Retro action petition

[alex]

Why is the thread closed?, what happened?

[Brown Bear]

I may be wrong, but I suspect the intention is "read it, then sign the peptition"....not, let's talk about it.

[rche]

^^ agreed

a discussion of the pros and cons of this sort of thing can exist in another thread rather than distracting from the primary purpose of the petition itself.

I might suggest to anyone who is letter writing or campaigning for another manufacturer of DC toys to take up the slack to link to both the petition result page and to the Matty forum discussion of 'save the RA' line.

I would also suggest that anyone who wants Mattel to consider online exclusives for this line purchase the Kyle Raynor figure due out on the 15th of July.

[alex]

Ok Guys we have over 600 active members please sign up, if U liked them or not, and help the rest of us out, also if possible join in the "mattycollector" forum, it will only take a few minutes. It would be a terrible shame if we just sat back, and did nothing,with all the hard work that Doc and the crew have put in. I still believe we have a slim chance, to squeeze a few more figures out of Mattel. So come on folks SIGN UP !!!!!!! Please x 100000000000

[jwyblejr]

I was number 44. Got a long ways to go it seems.

[Brown Bear]

I was number 25 (AND 26) :smile:

[rche]

the second wave of Lost figures from BBP was saved due to a campaign to preorder spearheaded by our own MegoScott. His efforts to bring attention to the Lost line via his petitions and blogs stirred up enough interest to warrant BBP releasing these as a convention special.

Unfortunately, with the RA situation, we don't have preorder numbers for Matty to see what would go into the bank for them. The only monetary/sale indicator they have is the final GL figure up for sale on 7/15 at Matty.com

So again, in addition to the letters and petitions, I suggest showing your support by purchasing that figure and finding other folks within your collecting/playing/comic enjoying influence and convincing them to purchase a figure as well.

[MegoScott]

Actually, while BBP loved the campaign and the support we gave it....it didn't make a bit of difference. I probably convinced a few people to try them, but in the end it was a business decision based on their relationship with ABC.

But taking action to counter-act the negativity that was swirling around them was a good thing to do.

I signed the petition and support all efforts to channel our energy into something positive and who knows what can happen.

[Type3Toys]

Then it is settled, MegoScott should spearhead this movement as well!!!!

Just kidding Scott. Look, I am not even a DC fan and I dont want to see these go away. It took me all of 5 seconds to slap my name down. I am looking ahead to 'What could be" in this scale. LURKERS, please, take a second from your busy day and join this cause.

[toyman]

I just signed it @ number 52.

[ScottA]

#53 here. This can't hurt at all and like Scott has said, anything positive we can focus on is a good thing for us and the museum.

[rche]

Actually, while BBP loved the campaign and the support we gave it....it didn't make a bit of difference. I probably convinced a few people to try them, but in the end it was a business decision based on their relationship with ABC.

But taking action to counter-act the negativity that was swirling around them was a good thing to do.

I signed the petition and support all efforts to channel our energy into something positive and who knows what can happen.

:smiley1:
OK; well thanks for bursting my bubble there Scott.
At the least, you did organize a cool campaign that the makers of these toys saw and noted.

I very much appreciated your time and energy spent on the Lost project. And I also very much appreciate anyone who takes the time to put some positive energy into this RA situation. So, thank you to the folks who started the petition and the thread on Matty. One never knows who may be paying attention.

and once again, it is the numbers of sales that will drive any company to make or release any product. So; if Kyle is indeed the last of his kind, I intend to order up a batch of him. I admit that I have pretty much no interest in this era of GL and find it an oddly ironic way to end a 70s themed line, but I can always sell or part out the figures at a later date if I choose.

I suggest again that the best support for the retros is to buy the hell out of these last two offerings (John and Kyle) on Matty. :hokay::hokay:

[TCM Hitchhiker]

I don't collect these, only one I have is Green Arrow, I just have too many issues with them. But I still signed the petition earlier today for the people that do collect them, and the fact that I hate to see any re-Mego line die, like them or not.

Even though I don't collect them, I would definitely buy a Joker. I hope he gets released.

[Meule]

You are signer #61
:grin:

[Jerry68]

Signer # 62

[shazam7208]

Done...#64

[BATMAN89]

#65!!!

[MEGO_SUPERMAN]

#67 On the Petition. But number 1 in your hearts!

[thunderbolt]

68!!!!!!!!!!

[enyawd72]

69!! Hope it pays off for you guys!

[drogge]

Number 70

[jacsfc]

number 82

[Boywonder0]

Just signed. Just don't know where you guys got your number from but I'm Ariel Alvarez in that petition.

[Timothy2251]

#87! Hope the petition does some good!

[Bizarro Amy]

I missed the petition. Could someone give me a link or directions?

[ScottA]

It's a sticky thread in the forum Amy.

[Bizarro Amy]

Doh!! How'd I miss that? I 'm #95.

[wonderfan32]

I'm #97. Here's hoping they'll listen...

[CrimsonGhost]

I'm agent 99.

[UnderdogDJLSW]

#98 hope it helps!

[Fuzzysnail]

I Am number 102

[trekman101]

Every one in my house signed :2thumbsup: we all need to help get these figures the chance they need to become more popular

[johnmiic]

Ooops! I closed the window and had to go back:

115 N/G John Michals N/G N/G USA View Jun 21, 2011

[HardyGirl]

I'm 116, and good luck RAH!

