The DC reboot is killing our retro toys

[Mego-Amigo]

I was reading in another thread here earlier that the real reason the Retro Heroes line is dying is because of DCs recent comic book efforts to reboot the DC Universe. I am sure DC is pressuring Mattel to sweep the old stuff under the rug and promote the new stuff. This is why another great collector line, the DCUC series is being pushed to Matty subscription to make room for the reboot inspired toys in stores. This is all really sad to me. I just bought Action Comics #900 and now the title is being cancelled after 70+ years. As far as I am concerned I will not buy another comic book ever from DC once the renumbering starts with exception of back issues of the classic stuff. As for the toys, same thing. Once Mattel changes over to the reboot characters and designs I will not buy another Mattel figure save for any they put out through Matty truely based on classic original characters. Now let me say that I did not write this post to anger any of you that enjoy all the modern stuff so please don't take offense. My collecting is anchored in classic retro stuff I grew up with. I have appreciation for some new stuff but my heart is with my childhood as far as collecting goes. My point being I agree strongly with the gentleman that said the real reason for the demise of the Retro Heroes line is the DC reboot.

[thunderbolt]

It'll be fun to watch the reboot tank and DC go crawling back to the old designs with its tail between its legs.

[Mego-Amigo]

It will also be fun watching DC revert back to original numbering on thier comic books when the reboot fails. I won't get back on board. Marvel has done the same thing so many times in the past that the numbering on thier books now is so confusing it's difficult to know where to stop and start if you collect back issues. Even with all of this I expect Marvel to do it again to compete with DC. At least we are getting Marvel legends back again. Now if we could convince them to give us Re-Mego Marvels.

[thunderbolt]

There are only 3 books that have my interest in the reboot, OMAC, Frankenstein and Action. My guess is of those 3 only Superman will see any toy tie ins.

[The Toyroom]

There are only 3 books that have my interest in the reboot, OMAC, Frankenstein and Action. My guess is of those 3 only Superman will see any toy tie ins.

And the sad thing is that if only those 3 books interest you for example what happens when titles tank. Action probably isn't going anywhere soon, no matter what....But how long before something like OMAC is cancelled? Or Frankenstein? That's the problem with this reboot...I really don't think there's enough substance there for someone to be interested in 20+ titles out of the initial 52. So most of us will buy maybe a handful to check things out and then bail quickly when we don't like what we see...

[TrueDave]

You all talk of this as it is a BAD pointless thing, that somehow it's happened before . . . . . . .

[ukaking]

Oh well, atleast DC has the prices at $2.99. Marvel is killing people on their prices. I collect a good amount of comics each week. I will reserve my opinion when the titles come out.
For the last few years, there has been NO comic series as good as Green Lantern.

[Meule]

It'll be fun to watch the reboot tank and DC go crawling back to the old designs with its tail between its legs.

This is inevitable

[Afaninfull]

I've been reading comics for close to 40 years. Here is the pattern I've observed...

You have an artist like a Frank Miller or a team like Claremont/Byrne or a Todd McFarlene who bring such a vision to their title. It rejuvenates not only their book but the entire company. Sales reflect this standard of quality. Then the artist leaves the book and usually the publisher. Sales drop and the editor is forced to come up with an idea to drive sales. They have three tools in their tool belt.

1. Create an epic piece of $@#p like Secret Wars.

2. Create an epic piece of @$&t where a character dies.

3. Renumber the books and start over. Remember when John Byrne revamped Superman?

Yes, the reboot will be a huge failure. Yes, they will return to the classic design. Yes, they will repeat the process. Superman will reflect the current flavor of the month (by the way, why is he a 1980's Bruce Springsteen working class hero in 2011? Springs teen fought for the working, middle class which has been dismantled in this recession. I love Springsteen but he is not the voice we need in 2011. He bought his daughter an $800,000 horse. But, I digress...

I bought all the retro action heroes--2 of each to support the line. How can a company with these characters not make sufficient numbers? Try and find a Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman at retail. They are SOLD OUT. I truly believe Mattell didn't want to continue this line. The collector base was there. I think they will lose many customers.

The good news is Sideshow has the DC license and I'm sure we will all be saying," Mattel who? " very very soon.

[Werewolf]

It's always possible the reboot played a part. But I think it was more to do with the how much Mattel thinks they need to sell to be a success to them. Like with Matty collector they seem to think if something doesn't get a 10 minute or less sellout it's not worth their while and they might was well cancel it.

It's been said here before that a "failure" for Mattel would be a big success to just about anyone else.

[hedrap]

Forget RA - they whack 3 3/4 in favor of continuing JLA/JLU - and then they go and kill that!

Sales are what they are, but I've voiced my belief before that the reboot was behind all the Matty changes.

Actually, the move from NY to LA is the real heart of all this. It's a mistake to look at DC as a publishing company anymore. I'm beginning to believe that the reboot is actually a last-ditch attempt, or even a false starter, to bag printed publishing altogether and use the digital platform as a way to keep the intellectual properties alive.

But that's a different subject...

[MIB41]

I don't think decisions in comics and toys necessarily go hand in hand. If a toy line is making money, the toy company is not going to purposely discontinue the line because of a change in story with the comics. These are all publicly traded companies. If the project is green, their going to keep making it. And besides, retro and current flavors have been the norm for some time now. When it comes to product, your always going to be catering to different tastes and generations. It's called product diversity.

[GaryPlaysWithDolls]

I don't buy it. Comics is comics and, well, EVERYTHING else is everything else. I can't imagine comics stuff really affecting the outside world. If the toys sold as much as they wanted them to, they would have kept making them. It all boils down to money. It always has and it always will.

[Mego-Amigo]

Warner owns DC and DC is licensed to Mattel. Yes, Mattel is encouraged to promote whatever Warner and DC are promoting. Case in point, those ridiculous Green Lanterns that killed the Retro Action line. Not only Retro Action but DCUC series 17 was all Green Lanterns. For those of you that like Green Lantern it was great but the rest of us hated it. Mattel is not going to just go along releasing whatever they want when Warners and DC are promoting big movies or big comic related events. They are going to be encouraged to promote the product as well.

[thunderbolt]

I don't think decisions in comics and toys necessarily go hand in hand. If a toy line is making money, the toy company is not going to purposely discontinue the line because of a change in story with the comics. These are all publicly traded companies. If the project is green, their going to keep making it. And besides, retro and current flavors have been the norm for some time now. When it comes to product, your always going to be catering to different tastes and generations. It's called product diversity.

Right, but DC can didctate what Mattel produces as far as characters go. I did read somewhere that they wanted them omly to produce current stuff and no more classics to get in line with what's being published. Look no further than the Action League stuff being so heavy in the direction of the Ranbow Skittles Lanterns right now instead of classic characters.