Here's a great review of the Famous Covers line

[spamn]

Speaking of FCs, I have to put this out there. Back when they hit retail, like a lot of people, I was really jazzed about them. I just loved 'em. They were the only thing even remotely close to a Mego that was actually new, for sale, at retail. Even though they weren't 100% "truly Mego style" (which I think we can all agree is perfect), I had a blast collecting them and even customizing them.

Anyway, I remember visiting the boards here at the museum and being lambasted by dozens of Mego collectors over Famous Covers... I mean I was just pummeled. I know people are very passionate about their "stuff" but wow, it was crazy how angry some people got that I *dared* to say I thought the FC line was great, etc. I figured that since I was such a huge Mego fan that guys like me would also give props to the FC line and see that, in *some* instances, FCs may have been an improvement over our beloved Megos. But giving credit to the FC line was hardly the case. Just a lot of anger. I think most who know me would say I am a person who's pretty easy to get along with.

There was a pretty big schism over those figures back in the day - people have opinions, and they love to shout them. Everyone lined up in the love/hate camps.

I imagine that the problem was they weren't Mego enough, and folks that wanted them to be more Mego were pretty upset at how far the mark was missed. As I recall, there was enough anti-FC sentiment that several people left the forum and started an FC one.

You may have noticed that there are a lot of people expressing similarly strong anti Mattel opinions over the Retro figures shortcomings and that they're not bothering with them.

It seems to be the way these things go. I think we all forget something fundamental though:



Substitute "Geeks" and "Nerds" with "Mego fans" and "FC fans."

[spamn]

I have felt the same way. I'm still holding out hope -- with the recent EMCE/Mattel miracle that has happened with DC -- that somehow, some way, we see Marvel versions within the next year or two. No one thoughtwe were going to get the DC ones.... anything could happen. Cross your fingers!!

I say this every time it comes up - but I also hope that Hasbro takes note of the heat (however lukewarm in the scheme of things) here on the Mattel body design, and contracts with EMCE, Cast-A-Way, Heroes In Action, or Zica for their bodies. Or contracts with the Four Horsemen to produce an all new 8" body with all the articulation currently on the DC Universe 6" or Jakks Wrestling figure.

And then puts out Marvel Superheroes and Star Wars figures with cloth outfits and accessories on it.

[Spyweb007]

I liked the Famous Covers stuff, but was disappointed mostly with the size. Had they been truly 8: figures I would have loved them and collected the whole line.

[palitoy]

I thought it was hit or miss, I owned a couple that I liked but passed on things like Captain America, when they screw up one of your favourite characters, it's hard to get real charged over the line. I thought Hasbro did a better job four years ago with the Signature series.

Really, really like the Red Skull however, wish it wasn't their last release. Was also bummed when they dropped Hellcat from the line.

[torgospizza]

I thought it was hit or miss, I owned a couple that I liked but passed on things like Captain America, when they screw up one of your favourite characters, it's hard to get real charged over the line. I thought Hasbro did a better job four years ago with the Signature series.

That's exactly how I felt. I have Spider-Man, Iron Man, Spider-Girl, Dr. Doom, and a couple others, but I thought the Hulk and Cap just seemed wonky. As soon as I saw the Signature Series Cap and Punisher, I snagged them straight away.

[MIB41]

Action Figures, as a rule, will always be subject to scrutiny from collectors. For myself, I typically can tell where the company's attitude is when I see the figures. There's either a "it's just a doll" attitude or a more passionate, "let's get it right" feeling. The companies which take the "doll" approach typically have the production and design problems. The companies that have an invested interest in making a valid product, follow the process from beginning to end to ensure the figures hit the shelves as originally designed. Toy Biz and Mattel share similar issues in the production department. However, EMCE and Castaway consistently put out high quality product and interestingly, are considerably smaller companies compared to Mattel and Toybiz. There hasn't been a year yet when I haven't been reminded of this irony.

