[JayC]

The folks at Mattel contacted me yesterday letting me know they wished to start up a monthly Q&A with their design team members for boys action figures. Basically the way it works is on the 1st and 15the of each month we can submit up to 3 questions that they will then get answers to us back on by the following 1st or 15th. So for instance we will send them 3 questions on the 1st of July and they should then get us answers back by July 15th were we will the send in 3 more questions which we then should have answers back on by August 1st, and so on.

So if you guys want to start posting questions you would like answered here, I will pick 3 to send in to them for the first of July, which we then should then have answers back on by July 15th.

POST YOUR QUESTIONS BELOW.

[StrykerX2K]

I'm not sure if you want this posted in this thread or you guys are going ot create a stickied one, but the question I have is "How long is it going to be before we see a toy line based on the new Legion of Super-Heroes toon?

[jett]

Is there any chance we may see better articulated versions of Robin and Nightwing in a future wave? So far most of Batman's villains and even Azrael, the Batgirls and Batman himself have all gotten nicely articulated versions but the only versions of Batman's sons are both simple 10 points of articulation or less statues. Both characters are extremely acrobatic and deserve figures that reflect this I believe.

Thank you for your time!

[A_Spidey_Fan]

Recently, it was revieled that you guys now have the full DC Lincense as indicated by this link:

http://toynewsi.com/...10&itemid=11501

I have 2 questions regarding this: (1.) Will you guys revieling some DC Superheroes figures besides Batman and Superman related characters by the SDCC 2007, or even some info about it(Like maybe when a Wonder Woman figure comes out or something like that)?

(2.) The article also menitons that you not only have the rights to do future movies and animated properites, but also ones from the past. Does this mean you guys could therorically have the rights to do action figures based on past movies and cartoons like Superfriends, Teen Titans(Which was done by Bandai), 1989 Batman movie, Christopher Reeves Superman films, etc?

[Scott]

How soon before we start to see non-batman/Superman characters in the 6" line?

[jwenig]

Congratulations on winning such a prestigious licensee deal with the WB.

I understand from a business point of view why Warner Brothers wants to partner with
the largest toy company worldwide, but from an action figure stand-point and from
many readers of this forum who follow the action figure genre... Mattel has one of
the weakest action figure offerings in that segment of toys.

Let me explain. Mattel had the rights to the Harry Potter Universe for a time and was
not able to turn a billion dollar franchise into a meaningful toy property like Hasbro
has done with Star Wars. Mattel also was responsible for the highly successful
Masters of the Universe figures that was resurrected alongside a new television
show and was cancelled. You currently have a popular Justice League and
DC Superheroes line of action figures that are extremely popular but the line has
issues with distribution or lack of product availability, character ratio or the fact that
every new case has many previous old characters, and quality control issues where
for example Aquaman who is famous for his Triton either does not come with one
or if he does, his hands are molded in a way to no hold the triton. Many figures have paint issues of overspray or missing paint applications.

Is Mattel aware that in the action figure segment that they are a joke to the action
figure community and will the company ever address this issue going forward?
I feel that with all of the other toy segments that this particular toy segment at Mattel
is ignored while your main competitor Hasbro kicks your butt with several leading
action figure lines included Star Wars, G.I.Joe, Transformers, and now
Marvel Legends.

I can't even pencil you in for any action figure line currently as a clear hit on any level
with companies like Hasbro, Neca, and McFarlane. They only credit I can give to you
is hiring the four horsemen to sculpt figures in the DC Superheroes line because no
one at Mattel has the talent to do so.

Jason

[JayC]

Gonna be sending these in soon, so if you have a question lets hear it now or forever hold your peace, or at least till the 15th.

[Jeff]

LOL, I don't think anyone even cares, cause they don't believe anything Mattel tells us anyway. An old saying comes to mind with these Q&A's.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice and shame on me.

[Flying_Infant]

My question:

Mattel, since you now have the rights to the entire DCU, and you've stated in the press release that the DC Superheroes line is aimed towards Collectors, will you stop shortpacking figures??

[Leatusiv]

Any plans for MOTU??? I will be very upset if it's relaunched after I have paid 20 dollars a piece for the stactions....Why do you guys like to kill your action figure lines??

[GR81]

GR81 says:

It was recently annonced (at he-man.org) that the MOTU 200x series will be coming on DVD soon.
Also, at SDCC, more news is possible.

My questions:
Will there be any sort of Action figure related promotion tied in with the DVD release?
With the rumors of a MOTU movie, if it happens, will there be a "relauch" of the 200x line or will there be a new "revamp" for the MOTU line with new toys?
Will there ever be a collectors club for MOTU???

