[trebleshot]

I wonder if it's more of an issue of toy companies aiming at a younger demographic now than they used to in the past. Because it seems to me only really young kids would like that "mucus flail" Spider-Man and Venom, or any other similarly-gimmicked toy (Like that Brave & The Bold multi-pack with Elastic Man).

I also think that some toy companies take a shotgun approach when it comes to developing a toy line, and try to put out several different styles of play in the hopes that they will hit some kind of market for the toys. I realize that a lot of what appears on shelves has had enough market research for the toy company to feel it would be a viable product. But I tend to question that research when I see really crap toys at stores (hence this thread).