Play Imaginative Iron Man Super Alloy Figures Delayed to 2014

I’m starting to feel like I’m the bringer of all bad news and gloom these last couple days, but it looks like I’ve got a few more unfortunate tidings to convey. After gaining some momentum and a lot of interest by their appearances at major conventions throughout the summer, Play Imaginative announced yesterday that their entire Iron Man Super Alloy figures line in both 1/4 and 1/12 scales will now be delayed until 2014…

Super Alloy War Machine Mark II Quarter Scale Figure July 2014

One of the booths that I thought was the most compelling at New York Comic Con 2013 was the Play Imaginative booth, where they had on display a truly incredible number of prototypes for the Super Alloy Iron Man 1/12 and 1/4 scale figures. For a company that had yet to release even a single figure in their Iron Man brand to display such an insane number of figures for sale was shocking, and immediately got my attention (as well as the attention of thousands of Marvel collectors worldwide).

Iron Patriot Super Alloy Play Imaginative 1 12 Scale Figure 2014Though none of the first five figures put up for sale (1/4 Starboost Iron Man, 1/4 War Machine Mark 2, 1/12 Iron Man Mark 42, 1/12 Iron Patriot and 1/12 War Machine Mark 2) were in the top-tier of my favorite armors, I was prepared to drop a couple hundred dollars this holiday season to check out some of the earliest figures in this line and see what it’s all about.

Unfortunately, that’s not going to happen now. At least, not anytime soon.

Disco Iron Man 1/12 Figure Play Imaginative Super Alloy 6"Yesterday, Yes Anime (the official U.S. distributor of the Play Imaginative Iron Man Super Alloy figures line) posted the following notice on their Facebook page:

“Please take note that the release date for the following products has been changed.
This is to ensure that the quality is up to expectation.

· 1/4 Scale Starboost: August 2014
· 1/4 Scale War Machine Mark 2: July 2014
· 1/12 Scale Mark 42: February / March 2014
· 1/12 Scale Iron Patriot: February / March 2014
· 1/12 Scale War Machine Mark 2: January / February 2014″

Super Alloy Iron Man 3 Play Imaginative Figures Wave 1 2014It also seems that these might be low ball estimates, as the actual Yes Anime website cites a February 25, 2014 release date for the Super Alloy War Machine Mark II 1/12 figure. So we’re still a minimum of three-plus months out from getting the first 1/12 Super Alloy Iron Man figure in hand, and eight months away from seeing the first quarter-scale figure. In fact, at this rate, Play Imaginative will likely be displaying at SDCC 2014 without ever having released any of their quarter-scale figures!

Iron Man Play Imaginative Super Alloy 1/4 Scale Figure Display at NYCC 2013This is only a delay for now, which is far preferable to a straight-up cancellation of the line, but it definitely makes me fear for the future health and releases of the Play Imaginative Iron Man Super Alloy figures line. When you think about the thousands and thousands of dollars Play Imaginative spent this year promoting a line that zero figures will be available for in 2013, it’s really quite shocking and a bit scary.

Hot Rod Iron Man 3 6" Figure Super Alloy NYCC 2013By the time Play Imaginative actually manages to release any of the dozens and dozens of background armors from Iron Man 3 that they’ve created prototypes of, will anyone care enough anymore to buy them? I just don’t know. Pre-orders are still available for all of the first wave of the Iron Man Super Alloy figures, though you’ll obviously be waiting a little while if you want them.

What do you think about this latest delay by Play Imaginative, Marvel collectors? Do you think this is an ill portent for the future of the Super Alloy Iron Man Play Imaginative line, or just a standard delay that doesn’t concern you?

Comments

Play Imaginative Iron Man Super Alloy Figures Delayed to 2014 — 5 Comments

  1. Play Imaginative sent another email to the customer today 11 Dec 2013 and said that Mark 42 in 1/12 scale will be further delayed till Dec 2014. Like what you said, so many prototypes and nothing can be produced. I have completely lost confident in buying their products. Hope Marvel will take back their license. That’s no way taking customer’s money for a year and no products can be seen They should compensate those who pre-orders!

  2. Hey at least you get emails. I have emailed them twice in over 18 days and not one reply. The company I am pre-ordered with is useless. Seems like they do not want to put any pressure on Play Imaginative.

    If I get this iron man it will be the last i get from either of them

  3. I have pre-ordered with 2 companies. The biggest problem with these very very long preorders is that you never know what will happen to the companies you preorder with by the time the product is actually available. Of course the companies take our money and spend it long before we get our products which leaves us high and dry. There should be a law or a system where the pre-order money goes into a pot and can not be used until the products are released. Imagine, a company takes pre-orders of 100$ deposit for 100 figures, that’s 10,000$ for nothing. Spends it over a year, then suddenly has to come up with 10k when the figures are available. Not easy to do and we get shafted. Preorders have gotten ridiculous now. I want to see a figure out and then buy it but that’s never going to happen. Should be max pre-order 2 months. A year is ridiculous! EEven hot toys do this… Iron patriot is 1 year + been waiting now!! And that is thru sideshow!

  4. PS I forgot…. I also want to know WHY!!! What on earth can cause a 1 year delay??? Just saying they want to make them good isn’t good enough. What’s the problem? I suspect it has something to do with the grease they were using on the joints of the 1/4 scale… One video on YT shows this gunky mess all over the back there were using to lubricate the joints. Also, as the guy says above… Answer your damn emails toy companies!!!! Enterbay, hot toys, PI are terrible at this…. Customers service sucks in the Far East… Very backward.

  5. 6th time in 12 months that this companies has pushed back the delivery date of the 1/12 Scale Iron Man Mark 42 and never to you give an explanation