Hero Mashers! To collectors, it's the red-headed stepchild of Hasbro's kid lines. Hero Mashers have been really something of a great quiet success story. The 2015 debut of Star Wars eschewed the new movie completely, yet succeeded with Admiral Ackbar, Greedo, and other classics. Marvel continues to do well and will expand into a new, deformed "micro" segment that looks really appealing. Transformers and Jurassic World are gone, though, but there's one more new thing Hasbro is trying. Or rather, they tried - the awesome Monsters segment was shown to US buyers, failed to find a home, and Hasbro's craziest monster-friendly line since Xevoz will be sold in international markets only. (I'm crossing my fingers for some form of US closeout distribution at the likes of Ross or TJ Maxx.)
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Xevoz gave us some weird mutants and monsters, and this one is a rare peek into what Hasbro designers can do when given the chance. The vampire and motorcycle "Battitude and Crimson Fang Chopper" will never wind up as a kid's birthday present here. Fish Hook, Grim Flame, Frank N' Slimer, Iron Vulf, Bone Thrasher, and goodness knows what else won't make it out. There are slime heads, pumpkin heads, brains in jars, even a snowman head - this line is something like a dream.
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Star Wars will continue with more characters, interestingly the likes of Rey and Kylo Ren are not among them. Marvel will continue its success with more characters - hey, Thanos! - and Super Hero Mashers Micro will kick off with Black Widow, Green Goblin, Hulk, Spider-Man, Star-Lord, and even some appropriately scaled vehicles. If you just want a cheaper source of Hulk Hands, this might be it. The whole range is pretty sharp.
--Adam Pawlus
