World's Greatest Heroes! New "Series 2" Full-Page Ad

[Blue Meanie]

What really boggles my mind is that EVERYONE complained about the Mattel bodies...and some refused to buy the line because of that reason. That and the pricepoint being $20. At the time, and you can go back and the old threads, I stated that I couldn't understand why people were complaining about the pricepoint. You couldn't even get a Doc Mego Custom, done by Doc himself, of Lex Luthor for what you were going to pay for a Mattel Retro figure of the same character. Those same people that complained about the pricepoint are now stating that they will support this line by CTVT, or whatever they call themselves now, with CTVT not even giving you a new figure that's never been done before until, at the earliest, Wave 3. At a MUCH HIGHER pricepoint then the Mattel Retro figures. I don't understand that logic at all. If they don't have a new figure in the 1st 2 waves then I think this line will die a quick death. Again, just my opinion. I just find it hard to believe that the people that complained about the pricepoint of the Mattel figures are the same people that are going to be supporting a Mego Re-Hash line like what CTVT is proposing for the 1st 2 waves of these figures that have NOTHING to offer that hasn't been done before. I want to see the Romero Joker and the Price Egghead figures...but I doubt they will materialize beyond prototypes. I hope I am wrong. I can tell you that they CAN'T do it with JUST the support of Diamond and comic book store only distribution. They have to get these to mass market...and look how well that went for Mattel's Retro figures. Pricepoint is $25 - $30 per figure...They can't blow these out without taking a HUGE hit in their pockets...Hope I am wrong. I can tell you that I am not going to be buying any of the 1st two waves of this line. Why would I spend $25 - $30 on a repro Batman if I can, through piecing the figure together, put together a complete all original Bats for about $40 - $45. Might sound like a purist attitude...but with the history that CTVT has with their bodies I'd rather have a 30 year old Mego body with squeaky knee joints and a cracked foot then have a CTVT body.

[megozilla13]

I couldn't agree more! I prize this book so much I don't even keep it with my other printed material. I keep it next to my most prized collectibles. So in the event of a flood, fire, or other disaster, these go with ME.

Ben's book definitely does not hold up well in a flood. I learned that first hand last year during Sandy. It completely curled up into itself and all the pages glued themselves to each other. Funny thing...... you know what did perfectly well submerged for three days in salt water.......................the HeroesWorld catalogs from the 70's. They dried off and look like they were never wet.

mikej

[DocDrako]

I think it's safe to say if you really look at the marketplace, it was Hasbro that started the whole "retro" marketing strategy when they released what were suppose to be "replica" figures of their vintage 60's and 70's lines back in the early 90's. Of course these figures were anything but replicas at that point. But it woke up a whole new marketplace and suddenly companies realized there was a different demographic that hadn't been properly tapped into. The Toybiz company, owned by Marvel, were the first to dabble in the retro Mego universe with the Famous Covers line released in 1998. Between those Hasbro and Toybiz' ventures, the industry began to see an offshoot of new companies created solely to cater to this demographic. For example, Playing Mantis recreated the Captain Action line, as well as Evel Knievel. But keep in mind through all of this commercial development, Dr. Mego already existed and was building an underground movement by recreating actual replacement parts for the vintage Mego lines starting back in the early 90's . So while the Figures Toy Company, who were better known for Wrestling Figures, started their own campaign into the Mego universe with Classic TV Toys back in 2004, they were simply one of many companies looking to cash in on the retro marketplace. They did not author it's resurgence by any means.

But make no mistake. As with other companies, there wasn't anyone who didn't champion their cause. What gave Classic TV toys their own infamous distinction were the brittle bodies that broke almost immediately upon coming out of the package. The packaging itself was uniquely flimsy. And through this process, which lasted YEARS, the whole effect came off (intended or not) as a company who were trying to make a fast buck by taking short cuts in production. To give them proper credit, they tried to replace the bad product with replacements when customers called in. However, the inferior product was replaced with the same inferior product. So customer dissatisfaction and their inability to manage their own quality issues became so massive, it basically shut them down from making anymore figure lines for years. They were forced to part out those lines, which created a nice aftermarket for customizers.

