OFFICIAL Super7 NJPW Deluxe Action Figures thread

Since these are made to order I'm sure if they wanted they could probably strike a licensing deal with Tiger Mask and Lyger and do them like Andre the Giant. Charapro was able to do Tiger Mask and Lyger as part of their wrestling lines that way. The licensor of both properties most likely wouldn't have many issues doing that. Hopefully Lyger will sign a Legends/merch deal with WWE and we'll have a Mattel version that will fit in with Super 7.

The dude from Super7 told the Major Podcast guys at NYCC that they couldn't do Liger because Storm got the rights.

Do you have a link to that specifically? Because only thing I caught was them saying S7 said that the rights for Liger (and Tiger Mask) have to be negotiated separately from NJPW (since they're based on anime characters).

Maybe but I'd be willing to bet Mattel's Liger wouldn't have cartoonishly wide shoulders and be out of scale with the other Mattel figures. Really, the dude is 5'7", no way the Storm Liger should be as tall as the Storm Hogan. And this "not a chance Mattel can make a figure as good" argument is just dumb.As if people can only get one or the other...Im sure people who got the Storm Liger figure would just as likely to get a Mattel (or S7) Liger.

The new thing is the licensing rights can go to many different companies. Storm and McFarlane both have the Mortal Kombat line. Super 7, Neca, playmates, dc direct all have ninja turtles. Super 7 could be doing the class thing and holding out with Lyger until Storm runs its course and not compete with them.

Individual rights are different than entire intellectual property rights. Usually it's with the person or their estate, solely--like the Liger/Storm deal. It also depends on the type of contracts that the individual has agreed upon with their representatives. Case in point: there are Lucha Bros figures come from Boss Fight, as well as Jazwares/WCT in the AEW line. So, how that works is that they have, through Masked Republic, got a deal cut out where they can license out their intellectual property individually, as well as part of the larger complete AEW deal--so long as it was part of the entire property, and not just for individual sale. This was at least how it was explained to me by MR.

Or to make it even simpler: Think of like the Hulk in the Marvel movies. He is currently contractually held by Universal Pictures. Notice the last Hulk movie was released by them, and not Marvel Studios? It was in CONJUNCTION with Marvel Studios. Same goes with Spider-Man and Sony. However, the only way that Marvel Studios can use those characters is if they use them in as PART of their movies, and not individual releases. That's why we haven't seen a Mark Ruffalo solo Hulk movie--because Universal doesn't want to, and Marvel Studios legally CAN'T. He's always shoehorned into other Marvel Studios movies. 

Now, apply that to these licenses we are talking about with Lucha Bros. And right now, it appears that Liger is only licensed out as an individual, and not part of a collective property--as he is officially retired, and not a part of any promotion. Now, that's not to say that Super7 couldn't go out and get the rights separately for Liger--much like Jakks used to do for their Classics. But seeing as how he is retired, presumably licensed only to his personal estate, and not a part of the NJPW property as a whole--it's they simply can NOT do it or he's not offering it to more than one party. For whatever reason. 


There are too many variables with it. Such as, as mentioned, differing levels of HOW each property is being represented. Storm has the Mortal Kombat KLASSIC license--McFarlane has *specifically* MK11. Storm has direct market rights, McFarlane can sell to MASS market. So, completely different spectrums in price, quality, scale, etc. 

NECA, DCD, Super 7, and Playmates is another beast entirely. Technically speaking, only Playmates has the majority held license for mass market rights. NECA can sell to mass market, but only at a certain, higher price point, in a different section of the store than Playmates, and has the rights for movie, original cartoon, and classic comic. DCD was specifically Batman vs TMNT, and was exclusive to Gamestop, again in two packs at a higher price point. Super7 is specialty direct market, again, higher price point. 


See what I mean? There aren't many variables when it comes to a specific person or individual likeness/property--specifically this individual. He's had a fairly consistent look through the years. So, they may not even be able to license it out based on specific LOOK--if Storm already has that as part of their license. Not to mention, the same guy, the same look, the same market, and at the same price points. Super7 would more than likely be the same price as Storm. Just can't do it. 

Yes, simplified version--you are right, there is a lot of "slicensing" over the years, but in this case, that concept doesn't apply because it's based on an individual, and not on a property as a whole, where it's easier to divvy a property up if based on different incarnations.

Thank you for coming to my TED Talk. 

 

Brian Flynn of Super 7 just did an interview with Pixel Dan, and they addressed just this subject. Interesting listen, and pretty much aligns with what I said.

Maybe he had an “E39 Sting guy” like Sweaty Bill did

Well we learned at NYTF that New Japan had not done the final approvals on entrance attires and that's why the actual figures weren't there. So that plus the COVID probably pushed this back a couple extra months.