Anyone want Timmverse figures?

[thunderbolt]

Hue its the paragraph after paragraph rants from you that are tiring to read ad nauseum. Its the same thing over and over. Wahh, the first two new figures are old guys in suits, wahh. Two old guys that are integral to the Batman mythos, as much so as the Riddler or Scarecrow. The fact that Ra's and Scarecrow are slated for a wave AND already sculpted, pretty much meaning that they are already in the pipeline (even tho Ra's is a REALLY old guy in a suit). Whahh repackaged figures, whaaahhh. If you don't want two packs or Fist Fighters then don't buy them, and save your pennies for what you want. It looks like it will be coming.

[madmarva]

Above is a photo of Black Night's Brave and Bold Aquaman figure and it's what made me think I might like to see Timmverse/DCanimated figures from FTC way down the line.

Granted this is not Timm's design and no it's not on a mego-like body, but it's also not on a body made to resemble the cartoon character. It's on one of Black Knight's usual super hero bodies but with an animated head.

I think it looks cool and wouldn't mind having figures like it once the steam runs out of the regular DC line.

But, I understand those who don't like the idea, which would seem to be the majority of those who posted. Who knows if FTC had even considered such a line. Such figures are likely outside of the bounds of license it holds. But, if FTC cares, the thread at least gives them a sampling of opinions.

[thunderbolt]

pretty sure it was stated that the cartoons are fair game for FTC, just not the live action shows

[madmarva]

With DC Entertainment doing a new line of 6" Batman Animated figures with greater articulation, I'm guessing those might be off limits. But maybe not.

Brave and Bold figures might open the door to JSA figures, which I'd love no matter the style. A lot of the GA artists had a cartoony styles similar to the Brave and Bold style.

[huedell]

We've debated FTC character assortments, wave schedules, and FTC marketing/quality ad nauseam in other threads--do we really need to revisit it here?
Bottom line Hue--you want what you want, when you want it. You're scared/disgruntled that that may not happen. We get it.
Your list of "appropriate" releases is just as idiosyncratic as any others that might be posted here--myself included, I posted a list before yours.
Can we have more "steak" & less "sizzle" in your comments? Frankly I feel brow-beat.

Apologies. Just because I feel I have a new context to address the "same old, same old" doesn't mean I'm obligated to do so, I guess.
I couldn't help myself with this thread. As I stated to madmarva "Do we really need another excuse to clog up the pipeline with more re-use product?"

I said the "same old, same old" but also left it open for others to address if that's really a good idea, adding the "burn out" aspect this time around. If everyone feels they won't get burnt out by the time more unique WGSH stuff comes along, then I'm eager to hear your thoughts/opposing views (and be happy about it). I only ask for the same treatment if possible...at least the "hearing out" part---you being happy about reading it is something I don't expect.

For me? It's a win/win situation. If I'm right, I still have other DC figure lines to fall back on to feed my jones, and if I'm wrong, then I'll happily eat my words and rejoice... you know, in late 2015, when we can really seewhat's what, and what's hype.

I do think you are making too much of what I'm posting about is: What "I" want, though... believe me, what "I" want is not the same as what I've been posting, idiosyncratic as it may seem, it certainly has a method to it's madness based in "my take on excitement" (which I'd be betting all things equal you'd agree with me on) and "my take on PROFIT" (which, while possibly misguided, is firmly based on "What I think would SELL best in the long run"--not "What I want").

Example:
My Wave One WGSH? Wendy, Marvin, Plastic Man and Black Canary... But that's CRAZY talk, and I never would have had that as a "real" stab at a first wave---
....what I ACTUALLY posted, was: WAVE 01: Batman, Robin, Joker, Penguin (very close--or exactly what FTC released)

Hue its the paragraph after paragraph rants from you that are tiring to read ad nauseum. Its the same thing over and over. Wahh, the first two new figures are old guys in suits, wahh. Two old guys that are integral to the Batman mythos, as much so as the Riddler or Scarecrow. The fact that Ra's and Scarecrow are slated for a wave AND already sculpted, pretty much meaning that they are already in the pipeline (even tho Ra's is a REALLY old guy in a suit). Whahh repackaged figures, whaaahhh. If you don't want two packs or Fist Fighters then don't buy them, and save your pennies for what you want. It looks like it will be coming.

