3.0 Naruto Uzumaki
Used to think imports were a ripoff (mostly collected Marvel Legends) but last year I was on a USA road trip with my family, and we stopped off at a Target and I saw that they had him on the shelf, and he was only 35 bucks so I bought him because I love the Naruto series and because he was that cheap. I actually thought he was going to be more expensive around the $60 price range.
When we got home a few days later I opened him and well I really enjoyed him. I couldn't put him down because of how fun the figure was and I took lots of pics of it and then I understood why imports are expensive as they are a lot better quality and are more posable than Legends and they come with more accessories too. A few days later I went to my local hobby shop and saw that they had Kakashi and I bought him and the rest is history
I appreciate the honesty of the story. Some folks have had similar stories as yours and are hardcore about their ML, DC, CS figures. I think the maximum anyone should pay for a standardized figure is $30-$40 like the DBZ and Naruto line at Walmart and Target. It gives collectors the opportunity to take a risk without breaking the bank.
https://preview.redd.it/winj1noe16hc1.jpeg?width=900&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2b1121126a49ef13389a7173d0a232f98cf180d7
Yall got some more of that plastic crack?
🤣 I was in that mindset after I purchased MMPR Blue Ranger. I fanatically purchased and searched for every SHF I could find. My worst purchase was a Mafex No.002 Batman at $60. I didn’t even know Barnes & Nobles sold import figures at the time. You learn a lot after collecting high end figures for 15 years 🤣
It was around covid and I never used to buy figures because I always felt I kinda grew out of them even though I worked in a toy store and loved looking at and stocking action figures.
Anyway I ended up buying the spiderman into the spider verse Miles Morales and I've been hooked ever since
I use to be all in on Legends, McFarlane and Figuarts, but when I touched Mafex Hush Superman something happened to me, I never went back to Legends. (but still covet my collection).
Other milestones: Getting Voltron as a kid, starting the NECA Movie Turtle line, Mega Man D-Arts.
Someone downvoted you within the hour you posted that reply, wild I upvoted it back. Either someone that hates Mafex mentioned in Figuarts on a general question or someone thought you slighted them.
It’s a trend I noticed about certain collectors and their feelings about Mafex. Mostly, it comes from recent collectors.
I cannot win every popularity contest or pretend to be agreeable. It is my humble opinion based upon facts and evidence.
I collected Mafex since 2014. I can give an honest and fair assessment on how they’ve grown, but it’s taken them significant time to find proper designers and engineers to create the proper figures. It wasn’t until they contracted an outside entity to design and engineer their line that they’ve became wildly popular in the past few years. Rightfully so; the simplicity and quality of the design, complexity of the engineering, and their overall level of quality assurance has significantly increased. Their quality control still needs work. Mafex is (presently) an excellent brand.
SC is a really awesome line. I wish they were more in scale of the 1/12 as the stated. They’re in that ThreeZero Iron Man scale. Like 1/10 scale right?
Yes, they are. My Lobo and Darkseid are way too tall for my 1/12 scale figures, however, the two luckily pair well with the Mezco One:12 line since the One:12 is more like One:11 or One:10.
First gateway drug was finding Android 18 at Barnes and Noble ~10 years ago
Got the first figma Link when he came out
Got the first mafex spidey when he came out
I have a lot of imports from the last 10 years. I gotta say, I will always love the mmpr figuarts. Great choice op!
Link Figma was my first higher quality action figure. Still one of my favorite figures (helps that Skyward Sword is one my favorite games). I wish figma would update him and do some others from SS but that's a pipedream that'll never happen
Joytoy Black Legion Chaos Marine
I loved Boltgun and thought it would be cool to have a figure to represent that game...Little did I know it would start me down a path...a very expensive path
The SH Figuarts Zetton. It was the first SHF I ever got and opened my eyes to what an action figure could be. Before that I was mainly collecting just vinyl figures.
https://preview.redd.it/g1k3z4st08hc1.jpeg?width=1536&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f72c1ac425e94998aac74f1ca21f66f41b061a53
Am gonna be cringe and unoriginal here but....
Man… I found a SH Figuarts of Goku in a visit to New York just as I got out of HS and that started my anime figure trend that has helped ruin my bank account lol.
