The Dragon Shield stuff is actually perfect for exclusives. Not absolutely necessary for your collection, but still highly sought after since it's basically our sneak peek at the non-Tommy male MMPR rangers.

I'm certainly invested enough in the line that I won't mind picking up Red and Black with the Dragon Shield for now until they release them in their regular forms. I'm honestly enjoying this line a ton and I love that we're finally getting quality, 6-inch scale Rangers. I think this is one of those lines where I'll try to pick up every single release, including convention exclusives.

Yeah, kind of odd that LG Red is an exclusive, but at the same time, maybe they're trying to test the waters for their non-MMPR characters. Not saying Lost Galaxy doesn't have enough of a fan base, but take a look at the first wave.

MMPR white, and Lord Zedd - Nostalgia
Dino Charge Red - Fairly Recent
Shadow Ranger - Just flat out looks cool enough for little kids to say "mommy I want this" and older collectors not all that familiar with him to grow intrigued.

These were guaranteed to sell, or at least if 3 out of 4 sold well to call it profit to justify the possibility of shelf warming characters.

Wave 2 has been coming in drips and drabs, but even there it's the same formula as Wave 1... nothing in my area yet, and I got the Green Ranger/Putty two pack at my local game stop... again, nostalgia.

Lost Galaxy... I know when I was a kid, this is where I dropped off from the fandom, and didn't tune back in until Dino Thunder.

This isn't to say Lost Galaxy doesn't have fans, nor that it wasn't a good show. For me, adolescence, just wanted something entirely new and girls or course. Lol.

Still, LG Red is one of those that odd ones where it would be better to test the waters as an exclusive with another figure you know fans want. Also, buy picking this up, it may create incentive for someone to buy the rest of the team.

Hasbro is playing this smart. Same reason why we didn't get a flat out MMPR Green Ranger in the two pack but specifically a "Fighting Spirit" one instead. They're not blowing their "definitely will sell" load all in one place. I've some complaints on the figure, and me personally, I am okay with what others are calling "flaws" but, I also know that this is just the start. They gave us a Green Ranger fast to quench the thirst for having one sooner than later, but there is still opportunity to make more.

Like a MMPR accurate figure, and I would not be surprised if a Bat in the Sun version will be seen down the road. We also still have Zeo, Turbo, Dino Thunder, and Lord Drakkon. Tommy is a seller, but Bandai blew their load with him too fast. Combine that with terrible QC, and no one was going to continue to buy that line. Hell, when Hasbro was announced, I sold my Legacy figures. I thought others we're being too nitpicky with Legacy, but even I got on the Bandai sucks bandwagon when the Zeo Gold was butter scotch color. Again, another beloved character we got too soon and done wrong.

Sure, Hasbro made him too now, but as a SDCC exclusive, reality is not everyone will get him easily, and a single store release will sell very well as a result. So making LG as an exclusive is smart. Plus we have Magna Defender in wave 2, so LG Red being an exclusive with Psycho Ranger will sell.

Personally, I just started watching the seasons I missed, but even if I didn't watch a particular season, I still plan on getting every single LC figure.

It’s too bad because, the exclusives, so far, are my main wants, I want that green ranger, the LG Red Ranger and the Gold Ranger...but they are all exclusives and since I don’t live in the US, I have no way of getting them at a decent price.... That is bumming me a lot

New listings!

Upcoming figures include:

*Beast Morphers Blue
*Dino Charge Gold
*MMPR Red
*MMPR Yellow
*Lord Drakkon

https://twitter.com/PowerRangerTalk/...81657951281153

i just want a villain that isn't from mmpr (or a psycho ranger even tho i like them)

Slightly disappointed in how much MMPR they're throwing out, but otherwise I'm happy to see this. While it probably looks a little dull to some, it's good to see that they are making sure we're getting more of the teams previous waves have introduced us too. Looking forward to BM Blue, MMPR Yellow and maybe Drakkon'll take my interest too depending on how he looks :D

Actually, talking of Drakkon; this is them showing for the first time that they ARE doing comic-exclusive stuff. Very happy to see, was just thinking today that Ranger Slayer would make sense as an exclusive.

Lord Drakkon?!? I'm more of a Sentai kind of guy, but I'll take this too. Now, where's that Ranger Slayer?

Something I find interesting about these listings is that there's 5 of them, which since there's 4 per wave would indicate one of them being an exclusive; but all the listings are in the same vein as each other.

I imagine one of them is an exclusive - and, let's face it, that one would be Drakkon - but none of the listings indicate anything of the sort on their own, which is interesting.

Watch this MMPR Red be Rocky.

Really looking forward to DC gold

Oh man, DrakNoir is coming. That kind of is a must get.

