Could Mattel's Retro-Action return?

[newlyknighted]

Legion of Doom, Hawkman, Hawkgirl, Nightwing, Poison Ivy, Despero, Red Arrow, Young Justice team members would have great! DC/Warner Bros. could be promoting their own cartoon heroes with their dvd releases! Please revitalize this line!

[jwyblejr]

I think they could have done better if they had sold at Target instead of Toys R Us.

[thunderbolt]

Nothing against the last wave/Green Lantern stuff cause who ever would have ever thought of Darkseid(I like it), but those prototypes along with Hawkman seem like better choices for a wave. Joker/Batgirl would have been extremelly popular choices and could have really helped catapult this line instead of having it cancelled. Like I said I'm into the game well after it's over but I hate when they cancel a line before releasing some crucial figures like Joker, Penguin, Batgirl, Robin, Hawkman. Those are must haves in this line.

Darkseid seemed like an odd choice to pair up with Jonn, would have preferred Grodd or Grundy for that.

[TomStrong]

I would buy multiples of those figures mentioned. My daughter would have lost her mind over the super girls. I agree Matty should offer these, if even on a limited basis. Heck, wouldn't we all buy one of each?

[drogge]

Matty Exclusives

I would buy multiples of those figures mentioned. My daughter would have lost her mind over the super girls. I agree Matty should offer these, if even on a limited basis. Heck, wouldn't we all buy one of each?

I would be atleast one of each. How strong are we as a group though? Are there enough Mego enthusist to persuade Mattel to offer exculsive Retro-Action figures?

[rche]

Is there any chatter about this going on at Mattys forums? Is there even still a section there for retro action? I havn't really looked there since the disappointment of the cancellation news. If they still have a retro forum, that is the place to raise your voice. Pretty sure none of the Mattel reps hang around here.

[Random Axe]

The following is pure opinion and speculation:

I hope there are Mattel guys here cause they need to be reminded, as if they care, of their monmental F up with one of the most imporant licenses available. There were probably twelve ways to screw this line up and they perfected ten of them. Plus, devil's advocate here, they couldn't have been profitable. With better distro, yeah they could have made up some on the back end with volume, but I can't imagine the overall GP of the figures being much.

If Mattel was to release these as online exclusives and cutting out wholesale and distro problems, they still would have to charge twenty plus to really make it worth it. These dudes roll with Barbie and Hot Wheels, they're dealing with hundreds of thousands of fans/customers worldwide. Retro action is 1/20 of that if not less. I'd love to see these return, but the economics and prior mistakes tell me it won't be Mattel doing them.

[hedrap]

They won't be returning to the line, unless they're about to lose the license and want to milk it for a final run.

A big problem was that RA was competing with the DCU Classics line, usually on the next set of pegs. At a higher price tag than DCUC, it didn't make sense as a gift purchase for a young kid.

I think all of this really now comes down to Round2. If they succeed with Captain Action, then someone might bite.

[galaxyexplorer42]

I think the only correct answer here is, "I don't know..... but I hope so..."

[MIB41]

I think Round 2 has found a nice niche in the market place because they're able to develop many different licenses in the 1/6th scale arena while keeping it affordable. And since the majority of their return is going to be on costumes, as opposed to actual figures, they must be getting a really nice profit from that, since those costumes are priced like a figure. Plus they've done the smartest thing yet which is develop a look based on iconic artists from the comics. That's a huge draw for me personally because the look of the hero is less subjective since it is based more on an artist's rendering I like, rather than a sculptor's individual taste. With Retro's you had one person's idea of what it should look like and it went beyond just the look of the hero. It got into the idea of what a "Mego" should look like too. Which, to me, became more personal than marketable. The end result was a mixed bag of head sculpts on a crappy body that should have been Doc's bodies to begin with. I think if the retro line ever comes back, whether it be a DC or Marvel license, there needs to be a different approach given to the look. Take note of what Round 2 is doing and apply the same sensibilities to the sculpts. Look at the great job EMCE has done with the Universal monsters? Great head sculpts based on iconic images. That sells.

[hedrap]

they're able to develop many different licenses in the 1/6th scale arena while keeping it affordable. And since the majority of their return is going to be on costumes, as opposed to actual figures, they must be getting a really nice profit from that, since those costumes are priced like a figure.

