Open Your Toys Cast

No time for the usual. SDCC is on fire and we’re going to do an impromptu show tomorrow to yak about it.

I don’t even know how to start this post. Unfortunately, we are dealing with the loss of our amazing Ruthie Goosie. She has been the backbone of our family for over 15 years. Through everything we have gone through, she has always been there for all of us. Especially as we are still experiencing some ups and downs, her presence is missed so much. It’s not even the big things, it’s the smallest of things. Things like not having to rearrange pillows on the couch so she can have a couple of places to choose from or having her hoover up some dropped food always seem to make me cry. I’ve struggled with loss my entire life. Not just family, but far too many friends. It’s always the smallest things that remind me of them and bring that loss rushing back. Whether you haven’t seen them in years or you woke up to them every morning, the loss is real. It’s felt in different ways and there is no right way to cope. I’ve found for me, I spend a couple of days in absolute despair, then I just gotta keep on keeping on. I ha

Sound quality and host quality aside, at least the content was amazing. We talk about the launch of the new HasLab Classified Dragonfly. Mondo absolutely killed it with their V2 Skeletor. The new TBS Endor Rebel Trooper is perfection. But, why so pricey, especially for an army builder? Probably worst kept spoiler in recent times gives all of us Transformers fans a glimmer of hope of something we’ve always wanted.

I feel great about all the new Joes we’re seeing, but that’s because I’m a sub-team whore. I know everyone is loving Classified, but is that because they also love these sub-teams or are they just caught up in the hype? Those with a Sail Barge should be super-happy with the new Droid Factory R2-S4M. I love that we’re getting a new screen-based character from ROTJ. While it makes me happy to see any brand I love utilizing graffiti, not quite sure the Amazon Battle in Brooklyn makes me as happy as it should. The performance of the latest Mattel Creations drops has me worried. At least for Masterverse. Both of the latest drops are still available. Maybe the snapping turtle tank wasn’t the best idea for Vykron.

Toy life is heating up. Transformers made some interesting announcements at their recent livestream. Loving the deep-dive on the Evolution line. Scrap-Iron is hot, but is he over-hyped? I’m really cold on the Masterverse Whiplash, but some may dig it. Some may be cold on the politics, but I’m absolutely loving the Pride mechs.

It was one of those weeks. A lot of bad habits and not nearly enough good. I’m going to keep this short so I can get onto my good habits. However, I want to check in with everybody. Are your good habits winning? Are the bad habits creeping in? Either way, just keep on truckin’ and remember shit happens when you party naked.

I think the Joe franchise survival instinct is kicking in with them trying to secure Michael Keaton for yet another reboot of the Joe cinematic universe. The Transformers team instinct is hopefully going to kick in when it comes to the Deathsaurus package artwork. Star Wars is doing pretty well with their Mando Mania, but I’m concerned that they’re doing too many of the same characters. Masters just continues to kill it. Even its partners are turning out gold.

No time to talk, we have a very special guest star making an appearance at Casa de McFavorite.

Nothing too exciting for Joe besides some new listings. We’re getting the inevitable repaint of the Volvo Prime. I really dig it but had no idea this thing was so small. While not crazy about the uncanny valley Luke in The Mandalorian, all the new Luke toys are very welcomed, including the new Training Luke. Saving the best for last was all of the MOTU Reveals. I mean, come on.

All these companies have to do is what they’re doing. They are killing it, but is it too much? How many Classified Joes did you pre-order in the last couple of weeks? How about 3rd party Transformers? Maybe a couple of new Origins figures? FOMO finally got to me and I had to grab the new mini Lego Super Star Destroyer.

Amazing toys that I don’t want also feel good. Kind of like this Mondo Trap Jaw. Or, the possibly leaked Mandalorian Starfighter. While I love the tractor for the Armada Prime, I definitely do not need it. A Classified Dragon Fly probably would have been needed, but we’ll never know.

