Leaderboard

EXACTLY RIGHT! This goes back to my original thought that the fundamentally misunderstand what the tiers are supposed to do. In a sense, the true number of backers needed is NOT 9000, but whatever the number is for the last tier (which is currently a secret). That is NOT how kickstarters get funded.

I don't think he's really fixated on the under boob, it looks more like he's pointing out something else Hasbro managed to screw up. She's been drawn several ways by several artists, but the Marc Silvestri version with the very prominent under boob is the most iconic. And apparently it means quite a bit to the other fans too cuz the backers went back down almost like it took them a second or two to realize the change.

It's SUPPOSED to be this more contemporary costume, but it doesn't really nail it

See....that's what depresses me about these. I have a clear picture in my head of what they should look like, given the actual looks of the characters, and the current/past molds and paints available to them. So many are no-brainers. But what they deliver, is a whole 'nother ball game. Will they put Dr. Spectrum on that pizza Spidey buck, or Storm on that absurd Kate Bishop buck? Will Wonder Man have torso movement in his safari/field jacket (odd that they're calling it a trench coat) ? Will Banshee actually have a screaming head? Will Commander Rogers be the exact figure they used for the Terrax BAF (in other words, nothing updated) ? That kind of thing. These are not unfounded fears. So, while I certainly welcome this news, hasblo has taught me not to get my hopes up. Fingers crossed though!

LOL! Perfect spot for this. For anyone who's old enough to remember.

This is such a great discussion. Hasbro fundamentally misunderstands the role of unlock tiers in their kickstarters (aka haslabs). All successful kickstarters have an advertised product and a price for it. They don't have you wait to unlock all the tiers to make the price of the whole package "worth it". The unlock tiers are NEVER used to get the original product funded. Instead, the unlock tiers are used to whip up backer volumes (which reduces costs due to higher volumes of production). That's the purpose of the tiers (plus all the attention associated with the frenzy). Hasbro needs to first focus on the product and original price. Then pick tier add-ons that can be added for "free" due to reduced costs associated with scaling production. Their current method puts the "cart before the horse" and is focused more on greed than a successful marketing strategy.

I agree 100% that the early bird for the HISS Tank didnt do much that it was the base product itself. The GIJoe Haslab proved people have no problem paying that much for a vehicle if its something they actually want. The biggest problem with this one is that A. Marvel and vehicles just don't go hand in hand like they do with G.I. Joe and B. They choose a vehicle that in general just didnt have that wide of an appeal. Even if the Ghost Rider name was really that big, everyone has their own favorite version of Ghost Rider. I think any vehicle for Marvel Legends would be a hard sell but there are certainly vehicles they could have tried to start with that likely would have been more popular than this. I get it was Ghost Rider's Anniversary but this when it boils down to it was not a smart pick for a Haslab.

It's a bit early but I like the Lightsaber welding Cookie monsters driving a flaming car with a Rancor on the roof

I'm right here with you. I'm not one to usually write something off as greed. A company has got to make profit to keep making product, I understand that maybe better than most, but there is nothing, absolutely no thing that justifies the price of this thing. Then with the multiple price hikes, the constant multi-packs with only one new figure and the reasoning behind the higher prices of "exclusive" product, there really is no other explaination. Let's not forget there has been a change at the helm of Hasbro's toy division and insiders in the industry say he is basically the Bob Chapek of the toy world. If this thing is gonna work out we gotta let him know we're not idiots.

Of course that's what they're gonna say. They have never admitted they've done anything wrong. Ever. I hope this is a slap of reality to them and they shape their isht up. They got super greedy, they took the fans for granted and they thought we were too stupid to know when we're being gouged. Not only is the price way too high but the stretch goals are way too far apart. I was skeptical from the start but I didn't want to be part of the reason this thing didn't fund, but I've pulled my my support because I'm fairly certain this thing is toast. Even if it does fund there's no way they'll hit 12,000. If it does, as always, I will be happy to eat my shorts. I must say it was pretty cool to log into pulse and see the backers drop in real time. Gotta enjoy the little things. Message to Hasbro. Now, take away those $2.00 led lights you've been trying to charge an extra $150.00 for and drop those Brimstone Risers if you need to save some cash, include the Robbie head swap and put that beeyatch into production and put it on the shelf, or as an Amazon or Walmart or Target or Etailer exclusive and charge $150.00 for it and get to work for Giant-Man as next year's Haslab. The fandom has spoken. We're not gonna be your mindless consumers anymore. We sat through 3 price hikes, being charged 5 extra dollars for stupid "retro" boxes, the creation of a thief's paradise with the ridiculous decision to no longer include even a sliver of a window in your packaging, the reduction of the female figures to almost a single body mold, little to no focus on proper scale, the constant inclusion of bit and insignificant characters into spots in waves that could have been better utilized, and to top it all off, been verbally chided and disrespected by your sales team. Get it together Hasbro. Without us there is no you.

