Any Photos Of Retro Heroes Wave 3 Yet?

[The Bat]

I share your dream with a passion!

Ah...good to know I'm not alone! And I've always said...ya just can't have too many BATMAN Figures!

[megalomaniac001]

Ah...good to know I'm not alone! And I've always said...ya just can't have too many BATMAN Figures!

I agree! Just look at the DCUC line. It didn't take long for them to start cranking out different versions of Batman and others! The beauty of this line for Mattel is you don't have to retool for each figure. They all use the same body! All they have to do is the costume, head and accessories. The Matty exclusive for Sinestro is a good example, use existing molds and change clothes, done. Now I have no idea how much the cloth costumes cost Mattel to make, I just hope these figures age cost effective enough to make more for a long time. As for Batman, I want a Neil Adams Batman, Golden Age Batman, First Appearance Batman, year one Batman........

[Krypt0nite]

I have no doubt we'll see a molded cowl Batman, probably at retail. How about Earth-2 Robin and Huntress as Matty exclusives?

[The Bat]

I have no doubt we'll see a molded cowl Batman, probably at retail. How about Earth-2 Robin and Huntress as Matty exclusives?

SOLD! I'll buy them ALL!

[livnxxxl]

Could we have a thread of JUST all the pics of all the new figures??
I can't find them all.
Rich

That would be too simplified. LOL!!!

[EMCEtoys]

I agree! Just look at the DCUC line. It didn't take long for them to start cranking out different versions of Batman and others! The beauty of this line for Mattel is you don't have to retool for each figure. They all use the same body! All they have to do is the costume, head and accessories. The Matty exclusive for Sinestro is a good example, use existing molds and change clothes, done. Now I have no idea how much the cloth costumes cost Mattel to make, I just hope these figures age cost effective enough to make more for a long time. As for Batman, I want a Neil Adams Batman, Golden Age Batman, First Appearance Batman, year one Batman........

Just out of curiosity, what about the argument I hear a lot on these boards about straying too far away from classic Mego-style? I would think that, though in the comic timeline "Year One" would have been early Batman, it's still more recent in real-time. And what about a "Dark Knight Returns" Batman? I'd be lying if I said I didn't want one of those myself, but it doesn't feel like it fits 1978 MEGO. The purpose behind our removable cowl Batman was to, once and for all, make an improvement on that awful mexican knockoff-looking original. Neal Adams' Batman is my favorite, personally, but in the decision-making process it was never even a possibility.

I don't think I've spoken yet about the Batman decision-making process...hope the above provides some context.

[Krypt0nite]

Thanks for the insight into the Bat-decision! I appreciate that you improved (immeasurably) on the original Mego Removable Cowl: yours looks good enough to display with the cowl on, and that's a first for ANY removable cowl Batman I've ever seen.

Personally I'd rather you didn't stray to far from 1978 Mego for the line proper, but there are variants that could fit that paradigm like a Golden Age Batman or Earth-2 Batman and also satisfy the desire for a molded cowl Batman. For that matter, I would LOVE to see Earth-2 Robin and Huntress, as they (along with Earth-2 Flash) were my most wanted Megos back in the day; I even attempted my first customs at 7 years old to try to make them.

I think Matty exclusives as opposed to the line proper, maybe as a tie-in to the next Batman movie, would be the best way to get a more modernish Batman figure out.

[samurainoir]

I certainly don't envy the tightrope you guys have to walk regarding the balance between striking that nostalgic chord and the expectations of a contemporary action figure consumer/collector. EVERYONE's got an opinion on what makes the most "iconic" version of the character. I think you guys have done a terrific job evoking the 70's and Silver Age where there is much less controversy.

However, now that more contemporary elements are being added to the mix, here comes the dilemma. Contemporary action figure collectors have now been spoiled because ALL their favourite comics have come to life thanks to DC Direct action figures taking on the style of artists like George Perez, Tim Sale, Brian Bolland, Frank Miller etc etc. When fans complain that it should look like Marshal Rogers or Neal Adams as opposed to a generic version, I say look at it as an opportunity. Get that Matty Collector Marshal Rogers Batman exclusive into the pipeline and stick it into a box with Marshal Rogers artwork from the seventies and call it "The Dark Detective Retro Variant" or whatever and slap the $20 price sticker on it.

I say keep on Trekking with the Retro style of the "Classics", but there are some characters that will benefit because their popularity is most associated with certain artists.

Guy Gardner for example in my opinion is perfect because it looks like you are trying to bring Joe Staton and Kevin Maguire's style into the mix. Ditto Darkseid... he needs to have some "Kirby" in him to feel "right".