Also, Hasbro is literally dropping all the mics with these releases. Come on SuperMega Force characters! Also more SPD! Oh who am I kidding....bring them all on!

I'm curious if he'll be comic book style or more like the actual suit from the promo.

If they revise and improve the MMPR Red helmet sculpt from the SDCC set, I will straight up buy two of these guys.

At SDCC, Hasbro did actually state that they were listening to criticism from fans -- which usually would be a general BR buzzword not worth listening to, but in this case they did specifically point to MMPR Red as an example. So it's very possible.

Power Ranger Talk posted three new Lightning Collection figure listings with MMPR Yellow's. One is a Blue and one is a Red I don't know what seasons, but the 3rd is from Beast Morphers coded as Bravo, it might be Blaze.
https://twitter.com/PowerRangerTalk/...00797957115905

Not a bad assortment. Definitely expected Drakkon go be an exclusive of some kind but glad he's in a regular assortment. Surprised they're closing in on the completion of MMPR so soon since we'd only need Blue and Black (in his regular outfif) to complete the team (and Green if you're a stickler about the Silver stripe on the Fighting Spirit one).

I do wish we had a Ranger from a post-MMPR/pre-Neo Saban Season here, but I'm excited for these figures.

MMPR Yellow
Zeo Blue
Samurai Red
Beast Morphers Blaze
MMPR Villain?
https://twitter.com/PowerRangerTalk/...48658979713024

I'm liking what I'm seeing, though I would like to see some more Disney era characters.

Update it's SPD Red and not Samurai.
https://twitter.com/PwrRngrSite/stat...81445316997120

So not Samurai? Kind of dissaspointed as SPD's not exactly my thing. I'll just save my money for the Time Force and Wild Force Rangers.

Also, a MMPR villian? Are we going to get a Rita? Or a Squatt and Baboo 2-pack?

Or maybe a Finster and Molding Machine set?

Time Force Red is coming.
https://twitter.com/PowerRangerTalk/...76853242191872

Noice.

SPD Red makes sense over Samurai as the theme with these new waves seems to be making more of the teams they've started. So continuing SPD rather than making new Samurai molds like how they're continuing MMPR and Dino Charge.

There's also a MMPR Villain, MMPR Blue, and Ranger Slayer coming.
https://pwrrngr.com/2019/08/17/the-c...-listings-3148

mmpr villain is so vague it could be. literally anything

Ranger Slayer too?! WOO-HOO!!!

My wallet can't keep up with all the stuff that's coming out. As much as I wanna go all-in on this line, I think for the sake of space and monetary reasons I'm gonna need to start being more picky/choosy.

I likely won't get re-buy anyone that I already own in Figuarts unless it's a suit/design or character I really liked.

That said, Drakkon, Ranger Slayer, Blaze, and Time Force Red are all must own.

Ironically, while I like what this wave promises; I also like that it'll be a break for my wallet lol. Only BM Blue is something I want to pick up from it.

But then the next wave is promising stuff like Ranger Slayer and MMPR Yellow and oh boy suddenly it's back to debit card death

It would be nice to have all of the Beast Morphers together in the line. I was never a huge fan of the Gobuster Figuarts.

Never got around to picking up Yellow.

I think I'm gonna wind up going for broke collecting this line at this point :lol

Well, according to this we're 3/5 -- can't see why they'd stop!

I will admit, part of me wonders if why might get whatever BM is calling the Powered Custom in this line. Any and all Rangers are of course possible, but non-Dragon Shield upgrades are still up in the air... especially since most 'Battlizers' are PR-exclusive, I'm very curious about that.

It seems like Hasbro is focusing on team completion because for the next 3 waves, the only new season being introduced to the line is Time Force Red. Definitely down for that strategy.

It might seem a bit too premature to decide as such, but I feel I can see a pattern forming here -- alternating between introducing a fair few new teams and then completing them. I could see us in future getting, say, 1 wave of introduction, 2 waves of completion, and back around again.

At least in general terms. There's obviously a bit of variation here and there.

Looking good so far. A little surprised they're throwing us MMPR but it's also a nice mis of others. I plan on getting them all, but looking forward to more SPD.

Then we also have 2 packs to consider. Is the rest of Lost Galaxy going to be two packs, or are they going to start mixing it up?. Guess we'll have to see.

Also, they have a lot they can do with MMPR yet. Metallic armor, ninja, 1995 Movie suits, 2017 suits. Hell, Bat in the Sun for all of them too, why not.

Just glad they're spreading it out a bit for other team characters to get maid. Hope they start Ninja Storm with the figure Bandai didn't make.

