Returning to Inside the Mind of a Toy Addict Part 2- Space Is a Premium

Part 1

Ironically, Christmas itself tends to be one of the rarest times for collection expansion. This is because of the evil action figure black market people and New Jersey’s action figure armpit status. The figures often sell out instantly, or have skyrocketing prices, or are only available through certain shifting outlets, or can occasionally be found through lucky “Thrill Of The Hunt” style auctions.
All of these combine to mean telling anyone about a figure I’m looking for is almost always pointless unless they buy it “RIGHT NOW!!!”

As should be crystal clear by now, I still have a problem, which is also a burden.
 

The holidays are, however, a time for remembering collections, due to the Christmas village. Even Anabelle’s Squinkies from the dark past got a starring role.
 
Once in a blue moon, the extremely tiny Venn Diagram of “figures I would actually want” and “figures which are available at a stable and acceptable low price” cross each other allowing placement of a character on my “wish list.”
 
Toad, of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, was in the initial wave of Marvel Legends, way back in 2002 when I foolishly thought I would be focusing my collection of them only on the West Coast Avengers.
As a reminder, this focus did not make it to 2003.
As should be crystal clear by now, I have always had a problem.
 
Unsurprisingly, no one cared about the “deluxe” rerelease of this creepy looking thing for the Twentieth Anniversary of the Marvel Legends line. However, by this point I had amassed an entire shelf for the X-men and their foes, making him a viable addition. His price slowly plummeted without any hopes of him selling out, allowing stable placement on my “Dear Santa” digital letter. Anabelle made sure to wrap her displeasure in with him, (Thanx Anabelle!) and her love note remains near him on the shelf, joining several “pretend this is” post its.

In a turnabout, the figure came packed with two little plastic toads that I CERTANLY was not going to display. Anabelle decided to adopt them, and they joined that year’s Squinky Hess Truck Christmas Parade. (On the fire truck if you must look for them.)
 

Another Wish List character was important (for various shades of “important”) to my slowly growing Inhumans group. Besides being a fan of them in the comics, I felt I was owed this collection as during the very early days of Internet Upcoming Release Lists, (before the figure pricing became stupid) I was promised a full Inhumans wave with a Lockjaw build a figure. This, (and everything else on that large and impressive Upcoming Release List) never came to pass. Alas.

The Deluxe pack of Crystal and Lockjaw (2024) was not only released close to Christmas, allowing Wish List usage before sell outs and price gouging could happen, (Thanx, Mom!) but the inclusion of the standard size Crystal with the oversized Lockjaw meant the release price was in my personally defined “Acceptable” range. 

As should be crystal clear by now, I still have a problem… 
But at least I have self-imposed limitations.

 
I now had enough figures to dignify calling the Inhumans a “collection.” What I did not have was any location, in the Comic Room or elsewhere, where they, and their enormous teleporting bulldog, could fit together.
As should be crystal clear by now, I still have several problems.
 

Compounding this problem: some Christmas money from my Aunt coincided with a post-Holiday sale of the Squadron Supreme two packs (2023- Marvel’s versions of Justice League characters). Hyperion and Nighthawk (Superman and Batman analogues) connected with several folks on my cosmic shelf and the decent amount of Defenders I have spread around the room, respectively. Anabelle thought the multi-colored Doctor Spectrum (Green Lantern analogue) was pretty, and the smart aleck grin on Blur’s face (Flash analogue) was irresistible.
As should be crystal clear by now, I still have a problem.
(Sculpted Dimetrodon cameo provided by Anabelle.) 

Power Princess, (the Wonder Woman analogue) was released a year after them as a single figure, and instead of going on sale like the rest of her group (and a majority of female heroes do) now sells for well over a hundred dollars. Because they hate me. 

There was a brief respite as it was time to change the Upstairs Marvel Shelf, and an Inhumans Celebration was called for. Anabelle insisted Doctor Spectrum was visiting the Blue Area of the Moon where they live as an ambassador… because, as stated, “he’s pretty.” Getting Doctor Spectrum positioned properly was difficult for her, not because of balance, which is oddly excellent for the entire Squadron, but because his “Power Prism” gem just lays in his hand. Anabelle held it in place with fun-tak. I’m sure it will be fine.
(Spoilers- it was not fine.)
 

Meanwhile, my wife, who is not only an enabler for this addiction, but outstanding at updating storage spaces, (Thanx Rosa!) found a spot in the garage to move some games off of the Comic Room shelves into. This not only freed up a location for the Inhumans, but also thinned out the far overcrowded Cosmic and Avengers shelves, by providing a dedicated location for the “accidentally” acquired due to clearance sales gangs from the Black Panther films and the Kree/ Skrull contingent. 

Oh... And the Squadron Supreme!

Yes, the reorganization and reduction of the Cosmic Shelf did allow the Fantastic Four gang to take their rightful place. Hurray!

Hmmm. A Flerken appears to have killed Impossible Man, and Sue looks like she has been drinking. I really need to make sure I've finished setting them up before I snap the pictures, don't I?

In yet another meanwhile, there were other Wish List successes and post Christmas sales.

Siryn (2022) did follow the normal pattern of the “icky girl” figures dropping in price and remaining available. I think I may have one comic book with her in it, but Banshee, (2007) her Dad and early "All New X-men" member has been on the shelf since he hit went on sale immediately after Hasbro took over the line. Any chance to set up a Father and Daughter pair in the collection off of clearance racks fifteen years apart cannot be avoided.
As should be crystal clear by now, I still have a problem… but I am sentimental.

In a combination of that post holiday price drop and Thrill Of The Hunt "buy it now" checks, I finally scored a loose Yelena figure. (2023) It wasn’t the one with the vest which made me a little sad. However, the one from the Hawkeye show had much more Florence Pughness about it, which is the key element one wants in a Yelena figure.

As should be crystal clear by now, I still have a problem.

Scoring her was the last of the seven “Legacy to the MCU Avengers Who Actually Appeared in Shows and Movies” gang. I can't imagine why they didn't release a wave with that name. The completion of this group more than required they be selected for the Marvel Rotating Group. 

As should be crystal clear by now, that shelf does not have a consistent name.

Click For Part 3
Part 4, Part 5