McFarlane Super Powers: What's the Point? - Michael UNPLUGGED
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- Опубліковано 12 кві 2023
- #retroblasting #superpowers #mcfarlanetoys
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Michael takes a look at McFarlane Toys relaunch of Super Powers, and can't find the logic in it. - Комедії
I bought a bunch of these McFarlane Super Powers. They are cheap and easy to grab. The Vehicles are really cool and there is an Invisible Jet and Bat-Mobile coming. It's simple fun. I like them.
Yup, well said. And THAT is the point of this line. It allows me to revisit my childhood a bit, while providing good value for the $. Amongst all the Marvel Legends, Black Series, Classified, NECA, Mythic Legions & other "grown up" figures I collect, sometimes it's just nice to play with a toy.
I bought several Superman on clearance to custom paint. I'm positive I remember seeing a gold deco Superman around the 50th anniversary but have found no trace, so now I can make my own. And Eradicator, and all black return of Superman, and Superman red, and maybe Bizarro. Walmart even pegged paint sets next to the Superman clearance pegs.
But they don’t scale, damn it!
100% with you. These have been my favorite figures for the last year!
They are shit....not fun at all
I really miss Kenner. The actual Kenner, who cared about things like relative heights of different characters and consistency.
Same. This fake "Kenner" label that Hasbro just slaps on retro crap makes me sad.
@@budkin _"Here's how Kenner would have made Super Hero toys if they made them back in the day!"_
_"Kenner did make Super Hero toys back in the day. They weren't like this."_
_"Really? Wow. Who knew?"_
_"Everybody."_
Man, me too. Kenner was doing things I’ve never seen before when I was a kid. That Legends of Batman line back in the 90s blows me away to this day. Talking about way ahead of the times!
Kenner was the best.
When hasblo bought everything in 99/2000...that's when the toy industry officially died. I hate hasblo. Every company gets great before they go out. Kenner,toybiz...fn shame.
The Deathstroke figure scales well with Kenner. He even looks 80's. He just needs a gun.
How about the vehicles? We got a comics and cartoon accurate Supermobile and will be getting the invisible jet which we never got. Also, Deathstroke and Green Lantern look really good next to my vintage Super Powers. The price point, nostalgia and the vehicles make this line a win for me.
The thing that interests me most with this McFarlane line is the vehicles. It's a way to add some flavour to the original line without breaking the bank... or using the new figures!
I think thats the weirdest part to the whole thing. the vehicles don't seem to be in scale with the new figures so I can't imagine McFarlane producing more.
This is like your older brother pranking you by secretly replacing your shoes with a similar pair but one size larger so they fit your feet wrong.
That sounds like an oddly specific prank...Do you...uh...wouldn't happen to have first hand knowledge of this prank?
Admit nothing, deny everything, make counter-accusations, don't listen to my sisters they're liars.
We were too poor to make such subtle jokes.
When I first heard about them not being in scale with the vintage figures I was like “oh no, did they make them a head or two too big to the point that it’s distracting?!”. But when I finally saw comparison pictures they only just a smige taller than the vintage ones to the point that I could barely notice. I guess that’s due to me being kinda a normie with this Super Powers line. I guess it’s more noticeable for long time collectors of the line like yourself, Michael.
Kinda a shame that you didn’t mention the vehicles here. From what I’ve seen they are the best part of the line, and they’re fairly compatible with the vintage figures for the most part.
I can't speak about other figure in the line, but those two Superman figures look the same scale to me. Just to point out that one has his feet apart, one has his feet closer together. That can gain a person a couple of inches in height.
@@apachehelicopterah64 You can't? I can. It's very obvious from first glance.
That hole in the cape really pissed me off.
The appeal for this line for me is that I don't have any of the Kenner figures. Also unlike McFarlane's multiverse line, this line actually scales well within its own line. Or at least better than multiverse.