Really want a Drakkon and a Ranger Slayer, but...I have concerns that they aren't well-known enough for mass release because they are not in the show!

The Rangerverse and its now increasingly diverse history of owners do acknowledge older fans and intentionally include things on a conscious level for the benefit of the older crowd, but the owners are primarily interested in their bottom-line and their profits from the child-centric franchise they own!

The comics aren't necessarily being read only by children. Children aren't necessarily playing "Legacy Wars" or any of the other games. They may not recognize Drakkon!

One counter-argument is that Hasbro may try to make the Rangerverse more than a child-centric franchise!

Another counter-argument is that other heroes, like the Marvel Heroes, are vast in number with a LOT of stories, many not meant for small children, and yet those characters still get Build-A-Figures on Wal-Mart shelves and cater to the older crowd!

Obvious problem is that the Rangerverse isn't as recognizable as Marvel!

Another problem, with both mind you, is that not every city/town/village has a comic book store... making access to any print-based hero and story harder to find!

This would make so much more sense if Drakkon and the Ranger Slayer make significant appearances in the show! One day... THAT WILL HAPPEN!!!

This is merely a pecking point on my end. I do want more figures from the comics. I just have concerns and questions.

This could be read in an entirely different fashion: There are plans for Drakkon... BIG PLANS!!! Hope that's true in the end.

P. S.: I don't have a comic book store in my area. Just a Books-A-Million which has graphic novels and compilation volumes, but doesn't hold single issues anymore! Closest comic book store is a good two hours away.

That argument is dumb because we live in the internet age where information is readily accessible. A child wondering who Drakkon is could look him up in a few seconds and find out. He's also by far the most publicized Power Rangers character in the last while, more so than characters who they do actually make merchandise for.

Lightning Collection is also explicitly an adult collector's line, meaning that even if the excuse of kids not knowing who Drakkon is held any water, the adults who collect the line definitely would.

i don't even like drakkon tho

You guys fo realise that there are websites that pirate xomic books to read for free right?

If kids don't give a damn about Putlocker or Kissanime or any other pirate site, they won't give a damn to free-reading comic sites either.

I view that as kind of true, kind of not. The "Internet Age" is not universally applicable. Many still don't have good connectivity. In addition, parents may limit their childs time on the Net, and the Net can have a lot of "White Noise"! The show remains the first thought that most think of. Younger children may like the show and not even know of anything else. Learning of the comics could lead to something or nothing.

I see this as a "One-Question-Leads-To-Another" situation.

Parents who randomly buy toys that their kids like may not know or care if a figure is meant for the adult fandom when it's shoved down a Wal-Mart Toy Aisle! For a fair many...Toys are Toys. They get things they don't understand. Someone makes a last minute decision to get something they think a kid may like.

One arguable truth you put out: adults will buy and help drive the Lightning Collection!

All that said, it doesn't matter to me right now. The Market, especially the Toy Market, makes less sense with each passing day!

If Hasbro wants to release Drakkon... Yippee!

If kids know of Drakkon already... Yippee!

If kids learn of Drakkon from a wide-release figure... Yippee!

If store shelves actually bother to put Drakkon on pegs, given the stupid distribution woes the Lighting Collection continues to suffer from... Yippee!

Something I feel you're missing here is that the argument of kids not recognising Drakkon? For admittedly different reasons, it can easily apply to much older non-MMPR teams. Would a kid really recognise, say, Lightspeed Rescue rangers or Dino Thunder rangers? Would an average kid really know Turbo Blue or Wild Force Yellow better than Drakkon?

Beyond that there's two others things to consider:-
- Power Rangers has gone on a big media push for Drakkon since his debut. Legacy Wars and Battle for the Grid; a Legacy toy; a live-action mini movie; an appearance in Hyperforce... they've made a big deal out of him and he's getting more mainstream in regards to Power Rangers fandom at large.

- He is recognisably MMPR. Obviously he's far from an original team member, and people might not spot it at first. But compared to something like Operation Overdrive or Jungle Fury, his suit aesthetics are much more comparable to and recognisable as the MMPR Green and White rangers; and he is of course going to include a Tommy head which will draw the eye of casual fans. Even if they don't know who Drakkon is, they probably know who Tommy is and might recognise elements of MMPR Green and White's suits in there. The same argument can naturally be had of if they decide to do Ranger Slayer or any of Drakkon's militia. Just because they weren't actually in MMPR does not mean that casual and MMPR fans won't pick them up.


I feel you're overstating the aspects of recognisability when there's far more to consider than him just not being on the show (which, honestly? I think he could start being on the show fairly soon). Given what else has been leaked, I feel safe in saying that he will be a standard part of Wave 3.