[lastknight2k]

I just signed the petition too, #119!

[actjac01]

Number 121!

[Flynne]

Did I miss something? Did Mattel put out an official announcment cancelling the line?

[MEGOMAN]

Yep. But there is a possible chance that we may see a few more figures by the end of the year. We all hope so!!!

[MEGOMAN]

Is it only me, but I cannot seam to find the petition. Is there a link for it??? Help please!!!!:smiley12:

[trekman101]

It's a sticky thread at the top of the EMCE forum page...click the link on Palitoy's post :wink_y:

[Wise4671]

I'm # 28 :smile:

[MrCMR]

Number 131:)

[MIB41]

WHERE is the link to sign the petition?

[GoldBlade6]

I signed on as #80.

[thunderbolt]

its a link to the petition right in this thread above.

http://megomuseum.com/community/showthread.php?t=60926

[thunderbolt]

am now also 135. :)

[magyar1964]

Make that 136

[Wasimhosen]

Up to 140

[puckace]

#145 and counting.

[SecretSquirrel_4]

I see that the petition (http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/save-the-retro-line-of-dc-characters-from-mattel.html) to save the "DC Retro Action Super Heroes" HAS reached some members here at MegoMuseum. If this is going to be a successful direction, members here need to contact other members via email, carrier pigeon, smoke signal, whatever. Please reach out to other "Mego Enthusiasts" and keep the line alive. What could stem out of the continuance of this line? More Character, but also possibly ... 8" ratio'd action figure Vehicles <-- !!!! OR 8" ratio'd action figure Play Sets (I.E.: A new Batcave, a new Daily Planet, etc.) (I realize that there have been companies that are now producing such dioramas...but new vehicles would be nice.). The full success of this line hasn't been realized. Thanks to Everyone who has already signed up on the petition. Keep this going. The Mego community is HUGE.. that can only bolster the petition. Thanks again.

[Krypt0nite]

I'm #146 :)

[jimsmegos]

Doing my part (hopefully)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIT3Ux-IZ-o

[timb]

Just signed it.

[argent007]

I signed yesterday afternoon!

[jimsmegos]

Okay, here's a better link... again, doing my best to do my part!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIT3Ux-IZ-o

[SecretSquirrel_4]

Save the line............for Batman. (still laughing) That was GREAT! Thanks for all your work on the P.S.A. ! Excellent !

[Wise4671]

Okay, here's a better link... again, doing my best to do my part!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIT3Ux-IZ-o



Man Jim that is AWESOME !!!!!!!!!!! I love it :grin:

[toyman]

Outstanding video!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Donkey Hoatie]

#170 here

[PNGwynne]

I'm on-board--I just wish Matty Collector accepted paypal, if these become exclusives...

[jemboy2004]

I was #105

I hope this works!

[jwyblejr]

I'm on-board--I just wish Matty Collector accepted paypal, if these become exclusives...


Get Paypal's debit card. Problem solved.

[MEGOMAN]

I'm #190.

[Iron Mego]

#191 here

[The Shadow]

Hi everyone! As my name kinda indicates, I've been lurking here a long while, just never joined in for some reason

Anywho, I signed the petition as well. Hope it does some good. My emotions have run the gamut with the release of these figures. Happiness that part of my childhood was coming back, gratitude to Paul for perservering, disappontment that the first couple of waves were so limpy and now sadness that the line is cancelled


One thought on the cancellation. It was going to happen eventually, one day you run out of characters that would turn a profit

But c'mon, no Robin with Batman? That's like peanut butter and no jelly!


Oh, and I am one of those "lurkers" Mattell! For every person you see here posting I have to imagine ther are more than a few others that ,like me, that have never chimnmed in but buy the figures

Just sayin'. Didn't mean to rant in the thread

[megalomaniac001]

Did it!

[SecretSquirrel_4]

The Petition (http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/save-the-retro-line-of-dc-characters-from-mattel.html) is going great ! Keep sending out the word... 226 is fantastic for 3 days, end point will have to be 10 times this much.. get inventive.. where else can this be prominently displayed/posted so more signatures can be gained ? What other websites? I've sent emails to a few 'comic book related' websites to see if they'll add a line of information and the petition link in their 'front page'.

I noticed quite a few people have made comments about flaws in the Mattel R-A line as far as construction goes. I was looking around, because some people have said that the Retro Action line has had a problem with lack of leg tension/friction so they won't stay in position. I found this:

Veteran Mego Museum member, "BoyWonder0" posted a magnificent tutorial (http://www.megomuseum.com/community/showthread.php?t=45870) to help repair the flaw of the lack of leg tension/friction in the R-A figures. By not paying attention to Mego's solution, Mattel Inc created their own problems.

But all is well with a bit of vinyl, time, and ingenuity !
I only mention it because some folks might have missed this.

[jackson5677]

I think this a waste of time......Doc said the show is over.....:music-smiley-019::music-smiley-019:...........hope I'm wrong.....#228

[bobws]

#230 i really wish they would listen to our comments.

