It seems like everything that Hot Toys produces turns to gold these days, but even the best companies will have a sales dud from time to time. I was pretty certain that the Hot Toys Iron Man 3 Busts Series 1 set was going to be a one-series-only flop, what with the mini-bust market being all but dead in 2014. To my amazement, not only is the Hot Toys bust line continuing, but I like the second series a whole lot more than the first! Iron Man 3 Hot Toys Busts Series 2 is now up for order!

I love–love–mini busts, but I seem to be in the minority these days. Even the once-mighty Bowen Designs has all but given up on mini-busts in recent years, so I didn’t have a whole lot of hope for the Hot Toys Iron Man 3 mini busts line. But my lack of faith notwithstanding, Hot Toys has reaffirmed their commitment to producing Iron Man 3 mini busts by unexpectedly revealing Hot Toys Iron Man 3 Mini Busts Series 2!

While the first Iron Man 3 Hot Toys bust series was largely composed of the more-popular and recognizable armors from Iron Man 3 (such as War Machine Mark II, Iron Patriot, and Iron Man Mark 42), Hot Toys Iron Man 3 Busts Series 2 is chock full of my favorite secondary, blink-and-you-missed-them armors such as Jack, Disco, and Hot Rod Iron Man!

I’m becoming increasingly convinced that Play Imaginative is never going to release their Iron Man 3 Super Alloy figures, so these very well could turn out to be the only high-end collectibles ever released for some of these armors.

The main seven mini busts that make up Hot Toys Iron Man 3 Mini Busts Series 2 are:

Iron Man 3 Hot Toys Iron Man Mark VII (Mark 7) Bust

Hot Toys Iron Man 3 Busts Series 2 Iron Man Python Mark XX (Mark 20)

Hot Toys Iron Man 3 Busts Series 2 Iron Man Hot Rod Mark 22 (Mark XXII) 

Iron Man 3 Hot Toys Iron Man Shades Mark 23 (Mark XXIII) Mini Bust

Iron Man Disco Mark 27 (Mark XXVII) Hot Toys Bust

Hot Toys Iron Man Jack Mark 28 (Mark XXVIII) Mini Bust

Hot Toys Iron Man Shotgun Mark XL (Mark 40) Bust

In addition to those seven busts, Hot Toys again has a special treat for those who pre-order the complete set of Series 2 Hot Toys Iron Man busts–another exclusive mini-bust! This time, the exclusive bust turns out to be a holographic Iron Man Mark VII bust! I know many folks (including me) often think of clear variants as a copout, but this Hot Toys Holographic Iron Man Mark VII mini bust looks spectacular. Even in a series with my beloved Disco Iron Man, this is definitely my favorite bust in the whole series!

Hot Toys Iron Man 3 Busts Series 2 is now available for pre-order, and is expected to ship in January 2015. I had my doubts about this whole line of Iron Man Hot Toys busts, but they hooked me with the awesome offerings in this second series. We may never get 1/6 figures of Disco Iron Man and Shades Iron Man, but at least we’ll have these light-up sixths scale busts!

What so you think of Hot Toys’ second foray into Iron Man mini busts, Marvel collectors? Are there one or more Iron Man busts in this series that you’re thinking of adding to your collection?