Muppet Mayhem & Missed Missions: Could NECA Finally Fix a Collector's Broken Save File?
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
NECA has swooped in to revive Muppet action figures, nailing the classic *Muppet Show* looks and accessories, which is a brilliant comeback after Diamond Select's previous line went belly-up. Now, Jeff reckons NECA has a golden opportunity not just to start anew, but to truly become a hero by finishing the missing figures from the ill-fated Diamond Select collection, offering sweet, sweet closure to long-suffering fans.
Right, so you know how sometimes you're just *waiting* for someone to fix a glaring bug in your favourite game, or maybe drop that one piece of DLC that would truly complete your collection? Well, imagine that, but with felt puppets. Specifically, the Muppets. Because, bloody hell, after years in the wilderness, our favourite fuzzy anarchists are making a grand return to pop culture, and it's brought a glorious, albeit slightly heartbreaking, bit of news for collectors.
For ages, being a Muppet fan in the toy aisle felt a bit like being stuck in a poorly programmed side quest. Disney would throw us an occasional digital bone — a Disney Plus special here, a blink-and-you'll-miss-it sitcom there — but actual, tangible representations of our beloved chaos agents? Nah, mate. It was lean pickings. And then, just when we thought we had a promising action-figure line from Diamond Select, poof! The company went belly-up in 2025, leaving a gaping, Sweetums-shaped hole in many a collector's heart. Talk about a corrupted save file right at the boss fight!
But hold onto your Swedish Chef hats, because 2026 is here, the Muppets are back on mainstream radar (hello, *The Muppet Show* resurgence!), and NECA—that legendary purveyor of geeky plastic dreams—is stepping into the fray. At the recent Toy Fair in New York City, they dropped the bombshell: they've scooped up the Muppets license. And what's more, they're already deep into crafting the first wave of figures, all tied to the classic 1970s *Muppet Show*.
And let me tell ya, these aren't just any figures. Miss Piggy, the Great Gonzo, and that utterly chaotic trio of Mahna Mahna and the Snowths are first up, and they look *perfect*. Seriously, I've been poring over the images like a wizard deciphering ancient runes, and there are genuinely no notes. NECA has absolutely nailed the vintage looks, especially for Miss Piggy, whose style has, let's be fair, undergone more redesigns than a live-service game's UI. Unless they plan to flock them with actual felt (which, let's be honest, would be pure magic but probably a nightmare for wallets), it’s hard to imagine how they could improve. Piggy even comes with her adorable Foo-Foo, and Gonzo’s got Camilla the chicken. Plus, a NECA spokesperson let slip to Toy Anxiety that they're even planning miniature Singing Food Muppets – a deep cut from a 1977 episode with Steve Martin! That's the kind of commitment we love to see, the kind that shows they're not just phoning it in.
Now, here's where my curious brain started wondering, 'What happens if...?' NECA is clearly going deep, they're clearly getting it right. So what if they went *even deeper*? See, for those of us who invested time, energy, and a fair bit of coin into the ill-fated Diamond Select line, there’s a persistent ache. Collections that were meant to be completed, figures that were preordered and then unceremoniously refunded, all vanished into the ether. Imagine unlocking 90% of the achievements in a game, only for the developer to shut down and leave you with an 'incomplete' tag forever. It's a proper kick in the digital trousers!
Specifically, collectors were left hanging on six crucial figures: the magnificent 11-inch Sweetums (who would've been the centerpiece of any display, let's be real), Lew Zealand, Electric Mayhem's trumpet player Lips, the wonderfully creepy Uncle Deadly, Pepe the Prawn, and Kermit's adorable nephew, Robin. These figures were tragically cut down before release. The good news? Diamond's figures were roughly the same seven-inch scale as NECA's new collection. This isn't just a hopeful whisper; it’s a golden opportunity for NECA to pull off a true hero move.
If NECA, once they've had their fun with the *Muppet Show* proper, decided to finish off those missing Diamond Select figures, even as convention exclusives or a special 'Legacy DLC' wave, it would be the ultimate warm hug for a community that's been through the ringer. It's about more than just plastic; it's about closure, about making good on a promise, about letting collectors finally complete their quest. And hey, while they're at it, a diorama of the *Muppet Show* theater? Just sayin', a wizard can dream, can't he?
This isn't just toy news, mate; it’s a story about restoration, community, and the surprising power of pop culture to fix past mistakes. NECA has a chance here to not just launch a new line, but to mend a significant glitch in the fabric of Muppet fandom. And frankly, that's more exciting than most triple-A game announcements these days.
Tags: collectibles, gamingculture, community, nostalgia, industryanalysis
Original article: Polygon