Venture Brothers on CLEARANCE at TRU???

[justzeg18]

they're 14.98 on toysrus.com right now too.

[bjack99]

Twilight Zone figures are also on sale for 14.99 at TRU.

[Chris]

Keep in mind if you get the figures from TRU.com they'll most likely arrive with some damage to the packaging.

[MIB41]

Never heard of the show until I saw the figures!

Same here. Surprising to see a TRU store marking down essentially new merchandise. It normally takes them 5 years to start discounting.

[LOU]

However, the more typical of VB show fans were somewhat turned off by the Mego style and seem to feel a more NECA-esque style is preferable. I feel it's the same with the Ghostbusters. The kids that liked that show never had Megos.

In that sense, creating new Megos for an audience of a new cartoon might not work as well as creating them for something more retro in the first place.

Yeah, it goes back to the notion that a "Retro" line should stick with "retro" subject matter; a concept that's been debated here on the boards ad nauseum in recent weeks. These remarks above, however, are in line with my personal opinion that the line should keep the subject matter "retro." This is why I feel I still see those same 8 Ghostbusters hanging at our TRU. They're paying homage to a 70's toy line yet selecting modern characters to do so. By doing that you end up with, in my opinion, a conflict of interest. You have kids who may know the characters but don't get the look of the figures and pass on them (likely also because of price-point and because they look like "dolls.") Then on the flip side, there's folks like me who remember Mego (and are willing to pay $20 a figure for that reason) seeing characters offered that it's not neccessarily a given are universally known among our age group...so we pass on them. I hate not wanting to buy some of the new Mattel 8-inch offerings but I have absolutely no use for Lost Megos (I don't watch the show and couldn't name two characters on the series), Ghostbusters Megos, or Venture Brothers Megos (I never heard of the show either by the way.) None of these are representative of the Mego era, the "retro" era, in my opinion. So I'm at least one of the potential buyers of Mattel's Megoey offerings who's decided to pass on all these other non-Hero lines so far, obviously making me a tiny part of the reason why they are getting marked down. Sadly, I'm even forced to now start passing on some of the Super Heroes (like the 4 new GL exclusives)...essentially for the same reason...the characters conjure up absolutely nothing 1970's for me.

Of course there's valid arguments to be made on both sides of the debate but I can't help but feel my feelings on this are validated when I see threads like this one here about these Venture Brothers going on clearance already; or another thread about Lost being discontinued already, or the same 8 Ghostbusters hanging at my TRU that have been there for weeks. It's not shocking at all, at least to me. There's a good reason for these sales duds and discontinuations and my suspicion is it's because what I've said before, that these aforementioned licenses are not truly "retro" as a Mego aficionado might define the word. Further, the target audience for these figures was clearly never really identified before they were produced. So you wind up appealing to kids with the characater usage while the toy style turns them off, and appealing to 40-somethings with the toy styling while the character selections apparently turn them off, as evidenced by the suggested lack of popularity of the lines.
In a nutshell, Mattel is trying to sell new characters in an old-fashioned format and it's proving counter-productive with cancelled lines and marked down figures already. Kids are confused as to why there's "dolls" in the aisle, adults are confused as to what Lost has to do with retro anything; and confusion is not conducive to a parent plunking down $40 for a couple of action figures.

[boynightwing]

^ If you watch Venture Brothers you can see why they would make them in Mego style. There are numerous references to Mego figures in the show. Almost every event/storyline is a parody from something that was from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. One of the characters on the show made action figures of himself and his buddies out of Megos! I also hear the creators of the show are Mego fans/collectors themselves.

As for Ghostbusters, well I was born in 1976 and I had Megos. When I was 8 Ghostbusters came out and I had those toys as well. My brother was born in 1980 and he also had both and knew what they were. Ghostbusters isn't too new. As a kid I wished the Ghostbusters had come out in a Mego format. I wish they were at TRU in Canada so I could buy them now.

[CrimsonGhost]

Yeah, it goes back to the notion that a "Retro" line should stick with "retro" subject matter; a concept that's been debated here on the boards ad nauseum in recent weeks. These remarks above, however, are in line with my personal opinion that the line should keep the subject matter "retro." This is why I feel I still see those same 8 Ghostbusters hanging at our TRU. They're paying homage to a 70's toy line yet selecting modern characters to do so. By doing that you end up with, in my opinion, a conflict of interest. You have kids who may know the characters but don't get the look of the figures and pass on them (likely also because of price-point and because they look like "dolls.") Then on the flip side, there's folks like me who remember Mego (and are willing to pay $20 a figure for that reason) seeing characters offered that it's not neccessarily a given are universally known among our age group...so we pass on them. I hate not wanting to buy some of the new Mattel 8-inch offerings but I have absolutely no use for Lost Megos (I don't watch the show and couldn't name two characters on the series), Ghostbusters Megos, or
Venture Brothers Megos (I never heard of the show either by the way.) None
of these are representative of the Mego era, the "retro" era, in my opinion. So
I'm at least one of the potential buyers of Mattel's Megoey offerings who's
decided to pass on all these other non-Hero lines so far, obviously making me
a tiny part of the reason why they are getting marked down. Sadly, I'm even
forced to now start passing on some of the Super Heroes (like the 4 new GL
exclusives)...essentially for the same reason...the characters conjure up
absolutely nothing 1970's for me.

