Despicable Minions #2

These figures were an odd addition to the Fighter Pods (aka Battle Pods) toyline by Hasbro.  With these, Despicable Me 2 became the fourth iteration of Fighter Pods (following Star Wars, Star Trek, and The Ultimate Spider-Man).  Unfortunately, it also looks like they will be the last.

Like other Fighter Pods, these figures are typically .75 inches tall, with a couple reaching 1 inch.

The collection consists of 50 different figures.  31 are available in single-figure blind-bags.  This is a significant departure from all prior Fighter Pods which contained two figures per pack.  Another ten are exclusively available in the one-and-only multi-pack.  Another five are available only as game-movers in the movie tie-in Monopoly, while the final four are available only as game-pieces in their version of Operation.

Blind-bags 1-4

Blind-bags 5-8

Blind-bags 9-12

Blind-bags 13-16

Blind-bags 17-20

Blind-bags 21-24

Blind-bags 25-28

Blind-bags 29-31

Multi-pack 32-36

Multi-pack 37-41

Monopoly 42-46

Operation 47-50

On one hand, Hasbro has tidied up this collection in contrast to earlier Fighter Pod releases. It is the first series that has a complete checklist with numbered images of each figure.  It is also the first Fighter Pods release without related vehicles that you have to buy to get the exclusive figures to complete a set.

On the other hand, Hasbro really makes you jump through some unusual hoops to complete your set this time around. As I mentioned, you only get one minion per blind-bag.  So you're already going to have to buy at least twice as many packs.  In addition to your one measly minion, you also get one Mission Card and one "fighter pod."  (The pods are orange, yellow, and purple -- unlike the clear ones that had been produced for every other prior series.)

Hasbro clearly shifted it's attention from cool, collectible figures to silly, convoluted games.  The result to the consumer (potential fan) is the inclusion of a piece of paper as if it had the same value as another figure. Give us a break with these Mission Cards. No one cares about these flick-and-roll games.  I take that back. Someone might be playing the games, but I promise you that person is even more interested in collecting the figures.

The "collect them all" gimmick is a tried-and-true winner.  Stick with that.

That brings us to the truly insidious hoop: The fact that you have to buy expensive editions of both Monopoly and Operation just to complete your collection!

No disrespect to these classic games, per se, but this is a ridiculous strategy.  It's like Hasbro has no faith in their toys (either as individual figures or a collected set), and they're just hoping someone will buy Monopoly, and then maybe want to buy some blind-bags because of it.

It's despicable tactics like this that have Hasbro quickly losing it's status as a respected toy titan.