About those bodies...

[Spyweb007]

I think a poll to get a better idea of what everyone thinks is a great idea. We all have a soft spot for certain megos due to nostalgia, but no matter how much I love the Mego Captain America for instance, it's not the type of sculpt or detail I think of when I think of the best mego figures. Green Arrow, Thor, Falcon and Iron Man all show that the figures were evolving from the slightly goofy looking like Capt A. to a more detailed and accurate look, and most all the Megos based on Television show and Movies had very accurate sculpts. To me, they all still retain that mego look, not because of simplicity, but because they are 8" tall with cloth costumes and proportioned like a real person as opposed to a steroid monster physique.
And no matter which way the new figures evolve, I want to send a big thank you to Paul and Joe at EMCE for al their work, I appreciate having these types of toys back on the shelves and being able to share them with my 5 year old son. The fact that you guys care as much as you do and not only listen to our opinions but actively seek them out is great.

[wonderfan32]

Honestly? I think it's time for a poll of some sort. Some kind of mathematical quantification of what the majority of this core audience is looking for.

It will serve two purposes:

a) give us a clear indication on the direction we need to go
b) identify a minority who will then have the benefit of knowing that the product will be different than what they prefer, and they can make judgments on whether to buy and customize to their preference or just not buy at all. and it will also minimize (eliminate, we hope?) the vitriol, which to me is the most discouraging part of working on what should really be a fun project.

And re: Batman, you're right...hemming those scallops was going to be a nightmare.

LOL!! I figured as much with them being so small too. Well whichever way it goes with these figures, I'll still be buying them nonetheless. I do appreciate what you all have gone thru to bring this to fruition. When I was growing up on these, there was no commentary on them. They were what they were and that's it. Now that there's a place here where we can voice our thoughts on the new line, I'm not going to let the opportunity go by to say yay or nay and I'm grateful for that. You all opened it up for discussion albeit it it may not always be what you want to hear. That's not easy to do as we all are different but it is not in vain what you do so please don't be discouraged. In spite of that, I do believe this is a great time for Superheroes once again from the Movies, TV shows, Classic TV shows on dvd (Six Million Dollar Man and Bionic Woman), and now these. It feels like the 70's again sans the disco.

I'm waiting on wave 3 to arrive at my doorstep any time now as I write this!

[EMCEtoys]

Again, I ask what is "Mego-like"? Everyone has a slight or drastically different interpretation of what that is. I personally loved the Famous Covers and Hasbro lines. Granted, like any line, they weren't perfect but it definitely satisfied the need for figures in this format for me. Now that we have the closest thing to actual megos, there's still going to be difference of opinions on what a mego is, particularly when you compare the other lines in this same format from other companies that Paul and Joe are also working with. Emcetoys's Star Trek and POTA figures are very accurate in detail with the sculpt to me. Are they not Megos?
As for Aquaman, I personally like him moreso than the original mego. I don't see any problems there IMO. My concern is going to be the capes on these figures. I know they hemmed Superman's and I'm assuming it was just a pain in the butt to do the same with Batman's. It's too soon to tell and probably will be years before it happens, but what bothered me about the original megos was the fraying on the sides.

Honestly? I think it's time for a poll of some sort. Some kind of mathematical quantification of what the majority of this core audience is looking for.

It will serve two purposes:

a) give us a clear indication on the direction we need to go
b) identify a minority who will then have the benefit of knowing that the product will be different than what they prefer, and they can make judgments on whether to buy and customize to their preference or just not buy at all. and it will also minimize (eliminate, we hope?) the vitriol, which to me is the most discouraging part of working on what should really be a fun project.

And re: Batman, you're right...hemming those scallops was going to be a nightmare.

[wonderfan32]

Clarification; Mego improved in likeness but kept its simple innocent appeal. It never became lifelike really. The bodies quality improved, but stayed basically the same.

In order to keep the 'spirit' of Mego alive in this series, you do have to try and keep a certain level of sameness in the system.

