My take on the Retro Batman line so far

[Boywonder0]

I'd say everyone is entitled to buy what they like... I like the FTC Batman Series Figures and I'll buy these. I'll buy them all and no one would influence me to not doing so.

Yes, I'm willing to replace the FTC bodies (when necessary) by a Dr. Mego Type 2 body or simply repair (re-string) these when possible. I am really looking forward to the new ZICA/Castaway Type "Z" body which I expect to become the ultimate Type 2 Mego repro body. Even by adding an extra $10 to switch to one of these bodies I'll still get a minty mint figure I can reseal in a clamshell like from factory for $35. I would not find a minty mint Mego for that much. So I'm a happy camper.

For those seeking fully poseable figures with cloth costumes (Mego style) that are free of defects you can start looking at Sideshow, Hot Toys and Enterbay figures... And be willing to pay the price (+$180)...

[The Bat]

Sadly, I've become a Hot Toys addict(is there a Hotline I can call?)...so a $30.00 price tag for a complete MINT repro Mego doesn't really scare me away.

[thunderbolt]

sorry, but for 25 bucks (plus shipping and FLA sales tax which would put this figure at around 30 bucks, its not like I can buy one off the shelf at TRU) I should get a decent usable figure, not something I am going to have to customize to get right. The really bad part of this is its not a great first impression on somebody just getting into this hobby.

[Wasimhosen]

Didn't the original alter egos just come with the head and outfit? I would be happy just to buy that.

[Boywonder0]

I'm with ya on this thinking as well...hell just to have the heads "roto-cast" in rubber instead of a resin copy is a big deal to me!

First I want to give all credit to Doc Mego for keep this hobby alive. Back in the beginning he had to hand cast everything...boots, heads, etc(before the C & D's came down)...which of course he had to charge more due to time and labor, but we were happy to have replacement parts. Eventually he started getting stuff made in China, which lowered the cost to us...but meant he had to cough up quite a bit of money(China factories have a minimum amount to place an order...$2,000, 5,000????. Not sure.

Now we've got complete "repro's with some bad bodies for $24.99(not all of Em' are bad)

So just for fun, using one of Doc's catalogs( I still have), let's do the math on putting together a Doc Mego Robin using China made parts(not hand cast which would cost a lot more)

Robin Head- $5.00
Tunic- $5.00
Belt- $5.00
Boot's- $5.00
Shorts- $3.00
Gloves- $5.00
Body- $7.00(back then)

Total=$35.00

So FTC Robin is $24.99+ replacement body if needed($5.00 from Doc)= $29.99

Still a good deal in my opinion.

That's what I mean Bats! I'm also very grateful of the good Doc.

Also, to be honest the Robin Tunic from Dr. Mego is no match to FTC's. The sleeves & trunk don't match in color. FTC's does. Plus we get the card & Clamshell... Thank you FTC!

[The Bat]

You brothers are right on! I love the new FTC WGSH figures! Body problems? All the 8" body makers have! I, myself, am very grateful for getting a minty mint head, minty mint cloth costume, minty mint gloves, minty mint boots, minty mint cape, minty mint belt, minty mint emblem, minty mint card, and a minty mint clamshell all for $25...

Years ago we were wishing that Mego styled figures were once again made... Now they are and we are promoting these as badly made so that they don't sell and their manufacturing ends... Duh!

I'm with ya on this thinking as well...hell just to have the heads "roto-cast" in rubber instead of a resin copy is a big deal to me!

First I want to give all credit to Doc Mego for keep this hobby alive. Back in the beginning he had to hand cast everything...boots, heads, etc(before the C & D's came down)...which of course he had to charge more due to time and labor, but we were happy to have replacement parts. Eventually he started getting stuff made in China, which lowered the cost to us...but meant he had to cough up quite a bit of money(China factories have a minimum amount to place an order...$2,000, 5,000????. Not sure.

Now we've got complete "repro's with some bad bodies for $24.99(not all of Em' are bad)

So just for fun, using one of Doc's catalogs( I still have), let's do the math on putting together a Doc Mego Robin using China made parts(not hand cast which would cost a lot more)

Robin Head- $5.00
Tunic- $5.00
Belt- $5.00
Boot's- $5.00
Shorts- $3.00
Gloves- $5.00
Body- $7.00(back then)

Total=$35.00

So FTC Robin is $24.99+ replacement body if needed($5.00 from Doc)= $29.99

Still a good deal in my opinion.

[Boywonder0]

Yep, it's the nature of the beast when it comes to stringing with rubber bands.

I've had my share of issues with Emce bodies. Like twisted bodies, cracked torsos and arms that keep popping into the torsos. The Mego style rubber band strung body design is very touchy and you are not always going to get a figure strung exactly right. It's luck of the draw and I remember fixing plenty of Megos as a child too. But I don't sweat the small stuff and if I have to restring or swap out body here and there, it's a small price to pay for such cool figures. The only thing that ever really bugs me a bit is oversized heads. That I can't fix.

Back to the FTC Batman figures.

I got a Batman and Robin as an early Christmas present. Mine are great! To me, they are the most Mego-y of the re-Megos so far. They really capture that Mego look and feel. With the subtle updates of the silk screen emblems and dark colors on Batman, the look like they could have been later run issues of the figures if Mego had kept making them into the mid to late 80s.

