[Jmacq1]

Wow. Huge news if it comes to pass (for the toy industry at least).

Wonder if there's gonna be a BIG announcement at Toy Fair?

My only hope-beyond-hope would be that the companies be intelligent enough to capitalize on each others' strengths and not get into the kinds of pissing matches that apparently occurred in the old Hasbro/Kenner merger (for instance, classic ARAH G.I. Joe was at least in part scuttled by former Kenner folks who had a grudge against the line).

Mattel keeps the dolls and cars (except Transformers). Hasbro handles the action figures (ZOMG Marvel and DC both being handled by the same people....). Mattel gets to do the distribution (because while I may not be buying a ton of their product, at least I can find it).

However, I do find myself curious as to how the merger might work in regards to licensed properties. I know they'd normally keep any contracts that were in place until their pre-determined expiration, but I could see Warner Brothers and Disney being nervous about one (merged) company handling both of their properties (DC and Marvel), and could see it being a big headache for "HasMat" as their licensors squabble and try to mess over each other's toy lines through them.