Diamond Select Q & A: Star Trek

[palitoy]

Art Asylum Blog Ask DST #148

Some insight on the Chapel/Vina debacle.

[MIB41]

So it's a "hair" issue? That's weird. You would think the materials used to produce these figures would not be an issue if the prototypes were approved and the characters subsequently advertised. That's kind of putting the cart before the horse isn't it?

[samurainoir]

That's a shame... as much as we Mego fans love the rooted hair as our original female figures had, perhaps the future releases might be better off with molded hair if it means that is the way to get licensor or actor approval?

[megoscott]

The other questioner: "When the retro TNG lines fails..." Nice one, jerkbag.

[MIB41]

The other questioner: "When the retro TNG lines fails..." Nice one, jerkbag.

Yeah I really don't understand the attitude behind that statement anymore. The eight inch format is creating all sorts of unique and popular characters every year. Quite frankly it's more diversified today than it ever was in the 70's. There are so many lines to choose from and a real challenge if you wanted to collect all of them in that format. The fact that we're getting a taste of so many varied licenses is just fantastic.

I consider this a new golden era of figure collecting like it was back in the 70's. People from our era have joined together and formed a series of different companies all with the sole purpose of revitalizing and re-branding the eight inch format. Subsequently all of these shows that we grew up watching are finding new life again as figures that we all only dreamt about as kids. What a miracle! To those critics I say this - Enjoy this run while you can. Because when these guys pack it in, the days of companies asking us old timers what we want in an action figure will be OVER. It's truly a gift. And I'm glad to be here to experience it.

[johnmiic]

I like the comeback on that loaded question:

"DSTChuck: Arthur, I am not sure why any Trek fan would be rooting for a Trek line to fail but that said the retro cloth and the ship development are handled by different product managers so a lack of retro cloth would not speed up ships."

[Harbingerboy]

Great to hear some Trek news from DST once in awhile. Not sure if the light shed on the retro Vina/Chapel/Rand hair issues is good news or bad...I don't really have a preference either way (molded/rooted), though rooted is more retro. Consistency is always my biggest factor, and Uhura does have rooted hair. Having said that, Uhura is a straight up repro of the original - considering CBS's likeness standards I wouldn't think EMCE Uhura would get a pass at all. Also, a rooted Rand sounds like a little nightmare, but it's nice to hear DST has discussed it.

It sounds like a real conundrum trying to maintain the Mego look for the Trek ladies while pleasing CBS' more accurate likeness standards.

[boynightwing]

I would have stopped the interview with the fail comment...very disrespectful. Or just not answered that question.

I don't understand why every figure that comes out HAS to be based on something from the 70's or before. Why can't we move forward with new characters and ideas...like TNG and beyond? At the time Mego came out, they were making the latest things. They weren't making toys based on stuff from the 40's and 50's...

[pmjlghrs]

They weren't making toys based on stuff from the 40's and 50's...

Whereas I agree that today we shouldn't be held to what was produced in the 70s, are you forgetting Wizard of Oz? Little Rascals? Those franchises were created in the 30s.

[boynightwing]

^ lol I totally did forget those. Very good point indeed. :D

[thunderbolt]

The other questioner: "When the retro TNG lines fails..." Nice one, jerkbag.

There are a lot of non Mego people that can't stand the format, I took it as one of those people. The poster was concerned about the retro line taking the others with it if it were cancelled.

[drmego]

Most collectors only care about what they personally like. A lot of train guys look at
GI Joes oddly, Matchbox guys don't get Barbies, the 80's kids don't get megos.

I long ago gave up trying to explain megos to people at shows. It's like trying
to teach the dog geometry.

[Mego-Amigo]

That's funny Paul. I can remember a good friend here ( Toywizard ) and myself going to toy shows, antique malls, flea markets, Cons, etc... back in the mid 90s asking dealers if they had any old Mego action figures. Most of them ( with very rare exceptions ) had no idea what we were talking about or had very limited knowledge about Megos. Believe it or not I found more quality Mego items at doll shows than any other place.

[samurainoir]

Given that Mego did have crossover appeal and courted the doll market back in the 70's, it's probably no surprise that we are finding more commonality with doll collectors than contemporary action figure collectors. I'm really convinced that Brick would be a huge hit in that market if he can get some kind of marketing hook in... why wouldn't dinah mite doll collectors not want to get Brick? He's much more charismatic than Don, and better dressed.

Is the "doll" factor another reason why perhaps that Wonder Woman is starting to become the most difficult retro superhero to find?

[MIB41]

Most collectors only care about what they personally like. A lot of train guys look at
GI Joes oddly, Matchbox guys don't get Barbies, the 80's kids don't get megos.

I long ago gave up trying to explain megos to people at shows. It's like trying
to teach the dog geometry.

Truer words have never been spoken. People either "get" Megos or they don't. It's as simple as that. There's either an immediate appeal or a complete disconnect.