MuddyRiverMinifig have done it again! A classic Lego Marvel Super Heroes Video Game design brought to life!
It’s not anything complex compared to other figs we’ve looked at in the past. Instead, what's far more interesting to me, is how this fig is the spearhead of something I found to be far more intriguing!
As we all know, Beau of MRM has been a brand independent from resellers, and solo with their printing work. Other than their early beginnings with Christo back in the Flickr days, they don’t outsource and haven't done so in... geez, at least a decade now? (phew... I've been doing this too long!)
Point being! From designing the fig, to the final packaging... everything is done in house for MRM!
Earlier this summer, they dropped what I found to be the most ingenious way to gauge interest in figs, without engaging the preorder scuttle that a lot of drama has unfolded with the state of the world and international shipping (stuff that I won’t get into here because we all know the USA is a terrible place to be right now and I’m not going to beat a dead horse).
Anyway, Beau’s solution to this was (to put it simply) a down payment!
It sounds a bit silly to put a down payment on a little plastic minifig, but the concept worked like gang busters!
I’ll use this fig as the prime example here to base my numbers (and see how well I can explain it)
A few month back, MRM announced that they had begun production on a good chunk of figs for their late 2025 release schedule. The prices were set, printing was already underway. Ms Marvel here was going to range for $65.
Around the time of the announcement, Beau put up $10 listings for each of these figs to “put your money down” on a fig without paying the whole price in the case something goes wrong. A micro payment if you will.
You still claimed the fig without missing out, and if you change your mind or don’t have the funds when the fig is complete, then it’s not a major loss to the Bank of Lego… er… I mean your wallet.
The best part about this (for me anyway) was that folks that put a down payment in place, got to order the fig a week earlier than the public at a $10 discounted rate!
It was this perfect little cacophony of securing a fig without scrambling to get it. All while MRM had peace of mind that they could get a headcount for production!
I was so incredibly impressed with how easy and intuitive this was compared to how the last few years of “ready to ship” vs “preorder” schlock that’s caused even big names like Jaka to lose the good grace of their audience.
Where’s my Superman movie fig JakaBrick?! I paid for it back in July and you said it was “ready to ship”! It’s been two MONTHS Jaka! 👀👀👀
Anyway!
Carol Danvers here is in some way, just the pilot project for future MRM releases to come that I am VERY excited for!
I’m keen to see if this model could be adaptable for folks that ship through resellers. Or if it's even possible for those who don’t print their own designs… idk, it's a lot to ponder... 🤔
At any rate! We’ve learned that something better is possible! And that folks can get with the times, or get left in the dust!
Oh and I almost forgot! The fig is good too!
The red could’ve been a little sharper... and if we really wanted to get nuts, MRM could have included some dual molded arms like this! Other than that, it's a solid fig!
Bam! How’s that for a mini review! 💥