But for years people no longer viewed this company as a viable source for bodies or new figure lines. So much so that when the company obtained a new license to market KISS, they began using their parent company name instead of the well tarnished Classic TV Toys brand. But those who did business with them, knew it was the same company. And while new and "improved" bodies were introduced, those too have quality issues, which the company has yet to respond to. What's worse the company has, in effect, become it's own scalper. As previous inventory volumes have dwindled (like the defective Robinhood figures), the company has placed huge markups on those products. When their new figure lines fail, like the KISS Sonic Boom figures, they part them out on the Classic TV Toy site, but make no mention of it on their parent site. And then let's not forget the professional courtesy this company has bypassed in selling product that Castaway created. The list goes on from there, but the point is well illustrated. So while this latest announcement in licensing seems to have given the company “new life” in the eyes of some, it’s past product and current practices have more than a few consumers cautious about diving in. As the saying goes,” the past is prologue.”

And comparing FTC to Mattel is not really a comparison worth noting. Mattel is a publicly traded giant in the industry that sells a diverse amount of product. FTC has one demographic to service and is trying to pull as many popular licenses as they can into that market. Through re-purposing existing bodies, they can recycle unsold product and part out the smaller parts to collectors. With this recycling strategy, which Mego also used, they can focus more of their funds on licensing and the development of heads and outfits for those baseline bodies. Mattel’s goal is to grow existing profit margins for the stockholders. FTC is simply trying to create a margin for profit so they can continue to do business.

How would I manage this line if it were mine? I would use my recycling strategy to strangle the competition with competitive pricing and utilize best practices in the industry to grow my reputation and appeal to broader markets. I would make sure my inner quality control measures are in place to assure whatever I’m selling addresses consumer complaints. And finally I would offer diversity in product pricing so I can move my inventory to a broader scope of people interested in this property besides just the diehards who do not carry enough purchasing power to keep my lines viable.

"LIKE"

[DaBillmann]

I think it would be cool to issue those AE clothes in an Action Jackson styled pack. Can't get more retro than that.

Jiminy Christmas, I never thought of that. You are too smart.

[madmarva]

Great idea Scott. A removable cowl with the Bruce Wayne set and a mask with the Robin set could be added, too. It would be cool to do that with all the heroes.

[Random Axe]

I think it would be cool to issue those AE clothes in an Action Jackson styled pack. Can't get more retro than that.

[DaBillmann]

I always the thought the best way to repro the RC figures would be as a "super special edition", where they came with both their superhero costumes and the secret identity outfits.

Yeah that would be cheaper for us. My main thing is I would prefer to be able to put Bruce Wayne aside and get Batman out raither than change their clothes. Lazy man, LOL.

Though, I guess I could leave RC Batman in the Bruce Wayne outfit. LOL

[sprytel]

I love that they are starting with the Batman line, and I love that they are including Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson, even with that god awful outfit Dick wears. I do have to question if we actually need RC Batman and RC Robin but hey, stupider figures have been released.

Now, if my money issues will just sort themselves out so I can actually get the darn things!

I always the thought the best way to repro the RC figures would be as a "super special edition", where they came with both their superhero costumes and the secret identity outfits.

[DaBillmann]

THIS is exactly what I am anticipating. if they do Marvel, it gets a bit trickier due to the number of figures released. I am pretty sure we will see:

Spiderman, Peter Parker, The Lizard, The green Goblin.

Mr. Fantastic, The Invisible Girl, The Human Torch, The Thing.

Next group gets tricky as not counting Conan, who apparently gets his own series, there are five left. i am assuming it wil lbe the characters who have had their own comics and be: Caprain America, Thor, Iron Man, and The Hulk.

Poor Falcon.

Oh and as for the mystery figure for wave three? I am betting on the first new figure, either Barbara Gordon, Comissioner Gordon, or Alfred. Another villain would be nice, but somehow, just feeling one of thsoe three.

