New 8" and 12" KISS!?!?

[The Nawd]

Wow. Didn't know they used the same head for both figures.

[MIB41]

Yep. They sure did. Look at the Lex Luthor head. It's the exact same head as Peter Criss. We discussed this a few years ago and the Museum was going to update their KISS page. I'm STILL waiting... Here's the link.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...ql70AGi0-YQO0w

[Delusional B]

Well said. But I'm sure that distinction is being done so Tommy and Eric can have a piece of the merchandise pie too. Here's a thought... Since the initial line is based off the original molds by Mego, I wonder if Ace and Peter will get residuals from that product, since it was signed off as their likeness back in '77 ? I look at it another way too. We're getting a whole new stack of 12 inch Lex Luthor figures. That figure doubled for Peter Criss. And of course Paul Stanley was actually the Captain from Captain and Tenille.

Are you serious?... the Lex Luthor head is the same as Peter Criss? I knew about the Captain and Paul thing but hadn't heard about the Lex figure. So, they reused the Peter head for Lex?!

[PeterRR]

The 8" Figures are a bargain for $22.00 they are one third the size and two thirds the price less then the 12" figures . Go figure

[Dark Shadow]

Looking forward to these lines!

The retro line in both 8 & 12 inch is really a great intro. Can't wait to see what the Sonic Boom outfits look like, judging by the detail on the facial sculpts and the demon boots, we may be in for a real (affordable) treat! The Dressed To Kill line is a cool idea, and I can't help but wonder what the line based off the first album will be like (album makeup with simple and humble black outfits?)

I will be quite grateful when we will finally have as an option a full set of 12" cloth figures with authentic outfits from both the Love Gun and the Destroyer eras (Paul's LG era figure MUST have the tails!). I will be exceptionally pleased if we are also presented with Alive, Dynasty, Unmasked, Elder and/or Creatures era figures.

Also, (in case anyone is listening) please do not make the same mistake that Sideshow & Medicom made with Paul's Destroyer era outfit. Those solid black boots with the lace up fronts were NOT part of his outfit! They were his ALIVE! boots spray painted black (used in a pinch) for photo shoots when his other boots were not available.

Currently shopping for an additional curio!

[livnxxxl]

FYI, I had a long and decent chat with Steve S. from Figs Inc. He tells me they are really looking to cater to the hobby shops like they did with their wrestling figs. I have dealt with Figs Inc for over 10 years. Great people.

The figures are made in China. They attacked the quality issue on the bodies head on and he said he is "thrilled" with the new bodies!

Anyway. Just wanted to share that info!

Thanks for the info Chris. That is great to know.

[Toyman_Chris]

FYI, I had a long and decent chat with Steve S. from Figs Inc. He tells me they are really looking to cater to the hobby shops like they did with their wrestling figs. I have dealt with Figs Inc for over 10 years. Great people.

The figures are made in China. They attacked the quality issue on the bodies head on and he said he is "thrilled" with the new bodies!

Anyway. Just wanted to share that info!

[MIB41]

Considering Figures Inc. apparently intends to release multiple waves of figures, I have no problem with the first wave being a direct repro of the original KISS figures. In future waves, I hope to see some nice portrait sculpts and make up variations. I wasn't too impressed with the likenesses on the Sonic Boom sculpts they posted, but when they're painted, they'll look like KISS enough for most people. Not me, but I'm super picky about KISS figures looking like KISS and not Action Jackson with make up.

Well said. But I'm sure that distinction is being done so Tommy and Eric can have a piece of the merchandise pie too. Here's a thought... Since the initial line is based off the original molds by Mego, I wonder if Ace and Peter will get residuals from that product, since it was signed off as their likeness back in '77 ? I look at it another way too. We're getting a whole new stack of 12 inch Lex Luthor figures. That figure doubled for Peter Criss. And of course Paul Stanley was actually the Captain from Captain and Tenille.

