Mattel loses DC Action Figure license to Spin Master

[thunderbolt]

And I say again Mego would do DC(or Marvel) if it were available at 8 inch scale. It is not, FTC has that one for the next few years, and I assume Mattel(or Hasbro) wouldn't allow it at retail. If they could do it they would I have no doubt despite the PR. Even if that is what is said by Mego, how is that any different than rehashing Star Trek? Repopping old Mego and EMCE figures isn't really advancing that brand is it? Same applies to the WOZ or AJ.

Then you lost your bet. Marty said word for word, "We wanted to do a new scale with our DC license. FTC is doing something completely different and their licensing is in the collectors market. It has nothing to do with us or prevents us from doing what we want to do." Paul then came in and said they didn't want to just retread old ground. They said it directly to me and the context was crystal. I talked to these guys for quite a while. They have allot of ideas, but they're trying to advance the brand, not just recreate an old line. They've also already done some licensing in the eight inch scale that FTC is doing, such as KISS. So the proof is already on the pegs as well as the spoken word.

In terms of FTC, we'll just have to agree to disagree. I've met Anthony and his team. I have met Marty and his team. Both parties are quite likable and personable individuals with loads of love for this hobby. It might disappoint you to know FTC encouraged Marty to bring Mego back. But they ARE in two separate markets, where licensing and volume production dictates different price points. But you know that already. FTC is not in Mego's way and Mego is not in FTC's way. They just have a different strategy than what you want.

Personally I'm glad they haven't tried the usual suspects in the same scale. History shows other companies that have chased these expensive licenses to sell the retro experience in the mass market, have not been rewarded. Captain Action had the Marvel license and bombed with the Avengers and Spider-man movies wildly popular. And Mattel laid an egg with the DC Retro license when those were released. I don't believe making a product line that looks like 1974 will give you the same results from 1974. It's a different time and appeal hits today's generation differently. I think Mego is looking for that new appeal in 2019.

[MIB41]

And I say again Mego would do DC(or Marvel) if it were available at 8 inch scale. It is not, FTC has that one for the next few years, and I assume Mattel(or Hasbro) wouldn't allow it at retail. If they could do it they would I have no doubt despite the PR. Even if that is what is said by Mego, how is that any different than rehashing Star Trek? Repopping old Mego and EMCE figures isn't really advancing that brand is it? Same applies to the WOZ or AJ.

You understand how the company launched and how allot of that was at Target's expense since they bought the package. 2019 will look quite different. Kick back and enjoy!

[monitor_ep]

I am so glad Mattel lost there deal. I loved it when they had the Justice League Unlimited line going and they released a lot of characters through the lineup. The dropped the ball on Young Justice TAS, Green Lantern TAS and Teen Titans TAS. It would have been better if they just released them all using the JLU bodies or creating teen bodies to go with the JLU.
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There 6 inch DC figures were getting harder to find and I just gave up on them. Then there subscription figures were a mess. I got started when they offered the oversized figure and when they stopped I stopped. I did get my Doom Patrol and a messed up Metal Men set out of it.

The problem is just what is Spin Master going to release and what size?

[ODBJBG]

There's no way Mego has the license to make DC figures at an 8 inch scale. I don't care what any of them said.

FTC may not be who is blocking it, it might be Mattel still, I can't say, but I can say Mego doesn't have the right to make them. If they did, they would have. Anything else is lunacy.

"Alright boys, we got the DC license, we can do anything we want with it. Hmm, well, we could make 8 inch Batman figures and sell a ton of them... Or, get this, we could make figures in 14 inch scale... You know, a scale that no one collects. Let's put our DC license there and ONLY there..."

"Brilliant!"

"And for the 8 inch line, we'll make Al Bundy figures!"

"It's a license to print money!"

[CrimsonGhost]

Even Spock would admit that logical conclusions can be faulty.

[Mego-Amigo]

I have bought 22 of the new 8 inch Mego figures. I have not bought any of the 14 inch DC figures because I don't care for the scale. If those figures were 8 inch I would by most of them.

[Mary Canary]

I don't really care for the Mattel DC stuff, but I'm hoping Imaginext stays put! I love collecting those little guys!

[Werewolf]

I think it was a missed opportunity they didn't do an Injustice vs Masters of the Universe line.

[tmthor]

I think it was a missed opportunity they didn't do an Injustice vs Masters of the Universe line.

No the real injustice is the lack of MOTU imaginext

[PNGwynne]

No the real injustice is the lack of MOTU imaginext

Truth.

[thunderbolt]

I don't really care for the Mattel DC stuff, but I'm hoping Imaginext stays put! I love collecting those little guys!

Imaginext would be gone too wouldn't it? Its part of Mattel so it should be in the same boat. I would guess all these sub licenses like FTC, Mego, Mezco etc would have to renegotiate with Spin Master.

[PNGwynne]

IDK, Fisher-Price/Imaginext may be another license?

EDIT: A google seach yielded: Mattel will retain preschool and "girls'"-toy rights. And supposedly Hasbro has made attempts to buy out Mattel, as it is struggling amidst lay-offs.

[MRP]

Imaginext would be gone too wouldn't it? Its part of Mattel so it should be in the same boat. I would guess all these sub licenses like FTC, Mego, Mezco etc would have to renegotiate with Spin Master.

It's a different category, i.e. Toddler Toys, and Mattel retained the toddler toy license, it didn't go to Spin Masters.

-M