[Cloud]

Ok here are my questions

First congrats on the full DC license,

1. so now that Mattel has the full license, will we see more female characters in the DCSH line?
2. any chance that the distribution will be improved especially in Canada and other countries?
3. will the future waves packing ratio be changed and cancel the 1 per case packing system?
4. since now Mattel has the full license for DC comics characters. Does that include story specific characters such as The Dark Knight Returns Batman or Kingdom Come Superman, etc?

Updated Q4. Just came to mind.

[Lord Amron]

Can we get a Kryptonian figure?
Is Wildstorm included in you DC agreement?
Did your lawyers make sure to include Charlton and Shazam characters so that they can be made as well??

[la eternidad dura un momento]

in truth they took into account the opinions from the consumers at the time of removing a product on sale? or single they listen to the accountants and executives who single wish gains and low costs to sacrifice of the quality, the joints or the selection of the characters estan insurances that there are to have the DC license comics in the future did not fight with them at the time of the renovation of license?

we will be able to see the figures in the Twist tales of Toyfare or they you would deberan to pay to the Warner to appear?

[JoeRhyno]

????

lol..

Can you guys address the case ratio please.. you ruined MOTU with your 4000 He-Men, and now.. you're doing the same with Sups and Bats.. just the other day, I was at TRU, I saw around 12 Black Batmen.. a couple Supermen pegwarmers from the previous waves... and 2 Banes...

Target, almost the same, but they have like 8 supermen and 6 Bizarros, Walmart had the recent Superman wave.. but only had Bizarro and superman.... x6 or so each.

I understand that Superman and Batman are the powersellers of this line.. but it gets old, please fix this.

Thank you,
-Joe

[JayCueBatman]

Will we ever see a Jim Gordon or Oracle figure in the 6in DCSH scale?

[Doom Saber]

Because you guys are now allowed to do other characters besides the big two, would this mean that there will be an increase of waves per year?

[shadowboy_2099]

Concerning to the ditribution subject, is Mexico included in ur marketing plans? We just got DCSH series 3 and the first purple packaging Superman series.

Cyborg Superman: is going to be available thru mass market retailers, or it`s going to be an online exclusive, as it has been rumored?

Any rough ideas of which characters will u be making for future waves, now that u have the full license??

[thanos0341]

Will the New Gods finally get the plastic treatment they deserve & that has loooong been overdue? I would love to see New Gods themed waves that include...

Orion
Mr Miracle
Kalibak
Parademons-army builder
Big Barda
High Father
Desadd
Steppenwolf
Apokaliptian soldiers-army builders

A BAF of the war hounds would be awesome as well!

[brett1368]

Hi! Very, very excited about the prospects of Mattel getting the DC licence! That said, one of DC Comics most popular stories was from their comic The New Teen Titans, a comic which once rivaled X-Men in sales and popularity. The story was The Judas Contract and is even being made into a direct to dvd movie. This story introduced fan favorite character Nightwing into the fold and featured the highly popular Deathstroke, Terra and Jericho. For years, press and fans have been BEGGING for figures from this popular story. My question is...

Will Mattel be doing characters such as Terra, Deathstroke, Jericho and Nightwing from the popular New Teen Titans Judas Contract story? Even if it doesn't 'exactly' tie in to the upcoming direct to dvd film from Warner, it would be great to see characters like Terra and Jericho done in action figure form for the first time ever -- based on George Perez's popular art from the story!

Thank you very much for your time and best of luck with your license!

Brett A. Tolino

[Slvrvette3]

Dear Mattel

Hello, and Congrats on the license, Just to piggy back on a few others, will we be seeing the Cyborg Superman in both 6 inch and 2up scale soon?

2nd- Can we expect further expansion of the 2 up, 13 inch figure line. now that you have complete license? Figures such as Green Lantern, Shazam, Wonder Woman, etc.?

3rd- Will there be a stronger gearing or push for collector friendly releases as well as playable versions?

Thank you,
Sincerely

Josh- A definite toy collector

[hamsterboy]

Hey,why didn't we see anything from you guys for Masters of the Universe's 25th Anniversary?

[mrfreeze]

Is there a snowball's chance that you guys will hire some better sculptors for the Justice League line who can actually do details on the characters? Will you guys ever make them properly scaled to each other? Is Justice League such a throw-away license to you?

It is the one toy line I still collect, and the one treated with the least respect by Mattel.