[trekman101]

It might be a lost cause with Mattel but I wonder if DC or even Marvel thinks these were cool figure's to make....imagine if they advertised in their own comic books and sites about them...that would reach more eyes than TRU could ever reach

[megocanada]

I'm #232

[Brown Bear]

Just curious at what point will this petition be closed and the results sent to Mattel?

[SecretSquirrel_4]

I can only guess that the Petition (http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/save-the-retro-line-of-dc-characters-from-mattel.html) will be brought to the attention of Mattel Inc. sometime prior to the end of this year. The sooner the better, however, it's way to premature to toss the petition to Mattel with only 200+ signatures. The Petition signature numbers need to be in the 1,000's+. There is consumer support. The currently difficulty now is reaching everyone to amass more signatures. Please contact anyone you know that will help to contribute support and/or contact any source that will bring a brighter light to this cause.

[Teemu]

I'd sign,but I dont like giving my info out on a website I dont know and then have to worry about my info getting stolen.

[SecretSquirrel_4]

It might be a lost cause with Mattel but I wonder if DC or even Marvel thinks these were cool figure's to make....imagine if they advertised in their own comic books and sites about them...that would reach more eyes than TRU could ever reach

Mattel would have had to WANT to and PAID to advertise in DC (or Marvel had the Retro Characters ever gone into the Marvel characters) comic publications. Just because Mattel got the license to use DC characters doesn't necessarily make for a 'joint venture'. Mattel would have to pay DC Comics (like any publication) for the ad space.

I beat the internet up a bit to see if I could find ANY advertising concerning the Retro Action line. I didn't find any advertisements in DC Comics. The way that Mattel marketed this line, making it pretty much exclusive to only Toys R Us seems limiting.

When Mego(s) hit the market, Mego advertising saturation was EVERYWHERE! Advertising could be found in comics, magazines, individual local store weeklys, national catalogs & television. Personally, I think it WAS the media saturation that helped to make Mego(s) so popular. Mattel's advertising campaign for the retro action line (from what I've seen) seems 1/2 hearted.

[SecretSquirrel_4]

I'd sign,but I dont like giving my info out on a website I dont know and then have to worry about my info getting stolen.

There IS an OPTION on the petition that your information will NOT be revealed on the petition or anywhere else. It is anonymous IF you 'tick' off the box ON the petition that is marked "anonymous" ! Please support the petition !

[Daremo]

I'm signed in as #239.

[Teemu]

There IS an OPTION on the petition that your information will NOT be revealed on the petition or anywhere else. It is anonymous IF you 'tick' off the box ON the petition that is marked "anonymous" ! Please support the petition !

done! thanks

[Mego-Amigo]

I am #247. I am encouraging other friends, family and collectors to sign as well.

[SecretSquirrel_4]

the Petition numbers are up to 305 last time I checked !

[jimsmegos]

Just broke 400!

Yeah, I know... I need a life. Still its nice seeing folks kicking in.

[MegoNutt]

bam! #403, baby.

[Cosmicman]

405 for me. :grin:

[magyar1964]

While I support this petition and have signed it I'm wondering, looking at the signatures and the amount of "Anonymous" and joke names ( look at 141 & 161 ) does that REALLY help the cause? All those will be discounted by Mattel, so fewer people have really signed then what the posted number is. Not good.

[Earth 2 Chris]

I just signed it, as I somehow missed the petition here. I did post to Matty's message board.

But yes PLEASE sign as your real name. I didn't put my street address, but I put my state, email etc.

Chris

[jimsmegos]

While I support this petition and have signed it I'm wondering, looking at the signatures and the amount of "Anonymous" and joke names ( look at 141 & 161 ) does that REALLY help the cause? All those will be discounted by Mattel, so fewer people have really signed then what the posted number is. Not good.

Yeah I noticed those early on too. The really bad part is that with the low numbers of response (considering time perspective) Mattel seems easily justified in their decision.

Now had there been in excess of 4,000 legitimate signatures at this point I think the message would be really clear that they (Mattel) made a wrong move. It appears now however that the shoe is indeed on the wrong foot.

But, if we can spin those four hundred plus over to fill up their shopping carts at Doc's, Castaway or ZICA's sites then I'd say it could still be a win. I hope to start working on some stuff to do just that once I get the time.

[trekman101]

The problem is people don't know about the petition or the fact that the line is cancelled other than people here and a few other places :wall:
Now if there were some sort of display in TRU and other stores carring them telling about this...I bet you would get many many people signing some form of petition in the stores....and I know TRU is to blame in part for the low sales but that's water under the bridge now

[jackson5677]

439 people signed the petition.....but we have over 700 active members here at the Mego Museum.....that doesn't look good......:wall:

[SecretSquirrel_4]

I've tried to contact both Stephen Colbert and Adam West to get just a nod (or anything) .. If you know someone that can add "curb appeal" to the petition..by all means reach out contact them. If you do business with an online vendor for your comic books/action figures, ask them to toss the link to the petition on their website front page. Think of inventive ways to make this cause more illuminated ! This just needs some 'advertising' by some influential individuals. This can take off.....it's only been 15 days and with limited exposure there are 445 signatures. To be truthful this petition needs 10,000-100,000 signatures. Mattel tossed this line a curve ball by saying that it 'hinged' it's bets on this last wave. The Green Lantern Retro got it's exposure with Hal Jordan & Sinestro (early on). Kyle Raynor (1st appearance in the 1990s is retro?) is the last indicator ? That's not retro that's what? Due to the G.L. film ? He's not even in it. Also, the last wave hasn't even been on the Toys R Us website for sale..much less the brick and mortal stores!!! I'm still not dissuaded, this line I feel can survive if it gets some 'attention'. Please help.