T-bolt--- come on---"the Batman mythos"? You don't think I get that by now? You sound like you think I don't appreciate or respect those characters. You must know that's not true. Don't you realize that it's 100% about aesthetics, and not about the age of these fictional characters? Eh, whatevs.

As I said earlier, if this is the future of WGSH line repro and line extension Mego collecting, it's gonna suck for me. But as recent releases have shown, that's ONLY if people's wallets continue to dictate to FTC that they are comfortable with the less ambitious WGSH plans ("Plans" as far as actual releases, not plans mostly based on prototypes, and/or drawings on the back of a card saying "COMING SOON", rumors or whatever). If you're all hunky-dory with that, then I can handle that. I'm SURPRISED more aren't leaning the other way... but I CAN handle it maturely for cripes' sake.

You are correct that I haven't spent any money on this new FTC stuff. It's bad timing more than anything else.

But I am convinced that in the not-too-distant future that I'll be able to celebrate hundreds of dollars of purchases from, not only the Batman and Teen Titans parts of the WGSH revival, but also the non-batman WGSH, and even the Batman 66 and even possibly the Dukes 8 inch figures.

I just need a bit more temptation to be thrown my way Because between my non-Megoesque alternatives on my shelves, as well as the good and the bad of what the Mattel Retros put me through, as well as having my trusty comprehensive DCU Mego-era Mego-style customs in my collection, I have too much distraction to jump on what I view as a quite unimaginative output from FTC.

THAT said: Things ARE slowly looking better as time goes on. Your positivity (as well as the many others that are thrilled with the current results) proves that (as long as it isn't temporary nostalgia that's fueling this).

Rock on.

[huedell]

Above is a photo of Black Night's Brave and Bold Aquaman figure and it's what made me think I might like to see Timmverse/DCanimated figures from FTC way down the line.

Personally? That's a cool looking figure... but I'm also a fan of the Brave And The Bold show, so that's a tipping point for me. Another tipping point is that I never bought any of the already released B&TB action figures, so as long as you had a few of those released for the same $25 price point, there'd really be no argument of me buying those right away.

(ON a related note, I'd have actually had a Wave 1 box of the Batman '66 figures on my way to me right now if I didn't already own the DCUC style versions of 'em. My thought are that once Wave 2 is released that I will find a way to buy all eight figures at one time.

Granted this is not Timm's design and no it's not on a mego-like body, but it's also not on a body made to resemble the cartoon character. It's on one of Black Knight's usual super hero bodies but with an animated head.

If a finished mass market figure looked like this design I would be happy with it. Please realize that my comments above, in which I originally criticized the idea of baiting FTC for more re-use doesn't mean I wouldn't like or wouldn't buy the figure... especially if the execution resembles BK's version.

I think it looks cool and wouldn't mind having figures like it once the steam runs out of the regular DC line.

And THAT^^^ statement (in conjunction with the pictured figure's proposed style) would then nullify any apprehension I'd have towards the idea... heck, I'd welcome ANY superhero sidetrack after an FTC WGSH line is in what I personally would view as "full swing".

[EMCE Hammer]

The reminder on BK's Aquaman reinforces my take that B&B style lends itself more to the reMego format. I love BTAS but I think it would take all new tooling, costumes, etc. to make it work in 8" scale.

[PNGwynne]

I guess I look at FTC's actions in relation to what Mego did (chose to do): As I understand it, Mego released a few assortments a year--one of these assortments was a WGSH wave of four to six figures. 1974 featured Super Gals & Super-Foes, & SI waves. 1975 featured the last 8" DC figure, Green Arrow--and Mego continued the line in some form for eight more years! They developed the FF body which featured no new characters; they also reused head sculpts across lines (Superman, Shazam! Galahad, Bruce Wayne, etc.). For some mysterious reason, they chose to take advantage of Lion Rock bodies & do Teen Titans, instead of another DC wave of, say, Flash, Green Lantern, Bizarro, & Luthor.

Mego did all this while producing excellent knights, Oz, Merry Men, & pirates lines, & beautiful Star Trek & Planet of the Apes figures--plus TV favorites.

In contrast, FTC has introduced several well-crafted lines in about six months--including two WGH waves. I have no doubt we'll see more, including TT, by year's end.

FTC lazy? Not yet. Expanding FF is good business (& fun for us collectors!)--Palitoy did the same thing overseas.

