"Fixing" the Mattel GA vs. leaving it alone

[The Bat]

Back to the MOC Mattel Green Arrow. The question of "to open or not to open"...or keep original was easily solved. I bought one to leave in the Package...and one to open and play with...I mean customize.

[LonnieFisher]

With all of the new 8" figures coming out, I like to get two of each. One to keep original and one to customize.(or just tear apart for the fun of it to see "what's up" with how it's made.)I did that with all the trek emce figures. (Okay, maybe I play with them, but don't tell anybody. I try real hard to convince people I just customize and collect!)
Anyway, if you get two you have one to open and one to keep pristine to become a millionaire in the future. (yeah, right) Works out perfect.

[LonnieFisher]

"Use the Zen, Lonnie."
When it goes away, just shake your head and focus on all the cool stuff you DO have!"

I think we should get all those nasty amounts out of our heads, and go back to playing with our fun toys.
Things might have heated up a little, but my Zen says be cool. Cooler than an ice cube in a fridge on the Northpole....

Oh, and I do have some good stuff! Very good stuff...

[Mego Milk]

I love GA the way he is.
awesome toys.

[raider5gt]

I love GA the way he is.
awesome toys.

So do i man looking forward to it when it arrives,may try and get another one to open

Mine cost's $29.99 thats with shipping to merry England

[mikeoz]

I was reading the news, specifically about the destruction of Haiti, just before I started reading the MM forum. How unbelievably fortunate I am that I can worry about the body on an action figure and debate if shipping should or shouldn't be calculated in the cost. Sometimes I'm ashamed at myself for the amount of importance I put into toys.

[mikeoz]

My above post sounded like I was on a soap box. For the record, I know myself, and I'll probably be reading these posts and shopping ebay again by tomorrow. I am going to text in more money to the Salvation Army though

[Gorn Captain]

Oh, and I do have some good stuff! Very good stuff...

You are very Zen now. Keep it up....

[Corellian Corvette]

The expectation was set when Mattel clearly tried to evoke the feeling and nostalgia of vintage Mego's. Unlike Famous Covers or other 9in cloth figures, which may have been trying to capture some of the spirit of Mego - they never tried to connect directly and therefore it's fair to judge them on their own merits.

Mattel is 100% trying to evoke look and feel directly to the original figures and therefore I think it's fair to scrutinize them more - perhaps more closely than any other 8in retro release because they are: 1) Treading on hallowed ground by re-releasing WGSH, and 2) They are a huge company with the resources to do this right.

So - I grade on the curve. I scrutinize this more than other EMCE, Castaway or CTVT releases because Mattel shouldn't make mistakes. I can forgive flaws with those smaller companies much faster than I can with Mattel.

The fact is - there are two issues with the body that I think are getting co-mingled; design issues and style issues. First, there is a design flaw in the legs which causes them to bow and point inward. This is a *fact* - unless someone wants to tell me that it's part of Mattel's design aesthetic to have their characters look like they are learning to ski.

For this reason alone, Mattel has partially failed with this figure. There is absolutely no reason I should have a crooked legged figure in a package, out of the package, or otherwise. Had the figures stood properly then the “need” to customize would be based on preference not to overcome a major design problem.

The style issues are certainly up for debate and are more subjective. I hate the boots, and I hate the shape of the thighs – that’s not a manufacturing or design flaw this is a choice that some people just happen to not like. For me, I think the boots are bulky, and the thighs are much too big for the slender figure they have designed.

As far as sales go – I’m not sure what that proves. That initial run was going to sell what it was going to sell no matter what the body was. The key is – how are the other waves going to sell now that we know what we’re getting? What I’m seeing here is that, from some people at least, Mattel is losing sales on future waves because they made poor design and style choices around that body. So, perhaps they *should* have taken the easy way out and just used the existing design – I think the initial run *still* would have sold out, and for me, I know I would be buying more figures in the future.

[Corellian Corvette]

Oh - and in case it's not clear Paul, I have a TON of respect and admiration for what you've done for the hobby. My frustration with the choices Mattel has made is not a reflection on you - I think the work you've done on Trek is a highlight of honoring Mego and the Gorn is near perfection of blending old and new.

[Meule]

As far as sales go – I’m not sure what that proves. That initial run was going to sell what it was going to sell no matter what the body was. The key is – how are the other waves going to sell now that we know what we’re getting? What I’m seeing here is that, from some people at least, Mattel is losing sales on future waves because they made poor design and style choices around that body. So, perhaps they *should* have taken the easy way out and just used the existing design – I think the initial run *still* would have sold out, and for me, I know I would be buying more figures in the future.

Mattel has already said they'l be upgrading the figure (i.e. fix the legs) for wave 2. We'll get 4 more bowlegged figures in wave 1, but after that they should be better. I think people will be patient and forgiving enough to forget the bowleggedness and still buy wave 1. If the bodies aren't better by wave 2 however Mattel may have a problem sales wise

[The Bat]

Mattel has already said they'l be upgrading the figure (i.e. fix the legs) for wave 2. We'll get 4 more bowlegged figures in wave 1, but after that they should be better. I think people will be patient and forgiving enough to forget the bowleggedness and still buy wave 1. If the bodies aren't better by wave 2 however Mattel may have a problem sales wise

Agreed! I'm more than willing to transfer Wave 1 to Mego Bodies....but I'm hoping that by Wave 2, I won't have to.

[Remco Monster]

They will have to fix more than just the bow legged aspect for me to be happy with it. They seriously need to figure out a better way of stringing the hips. Even then, I am so happy with the way my GA looks on a CAW body, it will be hard for me to not switch them out. The figure looks, feels and moves just so much better, all around.

[BlackKnight]

So - I grade on the curve. I scrutinize this more than other EMCE, Castaway or CTVT releases because Mattel shouldn't make mistakes. I can forgive flaws with those smaller companies much faster than I can with Mattel.

I agree 100% with your Statement Here ... ,
I believe I pretty much feel the same..., as do most with anything they do ... , when it boils down to "Mom and Pop shops" vs Corperate America.

[TrueDave]

Green Arrow , yup.