My other thought woudl be Green Arrow, who fits in with Batman and co pretty well, but, would more belong in a different wave.

[DaBillmann]

I love that they are starting with the Batman line, and I love that they are including Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson, even with that god awful outfit Dick wears. I do have to question if we actually need RC Batman and RC Robin but hey, stupider figures have been released.

Now, if my money issues will just sort themselves out so I can actually get the darn things!

[DaBillmann]

Did Figures have the rights to ALL DC characters from the start or just Batman? I love Batman and the Batman characters comprised a big chunk of my childhood WGSH! So, I don't mind Batman leading off new WGSH! Superman deserves representation in 2013 for hs 75th!

After the 3 Batman waves it will only take another 3 DC reissue waves:

Superman, Clark Kent, Supergirl, Mr Mxyzptlk

Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Shazam, Green Arrow

Teen Titans- Aqualad, Kid Flash, Wonder Girl, Speedy

Then on with the NEW! A DC Multiverse to select from!

THIS is exactly what I am anticipating. if they do Marvel, it gets a bit trickier due to the number of figures released. I am pretty sure we will see:

Spiderman, Peter Parker, The Lizard, The green Goblin.

Mr. Fantastic, The Invisible Girl, The Human Torch, The Thing.

Next group gets tricky as not counting Conan, who apparently gets his own series, there are five left. i am assuming it wil lbe the characters who have had their own comics and be: Caprain America, Thor, Iron Man, and The Hulk.

Poor Falcon.

[DocDrako]

I think Series 1 is top notch. Batman, Robin, Joker, Riddler...ReMego Gold!

Series 2 surprised me by also being completely awesome total. I need a ReMego Pengy so I can retire my T1 to a safe place, so all my other ReMegos will stop beating him up. Batman+ & Robin+ really knock him around. The last time I had Catwoman (ooh! racy!) I had stolen her from my half-brother's birthday pile. I was a colossal *** back then. Wait. I still am sometimes. Anyways, I need that Catwoman. I'd like a newer version, maybe Batman TAS version, grey and black. Yes. Good, good. But Catwoman is a good choice for me. I could use those secret identities too, since I will NEVER afford the real thing. Just like oatmeal. It's good to dream, but I gotta be realistic.

Series 2 is a hit for me, just as Series 1 was. CTVT has always done right by me and I'm glad they are working hard to be the next Mego. (and doing really well at it)

Bring the justice, CTVT! And then bring some more!



(and now, the silence can descend on this thread...sleep tight, Mego Museum)

[MIB41]

imp -

Seems like FTC has a pretty good handle on demand based their time in market with these lines - in fact I think they may have actually been the FIRST (correct me if I'm wrong) to commercially re-release anything truly "Mego Like" when they did the original Mad Monsters series. How long ago was that? 8 years ago now? (this does not discount the long-standing support Dr. Mego has given, but he never had anything store released)

I think they don't get the credit deserve for kicking this craze back off. Monsters, then Western + Knights + Robin Hood before they went off the reservation with Lucy and Married with Children.

I do agree this community is much smaller then people think. If enthusiasm translated to sales, we'd be on Wave 5 of Buck Rogers by now and Castaway would be pumping out Phantoms as fast as they could make them. Alas, neither is true.

However, there must be something more to this. Even Mattel couldn't make this happen, so either the economics of this are so much better for FTC then we think (likely given the fact they have tooled a lot of this already), they believe the market is bigger then we think (possible based on their experience), or they have figured out how to endure on smaller volumes.

I'm curious how YOU would manage this line, if you were in charge. Wave 1 is a Knockout. You disagree with Wave 2. Would you have brought new characters in earlier? Different assortment of retro heroes? We know that Wave 3 will be RM Batman, RM Robin, Batgirl because their picture is on the collector case. That leaves one other open. Seems like that's a pretty solid pre-planned 3-release wave?

