Unmatched 2 partial Leak

It's tough, because they obviously don't have the capacity to release as much product as Mattel. It's a smaller company with a smaller line, so it's going to seem less active in comparison to WWE. I think maybe they should stop doing those huge info drops of multiple future lines. There was that time they released the lineups of, what, like 4 waves at the same time? No more of that. This might be a lot to ask logistically, but smaller leaks of a single new lineup (plus maybe a tease of a figure beyond that), put out on a regular basis, would serve this line size well.

But yeah, the novelty has definitely dropped off. I think it'll be back for the first Black, Punk, and Cole figures, but you can't just be relying on new signings forever. It's interesting how Unmatched 1 & 2 seem to have been more hyped and gotten more preorders than Unrivaled 7. Despite 7 having four line debuts, which is what everyone says they want out of this.

Great post/response.

I do really think the slow-down in releasing the figures has killed momentum (Unrivaled 1 was months ago, and Series 7 has been trickling out over months as well -- with nothing new in sight shipping soon....)

Yeah, I don't know if there are some production or shipping issues slowing things down, but right now that's always a likelihood. It feels weird for things to be this slow, especially when they went and made another SKU to ramp up the amount of product they could push out.

Also, if Jazwares could put as much effort into some of the women's headsculpts as they clearly did into Tay's ass, that would be wonderful.

Buzz is just a way of saying, "fan energy that creates purchasing habits." I think the thing people are concerned about is that long gaps between releases are going to get people out of that habit, especially now that the line's no longer novel. A figure company never wants people wondering "Do I really need this?" and the easiest way to keep people from asking that question is to just keep releasing stuff. If you don't have that capacity, you have three options: 1) release product so good that it's irresistible, 2) keep diversifying your offerings and surprising people with new concepts, and/or 3) keep people involved with your release process so that they're always engaged with the next release despite the wait. I don't think Jazwares is within sight of achieving the first; they're clearly interested in the second, judging by releases like the LJN figures; and the third is the most achievable with the least investment.

I don't think there's a significant gap here between the people buying AEW and WWE stuff; the Mattel board's just more active because they release so much more. But even with that in mind, it merits some concern that people are so jaded about a wave that has 4 line debuts of featured AEW talent, or that people aren't bothering to make wishlist threads.