When it comes to a Dark Knight style Batman, because you are adapting a specific story based on a specific artist, fans would be disappointed if it looked more classic WGSH Mego than Frank Miller.

I see "Retro" as an approach and methodology to action figures as opposed to an over-encompassing aesthetic.

That is why the Ghostbusters and Venture Brothers look so terrific. People expect an animated look, NOT necessarily a "Mego" look. I think the sheer nature of the scale, cloth outfits and bodies automatically will make it "Mego".

[EMCEtoys]

This is all priceless commentary. Thanx guys for taking the time to explain this all so clearly. Noting all of it.

EDIT: I should add that I'm trying to think of a way to narrow most of these thoughts into a series of very specific followup questions with some caveats based on the realities of the process so expectations can be managed. Hopefully more to come.

[The Bat]

Must resist...getting involved...in the...Batman debate.

[samurainoir]

And what about a "Dark Knight Returns" Batman? I'd be lying if I said I didn't want one of those myself, but it doesn't feel like it fits 1978 MEGO.

If you can make this happen, I would reach through the computer screen, pick you up and give the kind of Joyous Airplane Spin that Roberto Benigni placed Martin Scorsese in after winning at Cannes.



I want a Frank Miller Dark Knight Mego more than I want a Neal Adams.

Just wondering if there is anything preventing you guys from doing Retro style EMCE DC figures through Previews/DC Direct?

Given the fact that both Mattel DCU Classic and DC Direct are making similar enough figures, would that be a problem?

My thinking is this... it seems very unlikely to me that Mattel would have much interest in doing a Dark Knight Returns Retro figure for Toys R Us, but a Dark Knight for the direct market with the Mego style cloth outfit seems like a perfect fit for the direct comic shop distribution. You've already got "Juice" with Diamond doing EMCE Star Trek, and there is certainly a foot in the door at DC Direct now that you are working on the Matty Retro stuff.

I would much rather see a Dark Knight on an EMCE Muscle Body rather than a stuffed suit.

[MIB41]

In discussing character selection I think it becomes relevant to know how much of the target audience is the collector versus the younger audience. For Matty Exclusives I would think those serve as a vehicle for collectors rather than kids (due to the limited production). Just as with the promotional tie in for the Green Lantern film next year, doesn't it make sense for Matty to do the same with the next Christopher Nolan Batman film? Wouldn't it be interesting to do variants of Batman throughout his history? A Neal Adams Batman for the comics. A Dark Knight Returns figure; even venturing into the Michael Keaton era Batman would be fascinating. There is so much that can be done on the exclusive scale that will satisfy that target audience that has the money to buy them. Now as far as the main TRU line goes, I would think the homework has been done on those characters and Mattel already has a complete comprehensive list. Would that be a fair statement or is there still room to change future waves?

[megalomaniac001]

Just out of curiosity, what about the argument I hear a lot on these boards about straying too far away from classic Mego-style? I would think that, though in the comic timeline "Year One" would have been early Batman, it's still more recent in real-time. And what about a "Dark Knight Returns" Batman? I'd be lying if I said I didn't want one of those myself, but it doesn't feel like it fits 1978 MEGO. The purpose behind our removable cowl Batman was to, once and for all, make an improvement on that awful mexican knockoff-looking original. Neal Adams' Batman is my favorite, personally, but in the decision-making process it was never even a possibility.

I don't think I've spoken yet about the Batman decision-making process...hope the above provides some context.

Good point! I think that a big part of the appeal of this line to the general public and collector is the Mego Retro 70's vibe. Us Mego lovers are the ones who want to see every character presented in every possible variation. I do love the way the Mattel figures are right at home with original Mego's. It is great to be able to get characters like Flash and Green Lantern that Mego never got to make. I hope this line will have a long run. Mattel will need a popular character like Superman or Batman every now and again to help anchor a series with some of the lesser known characters. Hopefully a few more modern looks can be had and will sell well also. (Like the Sinestro with Sinestro Corps costume.) If this line is selling well due to the 70's charm, so be it, bring it on! (I'll buy em!) Besides, you know what they say, you can't please everyone all the time.

[Krypt0nite]

I think one of the things we're dancing around here is the budget for the line: "I don't want x type of character to take away the budget for y type of character" as though the budget for all of Mattel Mego is a zero sum game. It may be for all I know.

In theory, I don't begrudge any fan the opportunity to own any era of figure, but if it comes down to Mattel can only make figure x or figure y then I'll always choose the most classic.

How does Mattel serve the most fans? Hard to say, but I'm absolutely over-joyed with each wave so far and hope the current pattern prevails.

[Meule]

Must resist...getting involved...in the...Batman debate.

I can't. The Dark Knight (great movie BTW) doesn't fit in the retro line, simple as that