DSTZach

15 hours ago, Nessex said:

I see a lot of people online blaming the Mouse literally everything they don't like about Marvel right now, but I'm wondering: as someone working within the toy industry, have you got any idea on what has created this shift/change?

Is there any consideration on how different sets might be aimed at different audiences? 
I get that a set featuring characters in a recent animated Spider-Man film could be assumed to be for children. So - try and keep it from being too raunchy.
For a box set featuring a story from the 80s- anyone who's old enough to remember those comics and costumes is in their 40s+ now, right? Maybe that set is more of an adult collectible?

Rambling, independent, non-DST-spokesman thoughts:

I do think there has been a shift in culture in the US to not appear exploitative. If Zendaya wants to dress like a Sorayama robot, she can, but to try and sell an image (or toy) of her dressed like a Sorayama robot is iffy. 

I would not blame Disney for this -- they are going ahead with a new Deadpool, so they clearly see that there is a market for adult-oriented material. And I'm sure Fox will continue to make R-rated films. And the Marvel movies will I'm sure continue to feature PG-13 material, including that Eternals love scene and plenty of gunfights.

BUT comics have a long history of backlash against adult content when they are marketed (in the US, overwhelmingly) for kids. Obviously, there is a market for adult-oriented comics, and DC even has their Black Label books, but Marvel's MAX line seems to be a distant memory. I remember just a few years back they got Milo Manara to draw some Marvel covers, but one cover of Spider-Woman saw some backlash because she appeared too submissive/sexualized. 

And toys... remember when they put Breaking Bad toys in Toys"R"Us? Toys are for kids, and if they are in a toy store, they are going to be seen by kids. Licensors that exclusively sell to older audiences don't care, but family-friendly companies want you to make family-friendly toys.  Even with Black Label, I don't think we'll see anything risque coming out of McFarlane's DC line. 

...Any of that make any sense?

I mentioned Dazzler, because she has some cleavage that probably wouldn't fly today. I remember once a blogger called us out online about our Stargirl MM for having a highly defined chest. I was actually confused, because at the time that figure was like 5-6 years old and we had JUST released the Lady Death set. 

Everything is up in the air, including the 60s and 70s sets. 

We're always looking to get back into the DC license, but I think action figures AND mini-figures are both non-starters, what with LEGO and McFarlane's range of different-sized figures. 

22 hours ago, buttheadsmate said:

I understand ,of course I understand but.... 

There are 3 Minimates that immediately come to mind that would be considered comparable ...Tarot,  Witchblade & Lady Death . 

Sorry, I meant any MARVEL toys, including specialty-only ones like Minimates. 

Obviously Tarot, Lady Death, Sin City were intended for older collectors, but outside of Deadpool, and some of the street-level TV shows, Marvel is a family brand. (As much as I immediately regret showing my kids certain Marvel films, what with language, bullets and love scenes.)

Selene/Black Queen is pretty inappropriate, but so is Dazzler, and she wasn't even THAT long ago. Things have obviously changed. 

Very cool! That first picture gives Chucky vibes. 

In kid-oriented media, yeah, the Silvestri outfit isn't going to fly. Same with toys. Any toys.

Yeah, there were a lot of factors at play in this set, but in a perfect world Samoa Joe and MJF would be at the top of my list. Saraya, Hikaru, Toni and Skye would be in fierce competition for the last two spots. 

Luke will get them, we haven't circulated pre-order info yet and won't until the 22nd. We threw them up on our site quickly to catch any post-match heat. 

45 minutes ago, Padrino said:

is that a hint?

I just meant that we were leaning more in Trev's direction than AF McGill's. 

Of the five figures and one mini-figure in the set, there are NO original X-Men and only ONE All-New X-Man, in a variant we've never done. 

And depending on how you count, there are three villains. 

I like the cut of Trev's jib.

They would be great! I love the show. I'll have to suggest it to Chuck!

49 minutes ago, elhonez said:

Boomerang checks a lot of those bronze age boxes for me... colorful costume, absurdity meets utility (boomerangs everywhere!), instantly iconic.

I've been waiting for a couple decades for him to show up in Marvel Legends, hoping that all of those 'rangs will be removable. I would also [ahem] totally welcome a MinMate version! We could complete the Sinister Syndicate with him and classic armored Beetle. But I think I've probably posted about my dream Syndicate box multiple times, so I'll button it.

 🤐

Haha, no need to button it, I must have missed all of your posts, because I wasn't even 100% sure of the lineup of the Syndicate until now. But yeah, we've only done Rhino, Hydro-Man and Speed Demon, and Speed Demon was animated! I can't remember if I pushed for Beetle in my recent list of suggestions, but we are getting some new Spider-Foes and Spider-Allies in upcoming sets. I believe Series 86 and 89 are both Spidey-themed sets. (If that seems like a lot of Spidey, it isn't, really -- it's not even the same Spidey.) So Boomerang and Beetle might not be out in the next year, but hopefully you like what we're getting anyway. And I'll keep asking!

I believe a third set has been designed, not sure what the current prototype status is. 

Ugh, I meant Boomerang. Brain fart. Captain Boomerang's outfit is awful. 

Too good an opportunity not to do. Hopefully it generates good sales!

Man, we have to make an Eel. One of my favorite suits, along with Captain Boomerang.

19 hours ago, Nessex said:

We love the 80s and we LOVE an obscure villain. Is this a set we're expecting this year?

I don't think so. Series 85 (Spider-Verse) is getting its packaging approved now, so 86 (Spidey set #2) will be hopefully be offered in a couple of months, and MAYBE ship before end of year. The X-set is Series 87, so it would PROBABLY be early 2025. 

It would be a little bit early for pre-orders, but I'll see if we can make it happen. 

No plans for new/current X-Men looks -- I think we've decided that new and fresh is not always the best way to go, in case looks turn out to be short-lived or not well-received. The next few sets are decidedly nostalgic, and the X-Men set we have planned is very 1980s. BUT it does have an obscure X-Villain in it!

They look great! I love the X-Cutioner! And that Ikaris is pretty stellar for a QC.

Man, the WWII story with Joe and TF was awesome. But no. I'll keep you guys posted if we go forward with it. 

It's that time again! Happy Birthday, Luke! Thank you for the support you give the Minimates line. 

20 hours ago, Navaan said:

So are Series 3 and 4 still happening?

Trying to make the figures happen in some format, but probably not as a boxed, carded Series 3 and4. 

I was hoping we could get something greenlit for SDCC, but no dice. We managed to pull together TF and TMNT sets, but Joe proved to be a little more difficult. I'll keep fighting. And I am still pushing for a crossover set, but I haven't heard anything about that in a while.

GReat work!