I don't get all the Mattel bashing on this. The exclusive hasn't been announced yet, so first off maybe everyone can take a deep breath until we know concretely what we're discussing. We don't have all the information yet. As for all the SDCC bashing, I would like to try to offer a bit of perspective, if I may.
My brother and I have been going to SDCC every year since 2005. We usually have a great time, but year after year it's getting worse because the lines are difficult and long to stand in with that many people, and also because my brother has a tendency to overcommit to friends back in CT who don't wish to attend SDCC and don't feel it's fair have to pay "more" or "ebay prices" instead of "at cost" for an SDCC exclusive. Many of you feel the same way as my brother's friends.
I got to the point 2 years ago where I just stopped getting in line unless it was something I personally wanted. Getting that stressed out was ruining my weekend, which I paid for. I don't get vacation pay. I'm a bartender/waiter. I'm stressed all year at work, and Comic-Con is my nerd Disney.
Meanwhile, the entire weekend, I watched as my brother went into line, bought toys, got back into line, bought MORE toys, and did it over and over and over, not for HIMSELF, but for OTHERS who couldn't attend. And ToyGuru (and many kind folks at Mattel) helped my brother. Not a little, but A LOT... like... A LOT A LOT, for him and members of he-man.org. Toyguru understood that we all have that one friend who can't attend for reasons financial or family obligations, and you try to help them out, which is why Mattel doesn't limit things to one per person. Mattel is honestly trying to help us help people like you guys who can't attend.
So I get to the end of SDCC, and guess what? Between the convention itself, the hotel we stay at, food every day and every night, and the clubs, restaurants, and bars, on top of the airfare for my bro to fly out to visit me, on top of the tons of toys for other people to mail out, we're looking at well over 2 grand. And remember, my brother wasn't selling them to profit. He was shipping them out of his own pocket, out of the spirit of goodwill.
It got to a point where he and I were arguing every year because I didn't like how my brother stretched himself so thin for others when he was becoming so frustrated. He was dropping 2 grand and not having any fun. Last comic con, we barely hung out, if at all. I didn't want to watch it anymore. These are toys!! I'll get the ones I want and pay for them and pay for my hotel, see my buddies from he-man.org and thefwoosh, chat up the Four Horsemen, and be content that I saw my friends and had a great time (usually around my birthday weekend to boot)!
And you know, I hope Orko is a part of SDCC, purely for personal reasons! My family didn't have a lot of money while we were growing up, and my brother and I got our He-Man toys at the flea market, secondhand. Orko was the first He-Man figure I got mint in packaging, brand new (all mine, only mine), and I got him on Christmas. I will always remember that feeling.
Now cut to MOTUC of today. My brother has the subscription (I can't afford it). My brother buys extras of the exact characters I had as a kid and sends them to me loose to save on shipping. If Orko is the exclusive, he'll be my first MOTUC I buy myself in person and I can't wait to rip him open!!! I'm going to be so excited!
So for those of you still upset at the idea of jumping on ebay to pay double to triple for an exclusive, ask yourself if it'll make you happy to own it regardless of prices. And if money and time is so precious to you (as it is to all of us), ask yourself which is better:
- Drop a grand or two (minimum)
- Fly here to California
- Walk or find a cab
- Pay for an expensive hotel
- Get in line with over 125,000 people, get your badge, rush BACK into line, stand in multiple lines for hours (I also don't mean to be superficial and get into the questionable hygiene of many of the attendees you spend hours in line with, but there you go)
- Pay for overpriced food, drinks, and "heavy traffic" transportation everywhere and everytime you need something, knowing that entire weekend, 100,000 other people also need ATMs, cabs and a table at a restaurant.
OR...
- Spend maybe 60 bucks on Orko. Click a few links on ebay and debit your paypal account and have the figure show up in your mailbox.
- For 40 extra bucks, you never get up off your butt. No flights, no gas. You live your life and he comes to you.
Think about it. Comic-Con is fun. But that whole weekend is EXHAUSTING! I hope this helps someone who's freaking out. We have so much stress. Let's try to enjoy this summer. I know I am.
I'll see you next time. [/Filmation moral fade to black]