Open Your Toys Cast

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 🙂 While most peopl...

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 r...

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....

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...

How could I cut a whole line when they keep rockin’ stuff like we saw this week? Upon further review, there really wasn’t anything that amazing this time. And yet we still managed to talk for over 2 hours. Maybe it was because we had the triumphant return, for at least one episode, of past host and resident curmudgeon, the one and only, Lotus Stark. It was so great to have him back on. It truly fe...

While not necessarily retro, with a trip to the happiest place on earth on the books, the new 4-pack DroidFactory exclusive has 3 of my favorite Halloween-themed droids. And if Halloween isn’t nostalgic for you, I think you did it wrong. Think they’re not targeting us, the Classified Checklist from the last 3 years says differently. I always preferred some articulation in my retro, but the MOTU Li...

Pretty easy picks this year for top reveals. I always love me an origins story. Gotta get another Pax, but a good Alpha has been a long time coming. I think it’s safe to say Classified Serpentor stole the show. Well, maybe not if you’re a MOTU fan. That Eternia, am I right? Star Wars was a little lack-luster, but I’ll take another Credit Collection wave.

Glad I don’t want to order too many of Super7’s Joe exclusives, but their ReAction set with Snake Eyes and Shipwreck in Cobra disguise and Cobra bot is amazing. Much less amazing was the TFCon 3rd Party Panel. I was all excited because I thought a Planet-X Snarl was something I needed, turns out it was Fansproject I’m missing. The MEGA Snake Mountain is a hot item, but I’m glad I waited on it. Whi...

These toy companies have been busy to varying degrees of success. The HasLab HISS killed it! Now bring on more stretch goals. I cannot wait to see the new Star Wars Micro Galaxy in stores. Especially the Troop Transport. However, the “new” Transformers Crossovers have a lot to be desired. Mattel tried to pull a fast one by putting the new Mega Construx or now just MEGA Snake Mountain on Mattel Cre...

I have been so lazy the last few days. Not really feeling doing the whole writing thing. I need to catch up on real life.

I am still a sucker for repaints, but I have grown to really love drastically different designs of a character. No longer does a chromed Stormtrooper matter, but a concept design-based reimaging of characters like the Black Series Concept Obi and Vader, a yes, please. No thank you to black Primes, but hell yes to a minor retool to homage a vintage character like Ransack. Even new characters like K...

In hindsight, what is truly amazing about the toys we talk about? Considering we talk about franchises that have lasted over 40 years, it could be said almost anything. However, we sure have a lot to bitch about, and for good reason. These should be better. So instead of featuring my favorite things from this show, let’s talk about the worst things from this show. The new “no plastic” packaging is...

Lately, I’ve found myself supporting things I would not have in the past. As companies finally figure out that we will shoulder more cost we’re getting larger, more exclusive, and deeper cuts. Not to mention the proliferation of 3rd party non-Transformers projects. If you’re not careful you can “support” yourself into a corner. What about a third 3rd party Bantha? Or, a four-foot Metroplex? The la...

Third-Party definitely influenced Hasbro with those ankle rockers. During these Transformers Fan First events, they are constantly touting those things. What happens when a 3.75 vintage line influences a vintage-style 3.75 line? A whole lot of people that do not care about the new wave G.I. Joe ReAction figures. With the new Silverhawks Ultimates getting more obscure, they’re starting to lose a li...

I think people were happy, for the most part, with the Fan First Star Wars event. Especially us, who love the EU and Disney’s new version of it. Something, that now in hindsight, might receive a little criticism is the Commander Class Motormaster that was leaked. Two things that received overwhelming praise and minimal feedback are Classified Dr. Mindbender and Mega Contrux Zombie He-Man. I think...

I’ll tell you what will always put a smile on my face, the Horde. That’s what made the new MOTU reveals so exciting. I’m not a Bot Bot guy, but an Autobot symbol and a cat lady? Yes please. The new GameStop exclusive Republic Commando Fixer is truly a Gaming Great. See what I did there. The thing I think that made me the happiest, another wave of Joe Ultimates. While pricey, these things really ma...

What started off as a discussion on the soaring prices of toys turned out to be more of a referendum on value. What value to find in your toys? Are they investments, just for fun? Are you like me, it’s a hobby and I love them. If I or my family get some money for them in the future, great. Cliff drops his thoughts on why he canceled tons of his pre-orders. In the end, I frantically try to show wha...

Really not feeling writing right now and this is something on my to-do list. Going to keep it simple. Peace.

That Joe 40th stream was amazing. Especially the digital reveals. The Insectitrain is one of my favorite Transformers concepts ever and we might get it in legends-scale. If you’re a fan of reissues, you can now get some minty assassins. The Saurozoic Warriors aren’t Masters, but I love them like they are.

As it should be, the Fan First days continue to be the highlight of toy reveals nowadays. These replacements for Toy Fair and SDCC continue to produce at least one or two gems each time. For Transformers we got our first official looks at Leader Sludge and a new Junkion. For Star Wars, the Nightbrother was dope, but what was really interesting was their “Pipeline” reveals. With so much Twilek love...

The Joe Fan First thing was pretty great. Lotsa repacks, but hey at least they’re “vintage packaging” 🙁 Since there is hardly any MOTU news nowadays, let’s go with these amazing Thundercat villain statues. Always advocating for MFT, I’m loving their Trailbreaker. Then to end on a down note, we’re in for another round of price increases. Star Wars is taking full advantage of this in the form of hu...

After our shortest show in years follows one of the longest. For good reason. We cover the new 1099 rule that has gone into effect starting at the beginning of this year. Any Goods and Services transactions on payment platforms (PayPal, Venmo, etc.) totaling more than $600 will be reported to the IRS and you will have to claim it as income. Since almost all the major marketplaces (eBay, Mercari, e...

What’s really insane is the deep cuts we’re getting. I love this stuff and I think that’s what really gets me in trouble. The Super7 ReAction radiated Snake Eyes from the M.A.S.S. Device mini-series is amazing. The new Gaming Greats Arc Troopers? Not only have Arc Troopers never appeared in any movies but then to get three of them from one game in two different scales? Probably one of my biggest d...

Some of us spent a lot of money on HasLab projects, but not as much as we could have. So the most I’ve ever spent on a toy was Unicron. And while it brings me tremendous joy I am literally afraid to transform it. The biggest story I think was the Rancor failing, not miserably, but it was pretty bad. Even the last-minute addition of the Rancor Keeper couldn’t save it. I think $350 was just too much...