I bought the Famous Covers series because it was the closest thing at the time to Mego figures, but in comparison to these Retro Action figures they (Famous Covers) are crap. The Famous Covers figures do have highly detailed costumes and heads, but they really are nothing like Mego figures except mainly the size. Thats what I am talking about. They didn't have the same 'spirit' as these Retro Action figures do. A part of the magic that Mego had was the Mego look, and I encourage the guys at EMCE to keep true to that look. If they do, I will buy them all, if it morphs into something like Famous Covers, I will stop buying them.

Its not a question of quality, quality improvements can always be accepted and embraced. Its a question of what is the vision. The vision I believe is to be like Mego, so they are doing a GOOD head sculpt if it looks Mego-like. All of them so far have looked Mego-like. The one most people complained about the most was Aquaman and they said it is the exact same face as the original Mego figure. Can't get much more Mego-like than that.

Again, I ask what is "Mego-like"? Everyone has a slight or drastically different interpretation of what that is. I personally loved the Famous Covers and Hasbro lines. Granted, like any line, they weren't perfect but it definitely satisfied the need for figures in this format for me. Now that we have the closest thing to actual megos, there's still going to be difference of opinions on what a mego is, particularly when you compare the other lines in this same format from other companies that Paul and Joe are also working with. Emcetoys's Star Trek and POTA figures are very accurate in detail with the sculpt to me. Are they not Megos?
As for Aquaman, I personally like him moreso than the original mego. I don't see any problems there IMO. My concern is going to be the capes on these figures. I know they hemmed Superman's and I'm assuming it was just a pain in the butt to do the same with Batman's. It's too soon to tell and probably will be years before it happens, but what bothered me about the original megos was the fraying on the sides.

[Audiorij]

I couldn't disagree more...FC Head Sculpts SUCKED!(Except for Magnito) And as I keep reiterating...some of Mego's Head Sculpts could easily pass for Modern(Mr.Fantastic, Green Goblin, Star Trek). Just because it's a good Head Sculpt...doesn't make it un-Mego like.

Clarification; Mego improved in likeness but kept its simple innocent appeal. It never became lifelike really. The bodies quality improved, but stayed basically the same.

In order to keep the 'spirit' of Mego alive in this series, you do have to try and keep a certain level of sameness in the system.

I bought the Famous Covers series because it was the closest thing at the time to Mego figures, but in comparison to these Retro Action figures they (Famous Covers) are crap. The Famous Covers figures do have highly detailed costumes and heads, but they really are nothing like Mego figures except mainly the size. Thats what I am talking about. They didn't have the same 'spirit' as these Retro Action figures do. A part of the magic that Mego had was the Mego look, and I encourage the guys at EMCE to keep true to that look. If they do, I will buy them all, if it morphs into something like Famous Covers, I will stop buying them.

Its not a question of quality, quality improvements can always be accepted and embraced. Its a question of what is the vision. The vision I believe is to be like Mego, so they are doing a GOOD head sculpt if it looks Mego-like. All of them so far have looked Mego-like. The one most people complained about the most was Aquaman and they said it is the exact same face as the original Mego figure. Can't get much more Mego-like than that.

[EMCEtoys]

After reading through all the posts in this thread again I can say I agree alot with many of the pros and cons stated.I also know that people either like certain figures or don't.I think it would help if Paul and Joe could set up a set of guidelines that the Retro WGSH would adhere to.....for instance...all head sculpts to be a generic version of cartoon and comics from the 70's and 80's,based on an original Mego sculpt if possible and not one single artist....costumes to be fabric,simple but detailed,used to enhance generic body short comings if needed,body suits to be only used if absolutely needed.....costume accessories and boots to be detailed,durable,scaled for 8 inch figure...female hair to be rooted.....female head sculpts not to resemble each other...and so on.....
I think this would help with peoples criticisms....you can't complain about things that are adhering to guide lines.....just that you don't like it....then I think we will all have a standard to go by just like Mego did back in the day

That's pretty close to what we do already...what we've been working on now is a tighter guideline to the sizing of head sculpts. With so many different factories working on 8" figs and so many varying results, we've had to develop tutorials on upsizing, shrinking, and delivery of two different sizes for production and prototype photography. Mostly to avoid "balloon-head" in production in some cases and "pin head" in others.