As others have said, the price tag is only an issue because it isn’t a slam dunk project (Most didn’t bat an eye over the price of the last two projects because they were absolute must haves, and this car isn’t that). Including Mephisto to get this across the finish line is just shitty, and doesn’t honor loyal collectors who really wanted him and don’t need or want the car (or might not have the funds for such a big purchase). Many who back this will probably do so begrudgingly. Curious what other ideas for projects they have toyed with. Why not a $200 Project? Say a collection of Skrull versions of characters (like a ten pack)? Or a whole team in one shot (Gen X, Marauders, Starjammers, New Mutants)…or two Ghost Riders on bikes (which I wish this one would have been).

I imagine there's a lot of collectors in my position, the car looks fantastic but I can't justify $350 on it even if it might be worth that if all the tiers are reached. And really, that just comes down to lack of interest in the product itself. I put down $400 on Galactus, knowing that I could pay it off over time. I could very well do the same here, but no matter how good it looks, neither the charger or the potential tier figures appeal to me to drop that much on it. A good example of this would be if it was an AoS Robbie and Hellcharger, with some of the Agents as tiers. Day 1 backing for me, and that would only be slightly different than what the current offering is. Galactus and the Sentinel were huge names, appealing to many many people. The way the campaign is going right now, it isn't going to fund, I'm not sure exactly why Hasbro is deciding to not reveal the rest of the tiers now, I think those will be the only things that would get it there.

I think it will get backed - there are always hordes of last minute speculators who buy these projects hoping to triple their money down the line. Personally I think it would be a mistake to do so for this project, I just don't see a ton of return on your investment down the line, but I've been wrong before, many times in fact. But with this car there isn't the same type of wow factor that there has been with the last two Marvel Haslab projects. When you're more interested in Mephisto then the car, you've got serious problems with the project.

I think the Hasbro team knows that, as much as the Hellcharger was obviously a misfire, changing the “rules” midstream in order to get it funded would just backfire on future projects. Better to just ride it out and hopefully learn for the next one.

No interest here either; certainly not at that price. But their decisions are just chaotic. Its a mixture of ineptitude, greed, and contradictions that make no sense. However the upside on this one is, fans can get it without paying that outrageous amount for the other two figures.

There are so many decisions here that don't make sense. The price, the standalone Robbie, why they though the HellCharger was the way to go? Even using Ghost RIder's Anniversary doesn't make sense, since it isn't that Ghost Rider and even if it does get backed, it won't be until next year before it is released and therefore it won't be an anniversary piece

Forget Hasbro! The real question here is ... what is Diamond waiting for to relaunch their Mephisto to kill this Haslab? Im so happy with my new Watcher and it didnt cost 350 US!

Just because there are people who can't afford certain price points doesn't mean those products shouldn't exist. Hasbro releases tons of product constantly at different price points, there will always be something for everyone. Furthermore, there are people out there who can't afford a $100 box set or a $50 2-pack. Does that mean those things shouldn't exist either? It's a hobby, not a necessity, we collect because we like things, and if you want and can afford something $300+, you shouldn't be denied that aspect of collecting just because others can't.

What you're saying does make sense on it's own, but the problem I have with Hasbro's logic is that they were ok with making a wide-released character who's a Nazi? A guy who's literal bio on Marvel's own site right now says that he was trained by Hitler himself?? Speaking only for myself, I've never personally had any dealings with a Supernatural being who wanted me to do bad things in order that my soul spend an eternity in torment in his lair. As a man of colour however, what I can say is that I've had to deal with racism both subtle and violent since I was 6 years old. Been chased by skinheads, harassed by police for no good reason that I could tell, profiled in stores and restaurants and so forth. But no....a fictional character who embodies the worst and most savage form of that behavior and ideology...that's totally ok! Totally fine. But a fictional being who's based on a Supernatural monster that no one can flatly prove exists...Bad!! Bad, bad, bad!! Whether they're lying or just plain knee-jerk clueless, I obviously can't say, but whatever the case their argument is weak and doesn't hold up under scrutiny. Yes, this doesn't change anything and they're going to do what they're going to do, but I can at least call BS on it, and refuse to be baited by this cheap tactic they love using so much.