[ODBJBG]

John Stewart is STILL available on MattyCollector. I think that pretty much says it all.

If everyone who signed the petition had spent $200 to buy 10 Stewarts, I bet a better case could have been made... Not that I would expect anyone to do that. Just saying, that with a small effort, the risk must be much more substantial. Which is ultimately the problem with these sorts of things.

Lots of people would buy more of these guys if they were on the shelf and price is right, but how many would spend hundreds of dollars on the "chance" that this might help the line continue.

[MIB41]

John Stewart is STILL available on MattyCollector. I think that pretty much says it all.

If everyone who signed the petition had spent $200 to buy 10 Stewarts, I bet a better case could have been made... Not that I would expect anyone to do that. Just saying, that with a small effort, the risk must be much more substantial. Which is ultimately the problem with these sorts of things.

Lots of people would buy more of these guys if they were on the shelf and price is right, but how many would spend hundreds of dollars on the "chance" that this might help the line continue.

There's over 400 petitions signed. So your saying Mattel needs that small group of people to spend over $80,000.00 just to consider keeping the line going? And you think that's a reasonable expectation? Uh...:muh:...right. If Mattel needed an extra 4,000 figures sold, they should have stocked them in TRU stores and advertised they EXISTED. There are scores of kids and potential buyers who grew up in the 70's who don't know this line was ever available. THAT'S Mattel's fault.

[Bronxboykev]

I was 79 and my brother was 81. We need this to pick up more steam!!!

[zeedox]

Stuff just sits on the shelf that I have seen weeks ago. The best place to find anything new there is the Diamond Aisle. The Star Wars figures have the same problem now too.

I don't even see the shelf space for that kind of movement. What I think it sadder is all that Cars 2 Stuff. Is it me or does it all look the same?

I don't see those flying off the shelves either yknow....

And I really think if they made the cartoon version of John Stewart they would be flying off the shelf. As much as I am old school, I would have gone with a Green Lantern movie with the
"black" Green Lantern I think kids have had enough of the standard white guy flying around.

[yard_sales_2011]

If Mattel needed an extra 4,000 figures sold, they should have stocked them in TRU stores and advertised they EXISTED. There are scores of kids and potential buyers who grew up in the 70's who don't know this line was ever available. THAT'S Mattel's fault.

Absolutely!

[raider5gt]

If Mattel needed an extra 4,000 figures sold, they should have stocked them in TRU stores and advertised they EXISTED. There are scores of kids and potential buyers who grew up in the 70's who don't know this line was ever available. THAT'S Mattel's fault.

Or they should of made them available worldwide,for all of us to collect and sorted the license out to do so.

[magyar1964]

:ugh_y:Currently 450 signatures and of those I counted about 47 that are either "Anonymous" or a joke name.:yuk:

[jimsmegos]

I noticed the museum has just over 1,200 facebook friends. where are your friends when ya need 'em?

[MEGO_SUPERMAN]

bummer

[ODBJBG]

There's over 400 petitions signed. So your saying Mattel needs that small group of people to spend over $80,000.00 just to consider keeping the line going? And you think that's a reasonable expectation? Uh...:muh:...right. If Mattel needed an extra 4,000 figures sold, they should have stocked them in TRU stores and advertised they EXISTED. There are scores of kids and potential buyers who grew up in the 70's who don't know this line was ever available. THAT'S Mattel's fault.

You obviously didn't read what I wrote. :muh: That's not at all what I said. I never said it was a resonable expectation, in fact I said the complete opposite.

:juggleyes_y:

However, if the 400 people who want the line to continue had bought 10 of the John Stewarts off of Matty, the line likely would have had a much better shot at getting at least a few more exclusives. TG has now said that Kyle is the "last shot" at saving the line, so if people buy him up, then perhaps the line will continue.

However if there are only the amount of fans that signed the petition willing to buy the figures, you better hope they're buying multiples or it's not going to happen. Plain and simple.

[jayraytee]

You obviously didn't read what I wrote. :muh: That's not at all what I said. I never said it was a resonable expectation, in fact I said the complete opposite.

:juggleyes_y:

However, if the 400 people who want the line to continue had bought 10 of the John Stewarts off of Matty, the line likely would have had a much better shot at getting at least a few more exclusives. TG has now said that Kyle is the "last shot" at saving the line, so if people buy him up, then perhaps the line will continue.


You just said it again. :googly:

[MIB41]

You obviously didn't read what I wrote. :muh: That's not at all what I said. I never said it was a resonable expectation, in fact I said the complete opposite.

:juggleyes_y:

However, if the 400 people who want the line to continue had bought 10 of the John Stewarts off of Matty, the line likely would have had a much better shot at getting at least a few more exclusives. TG has now said that Kyle is the "last shot" at saving the line, so if people buy him up, then perhaps the line will continue.

