[ludovicotek]

^ I'm not sure that I believe Hasbro sells more product overall than Mattel (which is the #1 toy company in the world)

[trebleshot]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torn Prince

What point is there in having 2 Batman toylines running at once? You have The Dark Knight Rises, and then there's the straight up more animated looking Batman line. It almost seems like it would be over saturating the market.

Not at all. For one, those two lines have completely different aesthetics. For two, Mattel isn't the only one to run concurrent lines with a similar theme and/or IP.

For example, Hasbro has 2 Marvel lines being sold at retail right now (MU and Avengers). In some areas they still have figures from Cap, Thor and Iron Man hanging with the first two. So that's technically five concurrent Marvel lines on the shelves.

Transformers Prime, Generations/FoC and Bot Shots are all on the same shelves right now.

Star Wars: Clone Wars, TVC, SWTF and SW Fighter Pods are currently all on the shelves at the same time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crazy Jetty

actually... there is a potentially important nugget in that last answer I've never seen any of us consider before. Fitting them into the pricepoints retailers are demanding.

This is a very important aspect too. I'm in no way defending mattel at all, when hasbro has been able to manage it themselves, but this is definately making me look at this from a new angle.
We can only assume that Mattel's production runs are quite a bit lower than Hasbro's. We all know that means smaller profit margin per unit sold, and higher production costs per unit, because they don't have as much product to spred the costs out across.
So, it looks like it boils down to this: Hasbro has more product sold in more places to be able to meet the price point the retailers are demanding, with a figure that has as many moving parts as fans are demanding. Mattel does not.

That does put an interesting spin on Mattel's business strategy, assuming they do indeed have smaller production runs than Hasbro.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ludovicotek

^ I'm not sure that I believe Hasbro sells more product overall than Mattel (which is the #1 toy company in the world)

I don't think that's what Crazy was saying. I think Mattel still sells more product overall (or at least has the widest profit margin) and that's why they're still the #1 toy company. But I think most of their profit comes from Hot Wheels, Barbie, Cars and a few other lines.

I sincerely doubt that Mattel's DC products are anywhere near as profitable as Hasbro's Marvel products have been. Which would back up the idea that Hasbro does much larger production runs than Mattel (at least as far as the comic licenses are concerned).

[Shin Densetsu]

MattyCollector Q&A Answers 2012 Mid-August

Editors note: RE- answer to the DCUC hip question; WAT?....

[avcprime]

Well here is my question. Will you guys have a different body for DCU? Look at red robin he looks like he 40 because he has the same body as superman. The other company has like 5 bodies to choose from and some are even unique.

[kenm2474]

I wasn't able to ask but I wil do it here. Why hasn't anyone asked Where is a ML Avengers Movie Black Widow?

[trebleshot]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shin Densetsu

MattyCollector Q&A Answers 2012 Mid-August

Editors note: RE- answer to the DCUC hip question; WAT?....

No kidding. It sure as hell doesn't look like any ball joint I've ever seen (and I've been playing with and/or collecting toys close to 28 years now).

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenm2474

I wasn't able to ask but I wil do it here. Why hasn't anyone asked Where is a ML Avengers Movie Black Widow?

Uh....because this is a Mattel Q&A thread and Marvel characters are done by Hasbro?

[Ezilla82]

Possibly...well that is either a yes, no, or maybe. but either way I hope it goes through. Because would love to have the Powers of Pain, just my opinion.

[hrothgars]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shin Densetsu

RE- answer to the DCUC hip question; WAT?....

Quote:

Originally Posted by trebleshot

No kidding. It sure as hell doesn't look like any ball joint I've ever seen (and I've been playing with and/or collecting toys close to 28 years now).

It seems wrong, but it is a form of ball joint. It is easier to see on a figure like Hawkgirl. Heat her up with a hair dryer and then work her hips through a full range of motion.

The inside of the hip is indeed attached by a ball joint. The barbell inside the pelvis has two ball ends (one for each hip) and joins both hips through the pelvis.

I think we are all thinking of the junction at the outside of the hip, which is a restricted-range pinned hinge.

[kenm2474]

Quote:

Originally Posted by trebleshot

No kidding. It sure as hell doesn't look like any ball joint I've ever seen (and I've been playing with and/or collecting toys close to 28 years now).



Uh....because this is a Mattel Q&A thread and Marvel characters are done by Hasbro?

Ooops...Sorry.

[Shin Densetsu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by avcprime

Well here is my question. Will you guys have a different body for DCU? Look at red robin he looks like he 40 because he has the same body as superman. The other company has like 5 bodies to choose from and some are even unique.

Is he supposed to be like that in the books though? I was under the impression that Red Robin was an older and possibly stronger Robin from the multiverse.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ezilla82

Possibly...well that is either a yes, no, or maybe. but either way I hope it goes through. Because would love to have the Powers of Pain, just my opinion.

The WWE team seems determined to release the Classics by trickling them into the mainlines, so there is hope for them.

I am pretty surprised that after years of DCUC, some Batman Legacy waves and now Batman Unlimited, that we have yet to see Mattel bring over the Europe-exclusive Armor Attack Batman, the 1st fully articulated comic style Batman that the 4H sculpted!

