WGSH Becomes Retro-Action!

[BlackKnight]

The Name sucks to me.
I like the Art on the Back quite a Bit ..., very Iconic Images...
Still looking forward in seeing the Actual figure we are going to Purchase.

[MIB41]

One minor point - the Trek figures were mass marketed, as they were (and possibly still are) available at FAO Schwartz, Blockbuster Video, and online.

True, but I was referring to a bigger distribution like Walmart, Target, TRU. A whole lot more product getting manufactured on those levels.

With regard to top dollar payment - We can want all we want. Unless you are putting up the money to get it made, you have to understand the value of that want versus the value of the dollar to get it produced and mass marketed..

How much something cost to be made is in direct relation to the volume being manufactured. The idea that Hasbro can make 9 inch, fully licensed, Signature Series figures which are very much in the same vein as Mego (only a little bigger) and cover them in big packaging for $14.99 tells me Mattel could do better on their end. EMCE is considerably smaller than Hasbro (and distributed far less figures than Hasbro) and still gave us a great price for the Trek figures. Based on these measures alone, Mattel's price points should beat both parties, yet they don't - Not yet anyway. I think that is valid to bring up.

Perhaps you could spend a decade of your life, a second mortgage on your house, and work a second job so we can tell you what we don't like about your product? EMCE and its founder are doing their utmost to give you what you want, and listening to every single complaint about it for about a decade now. A little gratitude is in no way unreasonable or unwarranted, and does not preclude you from disliking things about it. It's simply common courtesy.

Collecting, for myself, is a wonderful form of entertainment and a task I consider to be something of an artform. Now the day I spend my mortgage picking up one of these items, I will gratefully load a pistol and hand it to you to shoot me with. That being said, some do spend that kind of money and that's great. I don't. No judgement call on my part whatsoever. It's just not in my blood to do it. Alot of what I have I have tactfully pieced together for bargain prices or have managed to hold on to from my childhood. Anything new on the shelf, I am going to price between vendors and get the best buy I can get. What it resembles from years ago doesn't change the fact that it's brand new again. So yes, I am happy when they make something I like. But I am paying for it. It's not a charity. My gratitude is reflected by what leaves my pocket and goes into theirs.

[Spyweb007]

My only concern with the packaging design is that it has to compete with other toys on the shelf for the buyers attention, if it doesn't catch the eye, it could have a negative impact on sales and the lines success. I personally would have designed it differently, but I want the figures to open and display, the card design doesn't matter in that respect. I only hope it doesn't hinder the retail success of the line. I applaud Paul and Joe for all their efforts, and can't wait to buy these figures for myself and my son.

Thanks for your hard work and perseverance!

[Mikey]

Me personally, I would have liked it if they based the design on the Palitoy cards



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[Meule]

I don't agree. Reviewing this thread alone, to date the yeas (or don't cares) outweigh the nays 3 or 4 to 1, and that is among the most rabid of Mego collectors here on the Museum. I do agree though that collector feedback is always a good thing for a company to get. Hopefully they are reading all of this and acting (or not acting) accordingly.


Again, I never said "You have no right to your opinion or to complain". In fact I started my post that you reference by saying the exact opposite of that. I was pointing specifically what MIB41 said about not needing to feel grateful. You have stated here that you are, so clearly this is not meant for you.

Hate the card all you want. All I ask is this - ask yourself what you would feel if you spent a significant portion of your life and fortune to make this dream a reality and then you read some of the comments in the first two pages of this thread and in other threads in the EMCE forum. Is the card really so terrible that it outweighs all else done and sacrificed in this endeavor? Is the card going to keep you from purchasing one or more of these? Really? It really does have something to do with common courtesy - we should have the common courtesy to keep this entire enterprise in perspective.

There seem to be more nays in the other thread, but that's beside the point now.
Something you should keep in mind when making that mortgage statement is that MATTEL is making these, not EMCE. Paul spent a lot of his money in HIS company EMCE and so far EMCE has delivered quality and has gotten nothing but praise for it. People are waiting on more Apes, Trek and NOTLD.
But Mattel is a big company with big bucks, the president isn't risking his own life savings on this Mego revival
And no, the crappy card won't keep from getting them, I just wished that the guy who designed this card had thought it through a little more and laid off the booze the night before.

[MIB41]

Here's the great irony to all of this, which no one has probably thought of yet. If Mattel does listen and change the card in LATER EDITIONS, well... this first edition series becomes a collectors "must-have". And then you'll see people paying $500 for this silly card three years from now. Isn't it funny how that works?

[ODBJBG]

Just so everyone knows, Mattel isn't the kind of company that will budge on stuff like card art. You either like it, or you don't, but you're going to have to learn to live with it. Anyone who deals with Mattel on any of their other toylines can pretty much attest to that.

Matty hears your opinions and he wants you to stuff it.

[MIB41]

Matty hears your opinions and he wants you to stuff it.

Wow. Well go ahead and close the line down now and go back to making that successful series of Speed Racer figures.

[The Kryptonite Kid]

The card has too much negative space, they should tighten it up a bit.

[Marvelmania]

Ok, here's my 2 cents. The name change and card doesn't bother me. I kind of figured that when the figures come out there might be changes. While it could have been done better to me it's not a big deal. On the outside it may not scream Mego but in my toy collecting brain I still see Mego. We need to remember that this is the first phase. Hopefully some good criticism might be heard and who knows what the 2nd phase will look like. While I really don't have a complaint but if I did it would be that I absolutely hate exclusives! That being said I realize that in today's market exclusives are a big thing and part of the deal.

[PNGwynne]

Mikey's post of the Palitoy card only accentuates how *blah* the new card is. Ochre/gold? If they want a standardized color, I don't think this will pop from the shelves. I'll miss WGSH, but I can accept Retro.

BUT... Packaging for me is negligable. I open stuff! The proof will be in the figs themselves. The assortment is cool... The protos look good. If the bodies & suits are quality, I'll be excited.

$20 each? I've paid that for Emces, I'll gladly pay that for Retro Mattel.

You couldn't do comparable customs for any of these characters for twice the price... Let's wait till we really see Green Arrow, then judge. I do have concerns about fabrics, construction, etc--but I feel optimistic.

If the fig is nice, no-one will care about the card nuances... If Mattel turns out Famous Covers II, we'll be justified in grousing...

[jwyblejr]

No pleasing people,is there? We groused about the "damaged" look of the cards,then find out Mattel isn't doing that. So what do we do? Still complain about the cards.

[BlackKnight]

No pleasing people,is there? We groused about the "damaged" look of the cards,then find out Mattel isn't doing that.

Where you read that at ?
Still looks Like a Lighter gotta Hold of the Card to me .

"Retro-Action " ... I dunno,.. Doesn't really sound like it has any Staying Power..., sounds more like a Phase or a Limited Edition line ... Just my Take.

[deputypowell]

Regarding the Mattel cardbacks!

I think the new Mattel cardback adds to the figure and makes the toy look very retro. I feel like I could have seen this item on a store peg back in the 70's. (That is my opinion.)

PS-Can we go ahead and order the Green Arrow from Mattel or do we have to wait until the 15th?

[pmwasson]

I love it! Mattel/MECE will get my business on anything they make.