[The Toyroom]

Never really got in to them and never bought any at retail...Picked up Dark Phoenix, Scarlet Witch, Hawkeye and Vision over the years through trades and such but I only kept the Vision...I think it has to do from liking the character when he was featured on the masthead of "The Avengers" back in the 70s and not so much with liking the FC line....

[GaryPlaysWithDolls]

It probably goes without saying that I'm a huge Famous Covers fan. I acknowledge the downsides to them (I face this every time I make an FC custom), but in many ways i prefer them to classic Megos.
I never (even as a kid) like the elastic held together bodies. I always felt like my Mego Spidey was going to break when I moved his arms, when they didn't pop into his torso and the legs bent funny giving him an "Indian-style" sitting pose.
The character choice seems a bit random, but given time I think they could have really nailed it. Viva FC!

[MIB41]

My favorites in the Famous Covers line up are the Vision, Scarlet Witch, Iron Man, Red Skull, Falcon, Nightcrawler, Wolverine (blue & brown versions), and Hawkeye. I think any of those beat the current Mattel line up.

[Astronut]

Back when the FC line was out there, I used to say - every time I saw them on the shelves - "d amn these are not actual Megos... But they're the closest thing, the only thing we have to it..." And I cherished those things. But now.... NOW we have something so close with the Mattel figs I feel I would be really thankless not to fully appreciate them. To those who dislike these I say this: you think you hate them now, but some day I bet you'll regret taking them for granted. It's like an awesome good looking woman with a great personality... but she has a pimple on her butt. So what. Still a better overall package than most of whats out there...

[MIB41]

That's a great analogy Astronut. But I do have to say while my opinions on some individual figures can change, I seldom have a complete turnaround on my opinion about the line overall. When it comes to Megos, I was there from the beginning. I was a little kid seeing my first RC Batman in a Kmart back in the early 70's. I played with them, displayed them in their boxes, and it never occurred to me during those years (nor should it) that these would become collectibles. NOTHING trumps that experience. Now while I don't begrudge the intent and effort of the those who have been involved in this Mattel line, at the end of the day, they are still not Megos. What EMCE did with POTA and Trek ARE Megos in my mind. The bodies, sculpts, and artwork were spot on. No alterations, no flimsy,cheap backer cards, and certainly no poorly designed bodies. It's not rocket science. Mattel was aiming at the collectors and ONLY the collectors. What they should have done is duplicate the originals and no one would be talking about these problems. Nostalgia won't factor into these Mattel figures for me because I have the originals. That being said, I will get the figures like the Flash, that Mego never made. From that approach, this is a fun figure line and I'm glad to have the opportunity to get those. But as an overall figure line, I think the opportunity was missed here because the quality controls were not in place early enough. Alot of these figures will be junk in a few short years because they were poorly made. Even Famous Covers holds up better than these and that line put out figures for nearly five years.

[LonnieFisher]

The Mattel figures will be showing up at Goodwill shortly, probably. That's where I'll get them. Super cheap.

[Astronut]

And the haters keep hatin'.

[LonnieFisher]

And the haters keep hatin'.

The haters wouldn't hate them if they didn't suck.

[Gorn Captain]

The haters wouldn't hate them if they didn't suck.

Seems to me, that implies that "The Haters" think their opinion is "The Truth", while it's just an opinion.
I liked FC when they were released, and haven't changed my opinion (yes, indeed) about them. Sure, things could be better (especially regarding certain proportions), but I always try to see the good in things. The only thing that bothers me is certain female face sculpts (Psylocke, anyone?). I love Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Vision, Scarlet Witch, Hawkeye...

I love my Megos, but let's face it, you don't look at Cap America and say "impressive". Even Thing is just wearing printed PJs. I love them, but I can also see their shortcomings, just like the FCs have them.

The same happened to Hasbro's SW 12 inches. First people loved them, now they think they're crap. I don't change my opinions so easily.

So my FCs are still proudly on display, I just need the 3-packs and Carnage, and I'm done!