I really want to know if the deduction of parts their not producing really lowers the costs that much, then how is it not offset by the scale or the fact that every outfit requires new molds?

Plus they've done the smartest thing yet which is develop a look based on iconic artists from the comics. That's a huge draw for me personally because the look of the hero is less subjective since it is based more on an artist's rendering I like, rather than a sculptor's individual taste. With Retro's you had one person's idea of what it should look like and it went beyond just the look of the hero. It got into the idea of what a "Mego" should look like too. Which, to me, became more personal than marketable. The end result was a mixed bag of head sculpts on a crappy body that should have been Doc's bodies to begin with.

I can't argue with that. Again, I really want to know how R2 is able to do this since Quality Control usually means some kind of bible guide has to be followed. Maybe because they are not full figures, and just costumes, Marvel/DC are more open. If that's the case, then I think our best chance will end up with R2 and not Matty or Hasbro. If they can figure it out for 1/6, why not 1/9?

I've always felt a big problem with RA was the lack of dual-use for customization. I mean, look at the DCU Classics version of Black Adam, and if the RA version was closer to that, you have a very easy Namor or even another Romulan. Jon Stewart is another great example. He was totally redefined by Bruce Timm, so if you're not going to make a bald version, at least tone down the afro and make it a removable mask so he could be Power Man, Blade, Black Lightning, Black Goliath or whoever. The designs were caught in this nexus of being too distinct for customization but not iconic enough interpretations to distinguish themselves from the other DC lines, with a higher price. No offense meant to anyone. I understand Matty made all final decisions.

[MIB41]

I really want to know if the deduction of parts their not producing really lowers the costs that much, then how is it not offset by the scale or the fact that every outfit requires new molds?

I would think the cost is offset by the fact they don't have to make a body for each costume. I don't know what the ratio is, but the costumes are manufactured in far higher quantities that the base line figure. So that by itself has to be a huge savings given the costume is priced so high and is more packaging than product on the shelf. I would also think the high end pricing of the costume set is figured into the cost of that mold as well. Then consider the figures they ARE making are being recycled as variants like the Arctic Adventurer and another one coming out this year. Once again it's just a costume change on him. They seem to be very smart about how they utilize the materials they have to use. Plus they are going to be the first company to offer both DC and Marvel product on the same shelf for the same figure since Ideal did that back in the 60's! I NEVER thought I would see those days again.

If they can figure it out for 1/6, why not 1/9?

I think Round 2 did their homework early and got their product right straight out of the gate. I'll admit I was not a big fan of the figure itself initially. But once I saw the costumes in person and the variety of heroes in a very short space in time, I converted quickly. They had a few bugs to work out, but got them fixed quickly. Plus they nabbed a key piece of the 1/6th scale market by making these AFFORDABLE. Hot Toy collectors go after these as well. And those who can not (or will not) pay Hot Toy prices have a nice alternative now. And I will be honest here. As much as I love Mego's and have more than I know what to do with since childhood, I find the Round 2 figures translate better to me as an adult because of their scale. As a 6'4 adult, a Mego scales way down from when I was seven years old. A Captain Action gives me that scale back when I hold him. And with the licenses they have, they are making some very cool figures. I'm about as excited as I've ever been (in my adult life) waiting for this Iron man costume set coming out in April. It's based on both Gene Colan and Bob Layton's artwork, so I'm beyond pumped. FINALLY, I will have a proper Iron man figure in his classic armor. Plus he can be Tony Stark as well! Retros just don't have that same kind of versatility. Plus it's a smaller niche group. It's either a hit or complete miss. I think if they get the sculpts nailed down like the 1/6th scale have, they will build a bigger consumer base.

[Spyweb007]

I don't really think that Mattel would bring back DC Super-Hero Retro Action figures, but the development and tooling of the body is an investment they made that one would think Mattel would want to find some use for. DC comics isn't the only license they hold, and there may even be some in house properties that would lend themselves to the 8" format, and those are really the only possibilities I see for more 8" figures from them.

[drogge]

NECA has the 60's Batman license, I wonder if they will make 8 inch figures like they have with Djanco Unchained?

[hedrap]

I think you hit it with NECA.

Maybe that's the cause/effect we're looking for. Django made such a disruption, NECA can become synonymous with 1/9 if they want as its a built-in marketing too now.