OK, today we’re gonna talk about Retro and Explaining The Joke.First, “retro” style figures and my relationship to them.
As a general rule, my philosophy of collecting is “give me the best possible version of this character”. That means the most articulation, the best sculpt, the most paint, the most, funnest accessories, the most sturdiness. But, as everything, there can be an exception.
And that exception is a couple of lines where a more limited style of engineering is a better representation of the source material, or at least certain ineffable qualities of that source material. The big one here is McFarlane Retro, which started with Batman ‘66 and has continued with Batman ‘66 Comics, The New Batman Adventures, and now Superfriends.
These toys are janky in a way that perfectly matches the jankiness of the shows / cartoon. Same for Masters of the Universe Cartoon Collection, although it’s not like there’s a more articulated version of those specific cartoon looks out there so that’s less of an exception than it is an example.
Anyway, the retro style - ball shoulders, straight hips, no ankles, swivel-only neck and wrists, elbows and knees single hinge/swivel elbows and knees - just clicks with the properties in a way that more articulated figures don’t. I love my DC Multiverse Batman ‘66, but I love the giant Batman ‘66 collection with the vehicles and playsets way more.
It also helps a LOT that the figures sit, or sat, at a $20 price point even though they’re a good size and come with a goodly number of accessories. I’m way madder at a poorly articulated DC Multiverse Batman Animated figure at $30, and also BTAS is awesome, not janky.
Superfriends is janky, and these figures NAIL IT. The best example of this is Batman. I have a Batman in this style. The SuperFriends Batman mostly reuses all the same bits as Adam West Batman. ANE YET. This is so very specifically Superfriends Batman that I knew I had to get him. It’s why, even though I’m tempted to track down the Batman ‘66 Comics Superman and Wonder Woman to have in this style, I want to wait to see if there are more Superfriends waves with them, because I crave that ultra specificity.
They all come with UNIQUE communicators and a weapon - you can see the weapons above. A nice little touch is that every figure has one fist hand and one holding hand, and Sinestro… is LEFT HANDED.
I’m glad I was able to get The Riddler, because McFarlane is pulling its shit and made him a Red Platinum / chase figure. Gmaestop got them as singles, though, and except for getting boned on the shipping he was a normal price.
So. Explaining the joke. There are a lot of styles of toy photography out there, and all of them are fine, and many of them are Not For Me. I don’t think my dolls are people. I don’t think my dolls are people who fuck. I don’t think my dolls are people who might fuck me if they were real. But if that’s your thing, go for it. Bluesky feeds should be includive.
Similarly, if you want to tell a little sotry or write out some dialogue or a little story for your scene, go for it. But I find it awkward and uncomfortable. Describe what’s happening in alt text or a paragraph here about general intent? Sure. People unfamiliar with my weird fucking references should be able to at least know what I’m doing and not be annoyed by wondering.
But I will indulge in the occasional New Yorker Caption. That’s a tool I’m comfortable with one in every 20-30 photos. Like here. A bit of information that adds a bit and can only do so through text, in a format that is synonymous with Not Quite Being Explicitly A Joke. So there you go.
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