[trekman101]

After reading through all the posts in this thread again I can say I agree alot with many of the pros and cons stated.I also know that people either like certain figures or don't.I think it would help if Paul and Joe could set up a set of guidelines that the Retro WGSH would adhere to.....for instance...all head sculpts to be a generic version of cartoon and comics from the 70's and 80's,based on an original Mego sculpt if possible and not one single artist....costumes to be fabric,simple but detailed,used to enhance generic body short comings if needed,body suits to be only used if absolutely needed.....costume accessories and boots to be detailed,durable,scaled for 8 inch figure...female hair to be rooted.....female head sculpts not to resemble each other...and so on.....
I think this would help with peoples criticisms....you can't complain about things that are adhering to guide lines.....just that you don't like it....then I think we will all have a standard to go by just like Mego did back in the day

[wonderfan32]

But there are always a couple of whiners whose only mission is to try to somehow disappoint people that love these figures. You would be able to tag them immediately as they are just a few and jump at everything regarding DC retro action figures. They pretend the figures to be like Hot Toys figures in the 8 inch scale and still pay $20 for them... The thing is that it doesn't work... When you are enchanted by this line, you are enchanted and period. Maybe those whiners are enchanted too but can't have the figures and would like people not to have them either...

Umm..I'm assuming you're referencing someone else and not me directly since I really haven't been here long. Even so, weren't you the one that gave a long tutorial on how to fix them? If indeed they are perfect then there would be no need for you to fix them or this thread. I believe Paul and Joe wanted feedback. That's why they started this thread. This is about Mattel as there are no issues with EMCE products (at least not from me. Love both my Star Trek and POTA figures).

I think people can respectfully disagree without the name calling. On the other hand, I think people can learn to tactfully give constructive criticism. I certainly happen to be a fan of mego. That line is the reason I am passionate about action figure collecting. Trust me, if people on either side or middle weren't into this, there wouldn't be a discussion. Nothing wrong with someone saying what they like and what they don't. That shouldn't be a barometer for anyone to purchase or not purchase these.

[johnmiic]

[The Bat]

But there are always a couple of whiners whose only mission is to try to somehow disappoint people that love these figures. You would be able to tag them immediately as they are just a few and jump at everything regarding DC retro action figures. They pretend the figures to be like Hot Toys figures in the 8 inch scale and still pay $20 for them... The thing is that it doesn't work... When you are enchanted by this line, you are enchanted and period. Maybe those whiners are enchanted too but can't have the figures and would like people not to have them either...

So anybody who disagrees with you, you call a Whiner. And as for People wanting to see better Head Sculpts on these Figures...that would NOT make them like Hot Toys, or increase the cost one bit.
And for the Record...I like a lot of these Figures...just not ALL of them.

[Boywonder0]

Hey buddy, welcome to the boards... The best around by the way... Hey, we are all very grateful to Paul a.k.a Dr. Mego and Joe for making this happen. These guys convinced the #1 Toy Manufacturer in the world to resurrect the #1 action figure line in the history (WGSH). The line is coming nice and steady and the vast majority around here approve and supports the line.

But there are always a couple of whiners whose only mission is to try to somehow disappoint people that love these figures. You would be able to tag them immediately as they are just a few and jump at everything regarding DC retro action figures. They pretend the figures to be like Hot Toys figures in the 8 inch scale and still pay $20 for them... The thing is that it doesn't work... When you are enchanted by this line, you are enchanted and period. Maybe those whiners are enchanted too but can't have the figures and would like people not to have them either...

Anyhow, wave #3 is already landing under the Christmas tree of a lot of fans, Wave #4 is all around for Pre-Orders and expect an avalanche of waves to come!

Yeah, correct me if I am wrong but didnt you guys at EMCE state back when all of this was started that the vision was to make figures as if Mego never went out of business?

