New Licensees Chance Of Happening

[SWCWorld]

D&D is owned by Wizards of the Coast (the same people who make Magic: The Gathering) which was acquired by Hasbro about a decade ago, so it's Hasbro too.

Conan has always been the REH estate. Marvel licensed the character from the 70's to the 90's. Dark Horse had it from 2002 until this year. Marvel will begin publishing again in the US in 2019. In Europe, the original Howard stories are in the public domain and French and Italian publishers are doing Conan comics (Glenat in France) but they cannot sell them in the US market because of our different IP laws concerning public domain and trademarks (completely different from copyrights) held in US markets by Paradox (who owns the REH estate now). Paradox is more interested in marketing the Arnie movies than the Howard stories (hence licensing movie toys to Funko for Pops and their Savage Worlds line). McFarlane toys did some Conan figures a while back based on the REH stories. None of this encompasses Red Sonja, which is owned by an entirely different company (Red Sonja llc) because while having her name based on an REH character (Red Sonya, who appeared in a Howard historical fiction tale set in Eastern Europe/western Asia not in a Conan tale) was deemed an original character and not owned by the Howard estate, and since it was created separate from Marvel properties in a licensed book and Marvel had different contracts for licensed work rather than standard work-for-hire contracts used for their other books that granted them owner-ship of all characters created in the works, it was not owned by Marvel either. So doing Red Sonja as part of a Conan line would require two separate licenses. Sonja is currently being published by Dynamite comics and cannot be used in Conan comics and vice versa unless a special arrangement is made (such as the recent Conan/Red Sonja mini-series co-published by Dynamite and Dark Horse just before Dark Horse lost the Conan license). The Red Sonja license does allow for the use of some Hyborian locales though if I understand it correctly, but the whole license tangle for Conan and Sonja is a mess that requires a lot of IP lawyers to untangle in most instances.

-M

Thanks for the wonderful input, MPR! From this, it looks like a Conan license would be a semi-moot point. I was not aware of the D&D license currently; really good information! I did know that in the past, the D&D license had been a pain; i.e. when Mattel Electronics created the AD&D games for their Intellivision in the early 1980s, due to copyrights/licensing with TSR, they had to use the complete "Advanced Dungeons & Dragons" moniker in front of the actual name of the game. When Intellivision Lives (the Blue Sky Rangers) released the Intellivision Flashback (and other software on their site) in the past few years, they dropped the licensing fees, etc. to the two AD&D games by changing the names:

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (1st title) has become Crown of Kings
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Treasure of Tarmin has become Minotaur

(Just as an example)

[MRP]

Madcap; just my opinions based upon your list and some things that Paul Clarke has stated both here and on the Mego ambassador's FB page...


Dungeon's & Dragons - are we speaking of the hit cartoon series from the 1980s? If so, would depend upon naming rights from TSR and whoever owns the rights now to the images.
...
Conan (More than FTC has) - does Marvel still own the rights to publish, or has that passed back to Robert E. Howard's estate?

D&D is owned by Wizards of the Coast (the same people who make Magic: The Gathering) which was acquired by Hasbro about a decade ago, so it's Hasbro too.

Conan has always been the REH estate. Marvel licensed the character from the 70's to the 90's. Dark Horse had it from 2002 until this year. Marvel will begin publishing again in the US in 2019. In Europe, the original Howard stories are in the public domain and French and Italian publishers are doing Conan comics (Glenat in France) but they cannot sell them in the US market because of our different IP laws concerning public domain and trademarks (completely different from copyrights) held in US markets by Paradox (who owns the REH estate now). Paradox is more interested in marketing the Arnie movies than the Howard stories (hence licensing movie toys to Funko for Pops and their Savage Worlds line). McFarlane toys did some Conan figures a while back based on the REH stories. None of this encompasses Red Sonja, which is owned by an entirely different company (Red Sonja llc) because while having her name based on an REH character (Red Sonya, who appeared in a Howard historical fiction tale set in Eastern Europe/western Asia not in a Conan tale) was deemed an original character and not owned by the Howard estate, and since it was created separate from Marvel properties in a licensed book and Marvel had different contracts for licensed work rather than standard work-for-hire contracts used for their other books that granted them owner-ship of all characters created in the works, it was not owned by Marvel either. So doing Red Sonja as part of a Conan line would require two separate licenses. Sonja is currently being published by Dynamite comics and cannot be used in Conan comics and vice versa unless a special arrangement is made (such as the recent Conan/Red Sonja mini-series co-published by Dynamite and Dark Horse just before Dark Horse lost the Conan license). The Red Sonja license does allow for the use of some Hyborian locales though if I understand it correctly, but the whole license tangle for Conan and Sonja is a mess that requires a lot of IP lawyers to untangle in most instances.

