Wave 4 Pictures!

[huedell]

Did some of my own research to see if I could figure out something on this Shazam concept and came across some interesting matches. The head sculpt they are using appears to be a mock up (conceptually) of the REJECTED sculpt DC Direct originally was going to use for their 13 inch deluxe figure. THANKFULLY the company LISTENED to the complaints and released him with a more serious expression. But you will notice, even with the rejected version, they gave him squinted eyes. The consensus was it still played too much into the camp era of the hero. So, in effect, what we're getting is a minority opinion held by the product development crew at EMCE and being force fed the leftovers of that idea with a flawed paint scheme on the eyes.

Well, one thing I agree with is that there is a "flawed paint scheme" on the
MATTEL Shazam's eyes....but I mean it in a pretty divergent way than you do MIB.

MATTEL failed here IMHO.

They chose to hamper the Bronze Age look of SHAZAM (yes, that WAS
his name at the time like it or not) by giving him "open eyes" probably
because they were afraid too many consumers, unfamilliar (or familliar)
with that look on a larger (3-D) figure, would just think he looked "silly"
with eyes basically "shut".

Yeah, they might've got away apeing more of that 13 inch DCD figure's
"serious" facial sculpt cause it looks "cooler"... but the truth is they
should've stuck to the rejected "squinting" sculpt if they truly wanted
to do justice to the "cheesier" Bronze Age look...the look from the
time that these figures are supposedly tributing (on the whole...okay?).

One more thing...MIB...When you say:

"So, in effect, what we're getting is a minority opinion held by the product
development crew at EMCE..."

...correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought EMCE made it clear that MATTEL
and DC were the ones with "final say" and that EMCE were there just to
confer with and help the line along...blaming EMCE for anything in this dept.
(even if I disagree somewhat with your criticism) isn't deserved as far as I've surmised.

[MIB41]

...correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought EMCE made it clear that MATTEL
and DC were the ones with "final say" and that EMCE were there just to
confer with and help the line along...blaming EMCE for anything in this dept.
(even if I disagree somewhat with your criticism) isn't deserved as far as I've surmised.

Well, *Mr Emce" has been very clear in his replies to others here that he and his product development team are the ones responsible for the look of these figures. He's made it very clear that those prototypes are theirs and THAT is where the praise, or criticism, falls. He explained this when one member was saying how much they liked EMCE figures, but not Mattel. So, of course, Mattel may have final say, but they are also going off the supposed "wisdom" of what these fellas bring to the table. Paul has already said this line doesn't make that much money, so Mattel is essentially going to drink their Kool-aid at the concept table since the returns are minimal. The Shazam figure drives that point home. It also indicates no one is doing their homework on these figures. That initial DC Direct Shazam sculpt is far closer to the concept of the classic camp character than theirs. Yet even on that scale, the consumer didn't want it and enough criticism came in to warrant not only a change in the sculpt but who sculpted the head. That's fairly significant for a product line, don't you think? So when these guys sat down at the design table, why didn't they think that out? Better yet, why would they put doll eyes on a head sculpt that essentially redefines the look of what they were after? To make it mego-esque? Sorry, but even Mego would not have put out a head sculpt that bad in the 70's.

And that's another thing. This "Mego" concept is getting driven into the ground and is diluting too much of the final product. There's a h*ll of alot of personal interpretation going on here about what constitutes a "Mego". For these guys, apparently it means you have to dumb down the sculpt and make everything "doll-ish". We live in an industry today where a descent head sculpt is becoming the standard, even for 8 inch figures. Its taken a long time for companies to understand that and now we're finally getting that in other lines. But in an effort to be "retro", the EMCE crew is overstating the obvious and simplifying where they don't need to. This Shazam prototype embellishes that point. It looks neither like the classic character or anything Mego ever would have considered putting out. The last thing it looks like is something that would be competitive in this new marketplace of eight inch figures.

[Gorn Captain]

Unfortunately (for Mattel), they are making it very easy for me not to collect this line. So far, only Green Lantern and Two Face have caught my eye. And I've yet to get those, which kind of indicates my level of excitement. Too bad.

[huedell]

Well, *Mr Emce" has been very clear in his replies to others here that he and his product development team are the ones responsible for the look of these figures. He's made it very clear that those prototypes are theirs and THAT is where the praise, or criticism, falls. He explained this when one member was saying how much they liked EMCE figures, but not Mattel. So, of course, Mattel may have final say, but they are also going off the supposed "wisdom" of what these fellas bring to the table. Paul has already said this line doesn't make that much money, so Mattel is essentially going to drink their Kool-aid at the concept table since the returns are minimal...

If that's the case, I can see "more" where you're coming from with your EMCE
comment, and I appreciate the "catch up" cause I haven't been following as
well as others round here, that's for sure.

.... There's a h*ll of alot of personal interpretation going on here about what constitutes a "Mego". For these guys, apparently it means you have to dumb down the sculpt and make everything "doll-ish". We live in an industry today where a descent head sculpt is becoming the standard, even for 8 inch figures. Its taken a long time for companies to understand that and now we're finally getting that in other lines. But in an effort to be "retro", the EMCE crew is overstating the obvious and simplifying where they don't need to. This Shazam prototype embellishes that point. It looks neither like the classic character or anything Mego ever would have considered putting out. The last thing it looks like is something that would be competitive in this new marketplace of eight inch figures.

Besides: "It looks neither like the classic character or anything Mego ever
would have considered putting out." I'd say I think what you're saying is
a less solid scenario than you're making out...and more an opinion of the
market desires today design-wise...and what the mistakes that have been
made are and "why" they are.