Joe absolutely killed it this time around. While Snow Job is one of my favorite characters of all-time and they did justice to him, the Classified Scrap Iron is a thing of beauty. There were some great reveals at the latest Star Wars Livestream, but I think I gotta give it to the Revenge of Jedi Darth Vader. I’m glad to see the masses will be getting access to an amazing Snake Horde Trooper. However, nothing can touch the Cybertronian Jazz I have been waiting almost 4 decades for.

Shopping is one thing I haven’t been doing. However, I have been adding things to my JOMO (Joy Of Missing Out) list like crazy. Including a bunch of canceled pre-orders, I have over 60 toys on there right now. We’ll see if I still want them in a year. Some things I can’t wait to get to buy from this show are as follows. What looks to be a Target Collectors’ Con exclusive, the Python Patrol Crimson Guard is beautiful. I can’t believe I have to wait a year to play with the new Legacy Tarn. I guess I’ll have to settle for my MMC version. Luckily, I had everyone I wanted from the latest wave of Black Series on pre-order. I can’t wait for that Bill Barr, I mean Bill Burr figure. The thing I have the most JOMO about is the Mega Construx Snake Mountain. It’s already down $80 from the list price. If it gets to $200, I might get FOMO instead of JOMO.

Depending on how you view it, collectors should be feeling like they’re on top of the world. Have you seen the Classified Checklist? Did you see that over 15,000 people want an obscure Japanese cartoon character? Who wants tiny little stuff like 1:100 scale Star Wars brought back from the ’90s? I do! I can’t even keep up with all of the new Origins and Masterverse, but that’s just Two Bad.

A lot of people aren’t the biggest fans of these carded Black Series figures. But, I love them, including the next wave of ROTJ figs. At least they give people another chance at some figures they may have missed. If you were like me, you missed the Origins Camo Khan. Let’s hope we get another shot and that great international variant. People had plenty of chances to vote for the Cobra Tacticition. I voted like 5 times. Glad to see my choice won. Finally, we didn’t think it would happen, but the Death(a)saurus killed it. Not only passing the funding goal, but selling 50% more units in just 14 days.

We once again had some amazing stuff. However, not too much for the big four. Probably the most exciting was from Mondo. Their Panthro, uh, I mean Panthor is amazing. Also, listen just for our discussion on their Anti-Eternia He-Man. It’s a classic. Less amazing, but something I am really digging right now is the vintage carded Black Series figures. Gamorrean Guards are a focus

I don’t think Mondo has faced much rejection in it’s storied history. Everything they do from posters, to wax, to what is possibly the best Battle Cat ever made seems to sell out. Well, except for their puzzles and tikis. Beyond product drops, I think the most immediate response you can garner is after a con. While at the con, people are all excited, but let the dust settle and you get some real reactions. Even after a second look, Star Wars killed it at MCM. While the announcements were light for Joe, Femtroopers and Shadow Tracker were crowd pleasers. I love Christmas and I love Optimus Prime, but who is buying a candy cane Prime, even if it is a new mold? Rejected!

It’s been a helluva 2 weeks.

Instead of my four favorite things from the show, I’m going to speculate on what will be worth the most money in 5 years. If it makes it all the way, the 31-inch Agora Model Prime is going to be worth a ton. However, it’s going to cost a ton too. Maybe we should be looking at increase in value. Since I wholeheartedly believe Pops won’t be worth much in the coming years, the Gamestop Exclusive G.I. Joe box will most likely lose the most value. I don’t have a lot of experience with multi-language packaging like BigBadToyStore is getting a ton of as I tend to avoid it, but I assume it probably lowers the value. What probably will top them all is the Black Series Droids Boba Fett.

Luckily with toys, we primarily worry about fan service. Man, this time around I think we got some great service. The G1 Jetfire Deco Valkyrie from Kitz Concept is amazing, if not pricey. Any toy based on McQuarrie concepts is going to be a favorite with me. Same thing with MOTU mini-comic homages, especially those of one of my favorite characters. I can’t think of better fan service than farming out your license so fans get even more product. Are you in on the HIYA Exquisite Mini Joes?