It is commonly known that single Cheetara and single Tygra are more difficult to find than Cheetara with Wiley kit and Tygra with Wiley Kat, but why?
I believe the answer lies in time of production. Of the two Single Cheetaras and three single Tygras, none of them have the catalog…this means that they would have been extremely early in the production. There is no way to know how long the singles were produced for maybe just several months? but if you try to find ANY 8 backs with out catalogs they are all rather scarce. why Cheetara and Tygra stand out is because if the addition of the PVC figures.
This all ties back to my definition of scarce, limited production, limited distribution, limited time. It only takes two to get something placed in the scarce category.
8 backs were released for a limited time (lets say 1 year) but only the first 4 months (this is a guess) were they released with no catalog - and no PVC figures.
Distribution was limited to LJN USA - so 1 country
They would have been released 26 years ago now
So, released in 1 country, for four months, 26 years ago…mystery solved!
I also would like to add that the lion-o and mummra w batteries also fall into that category, but there are more of them because they made more. If a parent could only afford to get there kid one or two of the figs, odds are they would get the main hero and villain. Also historically the main main figures have more made than the secondary figures (not saying that tygra and cheetara are secondary, just that in a case you would prob find 2 each of liono and mummra, and then one of tygra and cheetara and 2 other mutants). I’m just guessing on that but it makes sense.
I agree, The Battery offer figures would be the same as the no catalog figures, just at the other end of the 8 Back run.
This brings up an interesting question though…did all of the Lion-O’s and Mumm-Ra’s released during the “battery Offer” period come with a battery offer, or would, say, half have the battery offer and half not have it?
Also, another interesting thing, how you mentioned parents would buy the main figures, i think that would apply to the Tygra and Cheetara too, your a parent and you see 1 figure in a pack or two (PVC) for the same price…you will buy the one with two…i am will to bet that there was a time when Single Tygras and Cheetaras just hung on the pegs…
Another interesting fact - It seems that the early “no catalog” 8 Backs bubbles have all yellowed…this could be a different chemical formula used in the plastics, or production process…just interesting
About the Yellowing, it is more commom to the battery offers packs, it has to do something with the Battery and its components,especially after such a long period, which affect the bubble.
This is why the lower part of the blister is somewhat more yellowish