If there’s one figure that I know a lot–and I mean a lot–of Hot Toys collectors have been regretting skipping lately, it’s the original Hot Toys Doctor Strange figure. With the Sorcerer Supreme’s solo movie not exactly shattering records and setting the merch world on fire, a lot of collectors skipped Benedict Cumberbatch’s first MMS figure entirely. As a result, when he was a major character with a ton of screen-time in Avengers Infinity War, the first figure exploded on the aftermarket, selling for $700-$800 this month. But fear not, non-rich latecomers–a new Infinity War Hot Toys Doctor Strange figure is now up for order for regular price!

Crazy but true: I hated the Doctor Strange movie. A lot. To this day, it’s my least favorite movie in the whole Marvel Cinematic Universe. How much did I hate it? I cancelled my Hot Toys Doctor Strange figure pre-order last year, and was lucky to be able to get one on the aftermarket over the winter for around the original price after realizing what a monumental blunder I’d made.

But I think that goes to illustrate my point: if a wacko Hot Toys near-completist like me nearly skipped that original Dr. Strange sixth scale figure entirely, plenty of other collectors likely did the same thing. In fact, I know they did–because that first Doctor Strange Hot Toys figure has been selling for upwards of EIGHT HUNDRED DOLLARS on ebay this month. Yowza!!

Thankfully, Hot Toys has taken mercy on collectors’ souls and has cooked up a new version of Stephen Strange that’ll be coming under the Avengers Infinity War banner. While his costume looks virtually identical to the costume from the original figure–as it should, since his outfit didn’t really change between movies–Hot Toys shocked me by giving Dr. Strange not just a plethora of new accessories, but also an all-new Benedict Cumberbatch portrait!

Some people say they think that the new head sculpt is an improvement upon the first version. I’m not convinced of that at all, as I thought that first Cumby head was among Hot Toys’ best likeness efforts ever. Even so, there’s no denying that this new head still looks pretty great, and will more than satisfy most collectors who’ve been pining away and wishing they had their own Doctor Strange sixth scale figure.

As far as the accessories assortment goes, well–it is out-and-out awesome. Doctor Strange just may come with the single coolest variety of accessories that we’ve ever seen with a Marvel Hot Toys figure.

Along with the magnetic clip-on Cloak of Levitation and large assortment of interchangeable hands, the Hot Toys Infinity War Doctor Strange also comes packing:

• Two (2) sling rings
• Two (2) amulets (The Eye of Amagotto) with an open and closed Eye, respectively
• Fourteen (14) pieces of mystic art effects including:
  – Four (4) pieces of green-colored mandalas of light in different sizes (wearable on forearms)
  – Four (4) pieces of orange-colored mandalas of light in different sizes (wearable on forearms)
  – One (1) pair of orange-colored mandalas of light
  – One (1) set of orange-colored battle mystic art effect
  – One (1) orange-colored square-shaped mystic art effect
  – One (1) orange-colored sword-shaped mystic art effect
  – One (1) bundle of reddish orange-colored ropes mystic art effect  
• A specially designed Avenger: Infinity War themed dynamic figure stand with movie logo and character backdrop

While he doesn’t have some of the accessories that the original Doc came with, he can do pretty much everything you’d imagine him to based off of his appearance in Avengers Infinity War–including his crazy-taters many-armed attack, which Hot Toys has included a special backdrop to recreate! HT really outdid themselves with the array of extras this time! Thumbs up!

The Hot Toys Doctor Strange Infinity War figure is now up for order, and is scheduled to be released in Q3 2019. It’s going to be a bit of a wait for the good doctor to be sure, but I imagine that to save $500-$600 off the aftermarket price of the first version, most collectors are willing to grin and bear that hefty wait-time.

What do you think of the new Hot Toys Avengers Infinity War Doctor Strange figure, Marvel collectors? He’s new, but is he improved? Anyone regret missing the first release of this character and psyched to get another chance for a price that’s not insanity?