Comments on: Poe’s Point > DCUC and retail distribution http://www.poeghostal.com/2008/05/poes-point-dcuc-and-retail-distribution.html A blog about action figures and the toy industry in general by writer and collector Poe Ghostal. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 21:24:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Toy links : Fanmode http://www.poeghostal.com/2008/05/poes-point-dcuc-and-retail-distribution.html#comment-1165 Toy links : Fanmode Fri, 30 May 2008 18:44:58 +0000 http://www.poeghostal.com/?p=466#comment-1165 [...] Poe Ghostal on DC Universe Classics’ retail distribution. “There’s lot of evidence Mattel has learned from their mistakes …” [...] [...] Poe Ghostal on DC Universe Classics’ retail distribution. “There’s lot of evidence Mattel has learned from their mistakes …” [...]

]]> By: Rich http://www.poeghostal.com/2008/05/poes-point-dcuc-and-retail-distribution.html#comment-1164 Rich Fri, 30 May 2008 12:25:05 +0000 http://www.poeghostal.com/?p=466#comment-1164 I think kids are mostly "into" what's currently playing on Saturday morning t.v. on the regular network stations. Kids want what they see in the shows and what's hocked to them during the show's commercials and the parents gravitate to that stuff when they're looking for what to buy. So DCUC won't register with kids or their parents (unless they spot an A-list DCUC character like Bats, Supes, or WonderWoman) and is really geared to those of us yacking it up on these boards who are nuts enough to pop $50 per wave so we can Click-n-Connect like silly. IMO. I think kids are mostly "into" what's currently playing on Saturday morning t.v. on the regular network stations. Kids want what they see in the shows and what's hocked to them during the show's commercials and the parents gravitate to that stuff when they're looking for what to buy. So DCUC won't register with kids or their parents (unless they spot an A-list DCUC character like Bats, Supes, or WonderWoman) and is really geared to those of us yacking it up on these boards who are nuts enough to pop $50 per wave so we can Click-n-Connect like silly. IMO.

]]> By: Esbat http://www.poeghostal.com/2008/05/poes-point-dcuc-and-retail-distribution.html#comment-1163 Esbat Thu, 29 May 2008 23:29:42 +0000 http://www.poeghostal.com/?p=466#comment-1163 I'm thoroughly enjoying the growing rogue's gallery of villians being put out. I'm thoroughly enjoying the growing rogue's gallery of villians being put out.

]]> By: Pete http://www.poeghostal.com/2008/05/poes-point-dcuc-and-retail-distribution.html#comment-1159 Pete Thu, 29 May 2008 11:47:51 +0000 http://www.poeghostal.com/?p=466#comment-1159 That reminds me, I need to preorder waves 3 and 4. That reminds me, I need to preorder waves 3 and 4.

]]> By: Poe http://www.poeghostal.com/2008/05/poes-point-dcuc-and-retail-distribution.html#comment-1158 Poe Thu, 29 May 2008 11:37:35 +0000 http://www.poeghostal.com/?p=466#comment-1158 Grodd's the best figure in the wave, frankly. And some of those figures (like classic Aquaman) are pretty damn good as it is. Grodd's the best figure in the wave, frankly. And some of those figures (like classic Aquaman) are pretty damn good as it is.

]]> By: googum http://www.poeghostal.com/2008/05/poes-point-dcuc-and-retail-distribution.html#comment-1157 googum Thu, 29 May 2008 11:21:30 +0000 http://www.poeghostal.com/?p=466#comment-1157 Bother. Arctic Blast Batman is starting to look like a must have to me. I think I have a problem. I'm considering just cherry-picking DCUC 2: so far I just have Firestorm, and Aquaman's a must-have...but I do kinda want Grodd. Bother. Arctic Blast Batman is starting to look like a must have to me. I think I have a problem.

I'm considering just cherry-picking DCUC 2: so far I just have Firestorm, and Aquaman's a must-have…but I do kinda want Grodd.