I love the mcfarlane superpowers
The scale difference doesn't bother me too much (as it doesn't appear to be all that taller), and I thought the heights were different on different characters in the vintage line, so does it matter if the characters that didn't get an original release end up being slightly taller than say superman? If there's nothing to compare them to and their head size looks in proportion to the original ones, then I feel they should still work with the vintage line.
Maybe I'm missing something here though?
@@apachehelicopterah64 Weird that you can't see an obvious size difference between the two. I have no horse in the race, but it's clear as day.
I understand wholeheartedly where your coming from. This is kinda how I feel with McFarlane Figures in general. I collect Marvel Legends, Mezco, SH Figuarts, Figmas, any line, but McFarlane's 7 in scale really restrict me from buying any more then what I have.
I like them for what they are, the height difference I chalked up to removal of the squeeze the legs action features which gave most characters a wider stance because it was need for the lever action. Anyway the biggest gripe I have so far are those garbage ribbon like capes with holes in them. Yuck! Aside from that a few other issues I have are the modern versions of existing characters from the vintage line ( NU 52 Darkseid) or modern characters which clash with the 80’s aesthetic ( Batman who laughs) also nightwing should have been in his “disco” collar suit for sure. All those gripes aside these are still fun and cheap to collect relative to say Marvel Legends or Black Series who’s prices seem to climb weekly.
Yeah, I noticed the old school Super Powers line having a much wider stance when I compared a McFarlane Supes to a 1991 Robin Hood Prince of Thieves (which used a Super Powers Green Arrow body, my closest point of reference to old school Super Powers since I don't have any of the ones I had as a kid).
Never understood the plastic tag in the capes for Batman and Superman. You either have to keep them on the package or get an after market cape.
Ah thanks Mcfarlane for giving us what we never got…. Superman. Never got a Superman.
The price point made it easy to collect all of the first series.
So I did.
And the vehicles.
They're good.
And since I don't have the old ones, my shelf looks fine. :)
We got death stroke, nightwing, John Stewart, and many more to come
He needs to release Cyborg!
The scale issue is exactly how I feel about Playmate's new Star Trek figures.
The worst thing I had to do was watch the new Indiana Jones trailer before watching this great retroblasting video
I’m treating the two as separate lines. They just don’t go together even if they were exactly the same size. They just don’t match aesthetically. I love the vintage. The McFarlane line is just OK. They’re cheap enough (some have gone on clearance already )
I can collect the characters I like.
The Supermobile and Batwing are very cool.
Waiting on the Invisible Jet.
I really love these figures. The colors just let me stare at them every time I walk by them. The lack of articulation make me oddly comfortable. I never had all that many of the original line , maybe on,y 7 or 8. So I’m definitely ok with the scale.
…that tag in the cape tho 🤦🏻♂️
I thought the collectibility of Superpowers line includes the distinctive retro packaging. If you keep it in the package, is it really noticeably larger than the original?
Thank you for the video. I picked up John Stewart as my favorite GL, and Nightwing because I was a New Teen Titans fan. I don't have any of the originals to compare them to.
Flash, The Green Lantern, Deathstroke, Nightwing, and Wonder Woman are good figures. The Batwing and Super Mobile are good vehicles.
In my opinion the figures are fine, scaling considered. I just hate the capes not being cloth. I don’t really like the ribbon-like material they used
Michael, what did you think of the Potf2 figures when they first hit the shelves in '95?
So far Deathstroke is the one that fits best with my classic Super Powers figures.
Im not happy about the scale but in a group it doesnt look THAT bad. The old figures fit perfectly in the new vehicles. I am hoping they do the mythical series 4 in proper scale. And I would LOVE to get the Apokolips playset somehow.
The visual of Michael opening the door to find this figure on the doorstep like some evil prank to ruin his day is really funny.
I wonder if making them larger was a contractual thing that McFarlane was stuck with because Spin Master is already making 4 inch DC figures.
I 100% get you point. I was never able to get the original SUPER POWERS-figures, so I am happy to get the ones. But I understand what you mean.
