FTC posts X-Men movie/cartoon costumes comparison on Facebook. Hmmmm

[madmarva]

I would not be that interested in the film version of X-men characters, but if Fox does control the film designs outright, I hope FTC does make them. It could prompt Hasbro to relent and allow Diamond/Emcee to offer single Marvel figures at a non-collector's item price point which is what we all want.

But, I still believe it's wishful thinking.

[ovenmitt]

I hope FTC replies to Facebook posts with answers by tomorrow Monday! I emailed FTC, too!

[madmarva]

And yet Mattel holds the master license to DC and we still get DC ReMegos from FTC

And DC/ Mattel allowed FTC to make figures at a $25 price point, and Marvel/Hasbro turned FTC down, but allowed Diamond/Emce to make the deluxe set at an $80 or $69 price point.

[madmarva]

They've been 'building community' for a while now, but this is the first time it's focused on characters they don't have the license to. Maybe there's nothing to it, who knows.

Again, I hope I'm wrong, but you never stop community building with social marketing. If making a Marvel themed post reaches new consumers for their product it's a win. If it engages its current community as it clearly has, it's a win.

[ovenmitt]

Why would FTC show movie AND cartoon costumes if something is not up with BOTH?

[hedrap]

And it's interesting that it's movie versus cartoon costumes, but not comic book costumes, that they're comparing.

I thought about that too, but Disney owns the cartoon rights when they bought Fox Kids in '02. It's weird, but Fox originally developed the cartoon with Pryde of The X-Men, let it go back to Marvel who took it to Saban. Then Fox bought Saban and merged it to create Fox Kids. That comparison chart was created somewhere else. I don't think they're comparing which ones to make as the cartoon were faithful 90's X comic designs. They may be gauging to see if people actually like the movie designs, (which utterly stink, IMO).

Makes me wonder if this was partly why they dropped the yellow mask reveal from the end of The Wolverine. It was supposedly edited out because they decided to not revert to comic-based character designs for Days, but I assumed that was Singer's decision.

[ThePlayerOnTheOtherSide]

Regardless of the speculation, which is always fun, we do know that continued strong sales for FTC are good for anyone that wants to see the same thing happen with the Marvel characters. Also it's wonderful that Alfred is selling so well since it signals to FTC that new characters that Mego never produced, if done in the Mego style can sell well.

The best time ever to be a Mego collector was the 70s. The 2nd best time is right now.

[melkorjunior]

I have a hard time believing FTC would post those X-Men pictures just to shoot the breeze with Facebook fans. And it's interesting that it's movie versus cartoon costumes, but not comic book costumes, that they're comparing.

[drogge]

I have a feeling FTC is doing something Marvel 8 inch, and I am usually right. They knew what they are doing when they posted those pictures on Facebook.

[hedrap]

The ancilliary pieces - boots, etc - don't matter because they're not specific to the trademark. Thor's hammer would be and Iron Man's button would also be, if it was sold sewn onto a red suit. Cap's Shield, Wolverine's Claws, Batman's Cowl, etc... off-limits.

There is a strain between Marvel and Fox. Marvel makes next to nothing on the agreement and was supposedly paying Fox at one point to keep it in development. I know after '02 Spidey, Marvel re-negotiated the contract with Sony, but this apparently never happened with Fox. A lot of noise has occurred lately about how Marvel is not happy about this on top of some big production decisions. The first was using Quicksilver. Now the FF reboot is rumored as the final straw as it's so distant from the comic it muxed up Marvel's anniversary plans.

With no synergy or dollars, Disney Marvel decided to shuffle the two brands by cancelling titles, removing characters, etc...and that begins this fall. Fox did not explain why Marvel did not develop any Days of Future Past toys/tie-ins and that looks to be the same for the FF reboot.

What we do know is FTC has dealt with WB for DC/Batman '66 and Fox is connected to Batman '66 licensing, and the contract Fox has with Marvel comes form before Toy Biz bought/merged with Marvel.

Now here's the pure speculation - Fox may have licensing control over their interpretation of X-Men movie characters since those were not created by Marvel, but Fox movie production designers. That would fall in line with their use of Quicksilver and development ownership in Batman '66. They're also moving forward with X-Men Apocalypse and another Wolverine sequel. If Marvel's not willing to license as they weren't with Days, Fox may have precedent.

[thunderbolt]

seems off the wall to be posting it without reason. hmmm. Wonder if Marvel sub families are available like Batman was at first to FTC?

[jwyblejr]

Not to mention the Thor and Ironman boots.

And Invisible Girl heads.

[jwyblejr]

Hasbro controls the Marvel master license and if it won't allow a partner like Diamond to make relatively affordable single figures, it makes no sense it would grant the license to a competitor like FTC.

FTC is simply trying to build a community around its Facebook page by offering interesting features to read, like any social marketing plan. It's not sending secret messages.

By the way, I hope I'm absolutely wrong.

And yet Mattel holds the master license to DC and we still get DC ReMegos from FTC.

[ThePlayerOnTheOtherSide]

Hasbro controls the Marvel master license and if it won't allow a partner like Diamond to make relatively affordable single figures, it makes no sense it would grant the license to a competitor like FTC.

FTC is simply trying to build a community around its Facebook page by offering interesting features to read, like any social marketing plan. It's not sending secret messages.

By the way, I hope I'm absolutely wrong.

They've been 'building community' for a while now, but this is the first time it's focused on characters they don't have the license to. Maybe there's nothing to it, who knows.

[Gorn Captain]

It's not sending secret messages.

I can neither confirm nor deny that they are sending messages, and that they are -or aren't- secret...
As a matter of fact, disregard this whole post. It never happened.