Toy Aisle Trolls is a feature highlighting acts of vandalism to in-store toy items. If you find a ruined package, a stolen figure, a swapped-out figure, or any other such acts, take a photo (cell phone photos are fine if they’re not blurry) and email them to poe AT poeghostal.com.
Submitted by: 3B
The Problem: The Aquaman has been replaced by the Alex Ross’s “Justice”-style Aquaman from the Walmart “Undersea Assault” 2-pack.
What It’s Supposed to Look Like: This.
XXX writes:
I snapped this one at my local TRU yesterday. I’m not too bothered by this one, though. Why? I’ve never seen this version of Aquaman (from the Walmart-exclusive “Undersea Assault” 2-pack) at retail, so you can say it’s pretty rare in my area. This troll obviously just wanted the classic version of Aquaman and swapped in the gold one. Also, the package showed very little evidence of being opened.
Probably worth mentioning that this particular store hasn’t stocked any of the Aquaman/Mer-Man or Hawkman/Stratos packs. In fact, they have a boatload of the Lex/Skeletor packs left. I suspect this troll picked up the set at another store about 7miles to the North, which recently stocked the new sets.
As for payback… I think the fact the “Aquaman” TV series was never made is punishment enough for this troll.
Karmic Payback: Yeah, this is one of those cases where I have mixed feelings about dishing out the karmic payback. On the one hand, yes, many DCUC fans do want the Aquaman. And the guy did engage in criminal behavior by opening the pack, swapping a figure and returning it. It was dishonest.
On the other hand, that Walmart Aquaman was hard to find…anyone who bought this set would either be thrilled to get the Aquaman, or could probably sell the Aquaman on eBay and recoup enough money to buy another one of these sets and get the right Aquaman. And if they didn’t realize they got the wrong Aquaman, then obviously they don’t care enough about the figure for it to matter.
So I’m going to defer to you, faithful readers, to determine the punishment (or reward) of your choice.
Braystreet
Are we sure this is even an example of buy-and-swap? Mattel is not the best maintained company and quality control has always been odd. I didn't realize it at the time of buying it, but my first Booster Gold had a broken elbow because he was in a Black Canary plastic in-lay. The rest of the packaging was correct and immaculate.
Maybe the poor sweatshop worker just made a mistake. I bet Sally missed her bread that night, and for the rest of the week.
TripleM
I wouldn't condemn the troll on this one. He's just cross-pollenating exclusive repaints from one retailer to another. It was almost an even exchange. I agree that some collector at TRU might even appreciate it. A slap on the wrist will suffice. We don't have to cancel the Aquaman TV series over this.
MonkeyBoy
I think the Ross Aquaman might even make the set better. Also I really didn't think that the Walmart set was rare. I saw way more of it than the Batman one.
PrfktTear
Karmic payback: An Aquaman series *IS* made… on the CW Network… directed by Joss Whedon.
Reilly
Karmic payback: Huge praise for actually making this set better!
Mecha-Shiva
I'd buy it!
Snarf! Snarf!
Trolling Hood strikes again! I wish the TATs were more like this. Replacing crap for better stuff!
dayraven
ok, so… the perp gets his car broken into, and the thief steals his CD wallet… which only contained his collection of limp bizkit cds. and the thief drops his wallet in the car.
Newt
As others have said… This set is actually better now. Sure, the regular Aquaman is probably more desirable, but now you're getting two decent repaints for the price… As opposed to one.
I'd snap this up in an instant.
izdawiz
I sentence him to be raped by Aunt May.
Mortimer McMire
I wouldn't exactly dish out karmic punishment for this; the Alex Ross Aquaman looks a lot less toy-ish than the one originally in the pack—gold just looks better than orange, I guess.