My Biggest Fear(s) of Mattel takeover

That's been Mattel's biggest hurdle to date. They've had the DC properties since 2003/04 and still have problems with their distribution. I do understand the multi-packed cases of Batman & Superman as that's the figures the stores want as that's the one that appeals to kids/parents/grandparnets and collectors. But they shot themselves in the foot when they shipped out cases of nothing but the Superman/Bizarro 2-packs (Instead of the Clark/Supes & Batman/Batgirl) to Targets when series 2 and 4 had multiple Superman & Buzarro figures on the pegs already.

But at least now the 6" assortments are corrected. it's 5 figures per wave and the cases are 6 figures per case so you are getting at least 1 of each characters. That's why with the DCSH/DCUC I've been ordering the cases from spamS or CSC. You get a complete set + one extra figure for $65 + shipping which is only about $6 more than if I find them at retail. Then once they hit retail I pick up an extra of each figure with the best paint job I find (minus the figure I already have 2 of.)

But the JLU distribution still sucks. As I still need to find the 3-packs of -
Deadshot/Big Barda/Martian Manhunter
Mr. Miracle/Orion/Darkseid
Sand/Star Sapphire/Superman

And the JLU are becoming Target exclusives.

Im fearful of their distrbution ways too as I have heard there is a poor history with that. But hopefully, being WWE they will improve on it.

As for relationships with sites, who knows. Hopefully they will and from a business point of view, it would be smart. Their interview is the first positive step and the Q/A should be another. Lets hope this is a sign of things to come.

Yeah, Mattel posts a lot at Fwoosh and answers questions at least once a month or so, so I expect them to hang around here a good bit too.

Fwoosh...I was really hoping CSC or ETC was going to post there saying they had DCUC series 2 in today.

Hot Wheels (40), Barbie (49)...that is almost 90 years of experience with collector driven properties. To your point, these were kid-driven brands and became collector over time.

Actually, wrestling figures (as all toys) started out as a kid-driven brand and became a collector driven brand. Mattel happens to acquire the WWE license at a point where it is more of collector and less toy.

From the transcript, it seems like they are trying to expand the collector line, 'introducing' a toy line to kids.

I say give them a chance, remember the first Jakks stuff really sucked. It took them years of 'experimenting' with different versions to find a nitch in the collector market. They failed in the kid area and excelled in collector. Mattel has success in both...Hot Wheels, Barbie, JLA, DC, Pixar Cars.

Sometimes it is the licensor that limits the creativity of the toy company.

My big fear is that if they make a classics line, they won't be as varied and wide as Jakks is. What I mean is that you know how Jakks makes new repaints and costumes for their CS line? I do not think that Mattel would try that. Also, Jakks has taken the time to sign EVERYBODY, even those who...well...never really made it(i.e. Bastion Booger, Brooklyn Brawler, Johnny Rodz, etc.). My bet is that Mattel would probably just go after the big guys like Hogan, Warrior, etc, established people. Mattel is a much bigger company that Jakks, lead paint scandal or not. As such, they'll probably go for name recognition above all else. Even with the bigger guys, it'll probably "one shot, here it is, that's all you get".

Another concern is that while Mattel DOES listen to people on certain things(criticism on existing figures or prototypes), my feeling is that they probably will not take requests. With Jakks, Jeremy has a website and a personal email which you can use to ask him to make a certain figure and 6/10 it will get done, 9/10 if a lot of people ask for it(my friend personally asked him to make the Mr. Perfect from Survivor Series '92 numerous times and it came out, same with the Ultimate Warrior in the WM12 dustjacket.). I don't think Mattel would have ability or be able to make the ablility for it. In Layman's terms, they probably won't have the supervisor of the line be available to make requests and tell him what you want to see.

The last request is that while some DC figs look good, others look terrible. The only figs I really buy are the CS figures. I don't mind paying $12-14 for a figure that is amazing. Jakks takes their time in making the figure. They mimic the person to the last detail, and they scale it(Giant Gonzales' fig is bigger than Andre's, etc.). Simply put, I don't think Mattel would put as much effort and detail into their figures as Jakks does. What's good articulation if the figure looks like crap?

As the only Jakks figures I buy ARE the CS figs, these are my biggest concerns.

that they will put real hair on toys and they will only make the superstars 8 year olds like

My thoughts will be bolded.

Fixed it for ya!