Of course there's valid arguments to be made on both sides of the debate but I can't help but feel my feelings on this are validated when I see threads like
this one here about these Venture Brothers going on clearance already; or
another thread about Lost being discontinued already, or the same 8
Ghostbusters hanging at my TRU that have been there for weeks. It's not
shocking at all, at least to me. There's a good reason for these sales duds and
discontinuations and my suspicion is it's because what I've said before, that
these aforementioned licenses are not truly "retro" as a Mego aficionado might
define the word. Further, the target audience for these figures was clearly
never really identified before they were produced. So you wind up appealing
to kids with the characater usage while the toy style turns them off, and
appealing to 40-somethings with the toy styling while the character selections
apparently turn them off, as evidenced by the suggested lack of popularity of
the lines.

In a nutshell, Mattel is trying to sell new characters in an old-fashioned format and it's proving counter-productive with cancelled lines and marked down
figures already. Kids are confused as to why there's "dolls" in the aisle, adults
are confused as to what Lost has to do with retro anything; and confusion is
not conducive to a parent plunking down $40 for a couple of action
figures.

It's hard to make that case when Twilight Zone has been marked down as well. You can't get more retro than that. And you can't point at it and say the quality is bad because it's not, in fact, those figures are great.

Mego collectors, AKA us, don't account for very many sales so it's necessary to try to get outside intrest going. The popularity of things like Twisted Mego Theater and Robot Chicken have probably helped. The hope is to get parents who remember Mego figures to buy them for the little kids, like age 6 or so. The younger the kid, the more likely they are to accept the style. Superheroes are the most likely candidate.

We're on the gravy train right now. Enjoy it while it lasts.

[LOU]

^ If you watch Venture Brothers you can see why they would make them in Mego style. There are numerous references to Mego figures in the show. Almost every event/storyline is a parody from something that was from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. One of the characters on the show made action figures of himself and his buddies out of Megos! I also hear the creators of the show are Mego fans/collectors themselves.

As for Ghostbusters, well I was born in 1976 and I had Megos. When I was 8 Ghostbusters came out and I had those toys as well. My brother was born in 1980 and he also had both and knew what they were. Ghostbusters isn't too new. As a kid I wished the Ghostbusters had come out in a Mego format. I wish they were at TRU in Canada so I could buy them now.

Well as I said, there's perfectly valid arguments on both sides of the issue but I am basing my remarks on the fact that the Venture Brothers are obviously not selling or they wouldn't be relegated to clearance items now. So there can't be that many people with your unique perspective. I realize that the Ghostbusters aren't quite as modern as Lost or VB, but in my opinion they are still too new to be rendered in Mego format. You don't have these in Canada? If you'd like, I'll keep an eye on the Ghostbusters figures at our TRU and grab them for you if and when they get marked down. I believe the 8 figures there is a full case although I don't know what the case packs are on the Ghostbusters Retros. Just let me know.

[MIB41]

You've got collector hands Lou. Been countin' Mego's all your life.

[LOU]

It's hard to make that case when Twilight Zone has been marked down as well.

Well yes, but this is almost the same problem in reverse. Twilight Zone was well before the Mego era. A kid today has no idea what Twilight Zone is and most Mego era kids weren't even born when it was on the air. Even still, the only two Twilight Zone figures I ever saw on the pegs at TRU (and yes, they were SUPER cool looking!) weren't there long. I think it would be in Mattel's best interest to focus on the DC license with the Retros. Aside from Luthor and Sinestro, the others are nearly impossible to find at retail. For most people Mego conjures up memories of the Super Heroes anyway and Super Heroes are universally known to kids as well. If they were to continue with figures outside the DC license I would say they should go for licenses like:

-Johnny Quest
-Scooby Doo
-Battlestar Galactica
-Six Million Dollar Man
-Star Trek (if you consider that Star Trek was still a phenomenon in the 70's because of the popular reruns)

Within the DC license they could branch out and do:

-8-inch "Superfriends Editions" of the characters
-Lynda Carter Wonder Woman
-Reeve Superman
-Ferrigno Hulk/Bixby Banner
-Zod, Ursa, and Non
-Hackman Lex Luthor (with removable velcro wig!)