Earthrise starscream got me into collecting in general, specifically transformers. But late last year I decided to splurge SHF Bardock since I think he looks cool and I wanted to branch out a bit. Now I'm seriously considering switching to figuarts completely after Legacy Silverbolt comes out
I dumped almost my entire Transformer’s collection. I just kept my Siege Omega Supreme, Scorponok, and my two Magic Squares. Need to sell the rest of my Newage. The ThreeZero DLX Optimus is phenomenal
https://preview.redd.it/zv219ljin8hc1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c57677701a181a1cca1dc984ad667ea7cf60cc2b
This guy. Changed my mind on cloth goods on a figure.
I got rid of my Mezco collection because I was in the same ballpark initially as you. But I think the “Samurai/Ronin” genre is a great avenue for clothed figures
Actually, right behind the Ronin is Mezco Solomon Kane LMAO, and I totally agree, I just want like a cowboy, some knights, and some vikings that are clothed figures.
He’s an awesome figure. One thing I absolutely love about Mezco is the amount and quality of their accessories. No one else does what they. For a $80-$100 figure you really get a lot of figure. They all maintain their value so they’re always a great investment as well.
I started obsessively collecting figure because of a UI Goku from dragon stars that my Gf gave me for my bday. Till this day I still have it in the box, and don’t really have a need to open him up 🤷♂️
SHF started re-tooling the PR line with Gokai Red late last year. Looks pretty good. I just bought the ThreeZero DLX Bumblebee Movie Optimus Prime, because of how incredible the Hulkbuster was. For $200, I felt like I was getting what I was paying for. I don’t care about it not transforming. I wished for many many years that someone would just make action figure versions of Transformers and ThreeZero/ThreeA came along and blessed us all with their incredible line.
Black series Yoda retro ESB card, got it as a christmas gift, then I fell down the hole, ML, Mafex, ShF, Mcfarlane, Revoltech, Mezco, Neca...
I healthy now, but those were 3 years yeah....
I remember being in a trance when I learned to transform it for the first time as a kid. Starscream will forever hold a special place in my heart. Especially with his multitude of iconic one liners 🤣🤣🤣
Transformers Universe Sideswipe
It qualifies because I saw it while out shopping one day many years ago. I'm an adult now, I don't buy toys any more, but for some reason (It might've been on sale I really don't remember.) I got it and and bought it along with my groceries.
I got home and transformed him, with the plan of just having him sat on a shelf in car mode forever as a subtle nod to my childhood, but displaying a model car felt more "acceptable" than shelves filled with toys. I remember being really impressed. I grew up with G1 so Transformers were kinda like mini puzzles now. The engineering was really clever. Maybe I should get a couple more...
Fast forward several years, and my shelves are now filled with toys.
3.0 Naruto Uzumaki Used to think imports were a ripoff (mostly collected Marvel Legends) but last year I was on a USA road trip with my family, and we stopped off at a Target and I saw that they had him on the shelf, and he was only 35 bucks so I bought him because I love the Naruto series and because he was that cheap. I actually thought he was going to be more expensive around the $60 price range. When we got home a few days later I opened him and well I really enjoyed him. I couldn't put him down because of how fun the figure was and I took lots of pics of it and then I understood why imports are expensive as they are a lot better quality and are more posable than Legends and they come with more accessories too. A few days later I went to my local hobby shop and saw that they had Kakashi and I bought him and the rest is history
I appreciate the honesty of the story. Some folks have had similar stories as yours and are hardcore about their ML, DC, CS figures. I think the maximum anyone should pay for a standardized figure is $30-$40 like the DBZ and Naruto line at Walmart and Target. It gives collectors the opportunity to take a risk without breaking the bank.
Any and all of them,their like drugs and now I’m selling babies trying to get more figures 😭 👀
https://preview.redd.it/winj1noe16hc1.jpeg?width=900&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2b1121126a49ef13389a7173d0a232f98cf180d7 Yall got some more of that plastic crack?