The new super powers are a disappointment in my opinion I wish they did the cancelled 4th wave of super powers that Kenner never got to make
if they were gonna do characters again they should've just re-released the originals like the retro collection star wars figures
Or if they wanted to improve the originals they should do what MOTU origins did add more detail, accessories and articulation
Man, that Retroblasting title stinger is so cool, it must be so satisfying to edit that into your videos!
Maybe they’re finally creating figures that aren’t catering to collectors. The price seems reasonable and they are fun to collect without them being overpriced. I’ve long since lost my superpower figures and, though they aren’t exactly the same, they are simple and enjoyable novelty’s.
I just went to a Walmart today and saw the Superman from this line being clearanced. Only to come home and see this video in my notifications.
I ordered custom capes for Superman and Batman.
It's solid logic. Like most figure lines, it makes NO sense to make any figure that doesn't match the scale of those that came before. All figure lines should fall into either 3.75 or 6 inches. It only makes sense to make them compatible with other figure lines. That can only increase the chances that random buyers pick them up.
I enjoy them as an simplified alterative line to the mcfarlane seven inch DC line. I guess its noticeable side by side with some vintage super powers, but the only piece I still have is the Delta Probe One vehicle and finally have a Darkseid to grab with the capture claw. The line also uses more modern characters and costumes. The Batman that laughs is a really strange choice.
Well, you have certainly made your point. And it is a good one. In fact, to make matters even crazier, one popular figure they produced that was not part of the original Kenner line, Black Manta, who actually scales reasonably with the with the original Kenner Aquaman, can no longer be found anywhere with the message that he is out of stock and no indication when or if it will be available again! After less than six months!!! It cannot even be found on the McFarlane web site anymore, which smacks of a licensing issue.
The point is for people like me that don’t have the Super Powers figures and could use a cheap alternative. What they did to Superman’s cape was bullshit though.
My only REAL complaint about this toyline is that it needs more villains. How does this line have three Batman’s (four if you count The Batman who laughs) but no Joker?
I feel the same way you do about this more or less. Although I did buy a Superman, and a Green Lantern because I can't afford a vintage Kenner Superman, and I really wanted a John Stewart Green Lantern. I think the Darksied would look good with the original figures because the original was also bigger, but that's the only one. They really dropped the ball on Wonder Woman by giving her a hand clearly meant to hold something like a sword, or her lasso. The problem is the only thing she comes with is a red cape.
Going back to the Superman I got, I already replaced the cape with one I bought on ebay from a guy who makes replacement accessories for the original toys. I actually think I found him through this channel. Although it's good to find someone who does that, it also means I'm spending extra money to fix problems that never should have happened.
I mean they don't look like they're that far off in scale though.. If you look though, the old school figure has is legs further apart, and the newer one has them closer together, which could explain the slight difference...The part I don't like about them, is the faces look weird. I'm wondering how they scale with the DC Superheroes lines which scaled pretty similarly if not identical to the Superpower line.
So are you picking up the whole line or just Superman?
Still getting them. Great video.
Calling it the Super Powers line was probably the quickest way to generate interest. Starting up a new separate line and calling it DC Basic figures, or DC Multiverse Jr probably wouldn't have grabbed a lot of nostalgia collectors attention. There is always the very slightest of possibilities that he knew you would rant about it so Todd purposely made them a different scale and patiently waited for this video to be made and posted.
The scale isn't that different, think it's workable
To me I feel like this should've been marketed as a brand new DC line aimed towards kids due to the price point. I just think it was mismanaged
The scale factor killed it for me. Plus that the fact that they are not sticking with the same era of characters from the original line.
Yes, they needed that (now) retro feel of being from the same era in comics.
Yeah that's one of the main reason this line made me so bummed out. I love when they resurrect a line and make it a continuation of the original line. The vehicles seem really great, at least the Batwing. The Supermobile disappointed me only because the Jail cells in the wings can't even hold figures thus defeating the entire point.
Upgrading the cape I love it as a stand alone display piece not to replace the original but be it’s own thing.
