Sometimes as toy collectors, we can look across our displays and only see the toys that aren’t there. They are the missing figures. The characters toy companies never got around to, never thought were important enough, or worse – the figures companies felt the need to show us at comicon in the “We’re Never Gonna Make These” case. Saturdays are for these figures…
If you saw the Friday Five yesterday, you would’ve seen Poe Ghostal’s article on Mezco’s Comic Hellboy line. Well, for me, reading that has really brought up the nostalgia for those figures and the toy tragedy that there aren’t more of them. So, this week’s Most Requested Figures will be a little more broad and focus on the 4 figures that I consider the biggest holes on my Comic Hellboy shelf…
When it came to the actual figures, I think Mezco got everything right. The figures from the two waves the comic line received are all excellently rendered into 3D versions of Mignola lineart and Dave Stewart colors. They had good articulation, were sturdy, great paint apps, and appropriate accessories for the most part. I really don’t have a single complaint about the figures themselves. The one problem with the line is how it was handled and how it faired in the marketplace.
At the US ToyFair in 2006, Mezco showed the second wave and artwork for a third wave that included Abe Sapien, Rasputin, a Frog Monster, and Anung Un Rama. With the exception of Abe, who was released as an SDCC Exclusive in 2007, not even the sculpts for these figures would ever see the light of day. And let’s take a minute and gize Mezco a huge round of applause for getting that Abe figure out to the fans. I can’t imagine a Hellboy shelf without him.
Even with Abe, the problem with any Comic Hellboy shelf is that it’s too sparse. We never got to finish off the BPRD team with Ben Daimio or Kate Corrigan. We never got to threaten our Hellboys with a comic-based Rasputin. We never got to buy a legion of Frog Monsters, and trust me, for most fans of this line we see the potential for an army there.
With all that in mind, this week’s most requested figures shoutout goes to Mezco. If they still have the rights to do any of these figures, they need to find a way, even if it has to be like Abe was handled, as convention exclusives. I’m sure most of would be satisfied with a new Kate head on the already done Liz body, or if Ben Diamio could be done with some retooling on Johann Kraus, and a Frog Monsters might have to be totally new, but I promise I’d buy a lot more than one and I’m not alone. If it can’t be done, that’s one thing. That day comes for all toylines, but if there is a chance, if the license is still applicable, let’s all hope Mezco can find a way to finish that line out some day.
They should do something similar to what Mattel does with all their various “Classics” lines. Call the line “BPRD” or “Hellboy and the BPRD” and make them either online exclusives a la Mattel, or just make one or two a year for the major Comicons. That way they can get the fans the figures they want.
There is the possibilty that the comic line’s license lapsed, so they may not be able to at all, but what your suggesting would be great.
I hope it does well for them, but I don’t know if there is a ton of demand for a $70 18-inch Abe Sapien over the Comic line getting a couple more figures.
Those would be some awesome figures! I saw the ones they made at the site you linked to. Is it easy to pick up the older ones since the line died?
Most of them are easy to find. I got my collection on eBay about a year ago. I was able to get Johann, Roger, Liz, Rocket Hellboy (for the sculpted jacket), and Lobster Johnson for relatively cheap prices. I paid a little extra for Abe since he was a comic-con exclusive. The alien is also not that expensive, but I’ve yet to grab him. Kriegaffe, though, is another story. Two just sold on eBay for $70 and $100 respectively. I was fortunate enough, to get one cheap – my co-blogger Adventure Vault found one for $20 at a convention in Kansas City just a moth or two ago. He’s a lifesaver.
I would LOVE for Mezco to make an Anung Un Rama figure (and another Abe!). What are the chances of that happening?
It’s a longshot at best.
Sad clown. T_T