Non-fixed Mattel bodies

[drmego]

Not true either - someday I will tell the backstory, but not today.

"So Matty came up with the "Retro-Action" name and dug through the vaults to find a dormant patent, namely Big Jim, and modify it for a new filing, stopping market confusion"

[drmego]

Not really - I could have patented the body in 2001, since I made significant
changes to the design of the original, but patents are costly to protect and
someone else could have made other changes and that would not be covered
by my patent.

"Doc Mego capitalized and we all went crazy with a repro/custom hobby. But this same hobby dropped the Mego design into a public domain nexus"

[LonnieFisher]

I didn't realize that a thread needed to be started when it was so obvious from the pictures...

This is for the discussion of the fact that they aren't "fixed". So that this topic would hopefully not be a big discussion in the packaged figures thread.

[WannabeMego]

I started this thread to point out the fact that the bodies aren't "fixed"...

I didn't realize that a thread needed to be started when it was so obvious from the pictures...

[hedrap]

Also, I recall Doc saying something at the Meet about Mattel and using mego-like stuff. Mattel insists on using completely homemade stuff. They don't want someone coming out of the woodwork a year from now claiming they sculpted that foot or something.

That's pretty close to the reality of it. It's all patent protection stuff.

Why does this line exist? Because 15+ years ago, Charlee Flatt, the internet/web and toy customs converged at the roughly the same time. Doc Mego capitalized and we all went crazy with a repro/custom hobby. But this same hobby dropped the Mego design into a public domain nexus.

From Mattel's perspective, what do they own? Not the characters, Mego brand name or figure patent. So if they did exactly what we wanted, they'd be screwing themselves because Mattel would be creating an entire new market they had no proprietary control over. If Mattel released "DC Mego's", Hasbro could release "Marvel Megos". Mattel would then sue, and eventually lose. Why? Because of us. We've turned the word "Mego" from a brand name into a noun. Mego-Like, Megoesque, etc...For example, the movie "Hot Tub Time Machine" is not "Jacuzzi" or "Whirlpool" Time Machine because those two companies have fought hard as hell to keep the brand name from becoming nouns.

So Matty came up with the "Retro-Action" name and dug through the vaults to find a dormant patent, namely Big Jim, and modify it for a new filing, stopping market confusion. If the line succeeds, Hasbro has to come up with something totally new. If Marvel was stilled owned by Toy Biz we'd probably begin to hear about a new Famous Covers line re-tooled to 8-inch...and then we'd ***** about something in that line not being Mego-like.

[zeedox]

Dr Mego going renegade or another Dr Retro

What I would say wouldnt it be great if we could by a "2.0" package for each new figure for perfection from a toy doctor preferably Doc Mego etc.

[LovethoseMegos]

I'm not critical of Doc Mego or the look of the figures, just how flimsy. If they are strung better I would be pleased. I hope they do fix that.

[AAAAA]

I work with Mattel's bodies LITERALLY every day and I don't think the thighs
are that bad.

The change will happen when it happens based on the realities of production.
Calling Mattel liars is juvenile.

I agree you guys have no idea what a monumental , Job its to change something in the middle of production.redesign and Implementation, on a production line is major task.

[Meule]

Meule - it's the Belgium thing - or maybe it's the animated flashing skull -
or maybe it's because I respect your opinion.

I refuse to believe it's the Belgium thing, you're too smart for that
It could be the skull since you're involved with the Universal Monsters, but I've had that skull since I joined up, so that's probably not it either.
Must be you respect my opinion

Either way, I applaude you for all you've done, all you're doing and all you're going to do. I may not agree with all the decisoins Mattel has made, but I agree enough to get the figures. How about we keep it at that?