Alfred & Gordon the easy way out? Absolutely not! New heads, new clothes--those are not repurposed patterns from existing stock as far as I can tell. In fact, Alfred could have been done more cheaply (and more Megoesquely IMO) with a "lazier" approach: black jacket from the Joker pattern, fully-screened "pajama" suit similar to Joker as well. Instead, they offered a more detailed, constructed costume.

I honestly think, by throwing in supporting cast characters, they are building interest and sustaining waves. Outside of Batman, we have 1. Superman/Supergirl, 2 waves, 2. Shazam!, possibly 2 waves, 3. Wonder Woman, possibly 2 waves, 3. Aquaman, 1 wave, & 4. Green Arrow, 1 wave. They have sculpted Flash, Green Lantern, & Hawkman, likely good for a wave each. That's potentially 53 figures, if you include 9 TT. And that's not even counting cash-cow Batman stuff!

I expect FTC will at least double Mego's release pattern--I refuse to right them off just as they get started. They've proved to me they can produce a better product than they did previously; I suspect they'll take full advantage of that in offering desired characters & fan-favorites. I don't think anyone wants to see innumerable Kenneresque Batman variants.

[madmarva]

This is the first paragraph of this thread:

"I know DC Direct is about to introduce a line of figures based on Batman: The Animated series, so this would be something FTC couldn't do for a few years, but after FTC is done with the original megoes, Super Powers and Challenge of the Super Friends (just guessing), would anyone like to see them tackle Timmverse megoes?

The whole idea was once the current lines have run their course, then Timmverse/BB, if it were something people would want.

Granted, there's no company that's going to be able to duplicate BK's costuming at a $25 price point, but FTC could continue with its own costuming and then the heads.

I agree Brave and Bold's style translates better, but to me the animated versions of Mr. freeze, Harley Quinn, Killer Croc and Mr. Myxyzptlk are my favorite versions. I also think a Timm Batman with a cape that drapes over the shoulders and chest of the figure would look great.

I also like the idea of having figures from those shows that you can actually pose, but that's enough of that.

[huedell]

Alfred & Gordon the easy way out? Absolutely not! New heads, new clothes--those are not repurposed patterns from existing stock as far as I can tell.

You say "absolutely not" while then saying "as far as I can tell" in the same breath---so, I can assume you're not 100 percent sure that laziness/going for the easy sell (successful in the short run, but threatening long term sales/character selection) is not a factor here.

Let's say, for the moment, that the Alfred/Gordon designs aren't at ALL connected to heavy re-use regarding what I see as "dress suit alterations condensing design efforts". I'm willing to put that thought on hold because, I too, don't know FOR SURE if I'm right in this regard. Although, I'm heavily confident.

All that would remain for the critical reasoning I've been giving FTC (as far as those posters that urge me to pipe down and be happy w/what we've been getting) is that those peeps (you included) see no need to express interest to FTC (in a public forum that they have some degree of contact with) as to consumer ideas/expectations of different kinds of wave distribution proportion than what we've seen as far as civilian type characters to "super-costumed" characters, or the proportion of line extension ("new") characters to vintage Mego repro characters.

With all sincerity I've been quite surprised at the lack of empathy to my cause as far as those ideas. It's that surprise that has kept me at the ready to say something when I feel it's appropriate. i'm always thinking someone might agree with me.

I mean, geez, I know how important Alfred and Gordon are to the mythos. Heck, regarding that: I own DCUC scaled versions of BOTH---went out of my way to get them because I couldn't bear NOT having them displayed with my DCUCs...

But using the "Alfred as first new Mego, alone in an otherwise replica wave" scenario as a way to diagram what I mean, well, the idea of the first available "new Mego" being Alfred, and consumers not getting Scarecrow (the first quirky if not superhero-costumed supervillian design in the new WGSH) until maybe, what, 8 months from now? And a seemingly unanimous "Hey, I'm okay with that enough to not even express customer leanings towards different wave distribution ideas" (as defined above) was weird to me.

If everyone agrees that ideas akin to "Having Scarecrow in Wave Three, and then FTC releasing Alfred at the next chance they got" isn't a much better idea, then I'm simply under wrong impressions of this consumer base.

I never expected a "Yeah, FTC stinks because they didn't make a move like that." because, hey, Alfred is Alfred.. But, yeah, I guess I *did* expect the majority of consumers here to agree Scarecrow would've been the better choice. And I would've thought that if FTC caught wind of a majority sea change of thought, that they would have had the option to change or not change their attitude towards those kinds of choices in the future.

