New Meta

When you’re trying to buy a gift for the collector in your life, it can feel impossible. They’ve got boxes arriving what feels like every day, shelves filled with plastic heroes, and preorders stretching into next year. What more could they possibly need? How do you know they’ll like what you get them? How do you know they don’t already own it? Don’t worry — here are a few ideas to help you pick out the perfect gift for any collector. First, make sure you’re looking at in-stock items. Collectors talk about figures they’re excited for all the time, but that doesn’t mean those figures actually exist yet. True story: my wife once spent a week searching online and in stores for a figure I couldn’t stop talking about… only to discover it wasn’t releasing until the next year. Save yourself the trouble and choose something that can ship right away. Now that we’re safely looking at in-stock figures, let’s talk about reliable choices that work for almost any collection. If you’re not sure what your collector is into, stick to the classics. The A-list icons never miss. You can’t go wrong with a Spider-Man, Iron Man, Optimus Prime, Darth Vader, or Batman. Even if they already have one, collectors love different versions — trust me. But if you want to go a little outside their normal collecting habits and surprise them with something unique, there are some amazing independent toy lines worth exploring. One standout option is the Cosmic Legions Amazing Alien & Creature Creator 2-Pack. If you want to blow their mind with how much comes in one box, this is the one. Two bodies, tons of extra parts, endless customization — and perfect for anyone with a sci-fi, Star Wars-adjacent vibe. Another great pick is Animal Warriors of the Kingdom. These anthropomorphic characters are incredibly fun, look great next to other lines, and have their own comic series if your collector likes diving deeper into the lore. Personally, I recommend Kah Lee and Atreiu. And if you want to play it really safe, go with army builders. This doesn’t necessarily mean military soldiers (though it can). It just means figures collectors can own multiples of and still integrate perfectly into their display. For Star Wars collectors, you can never have too many Clone Troopers or Battle Droids. For G.I. Joe fans — especially those who mix and match with other brands — you can’t go wrong with the Classified Series Retro Cardback Trooper or Grim Viper. Hopefully this gives you a good starting point for picking out a gift for your favorite nerd. And if all else fails, remember: collectors love surprises even more than they love figures — because it means someone thought about what makes them happy.

Most people spend their birthday relaxing — maybe catching a movie, playing video games, or enjoying a good meal. But on November 24th, I celebrated by packing over 500 packages in roughly 48 hours, powered almost entirely by pumpkin pie, coffee, and Netflix docuseries that I definitely only absorbed in fragments. It wasn’t the birthday I planned, but somehow it became one of my favorites. What made it wild wasn’t just the volume — it was the perfect storm. The LegionsCon Mythic Legions exclusives hit at the exact same time that multiple Hasbro preorder waves all decided to ship early. It was like the toy universe said, “Happy Birthday, David — hope you’re ready,” and then dropped an avalanche of boxes on my doorstep. Before long, my home looked like a cardboard fortress, and UPS drivers were showing up so frequently I considered offering them guest passes. In that chaos, my survival kit became simple: a slice of pumpkin pie, a mug of coffee strong enough to wake the dead, and a rotating background playlist of Netflix documentaries that served more as emotional support noise than actual entertainment. I’d tape a box, take a bite, print a label, take a sip, glance at the TV and wonder how the story had jumped three episodes without me noticing. Yet, as exhausting as it was, something about it hit differently this year. Normally, I’d spend my birthday gaming or watching a new movie — but this time, I spent it watching New Meta grow in real time. Every package was a milestone. Every figure shipped was a reminder of how far this thing has come. Instead of celebrating myself, I got to celebrate the momentum of a community that continues to show up and support what I’m building. It was chaotic, busy, caffeinated, messy, and completely ridiculous… but honestly? It was also incredibly satisfying. This birthday didn’t come with cake or a night out — it came with growth, grit, and the kind of success you secretly hope for when you take the leap into entrepreneurship. And truthfully? I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

The general consensus seems to be shifting from "buy it all" to "be selective." Cutting Secondary Lines/Side Collections: Many are dropping lines they only "kind of" collected to focus purely on their primary, most beloved franchises. For example, someone who collected both Star Wars and a secondary line like G.I. Joe might now only focus on Star Wars. Abolishing "Completionist" Goals: The days of buying an entire wave just for one Build-A-Figure (BAF) piece or a single background character are becoming less common. Collectors are more often buying figures a la carte on the secondary market if they only want one piece from a wave, or skipping the BAF entirely. Reducing "Toy Hunting" Impulses: Less buying on a whim during a casual store visit. Purchases are now more pre-meditated and budgeted.Moving from Premium to Mass Market (or vice-versa): Some are dropping the really expensive import