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Originally Posted by TheBlueMarvel

Yes, I'm cognizant of the depth and breadth of "collectable interests" out there. I'm not poo-poo'ing that at all. My issue is with the toy line, not those that buy its offerings.

That's not quite what I was getting at with my suggestion. You said yourself that you're dismayed that the line is selling. I made a logical assumption that you're feeling that way because you don't like TH and cannot understand why anyone else would like them.

I was simply suggesting that situations like that happen all the time and not to waste too much time/energy focusing on the fact that TH is a success at retail.

For example, I don't know why anyone would buy Equestrian Girls dolls. I think they look like crap. But apparently they are selling well in spite of my opinion, so I just accept that fact and move on with life. My daughter's even into the EG show now, so I might end up buying some of those same dolls for her at some point.

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I respect that you are a moderator here, which may make you privy to more of the back-room conversations and gossip/rumors revolving around these companies (although, I have noticed at times, your comments seem to be just as "in the dark" as our own lamentations...at least as it regards when things are coming out). Having said that, I don't believe that these lines are as mutually exclusive as you maintain them to be (unless of course, you have some inside information or journalistic-quotes to share...)

No inside information on my part. Just drawing on years of experience following the business-side of this industry. The way I read your statement, it sounded like you were expressing a cause-and-effect relationship between TH and DCUC. If/when TH fails at retail, Mattel would immediately revisit DCUC.

I maintain that is not the case. One, TH is a retail line and DCUC stopped being one years ago. Two, as Mattel has stated several times in their Q&A sessions, the retail team and the Mattycollector team are separate divisions within Mattel.

Based on those two facts, I conclude that the failure of TH would not bring back DCUC. In fact, I believe it's much more likely to have the opposite effect and cause Mattel to drop 6" DC toys completely in favor of smaller lines like DCMV and Batman.

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What you call "spite" on my part, is a cold and calculated leveraging tool to me.

You want Mattel to fail so that they will realize they made a mistake by taking DCUC away and rush to bring it back. How else would you have me describe that?

I mean no disrespect or ill will. But to me, that sounds fairly vindictive.

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Obviously, I can't predict exactly what Mattel might do if TH tanks. But like nature, the "market" abhors a vacuum. With a fresh black-eye from a failed TH line, Mattel executives will naturally try to fill the gap.

You are also assuming that Mattel execs would believe that there is still a market left to tap after TH. What if they decide 6" DC toys are no longer profitable enough to continue in any form?

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And similar to what I mentioned about the fast food franchises, Hasbro and Marvel Legends have proven that you can indeed go back to your ex-lover and reignite that old flame....the same could easily be true for Mattel and DC Universe.

Keep in mind, Hasbro stopped making 6" Marvel figures completely for a while before ROML debuted. Same thing happens with fast food chains and some of their specialty items. It may be years before demand builds back up enough for Mattel to try DCUC-style figures again.

Hasbro also never went to a subscription-only service when ML began failing at retail.

Don't misunderstand: I do think that the ROML is a great example to use as a beacon of hope for disappointed DCUC fans. But Mattel is not Hasbro. Just because Hasbro brought back something successfully, doesn't mean Mattel can (or will) do the same.

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Originally Posted by TheBlueMarvel

lol yeah, I think I over did it....I hope I don't get banned and sent "beyond the wall!"

I would never be that petty simply because someone held a different opinion than mine.