Totally agree. It's like getting behind the guy going 50 in a 55 mph zone: What's the point of driving almost the speed limit, but not quite? If you're not going to make them to scale, them make them significantly larger. Otherwise, you're accomplishing nothing other than ensuring that they don't display properly with past figures.
I was very disappointed with these figures. As mentioned, the scale is way off, but also, the face sculpts are very soft and don't have much detail...at least on Batman and Superman. The capes being needlessly packaged with a plastic cord punctured through them was just stupid, and finally, the figures lack any actual action feature. The don't punch or run or anything. The only bright spot was the vehicles. The comic accurate Supermobile, and blue and black Batwing are fun, and compatible with the old Kenner figures. But apart from that, this line is a waste of time and money.
I think it's by and large that the original Super Powers were not in a consistent scale with one another and were made by different sculptors. And I also think when McFarlane went to make them, they were eyeing making something cheap for kids, not so much a nostalgia product, except that nostalgic parents would buy them for kids. My hunch is that McFarlane didn't even use physical samples. They probably went online and saw some descriptions of them as 4.5" or 5" and just went with 5".
If you want a truer successor, Boss Fight Power Stars are decent and have hidden extra articulation and accessories for just under $20.
Fresh Monkey's Longbox Heroes are sculpted by one of the top experts in Super Powers and it shows in prototypes. At $25, they're pricy. But I have talked to them and they were essentially made to very small orders, some below their intended minimum. The more common ones are from runs of about 1000 units and some of them went in runs of about 100 units because BBTS loaned them hundreds of thousands to do the tooling. After licensing fees, I'm told that the company essentially expects to make nothing or lose a little on them. Probably best to think of them as high end customs,
I think you'll enjoy McFarlane's vehicles better than the figures. The scale difference isn't as noticeable there and they actually matched colors to 40 year old releases very well. The vehicles blend with an older collection mostly, with a Batwing (that didn't exist until 1989) made more retro, a comic accurate 70s Supermobile (with undersized storage compartment), an upcoming Invisible Jet, and a Hush Batmobile in vintage colors that is more for the new figures.
I wish I had gotten the vintage Super Powers Action Figures when
they first came out, but I didnt because I was at a stage at the time thinking I was too
old for toys buy was I stupid but I did get the
next best thing.I got all three volums on the 1984, the 1985-86,
and the 1986 Super Powers Comic Books
But if I ever get the chance to get the vintage again you better believe I will
I did get the McFarlen ( I hope I spelled his name rigjt) Action Figures but truth be told I'd gladly trade then for the vintahe set.
Theyre fine, but i think the scale is about the same. The legs on the originals are just more spread apart. They're only slightly taller which doesn't distract too much. However - scale has ALWAYS been an issue with McFarlane. Their Spawn figure should be like 8 inches tall, Spawn in the comics is like 7 foot tall - him being 7 inches is just normal 1:12 scale.
I was so confused about the size issue and I googled "why are mcfarlance super powers different sizes", this video came up, and: exactly. this makes no sense.
Hey Micheal! Long time viewer, first time poster. I'm a part of a couple Super Powers groups online and I am a fan of the new line and never understood why some fans of the original line disliked it so much. But after watching your video, you explained it so clearly and logically I completely get it. Thanks for breaking it down for me and once again thank you for the awesome content!!
Thank you for the kind words!
Im so glad Michael as always is the one to say what we are all thinking.
McFarlane figures have a history of being in odd scales. Their halo 3 figures aren’t even in the same scale as their halo 4 and reach figures, which by themselves are in some weird 5ish inch scale, making them fit in with almost nothing else. Unfortunately, McFarlane has seemingly ditched the details that made their figures look incredible but have kept their wonky scales so that figures sometimes don’t scale with other figures in the same exact line or even the same wave they are released in.
Are they all out of scale? I haven't seen the entire line, so I don't know. I would assume the vehicles will accommodate the slightly smaller figures, so maybe it's a win on the vehicle side of the equation?
