What Happened to Classic Batman at Toy Fair 2014??

[WishItWas1984]

Has anyone heard anything about this? Usually the people at the 1966 Batman forum are all over every little tidbit but they've posted nothing. Seeing pics a while back for Surfs Up Joker, and hearing that Yvonne Craig agreed to licensing terms (finally!), I was really looking forward to Toy Fair 2014 to see what Series 2 would hold.

I know the line isn't doing great but I assumed it would garner at least a 2nd Series or perhaps a Club pre-order program to see if it'll move on.

Then today's big Mattel announcement....and nothing. Not a single peep.

[WishItWas1984]

Well with the new stuff fully covered by the blogs, the misc. pictures have been posted and Mattel DID have a Classic TV Batman display!

But it was the same one from SDCC last year. Grrrrrr

Same Series 1 with the same Surfs Up Joker hanging with them.

Maybe at some point actual questions will be asked and interviews conducted at Toy Fair. I'm dying to know why they bothered to trot out that same crap, yet make zero mention of it in their presentation. You'd think it would garner a single PowerPoint slide. lol

[spockoda]

Yeah, I saw some pics of this series that were shown at Toy Fair and I saw the Surf's Up Joker. I am also curious what this means for this line. I also happened to catch some pics of the 6 inch superhero figures in replica Super Powers packaging. It left me wondering some things, like why hasn't there already been an updated Super Powers line, with Super Powers-type packaging since that is one of the most memorable lines from the 80s. I guess these are the last of the line of the 6 inch DC Universe figures I gathered from what I read. I always thought they were a tad pricey even though I realize they made a good number of characters that had been in the Super Powers line but if they had been presented in the throwback type packaging, it may or may not had made a difference to me because when I first saw pics of Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman in the updated retro packaging my initial thought was "Where can I get these at?".

[WishItWas1984]

Mar 2, 2014 18:32:12 GMT -6 spockoda said:

Yeah, I saw some pics of this series that were shown at Toy Fair and I saw the Surf's Up Joker. I am also curious what this means for this line. I also happened to catch some pics of the 6 inch superhero figures in replica Super Powers packaging. It left me wondering some things, like why hasn't there already been an updated Super Powers line, with Super Powers-type packaging since that is one of the most memorable lines from the 80s. I guess these are the last of the line of the 6 inch DC Universe figures I gathered from what I read. I always thought they were a tad pricey even though I realize they made a good number of characters that had been in the Super Powers line but if they had been presented in the throwback type packaging, it may or may not had made a difference to me because when I first saw pics of Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman in the updated retro packaging my initial thought was "Where can I get these at?".

Yeah I'm very curious as well. In the past it is very common for canceled lines to not be announced as cancelled but just "not show up" at a Con on Toy Fair and then eventually the manufacturer says, "Oh we have nothing planned for the future at this time". Most recently for Mattel just look at Ghostbusters.

At the risk of spinning my own thread off track, LOL, I have to say that pisses me off to no end. I understand and respect the risks involved in putting out a toy line where there is no other property to support it. However, Mattel has those awesome subscription programs. Why could we not have a subscription for Ghostbusters so we could get a Gozer, Terror Dog or Janine? Or maybe scene displays like Dana in the chair with the demon arms. If people are willing to subscribe to what it may cost, then what's the harm in throwing out sketches and seeing what happens?

That subscription idea is my thought with the Classic Batman. After all of these years and 1 series and no subscription plan?? Really?? What's extra weird is the Surfs Up Joker just hanging around by himself for this long. Popping up at multiple events. Is that legit or was it some off-hours custom they just like to display?

Anyway, as to the Super Powers. Yeah, they're just doing it as a overt nod to what they've been doing for years already with DC Universe. For me personally, I would need the action feature as well as the cool packaging before I'd be willing to pick up any. It's just not the same if I can't squeeze Superman's legs and have him punch. LOL

[spockoda]

As far as the Super Powers, I understand the super power actions were part of why the line was called "Super Powers" but even when they first came out as a 13 year old I liked the figures but I felt the super power actions kind of got in the way of play a little. There was no such problem with the Secret Wars figures, but they had other problems. On a side note, these figure subscriptions I keep hearing about are basically you having to pay for the privilege of having the chance to buy whatever figures you are getting the subscription for? Is that the deal?

[WishItWas1984]

Mar 4, 2014 16:54:14 GMT -6 spockoda said:

On a side note, these figure subscriptions I keep hearing about are basically you having to pay for the privilege of having the chance to buy whatever figures you are getting the subscription for? Is that the deal?

Pretty much, but it's a brilliant idea for manufacturers creating for the collector market. Considering the cost of production of a single series/wave, how many do you make in your initial batch? Is there even a market/desire for figures based on "x"?

So you pay for the wave and if the total in subscriptions reaches a preset goal amount, the series gets made. It takes a lot of the risk out of the venture.

However I failed to mention a huge 2nd problem with Mattel's implementation of the idea. The first, again, being that they don't offer subscriptions for everything and that they've killed lines without even attempting a subscription model.

The 2nd big thing is, not telling people what they will get! If I remember right, MOST of Mattel's subscriptions say that you'll get "x" number of figures if the goal is reached. Between 4-6 I believe. One of them being exclusive to subscribers. My complaint with this is an obvious one, why would I pay over $100 for something if I don't even know the CHARACTERS you'll be using?!?!

It's insane. Creating a prototype is out of the question, sure, but there is literally no reason you can't tell people the lineup and give them some images of what they'll (roughly) look like. They did this for Castle Greyskull and it got made.

[Toy Box Hero]

Yeah, the idea of agreeing to blind buy "X" number of figures at those kinds of prices without even knowing what characters they are is a leap of faith I'm just not willing to take. Obviously they can't show you something that hasn't been made, so there's always the quality risk, but what harm is there in telling potential subscribers "If you join up, these are the characters we intend to make (subject to change)"?

[spockoda]

It sorta sounds like buying a Sam's Club membership, not knowing whether they'll have the cut of steaks you want. Sounds like a risky venture from the collector's standpoint.

[jwswrestlingmem]

I find it odd that they're still shipping product if they don't plan on continuing. My nearest TRU has received several cases of the Batmobile and at least one case of figures (with Catwoman) so far this year.

I guess they could be blowing out old stock, but why wouldn't they try and do something to tie in wit the DVD release?

-J\/\/

[brcthrift]

No Egg Head no care.