Great points! I hear you....like I said earlier, if they put this at $200.00 they would've hit their mark now, because that's just a lot more reasonable (they'll probably hit it though). But the notion of withholding the Mephisto figure, like this....its like hostage taking. Its not the way to get customers on your side, and is really unnecessary. So my only advice is, don't give in, don't pay it. Hopefully down the road they'll re-release him at a much more saner price. Of course we don't know for sure he's gonna be a tier....after all a lot of us thought Firelord would be for Galactus. And look how that turned out....

Oh No, I don't like this sir, not 350, for what I presume is the most devilish trick Hasbro is going to pull on us, making this the vessel for a Mephisto, locking him behind a paywall of 350+ , I just don't think Robbie and his Car are Haslab material, I just don't think this screams 350, especially for someone like me in Canada where Hasbro Pulse doesn't support us in any way this would by estimate cost a Canadian 465 + likely 79 in Shipping , I'm sorry that's not worth it for us here in over 500 dollars, I also don't want to be that person who laughs at the fact they think a unpowered robbie is a real exctiting gift as an early bird special. I'm really kinda boiling about this, because I feel like surely mephisto and probably black heart are coming in this Haslab and Hasbro knows how much the people want those, this seems like a big ol plot, but let's see those tiers..are you going to force my hand Hasbro to pay way to much for something not worth it, simply because you are actually secretly know everyone needs a certain figure or two?

That really ticks me off that they would put Mephisto in with a $350 modern car. I don't buy that he couldn't be released at retail. Besides, he could have easily been fan channel, Pulse exclusive, or even bundle a bunch of classic figs together. Just a way to try to keep their pet Haslab from turning out like the last couple SW ones.

By now, they should have varying standard sizes for the female molds as they do for the males. Spider-Man, Captain America, and Thor all have different molds; they're not interchangeable. They represent 3 distinctly different characters and the team has no problem seeing that. But when it comes to females they can't seem to get it. For example The Black Widow's body (prime top adult female fighter) is not like Kate Bishop's (skilled teenager), so they shouldnt be on the same buck when it comes to action figures. The female figs need to have as much articulation as the males, and the Legends team really needs to pay attention to scale, so that the females don't all look like underfed preteens compared to the males. XesRay Studio's Combatants female figures are an example of how it can be done.

This is the response I've also often received here, whenever I point out the inaccuracies in female figures/outfits. Remarks and comments like there's something shady about you. When people remarked that Wolverine really should be shorter than the average 6" figure, hasbro realized they were right and fixed it. Fans pointed out that Spider-Man's webbing should be black on his outfit, but they didn't get mocked for that. And why should they, they were right. This is no different. The backpack on the Silver Centurion armor, Cannonball's leg issue, Dormammu's eyes/mouth (or lack of), that ridiculous Madame Hydra figure....we should be fighting about these things, because customer feedback is how we get better and more accurate products.

Oh, I see what they did there, altering her costume. This is childish. Unless they eventually plan to have this for retail (back up plan?), just no excuse. Blatant rip off from these guys. The Charger ITSELF should be the draw and its not. Knock off about a $100.00 and we'll talk.

Especially as it wouldn't be an anniversary piece if it gets released next year.

Shhhhhh! Dude! Keep that on the down low! LOL

nope it's his modern coloring.

Complete? What about Destiny? She's the best character in the Brotherhood!

I swear, if this dinky little head is all it took to convince people to buy this thing I am at a loss for words. It's too little, too late and still costs too much. Really don't want to set a precedent here for them to think giving us (a piece of) what should be part of the base product is enough to justify the cost. And you know this will all be spun as "You spoke and we listened" bullshiz PR.

