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

[enyawd72]

I somehow completely missed this line. Never heard of them. A quick Google search later…They appear a whole lot nicer than the ToyBiz Famous Cover series. Is that fair to say? How many characters did Hasbro produce in those two years? Are they popular among collectors?

I love them...I think the Dr. Octopus is the definitive version of the character in toy form. They made a pretty nice assortment including:
Spider-Man, Black Costume Spider-Man, Iron Spider-Man, Green Goblin, Dr. Octopus, Wolverine, Captain America, Daredevil, First Appearance Spider-Man, Punisher, Cyclops, Mr. Fantastic, Sandman.
The great thing is they use the exact same bodies as the earlier DC figures so you can display them all together.

[garfoot]

I think the 1/9th scale has the biggest translation problem because of the generation gap created after Mego closed it's doors in 1982. When this occurred, there was no one left to make this scale. And actually Mego had already quit that scale before they ever went under. And if you're really looking at the 1/9th scale as a viable product sharing space in the boy toy isle, that actually ceased in the late 70's after Star Wars took over everything. So by the time Famous Covers got here, 20 years had elapsed, which covers basically two generations of kids who grew up seeing only 3 and 6 inch figures. And even after this reentry, the 1/9th scale figure looked more like an oddity on the shelves than a game changer the way Mego broke out with Action Jackson. But unlike the days when Mego was breaking new ground, there was no pent up need for this scale when Famous Covers came out. The only ones who seem to want them were those original kids, now grown up with money to buy them. Then Hasbro took a shot at it and tried their own "updates" to that concept. They did both DC and Marvel licenses but didn't tip the scales with their offerings either. Now enter an underground movement led by our beloved Dr. Mego. He begins manufacturing reproduction parts online for those original Megos. And that's a story that could take pages all by itself to properly document. But long story short, Paul jumps through many hoops of fire to make this a viable resource for collectors.

But it's through this underground movement that Paul's example spurs others to start their own companies. And if you think about it, that's where it remains to this day. Mego style figures have never regained that once glorious space on the shelves where they were once the dominant figure. Those days seem just as elusive today as when Famous Covers tried it 15 years ago. The greatest difference is our market has built inroads with EMCE, BBP, FTC, ZICA, and what should have been a prosperous Castaway Toys (no thanks to a scrupulous factory in China). So while I think that original idea of having a cheap and easily affordable figure for anyone should exist, unfortunately we don't enjoy the kind of market share that will ever allow that kind of price point to exist. What's more we, as customers, need to quit courting companies that enjoy pushing the envelope on driving that price point even higher. We have good companies that are selling good product at good prices. Take care of those companies and we take care of the market we do have.

Well said sir!!!

[jayraytee]

I just paid $375.00 for a case fresh MIB Mego Joker. About three weeks later I read that FTC has acquired the rights to reproduce Mego Batman characters and the Joker will be in the first wave for around $25.00. Had I known this I personally would have saved my $375.00 and put it on the entire line of FTC Mego WGSH repros. I could care less about how valuable the originals are now or will be in the future. I only care about having the exact same figures I had as a kid in some kind of nice packaging to display and enjoy. I know of other friends on this forum that feel the exact same way. Not everyone here has the money or is willing to spend it if they do on high grade originals. I know I am in the minority here but I for one am very happy that Figures is producing the exact same figures that Mego did. Now I can have all of them case fresh new without having to spend thousands of dollars on them as I have done in the past.

Sell the minty $375 MIB Mego Joker on the board or on ebay and buy a ton of these new figures... problem solved.

[jayraytee]

I think the 1/9th scale has the biggest translation problem because of the generation gap created after Mego closed it's doors in 1982. When this occurred, there was no one left to make this scale. And actually Mego had already quit that scale before they ever went under. And if you're really looking at the 1/9th scale as a viable product sharing space in the boy toy isle, that actually ceased in the late 70's after Star Wars took over everything. So by the time Famous Covers got here, 20 years had elapsed, which covers basically two generations of kids who grew up seeing only 3 and 6 inch figures. And even after this reentry, the 1/9th scale figure looked more like an oddity on the shelves than a game changer the way Mego broke out with Action Jackson. But unlike the days when Mego was breaking new ground, there was no pent up need for this scale when Famous Covers came out. The only ones who seem to want them were those original kids, now grown up with money to buy them. Then Hasbro took a shot at it and tried their own "updates" to that concept. They did both DC and Marvel licenses but didn't tip the scales with their offerings either. Now enter an underground movement led by our beloved Dr. Mego. He begins manufacturing reproduction parts online for those original Megos. And that's a story that could take pages all by itself to properly document. But long story short, Paul jumps through many hoops of fire to make this a viable resource for collectors.