However if there are only the amount of fans that signed the petition willing to buy the figures, you better hope they're buying multiples or it's not going to happen. Plain and simple.

I understood exactly what you said. It was a hypothetical, which you qualified, but didn't expect to happen. But in saying that, you never debunked the idea. You even qualified it again with your last statement above. I understand the gist of what your trying to get at though - Can such a small group of collectors buy up enough to keep the line going? Of course not. And there are plenty, including myself, who have bought multiples. What I AM saying, is that Mattel never advertised to anyone outside of this group of people. Hence their expectations were never grounded. So either hypothetical with the multiple purchases or buying up Kyle are not remotely realistic. Heck, Kyle himself is not even a highly desired character in the Lantern universe, let alone a popular figure to buy. So even suggesting his sales could possibly hold the key to continuing this line when the likes of Batman, Superman, and the Flash did nothing is essentially a dreamfest.

Awareness was the key to making this work. We here at the Mego museum eat, sleep, and drink eight inch goodness every day, every week, of every year in our lives. The mere mention of this line in a thread started a wildfire of interest. No advertising dollars needed here. It's everyone outside this circle that needed to know. There are SCORES of people who grew up in the 70's that will never know this line ever existed. And so many with kids that would have flipped had they seen these. Paul and Joe knew that. You and me knew that. But for some strange reason Mattel didn't. Mattel apparently didn't think reintroducing a 35 year old line required an announcement for those outside our circle. Sure they unveiled them at Toyfair. But those events are for US. They ran an ad in toy COLLECTOR magazines. Once again, a magazine for US. Wasted dollars. We already knew. We were at the front of the line. H*ll, we WERE the line!

No commercials during kid programs. No ads from the exclusive retailer, TRU. Just a brief appearance of wave one in some stores and then... oblivion. Even most collectors like us had to WORK to get these figures. So this is all on Mattel my friend. There is NOTHING for us to do. We did it all already. We drove endless miles looking for this product. We called our local store managers asking to order it. And in most cases, many overpaid the standard market price because they only found it at local comic stores or through online vendors, which meant additional shipping costs as well. AND we brought these concerns to Mattel early in the line's release. Mattel did NOTHING. And now they come to us with this obscure character in the Lantern universe and suggest he is our 'best' hope. REALLY? :please_y: Sorry... We already did the work, spent our money, and showed our undying support to this line. Including buying multiple sets. We did our part. Mattel didn't do theirs. That is the story and that is how history will look upon the demise of this line.

[jimsmegos]

I understood exactly what you said. It was a hypothetical, which you qualified, but didn't expect to happen. But in saying that, you never debunked the idea. You even qualified it again with your last statement above. I understand the gist of what your trying to get at though - Can such a small group of collectors buy up enough to keep the line going? Of course not. And there are plenty, including myself, who have bought multiples. What I AM saying, is that Mattel never advertised to anyone outside of this group of people. Hence their expectations were never grounded. So either hypothetical with the multiple purchases or buying up Kyle are not remotely realistic. Heck, Kyle himself is not even a highly desired character in the Lantern universe, let alone a popular figure to buy. So even suggesting his sales could possibly hold the key to continuing this line when the likes of Batman, Superman, and the Flash did nothing is essentially a dreamfest.

Awareness was the key to making this work. We here at the Mego museum eat, sleep, and drink eight inch goodness every day, every week, of every year in our lives. The mere mention of this line in a thread started a wildfire of interest. No advertising dollars needed here. It's everyone outside this circle that needed to know. There are SCORES of people who grew up in the 70's that will never know this line ever existed. And so many with kids that would have flipped had they seen these. Paul and Joe knew that. You and me knew that. But for some strange reason Mattel didn't. Mattel apparently didn't think reintroducing a 35 year old line required an announcement for those outside our circle. Sure they unveiled them at Toyfair. But those events are for US. They ran an ad in toy COLLECTOR magazines. Once again, a magazine for US. Wasted dollars. We already knew. We were at the front of the line. H*ll, we WERE the line!

No commercials during kid programs. No ads from the exclusive retailer, TRU. Just a brief appearance of wave one in some stores and then... oblivion. Even most collectors like us had to WORK to get these figures. So this is all on Mattel my friend. There is NOTHING for us to do. We did it all already. We drove endless miles looking for this product. We called our local store managers asking to order it. And in most cases, many overpaid the standard market price because they only found it at local comic stores or through online vendors, which meant additional shipping costs as well. AND we brought these concerns to Mattel early in the line's release. Mattel did NOTHING. And now they come to us with this obscure character in the Lantern universe and suggest he is our 'best' hope. REALLY? :please_y: Sorry... We already did the work, spent our money, and showed our undying support to this line. Including buying multiple sets. We did our part. Mattel didn't do theirs. That is the story and that is how history will look upon the demise of this line.

If you run for president, my vote is yours. Two terms.

[MIB41]

If you run for president, my vote is yours. Two terms.

Jim I'll make you my VP! :yes:

[tkbk848]

MIB41 ... good god you write well!! That’s pretty much everything in a nut shell right there.

