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San Diego Comic-Con 2025 delivered a stacked lineup from Hasbro across all major lines — Marvel, Star Wars, Transformers, and G.I. Joe. From animated revivals to cross-brand collabs, collectors were hit with wave after wave of reveals, exclusives, and pre-order chaos. Here’s a full breakdown of the most talked-about drops, including some hidden gems you’ll want to track before they disappear. Marvel Legends – X-Men ’97 Takes Center Stage Hasbro leaned hard into the X-Men ’97 hype, revealing a full wave of figures featuring updated sculpts and animated styling. Standouts include: Logan, Jubilee, Morph, Sunspot, Emma Frost, and Cable Comic-style packaging and bright, retro color palettes Pre-orders went live during the con and are expected to ship this fall Collectors praised the wave for blending nostalgia with fresh articulation and show accuracy. Transformers x Hot Wheels – Unexpected & Awesome Mattel and Hasbro’s ongoing crossover gave us SDCC exclusives like: Bone Shaker Prime and Twin Mill Soundwave, turning classic Hot Wheels cars into fully poseable Transformers Limited quantities dropped on July 26 through Pulse These were sleeper hits — and sold out fast. G.I. Joe Classified – Deep Cuts & Fan Favorites The Classified Series expanded with new characters and troop-builder sets that scratched multiple collector itches: Sci-Fi, Mainframe, Wet-Suit, and Grim Viper Cobra Desert Scorpion with SKRP10N drone Steel Corps Sentry & Modular Defense Post (Hasbro Pulse exclusive) As always, Hasbro brought army-builder energy and ARAH nostalgia to the booth. Star Wars: The Black Series – Clone Wars, OT, and Disney+ Unite The Black Series had something for every corner of the galaxy. Highlights included: Asajj Ventress (Bounty Hunter) – Her post-Sith look from The Clone Wars, with dual red lightsabers and a new helmet sculpt. A long-awaited update for fans of the EU and animation canon. Jango Fett – New sculpt, removable helmet, and blaster accessories The Stranger (Qimir) from The Acolyte Darth Vader & Luke Skywalker 2-pack from Empire Strikes Back Anakin Skywalker & Clone Captain Rex – A Pulse exclusive deluxe set Qimir, in particular, generated major buzz as he's never made it to plastic form — making him one of SDCC’s most in-demand pre-orders. Final Thoughts Hasbro showed up strong across every fandom this year, but the Black Series and Marvel Legends waves arguably stole the spotlight. From long-requested characters like Ventress to modern reinventions like X-Men ’97, SDCC 2025 reminded us why this event still sets the tone for collectors the rest of the year. Want to grab what you missed? We’re tracking restocks, late drops, and post-con listings — follow New Meta for updates and exclusive availability alerts.

Today, we're featuring one of our newest partners, T3 Collects, whose YouTube channel specializes in toy hunting across Northern California. From Redding to Sacramento, T3 Collects has scoped out some of the best spots for tracking down Marvel Legends, Star Wars, Transformers, DC Multiverse, WWE, and TMNT figures. Here are some of his tips and local recommendations to level up your next toy hunt. Redding: Unleashing Your Inner Hunter Redding offers a few standout spots for collectors. H&B Sports Cards, established in 2020, is a great place to find sports cards and Pokémon cards. Something Old Something Nouveau is another must-visit, offering vintage toys, comic books, Magic cards, sports memorabilia, and Pokémon collectibles. If you're in Redding during August, check out Sundial Bridge Comic Con — a family-friendly event packed with comics, toys, cosplay, art, and celebrity guests, including voice actors from hits like The Regular Show and X-Men '97. Chico: Hidden Treasures and Comic Conventions Chico’s downtown is home to some fantastic shops for action figure hunting. BAT Comics & Games, a local favorite since 1993, stocks comics, games, anime and manga plushies, action figures, and posters. Collectors Ink, a family-owned shop, offers comics, games, trading cards, and other collectibles, with a knowledgeable staff ready to help you find that elusive figure. Be sure to check out the Chico Toy-Anime-Comic Con, held at the Chico Women’s Club. It’s a great place to browse vendor tables, join cosplay contests, and meet other collectors. Sacramento: