It's obvious price point is a major factor.

[LOU]

Harlock, Two-Face and Black Manta are only one-per-case, that's why they're tougher to find. The assortment I saw unpacked by a sales clerk at T.J. Maxx consisted of:

3 Batman
2 Aquaman
1 Black Manta
1 Two-Face
1 Superman

Having said that, you may want to ask when they put out their toys and be there at that time to hover around the toy department. That's what I did and it paid off! Hope this helps!

[HarlockFan]

Honestly I think these figures would sell quickly at 14.99. Wave two has sold well in south Atlanta and haven't been able to find Black Manta or Two Face. Perhaps I should order them online but there is something satisfying buying them at a brick and mortar store. I am going to look this afternoon. I am starting get into the mego format since Hot Toys has become so expensive with only a few licenses that I care about. Really want to get back into a regular line of figures and pick which Hot Toys figures I want.

[ScottA]

Wave 1 - yellow cards (Sinestro, GL, Superman, Lex)
Wave 2 - pink cards (Bats, 2-Face, Aquaman, Manta)
Wave 3 - blue cards (WW, Cheetah, Flash, Cold)

[Hotfoot]

Wave 1? (Green Lantern, Sinestro, Supes and Lex ?)

Or Wave 2...

Wave 2 I guess - Black Manta, Aquaman and Two Face. I have not been following which Wave is Which.

[timb]

Our toys r us still hasn't even gotten wave 2.

[geoffdude]

Wave 1? (Green Lantern, Sinestro, Supes and Lex ?)

Or Wave 2...

I found 3 of Wave 1 today at TJ. No Batman but did pick the others up. $9.99 was acceptable but at the TRUS price I left them all on the pegs. Almost bought Frankenstein the other day but thought about it and didn't! The Monsters looked great compared to these guys.

[geoffdude]

I guess that's the $64,000 question. I can only hope the fact that we've seen pics of at least a few more figures means Mattel is still behind this as strongly as they were before.

We can hope, but "as strongly" may not be the case, especially "if" orders are being reduced.

Not everything they sell is an overstock. They have a bunch of first run stuff. Especially right now during the holidays. I'm not saying the Retro Heroes are or aren't but it's not 100% guaranteed these didn't come straight from Mattel.

The retail price TJ Maxx sells these for doesn't determine "where" these came from. Mattel sells product at clear-out prices all the time to discount stores.


Regards,

Geoff

[geoffdude]

I agree, that these showing up at TJ Maxx is concerning.. but time will tell what it all means. Wave 3 is shipping now, but who knows if they'll end up in TRU or other discount locations.

BTW TJ Maxx buys wholesale from Retail stores and Manufactures direct, not just retail stores.

These, in my opinion, came from Mattel not TRU, due to the fact that the holiday season would have warrented TRU trying to sell them BEFORE getting rid of them. And TRU typically does not sell overstock to discount stores this quickly (historically), if at all.

Regards,

Geoff

TJ Maxx getting these figures isn't a good sign for the line in my opinion. Maxx purchases items at a discount from retailer which overbought items. Maxx is buying from TRU not Mattel. That means TRU is cutting their losses after over purchasing. This could mean that TRU won't be ordering as many or won't order them at all from Mattel in the future.

Maybe the line will become a specialty store and mattycollector.com exclusive.

[The Bat]

At $9.99 at TJ Maxx...I think they're a great deal. I pay $10.00 for a Custom Resin Head alone. I bought Aquaman and get a Head for my Johnny Storm Custom, a Aquaman Suit to make another more realistic Aquman, plus the green Hands...GREAT deal!

[Hotfoot]

I found 3 of Wave 2 today at TJ. No Batman but did pick the others up. $9.99 was acceptable but at the TRUS price I left them all on the pegs. Almost bought Frankenstein the other day at TRUS but thought about it and didn't! The Monsters looked great compared to these guys.

[Audiorij]

It all comes down to idealism vs realism. Of course the ideal would be megos just like we had in the 70s at a small price, reality can be very different. The market may dictate the price tag, the more they can manufacture the lower the price can be, but the line has to make money for them to invest in manufacturing more. You can't put the cart in front of the horse, heck the original megos didn't. The original megos started out with Action Jackson if I remember correctly and a pretty lame body. The original head sculpts and quality were not that great, they had to become popular before more money was invested in new bodies and accessories. Mattel will do the same thing, its a balancing act; if they manufacture small quantities, which may cause the price to be higher than everyone wants, they get to test the water and see if they take off. If they do, they can always manufacture to meet demand and start making improvements. If they dump enough money into them to manufacture a billion of them and price them real low, before knowing if they will even sell... that could end the line altogether.

[Astronut]

It's apples and oranges, guys. I get what you're referring to (cost of customizing) but that has nothing to do with pricing of a figure at regular retailers (ie TRU.) Maybe I'm just crazy for wanting this to go big. For those who don't care whether it does or not, I don't expect you to agree. At all. But for the rest of us - and I know there are many out there like me - we have a dream, and that is for the Mego format to become accessible and popular again - for the masses. And I'm not ashamed to say I will not give up that dream.

[argent007]

I agree. I don't collect customs, but I certainly have been tempted. And a nice quality Mego-type head has been about what a Retro Action figure costs.

[ScottA]

For me I think it's more about finding them then the price. I mean, I'm paying $14.99 for the 6" DCUC figures. The prices on those are not coming down. In fact they have gone up since the line was first introduced. I don't really have a problem paying $19.99 for the ReMego figures. I'd pay that much for just about any original Mego. The head, outfit, belt and boots are worth that much. I'd just like the opportunity to buy them at retail. Wave 2 still has not shown up at my TRU.

The issues with the bodies and emblems are being addressed and for that I'm grateful to EMCE and Mattel. I personally hope this lines continues for years to come.

[jimsmegos]

In fairness to all I can't help but chime in. The possibility of a complete re-saturation of new Mego's in the marketplace would be wonderful I just don't think it's gonna happen. The reason being that the toy world is an entirely different place than it was 30 years ago when Mego's ruled the roost. Let's be honest shall we, kids today are much more interested in video games and electronics. That's the bottom line IMO. Unless the grid blows I don't see simple plastic toys making a resurgence. the market simply doesn't it want it enough.

With all that said I too wish the price points were lower and getting the new stuff was easier at the retail level but honestly it doesn't get any easier than online shopping. While you have to wait for the items to arrive, they do arrive. And all though the price makes the buying process more of a commitment due to the crappy economy you can still get new factory made Mego's.

In the end this debate will never be resolved. Not so long as we all have opinions and we are all equally passionate about our own points of view. I just hate to see folks get so whipped up over this wonderful resurgence that in the end is the greatest thing to happen to Mego collectors since ebay.