It's 2025, are you still collecting? Are we?

It’s business as usual for the toy companies. They’re pushing products that they started developing over 6 months ago. However, what are these going to cost? New Joes hit today and at the largest seller of toys in America, Entertainment Earth, they are $6 more than MSRP. The Vintage Collection Star Wars figures were already too high. What’s the new Carson Teva going to run fans of Paul Sun-Hyung Lee when it hits the pegs? Master’s prices have gone up pretty regularly over the last few years. Origins started less than five years ago at $15.99. The newest wave is $21.99. Transformers have been somewhat stable, but who knows what the leaked list of 2026 figures will cost when finally in hand.

Joe just continues to kill it. Have you seen the Class of ’24 pics on the socials? How much can these guys put out? I’m just glad I got a S.N.A.K.E. Armor pre-order in. I’m still in love with MMC’s Perfection Series Devastator. I have never bought an MP-scale combiner aside from upscaled 4th-party sets. Will this finally be my first? Something I should love and just don’t is the new Origins 4-pack. I love factions and troop builders, but these are just not jiving for me. For Star Wars, there’s only grumping. Why the hell are we getting a much-wanted 21-back character in the Vintage Collection on a Deluxe card?

Something I would have snatched up in a second in the olden days is the Classified SDCC Cold Slither set. It comes from my favorite media, the cartoons, and is super goofy. It’s an easy pass nowadays. With all the Transformers stuff shown, my favorite thing is an actual toy, not a collectible. I’m excited to see the Cyberworld Scorponok in person. Masters came out guns blazing. While I should love the Fright Zone, I just don’t. I’m more drawn to the New Eternia Terror Claws Skeletor. Not surprisingly, Star Wars was the least exciting. At least we’re getting new unproduced vintage figures.

I think a lot of people are addicted to Classified, and Hasbro knows it. While I really dislike the design of the new S.N.A.K.E. Armor, you know I’ll still be buying it. While I love the design of the new HasLab Liokaiser, I don’t have a connection to the character(s). Did I still back it? Of course I did. The latest wave of Cartoon Origins is pretty lackluster. Yup, pre-ordered. At least I can say I definitely won’t be ordering the new Vintage Landspeeder. Well, it might go on clearance.

What do you think being released nowadays will increase in value 600-700% in 20 years? Anything? With Transformers improving their engineering constantly, I can’t imagine any of the new Studio Series will. With Star Wars losing a ton of interest, I don’t think anything they put out in the mainline will ever increase that much again. Especially with offerings like we got in the latest Fanstream. Don’t get even me started on the new Thundercat MOTU crossovers. What about indy toy makers? Mythic Legions has some high-dollar pieces, but even with the fire Fresh Monkey Fiction is putting out, are they going to break the bank in a couple of decades?

Too busy motivating. I’ll catch you next time.

Here are some of my most anticipated toys from this show. Hopefully, I can take care of business to be able to afford them. First, Black Series Visions Ronin figures? Yes, please. As much as I really, really want Crystal Ball in Classified, it’s more because of the goofiness from a collector’s perspective. Nostalgically speaking, Law and Order is who I am really looking forward to. As one of the last “animal guys” I bought, he holds a special place in my heart. Again, a huge nostalgia-based want that is finally going to be satiated, Origins Rio Blast is coming this month. Lastly, and probably least exciting, but very happy to see the line continue, is Blokees Wave 6.

Well, it's a wonderful time of the year, everyone has lots of fun. You mean they get in fights?

Talk about over-saturating the market. Transformers are coming fast and furious, but the Missing Links can’t come fast enough for me. New Classified is coming too fast in my opinion, but Slice and Dice are welcome additions. While traditional Origins has been relegated to Mattel Creations exclusives, they have found a new niche, concept figures. What’s the easiest way to tell we’re getting too much product? Four words, Shadows of the Empire.