The Mighty One Who Shall Remain Nameless thought I should share some additional perspective:
"Rumors exist about Phicen/TBL going their separate ways, but apparently based on a private discussion with TBL that is supposedly not the case. However, circumstances and situation with timing may have changed.
TBL is primarily a "production arm" with no "in house" concept/design team like they once had. The bulk of their prior 1/6 releases were all license driven due to procurement and arrangements by Executive Replicas where they leverage it for Phicen/TBL to produce some of their own in house offerings of varying reception.
Phicen/TBL have been on a streak of non-licensed or "public domain" inspired/original designs for the most part (i.e., the Egyptian themed offerings, etc.).
Executive Replicas depending on who you ask have been involved in behind the scenes dealings where they're apparently focusing on their own exclusives produced by Phicen/TBL, but with no overt branding asides from ER's own branding and whatever the licensed offering is with a brief mention stating the body is a TBL whatever.
Branding of Phicen/TBL makes a difference IMHO. Why? The branding specifies excellent design and quality for the most part. It's something Phicen worked hard to achieve regardless of dubious licenses and the shady circumstances dealt by Executive Replicas.
Executive Replicas is trying to legitimize its own branding by riding on the coat tails of Phicen/TBL.
The new La Muerta figure IMHO looks subpar compared to the original and that is possibly due to budgetary and design constraints imposed by Executive Replicas where Phicen/TBL is simply executing the specs. No More. No less.
Take the preceding with a grain of salt and of course learn the hard way through first hand experience as usual."
"Rumors exist about Phicen/TBL going their separate ways, but apparently based on a private discussion with TBL that is supposedly not the case. However, circumstances and situation with timing may have changed.
TBL is primarily a "production arm" with no "in house" concept/design team like they once had. The bulk of their prior 1/6 releases were all license driven due to procurement and arrangements by Executive Replicas where they leverage it for Phicen/TBL to produce some of their own in house offerings of varying reception.
Phicen/TBL have been on a streak of non-licensed or "public domain" inspired/original designs for the most part (i.e., the Egyptian themed offerings, etc.).
Executive Replicas depending on who you ask have been involved in behind the scenes dealings where they're apparently focusing on their own exclusives produced by Phicen/TBL, but with no overt branding asides from ER's own branding and whatever the licensed offering is with a brief mention stating the body is a TBL whatever.
Branding of Phicen/TBL makes a difference IMHO. Why? The branding specifies excellent design and quality for the most part. It's something Phicen worked hard to achieve regardless of dubious licenses and the shady circumstances dealt by Executive Replicas.
Executive Replicas is trying to legitimize its own branding by riding on the coat tails of Phicen/TBL.
The new La Muerta figure IMHO looks subpar compared to the original and that is possibly due to budgetary and design constraints imposed by Executive Replicas where Phicen/TBL is simply executing the specs. No More. No less.
Take the preceding with a grain of salt and of course learn the hard way through first hand experience as usual."
