To clarify, I wasn't equating kid friendliness with a G rating so much as subject matter and themes.

It's a different world today than it was in the 80s, when movvies like Rambo and Police academy (intended for mature audiences) spawned kid cartoons and tied-in toylines. Ratings are different, too. Today's PG-13 is more like a 1980s R and today's R is much harder/harsher. I'd argue today's G often crosses into what would've been PG territory back in the day.

Whatever their respective ratings, as a parent, I was much more comfortable letting my kid watch Rise than Retaliation. And as an adult Joe enthusiast, I liked Retaliation more.

Regardless of how you choose to interpret that relatively minor indicator, the recent price hike on Star Wars and Marvel figures' MSRPs seems to bear out my broader thesis: Hasbro now believes its 4-inch figure market is made up of adults who will spend $13-15 on a single figure.

We should probably get used to that reality.

Hasbro probably noticed the Ebay prices of the past few years and decided to get on the bandwagon.

_________________

As an adult fully intending to pay $25 for Acid Rain and HACKS figures (and doing it already!), I fully intend to not pay $15 for Hasbro's wholly-inferior garbage. If I'm just gonna end up unhappy with the toy, I'd rather just be unhappy with $15 still in my pocket.

_________________