My take is that MATTEL is hitting more homeruns/triples with this line than the
foul balls and such that others are making 'em out to have been...
of course, that only applies to costumes (and sculpts somewhat) and
certainly not the body design IMHO.
and, yes, I admit, and "know" that that's merely "my" opinion.

[MIB41]

I will have to disagree with your "triples" and "home run" assessment. Based on wave one warming pegs, wave two slow to distribute, and auctions underselling shelf price, that is not indicative of high demand. I do know this line was not mentioned in Mattels' quarterly financial report, so I have to believe Paul here and think this is a minor product with minor contributions to their bottom line. If you like them, buy them. I would never suggest otherwise. But offering criticism where its worthy is part of the business. Besides their pay checks should more than cushion anything I or anyone else have to say, don't you think? I'm not unlike any other collector out there. I just want a quality figure if I'm paying a quality price. Ask Castaway. They do it right consistently. Do they have any Phantom figures sitting around? Nope.

[huedell]

I will have to disagree with your "triples" and "home run" assessment. Based on wave one warming pegs, wave two slow to distribute, and auctions underselling shelf price, that is not indicative of high demand....

"Frankly, Scarlet I don't give a damn." is my pop culture reply to that,
as when I was referencing "triples" and "home runs" I never had consumer
demand in mind... just MY thoughts on the matter (how I, personally,
liked the product)... admittedly, I guess I shoulda been more specific
w/my "baseball analogy".

But offering criticism where its worthy is part of the
business. Besides their pay checks should more than cushion anything I or
anyone else have to say, don't you think? I'm not unlike any other collector
out there. I just want a quality figure if I'm paying a quality price.

Well, what "you" want is different from what "I" want,
and BOTH are different from your more technical summation
of "ALL consumers" referenced above...
and I think you're blurring all three factions of the equation here, so it's
harder to discuss/debate, ya know?

Ask Castaway. They do it right consistently.
Do they have any Phantom figures sitting around? Nope.

That may be the case... and that's cool and all, but since the only thing
that's interested me regarding Cast-A-Way is that their bodies make
for good homes for MATTEL figures' costumes/heads and other customs...
....well, frankly....

[MIB41]

All is fair in war, love, and action figure collecting.

[huedell]

All is fair in war, love, and action figure collecting.

"That's the trouble with love...that's the trouble with war... you never get
what you came for."

[drmego]

Darkseid looks the way he does because DC Comics wants him to look that way.
I love Kirby as much as the next fan, but DC owns the character.

Sorry that some people here don't like our take on Capt. Marvel. Once again,
Mattel and DC have direct and full input into each stage of the process. If
we were off the mark on the character, they would tell us.

I didn't even know that DC Direct's Shazam had an earlier sculpt. We work
from the comics, cartoons, and style guides.

[Mikey]

I kind of like the Shazam.

He looks like David Johansen as Buster Poindexter

[huedell]

I didn't even know that DC Direct's Shazam had an earlier sculpt. We work
from the comics, cartoons, and style guides.

I'd think that ^^^ was it...as its what I've heard from you and EMCE throughout
so...

...when I said "but the truth is they should've stuck to the
rejected "squinting" sculpt if they truly wanted
to do justice to the "cheesier" Bronze Age look."
I was referring to the "look" in a more "general" way
and not the actual DCD rejected sculpt....which essentially serves as a
"Hey, that's cool" example for me....only because it reminds me of what
I remember of him in the 70s

Regardless of if you may have been referring to my post specifically, I still
wanted to point that out.

The reason I think that sculpt is so appropriate for the MATTEL line,
and like it so much in general is for the same reason I like ALL BRONZE AGE
oriented stuff that "hits it" for me personally, it's because it's what
I remember, or CLOSE to what I remember as a kid in the 70s.

Regarding SHAZAM...heck, I didn't even see the guy on TV (except a few
fleeting moments), most of what I remember was that squint-eyed SHAZAM
all over merch and the few actual comicbooks I got my hands on.

[GUYx1]

I'm pretty horrified by this assortment as well, but at least I like the boots.
My only hope is that people see the Buck Rogers & Twlight zone figures and try to go more in that direction. I know that a lot of money is involved here, but this assortment (and big head captain pike) have been enough to make me start longing for Japanese toys again and take my mind off all the retro hype.
I'd love to see this ship keep sailing, but it looks like there are a few holes in the boat to get resolved.

[rykerw1701]

Wave IV

Well, I like the look of these figures for the most part. It's my least favorite wave so far, but that's okay, it's a matter of taste and character preference. I'll get them and look forward to the next wave, and I'm thrilled they're out there for me to buy and ***** about or praise.

I'm hoping for more female characters, like Batgirl or Catwoman in Wave 5. Or Hawkgirl or even Mary Marvel, I suppose.

There are better character choices to me, but that's just me. These will look great in my collection.

[The Bat]

I kind of like the Shazam.

He looks like David Johansen as Buster Poindexter

Yeah, I can see that! Hot, Hot, hot!

[geoffdude]

Well.. in all seriousness, folks at DC may have been distracted on what Capt. Marvel really "should" look like, given that AOL-Time Warner has been looking at kicking most of them to the curb over the last 1/2 year or so.

With all the structural changes within DC Comics management, and company overall, I'm just happy Captain Marvel looks as good as he does.. and not like Captain Mar-Vell of the Kree Imperial Militia.

:/

Darkseid looks the way he does because DC Comics wants him to look that way.
I love Kirby as much as the next fan, but DC owns the character.

Sorry that some people here don't like our take on Capt. Marvel. Once again,
Mattel and DC have direct and full input into each stage of the process. If
we were off the mark on the character, they would tell us.

I didn't even know that DC Direct's Shazam had an earlier sculpt. We work
from the comics, cartoons, and style guides.