customization.
The line of toys has been commercially discontinued for several years, though Hasbro has produced Comic Con exclusive figures during that time. The return to retail is likely a response to the success that Funko has seen with its Pop! vinyl line of toys.
Hasbro did not have a booth at NYCC 2017, but that won’t stop us from getting some great reveals from them! I got to meet with the Star Wars team offsite and get hands on with some of their upcoming product through the end of the year. Even some stuff newly revealed throughout 2018. Let’s dive in!
Forces of Destiny
Now confirmed to NOT be an exclusive to Toys ‘R’ Us, the Princess Leia/R2-D2 Forces of Destiny pack looks crazy good in person. paying homage to that fateful scene at the beginning of A New Hope, this is the type of thing that they should continue to do in this line. Dioramas are awesome, and if I can get cool packaging like this I will buy them all. It is also a fun way to get this version of Leia in the line.
Everything about the figure looks great. I also got an up close look at Padme, who will fly off shelves. people have been clamoring for more Padme merch, and will come out in droves for it.
Lastly, the Chewbacca that is coming out? IT HAS SOUNDS.
3.75 Inch
New figures of Maz Kanata, Finn, and Captain Phasma from The Last Jedi were shown, along with new piolt Cai Threnalli. Could he be related to Ello Asty (I’m guessing yes). The Finn and Phasma will be a two-pack. The Maz sculpt is amazing, that is the standout for me here.
We also talked a bit about The Vintage Collection returning. There will be 18 figures total next year, and will be a good mix of reissues and new figures alike. Good news for collectors as well: they will be continuing the numbering. Good info!
Black Series 6 Inch
As if these figures were not enough, with the new facial scan technology they are using, these will just keep getting better. Look at that comparison shot between the Reys up there. The left is the old process, the right is the new. It is night and day. With the new process, the head scans get more depth, features are more easily identifiable, like DJ’s scar in his new figure up there. less softness to the faces. Just overall great stuff.
Also newly revealed and coming next year: Dengar, 4 LOM, and Lando in Skiff Gear. Kudos to hasbro for deciding to make these waves tell a story, instead of being a random mix of characters. Bounty hunters not named Boba Fett are always welcome.
Darth Vader Helmet
Wow. That is all I can really say about this thing. It will retail for $99.99 next year and you definitely want one.
OK, I can say more. The whole thing is spectacularly sculpted, you can tell they put the care and effort into getting this one right. Everything is held together with high-powered magnets. The helmet is in three pieces, and super simple to get apart and put on. The iconic sounds associated with Vader are here as well, and even alter so that he can sound like he did at the end of Return of the Jedi when the mask is off. It even comes with a stand for when you are not wearing it. I hope this isn’t hard to find.
Mighty Muggs
MIGHTY MUGGS ARE BACK! If Funko Pops have become popular to the point that they made this possible again, thank you. I have a love for these things that I cannot explain. They will retail for $10, and the cases are stackable and lock together if you want to keep them pristine. I neat touch this time: when you tap the top of their heads, their expression changes! I think I stood there and played with the Kylo one for 10 minutes — I thought they were going to have to rip it out of my hands. there will be a bunch of these out soon.
Lots of good stuff was seen, and fun was had. Thank you to Hasbro for their time. More fancy press photos after this of the figures revealed!
