Jun 6, 2013

Action figure woes: Out with the old In with the new!

That tends to be the norm, but it seems that Mattel is trying to push the infamous Nu52MOTU...
They have a poll in which they are asking people if they want:
-New DCU vs MOTU 2 packs based on the Nu52 versions of the characters (for $50)
-single MOTU figures based on the Nu52 (for $25)
-None of these.
Here's the Link


The worst part of this is that Mattel is just trying to shove a square peg on a round hole. On one hand we have Mr. Neitlich saying that they needed to cut back stuff for MOTU (less variants, large scale items, no more vehicles or playsets, etc.) on the other we have the Mini-Masters, now this poll asking for the Nu52 MOTU. So, is it one or the other? My uneducated guess is that this Nu52 may have a different budget than the MOTUC budget. Mattel will probably use the Four Horsemen for this venture... (Not saying that the Mattel Design Team sculpts on Ghostbusters killed the line, but the difference between the 4H's work and Mattel's design team is a bit noticeable on that line) Back on topic! If the 4 Horsemen have to sculpt More toylines for Mattel, that reduces the amount of time dedicated to EACH Figure. Assuming that the Nu52 MOTU figures use the MOTUC buck, then SOME time is saved. There's plenty of Reusable stuff from the MOTUC bucks. If they go with NEW bucks, that means MORE time is needed to work on the new parts. Why do I fear this may be an attempt to oversaturate the Market...


Why not a poll asking for the Already sculpted Battle Ram?
Something like:

Battle Ram Pre-Order:
-Full Battle Ram: ($50-$60 item)
-Only the Sky Sled ($15-$20 item)
-Not interested on vehicles.

Now here's something far more interesting. It's a pre-order so, if the not interested option wins, nothing is made. Also, this is far more "fan-demanded" than Nu52 MOTU.
BUUUUUUUUUUUT! Like the title says, Out with the old, In with the new! Mattel WILL make these Nu52 He-Man toys... or that's what I believe that they'll do regardless of fan-votes. I mean, when Hasbro came back with Marvel Legends, they went straight for the super new designs, not the classic looks... (the 90s Jean Grey seems to be a variant out of 3... I'm surprised they made THAT one!)
So, with this new MOTU Line that may or may not drain resources from Classics, I'm certain that it'll happen to promote the new designs... and the far more sinister movement to change He-Man into something else...

Assuming the worst and this line indeed DOES happen, I hope that they are in scale with the MOTUC toys. Nu52 He-Man v1 is an easy Figure to do: (Assuming they reuse the MOTUC buck)
New head
New Harness
New removable belt (like MOTUC Fisto) with the chainmail.

If they intend to use new non-MOTUC bodies, then they'd have to spend a lot more on tooling...

Also, Blegh! on Extremis Armor He-Man

You can vote on however you feel, but remember this: Yet another He-Man, Skeletor, Man-At-arms while we still have no Horde Troopers, Two Bad, Modulok, Glimmer, etc.

No comments:

Post a Comment