Tom asks: If the CIE line has to be planned out a year in advance, according to Toy Guru, to give time for sculpting why don’t we at least know the list of characters planned for the year when the subscription comes out? Even if a substitution has to be made for a figure or two, we would at least know what characters we are investing in rather than waiting for bits and pieces all year long during the current subscription.
We need flexibility in case the inevitable change happens. Figures originally planned for the line from day one often change due to cost or logistic issues and we don’t want to announce something that is still in the planning stages. Things change a lot in the toy industry which is why we wait until we are 100% (or close to 100%^) sure an item will make it to fans before announcing it. And this doesn’t always happen. Often things still get announced and changes happen.
Chaos! asks: Now that we have seen a Action League type Batman figure in the Target exclusive Justice League line, will Mattel try to release the Robin, Grundy, bat creature Batman, Green Lantern Batman, Phantom Batman and Ted Kord Blue Beetle BATB Action League figures that never made it out ? You already gave us Green Lantern Sinestro, Deadman, Kite Plasticman and Bronze Tiger from that line, please give us the others somehow.
The only Action League style figures that are part of the 2013 line are in the Justice League offering. So if you are all about that style, that’s your place to get one!
Brandon asks: Is there a particular reason why the bicep articulation was lost when making Larfleeze? Whatever the reason, I can speak for pretty much everyone who subscribes to DCIE when I say we do not want to see articulation lost for any reason. Poseability is one of the best parts of this line, so please pass this on to the design/engineering team(s).
EDITOR’S NOTE: For some reason, this question was not answered by Mattel. It wasn’t even included in the email I got from them. I’ll be resubmitting this for the next Q&A
Ron asks: Question for Mattel: Now that you are releasing the Batman 1966 TV figures, do you also have the licenses for other Classic TV series based on DC heroes, such as a George Reeves TV Superman or Lynda Carter TV Wonder Woman?
For now, we are just excited about the Classic TV Series Batman line – have you checked out the detail? Those figures are AMAZING!
bret asks: I’m curious to know why there is no ab crunch on the movie masters Man of Steel line. It seems like this joint should be a no brainer for a flying figure like Superman.
It was a trade-off between additional articulation and additional deco. We know how much fans love the detail and authenticity, so we went with the deco to create an amazing looking figure.
That’s it for this round of Ask Mattel! Join us again June 1st for the next answer session, and be on the lookout for your chance to submit your own questions to Mattel. And don’t forget to check out tonight’s episode of Toy Hunter on the Travel Channel, where Toyguru himself Scott Neitlich will be appearing. Until then.