[The Shadow]

Mattel did NOTHING. And now they come to us with this obscure character in the Lantern universe and suggest he is our 'best' hope. REALLY? :please_y: Sorry... We already did the work, spent our money, and showed our undying support to this line. Including buying multiple sets. We did our part. Mattel didn't do theirs. That is the story and that is how history will look upon the demise of this line.

Well, I don't really think you can say they did NOTHING. They did, after all, listen to us with regard to fixing the bodies. Although I think that they thought that with the price point and the collectors *****ing, they had better do something. I know I almost quit buying these things after wave one because I thought that for $20+ the things ought to at least stand up straight.

But as far as getting the message out there, you nailed it. What they needed to do along with bringing back figures that we 40 somethings played with as kids, was to put out some kind of hot property that would have appealed to TODAY'S kids. Maybe Harry Potter or vampires or something. Then they would have had kids pestering their parents to buy them IF they had been readily availible in stores, which is another area Mattel dropped the ball.

What Mattel should be willing to do now (after seriously dropping the ball IMO) is not base the survival of the line on some Green Lantern that most of the world has never heard of, but put out a Robin figure and see how sales go

Make figures that people WANT Mattel, and I highly suspect they'll get bought

[trekman101]

I understood exactly what you said. It was a hypothetical, which you qualified, but didn't expect to happen. But in saying that, you never debunked the idea. You even qualified it again with your last statement above. I understand the gist of what your trying to get at though - Can such a small group of collectors buy up enough to keep the line going? Of course not. And there are plenty, including myself, who have bought multiples. What I AM saying, is that Mattel never advertised to anyone outside of this group of people. Hence their expectations were never grounded. So either hypothetical with the multiple purchases or buying up Kyle are not remotely realistic. Heck, Kyle himself is not even a highly desired character in the Lantern universe, let alone a popular figure to buy. So even suggesting his sales could possibly hold the key to continuing this line when the likes of Batman, Superman, and the Flash did nothing is essentially a dreamfest.

Awareness was the key to making this work. We here at the Mego museum eat, sleep, and drink eight inch goodness every day, every week, of every year in our lives. The mere mention of this line in a thread started a wildfire of interest. No advertising dollars needed here. It's everyone outside this circle that needed to know. There are SCORES of people who grew up in the 70's that will never know this line ever existed. And so many with kids that would have flipped had they seen these. Paul and Joe knew that. You and me knew that. But for some strange reason Mattel didn't. Mattel apparently didn't think reintroducing a 35 year old line required an announcement for those outside our circle. Sure they unveiled them at Toyfair. But those events are for US. They ran an ad in toy COLLECTOR magazines. Once again, a magazine for US. Wasted dollars. We already knew. We were at the front of the line. H*ll, we WERE the line!

No commercials during kid programs. No ads from the exclusive retailer, TRU. Just a brief appearance of wave one in some stores and then... oblivion. Even most collectors like us had to WORK to get these figures. So this is all on Mattel my friend. There is NOTHING for us to do. We did it all already. We drove endless miles looking for this product. We called our local store managers asking to order it. And in most cases, many overpaid the standard market price because they only found it at local comic stores or through online vendors, which meant additional shipping costs as well. AND we brought these concerns to Mattel early in the line's release. Mattel did NOTHING. And now they come to us with this obscure character in the Lantern universe and suggest he is our 'best' hope. REALLY? :please_y: Sorry... We already did the work, spent our money, and showed our undying support to this line. Including buying multiple sets. We did our part. Mattel didn't do theirs. That is the story and that is how history will look upon the demise of this line.

Pretty much and well said.......there is something in the "behind the scenes" activities with Mattel and TRU we don't know about I'm sure....their efforts were held back for some reason....we might find out later.....we might not

[wonderfan32]

I've said it before here and I'll say it again...you don't put out figures that no one wants and then say the line isn't doing well. DC Direct did the exact same thing with the 13" line releasing obscure non- traditional superhero characters in a row without breaking it up with more popular characters. They bombarded us with the likes of Dr. Manhattan, Comedian, Spirit, Sandman (not GA version), and Jonah Hex.

I'm not saying no one wanted John Stewart, Guy Gardner, and Kyle Rayner; what I am saying is that the priority should've been other characters first, not a whole theme devoted to just Green Lantern merchandise. Spread them out a bit and give us the variety that you started out with. Then, to add insult to injury, they say buy multiple characters you don't like or aren't your first choice? I did that with John Stewart but I'm not doing that with Kyle. Sorry....

[Werewolf]

No commercials during kid programs. No ads from the exclusive retailer, TRU. Just a brief appearance of wave one in some stores and then... oblivion. Even most collectors like us had to WORK to get these figures.

Well said.

Outside of the hardcore Mego collectors, that really had to work at to track the figures down, no one was really even aware these got released. Not even so much as a mention in a TRU flyer. That's a lot of lost sales from casual buyers, collectors and kids.

People can't buy something they are not aware of or even find in stores. The only figures I personally saw at TRU was the first series and Flash and Cold from the third. And I knew to look for them. People unaware of the line coming across the few remaining Sinestro and Cold figures, by sheer luck or accident at TRU, are going to pass them by if they can't get Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, etc.

