Dream Mego Figure... Concensus?

[palitoy]

I have to admit that I'm intrigued and tempted, I was impressed when DL did his Spidey busts at Megocon, how cool the head looked. So please keep us posted on your progress Scott.

I'd love to be proven wrong for once, instead of this ad hominem stuff.

It's argued against you because of the way you said it.

[Earth 2 Chris]

I think this is a neat idea, and I for one would like to see how this turns out. Good luck to you!

Chris

[scottstoybox]

Hmmm… another super-expensive

Super-expensive? Besides the fact that expensive is a relative term, the price has not yet even been calculated... I'll let you know when we get there...

limited-edition

Limited only by the interest in the piece. If only 25 people want it, then yes, it's limited to 25. I don't see tons of collectors wanting this, so it probably will not be "mass market" by any means.

bootleg neo-retro superhero item

"bootleg", HARDLY! It is an all original art piece that pays homage to the now defunct Mego Corp we all hold in high esteem. "neo-retro"? OK, ya got me there!

targeted at a small group of seemingly gullible collectors

.

I take offense to this one as Imp did...Because we enjoy collecting Mego and Mego-like items, we are not "gullible". We are simply enjoying another facet of a hobby we ENJOY...Doesn't make us gullible, does it"

Where do I sign up?

Sorry, no "sign up" yet. Send me your email and I'll keep you posted!

So, ABMAC, Where were you RIGHT? All your posts have been thus far are negative and dragging. If you don't want to take part in this thread, then move on to another thread. I'm done responding to childishly negative verbal jabs and I'm done with you now. I don't have to defend myself to you or anyone else. And just so you know, you should really know who you are jousting with before you start flinging words around. I have been a toy and hobby industry sculptor for the better part of 14 years and have a spotless reputaion. I'm not making promises I can't or won't keep. I'm simply opening up a line of dialogue with fellow collectors to guage interest in a particular project for US. You don't like it, keep your negative, pessemistic conjecture to yourself. It's just infantile.

Let's just move on from here, please. No more verbal jousting from the keyboards. We may collect dolls in pajamas, but this is a board of adults is it not?

[LadyZod]

My dolls prefer boxer shorts to full blown pajamas. We live in Florida afterall.

But aside from that, I look forward to seeing these things. From your description, it's a little hard for me to completely visualize. I keep seeing a giant painted face Batman head with creepy eyes watching me when I sleep. Which I'm all cool with, but I have a feeling what you're aiming for is a little higher up in the quality scale.

[PCofmisfittoys]

Super-expensive? Besides the fact that expensive is a relative term, the price has not yet even been calculated... I'll let you know when we get there...




Limited only by the interest in the piece. If only 25 people want it, then yes, it's limited to 25. I don't see tons of collectors wanting this, so it probably will not be "mass market" by any means.



"bootleg", HARDLY! It is an all original art piece that pays homage to the now defunct Mego Corp we all hold in high esteem. "neo-retro"? OK, ya got me there!

.

I take offense to this one as Imp did...Because we enjoy collecting Mego and Mego-like items, we are not "gullible". We are simply enjoying another facet of a hobby we ENJOY...Doesn't make us gullible, does it"



Sorry, no "sign up" yet. Send me your email and I'll keep you posted!

So, ABMAC, Where were you RIGHT? All your posts have been thus far are negative and dragging. If you don't want to take part in this thread, then move on to another thread. I'm done responding to childishly negative verbal jabs and I'm done with you now. I don't have to defend myself to you or anyone else. And just so you know, you should really know who you are jousting with before you start flinging words around. I have been a toy and hobby industry sculptor for the better part of 14 years and have a spotless reputaion. I'm not making promises I can't or won't keep. I'm simply opening up a line of dialogue with fellow collectors to guage interest in a particular project for US. You don't like it, keep your negative, pessemistic conjecture to yourself. It's just infantile.

Let's just move on from here, please. No more verbal jousting from the keyboards. We may collect dolls in pajamas, but this is a board of adults is it not?

as a sculptor of other things besides toys , I think it's a good idea to some degree but all the characters that everyone has listed has been hashed and rehashed so many times.
that's why i don't collect superhero items at all really. I mean you've seen one batman ,you've seen the all. Spidey has been flooded throughout the market. Bob Kane's bat-man to the new bat-man..it's still Bat-man.
you have to find something new to catch the consumers eye and not the same old mego or gentle giant look. Any 15 year old girl from middle school can sew a costume and put it on a doll , but it takes an artist to see a vision past that.
good luck with it. i hope it works out for you.

[scottstoybox]

Haha! LOL! I could definitely see that LadyZod! I'll steer well clear of that creepy stuff, I promise. Ideally, this would capture the essence of the piece as art. How far we'll go will be deterimined as we get a little closer to production. We're also planning on running them at a couple of different scales, probably full life size and a little smaller than life size, to see what ones make better display pieces.

