Thrilling, but...

[rchatlin]

I hope I'm in the very small minority here who's excited about all the new 8" figures, but not planning on buying any.

I only collect vintage Mego figures because that's what I played with as a kid, and that's where my love and nostalgia is based on.

But the excitement building around here for everyone will buy these new toys, for themselves and their kids, is fantastic.

And most of all, I'm loving the fact that so many toy collectors are now thriving in the Toy Business - Congrats to Doc Mego, Brian & Scott,
and all the folks making memories for the next generation.

r
o
b

[Meule]

Wow Rob, you're not even getting one single figure? None at all?

[Gorn Captain]

Not even Super Collector?

Seriously. You have my respect for not giving in to the new "addiction".
I wish I was that strong.
We all know, this is going to cost us $$$$$.
Pretty soon we'll be raiding the kids' college funds, selling our bodies on the street, just to get the next wave of EMCEs....

I did what you intend to do in the Star wars section: I briefly started to go for new SW, then changed my mind and stuck to vintage. I only have a couple of new pieces.
I thank The Maker every day for that decision. I'd be stuck with 37 versions of Darth Vader now.
"Oooh, here's the newest version, where Vader scratches his butt..."

[Tom L]

I have to agree with Rob. All of the new stuff looks amazing and is so exciting, but can't bring myself to buy any for myself.

I wish I was into these like everyone else, but only the vintage stuff makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside.

Tom L.

[Mikey]

I totally see where Rob is coming from.

To go to the extreme, sometimes I wonder if all these new Mego's are a huge success how it will effect the daily goings on at the Museum forum.

It seems we already see a lot less Mego talk and more and more "retro figures" talk.
Add that to new people joining with interest only in the new lines.

I know it's all for the good of the hobby but sometimes it's a bit overwhelming for people that are only interested in vintage Megos.

[samurainoir]

I made a decision a couple of years back to try and focus on the vintage stuff, but that was before this new Re-Mego movement. Famous Covers were evocative, but not actually "Mego".

At a fraction of the cost of vintage, for brand new minty Mego-in-everything-but-name. New additions to the original lines. Dream figures that we could not even have imagined as kids... Universal Monsters, Twilight Zone, Buck Rogers and Movie Flash Gordon! Very hard to turn down (and stay within budget).

[Orion]

Very interesting topic. The love of collecting is reacquiring toys that gave you many hours of enjoyment as a child. With respect to the new figures, for me, I guess it depends on whether the figure is simply a "remake" of a Mego figure that already exists or a brand new figure we haven't seen before. Trek is a good example of this. I would rather have an original Mego Trek crew than the EMCE/Diamond reissues that were made. This is not a comment on the quality of the new figures but all comes down to nostalgia - I want the same figure I played with as a kid. But when it comes to Sulu or Chekov - new figures of characters that were never made - I have no problem picking them up and standing them along side the original Megos.

With respect to the new Universal Monsters that were talked about yesterday - they are very distinct from the original Megos, so I would like to add those to my collection as well even though they are not vintage toys. However, I had no interest in picking up the remakes of the Mad Monsters put out by Classic TV Toys.

The tough choice comes with the Retro line. I purchased the GA - gave one as a gift to a 9 year old - and have the other one sitting in the closet. I also pre-ordered Wave 1. Any remakes - for example Superman, Batman and Aquaman - I will likely stick in the closet with GA and save for my son when he is old enough to enjoy these figures. Some of the new characters - GL, Sinestro, etc. - will probably find their way to one of my toy shelves.

I don't know if this make sense, but it is my confused thought process when it comes to purchasing these newer figures.

[megoscott]

It's something we are thinking about, believe me. There's no doubt that there's a lot of energy and focus right now on what is happening with Re-Megos, and it's right and proper that the Mego Museum is front and center on it. But it is sucking up a lot of the oxygen in the hobby. I know we will continue to support and celebrate vintage Mego collecting.

Personally, I find all of this extremely interesting. A lot of us have studied and thought about Megos for so long it's neat to see it put into practice in creating new ones or see how it forms our critiques of the new ones. But it still takes a LOT to win my heart (and $), and my heart mostly belongs to the Mego toys of the 1970s.

[jimsmegos]

I have to agree with MegoScott. It's all well and good that the new stuff is here but nothing will ever replace the originals. And yes I know no one is trying to still the new lines will (IMO) never have the heart of the originals with the exception of custom and specialty lines such as the guy with the root beer that had doc do his character. Captain Ely I think is his name. I still need to get one of those. And of course Brick Mantooth is probably going to rank in my top ten favorite MEGO's ever made. No seriously.

[palitoy]

Nothing can ever move the vintage stuff from my heart either, it's my favourite and the reason I do what I do. I bet the same can be said for anybody producing in this scale.

It's toyfair and this is the biggest news in a long time so yeah, the museum is a little top heavy right now with it but we'll always be about the 70s.

It's possible we may soon feel a shift, new members who collect 8" figures but don't own a single vintage Mego figure and that'll be interesting but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

[MysteryWho]

I think you need to have balance. I don't really get excited about repros if I can afford the originals. I'd always prefer the originals. But if it's something out of my price range I'm happy.
The real excitement comes when they do new figures in the spirit of the originals. When I was a kid I was never sure if there were figures that I dreamed of, like Sulu or Chekhov, hiding out there. To have those figures is great!

[Wee67]

I don't see the new figures replacing vintage Megos in our hearts and, more importantly, in our collections. Sure, some will pick up an Emce Romulan or Andorian rather than shell out for the original, etc. However, I'm not sure how many will be driven by the Retro figures alone. I really see this as a compliment for those who decide to buy them. At least that's how they work for me.

[EMCE Hammer]

I don't see the new figures replacing vintage Megos in our hearts and, more importantly, in our collections. Sure, some will pick up an Emce Romulan or Andorian rather than shell out for the original, etc. However, I'm not sure how many will be driven by the Retro figures alone. I really see this as a compliment for those who decide to buy them. At least that's how they work for me.

I'll mix them right in where I think it's appropriate, but they'll never supplant the originals for me either. I may even do some 'then and now' pairings with the heroes on my shelf for kicks. I have a variety of monsters, Mego, custom, AHI, Lincoln, etc and I'll mix the new guys right in. I just love 8" monsters. The Brothers may find themselves on my hero shelves somewhere between my customs and originals. My collection is varied enough that it works for me.

I'd never defile a Dan Crandall collection with these guys though. They wouldn't be allowed on the same wall.

[ctc]

Hmmmm....

I've always felt that the 8" Mego body was the best action figure ever, and that's why I've been such a fan. Nostalgia doesn't figure into it so I don't have a problem with new figures.

That being said; there are a bunch coming out I'm not real interested in. Venture Brothers, yes; although I'd be tempted to custom up a new head for Brock. Maybe some Twilight Zone, monsters and some Flash Gordon. (Ming DOES look good....) And I DEFINITELY need a Brick.

If things take off it'll be neat to see what else gets done. I'd love it if the 8" format was popularized enough that some real oddball stuff was made.

Don C.

[cjefferys]

I'm with Rob on this. It's cool to see all this new stuff come out and the excitement it's causing, but I personally feel no desire to add any of it to my collection. I used to buy new toys along with vintage, but now my heart is strictly into vintage stuff, that's where the real fun is for me. I just can't get excited about buying a new toy and putting it on the shelf, it's just not the same, and that's money I'd much rather put towards something vintage.

That being said, when I eventually stumble upon this stuff at the toy store, I'll be picking up a couple for my son (and me) to play with, but that's it, I won't be "collecting" any of it.