Late 2022(nov/dec)

 

I know I wish I had a proton pack like that when I was a kid.

 

God… so far yet so close…

 

Plenty of other stuff to keep us occupied until then. I still have figures I haven't even unboxed yet from the beginning of the year. lol  

 

That's true. Tbh at this point the newness and excitement have kind of worn off so it’s not too bad. Once we get to October/ November of next year I’ll probably be rehyped.

 

Yeah, me too. That's what I did with Unicron. Put it out of my head until it got real close to release. Then got back on the hype-train.

 

I didn't really even think of the Cosplay element until someone on the forum here pointed out that the Proton pack is the companion piece to the Proton blaster that was release as well (I asked why the pack didn't include the blaster). In many ways, Ghostbusters is the original cosplay. In the late 80s / early 90s, as kids we all dressed up as Ghostbusters for Halloween or costume Birthday parties. We all had those blue toy proton packs and the wand and that cannon that shot foam they reissued last year. It was very smart of the new film to grab ahold of this concept that "anyone can be a Ghostbuster", because growing up we all pretended to be Ghostbusters. That's like a true S-Tier nostalgia hook. Butting things in that perspective, along with what yous aid how this pack will be better than the homebrew ones cosplayers use, it's success makes perfect sense.

I'm really happy to see it happen. I won't be getting into Ghostbusters (after going a bit too wild on Marvel Legends side collection when my "just the 1992 X-Men" turned into half the Marvel Universe) but I'm glad they're relevant to kids and adults again.


As far as Star Wars / the Black series, my ongoing theory has been that the Rancor, the Razorcrest (and maybe even less extravagant versions of the Sentinel and Galactus) would all have been TRU exclusives in a world where TRU existed. But with just Target and Walmart as the major big box toy retailers left, Haslab is the only outlet for things of that size, so they put them there and amped them up a little.

What was the kicker for me is that while the $350 Razorcrest was being funded last year, Target was also doing an online-only release of the Disney Parks exclusive retool/redeco/repack of the "New" Millennium Falcon (the 2009 mold or whatever year) for $400. In another world, they were both at the same $200 price point at TRU. But then again, Hasbro started charging $100 for X-Wings instead of $35 or $40, so it probably would have been more. Anyway I see these things are basically orphaned TRU exclusives basically.

The Rancor though has the same problem as the big Black Series Tie Fighter from years ago that shelfwarmed at TRU real hard: who is it for exactly. Star Wars figures were pretty much (with GI Joe) the original figure-vehicle interaction line. That works when your figures are 3.75 inches. But when you start getting into the 5 and 6 inch figure size, the vehicles get larger and more expensive (and usually too big for a kid to handle). A kid could never lift or fly around a Black series tie fighter the way they can any of the 3.75 inch ones (even ones with the correct proportions, which Hasbro does rarely). When I brought this up in another thread, someone said it's because a lot of Black Series collectors like to re-create scenes. And while I get that, I don't see a Rancor with a 42 inch arm span as something viable to all but a few collectors. Even with the Skystriker, which I would have done way different in terms of pricing and pack ins if I were Hasbro, were I a deep pocketed GI Joe collector, I'd buy 3 or 4 of them to put on my USS Flag or a flight line. The Sentinel benefited from this too. But with the Rancor, who the heck is gonna buy 3 Rancors? That's some Dark Horse Star Wars Legends shit.

Hopefully Hasbro rights the ship with Star Wars somehow, because things look bleak.

 

I see it as a great thing for customers.

 

On top of being a popular movie, and that aforementioned childhood nostalgia, another potential reason why Ghostbusters is such a favourite cosplay subject is that, equipment aside, it's a very "accessible" kit. Most cosplay intimidates people because the source material features such impossibly attractive people with extravagant (and occasionally shameless) costuming. Ghostbusters has none of that baggage attached. Four, blue-collar schlubby guys (or gals) in maintenance cover-alls and work boots. No judgement if you don't look like a supermodel in form-fitted lycra.

 

It's funny you mention how easy it is to get dressed up as one, for anyone of all ages. Yeah that's absolutely part of the appeal. And for younger kids and parents, it's largely wholly a non-violent franchise but still let's them have a blaster to "shoot things". It really ticks a lot of boxes.

But what I wanted to mention is that I'm a huge Star Trek fan and in Star Trek fandom, getting dressed up in costumes goes back 50 years. Star Trek, not Ghostbusters, may be the Grandad of cosplay. But here's the funny thing about Star Trek costumes (including starfleet uniforms): they look simple, but you have to pay thousands of dollars and have them custom tailored to get them anywhere close to screen accurate. Most people cosplaying Star Trek spend a couple hundred dollars tops on their Starfleet Uniforms. And sure they get the idea across. But the fit is wrong, or the colors are off, or some of the small details are missing or off (like the stitching), or they're the wrong material. You'd think these glorified cotton, wool gabardine and spandex jump suits would be easy to mass produce. But the vast majority just fall flat. See this one?

vs

That guy on the left probably spend about $300 on that. It's not even a bad attempt. It's just extremely expensive to get movie-quality fitted uniforms made. From that angle, a $25 brown jumpsuit, some iron-on patches from Etsy and a couple of licensed accessories from Hasbro is much more bang for the back.

 

People who have only grabbed and thrown on whatever they find on the rack for sure will underestimate the value of good tailoring. Yeah, the Star Trek uniforms look comfortable and easy to wear, but you don't get lines that clean unless the uniform is custom-fitted. The pant legs and sleeves bunch up if the clothes are too big, the sweater will flap around at your sides and hang loose at the armpit, etc, etc. A suit that fits like a glove, with professional stitching will cost a pretty penny, because that's relatively rare, skilled labour you're talking about.

 

>people who post about stuff other than Starsaber

 

Now THAT is a starsaber 11/10

 

Now that is a figure that should not have clear plastic...

 

Was specifically designed with translucent plastic in mind, so it could light up in Optimus Prime's hand.

 

Superior version

 

I can meld both the cosplay discussion and Star Saber.

 

No lie, I'm kinda hoping with the upcoming Armada love, we get a new version of the Star Saber team. Either a redeco of the Micromasters that formed a sword, or a whole new team of combining minicons.

 

Or hell....Mini-Con reissues even.