-M

[SWCWorld]

OK I'm not as familiar as others here but here's the line I think alot of people want and maybe putting odds of them happening (And NO not personal opinion I want REAL odds.)I'm not putting obscure lines that they might get I want to see the odds on the heavy hitters: (Even though these are MY favorites to be in the new Mego)

Star Wars
Marvel
DC
Battlestar Galactica
Buck Rogers
Planet Of The Apes
Aliens/Predator/Robocop/Terminator (Are these at NECA?)
Golden Age Superheroes
Airwolf (I always wanted these in MEGO form)
Ghostbusters/Real Ghostbusters (I don't think Mattel has the 8" format anymore)
Green Hornet (1960's TV Show)
MOTU/Thundercats
Dungeon's & Dragons
Walking Dead
Night Of The Living Dead & Other Romero Films
Conan (More than FTC has)
V

I just need to find out real chances are this might happen and feel free to add lines I might have forgotten this isn't a "Wish list" just some of the lines that we MIGHT get and the chances...

Madcap; just my opinions based upon your list and some things that Paul Clarke has stated both here and on the Mego ambassador's FB page...

Star Wars - won't happen. That's Hasbro
Marvel - won't happen. That's Hasbro, and as Paul stated, one 8" Marvel Mego would have to be $80, which won't sell at retail
DC - we'll see, could happen in the future
Battlestar Galactica - good chance, as Bif Bang Pow did a couple of series that did not end up selling well, but these were not at retail price-points
Buck Rogers - this would be good, especially since Mego did the 12" and 3 3/4" figures back in 1979. Would be down the line, I think, and possibly 2-3 figures
Planet Of The Apes - I'm thinking this a definite YES after the Target waves due to the fact that they were done by Paul Clarke/EMCE (as was Star Trek).
Aliens/Predator/Robocop/Terminator (Are these at NECA?) - would depend on retail viability and working with the studio rights
Golden Age Superheroes - this is a good idea and possible "back door" for 8" Mego superhero figures. Many are in public domain now. I think figures from AC Comics would be do-able as well, as most of them are public domain from the golden age or based upon golden age characters
Airwolf (I always wanted these in MEGO form)
Ghostbusters/Real Ghostbusters (I don't think Mattel has the 8" format anymore) - not sure on the rights for these, as they figures for the new female cast movie were out in stores less than 2 years ago....
Green Hornet (1960's TV Show) - I think this a fair chance
MOTU/Thundercats - no idea on this one. While fairly popular in the mid-to-late 1980s, the revived series in 2011 did not do well. Rankin-Bass did the production on the 1980s series.
Dungeon's & Dragons - are we speaking of the hit cartoon series from the 1980s? If so, would depend upon naming rights from TSR and whoever owns the rights now to the images.
Walking Dead - not sure if this is suitable for retail. Seems like more suitable for the specialty market (comic stores, etc.) due to the nature and content of the series
Night Of The Living Dead & Other Romero Films - see above
Conan (More than FTC has) - does Marvel still own the rights to publish, or has that passed back to Robert E. Howard's estate?
V - this could be a later possibility, with possibly a 3-character series (as per New Mego Cheers, etc.) such as Mark Singer's character, Diana, and lizard alien?

[greensavage2000]

Maybe a couple rare original Megos could get a redo: Zorro & The Greatest American Hero!

Some other suggestions - The Tick, Flash Gordon, Doc Savage, Electra Woman & Dyna Girl... oh, and Reid Fleming, World's Toughest Milkman!

I'd dig any of your suggestions. Reid would be great but I'd want his milk truck too.

