Bad News Retro-Action Fans (Matty Q&A)

[Boywonder0]

Just stay away from this thread if you can't be bothered to read other's opinions or don't respect them. Everyone here has the right to voice his or her opinion and I happen to agree with MIB41. I thought his response was well thought, clear and to the point, unlike your constant "stop complaining, don't buy them". Change the record, it's getting old fast.
And yes, I will be getting more retro action figures, even tho I think they could be improved.

Sorry flower if I hurted you a petal. This wasn't a reply to a message of yours so I don't really understand why you are getting in the middle. So far I had a great esteem for you sir...

[drmego]

It's good to show respect for each other's opinions and learn to listen
to positive and negative comments. I have no problem with well-written
opinions and am glad to see such discussion.

Please don't suppose how I "really feel". I refuse to get into that game.

Try to remember that this line is not a big one for Mattel. It does not
measure even a fraction of Barbie's sale numbers, but the people involved,
both at DC and Mattel, are commited to seeing it thrive.

[megoscott]

I for one WANT the line to succeed, which is why feedback IS important. I honestly don't think ANYONE who takes the time to come on this forum to contribute opinions, is somehow in cahoots with another toy company to see the line fail. That's nonsense. But its also nonsense to suggest that anything released is somehow immune to criticism. All collectors are passionate about their craft. And everyone has a different reason for pulling out their wallet to add product to their collection. We recently saw ONE carded Iron man figure go for over $14,000 on Ebay. But in the same breath we have also spent months debating the value of selling a brand new figure for $20.00. So who's wrong in that contradiction? No one. Its personal value. So, for myself, there are certain things I will spend 'bigger' money on that are vintage, whereas something new I am going to be more mindful of my wallet, because the long standing value is not yet established (look to Famous Covers and Hasbro's Signature series for that example).

The latter example is what I emphasize to people like Paul and any of the Mattel folks who might check in from time to time. Just because a toy might be 'inspired' by a vintage line, doesn't make it so. Its still a NEW toy with it's own issues. And like any 'GOOD' company, Mattel should be mindful of customer feedback. But right now Mattel is banking the pros of the line will outweigh the cons, so the public response to the customer is 'no changes will be made.' How that decision plays out, WILL be important for Mattel if sales decline. So that is where we stand. I for one am not actively looking for wave 2 when they come out. I spent over $80.00 to purchase four ill-made figures in wave one. The nostalgia of the first line got me to spend the money. But the issues with the bodies, poorly made emblems, and the flimsy card just screamed "cheap" (to ME). As a collector, I believe this appearance will only worsen with age, so there's no justification to spend that kind of money when I can buy them far cheaper after they've been out for about six weeks (or when TRU marks them down as we have already seen). The market (AND economy) dictates I can use that purchase strategy to get them far cheaper, rather than fold to Mattel's high-end price points.

We've watched other figure lines suffer the same fate with far less sticker shock. If Mattel feels they have a business model that will make them money, but shorten the life of the line, then more power to them. But it leaves the people interested in the line left out in the cold. Welcome to the business world. It's nothing personal.

If this were Facebook I would "Like" this.

[Mojo]

Well Im glad they are out. I would rather have crappy figures than none at all. And if you think about it , you are paying 20$ for a great costume, accessories, head and boots. Normally you cant order all that for less than 20$ anyways.

[Mikey]

Well Im glad they are out. I would rather have crappy figures than none at all. And if you think about it , you are paying 20$ for a great costume, accessories, head and boots. Normally you cant order all that for less than 20$ anyways.

I guess that's an ok way to look at it --- but you can also look at it like would you pay $20,000 for a brand new car that you knew had a bad transmission but it looks cool sitting in your driveway ?

[jimsmegos]

For the record.... I did a "what's it worth" dollar conversion, here's what I found... as of 2009 $20 in today's cash is equal to $5.07 in 1975 money. Seems to me to be about the cost of a Mego for mom's and dad's to have spent on our original Mego's for us.

Just saying.

[Boywonder0]

Well Im glad they are out. I would rather have crappy figures than none at all. And if you think about it , you are paying 20$ for a great costume, accessories, head and boots. Normally you cant order all that for less than 20$ anyways.

Welcome to the boards! That was so wisely and candidly stated!...

[The Bat]

but the people involved, both at DC and Mattel, are commited to seeing it thrive.

As do we...which is why I think there's so much debate. The constant critiquing of the Mattel Figures, I believe is based on the fact People fear...if some of the quality control issues aren't fixed...the line won't survive.

I personally want the Line to thrive. As it has been brought up before...despite the Bodies, $20.00 for a GOOD Head Sculpt, Costume, Boots, Belt, colored Hands, etc....is cheaper than you can make any Custom for. I know...I've priced it out on your site.