I didn't even know these existed. But now that I've looked into it, I'm totally noping out. The Darkseid looks like a newer version of the character, and at the rate they are coming out each year, you're never going to see a small fraction of either the figures that were previously made and you never got, nor the ones that never made that you wanted. It looks like they're on track for about 4 figures PER YEAR.
Roughly 2 waves of 3-4 figures per year. You're not wrong, at that rate it will take several years to flesh out a really good roster of heroes and villains in this line. And the fact that some are more modern comic adaptations doesn't mesh well with a vintage/retro styled line.
Even worse - several Wal-Marts I visit have clearanced out the 1st wave figures and both the Batwing(got it for $11) and the Superman punching fighter($22(from $30 - so I passed)).
They have stocked more figures at full price, but I have my doubts for their future at Wal-Mart...
@@BikoX Oh, okay, I was wrong about the rate they are coming out, but I guess I was right in essence, because even at rate twice what I thought, that'd still be, like 30 years to see anything like the volume of the original line. And, yeah, I don't want a Classic Superman with a n52 Wonder Woman.
@@brentbanks8021 My experience with Wal-Marts (and Targets, for that matter) has been terrible. I mean for other things, like Star Wars; I'm not getting these.
Ya know that is a really good friend to send you one so you can make a 7min video that will generate more revenue than the $1 I spent on my Darkseid I just picked up in the clearance section! That is revenue net win… and I would KEEP that friend! They are a gem! 💎
These don't even register in my book. Wish they did, really.
On point video. For the reasons mentioned they are fine for some, but could be off-putting for existing collectors. Considering that, why do this when you could've saved a little money in manufacturing AND removed the risk of alienating potential customers of a niche product? I have a complete SP run, but no interest. But if someone Stan Solo'd the SP line? My wallet would be in trouble.
I had bootleg versions of these figures when I was little, they were so similar that when I saw what the originals looked like I was shocked.
The bootleg ones had only 5 points of articulation, knees couldnt bend for example. And their limbs were made with a softer plastic.
Size does matter.
Yhe McFarlane Super Powers figures, they've got me collecting action figures again. Getting more characters that the original line didn't include is one of the selling points to for me. The figures look great and are scaled well enough with the originals, I'd never expect it to be 100% like the others so this is a non issue with me.
Just bring more Legion of Doom characters, they were classic villains that were sorely missed in the original line. So far we got Black Manta, Sinestro, and Brainiac. Keep em coming!
I think this is probably just a logistics thing given that modern figures tend to be made on a much stricter buck system than was the case in the old days. Given everything McFarlane does right (including fixing a lot of issues you've criticized the bigger companies over), this seems like a minor nitpick IMHO. Sometimes I think you take marketing slogans a little too literally.
It is interesting how the McFarlane Super Powers figures are slightly taller than the original Kenner figures when the Toy Biz DC Comics Super Heros figures were slightly shorter at least with the example of the Super Man figures I have.
Thanks for this, Mike!!
If it was a tribute line, and not a continuation so to speak, then they could have given us elbow articulation. I saw these and skipped out on them. They didn't really hold my interest. Though how far off is the scale? From what I saw in this video it almost looked like the height difference might be accounted for just from the leg positions. The vintage legs being spread out to accommodate the action feature, the new one close together to stand tall.
Personally, I'm the exact opposite- I don't give a damn about the scale. They are nice, affordable retro figures reminiscent of one of my favorite toy lines ever. Though, the capes/tags issue is pretty anger inducing for me.
I love em! Gimme, gimme more
Maybe it’s more noticeable in hand but the difference doesn’t seem that far off, like they are half an inch taller if that. I %100 agree though that scaling really just misses the point of the line
100% agree...I'm an adult collector and trying to recapture what I once owned as a kid...honestly, the only thing so far that has caught my eye in this line is a large repro of the Corgi Supermobile
I love this channel. Been a loyal follower for years
Would it really have been that hard to scan an original from someones collection & make them just like our originals just w/o the gimmicks? All they need do is watch a few YT videos, or ask some collectors, make what folks ask for & BOOM! They'd have a home run.
