Thrilling, but...

[Spyweb007]

Well said Cmonster.

[Cmonster]

This is without a doubt, one of the most interesting topics/threads I've seen in here. I have a little bit of a different perspective, perhaps because I worked in the toy industry (and in Hollywood) for quite some time and I've seen how the business works and is run;

Firstly, I can say that most of the good people that I have been fortunate enough to work with in the toy industry, are in it for the right reasons. We're all in the same age group (late 30's-early 40's) and pretty much got into making toys because of nostalgic reasons. Simply put, we love action figures, played with, and collected them as kids and wanted to make a living doing it. For me anyway, it really is that simple. However, there is a much darker side to that industry. A side that is based on fear, greed and vanity. A side that ultimately led to me leaving that industry, never to return. I always thought that I could work in the movies and pursue my directing career, and always have time to sculpt a figure or a head for this company or that. Well, it kinda didn't work out that way.

Not to get into too much detail here, I just started seeing people get too consumed by the dark forces of the toy industry and make really bad decisions. I was in the thick of it in the mid 90's, when a lot of this "resurgence" stuff started. I was there, in some of those rooms, when a lot of bad decision making and people burning each other for money, started. Things like deciding to re-release all the Star Wars characters and make them all buff and muscular, like superheroes... "Hell, this is the 90's! The 70's are gone, we have to re-invent these characters and make them larger than life!"-- Why? They're larger than life already... Luke Skywalker doesn't look like that. Have you even SEEN the original film? And the actor likeness thing??? Please don't even get me started on that BS.

I've worked on several different lines for different companies involving what they called at the time; "Actor likenesses" Mind you, this is way before all the scanning stuff they do now. I had to sculpt actor likenesses by hand. I had to deal with all the red tape and BS from not only the companies, but the actors themselves. "My nose isn't that big."-- Uh, yes, it is dude, have you looked in the mirror lately. "You got my hair wrong, it's not that long now." -- Yeah, I know, but back when you did this movie, you had longer hair. , "Get rid of those wrinkles in my forehead!"-- Why?, They're THERE. It's part of what makes that character. It became more about BS and not about the TOYS. It started becoming actual WORK, instead of fun; Work that I did not like.

I've literally worked on some likeness for SO long, that the flesh colored clay I'd use to sculpt in, had almost turned gray from all the reworking and resculpting that had to be done on it... Change after change, after change, from the toy company, from the studio and the actor. Sometimes, they'd all be different, and that was a real mess. I literally sat with an actor in NY after he was insisting I keep changing things on his likeness and the deadline was quickly approaching, and told him "Look dude, by the time this thing gets produced, the head is literally going to be the size of a pencil eraser, all this detail won't even be there and it's not going to matter..." He looked me right in the eye and said "I don't care. Do what I tell you to do." I threw the head in his hot cup of overpriced coffee, got up and left. It was a wax copy and I had the mold, but I did it to make a point. I told him that when he finished his coffee and retrieved the head, that's what it would look like at retail, on the shelf, in the store.

These people or companies just never understood the "feel" or "gist" of a character for a toy. They never understood that sometimes, like the mego's, the likenesses to the people they were capturing didn't have to be perfect. It just had to represent that person or character. This gave the toys SO much more character and appeal. And they wonder why that "Magic" of 70's toy lines is gone... THAT'S why. People were making TOYS, not COLLECTIBLES. Kids used their IMAGINATION when they played with these things.

That's my other pet peeve. Everyone now is so hooked on realism and making the stuff look SO real, SO true to life... Well, that's cool, but in my humble opinion, those aren't TOYS. Action figures and dolls that kids PLAY with... Those are collectibles, and that's fine... I've sculpted those too. I just never understood why the line between the two has somewhat disappeared. All the stuff that companies like Sideshow are doing, is really incredible stuff. They are a collectible company. I just don't get why TOY companies now, have adopted that same philosophy.

Maybe it's because toy companies today aren't making TOYS. I remember when all that re-issue Star wars stuff came out, and SO do the toy companies. They saw grown men all over the country, waiting outside ToysRus, to rush inside and grab the new "chase figure" or "short case" figure or whatever... These bearded menaces were DEALERS and COLLECTORS, who hoarded the stuff, thinking it was going to equal the original stuff in value. Gimmie a break... All that did was fuel the fire for all these companies to make what they called in the industry at that time; "collector friendly toys".

The point I'm trying to make, is that I dig all the re-mego stuff. It's kind of nostalgic and most of it is very well done. It has that 70's vibe and flavor, more than any other contemporary figures do, or have for sure. I dig my original megos. They're a bit beat up, but that's because I PLAYED with them. To me, they are priceless and will NEVER leave my possession. I'll probably pick up some of this re-mego stuff, simply because they're cool and they REPRESENT a time period in my life that I truly cherish. I just sincerely hope, from the bottom of my heart, that WE are not the only ones buying them. I'd love to see kids playing with these in the local park... But at 20 bucks a pop... I dunno. I guess time will tell.

