In my previous post, I mentioned the DCUC two-packs Mattel is soliciting. In order to get made, there has to be enough fan interest. Here’s a quick reminder of what the two-packs include:
Batman vs Clayface – Batman will be in his black and gray costume with “mud splatter” effects. Clayface will be an exact reissue of this hard to find figure.
Superman vs Brainiac – This is proposed as a standard Superman figure (Eradicator head on the Wave 6 Superman body with red heat vision eyes) vs. Classic Brainiac (green head) with an all new head and coller piece. Brainic will come armed with Luthor’s gun from the 2007 figure.
Supergirl vs. Luthor – This will be a reissue of the Blue outfit Kara Supergirl and the power suit Lex, but perhapes with a little surprise in the accessories!
Golden Age Hawk Pack – Two new figures to start your golden age collection.
Here’s my 2¢: Mattel could easily drum up more fan interest–and pre-orders–if they make a few simple changes.
- Get rid of the “muddy” paint on Batman–not as many collectors are going to want “Bathroom Accident Batman,” especially if they already have Clayface. But a straight black-and-gray repaint of Batman? Awesome. And it would save Mattel money by requiring fewer paint applications.
- Give Superman normal eyes, instead of red “heat vision” eyes
- Give Clayface solid plastic arms, not the rubbery arms he originally came with.
The first two would be very easy. I’m actually a bit curious as to why Mattel would make figures with these paint variations. It’s possible Mattel intends to release a non-muddy, black-and-gray Batman and a non-heat-vision Superman down the road, and so they’re making these variants to make sure collectors get a “new” figure.
Here’s the problem, though–collectors aren’t going to be as interested in these sort of variants if they don’t already have the “normal” versions. However, if you make the Batman and Superman in these two-packs “normal” versions, I feel confident Mattel would be much more likely to reach the pre-order numbers they need. (Clayface I suspect would be more difficult, due to the production issues involved, but I thought I’d throw it out there.)
I suppose if the idea is to maximize the total number of units sold between both these two-packs and the eventual “normal” versions, then you put out these variants in the two-packs first with the idea that impatient fans will buy them, and then also buy the normal versions when they come out. However, if it’s important to Mattel to get enough orders to produce these figures, going without the paint variations is the smarter idea.
So, my recommendation to Mattel is that they announce ASAP that the Batman will be non-muddy and that the Superman will have regular eyes. Make these changes and it’s a virtual lock those two-packs will have the pre-order numbers they need.
UPDATE! On the Matty Facebook profile, “Matty” (a.k.a. Toy Guru, a.k.a. Scott Neitlich) writes that Mattel does have a non-muddy Batman in the works. That’s great to hear, but it also removes any reason for me to order the Batman/Clayface set.
jimm
Get rid of the mud on Bats and i don't mind an extra Clayface!
Chris
@ Scott: "They always do this sort of thing where they release a “close enough” version before the real deal to get people to buy both. Why do you think they released Harley Quinn with a blue face, or, in the original Batman Beyond line, a blue Batman before a black one?"
Exactly. It's all about the money and longevity of the line. Toy companies make a few crappy add ons to the character so it's ALMOST the definitive version. They want you to buy what they release now, while you want slowly for the definitive version of the character.
I think the series 2 Aquaman (from the old vendor not the new) is PERFECT except I wanted a gold belt instead of yellow. There's certain small subtle details they'll do to make a figure in demand but not to the point where you would not buy an even better version of Aquaman if they made him.
Toybiz did it. Remember the versions of cyclops, wolverine…they just kept getting better and better.
Scott
They always do this sort of thing where they release a “close enough” version before the real deal to get people to buy both. Why do you think they released Harley Quinn with a blue face, or, in the original Batman Beyond line, a blue Batman before a black one?
sadman2000
Well, I pre-ordered the liqui-poo Batman and Clayface. But to be honest I have a feel the "ugly" factor some people have been talking about comes from the way Bat's ab crunch is posed, which makes his cape seem shorter and neck seem stubbier. If they do remove the mud-splatter effect it goes from a B+ set to a solid A for me. I can't wait for to come! If it does that is.
Paul
I want Supergirl anyway I can get her.
takeittothemax
I agree completely with your suggestions, and glad I'm not the only one who thought Batman looks like he just had an unfortunate 'accident'.
Esbat
Awesome!
Newt
Blah count me out if Clayface doesn't have a normal arm.
Rustin Parr
I agree with all your points.
I already have Clayface so that set is uninteresting to me and the muddy paint saves me 20+ bucks, but without the mud i would be pretty interested (which, dovetailing with your point about collector mentality – how many batman's do I already have yet that one still appeals to me) and if clayface gets plastic arms I'm 100% in.