Originally published September 4, 2017. This article preserves One Sixth Society’s original reporting and images; product availability, pricing, and opinions reflect the original publication period.
The discussion below records our 2017 wish list. The current figure archive also includes Doctor Doom MMS907B, Magneto MMS912B and Skeletor MMS889; those later announcements should not be confused with the release situation described in the original article.
Everyone loves a good hero whether it be Batman, Spider-Man, Robocop, or any number of others. But what about the bad guys? Of course, we get some of the more famous characters like The Joker or Darth Vader no problem, but it does seem like the big One Sixth scale companies tend to stay away from villainous figures unless they’re from Star Wars or are A list characters. While that is understandable in some ways, nothing gets under my skin more than an incomplete line of figures. So Where are the One Sixth Villain Figures?
Missing Marvel
Yellowjacket from Ant-Man and Rhino from The Amazing Spider-Man 2 were missing from the Hot Toys lineup discussed in 2017. Rhino had little screen time, but his armor still made him an interesting figure prospect.
Ronan’s armor and hammer made him another obvious wish for a Guardians of the Galaxy display. Nebula and Ego also offered distinctive looks and character roles to explore.
Crossbones from Captain America: Civil War would have been one of the coolest Villain Figures, where he looked awesome but was just kind of lame in the film.
Vulture from Spider-Man: Homecoming was another character I wanted. The wings would make him a large, complicated figure, but Falcon showed how much an articulated winged design could add to a collection.
DC’s Missing Rogues Gallery
DC is known for having some of the most engaging Villains in media. However, if it is not the Joker we tend to get little from Hot Toys. Ironically enough, one of the villainous figures that I want the most is the Hot Toys 1960’s Joker that Hot Toys teased previously. A perfect, even obvious pairing to their fantastic Adam West and Burt Ward Figures.
Lex Luthor from Batman v Superman was another missing character in 2017. General Zod had already received a figure, but there was no evidence here that his sales explained Hot Toys’ other DC choices.
Closing Thoughts
Rhino and Threezero’s RoboCain were among the projects collectors kept asking about. Without an announcement from the manufacturers, we could not say whether production problems, licensing or another decision explained their status.
Whatever the reason, many of these villains remained wish-list figures at the time of writing. New announcements can always bring a surprise.
What a Villain Adds to a Collection
A villain can give an existing hero a reason for the pose already on the shelf. A confrontation needs a clear line of sight between the two figures, and an oversized opponent can change the space required for the whole scene. That is why Vulture’s wings or Rhino’s armor appealed to the writer despite the practical complications.
A matching film or costume matters too. A comic interpretation can be a satisfying choice in its own right, but it does not automatically complete a movie lineup. The wish list is about those particular screen appearances, rather than simply finding any collectible with the character’s name.
