I know I have replaced most of my "new sculpt" stuff with 25th versions. The big reason I picked up the "new sculpt" figures is their slight improvements over ARAH, better sculpting, paint, improved articulation design (swivel wrists, ankles, new elbows) Now that the 25th figures have come out I have better versions and parts to work with so I don't have much need for "new sculpt". I have some "new sculpt" fodder that I occasionally pull out for inspiration but for the most part I'm done with that line. I do have my VvV blue/red Vipers that I'll keep though. But they won't be integrated with my 25th stuff.

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Considering that would intail someone making up their own custom card, inserts, filecards, and packaging...but then Hasbro would have shut them down at that point with a C&D...

I think you were referring to the Sgt Bazooka/Torch 2-pack.

But now you got me wondering. Can Joe Customizer get the AFA folks to grade his/her customs and then sell them for high prices on eBay? "My customs are AFA graded!"

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Oops, yeah that is what I meant.

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And don't forget the new Hulk toys has those new sculpt Joe like figures being used as Shield or soldiers in a two pack.

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I liked them at the time, but other than the BATs they're all just fodder now.

I love that they introduced so many new characters though, and I intend to do 25th versions of as many as I can.

I don't think that will ever happen because there will be no demand to foster such prices. It's like the Destro/Gung Ho repaint pack or the blonde beard Wave 8 Gung Ho. Try to find those figures. They are incredibly hard to find and the blonde GH is probably rarer than the Gold Headed Steel Brigade. But, when you do find them, they're dirt cheap because no one cares about them. I think that's the market in a microcosm right there.

I think we're pretty set on pricing for non-retail Joes at this point. If anything, future developments (Funskool releasing more, MC repainting molds, or Hasbro offering collector oriented homages) will decrease pricing for a lot of this stuff since it will further sate demand. You'll see inflationary increases. But, if something's not popular right now, it's doubtful that will change over the next 10-15 years.

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Harsh, dude. But funny.

For me, the New Sculpts are also like an ex, but one that was exactlyh what I needed at the time. She wasn't complicated or high maintenance. She was cute with quirks but not drop-dead gorgeous (so I never had to be jealous). And she was way willing to try new things and let me experiment.

We're still friends. We hang out all the time (she even still lets me take pictures of her). And she's very happy for me that I've finally found my true love and passion in the 25th line.

I'll always remember the times we had together quite fondly.

Well, if we're framing our responses in ex-girlfriend terminology; I think that biatch gave me the herp.

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I really don't want to know what AV was doing with his Joes


I think ultimately the JvC style figures will end up being something that only appeals to Joe historians who are interested in all the permutations of Joe (including Sgt. Savage and Extreme) or to those who are truly die-hard completists that must have everything.

Gotta stop you right there. It may not happen for these particular Joes, but I distinctly recall G1 Transformers going for peanuts back in the early to mid 90s. They weren't in any demand then, now they fetch house payments.

And don't forget the grey snake eyes vs. cobra commander 2 pack or the "halo jumper" vs. pit viper 2 pack (with different file card writeup for halo jumper). Although I think there were more of those grey snake eyes vs. cobra commander sets that came out.

but yeah, i'd consider it about the same as variations in earlier 2000's star wars lines. now that people have better sculpts/articulation, not many people are going to want to go back and get these, esp. not the people who hated them the first time around. but there are some good accessories in the line that could get re-used, like the web gear, ghillie suits, etc.

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New Sculpt is still my favorite style. My RAH stuff is boxed away and I collect the 25th stuff but I buy it and stand it on a shelf. I like the o-ring design and the newer plastics on the new sculpt stuff. I like the "super hero" build and I like that the figures come in different heights. I will admit there are some BIG stinkers in the line but that's with every toyline. My main display is new sculpt and all of my customs are new sculpt based. And the general dislike of new sculpt stuff has discouraged me from posting my stuff anymore since all anyone cares about anymore is the 25th stuff. I'm still waiting for the price drops though so I can stock up on fodder.

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I tried hard to like the GvC/SP/VvV era, but never could. I really wanted to like the new Shipwreck when it came out in 2003? 02?? "LASER BLAST", that's a long time ago. But when I got the figure home it was all wrong. Rolled up sweater sleeves, short, short torso, long, long legs. Tiny head and big ol' hands.

It was like that the whole way. I'd but a figure, best of the wave, and be completely disappointed.

Good riddance.

Gone but not forgotten by me. I kinda lucked out on decision making. I lost my original & New Sculpt joes in a fire last year so all I've got besides the 25th guys is a few DTC's I grabbed off Hasbros Blow Out sale last year.

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To repeat what some have already said, the major problem with the line was that they didn't really hit their stride until right towards the end, the inconsistency of quality and scale, the atrocious sculpting on some of the figs, and that for every cool fig, the were about 5 stinkers.

HOWEVER, even though most of that stuff was sub-par crap, when they were good, they were as good as, if not better than the original RAH stuff. Not to mention they gave us the first swivel wrists, working holsters, removable vests and webgear. The weapon sculpts were also some of the best and most realistic ever. And let us not forget some of the more decent comic pack offerings, such as Scarlett that had a feminine face instead of the butch transsexual that was the original figure. We also finally got very decent versions of the October Guard!!! And the Night Ops Hummer was just too sweet.

Just a few examples of amazingly well done figures include:

Snake Eyes 14 (one hell of an update)
Snake Eyes 23 (could have been the most kick-ass figure of the entire line '82 to present if not for those %$#@*& hands that wouldn't hold his weapons)
Chief Torpedo (one of the best custom bases and generic troops ever)
Crosshair (realism at its finest, specific gear at its best)
Blackout (beautifully done)
Coils (just beautiful and another perfect generic troop or custom base)
Cobra Commander 15 (regal)
Sand Viper (one of the meanest looking Cobras ever)
Destro 10 (the most perfect Destro ever)
Mindbender 5 (finally, he LOOKS like a mad scientist!)
Slip Stream 3 (again, detailed realism so good it makes you cry)
Bombstrike (may be the best female figure of the entire line, except perhaps the original Baroness)
Gung-Ho 16 (the best Gung-Ho ever)
Duke 19 (looks like he just stepped out of Desert Storm)
Torch (another PERFECT update)
Snow Wolf 2 (ditto)
Medi-Viper (finally!!)
Rollbar 2 (though impaired in posability, one of the sweetest looking night-ops/commando figures)
Major Barrage (a fine, fine sculpt if ever there was one)
Barrel Roll 3 (realism, great custom base, perfect generic trooper, amazing gear)
BTR Firefly (if not for those stupid pegs, this could have been one of the best figures of the line. Such amazing detail!)

I'm sure I missed a few. How I wish the line had continued...

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