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1999 - DRAGON BLOWS US ALL AWAY...

9/23/2010

14 Comments

 
Okay, as promised, tonight's UPDATE is a look back at DML Dragon figures. 
In 1999, Dragon introduced its New Generation Life Action Figure series. The series features fully posable military and licensed 12-inch figures with cloth uniforms, weapons and equipment. The series currently stands at some 600-plus individual releases, with subjects varying from World War II, Modern Special Operations and Law Enforcement, to licensed character figures from movies, sports, electronic games and comics. And it all started with a little guy named HANS.
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By today's standards, even Hans seems a little antiquated, but at the time we couldn't believe that anyone could make a figure so totally authentic.
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Of course in 1999, Dragon was using elastic for straps like everyone else, but what we all found so amazing was that we finally had a realistic looking German soldier with some really nice accessories. The uniform itself was so far ahead of everything else being offered at the time...well that alone was enough to put it into a class by itself. I remember going into my hobby store one day for some paint and seeing Hans sitting on a shelf up in the front of the store. I bought three of them that day.

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Of course it wasn't too long before Hans starting acquiring some comrades to hang around with, like Klaus and Gerhard. Up until the release of Steiner, I think that I would have to save that Gerhard was my favorite. I think he was the first one to have some medals on his tunic and I liked his little five 0'clock shadow. I quickly found a reason to get a couple of these guys too. One I still have dressed in his original uniform. The other is my Lieutenant in my VIETNAM STORY saga.

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This was another big favorite early on. I was so jazzed when Dragon finally released a Waffen SS figure. I have always liked the spring side of smocks and zelts better than the fall side, but I was really pretty happy to see Waffen SS finally join the lineup. Plus he had that really cool land mine and a G-43 rifle. How cool was that. The momentum seemed to be building too. Dragon releases were becoming more and more frequent and a sizable number of German figures were becoming available.  Then it happened, one day I walked into the hobby store and there he was, the first WWII American soldier. Anyone remember what his name was? Yes, Dave is right. Yeah, I bought a couple of them too, only one is still in his original uniform (of course).

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I don't remember when it was that the first carded uniform and gear sets began to appear, but my hobby store regularly stocked them all. Of course there weren't near the offerings that we saw 21st come out with over the the course of their short reign, but some of the sets were pretty impressive. I was always amazed at the level of accuracy they tried to maintain in everything they did. You couldn't help but compare it against the stuff that we had been getting from Hasbro for several years and realize that you had wasted a lot of money on Hasbro stuff. Well, hindsight is always 20/20.

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So what's the point of this UPDATE, well... besides remembering some fun trips to the hobby store and there were a lot of them, I think that it does us good to look at where the hobby has been and where it has come. I hear an awful lot of people badmouth Dragon on various boards about how they keep running the same old tired "retreads", how they just aren't as good as the competition, etc, etc. Some of that is certainly true, but the reality is that 21st Century, Dragon and BBI sort of paved the way and showed us how good figures could be. A lot of little companies have come along since and have offered some rather amazing product, but they are building on the folks that came before them. Today, Dragon still offers a pretty decent product and at a fairly reasonable price compared to some of the $160 to $200 figures that are out there. It has been a while since I have bought a new figure and as the prices climb, I buy less and less of them. Personally, I think it is great that there is still one big player manufacturing figures. I hate to think of what will happen to the hobby if Dragon goes back to just making models. We talked the other night about the void that Hasbro left, Dragon is really the closest thing there is to an entry level in the hobby anymore. Well, I would like to hear everyone else's thoughts, I have flapped my gums long enough. Where do you think the hobby is headed? Will Dragon continue to be there? What do you think will be the next big trend in Action figures?


That's all for tonight, until next time, have a good one!

14 Comments
MadDogCPL
9/23/2010 12:24:39 pm

Great update Point Man !
I agree that BBI, Dragon and 21st paved the way for what we see in the hobby today.
I also agree that if Dragon was to go away from 1/6 it would drive up to half of the collectors out of the hobby.
Dragon fills the void for People who do not have the money to go hog wild.
I think Dragons older figures and loose items keep people going for now.
I think the hobby is headed to high end figures and loose parts and if you can not afford it, you will make use of older figures and parts or get out of the hobby.I do not know if Dragon will be there they can fall back on the models.Wow I feel like you now Point Man flapping my gums.I think the next trend will be vehicles for those who can afford them.I also think if a company would make affordable good quality carded packs that could be a trend.
Thanks again for the great post I was looking forward to it.
Shawn.AKA (MadDogCPL).

Reply
okimbored
9/25/2010 07:56:01 am

Well I think I can finally reply to this one, I've tried several times but always get pulled away. Dragon really raised the bar, but it's a shame they beat 21st to death with it at the same time. Now all we need is for DML to move away from WWII Germans for a while, I can't blame them for making what sells but I'd sure like to see some carded sets, western, ACW, pirates, fantasy. I don't know I guess I'd just like to see a little variety, maybe something new to bring in some fresh blood to the hobby. well it looks like i'm getting pulled away agin lol

Reply
Panzercommander (HOH)
9/26/2010 10:38:13 am

I think the hobby has lost some momentum over the past year or so - unfortunately. There isn't an entry level 1:6th figure in a brick and mortar store anymore - and that is a problem because that's what got many people (including myself) into the hobby.

Furthermore companies don't advertise like they used to (or so I've heard) so unless you are on one of the message boards constantly - you'll miss out on lots of information about new figures.

I'm a pretty pessimistic person - and from what I've seen (especially regarding Dragon) the entry level figures are in a bad situation. Unless you are wealthy and can jump right in with DiD, Soldier Story, or Hot Toys, etc. figures.

This is especially problematic when we think about getting kids into the hobby - I remember as a kid I could save a little money and go to TRU/Target/Walmart/K-Mart, etc. and purchase 21st Century products - not so now - which is sad. I hope an enterprising individual can bring back an entry level figure at some point to get kids back into the hobby - but like Point Man said that "so many merchandisers follow an "In and out" strategy these days on just about everything. I think the days of GI Joe Aisles may be gone."

Might be some truth to that as well.

Good update Point Man! I enjoyed seeing some of the old Dragon stuff again!

Reply
Hammer Six
9/26/2010 12:46:24 pm

Well the Big D did drop the losd on 21C. IIRC they also put out the first carded sets.

Have to agree with the above points made about carded sets and lower priced figures. Part of the price rise is our own fault (not meaning us or the club specifically) because of the demand to inprove the gear........we have to have leather instead of plastic, metal instead of plastic, yadda yadda yadda!

Dragon did try to issue several lower price figs back in the spring oe 09..........'Weber' and 'Holger' at the $39.99 range and made a big ploy on MDFC about making these entry level figs to entice younger folks into the hobby. Must have bombed because they didn't release any others that I'm aware of.

I know the 'net is the place to be to buy figs........but how do you entice people to buy who have never even heard about the type figs that we do (that is a comment I have heard more often from folks who come to our shows then any other comment.

The best exposure, I think, to get the younger ones involed is still the brick/mortar stores such as TRU or even the e-games shops. THEY HAVE TO SEE THE ITEM!

So much for the rant on a Sunday night.

Good night Mister and Miss's America and all the ships at sea!

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