]]> By: Poe http://www.poeghostal.com/2008/05/poes-point-dcuc-and-retail-distribution.html#comment-1156 Poe Thu, 29 May 2008 11:02:49 +0000 http://www.poeghostal.com/?p=466#comment-1156 One issue that doesn't get brought up much is that it's also incumbent upon DC to build the brand and its popularity. Marvel has done that successfully, but DC continues to act like their mainstream superhero comics are Vertigo, and so kids who pick up the latest issue of <em>Batman</em> find themselves lost in the bizarre storyline Grant Morrison has going on right now. That's not a knock against Morrison--I'm enjoying "Batman R.I.P."--but it's not exactly kid-friendly, and that goes across the board for the DCU. That said, I think "The Sinestro Corps War" was on par with any of Marvel's recent events in terms of quality and fun factor. But that's not the model DC seems to be using for most of their events. DC has been targeting an older audience than Marvel for years. I guess the question might be, should DC really have a mass market, comic book based action figure line? Does DC Direct relatively fulfill the needs of comics readers for figure collectibles? I'd say no, since I've hardly bought any DCD product, but I've preordered DCUC through wave 5. But that said, I do have concerns that the mass market line can't sustain itself if DC doesn't make an effort to draw in younger readers. One issue that doesn't get brought up much is that it's also incumbent upon DC to build the brand and its popularity. Marvel has done that successfully, but DC continues to act like their mainstream superhero comics are Vertigo, and so kids who pick up the latest issue of Batman find themselves lost in the bizarre storyline Grant Morrison has going on right now.

That's not a knock against Morrison–I'm enjoying "Batman R.I.P."–but it's not exactly kid-friendly, and that goes across the board for the DCU.

That said, I think "The Sinestro Corps War" was on par with any of Marvel's recent events in terms of quality and fun factor. But that's not the model DC seems to be using for most of their events. DC has been targeting an older audience than Marvel for years.

I guess the question might be, should DC really have a mass market, comic book based action figure line? Does DC Direct relatively fulfill the needs of comics readers for figure collectibles?

I'd say no, since I've hardly bought any DCD product, but I've preordered DCUC through wave 5. But that said, I do have concerns that the mass market line can't sustain itself if DC doesn't make an effort to draw in younger readers.

]]> By: Rich http://www.poeghostal.com/2008/05/poes-point-dcuc-and-retail-distribution.html#comment-1155 Rich Thu, 29 May 2008 09:57:15 +0000 http://www.poeghostal.com/?p=466#comment-1155 Nice article. We didn't collect much DC stuff before because there wasn't much kickin' DC stuff to collect ;-). Sure I got a bunch of those wittle JLU figures for $3-5 a pop for the kids to bash around and picked up a fair amount of The Batman figures because I was overly geeked on the show, but Marvel ran the show for the last few years. So yeah, let's hope DC gets a good run going. But I wouldn't bet that they've fixed their distribution problems which is why I immediately took to pre-ordering cases online. I wanted to reserve the hassle of hunting for true chase figures (like ML Destroyer), not for what's supposed to be a readily available mass market 6" figure. I predict lousy distribution and screw ups with their store exclusive waves will kill this line in a year. Here's hoping I wrong!!!! ;-) Nice article. We didn't collect much DC stuff before because there wasn't much kickin' DC stuff to collect ;-) . Sure I got a bunch of those wittle JLU figures for $3-5 a pop for the kids to bash around and picked up a fair amount of The Batman figures because I was overly geeked on the show, but Marvel ran the show for the last few years. So yeah, let's hope DC gets a good run going. But I wouldn't bet that they've fixed their distribution problems which is why I immediately took to pre-ordering cases online. I wanted to reserve the hassle of hunting for true chase figures (like ML Destroyer), not for what's supposed to be a readily available mass market 6" figure. I predict lousy distribution and screw ups with their store exclusive waves will kill this line in a year. Here's hoping I wrong!!!! ;-)

]]> By: PrftktTear http://www.poeghostal.com/2008/05/poes-point-dcuc-and-retail-distribution.html#comment-1154 PrftktTear Thu, 29 May 2008 09:34:47 +0000 http://www.poeghostal.com/?p=466#comment-1154 You make excellent points. Hopefully DCUC will be around for a long time to come. The sculpts and the beauty made me a fan. I'm someone who before DCUC, never really collected any DC stuff, save Zipline Batman from the original Batman line. Overall they're great figures that belong in toy aisles as much as they do in specialty shops. -x You make excellent points. Hopefully DCUC will be around for a long time to come. The sculpts and the beauty made me a fan. I'm someone who before DCUC, never really collected any DC stuff, save Zipline Batman from the original Batman line. Overall they're great figures that belong in toy aisles as much as they do in specialty shops.

-x

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