I just think it's important for kids today to be kids and play with toys... They seem far too concerned with their ipods, cell phones and blackberries, texting and tweeting their lives away, not looking up for even a minute to enjoy or appreciate the world around them.

My 2 cents.

SC

[hobub]

I know exactly where you are coming from Rob. I feel the same. I would like to see the kids get some of these superheroes. I think that will spark a future interest in our relics from the 1970's past.

[clemso]

Lets read this thread in 10 years, god help me if Marvel jumps on this bandwagon.

[megoat]

Count me as one of the vintage folks. Like Rob, I do like reading the threads about these new figures and I can get caught up in the excitement a bit, but ultimately these figures have NOTHING to do with the reason I collect Mego. I collect all sorts of old things because of their place in history or their unique design etc. etc. and newly made-as-collectible toys just don't have any soul....at least they don't for me......

Anyway, interesting thread. I do hope these new figures are a smashing success and I'm excited for everyone who is excited about them!

[HardyGirl]

Here's my take on it...

I counted all my Megos, (including EMCE's and my 4 customs) and the grand total is 34. Now as a kid, I had 3, (2 AJs and Lainie). The collecting end of it for me is not so much to get what I had (although I do this w/ other toys), it's the era. I was a kid during Mego's heyday. I watched the commercials after school and on Saturday morning, saw the boys in my neighborhood playing w/ them, and while at the time, I didn't want them for myself, they looked like fun. As an adult, I'm VERY nostalgic. I long for those days again. As a person who spends much of her time around kids, I wish they could have those same fun times. So I started collecting Megos, and aside from the black AJ and Lainie, I don't have anything I had as a kid. But for me it doesn't make the collecting any less fun.

As for all of this new stuff...

Yeah, it's exciting, and yeah, it's taking up a lot of attention right now. Any "new thing" does. But that doesn't mean we're gonna forget why most of us got into this hobby in the first place. All the customs people make aren't "vintage" and stuff they owned before, and yet, they put a lot of love into those pieces. That doesn't take away from their love of the hobby. There are a lot of folks on here who weren't around for Mego's heyday, but they have come to love the figures just as much as us older ones do. And I will quote the arguement put to me when I refused to see the new "Star Trek" movie; "The classics couldn't go on forever. Something new had to be made to keep the franchise going. And it's getting a whole new generation into Trek." Well, the same applies here. None of us want Mego to die. All these new figures are going to keep the line going for future generations. And maybe someday, they'll be just as nostalgic for these as we are for the originals. And even though a lot of these aren't figures I would buy for myself, I'm just happy that they're being made. TOYS are becoming popular again to an electronic generation. This is a good thing. As long as they're folks like us to teach the young'uns what it's all about, than that's what counts.


*steps off of soapbox*

[spamn]

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.

I'm with Don. I'm the other side of the argument. My love for Mego, and the 8 inch scale, is all-encompassing. Nostalgia's a big part of it, but it doesn't stop there for me, oh no.

I want every Mego 8" (and 6", 7", and 9") figure I didn't have as a kid - whether I knew about them then or not - as well as the ones I did.

I want every 8" figure Mego should've made then but didn't.

I want every figure Mego would've made since then if they didn't go out of business.

I want all (and have managed to find many of) the knock-offs at megolike.com. I want every figure that stands relatively in scale with a Mego that 8 year old me would've played crossover adventures with. I want all the knockoffs and competitor's products inspired or influenced by Mego.

I wouldn't expect the Mego body to not have changed over the years, Hasbro changed the 12" Joes a few times - Mego would've too. There've been improvements in standards for sculpting and articulation the last 25 years.

As such, I loved the Flatt World Dracula and B Flatt Uncle Sam. If there were an ongoing line of similar 8" figures (preferebly at no more than a $50 price point), I'd be buying them. If I could afford it, I'd have dozens of Flatt, Captain Mego, or DarkKnight customs.

And - this is where I'm going to lose everyone I haven't alienated already: I'm perfectly happy to have factory quality repros in place of the originals. I simply can't justify hundreds of dollars on a mint, complete alien when I can get something that looks 99% identical in an unopened package for $20. I can be happy with a good quality repro.

I'd love to have originals, definitely. But the buzz I get is visual and visceral - seeing and touching - knowing they aren't 'authentic' isn't a buzzkill for me. Originals aren't worth the money for me in the face of that.

Though I can certainly understand why others would feel differently.

Edit: I will say, repros have to look exact. An EMCE Mugato vs. an original? I'd be happy with EMCE. I have two loose incomplete oringinal Mugatos (one I bought had his horn sawed or bitten off and was in a planet of the apes auction, and the other part of a complete trek figure lot), But now that I have an EMCE Mugato, I have no need to track down an original clown suit, and I hope to make a show accurate suit to put one of my other ones in someday. I actually have an original Romulan and STILL bought 2 EMCEs. But that was so I could make a Sarek and/or a Romulan Commander custom.

However, since they have different sculpts and bodies, I couldn't be happy having a new DC Retro Superman INSTEAD of a Mego one. I'd have to have both.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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!

[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.

[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.

[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.