[GizmoTron]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hulkwummy

Couldn't they release both Mandarin and Mephisto as Hasbro Pulse Exclusives?

I don't know it for a fact, but there seems to be an issue that Hasbro is either unwilling to or unable to sell some characters directly, and instead might only be able to do it as like an accessory. Like "buy this car and get a free figure" deal. Of course then when no one buys the car, then no extra figure, but that's a different issue.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBlueMarvel

I think you are swapping opinion for theory there, but I understand where you are coming from. I doubt there is a figure blacklist but I agree that certain figures just won’t be made and I also fear that the Mandarin is one of those characters. The look of the Mandarin isn’t exactly offensive, to me, but I do think he happens to look like a call back to “yellow peril” characters like Fu Manchu making him less than ideal within our modern context.

Well theoretical as in I doubt there's an actual physical list posted on the wall at Hasbro’s headquarters, but just the same I'm sure there are many potential figures the design team just treats as off limits, and very likely more than a few they tried to make but were shot down.