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Border Patrol: Transformers Edition – Skullcruncher, Optimus Prime, and Grimlock

It’s been awhile since we had an all-Transformers edition of Border Patrol, and this week there are several standouts.

Transformers Skullcruncher by Colosal Customs – this Headmasters custom of Skullcruncher comes in his G1 colors and stands 14-inches tall – it includes an articulated figure of Grax with sword – ends Feb 27, 2014 16:28:07 PST
Transformers Age of Extinction Optimus Prime by Xaviercal – take one exclusive Amazon first edition Optimus Prime and make it better with ball-jointed head, removable wheels, and premium paint work – ends Feb 26, 2014 20:30:17 PST
Transformers King Grimlock by billmeistercustoms – if you like the G1 metallic black look, then this Grimlock is for you – includes sword with a flame sheath, metallic crown from the Takara version, an apron (haha!) and more – ends Mar 01, 2014 15:50:04 PST

In AFP’s Border Patrol, we scour active eBay auctions for customized action figures that you won’t want to let slip by!

The Guardians of the Galaxy Trailer Will Blow You Away

The Guardians of the Galaxy just got its first official trailer, and flark if it didn’t blow me away. It hits on all the right notes, evoking Indiana Jones (Raiders Indy, not Crystal Skull Indy), Firefly, and even a little bit of the Usual Suspects. I think Marvel has nailed it with its casting again (why can’t Warner Brothers figure it out for DC?), and if this is a smash, Chris Pratt should be catapulted into RDJ heights of stardom. But make no mistake, I think Rocket Raccoon will steal every scene in this movie – both kids and adults will love him.

This is all good news for the toys. The Guardians of the Galaxy Marvel Legends Infinite Series figures should hit shelves in July, and three LEGO Marvel sets for Guardians of the Galaxy should hit in June. The movie opens August 1st.

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Toy Fair 2014: G.I. JOE Continues the Fight Against Cobra as a Toys R Us Exclusive

After a resurgence with their 25th Anniversary line, Hasbo’s G.I. JOE brand has taken a beating the past five years. This is thanks in a big way to lackluster performance of both G.I. JOE movies. Rise of Cobra in 2009 was considered enough of a dud (despite clearing over $300MM worldwide box office) to delay Retaliation to 2013, wreaking havoc in a line that was already heavily ordered at retail. Without the backing of the sequel at retail, the line sputtered and died – and even though Retaliation surpassed its predecessor, the damage was done.

This year, Hasbro has managed to extend the life of the brand by going the retailer exclusive route with Toys R Us. I’m glad to see the line continue, but it’s a tough road ahead. Retaliation did well enough to warrant another sequel from Paramount. And while a director and writer have been attached, no release date has been set – how long the JOE brand can maintain itself in absence of TV or movie support has yet to be seen.

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Toy Fair 2014: Big Things Coming for Star Wars Black Series 6-Inchers

In the past, I’d referred to Hasbro’s Star Wars Black Series (the 6-inchers) as “Star Wars Legends” insofar as the brand’s first foray into the 6-inch scale has taken strong cues from the Marvel line in terms of its sculpt and articulation. But despite an assumed softness in the age-old 3.75-inch scale that I think prompted the new line, we shouldn’t forget that the brand is more like the Empire, able to take grab shelf space and subvert it to its will.

So while Marvel Legends relies on programs like Build-a-Figure to sweeten the deal for consumers and retailers, Star Wars needs no such enticements. The “big” reveal for this Toy Fair is the introduction of the Black Series Deluxe line extension, offering a vehicle for Hasbro to bring higher price point items into the retail mix. If this were Marvel, we’d have a Build-a-Jabba; the Star Wars brand allows for a shelf-grab for more of your collector dollars.

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Toy Fair 2014: Hasbro Marvel Legends Report

This year I find myself in the rather odd position of reporting on Toy Fair without actually being there. A casualty of the winter storms Pax and Quintus, I’m warm on the west coast but missing the fun of seeing the figures up close and personal. It’s the first time being on the sidelines since I started covering Toy Fair back in the heyday of Toy Biz’s Marvel Legends run in 2005.

In many ways we’re seeing Hasbro’s (second) run of Marvel Legends entering similar territory. Back then, Toy Biz was making waves with the Marvel Legends Sentinel wave. And yet, macroeconomic factors were causing big changes in the industry, and the next year turned out to be Toy Biz’s swan song, with the announcement that they had licensed the Marvel toy lines to Hasbro. Those same factors – rising costs of raw materials and labor, consolidation of retailers – are still in play today for Hasbro. Rather than shutter the Legends line again, Hasbro’s Marvel team announced a shift in branding strategy at SDCC last year, and with their Toy Fair showing, we’re seeing how that plays out in the Marvel Legends line.

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