In the end, just like any other company, FTC has the choice to listen to their consumer, or not listen to them. It really isn't a major factor to me. To me, it's primarily about philosophizing about toys and DCU characters.

Also, this is not about "what I want" persay---it's about what I thought the MAJORITRY wanted, be I wrong or right.

For me? Personally? If I could've picked any Bat-character first, it would've been someone like The Creeper or Killer Moth...but those choices would be silly. A "Scarecrow instead of Alfred" choice? Not so much.

[madmarva]

FTC may have wanted to get Alfred and Gordon in waves that they thought would be strong sellers. Alfred is in the Wave3 with removable mask Batman and Robin and Batgirl, which are three very desirable figures which aren't as common on the vintage market.

Gordon is with Ras al Ghul, Scarecrow and an updated Batman in wave 4, which also should be a strong seller because of the new characters and hopefully a comic-accurate Batman. There may be a method to their madness. FTC may see it as the best way not to get stuck with figures that are key characters but maybe not the most desirable because they aren't super heroes.

I've held off buying the first two sets because I have the figures, but I probably will get Wave 3 because I don't have a removable mask Robin and Alfred is there to boot. I could keep the Batman and Batgirl, too, or they would make nice gifts to my niece and nephew.

[thunderbolt]

with Gordon and Alfred, they could also junk the heads and repurpose the bodies and clothes like they have done with some of the older lines.

[huedell]

with Gordon and Alfred, they could also junk the heads and repurpose the bodies and clothes like they have done with some of the older lines.

Innnnteresting T-bolt---see, I didn't even think to look at it from that opposite angle. But there ya go. Solid reasoning.

FTC may have wanted to get Alfred and Gordon in waves that they thought would be strong sellers. Alfred is in the Wave3 with removable mask Batman and Robin and Batgirl, which are three very desirable figures which aren't as common on the vintage market.

Your theory is the one I have been going with, along with the "variation on dress suit" easiness (which T-bolt noted in the context of the potential FUTURE repurposing of the suit---that I hadn't thought about).
I can concede I may have been splitting hairs all along by moving Alfred/Gordon a wave or two ahead, and starting with more visually striking and "Scarecrow" or "Two-Face" popularity-level characters.
If your described strategy is what they are indeed using (and I've always thought that it was a big part of their strategy), and if it doesn't really "de-wind" the sails of sales for the line, then it's all's good.

I like what I'm seeing---and I'm really WANTING to purchase...and, I'm convinced that I WILL purchase... but it's just a matter them starting to "mix it up" a bit more with those new/non-civilian characters. I'm likely being too picky. But, we'll see. The Joker and the Robin going retired sure was a bolt out of the blue, but since I can't speculate too much on what that event means, I'll presume it means something positive for the line. It's not all that positive for me though if I end up not having easy access to what I believed to be $25 replicas that'd stay around that price for at least a couple years and maybe even cheaper on the aftermarket if I had decided to go that route. If THAT'S the case, then lesson-learned. And "shucks" and all that. But the line going strong into newer figures is what ultimately matters, and then, I still have my Mego versions as a consolation.

[johnmiic]

The reminder on BK's Aquaman reinforces my take that B&B style lends itself more to the reMego format. I love BTAS but I think it would take all new tooling, costumes, etc. to make it work in 8" scale.

I think some of the BTAS heads and JLU heads would work. Maybe the ones least human-like and characters more covered in head gear would work. Take for instance the Doom Patrol.



The problem with Timm's male/human heads on Mego bodies is they all seem to be shaped like an up-side-down bucket, (strangely similar to the shape of Micronauts Baron Karza head). Narrow a the top, extremely wide at the base of the neck-even Batman. Altho if you look at the early years of BTAS Bruce looked more like a Fleischer cartoon character-not a bucket headed Timm character.

Grey Ghost would work.



Alfred would work:



The female heads should adapt nicely as they are rounder and not as stylized, (get to work head enlargers out there!!!)



Batgirl would fit into a Mego line nicely:

[melkorjunior]

Yeah, but check out those Timm character bodies: super wide shoulders, giant barrel chests, the whole torso is like an inverted triangle down to the tiny waist, and then the thighs are like toothpicks and the calves are pumped up. There's no way you can capture that look with a Mego body, and I'm afraid Timm style heads won't look right without their standard exaggerated body measurements.

I think a Timmverse collection would look good on the shelf, but in 4-6 inch all-plastic figures.