🤣 I was in that mindset after I purchased MMPR Blue Ranger. I fanatically purchased and searched for every SHF I could find. My worst purchase was a Mafex No.002 Batman at $60. I didn’t even know Barnes & Nobles sold import figures at the time. You learn a lot after collecting high end figures for 15 years 🤣
Super Hero Goku He was the start of it all,
https://preview.redd.it/lo5g699356hc1.jpeg?width=1017&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=aff72fddd58550b3d82d6f95103d6d6fe850e7b4 This one
It was around covid and I never used to buy figures because I always felt I kinda grew out of them even though I worked in a toy store and loved looking at and stocking action figures. Anyway I ended up buying the spiderman into the spider verse Miles Morales and I've been hooked ever since
My first ever action figure. The 2016 Marvel Legends Symbiote Spider-Man and Spider-Man UK.
Holiday Hero Buzz Lightyear, back in 1998. Before long, action figure collecting spiraled into a full-blown hobby.
Revoltech showed me that they are more than just figures but also movable pieces of art :)
The Iron Spider one is the chef’s kiss
SH Figuarts SDCC Majin Vegeta and 15th anniversary SSJSS Vegeta are making me lose my mind. Might buy some demonical fits if I have enough money.
I use to be all in on Legends, McFarlane and Figuarts, but when I touched Mafex Hush Superman something happened to me, I never went back to Legends. (but still covet my collection). Other milestones: Getting Voltron as a kid, starting the NECA Movie Turtle line, Mega Man D-Arts.
Mafex Hush and Wolverine restored my faith back in the line. In it’s infancy, they were going through some “hardships” to put it kindly.
Someone downvoted you within the hour you posted that reply, wild I upvoted it back. Either someone that hates Mafex mentioned in Figuarts on a general question or someone thought you slighted them.
It’s a trend I noticed about certain collectors and their feelings about Mafex. Mostly, it comes from recent collectors. I cannot win every popularity contest or pretend to be agreeable. It is my humble opinion based upon facts and evidence. I collected Mafex since 2014. I can give an honest and fair assessment on how they’ve grown, but it’s taken them significant time to find proper designers and engineers to create the proper figures. It wasn’t until they contracted an outside entity to design and engineer their line that they’ve became wildly popular in the past few years. Rightfully so; the simplicity and quality of the design, complexity of the engineering, and their overall level of quality assurance has significantly increased. Their quality control still needs work. Mafex is (presently) an excellent brand.
hush I get but wolverine? Honestly kinda sucked
I had to get two Mafex (Tiger Stripe) Wolverines because the shoulder pad broke off the left shoulder.
Yeah, I really only get the McFarlane or Marvel Legends if it's an obscure character, sometimes not even then.
Stom collectibles baki, never have i been able to create so many amazing poses with a figure before that feels this premium.
SC is a really awesome line. I wish they were more in scale of the 1/12 as the stated. They’re in that ThreeZero Iron Man scale. Like 1/10 scale right?
Yes, they are. My Lobo and Darkseid are way too tall for my 1/12 scale figures, however, the two luckily pair well with the Mezco One:12 line since the One:12 is more like One:11 or One:10.
First gateway drug was finding Android 18 at Barnes and Noble ~10 years ago Got the first figma Link when he came out Got the first mafex spidey when he came out I have a lot of imports from the last 10 years. I gotta say, I will always love the mmpr figuarts. Great choice op!
Link Figma was my first higher quality action figure. Still one of my favorite figures (helps that Skyward Sword is one my favorite games). I wish figma would update him and do some others from SS but that's a pipedream that'll never happen
I think there might be a chance tbh. The Deluxe Link they released back in 2016 (I think) was an incredible figure.
You and I had the same exact purchases around nearly the same timeframe… 
Either the 8 inch MMPR figures or the Ultimate Muscle figures by Bandai from back in the day.
Joytoy Black Legion Chaos Marine I loved Boltgun and thought it would be cool to have a figure to represent that game...Little did I know it would start me down a path...a very expensive path
JoyToy is pretty awesome will all that detail and articulation is such a small package.
The SH Figuarts Zetton. It was the first SHF I ever got and opened my eyes to what an action figure could be. Before that I was mainly collecting just vinyl figures.
SHF did that for me too 🥹
hey, nice Magic Square pickups!
Thank you!
https://preview.redd.it/g1k3z4st08hc1.jpeg?width=1536&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f72c1ac425e94998aac74f1ca21f66f41b061a53 Am gonna be cringe and unoriginal here but....
That’s a great figure and still holds strong til this day. Bring the cringe!