[greensavage2000]

well, there's the Phantom, Lone Ranger, Green Hornet, the Shadow, Doc Savage. Hellboy's kid appropriate on your list. Then there are the Archie Heroes that they are reviving, vintage public domain characters like the Black Terror, Grim Reaper, etc.

All good suggestions. I'd love a Doc Savage line. As far as superheroes go how about Invincible, Nexus, Zot, classic Magnus Robot Fighter, and some of the other Valiant characters.

[sprytel]

What about A-Team? That seems a perfect fit for "TV favorites" and I don't believe it has been done in a while...

[Mego Newbie14]

So Powercon is this weekend and the rights for Thundercats are sorta cleared up. Mattel is trying to continue with their line, but so is Bandai. WB is apparently all-in on the practice of cracking licenses (ala FTC 8-inch v Mattel v Mego 14-inch), which opens up some room for Mego.

Interesting.

[hedrap]

I thought mattel had the rights to Thundercats?

So Powercon is this weekend and the rights for Thundercats are sorta cleared up. Mattel is trying to continue with their line, but so is Bandai. WB is apparently all-in on the practice of cracking licenses (ala FTC 8-inch v Mattel v Mego 14-inch), which opens up some room for Mego.

[GoldBlade6]

I need to know what Mego is planning before I buy into this new line. I have no desire for one-offs here and there. I want to know - to the extent possible - that things started will not be forgotten.

[Your pal, Jim]

Maybe a couple rare original Megos could get a redo: Zorro & The Greatest American Hero!

Some other suggestions - The Tick, Flash Gordon, Doc Savage, Electra Woman & Dyna Girl... oh, and Reid Fleming, World's Toughest Milkman!

[Your pal, Jim]

Honestly, I think they should go after some costumed superheroes. If DC and Marvel aren't available, they need to pursue a few colorful independent characters. Things that kids might see on the shelf and THINK they're somehow related to Batman and Spiderman. Stuff that has a fanbase and would be bought, but also has some limited scope of mainstream appeal.

Totally agree with this, bring on the costumed super-heroes! Green Hornet, The Shadow, and The Lone Ranger; some classic Public Domain characters like Stardust The Super Wizard, Black Terror, and Daredevil; and some newer characters like Madman, Grendel, Nexus, and The Rocketeer...

[SpaceAgent]

If we're taking requests, I'd like to see a line based on Get Smart.

[bgiles73]

Madcap wanted to discuss the properties listed above, not create another wishlist thread.

Somewhere I guess we confused this thread with the other wishlist thread. Lol

I’m honestly surprised that nobody has grabbed the license for “V” and created a toy line. The action figures showed in the TV series was the envy of every kid on the playground back in 3rd grade and urban legends of the rich kid at school having a set at home abounded! I don’t know if these would meet with the same success today that they might have at an earlier point. (The new TV series a few years back didn’t last.) The iconic red uniforms and symbolism behind fascist reptiles from outer space in the classic series might resonate better with audiences of today as the series’s content mirrors many of the headlines today.

[Mikey]

Neil Diamond and Tom Jones

[thunderbolt]

OK I'm not as familiar as others here but here's the line I think alot of people want and maybe putting odds of them happening (And NO not personal opinion I want REAL odds.)I'm not putting obscure lines that they might get I want to see the odds on the heavy hitters: (Even though these are MY favorites to be in the new Mego)

Star Wars
Marvel
DC
Battlestar Galactica
Buck Rogers
Planet Of The Apes
Aliens/Predator/Robocop/Terminator (Are these at NECA?)
Golden Age Superheroes
Airwolf (I always wanted these in MEGO form)
Ghostbusters/Real Ghostbusters (I don't think Mattel has the 8" format anymore)
Green Hornet (1960's TV Show)
MOTU/Thundercats
Dungeon's & Dragons
Walking Dead
Night Of The Living Dead & Other Romero Films
Conan (More than FTC has)
V

I just need to find out real chances are this might happen and feel free to add lines I might have forgotten this isn't a "Wish list" just some of the lines that we MIGHT get and the chances...

Madcap wanted to discuss the properties listed above, not create another wishlist thread.