I think our Marvel Mego chances just doubled!

[zeedox]

Disney to buy Marvel Entertainment for $4 billion - Aug. 31, 2009

Mattel already makes Disney stuff like Toy Story!

:-)

[Werewolf]

I don't think that effect's Hasbro's current license.

[The Toyroom]

^ Right...the current license has to run out before they (Marvel) can sign a new deal.....

[david_b]

As I was mentioning on another thread here, when scoffed about suggesting some new Marvel characters from Mattel, is that if there's good business (advanced sales, promo, etc..), where the new DC figures become healthy sellers, would Marvel seriously be that far behind..??

Business is business..

david_b

[megocrazy]

There's like 8 more years I think. Thought I heard 2017 was the expiration.

[drmego]

Hasbro's license

Hasbro's license with Marvel does go to 2017 - but if Disney, as
the new owner, is unhappy with Hasbro - they may buy out the
remainder of the license or make it harder on Hasbro to get
product approved.

Remember the story of Marvel and DC threatening to pull the
licenses from Marty over the "World's Greatest Superheroes"
trademark. The license holder usually has the upper hand.

Of course if Disney is happy with Hasbro's product line for
Marvel, they would be crazy to upset the apple cart.

[jwyblejr]

Mattel doesn't have the Disney license any more,do they? I thought Hasbro took over sometime ago? I thought it was some kind of swap. Hasbro got Disney,Mattel got DC. I could be wrong.

[drmego]

Mattel is doing several Disney products - CARS via Hot Wheels
and I spoke to the manager of a Disney Store today and he
told me that Mattel products are coming to his store soon.

[Earth 2 Chris]

Mattel used to have the master license for all things Disney, but a few years back they broke it up on a case by case basis. Mattel's Fisher Price arm makes TONS of Disney stuff still today. Thinkway is making the current crop of Toy Story toys, and they also made the originals when the first movie was released.

Chris

[zeedox]

Great new Toy Story Mattel Toys

Well I am just back from Toys R' Us with the cool new Mattel branded Buzz and Woody, so Mattel is making Toy Story as well as Thinking Toys.

If Disney really owned Marvel and the DC figures sell well...

I think Marvel Legends has been a flop since Hasbro took over anyhow. I am not sure how the 3/34" scale line is doing but I think it's safe to say Hasbro hasn't quite found their way with Marvel yet like they have with Star Wars or GI Joe etc.

[geoffdude]

An alternate title for this thread could just as well be:
I think our Marvel Mego chances just got worse!

Keep in mind, lic. anything Disney (or working in partnership w/them) is a BIG HEADACHE. It may be too much for EMCE to reconcile, then throw in the MARVEL layer of oversight and the magic 8-ball is showing "Not Likley". As much as I love the MEGO marvel stuff, I've worked w/Disney on promotions (in partnership), and know a company right now releasing models that won't work with Marvel again due to lic. red-tape. This marriage between the two will be intense (read "troublesome") for business dealings. And, as Dr. M. noted, Hasbro's license with Marvel does go to 2017, and I don't think that will change.

As I was mentioning on another thread here, when scoffed about suggesting some new Marvel characters from Mattel, is that if there's good business (advanced sales, promo, etc..), where the new DC figures become healthy sellers, would Marvel seriously be that far behind..??

Look back on that thread, I don't believe you were "scoffed", it was only noted that MARVEL is really tough to do business with.. which they are. It may not be something you wanted to hear, but it is what it is. Also, I'm not saying there would never be a chance for MARVEL MEGOs, (believe me I want them too), but the safe bet is not getting your hopes up for the next few years. At the very least until the dust settles (with Disney/Marvel).

Regards,

g.

[Gorn Captain]

Well, if Marvel's out for now, that might mean I won't have that many new releases to look forward to. As it stands now, I'd say I'm 20% DC fan, 80% Marvel.

Fingers crossed that it can still happen!!!

[david_b]

No, Geoffdude, I know a good scoffing when I hear it..
(the guys response was setting my human torch on fire.....??)

As for me not wanting to hear something.., I really could not care less. It's only toys.

Seriously, you make some great points, I was just thinking that with Marvel under new management now (yes.., once dust settles..), what was tough might not stay tough under Disney, pending the completion of current contracts, of course.

'Course I still marvel (no pun..) at when Disney did market newer characters (Toy Story figs, for example), they're ALL in a WIDE assortment of different sizes and scales..

Thanks much for putting in your input..!


david_b

[PNGwynne]

Sure, I'd love to see "Emce" Marvels, but I'm a DC geek and happy with the current plans.

Still, if Disney derails developement of potential lines, isn't that cutting off their nose to spite their face?

Is co-licensing that insurmountable?

[hedrap]

Quick .02 regarding Disney/Marvel

The whole point of the deal is the Disney XD channel. The majority of Marvel animation, from the 90's Fox Kids stuff all the way back to '66 Friendly Neighborhood and Marvel Superheroes, (minus any HB FF stuff), has been tied up in legal mess with Disney for at least a decade because they kept buying libraries that had ties to Marvel cartoons. That's why we see certain cartoons released overseas and Canada but not here, because Marvel could claim outright ownership over international distribution since they never signed a deal for anything outside the US.

So Marvel's involvement with Disney in the UK and other places has been going on for a number of years via satellite channels where in the States it looks as if they have no relationship whatsoever. How this effects Hasbro is in the following article...

http://www.reuters.com/article/busin...57U63C20090831

So there is a chance, depending, like everything, how well the line does. If it becomes the next McFarlane, Marvel will contact them.

Otherwise, Disney will not want to associate Marvel characters in a DC line since it falls into the trademark realm of "market confusion". If Marvel did get involved, the packaging would have some serious alterations. Also, the changeup at DC could make Time-Warner not happy about sharing a line with Marvel.

My bet - Hasbro does a bumpoff if WGSH sells. Like what AHI, Tomland or Remco is to MEGO, especially when you think about all the GI Joe molds that can be modified.