And a quick update on the cloth issue. I've been talking with a seamster on this and he thinks a heavy ribbed stretch cotton/poly blend would emulate the first run fabric well in the scaled up form. I'm awaiting samples. They will be in white and they can be dyed to the fabric colors from there. the nylon cape material is another battle altogether!

More info soon!

[ABMAC]

Super-expensive? Besides the fact that expensive is a relative term, the price has not yet even been calculated... I'll let you know when we get there...

If the average Mego collector can't afford to buy them and still pay their bills, they're "super-expensive." If the majority of Mego collectors say to themselves, "that's pretty cool, but I wouldn't pay that much for it," it's super-expensive.

Limited only by the interest in the piece. If only 25 people want it, then yes, it's limited to 25. I don't see tons of collectors wanting this, so it probably will not be "mass market" by any means.

In the U.S., commercial copyright violation involving more than 10 copies and value over $2500 is a felony.

"bootleg", HARDLY! It is an all original art piece that pays homage to the now defunct Mego Corp we all hold in high esteem. "neo-retro"? OK, ya got me there!

Unlicensed representations of copyrighted characters are bootlegs, just like the repro parts for which DC and Marvel sent out C & D letters. Fair use covers parody, not homage.

I take offense to this one as Imp did...Because we enjoy collecting Mego and Mego-like items, we are not "gullible". We are simply enjoying another facet of a hobby we ENJOY...Doesn't make us gullible, does it"

Collectors who feel that "super-expensive" new items that weren't made by Mego are necessary for their Mego collections are gullible. Not all Mego collectors are gullible, but limiting the edition to twenty-five is meant to heighten the appeal to those who are.

Sorry, no "sign up" yet. Send me your email and I'll keep you posted!

No, thanks. I'd rather collect real Mego figures.

So, ABMAC, Where were you RIGHT? All your posts have been thus far are negative and dragging. If you don't want to take part in this thread, then move on to another thread. I'm done responding to childishly negative verbal jabs and I'm done with you now. I don't have to defend myself to you or anyone else. And just so you know, you should really know who you are jousting with before you start flinging words around. I have been a toy and hobby industry sculptor for the better part of 14 years and have a spotless reputaion. I'm not making promises I can't or won't keep. I'm simply opening up a line of dialogue with fellow collectors to guage interest in a particular project for US. You don't like it, keep your negative, pessemistic conjecture to yourself. It's just infantile.

More ad hominem babble? I didn't realise sculptors were incapable of BS or I never would've challenged you. Oops, forget that; your poor spelling and grammar prove you can't sculpt.

Let's just move on from here, please. No more verbal jousting from the keyboards. We may collect dolls in pajamas, but this is a board of adults is it not?

Does "adult" mean we should just accept your claims without question? Wouldn't that make us gullible? Make up your mind.

[megoscott]

Hey, I've been wanting a Mego Batman bust since I first made the Mego Museum 10 years ago! Sign this gullible collector up, I think it's a great idea. I'd especially love it if some of the tactile qualities Ben talks about made it in. Even a little plastic flashing would be cool. I saw a gallery show by an artist who had similarly blown up tiny army men to life size. The edge flashing was 3 inches long, it was very cool. Great project, good luck, Scott.

[palitoy]

http://www.megomuseum.com/wgsh/images/icondc.jpeg

No wonder I was game, I had stared at them every day for nearly 10 years.

[Mikey]

I think it's a interesting idea and interesting project.

Will it take off ?

Who knows, but I wouldn't pee on somebodys dreams.

BTW,
My Mego collecting story should be called Gullible's Travels

[imp]

I see Mego as generational art to be certain. Looking at them by today's standards leave a younger generation scratching their collective heads and wondering why these were ever cool.

That may be true, but I wonder if you're not selling Mego a bit short. I've heard plenty of stories about young'ns marveling at 8 inch Mego figures; the materials Mego employed, the articulation, construction and play value… the overall 'toyetic' strength of the figures. Yes, Mego toys are intrinsically dated, but I agree they can also be viewed as objet d'art. And I believe art is timeless.

As for the removable cowl/mask angle, we are struggling with that one. For logistics, we'd probably have to do the more common molded cowl, painted mask versions. The paint ops would be the trick, and we'd have to use paints that simulated to look, but not neccesarily the feel unfortunately, of the vintage heads.

I definitely see this as a critical issue. I personally find that the essence of Mego charm lies in their tactility. Each figure's differing materials (and combinations of materials) sets them apart from other Super-Hero likenesses; Yes, Batman is always Batman, but a Mego Batman is remarkably distinctive. I'm rooting for you on this project, Scott, but I should confess what would be most important to me, as a potential customer.

I didn't realise sculptors were incapable of BS or I never would've challenged you. Oops, forget that; your poor spelling and grammar prove you can't sculpt.

Ant. Really?
Wow.
Really?

