Diamond's Next Wave of "Retro Figures" will be...

[ABMAC]

Mugato-crazy outfit

Outfits are not an obstacle. Mugato's suit is just a shirt and pants with fringe. He has ape hands and ape feet that will require new molds, though.

[mars396]

not all that hard to figure out why these two were chosen.

Scottie (sic) - a no-brainer. The same three figures already released with a different head and a red shirt.

Keeper - the blue bodies are currently being mass-produced for the Andorian, so, a new head and a simple robe - voila: probably the easiest of all the Trek Megos to repro.

I am definitely getting a Keeper: due to its non-canon-ness I SOLD mine at a garage sale in 1984 for $1.50. Now, I can correct that mistake. And I will buy a bunch of Scotties for custom Red Shirts. I predict for that reason, the Scotties will outsell all other DST Retro Cloth figures released. I hope they are more heavily packed than the Keepers.

[ScottA]

I agree with what Hulk said. I figured we'd have to get through at least the crew before something new was even mentioned. But I think it's a good sign something has been stated past the first 3 announced sets. I'm actually looking forward to the Neptunian. I've bought 2 sets the others so far and will buy 2 sets of these and any others after them. I'm behind you Doc.

[huedell]

Cheap to produce and is weird looking for the kiddies. No wonder he got the nod.

Sounds about right. Too bad though---maybe they'll be more ambitious next time around.

Sulu and Chekov can't be that hard to piece together from thier resources

[LadyZod]

Probably went with these two because...crew and alien wave design.

Only one crew member left without having to invest too much in a new body, accessories or outfit. So ya, that's Scotty.

And the Keeper? Well, look at the rest:

Gorn-could have been made since all they would need is a head... but him or the Keeper? You chose. Brady Gorn is far too much to sculpt to be considered an easy add on.
Cheron-outfit and black body? (If keeping to the original) gotta hope the black doesn't leak into the suit. Perhaps it would take a little more development before it's ready?(I would opt for a white body to avoid all that, but you know...)
Neptunian-feet, hands, outfit... too much for a quickie.
Mugato-crazy outfit
Talosian-different scale body

With the Keeper? Head and one piece mumu. The guy's barefoot and goes commando. Cheap to produce and is weird looking for the kiddies. No wonder he got the nod.

[huedell]

it'd be interesting to hear exactly why they chose these two characters as opposed to
replicas of the more rare aliens or producing new ones like Sulu etc.

[The Bat]

Well...Scotty is one of the higher priced Crew Members MOC.

Yes....I too was hoping for Checkov & Sulu, or the Neptunian. But hey...I don't have a keeper, and at least the Star Trek line is still continuing.

[txteach]

I'd do Talos and a new character, maybe chekov or Sulu. Guess we won't see new stuff until 2020 if at all. I was hoping to buy a replica Zira for $20 instead of getting an original off of ebay for $15. Ya, right.

[Mikey]

I love the Doc and REALLY want to support these, but so far all i've seen is stuff that's been already produced and now the releases are becoming very mediocre.

I've learned long ago never to rely on faith or wishful thinking for future releases on a line.
Doing that just let's a person down.

These people have to pump out stuff people want now.

If not, they're going to lose something that really could be special for us -- and profitable for them.

Sorry for being blunt, but it's the way I feel.

m

[Hulk]

Now I've given the masses an opportunity to chime in, I'll add my two cents. I'm OK with this. Not ecstatic or even thrilled, but I it does make sense for now. Not every wave has to have a Talosian or Mugato, which most of us who don't have them, or want ones we can play with a bit, would have preferred. But we can always use Red Shirt sacrificial lambs and THE Keeper, although not the most authentically dressed, is still a cool sculpt.

And besides Uhura, this wraps up the original first wave, and if we see an Uhura next, it means Doc will have taken on the task of reproing the female body. I'd even suffer through a Neptunian to see that done well, and it makes sense if they are going to give us a Zira with the POTA release.

It also takes more time to do a new sculpt and get it right. Not to mention commitment from Diamond, and the fact they have extended this beyond the original announced 6 figures shows that commitment.

Let's look at what they have left after this announced release.

Crew
Uhura

Aliens
Gorn
Cheron
Neptunian
Mugato
Talosian

They either do three more waves and finish them off fairly quickly, or they could add more crew and original figures to extend it further.

After Uhura, or even instead of her if the female body is problematic, we hopefully will see Sulu and Chekov. If the female bodies work out, then Yeoman Rand and Nurse Chapel make good candidates.

All that being said, as long as someone is mass producing figures in true
mego scale, I will support them. I don't think we have to go crazy and expect the community to be able to single handedly carry a company. We tried that once already. We make a good base for someone to make their money back, but true profitability means it needs support from others. So far, Diamond likes what they see from all their distributors, and the Trek franchise has about as much support possible as any license outside of the superhero genre. I still have my doubts about the POTA line, but it isn't unreasonable to suspect that newer collectors will like the idea of adding that line to their new Mego Scale collection.

I have had fairly lengthy conversations and even put my thoughts in email form about what I would like to see from Diamond on this line, and others. I have made it clear that the community will only support the line so much without new figures. I've suggested selling outfits separately and alternate versions of figures (Mirror, Mirror etc). This feedback has made it beyond my sales rep, and he is obviously open to passing it along. Its not like we are saying much new here, but I don't see them investing huge amounts if the returns aren't there.

Doc, you have my continued support on these. Keep pushing for the new figures, and best of luck with the POTA line as well.

[jemboy2004]

Well, I seen the Kirk and Klingon at an FYE and I was surprised at how thrilling it was to see figures like the one's I used to play with as a kid at a store and showed the 2 people with me. I almost bought them but I don't collect Star Trek now. I am very tempted to buy all of them just for the thrill of buying a mego like the one's I had as a kid again. It really was a great feeling.

I know there were the other ctv(or whatever it is called) but they were not done well. I bought maya from 1999 and was very disappointed in it and have not bought any others. The Star Trek one's are very well done. I hope they do well enough to get to the rare aliens and hopefully a few we have not seen before too.

[Blue Meanie]

I supported the first three waves by ordering 2 cases per wave...if this is true, and Scotty and Keeper are the next wave....I'm done. Can't support the repro Treks anymore. It's sad because I like Doc and consider him a good friend. In order for the Trek figures to go forward is to introduce new figures into the waves. One new and one old wouldn't hurt...it could only help a franchise that the collectors have lost interest in. Hate to say it but IMO if there are no new figures coming out in the near, and I mean NEAR, future then this line will go the way of the Galoob/Playmates/Art Asylum lines went...absolutely nowhere. I'm very dissapointed.

[Mikey]

Logically it makes sense, but I can't see this release going anywhere without a RINGER figure.
They were able to slip by without one in series-1 because of the NEW Honeymoon hype of the series, but now--- imo-- they're going to have to start working for sales.... and a Keeper and Scotty is just not going to do it--- imo.

Regardless,
Good luck to the Doc...
A great guy.

[KosmiCKennY]

I guess it makes sense to them since they already have the light blue bodies to use. I just hope they continue and eventually come out with NEW figures, I know, call me a dreamer.

[Meule]

Might not be the most logical choice, but at least they're two new ones. I'm getting them for sure