Unsure whether it's a decline in QC or just the increase in production numbers a rate of development that may be highlighting the imperfections/flaws more (many more figures = higher risk of getting a duffer!).

For completists I can see the grief to risk 'having to' buy sub-standard toys but as a selective collector the faster turnover and higher quantities just mean more choice and a better chance to buy at retail(ish).

My only 'niggle' is the sets, ranges, pairs and series editions . . . Mask Ranger series, US/JPN splatter trio, Skulletor Pair (although this actually 'worked' as a pair because they were so different) . . . and now the T-Brain kicking off a trademark series and the Gold gift set. Looking back on my older SB it appears that the strength and diversity of individual design may be on the decline . . . or is nostalgia not what it used to be!

Yeah it was!!

10 dollars for a lame bandanna just doesn't to it for me.

I'll respectfully disagree - I thought the whole concept of the Tiffany brain was great, and the bandanna was the icing on the cake, so to speak. Very clever, and very well executed (as opposed to the recent splatter releases, which seemed rushed and desperate). I think there will always be hits and misses, you just have to choose what strikes your fancy - at this point completism doesn't seem to be an option.

i thought it was very clever and im excited to see the soft drink version. i think the pringles cans were very funny as well.

all told there have been campbell's soup cans, pringles cans, Walder SB, Kamen Rider SB, Incredible Hulk SB, Cocobat Joe SB, Rocky SB, 007 SB, Dragon Ball Z SB, Masters of the Universe SB, Boo Berry SB, Batman SB, Tiffany SB and I'm sure I'm forgetting a few 'tributes'. The initial idea of interpolation was a smart one, but it seems that when all else fails, the design team at SB slaps on the paint scheme from an established character or product. I think of them all as 'SB posing as something else' and to me it's no longer novel. Here's to the Hawaiian Punch Skullbee, the Coppertone Mantis, the Hamburgler Damage Brain and the ultra limited surprise release McGuyver Skullpirate that are no doubt in the works.

1. Abe Lincoln Jr.

Hamburgler anything rocks! Are we gonna get a Jack Sparrow Skull Pirate? I see what you're saying, I kind of agree. The SB x Old Pop Culture Product is getting a little old. I love the idea, NOW AND THEN, but it really seems to be picking up steam. Like 2 or 3 a year is novel, but more than that and it's kinda like "OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOK ENOUGH!" But in the end, regardless what it's paying tribute to, if it looks good, and you like it...buy it. I like ther Skulletor Brains regardless of what they're paying tribute to, they just look cool.

Maybe they'll come out with a Jar-Jar Binks Frankenghost...

There is a fine line between nostalgia-based characters and the "who-gives-a-damn" colorway that so many western toys appear in. At least with SB, they mix it up some---(Batman brain comes to mind) instead of just slapping on a new paint job (like Tiffany, which isn't bad, but other than a pretty robin's egg blue color---meh).

It seems like anytime production/output increases, the volume of super-solid designs seems to shrink...however, I still love Secret Base and always look forward to seeing what they come up with next!

I think the Bman which in retrospect is not the strongest design of what I've seen still is a great add to my collection because the strength of the concept behind it, using vintage bman sheets is so next level in terms of "toy design" that it and my blue masked ranger (my personal favorite Sbrain) are the center pieces of my toyshelf

I agree about the "new level" with the vintage sheets. I really like all the throwback ideas like batman and skulletor, I think its a lot of fun to go and revisit the toys we grew up with. I can also see the annoyance with all the branding, I didn't realise they release so many, but some of them are so spot on theyr just perfect. The tiffany one, ill agree its not the most groundbreaking toy, but I gotta say I think it was great to have my GF get it for me since I get her all that tiffany crap, we argue over what's more pointless : )

Oh. I totally don't get the evil skulletor. Anyone wanna explain it to me or is there nothing to explain?

I thought one was Skeletor and one was Beast Man just form looking at the pair.

Its too complicated to explain.

HAHAHA beastman!!! Just a slut from castle greyskull. Haha. That makes sence, but they were calling it evil skeletor or the nemisis? Idk . Ill call it beastbrain.

yo, beastman is from Snake Mountain.. not Castle Grayskull..

how quickly love turns to hate. the usual suspects.

the old matte finish molds probably wore out, and they ahd to go with smoother ones.

I wonder if they released the invisible brain today, instead of say 3 years ago if some peoples would scream 'boring sold out' instead of the multiple wood popping at the time.

I think SB has done a great job of color-waying the same pieces several hundred times. its way harder than youd think.

One question, Frank.

Why would they be forced to go with smoother molds when the old wore out.
Could then not have re-made the matte molds ?

I want a clear skullbrain : ) I think its one of the best.

Supercat, ill post why I said what I said when I get home and have access to a real computer.

I don't claim to to understand the toy making process but I was told through Hirosuke (Balzac) that Hiddy said it was the factory that is no longer able to make the matte finish. It sounded to me like the process and the actual material (soft vinyl?) can no longer be done in a matte finish. I never heard anything about having to change molds. Does the mold actually have that much to do with the finish? I always thought it was the type of material poured in.

Actually, is there anywhere online to check out how these types of figures are made? I'd be interested in learning something about it.

I think it is more a concern than a hate. Collecting habits have changed a lot in the last 6 months, since completism is no longer a goal for anyone (except maybe Mark) people are getting a lot more particular about what SB figures they are buying. The result is people are looking for a reason not to buy a figure, whereas a year ago people were happy with any justification.

SB also has a lot more competition these days. RxH, Gargamel, Blopus, Rainbow toys and even KFG (just to name a few) have all been putting out lots of new sculpts and S7 has made access a lot easier than it used to be. On the other hand SB is still relying on the same 4 or 5 figures. The only new fight figures they have released were designed by Flynn and Pushead

Frank, I have a feeling if you were still sitting on 10k worth of SB you might be a little more concerned about the direction the company was headed in especially if some of the problems were not just a matter of style.

The mold determines the finish of the raw plastic, and from what I understand about injection molding (for ABS and solid PVC parts), it's just a matter of buffing the mold walls to create the desired effect, matte or gloss. I'm not sure if the same thing applies to rotational molding.

Of course, if you paint the toy, then the paint determines the finish.

In response to Frank's post, I feel that it is not easy to score a hundred times, but I also feel that no one is forced to try.
Some companies Pogue mentioned produce more new sculpts and release new colorways less often.
I dont think coming up with 'tributes' is that hard. If SB can liberally borrow from any of the franchises I previously mentioned, I offered up a couple of examples that were just as viable as any of the recent 'tribute' releases. I might be wrong, but there's my train of thought.

I need to unload this Kaws stuff before it decomposes is all i know.

I'm gonna put all the money into Pogs.