[toystalker]

thing is if you dont like them dont buy them

ok i got caught and bought a few grand worth of the wave 1

but ill be buying possibly 1 of each of wave 2

i know better this time round not to go over board

its pretty simple thing, if you dont like them step off, everyone has pretty much heard the ins and outs of what they like and what they dont like, ive voiced my opinions also, im retail as well as collector, im looking in on them from my customer point of view... im thinking ill sell a few but not box loads no biggie
ive learned my lesson, if its evident that no changes has been made fine, lets get on with living
if the legs are all over the place and theres runs down the bubble ok that will be fine, as long as they are no worse lol
1 thing i will be doing though... if anyone is looking still at buying a wave 1 figure contact me 1st lol ill have you go buy me a wav 2 character and ill swap you

[CrimsonGhost]

Well, I'll agree that complaining can be taken too far, and beatin' to death...but sometimes pointing out flaws actually does have an effect. Take BBP for example...someone pointed out that the Flash Gordon Head looked a little translucent...and they took it heart and said "we will fix it"! Bravo BBP!
And Doc's a really smart Guy....he views the Museum as a testing ground. He knows most of us we won't hold back, on giving him our honest opinion. And as he said..."he's thick Skinned. I know Paul has input with Mattel, but they make the final decision...but that's not going to stop us from saying "hey, we thought these Bodies we're going to be fixed".

I would imagine plans were already in place to change the heads long before the photos were posted. I don't think BBP read the comments and then decided to make a change. Everything is scheduled too far in advanced for our comments to make any immediate difference.

Mattel will likely not change anything unless thay see it as a problem. The loose stringing and the slippery connection between the torso and pelvis could be viewed as a problem because they don't really work properly. There is nothing functionally wrong with the legs, they work fine.

[drmego]

Meule - it's the Belgium thing - or maybe it's the animated flashing skull -
or maybe it's because I respect your opinion.

[The Bat]

You obviously didn't read the last part of that statement. I also said "to get the nostalgia factor on for yourselves." Yes, I know the reason they are called Retro Action Heroes." But again, why do you guys gets so worked up about this sorta thing when you can either customize it yourself or pay someone else to do it for you? And do any of you know what it takes to mass produce a toy or action figure? Paul (Doc Mego) does. I say we are more than fortunate to have the inside scoop about all this stuff, b/c w/o him giving us the behind the scenes stuff, we'd basically be like any other toy consumer out there; clueless until we read it on some site somewhere right before the release date. And b/c we're a priviledged few, you act like if you complain about it enough you'll get what you want exactly when you want it. Yes, Doc relays our concerns to Mattel, and has some input, but that doesn't mean changes will be made b/c the mighty "Mego Museum" demands it. There could be all kinds of reasons why the figures didn't go through the changes. Maybe it wasn't cost effective. They produced all those bodies, and maybe chucking them and starting from scratch just wasn't good business. So again folks, stop actng like spoiled babies and be patient. Maybe the changes will come for Wave 3, maybe not. Wave 1 seems to be selling well, and hopefully Wave 2 will as well. And as always, you the consumer have the power of choice. You can choose not to buy it. But you can also choose not to ruin something that other people enjoy just b/c it's not up to your standards. Or you can choose to be a buzz kill. I for one, am taking the high road.

*steps off soapbox*

Well, I'll agree that complaining can be taken too far, and beatin' to death...but sometimes pointing out flaws actually does have an effect. Take BBP for example...someone pointed out that the Flash Gordon Head looked a little translucent...and they took it heart and said "we will fix it"! Bravo BBP!
And Doc's a really smart Guy....he views the Museum as a testing ground. He knows most of us we won't hold back, on giving him our honest opinion. And as he said..."he's thick Skinned. I know Paul has input with Mattel, but they make the final decision...but that's not going to stop us from saying "hey, we thought these Bodies we're going to be fixed".

[trekman101]

I work with Mattel's bodies LITERALLY every day and I don't think the thighs
are that bad.

The change will happen when it happens based on the realities of production.

I don't think the thighs are that bad either....the biggest problem is the pelvis being not right and poor stringing of the figure......I also think certain costumes make the legs look better(sinestro) or worse(superman)

[Meule]

I still wish - that when the wave 2 figures arrive in stores - the bodies are
strung together better. That doesn't require making new steel like the
"thunder thighs" - just instructing the assembly workers.

And Meule - I think I take criticism pretty well. Given the fact that I have
been on the receiving end of it for more than ten years on this forum - and
have never called anyone a bad name - speaks to my thick hide.

Yes, you actually do take criticism well, shouldn't have said that.
But why do you always single me out. There were dozens of posts and questions being raised (the poor bodies, the thong Bat shorts, the cowl, ...) you could've answered, yet you single me out... again, like you did with wave 1. Shall I just shut up from now on?