[deathbymexico]

the red robin from kingdom come is an older dick grayson, so thats prolly intentional, unless they were trying to do a tim drake red robin, which maybe is why he comes with a staff? i dont remember kingdom come red robin using a staff. but their costumes were very similar

[deathbymexico]

oh here's my question. for DC figures, is it much more expensive to produce and include accessories for characters? for example, the batman legacy figures, many came without accessories when the batman characters are almost the most known users or gadgets and weaponry. legacy series 1 batman with no batarang? but joker came with a hammer, and cards? what determines wether or not a character will comes with anything aside from a display stand?

[Prowl 2009]

For next Matty Q&A:

Will the new Batman Unlimited and DC Unlimited lines have better distribution in Canada then DCUC did? As Canadian fans, it was very difficult to locate the previous line, so we hope these new lines will be more readily available to your Canadian fan base.

[trebleshot]

Quote:

Originally Posted by hrothgars

The inside of the hip is indeed attached by a ball joint. The barbell inside the pelvis has two ball ends (one for each hip) and joins both hips through the pelvis.

Well, there's part of my problem. I've never taken apart a DCUC toy before.

Quote:

I think we are all thinking of the junction at the outside of the hip, which is a restricted-range pinned hinge.

While that's a bit of a mouthful, but at least we know what to call it now. Thanks!

And it seems almost every joint can be broken down into a combination of any of three types: ball/socket, hinge or swivel (with friction, pinned and rivet being the different versions of the last two). Or possibly just one of those three for simpler toys.

[scarecrow]

Eff Mattel. This is probably the worst bunch of answers yet.

[Solrac333]

So who's collecting the Batman lines? Both look horrible. Especially the Dark Knight ones. At least the other one kind of looks fun.

[scarecrow]

I bought one of the 4" Banes for the hell of it, otherwise it's all terrible other than MM, who's depressingly bad distribution is everything you'd expect from Mattel.

P.s. If anyone has a Ra's Al Ghul that they don't want and aren't scalping, pm please. I doubt I'll ever find one in stores.

[CMIII]

Are there any planned Multi Packs (2 and 5 packs) from DCUC for 2013 and beyond or are they going to end? I'm Sure most fans would like to see Characters they either missed or never saw due to Stores never putting them out

[OwlLasers]

Why is Mattel releasing Batman figures in the DC Unlimited line (a la Injustice Batman) when, as of this post, they seem to be saturating the Batman Unlimited line with Batman figures almost exclusively? It seems like the Batman Unlimited line can be taken literally at its name to the point that it spills over into the DC not-so-Unlimited line.

[CMIII]

Quote:

Originally Posted by deathbymexico

the red robin from kingdom come is an older dick grayson, so thats prolly intentional, unless they were trying to do a tim drake red robin, which maybe is why he comes with a staff? i dont remember kingdom come red robin using a staff. but their costumes were very similar

I tought the Red Robin in Kingdome Come was Tim Drake. I believe that Dick Grayson Became Batman II but Kingdome Come is set on an entirely Different Earth (Earth 22) in the New 52 many things have changed in the near future Stormwatch by Imiage Comics is scheduled to release in about 30 Days Under DC's Imprint so I hope that means the Entire Series (Stormwatch) will be considered for Figures

[scarecrow]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CMIII

I tought the Red Robin in Kingdome Come was Tim Drake. I believe that Dick Grayson Became Batman II but Kingdome Come is set on an entirely Different Earth (Earth 22) in the New 52 many things have changed in the near future Stormwatch by Imiage Comics is scheduled to release in about 30 Days Under DC's Imprint so I hope that means the Entire Series (Stormwatch) will be considered for Figures

Dick Grayson was Red Robin in Kingdom Come. Tim Drake was, and as far as I know, still is Red Robin in the regular continuity. Of course, thanks to New 52, the story's been altered slightly. I feel like you knew where you were going with that, but thought I'd chime in any way.

[hrothgars]

The box art for the all-star wave Red Robin references Tim Drake and the pre-New52 continuity, Red Robin Vol. 1 #1-12.

[Shin Densetsu]

MattyCollector 2012 Q&A Answers For August 31

[trebleshot]

I hate it when people answer a question that is obviously not a "Yes/No" question with a "yes" or a "no". I also don't like it when someone answers a "Yes/No" question with a completely different response from the two possible.

Considering their DC 6" products are mainly available through subscriptions or conventions, I'd say their super hero production runs are shorter than Hasbro's Marvel 6" lines. I imagine their Hot Wheels production runs are probably through the roof compared to say, Hasbro's RPM line.

Hard to say for certain though, since I don't believe either company releases those numbers to the public.

[Dr Kain]

Wait, what the heck:

Quote:

Q2. Can a Plastic Man neck extender be included with DC Sub Elongated Man?

A2. No, it is too late to make any changes to any of the figures revealed at SDCC.

DCClassics.Com Asks: Will any of Plastic Man’s parts be compatible with Elongated Man?

We actually do not know yet as we don’t have a sample to check.

These questions just completely contradict each other.