Online exclusive low demand characters, like yellow Sinestro and Guy, are not a fair or accurate judge either. Put high demand characters like Joker, Robin or Batgirl on Matty and then judge if collectors want Retro-Action figures. Don't blame the collectors for not buying figures very few people actually want. Mix one short packed lesser demand and obscure character into waves with top sellers every so often. Don't make a entire series of low demand characters and expect them to be sellouts.

It's not our fault the line failed.

[Mego-Amigo]

If Mattel wants to be fair they should give us another 4 characters as online exclusives. Give us 4 characters that everyone really wants - Joker, Robin, Batgirl, Catwoman, Riddler or Supergirl. No doubt all would sell out fast. Then let Mattel reconsider thier decision about continuing the line. It won't happen but everyone here as well as myself knows it would change this situation. Should have been the case to begin with but promoting the Green Lantern movie is all DC, Warners and Mattel care about right now.

[Werewolf]

When I was a kid and Super Powers came out I knew months in advance to look for them because it was heavily promoted in comics, TV commercials, store flyers and even a tie-in promotion with Burger King. Also, when the toys finally hit the stores I could easily find all my favorite characters with little effort.

Heck, even Total Justice got it's own comic mini-series. :smiley1:

Seriously, though, I know times have changed and a big budget ad campaign was obviously way out of the question for Retro-Action, but a tiny bit of advertising outside of the hard core collectors certainly wouldn't have hurt.

[Lynn TXP 0369]

I'd love to here from Doc what would have actually been next in line had the line not tanked. He mentioned one or twice of us waiting to see what was next after the GL wave.

What would have been next had the line not tanked?

Lynn

[johnmiic]

I noticed the museum has just over 1,200 facebook friends. where are your friends when ya need 'em?

From the forums front page: Members:4,408 Active Members:732. You would think we would've hit 700 or so signatures by now. We should'a hit at least 2,000.

Less than 1/2 of the "active members" are not even interested in signing a petition. This kind'a makes me sad Jim. We seemed to come together as a community quite well under most circumstances. There seems to be a deep division of opinions on this line. So much that some members here rejoice in it's cancellation.

Props to trekman101 & MIB41. Your comments seem to be right on the money.

[bp1701a]

I am # 456 and posted it on facebook.

[The Bat]

There seems to be a deep division of opinions on this line. So much that some members here rejoice in it's cancellation.


I really don't think people rejoice in it's cancellation...I think it's more indifference. Some of us just lost interest in the line, I know I did. I wasn't even that upset about the poor bodies(I didn't mind replacing them)...it was the bad head sculpts that stopped me from caring. When Batman came out that pretty much popped my balloon. Although I did buy Aquaman & Twoface from wave 2....but then no other figures until the yellow Sinestro exclusive.

I am sad that the line was cancelled. Even though I didn't like any of the figures from Waves 3 & 4...maybe some figure would have come up that I would have felt worth spending money on, had the line continued.:please_y:

[chalwa]

I am 467. Sorry so late. Been away.

[ODBJBG]

Mattel doesn't advertise 95% of their boys toy lines. The only time they advertise toys for a boys brand, is if it's tied to a cartoon or the WWE and even then it's 50/50.

I know it's better to think that Mattel had a big conspiracy to try and make this line fail and I dunno, maybe they did... But not running TV commericals wasn't part of that plan. They don't advertise for any of their boys DC brands to my knowledge, outside of a few print ads in the now defunct Toy Fair magazine.

I get the general concept, but I also understand why Mattel thinks this particular type of toy didn't sell well. Because they've made other DC lines, with no advertising and they've sold well. They've made other DC figures that has had just as much distribution problems and they've also sold well.

Unfortunately no advertisement support, high prices, cheap QC, wonky distribution and a "buy on our exclusive website in bulk for a one month window" is part of the deal with being a fan of Mattel products. Nothing happened here any different than happens with any of Mattel's other stuff. Some lines can make it, some can't.

[samurainoir]

I hate to bring it up, but it could very well be a format fail when it came to the Retros on mattycollector.

Look around at all the Green Lantern figures out there that have been selling incredibly well in the 6" format. The DCU Classics and movie related green lanterns that quickly sold out last month on Matty. Whatever failings of the Green Lantern movie, there was a ridiculously expensive campaign out there that made Green Lantern awareness incredibly high across mass culture that seeped into the collectors when it came to other GL lines aimed at the collectors market.

In comic shops, Green Lantern/Blackest Night action figures might very well have been DC directs most successful action figure line in it's history given the amount of waves of lantern related action figures we've gotten in the past year or so. I can't think of any other DCD line that has ever gone this deep in terms of character selection, and number of waves released on this aggressive a schedule. Particularly when you take into account DCU Classics mining the same pool of characters at the same time.

In the past year, lantern related figures have been Golden. Kyle, Guy and John Stewart have been at the centre of Blackest night, it's lead up and it's aftermath.

So why didn't the Retro Gl's move like their more obscure 6" counterparts... The fricken' Cauliflower/fish headed Lantern sold out for goodness sake! Sodam Yat! How many of us here even know who that is without google?

Perhaps the problem was marketing these as "Retros" to begin with might be limiting your potential consumer right off the bat to a certain demographic? A demographic that tragically is a trough between the two peaks of the post war baby boomers (12" military GI Joe) and the Echo Boom kids (currently represented by former 80's kids buying up the Masters of the Universe and transformers).

