Lets debunk some toy myths that wont go away.

[rykerw1701]

The Playmates 1701 fiasco killed the Star Trek line. It certainly hastened its demise, but by the time Playmates made that poor choice, the line was already 6 years old, and TNG was ending the next year. Yoyager and DS9 were never as popular as TNG, while the last movie with the orginal cast was 1991.

Having said that, if anyone is looking for any Star Trek Playmates stuff, I'm here for you.

[Brown Bear]

Here’s one: did Kenner ever sell a Bionic dog to go to SMDM line?

[Confessional]

Cornelius has brown ears and Galen has green ears… blah, blah, blah!

[ODBJBG]

I mean, you know more in that regard, and I can't rebuttal things I don't know but I'd still wager his bank account probably helped on some level. Even being able to fight these sorts of things largely require you to have the finances to do so.

But you're right in the myth department for sure.

Although I think some of Marty's charm might be that people think he served some time, haha.

[palitoy]

This is not a knock on Marty... But wealthy people rarely serve time. It's not like he didn't serve time because he wasn't convicted. He was convicted. He didn't serve time because he was rich enough not to.

There is a lot more to the story I wish I could share but I promised the person who told me I would never publish it. The reason he didn't do time wasn't related to his bank account. Regardless of the semantics, the myth was he went to jail and he did not.

[ODBJBG]

This is not a knock on Marty... But wealthy people rarely serve time. It's not like he didn't serve time because he wasn't convicted. He was convicted. He didn't serve time because he was rich enough not to.

You or I get convicted of 15 counts of wire fraud, obstruction of justice and false filing of tax returns and we're going to the slammer.

[Earth 2 Chris]

^I'm glad you dispelled the Marty rumor. I honestly thought he had served some limited amount of time.

Chris

[palitoy]

Mego went under because it missed Star Wars. No. It's far more complicated than that. The handheld game implosion deeply wounded them.

Marty Abrams went to jail. He did not serve any time.

[PNGwynne]

I"ve never heard that--though I wish I had Barbie Nurse reissue for obvious WW reasons.

[Earth 2 Chris]

One Mego rumor that still persists due to official figure listings from the company is that Pocket Super Heroes versions were made of Joker, Penguin and Shazam (Captain Marvel). Unfortunately, they didn't.

There are a few myths I'm still uncertain about. Like the Ideal Super Queens/Comic Heroines. Is there really a version of Wonder Woman that came with the nurses outfit? Or just the halter dress like all the other dolls?

Chris

[ODBJBG]

I did click your link, I've read it before, I follow DofaD, but it just says it was inspired by the success of Teela, or to be Teela-like, but it's not Teela. It didn't start as a Teela spinoff and then turn into She-Ra.

And it doesn't answer the larger question, if Teela was so popular, why didn't they make more Teelas? They made a bunch of variations of He-Man... Why didn't they make other female characters in the MOTU line?

Something just doesn't pass the muster with this whole story. I think there's a kernel of truth in there, but I call BS on the whole "We did this because of Teela" thing. She may have sold well, there were obviously tons of girls who watched the MOTU cartoon and Teela was featured prominently (and was one of the only female figures in the line) but I don't think that's why we got She-Ra. Someone at Mattel wanted to duplicate the success of MOTU but for girls. Rather than create their own thing, they decided to co-brand it with He-Man. If Teela was so popular, they would have just spun Teela off into her own toyline, which would have made a lot more sense all things considered.

I think a lot else could be open to debate or speculation and clearly several people have chosen sides, etc, claiming one thing, while others claim another. Such is the entire history of MOTU in that regard lol.

[Werewolf]

I'm sure Teela sold well, but the idea that Teela was so popular that they created a whole new line, show, etc but didn't like, include Teela or you know, just add another female into the MOTU line sort of debunks that entire concept.

You didn't check my link. She-Ra started off as Teela. The Spin off line was going to be about Teela. There's concept art and everything. I don't ever claim to be remotely as knowledgeable on Megos, Captain Action, Super Heroes, Adventure Team GI JOE, etc. as you guys. But when it comes to MOTU/POP I've researched it quite a bit and I do kinda know what I am talking about. Give me some credit.

[ODBJBG]

Eh, I generally agree with this, but She-Ra definitely did HELP kill He-Man, even if she didn't strike the final, fatal blow. There were already other factors at play. But you can't deny she was a big factor.

When She-Ra showed up, they ended the Filmation toon shortly after to focus on She-Ra. The general consensus with boys at the time was that suddenly they were now "girls toys" helped in part because She-Ra toys were now in the aisles often near or with the He-Man figures. He-Man was already facing stiffer competition and now it was no longer "cool" in part because your kid sister played with it too. Saying that wasn't a part of the downfall, is misguided. Was it the total reason? Of course not.

I'm sure Teela sold well, but the idea that Teela was so popular that they created a whole new line, show, etc but didn't like, include Teela or you know, just add another female into the MOTU line sort of debunks that entire concept.

One need only look to the MOTUC line to see the "popularity" of the She-Ra figures. Had they not been foisted on collectors who were forced to sub, very few would have sold. While many MOTUC figures now go for 4x-5x their original price, very few She-Ras do. In fact most can be sold for less than original retail, years later.

She-Ra was popular enough, but it watered down the concept (which was already treading water) and helped to capsize the juggernaut. Was it "intentional"? I suppose we'll never know. But most of the people who worked on the line seem to think it was. I suspect it was just Mattel being inept and not realizing they were cannibalizing their own toyline, but you can certainly see it from both sides.

[Megotastrophe]

I think my favorite myth was the Blue Batmobile. And now you can buy one.

[PNGwynne]

Possibly, though I don't know why. Those are obviously Dawn/Pippa cameras and sealed Parker AEs belie that claim.