- Here’s the first comment I’ve seen from Mattel on the DCUC subscription results: “The final tally was around 60-62% (I’ll need to ask the DC team for an exact number). We are literally reviewing the numbers to see if their is anyway to go forward now that we are under 100%. It may take another week or so before we will know an answer. Fans have been so passionate, but in the end it comes down to whether their are enough of them to move forward with this program!” I had been beginning to suspect late last week that a non-100% subscription rate might not mean an immediate cancellation of the sub. One idea a poster on the Fwoosh had was to raise the price of the non-sub sale day figures from $15 to $20 (while subscribers still pay $15). I think that’s a good idea. Had I not subscribed, I’d have happily paid $20 for Poison Ivy and not thought twice about it.
- Mattel also posted a lengthy explanation for Battleground Evil-Lyn on their Facebook page. I’m still not sure how I feel about BGEL. Initially this was exactly what I had expected a Millennium Evil-lyn to be (proof here and here). I had been expecting more only after this post by ToyGuru last year. So without that post by ToyGuru, I might not have been disappointed at all. I can certainly see why a lot of fans are unhappy. And I’m a bit confused by the tooling explanation: “[…] we felt that it would be better to go with this simpler version rather than sink a lot of tooling into a version that didn’t have waist articulation, better hip function, etc. If we used up the tooling now, it may have killed the chance to do a version that 100% satisfies all of the fan requests. Now that the 2.0 body has been created and worked into the line, the door is open to do this version in the future.” Which I think raises a significant question: why do a Millennium Evil-lyn now at all, instead of waiting to use the 2.0 body with new tooling? What’s the rush? I’d happily have taken, say, a minicomic Trap Jaw instead.
- Here’s a fantastic NECA-style Dutch from Predator custom using NECA Duke Nukem and Terminator parts.
- I need to get more into Minimates–check out the Previews-exclusive Knight Rider KITT with Super-Pursuit Mode parts.
dean
Lion-O and Tygra are a hair over 8" tall, have a few extras, and tons of articulation for $16-$18 before tax or shipping. Why won't Matty pony up the goods for the price they want for their smaller, poorly-painted, accessory free, recession ankle, sketchy QC, yet expertly sculpted DCUC figures?
Now they want even more money for less…what am I missing? Why can other companies give us some cool shiznit for less money, but Matty won't? Is it simply greed or does their business model really suck that badly? I mean, they are the world's #1 toy company for goshsakes.
Billy Brown
If they up the cost of the figures for the DCUC sub to $20 for people that didn't subscribe there could be a bit of backlash since we weren't told about it beforehand. I was going back and forth on getting the sub but by the time I had made my decision to go through with it it was already too late. I won't be happy about having to pay $20 for them because I missed out on it but I have only myself to blame. I still think shipping is a bit outrageous for what they are but I would gladly pay for Atrocitus, Jay Garrick, and I'm even digging Starman. Had they revealed just one or two more that they were even just talking about having as figures in the lineup I probably would have jumped on with less hesitation. I do hope it still goes through though because the fan backing is there even if they don't see it. The biggest flaw was just in the execution. I don't think they should have used a thermometer because you don't know exactly how much more you need to get to the next step. I'm a person who deals in facts and solid numbers and I didn't have those to help me with my decision as I'm sure many others would agree.
Nicholai
I don't care what they have to do, I just want the DCUC sub to go through. I've been very selective in my MOTUC pick-ups since I've got most of the vintage cartoon/figure crew that I wanted, but I may go with BGEL because Evil-Lyn is one of my favorite MOTU characters.
I really think the MOTUC sub would be a better deal (in a world without preorders) with a tiered system. I know they mentioned that MOTUC subs are down from previous years, which was probably another non-DCUC factor in extending the subs twice, and I think things like the big figures and the Star Sisters are what are scaring some people off. They could do several tiers: All-In, just the new monthly figures, etc.
PrfktTear
I've paid $20 and pretty darn close to it for DCUC figures before so its really no big deal.
nerdbot
$15 or $20… It doesn't matter much. If it is a character I really want, I'll probably buy it. But it's not the initial charge alone that discourages me from buying from their site, it's also the exorbitant shipping charges that have to be factored in.
No matter what they charge for the sale day figures, I suspect ones like Jay and Ivy will sell out, and ones like Starman will not. Even if they decide to go through with the first year of this sub, I would be very surprised to see it survive for a second or third year. I'd like to see it hang-on, somehow, for the sake of the hardcore fans (and with hopes that the Doom Patrol will someday be complete) – but my interest in DCUC has waned considerably. Hell, my interest in DC Comics is teetering on the brink; I think the re-boot will be my jumping-off point.
dean
I got me some Thundercats Classics for $17.50 shipped, apiece. No way am I paying $20 plus shipping for DCUC; no matter who it is. The QC is not there. The perceived value for my money is not there.
The T-Cats are not without flaws, but I am blown away by what I’m getting for my dough. I haven’t loved a toy this much since I was 5 or 6. Why won’t Matty pony up the goods like Bandai America is?
BTW, I never thought I would love anything produced by Bandai America.