[samurainoir]

http://www.crmtrends.com/images/livebirthrateUS.gif

In other words, the overall population that would have even the slightest possibility of a nostalgic connection to the "Retro" nature of Mego figures is in that big dip in the graph here. The bump in front of us is kids growing up with GI Joe RAH, Transformers, Masters of the Universe, Thundercats, etc.

[rche]

motu and the early RAH kids are still in the dip with us (albeit on the upward swing)

Looks like the peak was for Spawn kids and Potf2. Perhaps those lines will pick up in a few years after all. :smiley1:

[rche]

very good point that Mattel has used the same lack of advertising along with their matty exclusive formats for other lines that have sold well. It would appear that the mass numbers just are not there for this product.

Any word on when Kyle is coming out as that is pretty much the last chance to vote with real dollars on this line.

[samurainoir]

motu and the early RAH kids are still in the dip with us (albeit on the upward swing)

Looks like the peak was for Spawn kids and Potf2. Perhaps those lines will pick up in a few years after all. :smiley1:

My brother's a RAH and MotU kid, about ten years younger and born in the eighties. All the toy shows around here are all pretty much 80's dominated now. If I were to bank on something, it would be Power Rangers... those kids are just exiting college. In about five years they will have large amounts of disposable income.

[MIB41]

I hate to bring it up, but it could very well be a format fail when it came to the Retros on mattycollector.

Look around at all the Green Lantern figures out there that have been selling incredibly well in the 6" format. The DCU Classics and movie related green lanterns that quickly sold out last month on Matty. Whatever failings of the Green Lantern movie, there was a ridiculously expensive campaign out there that made Green Lantern awareness incredibly high across mass culture that seeped into the collectors when it came to other GL lines aimed at the collectors market.

In comic shops, Green Lantern/Blackest Night action figures might very well have been DC directs most successful action figure line in it's history given the amount of waves of lantern related action figures we've gotten in the past year or so. I can't think of any other DCD line that has ever gone this deep in terms of character selection, and number of waves released on this aggressive a schedule. Particularly when you take into account DCU Classics mining the same pool of characters at the same time.

In the past year, lantern related figures have been Golden. Kyle, Guy and John Stewart have been at the centre of Blackest night, it's lead up and it's aftermath.

So why didn't the Retro Gl's move like their more obscure 6" counterparts... The fricken' Cauliflower/fish headed Lantern sold out for goodness sake! Sodam Yat! How many of us here even know who that is without google?

Perhaps the problem was marketing these as "Retros" to begin with might be limiting your potential consumer right off the bat to a certain demographic? A demographic that tragically is a trough between the two peaks of the post war baby boomers (12" military GI Joe) and the Echo Boom kids (currently represented by former 80's kids buying up the Masters of the Universe and transformers).

Good points. But unlike Retros, the DCU figures are available everywhere. You can find them in Target's, Meijers, Walmarts, and online. This all ties back to familiarity with line. How many years have the six inch format been out there? A long time. The Retro action line was coming into the marketplace as a whole new format. So awareness was crucial to this line's survival. And with the six inch scale being so popular, it makes sense that related tie-ins at Matty would sell out. For example, my good friend, EmeraldKnight, knew all about the six inch figures. All he had to do was slide through any boy toy isle in town and there they hung. But he didn't have a clue that Mattel had already pumped out four waves of the Retro figures. He had only seen a couple at TRU and wondered what those were. So awareness and distribution meant everything.

Your comments offer some tremendous insight though. Mattel likely worked from a false premise that the eight inch format would tap into that six inch market and find similar success. The only problem is, the kids collecting the six inch line were already hard wired to collect that product line. And with Mattel putting out so many Lantern characters, it didn't make a lot of sense for kids (more so than collectors) to pick up duplicates of a character like Kyle or Hal when they already had them in the six inch format and needed to collect the rest of the Lantern Corps line. So for the kids that knew about the Retro's, it likely came down to a choice and they went with the line they knew with more variety. The other segment never knew about the line and thus starved off it's ability to continue.

[SecretSquirrel_4]

509 signatures ... and very very very very slowly still going !

[Figuremod73]

personally i think good advertising for toys went away when saturday morning cartoons went down the toilet. i didnt grow up with the megos and like most they werent even something i would think of buying until i saw a retro superman and there was something about the toy that appealed to my old fashioned taste in toys. ( i grew up with the original heman and super powers) now i absolutely adore them and think there one of the best formats a toy could possible have. toys with endless customization, how appealing! i think it comes down to just people not really being exposed to them.

[bp1701a]

Relly,, if Mattel nwanted to sell the RA toy line,, there would have been a commercial to say to customers,"Hey,look at what we are offering ,just like you or when your dad was young"but nooooooooooo, not a word, not a peep,,,, but its just buisness, they will cancel it and move onto something else thats overpriced, Im suprised i havent seen and GLEE toys yet, thats when you will know we are doomed.

[GoldBlade6]

Mattel recently asked its JLU fans if they would be willing to pay more to get certain unreleased figures, but why weren't Retro-Action DC fans even ever offered this option? I'd like some more Retro figures or at least some news. I might not pay $30 for just any RADC character, but I really want a Joker and Robin, at least!