John Stewart Retro Action

[LOU]

WOW!!!!! Whodathunkit!

[LOU]

Really Anthony? That character is that old? I have absolutely no recollection of any other GL than Hal in the 70's. Every appearance of GL I'd ever seen as a kid was the image of Hal Jordan whether it be comics, posters, stamps, cartoons, etc. Is this true about the red-headed GL too? Maybe I just didn't read as many comics as I thought I did. All I remember from GL was Abin Sur, Sinestro, and Hal. I always picutred these other GLs as 80's characters.

[The Toyroom]

So that would mean that this GL line is the first Retro assortment to stray from the Bronze Age characters (unless you count Wonder Woman's "W" on her chest.) correct?

Nope...you'd be wrong....John Stewart first appeared in Green Lantern #87 (December 1971/January 1972)...So he too is a Mego-era character.

I like this figure and really dig that 'fro...So I'll be getting one.

[LOU]

Oh WOW! I was posting myself when you posted that Darkseid comic! Fabulous! Thanks samurainoir!

[LOU]

He was created by Kirby just prior to the dawn of the Mego era in the seventies.

Really??!!! Very interesting! So technically Darkseid is a Mego era character then? So that would mean that this GL line is the first Retro assortment to stray from the Bronze Age characters (unless you count Wonder Woman's "W" on her chest.) correct?

[samurainoir]

Darkseid should have clued me in on that I guess. I did still watch Galactic Guardians during this time though so I did know who Darkseid, Kalibak, and DeSaad were. Did Darkseid exist in the comics during the Mego era? I can't remember ever seeing him appear anywhere but on the Galactic Guardians series.
As I said, if it keeps the line going then I hope a trillion JS GLs sell.

He was created by Kirby just prior to the dawn of the Mego era in the seventies. 1971?


Given the cancellation of Kirby's New Gods titles, he was pretty obscure during the seventies until he was tapped as the big bad for the Superfriends and Super Powers toylines, during a period where Kirby was working in animation down in California. He did the designs for the New Gods characters in the Superfriends and toylines, and that was a kind of way for him to get paid for the usage of his creations without DC having to buckle much.

He also did the tie in comic book, which was where I first discovered the character as a young 'un.

[LOU]

http://www.comicbookdb.com/graphics/...1027_large.jpg

http://www.comicbookdb.com/graphics/comic_graphics/1/21/12850_20051201141057_large.jpg

http://www.comicbookdb.com/graphics/...1417_large.jpg

My goodness man! I was in high school chasing women around when comics were 75 cents! No wonder I'm not too familiar with these characters! Comics were long gone from my life by this time. Likewise, so were Megos though! I guess that's why I frown upon characters that existed after Mego was long gone being made into "Retro" figures (which are homage to Mego.) It's clear to me now that the "Retro" moniker refers more to the Mego toy style and design and less to the Mego era characters themselves...this seems to be the source of my personal displeasure. So I guess I was hoping the line would also remain true to the Mego era of comic characters as well as the actual figures' style. It seems that is not going to be the case. Darkseid should have clued me in on that I guess. I did still watch Galactic Guardians during this time though so I did know who Darkseid, Kalibak, and DeSaad were. Did Darkseid exist in the comics during the Mego era? I can't remember ever seeing him appear anywhere but on the Galactic Guardians series.
As I said, if it keeps the line going then I hope a trillion JS GLs sell.

[Audiorij]

Isn't the Green Lantern Corpse basically a bunch of green lanterns with different heads?

[samurainoir]

Just for fun, a comparison with other John Stewart action figures...



















I'm actually kind of amazed at the number of different action figures he actually has! You really can't deny his popularity due to the Justice League cartoon. If he didn't sell, they wouldn't keep pumping out these guys. I honestly can't see how anyone call refer to Stewart as a second stringer over the likes of Red Tornado or Firestorm who have spent the last couple of decades in comparative obscurity.

[samurainoir]

[samurainoir]

I guess as collector's we all have that completist impulse, as well as our own preferences in the huge DC Comics stable of characters, and there is bound to be disappointment on which characters (and which version of that character) is released as a doll first.

It's the glass half full attitude that when they make one character, it will be at the cost of another character, as opposed to the feeling that Mattel/DC/EMCE will eventually get around to making a ridiculous amount of them (like they have with Infinite Heroes, Justice League, DC Classics).

At this point, just look at the MattyCollector stuff as gravy. The format is terrific in that it does allow cost-effective production on characters that otherwise might not see the light of day. John Stewart is a no brainer... he's in the Justice League, he's in the new movie, and he has that terrific retro-look from that period where he was the headliner in the solo GL book when no one really cared about Hal at all because sales were in the toilet.

Ditto Sinestro in the yellow outift. It's appealing to contemporary fans since Blackest Night is so popular right now, much more than his Superfriends incarnation ever was.

And I'm absolutely delighted to be getting a Guy Gardner in the style of Kevin Maguire so early in the run. I even recently made a custom thinking that he'd be unlikely for a retro figures.

Given how big custom culture is as well, it's ridiculously easy to get the characters that you do want if Mattel doesn't get to it first. I'm definitely going the Black Lightning route with that Stewart head (since my preference is the Justice League animated look... which is actually closest to his comic book costume!).

[LOU]

I don't think you're in the minority here Scott, it seems more people like the new offerings than dislike them. 'Tis me in the minority my friend. Most people appear to be embracing these GL figures. As I said, if it generates income for Mattel and thusly keeps the line going, I can get over having to start skipping figures. I just was hoping I wouldn't be forced to do that. I really wanted to truly "collect 'em all" without having to buy a figure I have absolutely no use for. The problem here is me, I'm a hopeless completist when it comes to collecting, skipping a figure pains me. I can't remember the last time an action figure line reached a third (or soon to be fourth) wave where I actually wanted all of them. So I was excited for this line so far. This figure just let the wind out my sails a bit is all.

[THE FALCON]

When will these be available?

Here he is megocrazy...he's coming.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_GuRfuFD9Bj...9914005-12.jpg

[BATMAN89]

I really like this. Looks to me as though some body improvments have been made here as well. Is it me or can anyone else see a set os 6-pack abs under that suit?

He seems to be standing up straight!

[SgtPepper]

I really like this. Looks to me as though some body improvments have been made here as well. Is it me or can anyone else see a set os 6-pack abs under that suit?