Open Your Toys Cast

To make things easier this week, on me at least, I’m going to pick my favorites from New York Comic-Con. Well, also because it’s what took up half of the show this time around. Transformers was easy for me, can’t beat an Ox and Cart Optimus Prime! G.I. Joe continues the movie goodness with their Cobra La Royal Guard. Star Wars continues not only their Retro line, but also does so with a third wave of A New Hope figures. Mondo carried the MOTU mantle. While their 200x line looks amazing, that price through.

There is just too much cool stuff coming out. While there was a ton of Masters news, I think everyone was most excited to see vintage Origins continue with Dragstor. Close behind, for me at least, is our first look at the next and most likely the last set of Masters of the Universe x Transformers figures. Something I don’t need, but want oh so badly and will probably justify it as a decoration, is the new LEGO Star Wars gingerbread AT-AT. Finally, Joe continues the Mole Rat coolness with Stage 2.

I feel like we’ve definitely been in a flow for the last few years, but how long can it last? Mattel is definitely in its rhythm with MOTU, especially with its new She-Ra and Swiftwind release. Hasbro, not so much with their new Shockwave Humpback Whale. However, the Classified cop looks like it might be one of their most popular non-exclusive releases yet. Star Wars shows off what the future of collecting might look like with their mixed reality playset, and I don’t like it.

I love that we are finally getting an articulated G1 Ultra Magnus after almost 40 years. In that same vein, we’re about to get a never-released character integral to the sometimes maligned, but mostly loved, G.I. Joe: The Movie. While a secondary character, Spikor was one of my favorites as a kid. I’m happy to see him receive the Sketch Series treatment. There wasn’t any big toy news for Star Wars (until the next show), so we’ll just go with that it’s actually refreshing to get movie news.

Not a lot of time for reminiscing, especially considering it’s a holiday weekend. Just want to remind everyone to do what they love, whatever that might be.

My favorite thing from this show is the super-chonky Cosmos from Earthspark. Star Wars has something we’ve never had before: a Hyperspace Pod with Probe Droid. Masters had a couple of amazing things, but Mondo’s She-Ra and Swiftwind are next level. Nothing spectacular for G.I. Joe, so I’ll toss in a favorite of mine, Spin Masters Batman Ninja figures.

Sorry for the delay. We were on vacation. I still am :)

The Classified team is not procrastinating a single minute with their HasLabs. They are coming fast and furious, with perhaps my favorite vehicle of all time up next. Lego gets two spots this time around. First is my favorite Transformer, none other than Soundwave. The second is another favorite of mine. Don’t judge, I was the perfect age for the Ewoks in Return of the Jedi, especially Wicket. For MOTU, my favorite this week is not even a master of the universe, he is a Thundercat.

The toy companies seem to be doing much better when it comes to collectors. It wasn’t that long ago that they seemed to think kids bought most of their toys. Now we get almost solely “fan-based” offerings. Who would have ever thought we would get a Jedi Temple Guard in Black Series? Remember, it was supposed to be for only the most popular characters. Transformers has explored every timeline and media, but we’re finally getting a definitive Megatron (kind of). While I keep trying to cut down my Classified purchases, they just keep pulling me back in. Even Mattel, which has always been fan-centered, has gone the extra mile with the new Fright Zone.

I needed to check something off the list.

I love that all my favorite things this time around are relatively new lines. The oldest one is Droid Factory. Some may consider it a close relative of the Vintage line, but their Disneyland 70th Anniversary Astromech is a great tribute. While Origins has been around a while, I’m happy to hear a new 200x subline is coming. Blokees is just killing it in their few short years. Their new Action-scale Soundwave looks amazing. Finally, not a toy line, but something new I’m trying to stay positive about, unlike my co-hosts, is the new AAA Snake Eyes game.

TOYS! I’m so happy to be back talking toys and less so collecting. We even had a guest host, which is always fun. The Ronin 2-Pack ended up not being hard to get. For us sportballers, the new NFL x Transformers Helmets look great, now they just need a Saints version. While it wouldn’t be my first choice for the next Sketch Series figure, at least we’re getting one I had as a kid. Nothing too exciting for Joe, in my opinion, so let’s give some more props to 3DJoes with their new Field Manuals on Kickstarter now.

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.