A Vibrant Collector's Scene Sacramento’s comic and collectible scene is thriving, with plenty of stores to explore. World’s Best Comics and Toys has an impressive selection of comic books, action figures, posters, and collectibles. G. Willikers Toy Emporium, located in the Old Sacramento Waterfront district, features a wide range of classic and modern toys, though some may come at a premium price. Other popular stops include Big Brother Comics, Empire’s Comic Vault, and A-1 Comics, all offering unique selections for comic and figure collectors. Major events like SacAnime (held at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center) and VerseCon are also must-attend gatherings for pop culture fans, featuring toys, games, and collectibles. Tips for a Successful Hunt Patience is key: Finding rare action figures often requires persistence and repeat visits to local stores. Explore beyond the obvious: Don’t limit yourself to just the toy aisle. Check clearance sections, or visit discount retailers like Ross, TJ Maxx, and Burlington Coat Factory for surprise finds. Network with fellow collectors: Online forums like Collector Freaks Collectibles Forum and Toyark Toy Forums can be invaluable for learning about new releases, restocks, and local events. Happy hunting! May your Northern California adventures be filled with exciting finds, unique collectibles, and new additions to your shelf.

Once upon a time, toys were just for kids. You’d get a birthday gift, lose a few accessories, maybe break an arm off, and toss it all in a box before moving on to the next big thing. But today? That same box might be worth hundreds—and it's adults who are fueling the frenzy. The rise of collector culture has changed the toy industry from top to bottom. It’s not just about nostalgia anymore—it’s about passion, investment, community, and curation. And it’s only growing. Adults Now Dominate the Toy Aisle Data from the Toy Association and major retailers shows that “kidults”—adults who actively buy toys for themselves—now represent over 40% of the toy-buying market. That number is expected to grow. Why? Nostalgia hits hard: Millennial and Gen X collectors now have disposable income and a deep emotional connection to brands like Marvel, Star Wars, TMNT, and Transformers. Display is the new play: Toys are no longer tossed in bins—they’re posed, photographed, and proudly displayed like art. The collector economy is real: Between limited editions, short production runs, and aftermarket values, toy collecting is also part of a real investment culture. More Than Toys—It’s Identity For many collectors, toys aren't just collectibles—they're identity markers. Owning a full Spider-Verse shelf, a pristine Gundam build, or a full wave of retro TMNT reissues is about more than fandom—it's storytelling, community, and even mental wellness. Social media plays a major role here. Toy photography, collector YouTube channels, TikTok hauls, and Instagram shelfies have created a global network of fans showing off their collections and supporting one another. How the Industry Is Responding Manufacturers aren’t just noticing—they’re leaning in. Take a look: Hasbro’s Marvel Legends and Star Wars Black Series are loaded with collector-first features: articulation, accessories, and packaging designed to display. McFarlane’s DC Multiverse line targets adult collectors with comic-accurate sculpts and short-run variants. Jada Toys has made huge waves with their Street Fighter and Mega Man lines—clearly built by fans, for fans. Even retailers like Target and Walmart have created dedicated “Collector Spot” and “NECA Haulathon” sections to cater to this exploding market. Where New Meta Fits In At New Meta, we live and breathe this culture. We’re not just reselling toys—we’re part of the same hunt, the same excitement, and the same shelf space struggle as our customers. Our mission is simple: make it easier for collectors to get what they love without the stress. That means: Transparent pre-orders (no guessing games) Careful shipping (because condition matters) Curated selections from top lines and emerging favorites Final Thought The toy industry has grown up—and so have the fans. What used to be a trip down memory lane is now a thriving, creative, and competitive space where adults are the biggest players. And honestly? We’re just getting started.