Wish we could thumbs up like 3 or 4 times 👍👍👍👍 great video!!
I see your point, I don’t have the original line, I have my own issues with line, but for what it is, it isn’t that bad
I like that they were released,but I was hoping for the silver Brainac.I really dug the Corgi style supermobile.i did get Darkseid for Christmas, but I stopped there
Could it be scale licensing? I know hasbro for instance owns the monopoly on the 6" scale for multiple figure lines in the US, to the point where other companies making the same characters in the same scale have to be imported from BBTS.
what sucks about the scale is that these could have gone really well with the first couple of batman movie toylines. the vehicles are great additions though
This guy cracks me up 😅
I picked up a few of these on clearance. 4 dollars only reason I got them lol
If the vintage figure had his feet as close together as the modern version's, how tall would he be then?
Agreed, but I like them though, mainly because they are probably the last 5 scale inch DC line we will ever get. Legends of Batman was my favourite line as a kid and I didn't have many Super Powers figures, so the nostalgia isn't really there for me.
I understand these are supposed to be just nostalgic "playthings" but that said...does it mean we have to let bad design choices just slip by? Are we so desperate at this point? I mean, The standard, the reference is already OUT THERE! It's not like these came from nowhere. Respect for the original design does not mean kissing the OG Collector's old buttocks, it means "We as a Toy Company are this committed to quality and not willing to cut corners in our work" but...
And just like that all life and joy was sucked our of the room .
If your sense of joy is dependent on his opinion of a toy, see a therapist... and you'll probably want to get off youtube. You're not healthy enough to be here.
Fortunately, you can leave whenever you like and find a new room of vacuous chucklehouse UA-cam hosts to satiate your shallow desires. You can't spit without hitting one of these Ronald McDonald channel hosts, so there's the door. Enjoy the piss outside while telling yourself it's just raining.
I don't know why folks bothered to make toys after Super Powers? I mean, what more can be done?
And we know why they’re warming the clearance pegs everywhere!
I picked up my #Darkseid on #clearance for $1 💰😄👍
@@samnewsman Damn, I picked up a Darkseid and Supes at Walmart clearance for $4 each last month and I thought I got a good deal. Oh well, at least I didn't break the bank 😂
the only reason i can think of is to differentiate it in terms of copyright. It can’t directly copy figures that are now worth money
i picked up the wonder woman, she looks good but she doesnt fit with the other characters, she looks alittle "too good" or real looking instead of cartoony compared to the others in mcfarlanes line. i like the line though otherwise.
Your complaint is completely valid. If you are doing this to integrate characters that were not done before into the old line, then they should be scaled correctly.
It’s like taking driving lessons but riding a bike every day
What’s even more senseless is the 3 inch “Page Punchers”. Both these lines are also taking away from the line that is actually fun to collect. DC Multiverse.
My biggest problem with McFarlane's DC toy line has been his need to scale up figures and remove movement that was already there with the Mattle line of the same name.
Agreed. Absolutely ridiculous to make them in different scales, unless that was the original purpose….but businesses would never lie to their target consumers, would they? 😂
Yeah, I'm with you, Michael. I mean, they're not that much out of scale to MAYBE add additional characters, but pass. I'm not a fan of the cape material either, it's hardly close to the originals.
What I would have loved to see would be the original Silver Age designs, same scale but updated articulation a la MOTU Origins. That would have been fantastic for those of us without vintage Super Powers toys.
That said, I agree with you re the scale - it'd be great to fit in John Stewart, the Batman Who Laughs etc in with a vintage collection. As it stands, it's neither fish not fowl - not quite new collection worthy, and out of scale to fit in with a vintage collection.
Page punchers is the one I ask what's the point about
I guess I had the original ones back then in the 80s? I remember the Superman cape yellow S would get worn off and I would get sad lol. I always put him in the water to do the scene in Superman 1 where he fell into the pool. I think I bought two Superman. After one got destroyed or something.