Can EMCE get any kind of Superhero licenses?

[BATMAN89]

Some one was posting, in the Figures Toy Co. section, that they would like a Superfriends line.
It keeps making me think that there may be other separate DC licenses out there.
I would love to see Paul and Joe get a superhero license!
The deserve it, and Superfriends would be really cool!

[MIB41]

I'm surprised no one has done a Mego scale of Marvel's Frankenstein, Werewolf by Night, Mummy, and Dracula (based on Gene Colan's work). Lots of ideas that would be good sellers.

[Figuremod73]

Doesnt virtually every character have a seperate license?

There may even be some older characters in the public domain (but still desireable as a figure) that could be made.

[BATMAN89]

Idk! I'm thinking yes they do. If Batman '66, and 8" Batman figures can be licensed separately, why not Superfriends? Why not 1940's Serial Batman? Batman Beyond? Etc., etc., etc.

[BATMAN89]

I'm surprised no one has done a Mego scale of Marvel's Frankenstein, Werewolf by Night, Mummy, and Dracula (based on Gene Colan's work). Lots of ideas that would be good sellers.

That's a cool idea!

[drmego]

It's a matter of money - Warner Bros will not give a license unless you can pay
a large $$$$$ upfront and there is no reasonable expectation that you will sell
enough figures to make back that money.

The jury is still out on whether Figures recent spending spree on licenses will
be a good business decision or just a fan spending his money. I know they have
a different business model than me - making all these figures gives them
inventory to sell on their website for years to come - and that's fine if you can
afford to wait that long for a return on investment.

The reality is that the mego fan base is not big enough to support these licenses.
In order for licensed megos to be profitable, you need a larger fan base like Trekies
or comic fans to buy the product.

EMCE is working on some licenses (that I can't discuss) but they are geared to a
younger audience outside of the museum members.

[drmego]

Diamond Select put out a Marvel Tomb of Dracula statue a few years back - it was very cool.

I'm surprised no one has done a Mego scale of Marvel's Frankenstein, Werewolf by Night, Mummy, and Dracula (based on Gene Colan's work). Lots of ideas that would be good sellers.

[Capt_Kirk]

It's a matter of money - Warner Bros will not give a license unless you can pay
a large $$$$$ upfront and there is no reasonable expectation that you will sell
enough figures to make back that money.

The jury is still out on whether Figures recent spending spree on licenses will
be a good business decision or just a fan spending his money. I know they have
a different business model than me - making all these figures gives them
inventory to sell on their website for years to come - and that's fine if you can
afford to wait that long for a return on investment.

The reality is that the mego fan base is not big enough to support these licenses.
In order for licensed megos to be profitable, you need a larger fan base like Trekies
or comic fans to buy the product.

EMCE is working on some licenses (that I can't discuss) but they are geared to a
younger audience outside of the museum members.

Doc's right. After this big wave of "mego like figures" being released this year we will know just how profitable these investments are. There are a great deal of variables the investors have to take into account. Quality of the figures, Popularity of the figures being produced, Priceing, Marketing. All these has to be factored in. Unfortunately, I feel the 66 Batman is the "most" profitable so we missed the boat on that but, I can tell you, they spend a pretty penny for that license, I'm sure.
There are still some very marketable licenses out there. If Married with children, Brady Bunch and Happy Days can be profitable "not to knock those in any way" then I'm sure the other figure licenses would be a lucrative investment to be sure.

[MIB41]

Diamond Select put out a Marvel Tomb of Dracula statue a few years back - it was very cool.

Hey Paul if hypothetically you wanted to make Frankenstein, Werewolf by Night, Mummy, and Dracula based on the Marvel universe would you have to go through Walt Disney for approval or would there be multiple license holders based on the name, likeness etc? And how do you measure the market/appeal for what you make? Are they just forums like this or is there something more measured than just collected opinion? I'm just curious how one arrives at this decision to invest and move forward.

[ODBJBG]

Even if EMCE had the money, getting a SuperFriends license, while another company is putting out two other Batman lines in the same scale seems like a recipe for disaster to me. The market can only hold so many Batman figures in the 8 inch scale. Granted SuperFriends has a lot of other good characters to pull from, but you get the idea. Right now I'd think doing something the complete opposite of superheroes would be the wisest move.

That or get the Spider-Man license, lol.

[ZICA]

It's unfortunate that most of the smaller companies making these new retro style figures aren't willing to work together in some capacity. The synergy that could result by combining forces would be beneficial to both companies and consumers. For an industry that's making products which are intended to be fun and bring happiness to the consumer, it's very ugly and cutthroat behind the scenes.

[Spyweb007]

I agree with what Zica posted, just imagine the various companies here pooling their resources and putting together a product combining the strengths of each companies product. Could be the best figures ever produced, in this size at least.

[MIB41]

I get that sense too Craig. And I will NEVER understand why your Buck Rogers line was not a HUGE hit. The detail, accessories, and packaging remain the highest quality of any of the new age Megos. I think the soft sales demonstrates just how fickle and unpredictable this market is. That's why I'm puzzled how Figures Inc. can pull off such a huge production of figures without enormous risk attached to it. How much money could they have truly made off that KISS license? Doesn't make sense to me. But with your track record of quality in mind, I'm anxious to see what you have on deck. With those new bodies, you have once again raised the bar.

[Byrnes]

The Buck Rogers figs from ZICA got me collecting 8" figures. I hate to say it, but I bought these only after the initial run was over when BBTS had them on sale and there was maybe still a chance for more figures. I didn't really know about them to much but since I didn't collect 8" figures I didn't want to spend full price but I loved Buck Rogers and the 2 figures were great. After getting them in hand and seeing the quality I would have gladly spent the full price to support the line now that I'm into 8" figures. Had I know, what I know now. Sorry Craig.

[ZICA]

I get that sense too Craig. And I will NEVER understand why your Buck Rogers line was not a HUGE hit. The detail, accessories, and packaging remain the highest quality of any of the new age Megos. I think the soft sales demonstrates just how fickle and unpredictable this market is. That's why I'm puzzled how Figures Inc. can pull off such a huge production of figures without enormous risk attached to it. How much money could they have truly made off that KISS license? Doesn't make sense to me. But with your track record of quality in mind, I'm anxious to see what you have on deck. With those new bodies, you have once again raised the bar.

The Buck Rogers figs from ZICA got me collecting 8" figures. I hate to say it, but I bought these only after the initial run was over when BBTS had them on sale and there was maybe still a chance for more figures. I didn't really know about them to much but since I didn't collect 8" figures I didn't want to spend full price but I loved Buck Rogers and the 2 figures were great. After getting them in hand and seeing the quality I would have gladly spent the full price to support the line now that I'm into 8" figures. Had I know, what I know now. Sorry Craig.

Thanks guys! Even though the Buck Rogers line wasn't a financial success for me, it was definitely a creative one.