I think it's safe to say if you really look at the marketplace, it was Hasbro that started the whole "retro" marketing strategy when they released what were suppose to be "replica" figures of their vintage 60's and 70's lines back in the early 90's. Of course these figures were anything but replicas at that point. But it woke up a whole new marketplace and suddenly companies realized there was a different demographic that hadn't been properly tapped into. The Toybiz company, owned by Marvel, were the first to dabble in the retro Mego universe with the Famous Covers line released in 1998. Between those Hasbro and Toybiz' ventures, the industry began to see an offshoot of new companies created solely to cater to this demographic. For example, Playing Mantis recreated the Captain Action line, as well as Evel Knievel. But keep in mind through all of this commercial development, Dr. Mego already existed and was building an underground movement by recreating actual replacement parts for the vintage Mego lines starting back in the early 90's . So while the Figures Toy Company, who were better known for Wrestling Figures, started their own campaign into the Mego universe with Classic TV Toys back in 2004, they were simply one of many companies looking to cash in on the retro marketplace. They did not author it's resurgence by any means.

But make no mistake. As with other companies, there wasn't anyone who didn't champion their cause. What gave Classic TV toys their own infamous distinction were the brittle bodies that broke almost immediately upon coming out of the package. The packaging itself was uniquely flimsy. And through this process, which lasted YEARS, the whole effect came off (intended or not) as a company who were trying to make a fast buck by taking short cuts in production. To give them proper credit, they tried to replace the bad product with replacements when customers called in. However, the inferior product was replaced with the same inferior product. So customer dissatisfaction and their inability to manage their own quality issues became so massive, it basically shut them down from making anymore figure lines for years. They were forced to part out those lines, which created a nice aftermarket for customizers.

But for years people no longer viewed this company as a viable source for bodies or new figure lines. So much so that when the company obtained a new license to market KISS, they began using their parent company name instead of the well tarnished Classic TV Toys brand. But those who did business with them, knew it was the same company. And while new and "improved" bodies were introduced, those too have quality issues, which the company has yet to respond to. What's worse the company has, in effect, become it's own scalper. As previous inventory volumes have dwindled (like the defective Robinhood figures), the company has placed huge markups on those products. When their new figure lines fail, like the KISS Sonic Boom figures, they part them out on the Classic TV Toy site, but make no mention of it on their parent site. And then let's not forget the professional courtesy this company has bypassed in selling product that Castaway created. The list goes on from there, but the point is well illustrated. So while this latest announcement in licensing seems to have given the company “new life” in the eyes of some, it’s past product and current practices have more than a few consumers cautious about diving in. As the saying goes,” the past is prologue.”

And comparing FTC to Mattel is not really a comparison worth noting. Mattel is a publicly traded giant in the industry that sells a diverse amount of product. FTC has one demographic to service and is trying to pull as many popular licenses as they can into that market. Through re-purposing existing bodies, they can recycle unsold product and part out the smaller parts to collectors. With this recycling strategy, which Mego also used, they can focus more of their funds on licensing and the development of heads and outfits for those baseline bodies. Mattel’s goal is to grow existing profit margins for the stockholders. FTC is simply trying to create a margin for profit so they can continue to do business.

How would I manage this line if it were mine? I would use my recycling strategy to strangle the competition with competitive pricing and utilize best practices in the industry to grow my reputation and appeal to broader markets. I would make sure my inner quality control measures are in place to assure whatever I’m selling addresses consumer complaints. And finally I would offer diversity in product pricing so I can move my inventory to a broader scope of people interested in this property besides just the diehards who do not carry enough purchasing power to keep my lines viable.

[SpaceAgent]

Let me just say I'm glad they're doing the secret identities - as someone who grew up nowhere near the retailer who had those exclusives, those are the only original Megos I didn't have. To me, it says FTC is tapped into what collectors want, and after all, that's the market they're pursuing.

[Chris]

I'm not sure. I don't think they have disclosed if they have retail partners. I'm sure some of the online specialty shops will carry them.

But if each figure is available individually at any time, the "waves" really only become release timing, and the concept of the peg-warmer is gone. Just order what you want online.

I've seen their Monster figures available at the local comic shop so the DC figures might be there too.