[Remco Monster]

If the figures were up to par, the price wouldn't bother me at all, but I am not going to pay $80 for a series when I think the body is the worst 8" body currently on the market. The boots are giant, which I can't stand. The suits are nice for the most part, unless they have an emblem which cracks, making it worthless junk. Not a fan of the material the glove cuffs are made out of either, but that is a small nitpick for me. The cards are ultra flimsy, and the figures look wonky in the bubble thanks to their bowlegs.

When it comes down to it, there are just too many issues to justify paying that kind of price. I can buy so many cool different vintage toys for $80 (and if I want to fix them I am looking at $150 or so total), or I can buy multiple quality modern toys. I have never had an issue with the EMCE Trek and Apes, or any of Castaway's products, and like has been said, a giant like Mattel, if anything, should be able to do it better. Instead, they have done it the worst, well, OK, not the worst, we did have CTVT, but even those had better legs, even if they would fall apart just by looking at them.

I am all for supporting 8" Mego like figures. I think all the stuff coming out is great, even the ones that are from properties I don't care for. I don't simply complain about or bash toy lines frivolously. I am a huge fan of DC and Marvel heroes. I really wanted this line, above any, to be amazing. But they have just fallen way short for me. If they were the quality of all the rest of the 8" figures on the market and on the way, I would be first in line to praise them.

[huedell]

It's good to show respect for each other's opinions and learn to listen
to positive and negative comments. I have no problem with well-written
opinions and am glad to see such discussion.

Please don't suppose how I "really feel". I refuse to get into that game.

Well, I can't help "supposing". You don't have to get involved you know.

I think I'm being respectful...I am not speaking FOR you...
I am speaking for ME using what I think is a good model (you)
to compare and contrast my thoughts.

Apologies if this offends.
(I edited to remove the "cool" emoticon because even tho' I meant
well, it still looks a bit too lighthearted for a sentiment this seriously sincere)

[Random Axe]

I have yet to publically make any statements on these figures on the MM until now. I know my thoughts and opinions would get lost in a sea of both praise and complaints as I still remain fairly neutral.

I know how much Paul wanted to make this a reality, and he succeeded. We have 8-inch DC sueprheroes on the pegs. From the time this was first pitched till the cases were opened on the TRU sales floor, nobody really knew how these would pan out. Ideas and designs were decided upon and others scrapped for better or worse. The corporate monster does what it wants to and deals with the fallout with a typical ambivellence befitting a billion dollar company.

I have no doubt some of the original ideas and concepts were lost in translation making a mass-produced clothed figure. It hasn't been done right since Mego by any company. Although many would disagree, I think Famous Covers really dropped the ball with their disproportioned heads and torsos, and they continued to pump those out for a couple of years without making any changes. They made a mistake and just rolled with it till the line's eventual demise. However, the spirit was there in the absence of execution. Same with Mattel. I don't forsee any changes for the lifespan of this line, so the eye rolling and complaints will carry less and less weight as they go into five plus waves. That's just reality.

Now, personally, I think the bodies are poorly done. With all the resources available to Mattel, you'd think they could have green-lighted a better body. I know they latched onto the "retro" word and ran with it in their own direction. That word dominates their decision making and has painted them into an unenviable corner. They can't alter their course after one or two waves. Business models are not made on short-term successes or failures. I'm sure the whole retro concept is the main reason they agreed to make these, and with a better figure/body they would have hit a home run.

I sincerely like the potential of this line, I really do. They just haven't impressed me to this point. They could have enlarged the various bodies they already use on the DCU classic and put some outfits on them and all would be well in the 1/9 figure universe. They instead chose to ride the retro road, and it appears there aren't any exit ramps to be found. I will purchase a few of these selectively and not buy blindly like I planned when it was announced.

Scott

[Tothiro]

Threadjack Shark-jump Powers ACTIVATED!:

Anyone notice what a FREAKING MEGOLOAD of vintage stuff has been popping out on eBay? I may have ordered too many mushrooms on my pizza, but am I alone here? There seems to be all kinds of things I haven't seen in this quantity in a long, looong time coming out of the woodwork. That alone is kind of awesome.

Also also - <message repetition> I dig buying the Retroboys for their cool parts and probably still will with wave 3, 4, 5. </message repetition>

[megomania]

I guess that's an ok way to look at it --- but you can also look at it like would you pay $20,000 for a brand new car that you knew had a bad transmission but it looks cool sitting in your driveway ?

Yup, these are your members folks. Comparing a $20 toy to a $20k car with a bad transmission. America, what a country. Anyone with a keyboard can spout drivel...

[Mister Kennedy]

Yup, these are your members folks. Comparing a $20 toy to a $20k car with a bad transmission. America, what a country. Anyone with a keyboard can spout drivel...

That generally is what an analogy is; comparing one thing to another; regardless of scope.

Other countries have the internet as well.

[huedell]

Yup, these are your members folks. Comparing a $20 toy to a $20k car with a bad transmission. America, what a country. Anyone with a keyboard can spout drivel...

I think the analogy works fine enough not to rag on it.

Here ya go:

"A thing can only be put on display, and that's the end of it's function...
then, once you try to actually USE it.... it breaks."

Okay?