This is just my opinion, but...
I think they made two major errors with the
Buffy line, which they probably now recognize as errors given the different strategy they seem to be taking with the
Angel line. The first is, they took a strategy of releasing new core characters sparingly with too many minor monsters and retreads in between. I assume they were trying to "stretch out" the life of the property. But what set
Buffy apart is that it wasn't a "Monster-of-the-Week" show--fans love the core humans (and core vamps), and few tune in for the one-off monsters.
Buffy is an ensemble show, and without being able to look forward to having the whole core cast interest in the line was never maximized. As a result, years later the line seems to be on the back burner and we still have no Tara, Dawn, or Anya.
The second big mistake was the hideous non-likeness of Willow and failure to make up for it with a new human Willow release. Again, a
Buffy line without a passable Willow isn't going to be attractive to most
Buffy collectors, because she's key. Sideshow should have at least given us a Dark Witch Willow with a neutral enough expression such that buyers could repaint her head and pop it on the old Willows for a good normal likeness. A DWW would've sold extremely well when you factor in such customizing potential too.
Fritz said:
I concede that Spike (and Buffy) are popular characters but both Subway Spike (3000 ES) and Vampire Spike (6000 ES) are still available. When I see that, it makes me nervous about this line. Although I probably shouldn't be since Brant said we have nothing to worry about.
The problem as I see it is that Sideshow has been running the
Buffy line with false or incomplete assumptions like "Spike and Buffy sell so let's keep doing multiples," which is true only until you saturate the market and alienate fans of this
ensemble cast show by not exciting them with the prospect of getting the whole
core ensemble. The two figures you mention above, together with Vampire Buffy and PG Buffy, are proof of where Sideshow went wrong. No, Spike and Buffy aren't sure sellouts, even in smallish editions considering the characters' huge fanbase. Why?
Because you'll eventually saturate the market unless the variations are so extraordinarily good or unique that they're must-haves. Mediocre variations will not sell out. New core characters draw in more
Buffy fans and expand the overall market.
Because good likenesses and attractive aesthetics matter--Subway Spike has an odd and ugly expression, and his and PG Buffy's exposed joints are ugly. Of course they're going to take forever to sell out. If Subway Spike had had an attractive expression and a coat, he'd have sold out almost immediately. If PG Buffy's coat were standard, she'd have sold out quickly. Even if the price were a few dollars more to cover the coats, it would've been worth it
Because
attractive human likenesses of characters will
usually sell better than vamp versions of the same characters. Again,
Buffy isn't a show about monsters, it's a show about an ensemble cast of characters the fans relate to or wish they could relate to. An attractive human Spike will outsell a vamp Spike. A vamp Buffy is a one-off monster from a single episode, not even a legitimate core character, so despite the absolutely gorgeous sculpt it isn't going to sell briskly.
Because people want more core characters--why did Vamp Buff sell poorly compared to Vamp Drusilla and Vamp Darla? The latter two sold out so quickly that
Sideshow clearly underestimated demand and should've made the edition sizes larger from the start, whereas the former has sold slowly and even the exclusive edition of Vamp Buffy is still in stock. The answer is simple: Vamp Buffy is a one-off monster, whereas Drusilla and Darla are new core villains on
Buffy and
Angel respectively. Lesson: don't underestimate the sales of new characters, especially if they're attractive females (like Tara, Dawn, and Anya, hint hint).
A good likeness of Tara, Dawn, or Anya (esp. in gorgeous OMWF outfits) would easily sell out an edition size similar to Vamp Darla's as quickly, even at a newer slightly higher price point, and entice more
Buffy fans into the
Buffy/
Angel Sideshow offerings. There's every reason to do them and no legitiate reason not to.
Fritz said:
I hope you're right. But I take nothing for granted after the SSW LOTR Line ended without a Faramir (and Denethor) in any form with multiples of Aragorn produced. I'll tell you it was a relief to finally get Giles.
If Sideshow had clearly foreshadowed the fact that they'd be ending the LotR line without doing a Faramir, I think it's obvious that it would've had a negative effect on sales in the overall line. Now, imagine it had been an even more important character, and that they were much slower in new core releases and made many more multiples and minor creatures instead. That's basically what Sideshow did to
Buffy when they made an ugly Willow and then kept releasing multiples and monsters-of-the-week instead of new core heroes or villains.
Given the fact that the first 3
Angel releases are 3 of the 6 or 7 core heroes and the likenesses are spot-on, I trust that Sideshow has been learning from its
Buffy mistakes.
Alright, I'm now putting on my flame-proof suit and preparing to get scolded in disagreement.
).
