Poll/discussion: Do you keep just the definitive version of each character or collect multiple versions?

[Justice]

I selected 'one definitive version' but what I really mean is that I've picked a single point in time for Marvel Comics and that's the look. My Marvel shelf is all Secret Wars/OHotMU costumes. That's the formative years of my comic reading so for many it's the default look in my mind.

A man of class I see!

 

[DetectiveHoag]

It really depends. Some characters all I want is a definitive version, if that largely defines the character through most of their appearances. Honestly some characters only have one version offered, so that makes the decision for me.
Others, I collect a few variants, if it’s a significantly different version, that wasn’t a flash in the pan change. For instance: I have a classic red/blue Spider-man, and a black suit Spider-man. Both of those looks had significant runs. Other variations I don’t need if they aren’t significant in impact or duration.
If I’m being honest, aesthetics play a roll in my decisions too. A sharp design might tempt my purchase as well.

 

[TENIME]

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tenor.com

I should, but do I?

Unfortunately, no.

No, I do not...

 

[Ditko]

For one, I don’t have unlimited funds and shelf space…and actually, that’s my whole reason.

This I get now. I think I have been a different, maybe casual or at least mercurial, Legends fan throughout all these years than the members here. So I forget some of you have like shelves and shelves of figures. I grew up in the 80s, never read comics (besides 1 Hulk issue) and loved Transformers. When Hasbro started killing it there (2018) and going after my generation's money.....the collection grew. I will only buy G1 even if other eras get cool toys. I nearly need a new home. I don't have that kind of collection for Marvel and come and go based on what's exciting for the most part.

Although given how good they are doing it now they might fill up too...

 

[yojoebro82]

I plan to significantly prune my collection next year, and this is going to be a dilemma.

One example: Classic comic accurate Captain America. I currently have:

ML1 (Toy Biz)
80th Anniversary
20th Anniversary
Secret Wars
Mafex

I have
ML1
80th
20th
It stings because he's a good figure but I'm going to let 80th go.

Ideally, I would only keep one, but I have too much sentimental value attached to ML1 (I can’t understate the impact that ML1 Cap and Iron Man had when they were released.)

No one can understate the value of ML1. It set the standard for modern action figure collecting.

Jim Lee era X-Men is another one. We’re moving toward having three complete sets of the Blue and Gold teams: Comic ML, X-Men ‘97 ML, and Mafex. I don’t need three complete sets. I’m trying to downsize.

Keeping the Mafex set over the comic ML set is a no braiber for me (assuming it gets completed). However, Men ‘97 will be tough to let go of because they are in a different style, and I do like them.

Avengers is much easier for me than X-Men. Not interested in Avengers "animated" or Avengers "video game" versions. Comic only for me, and I don't even need to go too deep into their roster.

X-Men, though........I don't know how I trim them down. I have two sets of Jim Lee X-Men, comic and 97. Both look great. I need to suck it up and cut one.

I haven't even addressed my two boxes of Toybiz figures that I still have......I need to make some hard cuts.

 

[Reno]

This I get now. I think I have been a different, maybe casual or at least mercurial, Legends fan throughout all these years than the members here. So I forget some of you have like shelves and shelves of figures.

I'm one that tries to only keep one version of every character, but I have at least one version of every character ever made in this scale (or similar) by any of Hasbro, ToyBiz or Diamond over the past 25 years. I have no idea how many different characters that actually is, but it's at least hundreds.

I also have the same for DC from Mattel, DC Direct Collectibles and McFarlane. I'm a character completionist for both Marvel and DC.

I collect other lines as well, but nowhere near as heavily. I still have a crap ton of TMNT, Spawn, GI Joe Classified, Power Rangers, Star Wars Black Series, MOTU Masterverse, Invincible, Ghostbusters Plasma Series, Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, Star Trek, Witcher, One Piece, My Hero Academia and various other lines as well.

Limiting myself to only one version of a character is how I keep from going bankrupt. I don't buy a new version unless I'm willing to sell the old version to help partially fund that new one. The exception is army builders like Sentinels, HYDRA, SHIELD, Skrulls, Kree, etc. I have way too many of all of those including 4 HasLab Sentinels and 2 X-Men '97 versions ordered for this fall. I also have an absolutely obscene amount of Dora Milaje figures. I have a problem.