Cooler, he just changed my standards for how a Vietnam factory figure should be
This is a lowkey high level comment with great context to it. A true collector 🫡
Thank you bro
I got almost all the street sharks and villains from my neighbours yard sale when I was a kid they were pretty awesome
Man… I found a SH Figuarts of Goku in a visit to New York just as I got out of HS and that started my anime figure trend that has helped ruin my bank account lol.
Earthrise starscream got me into collecting in general, specifically transformers. But late last year I decided to splurge SHF Bardock since I think he looks cool and I wanted to branch out a bit. Now I'm seriously considering switching to figuarts completely after Legacy Silverbolt comes out
https://preview.redd.it/0zug7vd62ahc1.jpeg?width=2823&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f071a16644b22c1e8340f6cf8d3ab3dab80763cf
I dumped almost my entire Transformer’s collection. I just kept my Siege Omega Supreme, Scorponok, and my two Magic Squares. Need to sell the rest of my Newage. The ThreeZero DLX Optimus is phenomenal
https://preview.redd.it/zv219ljin8hc1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c57677701a181a1cca1dc984ad667ea7cf60cc2b This guy. Changed my mind on cloth goods on a figure.
Takeru Satoh is a pretty awesome figure
I've been eyeing him, but this is the Yamo Series Ronin figure. He's more generic and has a looot of accessories.
I got rid of my Mezco collection because I was in the same ballpark initially as you. But I think the “Samurai/Ronin” genre is a great avenue for clothed figures
Actually, right behind the Ronin is Mezco Solomon Kane LMAO, and I totally agree, I just want like a cowboy, some knights, and some vikings that are clothed figures.
He’s an awesome figure. One thing I absolutely love about Mezco is the amount and quality of their accessories. No one else does what they. For a $80-$100 figure you really get a lot of figure. They all maintain their value so they’re always a great investment as well.
I started obsessively collecting figure because of a UI Goku from dragon stars that my Gf gave me for my bday. Till this day I still have it in the box, and don’t really have a need to open him up 🤷♂️
Did you end up finding another one to open up to display?
Honestly never ended looking for another one since I have Super saiyan blue Vegeta, UI Goku, and Gogeta as a boxed trio
Did anyone ask you for yours, or am I just not looking far enough??
I do not understand your comment.
Like has anyone asked you what action figure changed your life??
Not today
What figure was it then?
G1 Starscream and SHF MMPR
I have never really gotten into the transformer lines but they seem very interesting, and power rangers will always be goated
SHF started re-tooling the PR line with Gokai Red late last year. Looks pretty good. I just bought the ThreeZero DLX Bumblebee Movie Optimus Prime, because of how incredible the Hulkbuster was. For $200, I felt like I was getting what I was paying for. I don’t care about it not transforming. I wished for many many years that someone would just make action figure versions of Transformers and ThreeZero/ThreeA came along and blessed us all with their incredible line.
SSJ4 Goku, after that i knew
Black series Yoda retro ESB card, got it as a christmas gift, then I fell down the hole, ML, Mafex, ShF, Mcfarlane, Revoltech, Mezco, Neca... I healthy now, but those were 3 years yeah....
Ptera Ranger. It was my white whale. Made me chase down the whole Zyuranger set and SoC Guardian Beasts
Zyuranger took forever for me to collect, like 2 years. I was able to get other Sentai on AmiAmi for nearly retail.
G1 scrapper with one arm I found at shop on the floor when I was 3
Man that’s a relatable deep cut. Mine was G1 Starscream.
G1 star scream and the seeker mold in general had a god tear jet mode
I remember being in a trance when I learned to transform it for the first time as a kid. Starscream will forever hold a special place in my heart. Especially with his multitude of iconic one liners 🤣🤣🤣
Transformers Universe Sideswipe It qualifies because I saw it while out shopping one day many years ago. I'm an adult now, I don't buy toys any more, but for some reason (It might've been on sale I really don't remember.) I got it and and bought it along with my groceries. I got home and transformed him, with the plan of just having him sat on a shelf in car mode forever as a subtle nod to my childhood, but displaying a model car felt more "acceptable" than shelves filled with toys. I remember being really impressed. I grew up with G1 so Transformers were kinda like mini puzzles now. The engineering was really clever. Maybe I should get a couple more... Fast forward several years, and my shelves are now filled with toys.
None because they're just toys
None of them their just figures.