I mean a lot of the viewpoints and complaints expressed might be coming from people that didn't ever hear exactly what the vision is. I remember when you asked for head sculpting submissions, (I really wanted to submit some real bad but at the time recently had a baby and didn't have good time to work on anything), I remember the idea being to capture the look of the character with that old Mego innocent look.

A lot of care is being obviously taken to make the costumes mego-like, and look at the packaging... retro mego in all its glory.

Could you make more modern head sculpts with stronger expressions? Sure.
Could you make more modern packaging? Sure.
Could you make the style of the costume more modern? Sure.
But then you wouldn't have a return to mego world, you would have the famous covers series.

And if Mego had never went out of business, they would have made improvements to things eventually just as they did back then with different types of bodies and things, but even with their improvements the Mego look was still there.

I want the series to be exactly what it is, I love the figures, I would embrace a new body just like I did when Mego restructures theirs. But the vision I want to stay exactly the same.

[huedell]

As some have noted, Mego did step up the plate with Mr. Fantastic and a few others in terms of the sculpting. Were they not Mego because there was more detail to the character?

I'd say it's more about "accuracy" than "detail".

Mr. Fantastic and Green Arrow seem more accurate than detailed to me.
Accurate to a COMICBOOK (or style guide), which isn't that detailed
or "hyper real" to begin with.

This is what makes me say "Hmmmm".

I guess it's just a cost saving measure in the case of a sculpt like
Aquaman's, using a pre-existing sculpt?

[wonderfan32]

I couldn't disagree more...FC Head Sculpts SUCKED!(Except for Magnito) And as I keep reiterating...some of Mego's Head Sculpts could easily pass for Modern(Mr.Fantastic, Green Goblin, Star Trek). Just because it's a good Head Sculpt...doesn't make it un-Mego like.

Thank you!! Couldn't have said it better! The idea of something not mego-like is hilarious to me. Anything scaled at 8" with cloth costumes with many points of articulation for super poseability is indeed "mego-like", at least for me it is. Heck, the stuff Toybiz and Hasbro did was mego-like. The word like is used, not replicas. They're mego-inspired.
As some have noted, Mego did step up the plate with Mr. Fantastic and a few others in terms of the sculpting. Were they not Mego because there was more detail to the character?
Oven mitts was a Mego signature but most of us can agree that those had to go. Does that make them less mego? I'm sure for some it does. Again, everyone's interpretation of what a mego is will vary. We're seeing that here.

[huedell]

.... But I don't think playing it safe and going more generic is the answer. You guys produce amazing figures. Have faith and swing for the fences!

Bingo.... um..... Right?

From what I can tell, muddying things up with terms like "generic" or "hyper-realism" is overkill on carrying out the process. I thought
it was as simple as making a sculpt based on style guides from that era.
Style guides aren't "hyper real", and they aren't "generic".

Add to that that Mego's Mr. Fantastic and Green Arrow sculpts evoke
their looks in the comics...and the fact that there's no debate there,
well. I thought it all should be simple on what the goals are.

Why EMCE doesn't shoot for that every time out baffles me (other than
the obvious thing in that there are a lot of cooks in the kitchen).

[sprytel]

I couldn't disagree more...FC Head Sculpts SUCKED!(Except for Magnito) And as I keep reiterating...some of Mego's Head Sculpts could easily pass for Modern(Mr.Fantastic, Green Goblin, Star Trek). Just because it's a good Head Sculpt...doesn't make it un-Mego like.

Yes! I agree 100%.

Mego started with Action Jackson (who is butt ugly by any standard). But their head sculpts improved by leaps and bounds. Most of the licensed properties-- like Star Trek or Ponch or Fonzie or any of those-- show an amazing attention to detail. If they are simplified at all, they still really capture the essence of the character.

That said... with a TV or movie character, it is pretty easy to tell whether or not you nailed it. The comic characters have so many different looks... some or which could never truly be done in a 3 dimensional medium. It is hard to come up with a sculpt that will satisfy everybody. But I don't think playing it safe and going more generic is the answer. You guys produce amazing figures. Have faith and swing for the fences!