NEW PRODUCT: TBLeague Amazon Warrior (Black/Brown version)

Moonbase Alpha Male wrote: ... nowdays every release tends to be a trio of variants, so it doesn't matter anymore whether the Asian customer directly identifies with the black woman so much. Actually making her one of the variants would increase the chances that people would buy not just one variant but all three making a team, squad or whatever.  Especially that Exploitation classic, the three kick-ass white woman, black woman and Asian woman combo.

Which makes total sense to me.

Quite aside from the fact that women of colour are a growing presence in all the media that lends itself to intrepretation in the action figure/collectible market (whether the Asian market likes it or not), it seems unbelievable that a 'classic' Pam Grier Gladiator and/or Grace Jones Warrior type design never seems to have even crossed anyone's mind.


Hope, meanwhile, springs eternal.

Unfortunately, I agree with you, Ovy. The M36 has the basketball explanation. There's a HUGE market for it. Just like those semi-seamless super tall bodies that were announced recently but then I think were cancelled again. Those were all based on basketball players. It's the only motivation they seem to have for making those additional skintones. It sucks, but I'm realistic about it. That's why we've spent so much time trying to find ways of colouring these bodies ourselves. I don't have time, patience, or inclination to wait around for stuff that likely won't ever materialise.

GianToy don't seem to be budging on those prices, which seem to be based on estimated weight (Spartan at 2.5kg, Amazon at 3kg).

Yet another reason to curse those non-optional bases.

I went with KGHobby this time, because they were 15 Euros cheaper each. Delivery was also no problem last time, with no import tax charged etc. so I'm hopeful it'll be like that again.

The prices at GianToy on these and the Spartan Warriors have skyrocketed to a point of ridiculousness where even I'm starting to have second thoughts - I was going to pick one of them, but now I might have to pass on both sets. TBLeague don't seem inclined to listen to the criticisms and make any changes to the Amazons, either.

Hopefully though if enough people vote with their wallets, TBL might finally learn to make those bases optional.

GeeWillikers wrote:The prices at GianToy on these and the Spartan Warriors have skyrocketed to a point of ridiculousness where even I'm starting to have second thoughts - I was going to pick one of them, but now I might have to pass on both sets. TBLeague don't seem inclined to listen to the criticisms and make any changes to the Amazons, either.

Hopefully though if enough people vote with their wallets, TBL might finally learn to make those bases optional.

I don't think that the recurring proposal for making bases optional etc is ever capable of succeeding, because (although I have myself joined in the wishful thinking) I think it's based on a misunderstanding. I think TBL (or whomever) isn't remotely likely to reduce the price by making bases optional, or for any other reason, because I think the fixed price comes first. They've got to keep the price up at $229.99 or whatever because otherwise all the trouble and fixed costs aren't justifiable on smaller sales. It's the same reason major players like HT or TBL can't justify making things like accessories packs -- it would be different if this was a retail market when you can simply place items into a Walmart or a Target, but it isn't.

Once they determine the viable price has to be $229.99, the base is simply an afterthought -- "what else can we put into that box so that $229.99 feels like a reasonable value?" Now on the other hand, if we "voted with our wallets" to let them know that for the same fixed $229.99, we'd much prefer to have a second headsculpt, or something like that, rather than a useless weight-adding base -- that would be a potentially useful message that might actually get through to them.

I completely agree, except I think if current market trends continue, they should be thinking about ceilings on box sizes and box weights as well as floors on pricing.

Xavion2004 wrote:I completely agree, except I think if current market trends continue, they should be thinking about ceilings on box sizes and box weights as well as floors on pricing.

You're absolutely right, except I fear that "should be" won't necessarily be TBL's "will do."

As long as people keep buying their stuff and profits are growing, they have no incentive to do anything except what they are currently doing.

Moonbase Alpha Male wrote:

Xavion2004 wrote:I completely agree, except I think if current market trends continue, they should be thinking about ceilings on box sizes and box weights as well as floors on pricing.

You're absolutely right, except I fear that "should be" won't necessarily be TBL's "will do."

I figured we'd said everything that needs to be said on this point, but just now, I came across a quite specific example that brings the point home -- I hope TBL is aware of it, and learns the lesson. The two flavors of TBL Horus God of the Sky, Golden and Silver, are supposed to cost the same, and they do cost the same -- at TBL level. But the Silver variant comes with a taller column as a base. So it turns out this is a double whammy -- adding some weight, plus a much larger package volume. In the result, some places are having to charge $20 extra for one variant over the other, even though TBL intended them to be equivalents. Exactly the kind of thing TBL should be taking into account, if it points them in the general direction of following Xavion2004's suggestion.

I like the Amazon figures but like most I'd really like to see some variation in skin tone.

Also, since TBL is seemingly firmly entrenched in the sword and sandal genre of figures would it be too much to ask them to put out a Xena-esque character? I doubt they could get the license but something close would be nice. It's insane that not a single company has put out either a full figure or outfit/head set. I can buy a hundred sexy soldiers, school girls/anime school girls, video game characters, warrior women, godesses, witches, elves and princesses but not one Xena? This saddens me.

peanutsinspace wrote:I like the Amazon figures but like most I'd really like to see some variation in skin tone.