The thing is, by all accounts, the MCU films aren’t like most huge budget films. Marvel Studios a machine. The studios, crews, VFX… it’s mostly the same whoever the director is. Hell, several directors have said the action scenes were mostly planned out before they were hired. With all of that in place the experience of the director is almost insignificant to how the film is made, so they can afford to bring in someone who might have a fresh viewpoint to give it some style. Or the cynical (but probably equally correct) view is that newer directors, early in their career, will be excited by the opportunity and less prone to fight the studio on the things Marvel doesn’t let them control.

Hopefully Hugh will wear a Wolverine Costume

I actually love this figure, it's my personal favourite comic BP yet. it's all the goodness in terms of costume as the old Walmart version but is a major update all around, I intially had the Vintage BP as my top comic BP for years, but this one beats it out, it's I personally think a must have for every Marvel Legend collector, obviously most important for Avengers fans, looks good both with the cape and without. I'd take some pics with some of the top avengers but I'm afraid of roughing up some of my displays ha, show a pick with some guys who are not going to mess anything up for you though. *edit here's a pic, I just took quick for ya, with some bros, no crazy posing though ha.

Eesh! Raising the price on something that hasn't even come out yet is not a good look; somebody seriously needs to school the new guy on the importance of optics! This was already pushing it at 80$ Canadian (before shipping!) which is what 60$ US roughly comes to. 110$ Canadian plus the international shipping = Thanks but no thanks; I liked the idea of myself in Action figure format, but I like having more shopping money for other things a lot more.

I don't think they can include human form...they'd lose all credibility. If they "throw in" the early bird fig even if the goal isn't met, people may start to think other stretch goals will just be thrown in, and goals won't be met.

I did think they were giving a very short goal date for the human figure. It seemed a little cocky. I don't think there is any practical reason to give such a short period of time for the Reyes figure. This suggests it was purely a marketing decision, trying to push potential buyers to act quickly. I don't see any harm to Hasbro if they did add the human form figure in when the campaign hits 9,000, even if that's late in the game. It almost seems spiteful not to, unless there really is some added cost reason.

I think part of the problem is the choice of vehicle. Robbie is a fairly new character with a smaller fan base. If thry had chosen a car like, say, I don't know...the SPIDER-BUGGY this woulda been funded overnight. Ok, that's a stretch, but it probably wouldn't've been as tough as this one seems to be. Oooh...and a stretch goal could been parts to make it the Dead-Buggy...

Well played

Where's my violin?

came in to say this, You can open it up to Europe, but not Canada?

The moment they start re-releasing (or repainting or whatever) Haslab exclusive figures is the moment people stop backing them altogether. I'd never buy any of these if I knew I could simply get a repaint a year later. Most people wouldn't. It's one of the most appealing elements of the projects; they actually offer a truly *exclusive* product.

I dunno. Kind of a dick move on Hasbro's part if this is the only way we're ever gonna get a Mephisto. Whereas it would be the tier reward that would tip the scale in deciding whether to back the Engine of Vengeance project for me, I just have to think what a slap to the face it is to those people that have spent their disposable income to support the line but just can't budget that $350 comfortably into their expenditures. It makes me think back to when I was younger and I had trouble working the original ML into my monthly, and that was at $8. The notion that Hasbro's would never do or Disney would never allow a Mephisto (or even Blackheart) into mass production is one that i both agree and disagree with. Personally I don't see it hitting the shelves of stores like Walmart or Target, but I could see them doing it as an online etailer store as they've done in the past and possibly at a premium price point (perhaps with a throne or as a 2 pack) that just puts it outta range of most child collectors. This is a questionable practice to be sure but it's clear Hasbro's intends on this being a factor in driving sales just by the way the set up that parting shot. I'm about 99 percent sure I will eventually get in on this thing in the end but I'm still gonna watch and see, just in case they do something really stupid to make me withhold my support at the last minute.