Plus the famous covers figures were elaborately dressed and boxed but freakish in appearance typically. I wanted to revisit Mego so bad when I heard about those coming out, but what I would of done was scale down the packaging and elaborate costumes to lower the price and attempt to fix the horrendous proportion issues... Daredevil could crush his own head in his hand like a walnut. I still bought all of them, but was never happy with them, didn't really flinch when the line ended and eventually sold them all off.

With the Retro Action figures, I bought every figure again and they were much closer to Megos except for the disappointing Mattel body. But I was sad to see that line end and will hold onto my figures for years.

These look to be exactly what we have been waiting all these years for, the packaging is right, the bodies look right, they are new Mego figures for crying out loud. Just like back in the day there were figures I skipped (catwoman, Mxy), figures I bought multiples of, figures I always wanted but never had... and the line went on until Mego eventually closed shop.

Everyone should buy the ones they like, skip the ones they don't.. and be happy they are back.

[boynightwing]

I'm only getting ones I don't already have. This is a good way for me to get the Alter Egos.

[Figuremod73]

I'll do the same. I already have a Batman and Robin but no villians, so I'm happy their releasing those.

These figures will eventually be pieced out like their doing the kiss figures. Theres probably a number of vintage megos out there that could use a suit, shoes, whatever.

[monitor_ep]

I agree When I was kid I could never find a Wonder Woman. I had the rest but WW, now I own a WW I got for under $50. If I knew when FTC was going to release more characters I would have waited. I will buy buy one of each FTC ReMego when they came out. If I can think of a reason to customize them I will buy extras.

I have the Mattel figures, but I have been replacing there bodies with ReMego. The only problem I had was the head, but I customize JLU figures so making a neck for the figures was simple for me. Now I have more character in my collection. Soon I will have more since I have decided to start customizing Megos.

[garfoot]

I wish I had the talent to customize Megos. I tried a few and they always come out looking like some bad science experiment gone wrong.

[DocDrako]

If it's a ReMego, I want it.

[rjm118]

How is series 2 being pre-sold at multiple websites yet Figures doesnt have it on their own yet??

[imp]

How is series 2 being pre-sold at multiple websites yet Figures doesnt have it on their own yet??

See, I told you it's a stinky assortment. Even FTC won't carry Series 2!

[garfoot]

It is strange that EE and BBTS have them, and the company that makes them doesn't have them on their website. Who knows?

[Corellian Corvette]

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?

[dumbldor]

FTC survived Married with Children, multiple versions of Fonzie, I Love Lucy, and some other questionable choices. FTC is still here. I think they will survive a few peg warmers in this line.

And a friend and I pre-ordered (ate is more like it) 25 copies of "the book" to help make sure it was printed, and we were accused of trying to profit from it. So guys, you can't win here.

[imp]

imp - Seems like FTC has a pretty good handle on demand based their time in market with these lines…

You make a lot of good points. If anyone can do this, FTC seems like the team.

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 dunno how I would manage the line -- I'm Armchair Quarterbacking just like many others here. I stand by the first suggestion I posted: "…skip the Secret Identities for a while; release a few more Super-Heroes characters first… a few figures everyone could get excited about." Another point I've touched on several times: I just don't believe it should take 3 Waves of Batman-related characters to 'test the market'. Now, I'm going back to the days before DC granted FTC the rights to the entire DC universe. At one point in time, apparently, FTC had the rights ONLY to Batman characters, and I presume that's when these Series 1, 2 and 3 assortments were determined.

It seems that everyone is loving FTC's Series 1 Assortment, so that wave alone should provide insight as to the line's viability. Conversely, I don't think Bruce and Dick dolls are going to answer many questions for the decision-makers at DC/WB and FTC. (Except, perhaps, what low sales numbers look like.)

I'm not sure at what point in the production process it happened, but the moment FTC got access to all DC characters, I would have delayed this Series 2 assortment for a later date, injecting a wave of ALL HEROES first. Superman, Aquaman, Flash, Green Lantern, etc. All Heroes, no Villains. Just like Mego did with their 2nd Wave assortment: Captain America, Tarzan, Spider-Man and Shazam!

If this line is to work, popular Heroes will provide Proof of Concept, and there will be plenty of time to release Villains and Exclusives such as Secret Identities. That's my 2˘ FWIW, since you asked.

You seem pleased with Series 3, but how do you feel about Series 2? What if YOU were managing the line?