Ex-Parrot
Super Freak
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2010
- Messages
- 2,049
- Reaction score
- 14
I think all Doctors will sell, just so long as they are done in the right way. Less widely popular Doctors should be done later in the line, to encourage completism after the most popular are done, and in smaller edition size runs. After all, there is nothing saying you can't do a second, variant run later if the need arises...just as is planned with Ten.
I also think that releasing some of the less popular Doctors as website exclusives, at least initially, may well be the way to go. Exclusivity does drive up desirability amongst many in the old collector base, after all.
Personally I can't wait for Colin Baker and Patrick Troughton, but realistically speaking the next should be Eccleston and Pertwee, then probably Hartnell (who would have made a perfect 50th anniversay tie in actually), Troughton, and Davison. With Colin Baker, McCoy, and McGann bringing up the rear.
As for the rest, smartest method is to stick to what has the best chances of selling until the company can afford to take risks, and even then do them cleverly. I think both Captain Jack and Sarah Jane would sell, especially if the latter came with K-9. They were not only popular companions, they also had their own shows. But other companions at this point I honestly think are a risk, even though there are a few I'd personally love to see, such as Leela and The Brig.
I think The Master will always sell, but because of just how similar the DelGado and Ainley Masters are, they don't really need individual releases in my opinion. So a special two pack with interchangable DelGado and Ainley head sculpts, and two interchangable jackets (the priest collar DelGado style, and the ruffled shoulders and bling collar Ainley style), plus both versions of the tissue compression eliminator might be the better way to go. The regular release could have all of the above, giving people the option of displaying their favourite, or switch between the two, while the more expensive exclusive could come with an additional body and full clothing set so you could display both Masters. Again, it's a way of trying to make the release seem a bit more tempting and special, and draw more people in, while also serving the hardcore fans who would clearly want both on their shelves. They could probably do the Simm/Jacobi Masters in a similar way, especially as I doubt we'd get a Jacobi version otherwise. Plus they could release accessory packs for making a later version of the Simm Master.
As for monsters, the problem with a lot of the classic monsters is that design wise they look exactly like what they are, men in slightly dodgy monster outfits. This presents the immediate problem of do you replicate them exactly as they actually looked, or do you create an idealised version of how they were intended to look? And whichever approach is chosen is bound to have detractors.
I love the classic series, but I honestly don't know how many classic enemies I'd lay down this much green for, especially when the end result might look slightly dodgy in the hard light of day, in keeping with the TV show originals. There are a few that they can obviously get away with easily enough, Daleks and Davros being the most obvious. But I think the Zygons, the early Sontarans, certain incarnations of the Cybermen, maybe with a bit of finessing the Ice Warriors, Silurians and Sea Devils too, but even then I'm not sure how well most would sell at this price point. I'd probably bite on those as they are all key enemies, and I'm a hardcore fan, but I don't know how many others would. And the problem with the new series is that a lot of the memorable monsters have already been done, and done reasonably well, and can still be had for nowhere near Big Chief prices. Its all a bit of a minefield, really.
Whatever they choose to do, I wish them nothing but success, because more than anything else I just want all eleven Doctors on my shelf, and hopefully a few Masters too. Anything else is just gravy.
I also think that releasing some of the less popular Doctors as website exclusives, at least initially, may well be the way to go. Exclusivity does drive up desirability amongst many in the old collector base, after all.
Personally I can't wait for Colin Baker and Patrick Troughton, but realistically speaking the next should be Eccleston and Pertwee, then probably Hartnell (who would have made a perfect 50th anniversay tie in actually), Troughton, and Davison. With Colin Baker, McCoy, and McGann bringing up the rear.
As for the rest, smartest method is to stick to what has the best chances of selling until the company can afford to take risks, and even then do them cleverly. I think both Captain Jack and Sarah Jane would sell, especially if the latter came with K-9. They were not only popular companions, they also had their own shows. But other companions at this point I honestly think are a risk, even though there are a few I'd personally love to see, such as Leela and The Brig.
I think The Master will always sell, but because of just how similar the DelGado and Ainley Masters are, they don't really need individual releases in my opinion. So a special two pack with interchangable DelGado and Ainley head sculpts, and two interchangable jackets (the priest collar DelGado style, and the ruffled shoulders and bling collar Ainley style), plus both versions of the tissue compression eliminator might be the better way to go. The regular release could have all of the above, giving people the option of displaying their favourite, or switch between the two, while the more expensive exclusive could come with an additional body and full clothing set so you could display both Masters. Again, it's a way of trying to make the release seem a bit more tempting and special, and draw more people in, while also serving the hardcore fans who would clearly want both on their shelves. They could probably do the Simm/Jacobi Masters in a similar way, especially as I doubt we'd get a Jacobi version otherwise. Plus they could release accessory packs for making a later version of the Simm Master.
As for monsters, the problem with a lot of the classic monsters is that design wise they look exactly like what they are, men in slightly dodgy monster outfits. This presents the immediate problem of do you replicate them exactly as they actually looked, or do you create an idealised version of how they were intended to look? And whichever approach is chosen is bound to have detractors.
I love the classic series, but I honestly don't know how many classic enemies I'd lay down this much green for, especially when the end result might look slightly dodgy in the hard light of day, in keeping with the TV show originals. There are a few that they can obviously get away with easily enough, Daleks and Davros being the most obvious. But I think the Zygons, the early Sontarans, certain incarnations of the Cybermen, maybe with a bit of finessing the Ice Warriors, Silurians and Sea Devils too, but even then I'm not sure how well most would sell at this price point. I'd probably bite on those as they are all key enemies, and I'm a hardcore fan, but I don't know how many others would. And the problem with the new series is that a lot of the memorable monsters have already been done, and done reasonably well, and can still be had for nowhere near Big Chief prices. Its all a bit of a minefield, really.
Whatever they choose to do, I wish them nothing but success, because more than anything else I just want all eleven Doctors on my shelf, and hopefully a few Masters too. Anything else is just gravy.
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I actually think starting with a classic Sarah Jane and then offering a add-on pack for Modern Sarah Jane could be smart!