Heli
I want to know where you got that deal on the T-Cats. I'd go for that…
Anyway, I've said it before, though maybe not here: my inner conspiracy theorist says that Mattel didn't really need 100% of whatever was listed on that thermometer, and deliberately set it high, so that it would fail and they could swoop back in with a, "look at all we've done for you, the fans!" and go through with the line anyway. I may be wrong, but I wouldn't put it past 'em.
dean
BigBadToyStore (great place to buy online, and no, I'm not affiliated in any way). Since I had a Pile of Loot it only cost me $0.90 to add them to my order.
If only Matty had a Pile of Loot…might of got me into that DCUC sub.
And the inner conspiracy guy in me tends to agree with you 100%.
Heli
Thanks!
stack32
I'm surprised at how many people seem to think charging $20 for DCUC is a good idea. I don't think it would play well with the people who weren't desperate enough to subscribe and keep DCUC going, but maybe I'm wrong.
toyman
You're probably right, I'm sure they'll be many people who this won't sit well with. It works for me though. I'll gladly pay 20 bucks for Jay and Ivy if that mean I'm not forced into 15 bucks for Starman or some other potential jobber.
americanhyena
I’d pay $20 for Atrocitus and Ivy, especially since I blew off the MOTUC sub (not because of Star Sisters, but because my buddy opted to cherry pick and ordering the two always gave me the ability to choose paint from two pieces).
misterbigbo
I gotta say ditto w/most of y’all on BGEL and the Star Sisters: yay and yuck respectively.
That’s one thing about some of my fellow collectors of this line that I won’t get; how people really get upset about toy designs. I have certainly seen many figs I haven’t been interested in, or maybe that I wish had been slightly different, but I wouldn’t use words like “hate”, “stupid”, “ridiculous”, or my favorite (about Panthor and gawdhelpme I can’t find the link) “foolish”. Cuz you know these people still buy them.
I have a lot of respect for the FHM, and am mellowing in my old age.
Thomas b
I am happy with bgel.
About the dc sub. Toy guru just said they are looking into making the day of figures a bit more expensive. You can see him respond to crazy sue happy poster here
http://forums.mattycollector.com/eve/forums/a/tpc…
Side note. The LegalGuru sounds crazy as indicative of the crazy fan. I'm surprised mattel talks to fans after posts like this.
Thrawn
I hate BG Evil Lyn. The entire point of her was to get her out of Teela's dress. Vintage fans got the yellow Teela repaint, and purple Evil Lyn was meant to be the 200x version. That meant getting her out of Teela's dress. That was the only requirement for the figure.
The only positive thing I can say about her is that she's infinitely better than the yellow version we got.
Snarf! Snarf!
This! A million times!
Then again Toyguru DID warn us on his post… (Now that I've re-read it a couple of times.)
"I imagine she would be a lot more"
Like 200X Tunic perhaps
"then just a repaint."
Teela Tunic repainted in a quasi 200X scheme…
PrfktTear
Meh. I don't really care that they're still using the same dress. Its what I fully expected so no surprises there. I do agree with the point that Poe raised though… if they knew they had the female buck 2.0 coming down the line why not wait to do BAGEL Evil Lyn and instead do another easy repaint or something.
Magneto76
I also wanna chime in on the Star sisters package….I have ZERO interest in these ladies…I almost skipped my sub, but Shadow Weaver kept me in the game. The SS will be sold.. I am not putting them on my shelf.
Magneto76
I think this BGEL looks awesome, I can't wait to add her to my shelf. She'll be the 200x stand in with her daddy for now. I'd love to get an extra non-helmet head to repaint for Classic EL….
Classic yellow is holding her ground next to Skeletor. I'm stoked about the GITD "powered-up" orb she's getting…Is she getting a bird also? The original release came with one…just curious.
Mario
Well, my hope for the DCUC sub stays alive with that statement… that Dutch is a beaut too!
MldMnrdReporter
I’m indifferent about the Star Sisters. I’d equal opportunity when it comes to POP figures in MOTUC. I love the line and I welcome all additions to it. As for BG Evil-Lyn, I think she looks great. She’ll be the figure I display next to Skeletor instead of the “classic” version.
Mysterious Stranger
Considering DCUC is hovering close to $20 at retail now I wouldn't be opposed at all to paying $20 on Mattycollector. I didn't sign up for the sub because I really only want the Atrocitus figure and maybe Jay Garrick. I'm just not a DCUC collector beyond a few characters and the GL stuff so this sub was not for me.
R.Ace
I just don't seem to get why so many fans are pissed about Evil-Lyn. I think she looks cool and since they reissued the original a few months back, I don't understand all the hating. I do, however, take issue with the Star Sisters. I did not sign up for a Club Eternia sub this year and they are the reason why. Just my 2 cents.
toyman
I too am missing the big deal with BGEL. She looks great to me and the helmet-less head is superb. You get both classic and 200X elements so what's not to love? I also agree about the Star Sisters. They weren't enough to make me opt out of a sub but I couldn't care less for them. Wish they would've been a non-sub inclusion like Granamyr will be.
Battle Catman
I'm with you. All I wanted was a "purple" Evil-Lyn, and now we're getting one. Done and done.
Would it have been nice to get a new sculpt to make her more 200X accurate? Sure, of course. But I'm not going to not buy BG Evil-Lyn out of protest or some such nonsense.
dean
Agree 100%!