Wave 2 Carded

[MIB41]

I think most companies who have tried this, tend to underrate the importance fans have to the actual scale. They want a product that can stand side by side with their vintage Megos. I think the aesthetic changes all companies, including Mattel, give to the figure can be forgiven, over time, if the scale can pass the test. Quality helps as well. Right now, Mattel is only marginally better than CTVT, because I haven't heard much about breakage. But many collectors are still swapping out bodies all the same. Come to think about it, maybe their neck and neck in quality. I see alot of CTVT bodies on customs, but am still waiting for the first Mattel body to pop up on a custom. Kinda hard to do since Mattel went to great lengths to make the head a permanent fixture without destroying the body to remove it. Hmmm. Jury still out on that.

[drmego]

To Mattel this is a new line that has roots in the original megos, but is
its own animal. Creative people always want to make changes to
the old - the trick is not to lose the essence of the original when
making those changes.

My complaint with Famous Covers and Hasbro's 9 inch is that in
trying to make improvements, they lost the essence of mego.

[Mister Kennedy]

But these aren't updates to existing figures, not all of them anyway.
Take away the extra scenes and you still have the original movies, but you can't take away any updates from Two-Face, Black Manta, Green Arrow, Lex Luthor

Two-Face, Manta and the other previously unproduced figures would be an example of the added bits to the Special Editions that didn't exist during the OT's first release.

I believe many do consider these to be updates to the original MEGO line, which is why it's so exciting to see characters like Two-Face who did not appear in that original series. Unfortunately, despite appearances, Mattel may be one of the few who don't consider these an extension of the original line, considering all the unnecessary changes.

[trekman101]

I don't think its as unobtainable as reasoned. Look at the Trek figures and POTA. There was very little argument over their likeness to Mego. Pretty much spot on from what I see. The issue here is Mattel wants to have a patent for their own bodies and so differences have to be made. The same goes for the boots and similar items. Its a business reality more than a translation issue.

That's exactly right

[trekman101]

I doubt we'd ever find the perfect modern mego that everyone could agree on.

Brian...you said a mouthful

[Meule]

Continuing with the Star Wars analogies, to me, the Retro-Action figures are more like the Special Editions of the original trilogy than the prequels.

For the Special Editions, George Lucas revisited his original classics and made tweaks such as Greedo shooting first, random new droids and creatures milling about and everyone celebrating the Emperor's death on other planets we didn't even see in Episodes 4-6. Lucas made these changes because he could; he had the power and he finally had the technology.

That sounds a lot like these Retro-Action toys. There were updates made, just because Mattel could. Were they made for the best? That point is arguable.

But these aren't updates to existing figures, not all of them anyway.
Take away the extra scenes and you still have the original movies, but you can't take away any updates from Two-Face, Black Manta, Green Arrow, Lex Luthor

[Mister Kennedy]

Continuing with the Star Wars analogies, to me, the Retro-Action figures are more like the Special Editions of the original trilogy than the prequels.

For the Special Editions, George Lucas revisited his original classics and made tweaks such as Greedo shooting first, random new droids and creatures milling about and everyone celebrating the Emperor's death on other planets we didn't even see in Episodes 4-6. Lucas made these changes because he could; he had the power and he finally had the technology.

That sounds a lot like these Retro-Action toys. There were updates made, just because Mattel could. Were they made for the best? That point is arguable.

[Corellian Corvette]

You make an interesting point in comparing this to the Star Wars prequels.

You know that everyone wanted them to be great - to fit right in with
the originals - and kids I know accept them as part of the canon - but
to us, they are a sour note.

Is it because we had certain expectations of what the movies should
be like?

I certainly don't want to overextend the analogy, nor do I wish to continue to beat the horse. But this matters to me and I will voice my concerns in continued hope they might get fixed.

I agree that a certain part of the problem is that both have been built up in the fans minds for so long that meeting the expectations of our imagination would be tough.

With that said, Doc, you yourself set the Gold Standard for how it should be done with Sulu, Gorn, GAH... This is clearly a case where if you were left to do this on your own I have no doubt the would be immesurably better in every way.

[Remco Monster]

I think whenever anyone starts not liking the Re-Heroes they should take a moment and remember the good old days when you bought your first Famous Cover and were utterly horrified at thought they were billed as Mego like.

Thing is, for the most part, these remind me more of Famous Covers and that 9" DC line, than they do Mego. Mainly due to their bodies and boots.

[SUP-Ronin]

Bats looks like he has rickets, or something.

Run, Batman, run.

[Mikey]

I think whenever anyone starts not liking the Re-Heroes they should take a moment and remember the good old days when you bought your first Famous Cover and were utterly horrified at thought they were billed as Mego like.

[MIB41]

I don't think its as unobtainable as reasoned. Look at the Trek figures and POTA. There was very little argument over their likeness to Mego. Pretty much spot on from what I see. The issue here is Mattel wants to have a patent for their own bodies and so differences have to be made. The same goes for the boots and similar items. Its a business reality more than a translation issue.

[palitoy]

Is it because we had certain expectations of what the movies should
be like?

I doubt we'd ever find the perfect modern mego that everyone could agree on.

As for the SW prequels, my kid is absolutely in love with those while I hate them.

[drmego]

You make an interesting point in comparing this to the Star Wars prequels.

You know that everyone wanted them to be great - to fit right in with
the originals - and kids I know accept them as part of the canon - but
to us, they are a sour note.

Is it because we had certain expectations of what the movies should
be like?

[Corellian Corvette]

I hate to say this (again), because I have huge respect for the people working on this line.

I don't like 'em. The aesthetic choices I can live with. The terrible bodies, oversized boots, and (assuming) cheap outfits that will fray with emblems that crack right out of the box make this line a real disappointment, *again*. These PALE in comparison to what EMCE has been able to do on their *own* with Trek, Apes, hell these aren’t 1/10th as good as the Greatest American Hero figure. It really makes me sad that a company like Mattel can get this SO wrong. If they are going to continue to make them like this I wish they would stop. And yet... I'm going to buy them anyway and be angry about it because I'm a nerd. I’m going to give Castaway more of my money for better bodies and boots and be thoroughly ****ed about it.

This line has been like the Star Wars Prequel versions of a toy line for me. Unbearably high expectations, a highly flawed product with parts that make you smile and spark your nostalgia… you desperately hope that the next one will be better - but it's not - and yet you wait in line in anticipation of them only to struggle to find things to enjoy. It makes me sad.