That and it seems some of the members on that forum are more concerned with buying multiple subs than actually figuring out viable and more practical alternatives. You're right about all that. What's sad is in the 1980's, Mattel also cornered the action figure market with the original MOTU toyline. MOTU toys broke new ground and was a runaway hit for Mattel from the early to late '80's. The company failed to keep that momentum going ever since. The blew it with what was one of their top brands and they haven't learned a thing since. I agree about their problem with using minimum tooling. They've also cheaped-out on articulation to cut costs as well on most of their other lines (not MOTUC). Cars WAS a top seller for Mattel, now they're peg warming Walmarts, Targets and TRU's everywhere. Sure, they sell, but Mattel is over-saturating the market with them. The Dark Knight Movie Masters were huge hits back then. What happened was the recall and Health Ledger's death. Then they returned to the market and Joker's flew off the shelves so fast, it was a scalper's delight selling them on ebay for 2-4 times retail price. Scarecrow sold reasonably well, and the Batman chase figure was popular as well. The mistake Mattel made was producting too many Batman Begins and Dark Knight Batman figures. As for the TDKR Movie Masters, I'm sorry, but it isn't Christmas time that matters. Collectors and kids alike buy on emotion. They see the movie, and they want the toys. Now. But the 3.75" figures are just collecting dust because everyone knows they're cheap and suck. They know this after getting ripped off buying the Green Lantern crap the year before. I don't know anything about the WWE toys other than I see a TON of them in stores. This is very interesting to read, thanks for that. Maybe the department that does the WWE line should do the MOTU line as well since they seem to have a better grasp at doing things well enough to be successful with the WWE brand. Yeah, I agree. And yet they refuse to learn from their failures. You can't keep doing the same thing over and over and expect better results.
This is because they run like 8 different lines at once, which is crazy. There are basic figures, which have no ab crunch among other missing articulation, there are Elite figures, which are about $18 and have more articulation then your average DCUC or MOTU character (and 2 - 4 accessories per character and depending on who it is, multiple looks. The Rock has cloth pants and his wrestling stuff underneath if you take those pants off.) Then there are special series of figures they do based on PPVs, Legends figures, there is just a ton The figures get a huge retail space at every store I go to and the stock changes around often which means people are buying, at least in this area. Everyone is catered to with the Elite figures -- people who enjoyed wrestling back in the day, like me, new fans, fans who enjoy everything. Hell, WWE has even had build-a-figures They hit the perfect balance between making everyone happy and yea, it's something Mattel's other lines could benefit from. Like Laser_Optimus said, it's shocking that this is the same company. I haven't collected WWE a long time (and I only buy the Elite Flashback figures usually) but I've yet to feel like I didn't get my money's worth. That isn't something I can say for any of Mattel's other lines, including MOTU. No QC issues yet either on any of the figures I have (but I wouldn't know if there is some kind of widespread QC issues.) Whoever is running the WWE brand for Mattel is definitely doing things right imo. I don't follow it enough to know like, the "insider knowledge" we hear from Scott for example about this line, but it's got to be doing well because they've outlined the next 5 waves of Elite figures. And with Mattel, if something is even close to not making boatfuls of cash, they can it so there is that too. Mattel should take a look at what they are doing right because as brand after brand fails, the WWE line keeps chugging along. I only looked at it seriously because I found The Rock in the store and wanted to see what was so great about the line that it lasted this long. So yea, I agree, the rest of Mattel's lines including MOTU could probably learn a thing or two from the WWE line.
Don't get me started on the WWF crap. I am so sick of TRU having 2 isles of wrestling crap while the figures I care about get a peghook or two.
Finally broke down and placed my order for the 2013 Sub. I really hope Toyguru comes through on all his promises for 2013 and 2014 (if it happens).
I just watched the first 10 minutes of the NA show. I hope that version of Skeletor never sees the light of day in MOTUC. I think they completely missed the point. Skeletor doesn't have eyeballs. Yeesh.
Thank you, Roufuss for that explaination. Much appreciated. I like the Wrestling figures but just never got into it. You gave me a good insight on what's going on in that line. He is interesting at least. They could "Classic-ize" him and leave out the eyeballs. I do want a NA He-Man and Flogg. That's really about it unless they make the hot Teela or the Sorceress from that series (not likely). I still don't understand why there are some people who still hope that Mattel will make 1987 movie figures when they don't have the rights to do so. A Dolph He-Man? Okay, that could be interesting, as would the movie Skeletor, but that's really it, if at all. Anyone here really want a Gwildor or any of the villains? Really? It seems like that movie gave MOTU a black eye. Castle Grayskull was kind of cool looking, but there wasn't much else that was memorable in it.
Just because YOU think the WWE toys are "crap," doesn't mean others feel the same way. Last time I checked, retail stores didn't cater only to you but to a very wide and diverse shoppers.
Anyone here really want a Gwildor or any of the villains? Really? It seems like that movie gave MOTU a black eye. Castle Grayskull was kind of cool looking, but there wasn't much else that was memorable in it.[/QUOTE] I would love the movie figures!! I loved Gwildor and I love the designs of most of the villains! Especially Evilyn!! And beastan with a ponytail! Awesome!! Idk everyone will have an opinion on what would be great bit ultimately it comes down to whether Mattel would pull it off ...
Interesting responses. I remember first seeing the movie when I was very young. After seeing Gwildor, I was like "Who is Gwildor? Where is Orko?!?! That's Man-At-Arms? That's not Man-At-Arms! Teela looks...odd. That's He-Man? Where's Adam? Cringer? Am I watching the right movie?" And they missed the whole point of He-Man saying "I have the power!" The power sword looked cool at least.
Yeah, that's what I thought too! I mean, Gwildor was essentially a replacement for Orko and I was disappointed that there was no Adam, Cringer etc. Maybe Hollywood didn't have the tech to give us a proper MOTU movie but that shouldn't be an issue now.
I agree whole heatedly that the movie was far from accurate but I still loved it and actually just made my fiancé watch it a couple of weeks ago and she laughed at me for liking it so much lol ... I would love forgh to make a better movie but that was a classic flick!
I could watch the movie anytime! the bit with the kfc is hilarious and the new villains are great and its got Frank Langella and Dolph Lundren!
Doesn't also own the rights to DC characters? Then again DC makes they're own toys. BTW who's Frosta she looks...nice and is that supposed to be a magic staff she's holding or somekind of weird windmill thing?
I was wondering why they we're even still available anyway. The movie is so old, I can't even remember which year it was. I thought the people forgot to clear the pegs.
Frosta was from the She-Ra cartoon/ Princess of Power toyline. She was super horny for He-Man. I'm not even joking.
I thought it was so cool when I was 11 or so, but now it's definitely in the so bad it's good category.
The quarterly large items/variants always seem to go up much later on BBTS, not sure why though, since they are part of the sub. Netossa & Fangman's price is up from 2012's basic figures, and Jitsu higher than that. My problems with the sub were: 1.) Buying blind, probably a fair share of stuff I don't want 2.) I don't want to make a 1 year commitment to a toy company, (a rarely do that even for a woman!) 3.) Not QC, but stories of other subscription service problems have worried me. 4.) Shipping every month adds another chunk to that, BBTS's POL minimizes shipping so often times doesn't cost much more even wtih their markup. But now, with BBTS's higher markups on basic low-demand figures(Netossa, Fangman, $40 instead of $35) and their even higher markup on high-demand figures($50 for Jitsu)... then the math of shipping and buying some unwanted items is now making me for the first time actually consider buying a sub. The deadline's next Monday, right? Or is it like 11:59 PM Sunday night?
