Although some stores started accidentally putting product out on the shelves weeks ago, this week is the official launch window for the majority of the Avengers: Age of Ultron toys! And, as with most Marvel Studios films, Hasbro has now released a series of Marvel Universe-scale 4″ Avengers of Ultron toys. But while the Hasbro 4″ Marvel figures are traditionally some of their most beloved offerings, I have a feeling that the Avengers Age of Ultron All-Stars Figures are not going to be welcomed with warms, loving arms by many collectors…

As soon as I saw the first image of Hasbro’s 3 3/4″ Avengers Age of Ultron action figures, I knew that the line was going to be a bust. See, while we’ve become accustomed to super-detailed, super-articulated Hasbro Marvel action figures in this scale over the past half-decade, it appears that those days are coming to a close.

Hasbro is now favoring the under-detailed, under-articulated 2.5″ figure scale as a cheap alternative to the classic 3 3/4″ Marvel Universe scale, and from this point on, we can expect the majority of the figures in the MU scale (that aren’t repaints of old figures) to feature inferior sculpts and paint, along with a mighty five points of articulation.

Avengers Age of Ultron All-Stars Series 1 includes four figures:

• Avengers Age of Ultron All-Stars Iron Man Figure
• Avengers Age of Ultron All-Stars Captain America Figure
• Avengers Age of Ultron All-Stars Hulk Figure
• Avengers Age of Ultron All-Stars Thor Figure

Yes, I’m sure it will surprise no one that only the “core” four Avengers are represented here (although I’m not so sure I’d want to see what a Scarlett Johansson would look like in this line anyway).

Now, given that there were no Guardians of the Galaxy movie 4″ figures released, you would think that anything Hasbro released in this scale for Avengers AOU would be an improvement. But having seen these figures in person, well… I’m not sure that that’s really the case.

There are some positives to these figures: the fact that they have individualized cardbacks (with lowest common denominator bios such as “Tony Stark’s ultra high-tech armored suit makes him an unstoppable Super Hero!”) and that three of the four figures include an accessory (Cap’s shield, Iron Man’s energy effects piece, Thor’s cape and hammer).

But by and large, these are action figures that were designed purely for children and are not action figures that will appeal to collectors.

I’m not a stone-cold naysayer to five points of articulation figures–Hasbro has actually released some pretty nice-looking 5POA Rebels figures in the past year. But these, well… these look really bad. Even as a kid, I don’t think I would have been satisfied with figures that looks like these.

The paint deco on these figures is sloppy–not to mention leaving the vast majority of details on Iron Man Mark 43’s armor totally unpainted. With the limited articulation, sub-par sculpting and lack of major paint details, these feel more like glorified 1990’s Happy Meal Toys to me than Hasbro product that I’d go into a store and pay actual money for.

The Hasbro Avengers Age of Ultron All-Star figures are available online as a set for $24.99, and are retailing for $5-$6 (plus tax) individually in retail stores. As much as I’ve loved collecting Marvel Universe and Marvel Infinite Series figures in this scale over the years, these are not for me, but your collecting tastes may vary.

What do you think of the Avengers Age of Ultron 3 3/4″ figures series, Marvel fans? Is anyone out there planning to pick up these figures for any reason, or are you planning to vote with your dollars and stay far away from the Avengers Age of Ultron All Stars figures?