You brothers are right on! I love the new FTC WGSH figures! Body problems? All the 8" body makers have! I, myself, am very grateful for getting a minty mint head, minty mint cloth costume, minty mint gloves, minty mint boots, minty mint cape, minty mint belt, minty mint emblem, minty mint card, and a minty mint clamshell all for $25...

Years ago we were wishing that Mego styled figures were once again made... Now they are and we are promoting these as badly made so that they don't sell and their manufacturing ends... Duh!

[noelani72]

Had a package from FTC upon arriving home yesterday.
It was a replacement body from their new shipment which was their response to my twice-broken-out-of-box Riddler.
It appears the PVC biceps are not as soft as this Batman figure run, which is a good thing - that's gonna keep them from ripping and limbs falling off.
But, in classic CTVT style, it is strung way too tight and has to pee. Right arm is pulled into the torso a bit.
Reckon I'll re-string it and it should be fine.

[jwyblejr]

Looks like they're going pretty fast on Amazon.

[Werewolf]

The fact is, original Megos had body problems.

Emce/BBP has had body problems.

CTVT had major body problems, and now FTC has ones similar to Mego/Emce.

Yep, it's the nature of the beast when it comes to stringing with rubber bands.

I've had my share of issues with Emce bodies. Like twisted bodies, cracked torsos and arms that keep popping into the torsos. The Mego style rubber band strung body design is very touchy and you are not always going to get a figure strung exactly right. It's luck of the draw and I remember fixing plenty of Megos as a child too. But I don't sweat the small stuff and if I have to restring or swap out body here and there, it's a small price to pay for such cool figures. The only thing that ever really bugs me a bit is oversized heads. That I can't fix.

Back to the FTC Batman figures.

I got a Batman and Robin as an early Christmas present. Mine are great! To me, they are the most Mego-y of the re-Megos so far. They really capture that Mego look and feel. With the subtle updates of the silk screen emblems and dark colors on Batman, the look like they could have been later run issues of the figures if Mego had kept making them into the mid to late 80s.

[PNGwynne]

Also--and let's be frank--many of us aficionados are going to buy these regardless, we just can't help ourselves.

Some complained about Famous Covers & Mattel RA, but we bought them & kit-bashed them anyway.

Some complained about Emce Trek & POTA regarding stringing & poseability, or about market impact, but we ultimately embraced them as options, along with UniMonsters.

BBP has a reMego niche, too, despite occasional scale and fabrication snafus.

***

We know we're paying for a license here with FTC's DC offerings. And, we fans want the line to succeed for varied, even selfish reasons. I know I do.

I think our concerns now are two-fold:

1. Since 2005, these problems with bodies, from CTVT or Emce or anybody, could & should be addressed & improved. Doc did, CAW did, it's not impossible.

2. Other vendor-manufacturers have a presence here, we feel involved with them to varying extents. That leads to a feeling of togetherness and we fans are thereby willing to give the benefit of the doubt when these mishaps occur. Chad is right, it's building a brand.

***

I truly advocate not buying what you don't like & letting the market prevail. But, I'm also willing with most any reMego to switch bodies, which I concede should be absolutely unnecessary.

What is FTC's strategy--if they "know" these will sell to the niche regardless, are they still willing to risk increased sales to the larger public because if breakage? Do they just assume collectors will never open them?

Considering the appeal & price-point, are sales to a larger market even a consideration? If they aren't, then why alienate the niche? It's very confusing to me... esp. since I can see how these have improved from earlier efforts.

And with no information or feedback from the manufacturer, what else can we do here but vent our frustration, share our hope, and speculate??

[PNGwynne]

And you can't put together any of these figures for under $25 using repro parts.

I agree. And that was noted, too in the dark days of the seemingly endless debate on Mattel's Retro-Action poorly-designed body.

The fact is, original Megos had body problems.

Emce/BBP has had body problems.

CTVT had major body problems, and now FTC has ones similar to Mego/Emce.

I suspect that bodies in general are where cost-cutting occurs, and stringing has a big impact, too.

[Figuremod73]

I agree but its not a deal breaker, they look that good to me. I've pieced together vintage figures and at times it gets a little costly. I wish sometimes a deal could be made to use Docs bodies.

I feel the parts alone are worth it and hope they are able to make the whole line. I hope Conan has a release date soon.

[Wasimhosen]

What astounds me is the Kiss figures, while not perfect, don't fall apart if you touch them. I was just looking at my Paul and they used a completely different system for them. I have 3 series plus an extra Gene and none of them have the same issues as the Batman figures. Do you think they used a different factory for them? Why would they do that?

[ubermanx]

noelani72 is right on the money ...

I would rather have the FTC Batman figures and replace the bodies then not have the figures at all. That's why I bought a case and have preordered the Titans, Batman Series 2 and 3.

My issue is that other makers of remegos are doing it better and for less. And I am not pleased about that. Just compare the craftsmanship of the Universal Monsters Phantom in both complexity of costume and quality of body and clothing vs. the FTC Batman.

Again, better than not having Batman but the 33% premium price I paid (before factoring in a replacement body) is grating. ESPECIALLY knowing that FTC has a far superior body on the Mad Clowns figures they give away for free. I put my Joker head and clothes on one of these Mad Clown bodies and he is PERFECT.

- Marty