Pod Stallions 34: Disappointing Merchandise

[palitoy]

Great episode, but I'd like to add two words to the mix: Dick Tracy

I think the Dick Tracy line jumps out at me as the "why did they think kids wanted THAT" example more than any other toy line I can think of. I know this was Playmates coming off TMNT, but to create super-deformed, almost MOTU-like figures, and sell them as "cops and robbers" was just like someone who had been living in a cave since 1983 was in charge of that line. The cars in that line were really nice though, and I wish I'd snagged one to make a 1940s Batmobile.

I was tempted to mention it but I wasn't that crushed about that line and it seems a lot of 90s kids like that line these days.

On the Superman: The Movie line, my guess has always been they had the rights to the comic characters, but cheated a bit by sneaking in psuedo-actor likenesses. I'd bet the Salkinds had those rights, as really, WB was just the distributor on that film, and didn't own it outright at first. The Luthor and Zod look particularly like Hackman and Stamp, me thinks. Oddly enough, General Zod never wore that outfit in the comics, either!

After my conversations with Bill Baron I deeply suspect that there was some grey area in the license, the same way I mentioned that Lynda Carter wanted to get paid for being used on the box.

[palitoy]

As you were saying, I was starved enough for Doctor Who merchandise that I was excited by the Dapol line. There was a certain charm to it, especially in the first wave, but by the time they got to the Troughton statuette, it had really lost its way.

Yeah I really loved the first wave but by the mid nineties I was rolling my eyes with the weird variations in quality there later waves would have.

[sprytel]

Not intending to be rude, but I could devote a whole thread to some of Jason's quirks that amuse me. I mean that with warmth and affection. (For example, his pronunciation of "Robot")

Yep, I love Jason... but he definitely has his quirks. I am waiting for the podcast where Brian finishes all the stories that Jason interrupted.