I know EMCE did the Star Trek reissues awhile back but perhaps Mattel should make them so they are available in TRU. The above ideas are what I think would sell best as they are representative of the Mego era. Parents will have fond memories of these characters and I think that partnered with the Mego style would dramatically increase sales. I just don't think Lost and Venture Brothers are the kinds of licenses that are going to generate the intended sales Mattel seeks, as made obvious by the fact they're already on clearance.

[LOU]

You've got collector hands Lou. Been countin' Mego's all your life.

LOL! Yes but the count is never high enough for my liking my friend!

[CrimsonGhost]

Well yes, but this is almost the same problem in reverse. Twilight Zone was well before the Mego era. A kid today has no idea what Twilight Zone is and most Mego era kids weren't even born when it was on the air. Even still, the only two Twilight Zone figures I ever saw on the pegs at TRU (and yes, they were SUPER cool looking!) weren't there long. I think it would be in Mattel's best interest to focus on the DC license with the Retros. Aside from Luthor and Sinestro, the others are nearly impossible to find at retail. For most people Mego conjures up memories of the Super Heroes anyway and Super Heroes are universally known to kids as well. If they were to continue with figures outside the DC license I would say they should go for licenses like:

-Johnny Quest
-Scooby Doo
-Battlestar Galactica
-Six Million Dollar Man
-Star Trek (if you consider that Star Trek was still a phenomenon in the 70's
because of the popular reruns)

Within the DC license they could branch out and do:

-8-inch "Superfriends Editions" of the characters
-Lynda Carter Wonder Woman
-Reeve Superman
-Ferrigno Hulk/Bixby Banner
-Zod, Ursa, and Non
-Hackman Lex Luthor (with removable velcro wig!)

I know EMCE did the Star Trek reissues awhile back but perhaps Mattel should make them so they are available in TRU. The above ideas are what I think
would sell best as they are representative of the Mego era. Parents will have
fond memories of these characters and I think that partnered with the Mego
style would dramatically increase sales. I just don't think Lost and Venture
Brothers is the kind of license that's going to generate the intended sales
Mattel seeks, as made obvious by the fact they're already on
clearance.

Mattel is only making Superheroes and ghostbusters, the others, aside from Star Trek and universal monsters, are BBP, but that's beside the point....

Of your list, the only viable one is Scooby Doo. Kids don't know Johnny Quest, Battlestar or the rest. If you're trying to get beyond just collectors, then you have to find something the kids want and the parents want to buy. The parents may like Johnny Quest and Star Trek but the kids don't know it.

Your ideas are fine for the adult collector, but the kids aren't going to care.

[LOU]

Oh I wasn't aware that Mattel didn't make some of these Retros. In either case though, it's obvious gearing these towards kids isn't working. Besides, how many toy-buying kids are die-hard Lost fans? Apparently not many. A $20 action figure is clearly already geared towards collectors, the price-point alone screams that fact. If I was a kid and Mom said I could spend $20 in TRU, I wouldn't buy one figure. I'd get as much loot as I could. That's what kids do. They'd rather have 4 $5 items instead of one $20 one. So yeah, I guess that's the deciding factor regarding this debate, are the Retors geared towards kids or collectors? At $20 a pop, I think that's a no-brainer. That's why some of these lines are failing in my opinion. Again, I am only commenting on this based upon the subject of this thread, that Venture Brothers are on clearance already. There has to be a reason for that and my rationale here is a valid explanation.

[CrimsonGhost]

Oh I wasn't aware that Mattel didn't make some of these Retros. In either case though, it's obvious gearing these towards kids isn't working. Besides, how many toy-buying kids are die-hard Lost fans? Apparently not many. A $20 action figure is clearly already geared towards collectors, the price-point alone screams that fact. If I was a kid and Mom said I could spend $20 in TRU, I wouldn't buy one figure. I'd get as much loot as I could. That's what kids do. They'd rather have 4 $5 items instead of one $20 one. So yeah, I guess that's the deciding factor regarding this debate, are the Retors geared towards kids or collectors? At $20 a pop, I think that's a no-brainer. That's why some of these lines are failing in my opinion. Again, I am only commenting on this based upon the subject of this thread, that Venture Brothers are on clearance already. There has to be a reason for that and my rationale here is a valid explanation.

You are correct that most of the retro figures are geared toward the collector only. Certainly kids aren't interested in LOST. However, there aren't enough adult collectors to make it work based on collectors alone. So having said that, it's necessary to get the outsiders interested, and that is why having a mix of new and vintage licenses is important. Sure, kids aren't interested in LOST, but collectors probably wouldn't be interested in the Wiggles either. So this is why I feel the Superheroes bridge that gap and appeal to both. Perhaps Universal Monsters will too. I think Venture Brothers was a viable license because it could have brought in the Adult Swim crowd that watch Robot Chicken and VB.

[pmwasson]

Thanks for the heads-up. I picked up another Brock and Rusty.