We all love you, Ant, but please stop while you're behind.

Hey, I've been wanting a Mego Batman bust since I first made the Mego Museum 10 years ago! Sign this gullible collector up, I think it's a great idea. I'd especially love it if some of the tactile qualities Ben talks about made it in. Even a little plastic flashing would be cool. I saw a gallery show by an artist who had similarly blown up tiny army men to life size. The edge flashing was 3 inches long, it was very cool. Great project, good luck, Scott.

Yeah, baby! I'd almost forgotten about those brilliant Mego gargoyles. Scott (megoscott), you really changed the game with the original vision and talent you applied toward MegoMuseum.com. You — and your amazing artwork — were instrumental in my appreciation of Mego as something more than just childhood memories.

One last note on Mego-as-art. When I saw Otto Lange's auction for an oil painting of his childhood Batman head (see below), I instantly realized I not only had to own it, but that I had to approach him to create original artwork for the Mego book. Thank goodness he's a life-long Mego lover who shares the belief that Mego created children's toys that are also fine art.



Benjamin

[Mikey]

Is poor spelling and grammar held against us on the Museum ?

If so, my infraction points should be about 1000 by now

m

[imp]

I take offense to this one as Imp did...Because we enjoy collecting Mego and Mego-like items, we are not "gullible".

Regarding Ant's comments, I would like to preemptively address this. Lest my comments be perceived as attacking Ant, I wish to clarify. I did not personally take offense to Ant's second comment ("Hmmm… another super-expensive limited-edition bootleg neo-retro superhero item targeted at a small group of seemingly gullible collectors. Where do I sign up? ").

However, I totally understand why you did take offense, Scott. That's why I suggested you ignore Ant.

I have met Ant in person and I know he is a good person. That said, I also realize he can be hard on those who court forum members with any next great thing for Mego collectors idea… particularly so-called 'newbies' who do so. Ant may be harsh, but I suspect he has protection of forum members in mind when he posts combative remarks.

Scott, to clarify what I mean, consider your comment:

They will definitely appeal to the high end collector and will be of the highest quality all around.

I think this sentence might be (at least partially) what set Ant off. To suggest that only "high end" collectors would appreciate and/or purchase such an item could come across a bit elitist. I realize this wasn't your intention, Scott, but this forum once had a member with precisely such an elitist attitude; he putatively deemed "loose" Mego collectors to be "dumpster divers." His attitude was uniformly reviled, and that collector put himself into self-imposed exile.*

For the record, I like Ant… including his dry, sarcastic wit. I, for one, think his style may be a little severe to the uninitiated, but I believe such comments are meant to be taken lightly. Ant is kind of like a Museum Devil's Advocate.

Benjamin

*All the while, lobbing grenades at us from his lonely little Exile Island.

[cjefferys]

Hmmm… another super-expensive limited-edition bootleg neo-retro superhero item targeted at a small group of seemingly gullible collectors. Where do I sign up?

Yeah, I'd have to agree with Anthony on this one, I'll pass. Besides, I personally never understood the attraction of buying expensive character busts anyway (but to each his own, I realize that they are popular with some. Who am I to tell people how to spend their money, I buy 30 year old "dollies" ). I'd rather spend my money on vintage Mego.

[scottstoybox]

Understood, Benjamin. All your points are valid. Just understand (as I believe you do) that I was not in this for anything besides gaining some info on what the fellow collectors would want to possibly see in this. I commend you for bringing some insight to the situation, though. I simply wanted to come to the source of fellow collectors for their honest input as to what they would want to see in this project if anything at all. My spelling, grammar, and sculpting ability has found it's way into the fray, and I am a little offended. Many of you have the Greatest American Hero figure this uneducated, untalented sculptor contributed to and I know it has been well received. I am however, just a little sorry I brought this new concept up at all, as now, what was to be a labor of love, has been tainted with insults by one very jaded person.

I'll still persue this on a personal level, and I appreciate all your kindness and input on this, but I only do labors of love that bring joy. I expect bumps in the road, but not what I saw from ABMAC. Let's see how things proceed. The truly interested parties will know how to get in contact with me and I won't risk being targeted again with malice as a speculator. It's why I've been reluctant to join forums in the first place.

And with all due respect, protection of the board members is one thing, but prejudice against A boardmember while hiding behind the annonimity of a computer screen is another. I really doubt ABMAC would have treated me with such disrespect if he was standing in front of me discussing this in person. My colleagues and clients know the type of person I am, and I realise ABMAC doesn't have the benefit of their knowledge...and probably won't have the opportunity now.

In the grand scheme of things, it just doesn't pay to dwell on insignificant junk like this really. It's just one part of forums that sucks. People should consider that the way they act means something to someone. I for one, hope I never become so jaded that I view everyone who opens an idea as a potential ner-do-well. I just don't have it in me.

Peace,

Scott