Summing up my thoughts here on the latest Haslab. I'm in the camp that I don't care enough about Robbie Reyes to pay $350 for this. If or when Mephisto and Blackheart get announced as tier items and if they get unlocked then I will re-evaluate. As for the price itself. Not to shocking when you look at the GIJoe Classified HISS Tank which was $300. That was a property Hasbro owns so no additional licensing costs. The $350 doesnt account for just the 1 figure and car, its for everything. The tiers items arent free, the expense for those are worked into the overall project. I know they make it sound like the stretch goals are "Free" extra stuff but thats marketing. So assuming everything is included your looking at paying $350 for at a minimum of 4 Marvel Legends figures (Maybe more). If the two stretch goals are Mephisto and Blackheart those are going to be larger more deluxe like figures. So Robbie as Ghost Rider, Robbie as human, Deluxe Mephisto and Deluxe Blackheart, plus a 6" scale muscle car with alternate parts to be a regular car or one on fire along with LED lights. So when you look at the big picture the $350 price based on today's market prices is not outrageous. Again I can understand if the character isn't exciting enough to want to pay that much but that's different than trying to convince yourself Hasbro is trying to rip you off. For those saying Hasbro can release a figure like Mephisto at regular retail, I think your crazy. I don't see Hasbro's corporate heads green lighting such a figure. This is the same company that seemingly will no longer release Cobra Commander with a hood, something they themselves created. Hasbro is a publicly traded company that by the vast majority of the public is viewed as making products for kids. All it would take is some major publication posting a headline saying something like Hasbro makes action figure of the Devil for your kids to buy to set shareholders in a tizzy. Is that stupid? Sure, but doesn't change the reality of the world we live in today. So no I don't think Hasbro is lying when they say this is the only way they could get the greenlight to do the character. Sutur while similar is an Asgadian being, not the Devil. Mephisto for all intents and purposes was created as the Marvel Universe devil who rules over hell. McFarlane which isn't a publicly traded company would def be more likely willing to do a character like Mephisto, of course McFarlane can't even include guns with their DC figures thanks to the WB corporate mentality, so there you go. If all you want is Mephisto and have no interest in Ghost Rider and his car then I wouldn't advocate you back this though you could probably sell the car and Ghost Rider and make some of that money back or just wait and buy Mephisto on the secondary market. While you will likely have to pay over $100 for him that way its still cheaper than $350. You can also try and seek out the Marvel Select Mephisto which is a solid figure that works well with ML. Again your likely gonna have to pay over $100 for it but that's still cheaper than $350. For those who say Hasbro is crazy for this, well this campaign is less than 24hrs old and already has over 3k backers. Will it sell as well as Galactus and Sentinel? I doubt it, but its gonna sell. You can waste time and energy getting mad at those that are perfectly willing to pay $350 for this but its not going to change anything. If you don't like it, can't afford it or whatever reason you have for not backing it then DON'T, no one is gonna think less of you if you don't. But (and this isn't towards anyone in particular just those in general in this hobby who seemingly try and scream bloody murder every time Hasbro launches these Haslabs) except the fact there are those who are perfectly fine getting these things and move on.

If Mephisto and Black Heart are part of the Haslab I must say that is a Bull #$## move Hasbro!!!

Hasbro does not respect marvel legends fans, it is just to much for a ghost rider. Screw them

At this point, our options are to continue to voice disdain over this AND to stop buying these figures. Customer feedback/pushback is the only thing that will get them to listen. That's a good thing. It took them awhile, but they finally got Wolverine to a shorter size and put scales on Captain America's upper torso. I want to buy the female characters, I do. But I'm not gonna spend money on inferior work, especially deliberate sloppiness. Right now I've cut back overall, and really have skipped the female figs; even if they get my to-do list (Mantis, Moondragon, Misty Knight, Valkyrie, Thundra, Namorita, Namora, Nightshade & re-do's for the Black Widow and Viper) I have little confidence they'll be done correctly.

Agreed. But take the "m" in "meh", change it to an "s", switch the "h" places with the "e" and change it to a "t" and then replace the "e" with a "u" and then add a "pid" at the end and that's what it was.

Yeah, you could probably take the word "Avengers" out of that statement and it still be accurate. The really sad thing is I can't think of anyone who would actually do a better job. Dan Slott, Donny Cates? I guess it depends on whether you prefer clones or symbiotes.

Meh....shame they didn't take this opportunity to redo Mystique on the Shreik mold or basically any mold that doesn't use those wobbly, skinny Kate Bishop legs. Seriosly, how hard would it be to simply modify the Shreik bucks legs to fit on the Kate Bishop mold? I've done it several time with a Dremel and some epoxy. It's not that hard. If they could just do that they would get so much less backlash when they use that KB buck and they would have more than one "standard" female buck to use. It's not a bad buck, the whole problem is quite literally just in the legs.

Missed opportunity to upgrade the figure. At the increased price point, its not much of a bargain for what is essentially the same figure from 3 years ago. At least anyone who missed it the first time will have a chance to get this one, though.