Also, since TBL is seemingly firmly entrenched in the sword and sandal genre of figures would it be too much to ask them to put out a Xena-esque character? I doubt they could get the license but something close would be nice. It's insane that not a single company has put out either a full figure or outfit/head set. I can buy a hundred sexy soldiers, school girls/anime school girls, video game characters, warrior women, godesses, witches, elves and princesses but not one Xena? This saddens me.

Hah! You're in good company. There are quite a few of us waiting for that Xena release. I personally am quite happy with the Spartan Commander and this Amazon, which I think come pretty close to the essence of Xena. Just need a decent head sculpt. Maybe it's time for a group commission.

There are definitely elements reminiscent of Xena in both releases but in a perfect world, we'd have an actual release. I'd be down for a commission Xena project! I made my own years ago but I'd love one made by someone with actual talent lol

peanutsinspace wrote:There are definitely elements reminiscent of Xena in both releases but in a perfect world, we'd have an actual release. I'd be down for a commission Xena project! I made my own years ago but I'd love one made by someone with actual talent lol

For the next few months I'll have more time than money, so I'll be getting creating myself and spending less. But I'd be in if a project like that were to happen. Otherwise I might start it myself towards the end of the year. I'll happen eventually for sure.

For the next few months I won't have either of those lol but part of the fun of this hobby is the creativity. Hopefully someday we'll see someone release a Xena. If you do decide to start it yourself the Kimi Toys kt010A head works well, it's what I used when I made my Xena. I scalped a Kimi Toys KT011 B head for the hair though. The armor from the original doll works well too with a repaint.

@peanutsinspace, I also bought a KT011B for the hair but haven't gotten back to working on it yet.
It's been more than a decade now and i just finished removing all traces of disintegrated leatherette from the Xena Toybiz costume so its just black cloth now.

rollotomasi wrote:@peanutsinspace, I also bought a KT011B for the hair but haven't gotten back to working on it yet.
It's been more than a decade now and i just finished removing all traces of disintegrated leatherette from the Xena Toybiz costume so its just black cloth now.

The leather on mine disintegrated too but all I used was as much of the plastic armor as I could. The breastplate and and little adornment I kept and then I sourced parts from other figures to use for mine. I think I used Lady Death's bracers and the boot armor from Barbie Wonder Woman Antiope just cut and repainted. The boots were from a Brother Production Alice figure and the leather dress was from Triad Helga. I had two of them so I used cut off strips to fill out the leather skirt part. I think I used leather strips from the TBL Athena figure too as straps to hold the armor in place.

Nice looking Xena. Looks cool.

I agree, great looking Xena!

Thank you guys, it was a lot of work! I lost that figure when I moved so I'm hoping for a company to release one because I won't be making one myself again lol

peanutsinspace wrote:Thank you guys, it was a lot of work! I lost that figure when I moved so I'm hoping for a company to release one because I won't be making one myself again lol

I'm sorry for your loss. That sounded snide but wasn't meant to be, it's such a beautiful custom figure.

This figure has now broken the £200/$250 ceiling at GianToy.  

I'm out.

GubernatorFan wrote:

peanutsinspace wrote:Thank you guys, it was a lot of work! I lost that figure when I moved so I'm hoping for a company to release one because I won't be making one myself again lol

I'm sorry for your loss. That sounded snide but wasn't meant to be, it's such a beautiful custom figure.

No offense taken, thank you for the kind words!

peanutsinspace wrote:Thank you guys, it was a lot of work! I lost that figure when I moved so I'm hoping for a company to release one because I won't be making one myself again lol

Aww, man, that sucks. Sorry to hear.

Oh no! Losing a figure like that... ouch!
But SOMEBODY has to release a Xena again soon, no? Me thinks yes.
Though I truly am tickled now to give making my own a go.

Just got my shipping notice for one of these today from GianToy.

During a late night bout of lunacy when these briefly dipped back below £200, I changed my mind and bought the brown version. *chinstroke emoji*

I was considering getting a few loose parts from the black version, including the sculpt, but after seeing the ridiculous prices the frankly average Spartan sculpts are going for, I'm afraid to even look (the blonde one of those on eb*y at the unbelievable price of around £130 is still unsold, and I'm not surprised).

I found a review on YouTube of A! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DysNttFvitY&ab_channel=%E6%AD%A6%E5%93%A5%E5%88%86%E4%BA%AB



Video was removed *shrugs*

^ Thanks, that was nice while it existed


Just got this (brown version) - first impressions, overall it's actually better than I was expecting. I've swapped out the bare feet (which surprisingly were a pair of the older 'smaller' feet which I thought TBL were phasing out) for a loose sandalled pair from the Spartan set and they look a lot better. I've also tied and adjusted the hair so that it fits more snugly under the braid and isn't so wild and 'flyaway'. I've left off the helmet, arm and leg armour for now to see how well she works without them.

Pros: Unlike with the recent Spartans, the leg and arm 'wraps' (which were literally just that on the Spartans) here are whole sleeve-like cloth pieces for each limb. The head is less 'pretty' than in the promos, but I prefer that and still like it. She does look slightly 'cross-eyed' in hand, but we'll see how she looks when photographed.

Cons: The set is really missing a sword of some kind, and I don't like the way the sheath for the dagger is just supposed to 'sit' in the belt (apparently). I may have to glue that to the belt.

Pics tomorrow if folks want to see it.

Shoot! I didn't realize they took it down. haha

I would appreciate some in-hand photos! Thanks.