[CrimsonGhost]

Considering Figures Inc. apparently intends to release multiple waves of figures, I have no problem with the first wave being a direct repro of the original KISS figures. In future waves, I hope to see some nice portrait sculpts and make up variations. I wasn't too impressed with the likenesses on the Sonic Boom sculpts they posted, but when they're painted, they'll look like KISS enough for most people. Not me, but I'm super picky about KISS figures looking like KISS and not Action Jackson with make up.

[The Bat]

^^^^ Either you like the Megoish retro style or you don't. Real simple. To expect a line called retro heroes to have modern design and sculpts is really not too bright. They wouldn't have called 'em that if they weren't going to look like that. What killed the line was poor distribution and QC, and probably poor character selection with the GL wave.

I can kind of agree with you to a certain degree...but not completely. I love the Mego style, but even Mego varied in accuracy in head sculpts to their comic book counterparts. Some were excellent like Mr.Fantastic, Green Goblin, etc...

Others were just plain goofy looking, or "re-used" sculpts like Superman(Dinamite's boyfriend Don), Bruce Wayne(Tex Willer). You get the point.

[MIB41]

^^^^ Either you like the Megoish retro style or you don't. Real simple. To expect a line called retro heroes to have modern design and sculpts is really not too bright. They wouldn't have called 'em that if they weren't going to look like that. What killed the line was poor distribution and QC...

Yeah. I would pretty much have to agree with that. The style was certainly intended for the collectors. But I believe Mattel was hoping to attract new consumers as well. I think early quality issues with the bodies betrayed the look of the figures. And so instead of finding charm, the younger market perceived their appearance as another quality issue. And those opinions spread like wildfire. With the figures priced at the high end of that scale, it really gave them no chance to survive. I don't think character selection was really a big factor. If they couldn't sell enough of the primary characters like Batman and Superman, they weren't going to sell any of the other selections any better. But as a life long collector, I appreciated the diversity of selections and filling the gaps left from the Mego line. Retro Action certainly served a very important service in the history of 8 inch action figures.

[Brown Bear]

I never cared for KISS at all, but I admit I'm excited for you guys. I know there's a lot of my friends here who are pumped for this announcement and I'm happy for you.

As for me, I'm excited to see remego's at 12" and hope CTVT extends their existing Happy Days line to the 12" format.

[MIB41]

there was a production blog type link early in one of the announcement threads that showed a couple of pics of the unpainted heads. I would assume they sculpted large and then shrunk down and used the same sculpt for both sizes of figure. They were marked as Tommy and Eric and certainly did not look like Peter or Ace unpainted.

That is for a Sonic Boom version of the band to be released. The retros are cast from the original Mego molds. What is throwing you off is the paint job on some of those prototypes. That and the straight rooted hair they used just for the protos. But the finished product will have heads & hair that look exactly like the Mego version. Same paint job too. Here's a commercial showing the final product...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=21U9TKi75fY

[thunderbolt]

^^^^ Either you like the Megoish retro style or you don't. Real simple. To expect a line called retro heroes to have modern design and sculpts is really not too bright. They wouldn't have called 'em that if they weren't going to look like that. What killed the line was poor distribution and QC, and probably poor character selection with the GL wave.

[PeterRR]

Why couldn't they update them and make them look more detailed. It was nice to bring them back but update them with better sculpt and outfits. They look too cheesy to me. But sorry guys with Hot Toys, DID and Sideshow making great looking figure these Kiss figures would look out of place on my shelves. Look at Mattel they made retro Super Hero figures (great Idea) but what I hear is line is canceled. That is because they looked too cheesy and cheap looking. Mattel didn't want to spend any money making them for today's standards. Today's collectors are spoiled with toy companies making life like figures. I look at them as knock offs of a company the made cheap figures. And that was Mego. Dont get my wrong. I love Megos. I have about 150 of them in my collection. But that was 1970's and there wasn't much action figures then. Today is another world in collecting