MisterPL

Mattel should stick to Barbie dolls and die cast cars. For some reason they can't seem to put out a consistent action figure line to save their business. Anything right that happened with DCUC I credit to The Four Horsemen. That line was successful despite being at Mattel, not because of it. The proof is wherever you see a line that's developed in-house. Their 3 3/4" lines have all been disappointments, from Batman and Superman to Green Lantern and Avatar. And just when you think they're starting to learn a valuable lesson, they jump back in time 40 years to offer for $6 what we can get out of a Happy Meal for free. And it's not like Mattel is huge into the block figure category. Yeah, Minimates are action figures but it's a niche market, at mass or at specialty. They'd have absolutely nothing to lose by licensing MOTU to DST for MInimates and anything else outside of the ridiculously over-priced action figures they're selling online and at conventions. I really don't see Minimates doing anything but strengthening the MOTU brand. I'm no fan of He-Man, but with any luck, a movie studio will insist on controlling merchandising rights to anything based on the film and then DST will have a shot at offering MOTU product. Until then, maybe there's another license DST could go after – like keychains – that would allow for an assortment of Minimate-ish merchandise.

Lady Octopus looks kinda cool.

This has probably been mentioned before but bears repeating: According to one of the managers at TRU, Series 14 has the same stock number as Series 15. Consequently when they search for it in the store, it shows up as in stock, which is a computerized lie. So it would appear that Series 15 (or as TRU's automated inventory replenishment system* sees it, Series 14) isn't going to come in until Series 14 sells through more. They did just get another case of Amazing Spider-Man despite there being more than a few lingering on the pegs so I'll continue to wait patiently. I was assured that there were over 1,000 of these things sitting at the distribution center. Maybe Wednesday? *or as I call it "SkyNet"

I know WBCP was having an in-house presentation of all things Batman '66 this week. It might not necessarily be anything toy related. I'd expect stationery, ornaments, apparel, and a whole bunch of other stuff. My wet dream would be for DCC to offer 3 3/4" figures (to go with my 1:18 scale Hot Wheels Batmobile) but they'd probably end up convention exclusives anyway. Not holding my breath for Minimates, of course.

I just found out tonight that my nearest TRU isn't "eligible" to receive Battle Beasts. No idea what criteria is used in determining that (probably sales of the overall Minimates brand or the store size and location or a combination thereof) but I'm a little put out. On one hand I wasn't really interested in getting into Battle Beasts anyway. On the other, they look exactly like the kind of impulse buy that tends to spontaneously drain my wallet. I'll have to go out of my way to find these in the wild. (That bat looks sooo cool.) Now I'm wondering how many other TRU exclusives never made it to my store due to this mysterious ineligibility.

Movie Green Goblin Movie Doc Ock I mean, come on. We got Raimi's Sandman, Venom, and new Goblin. As much as I hated the Power Rangers villain incarnation of Norman Osborn's demented alter ego, I'd still add him to my Minimates collection for posterity.

Pics or it didn't happen! (Let's see if this works...)

Okay, April just got a little less crowded but May a little moreso: 04/10/13 MARVEL MINIMATES STRANGE TALES BOX SET 04/24/13 MARVEL MINIMATES SERIES 49 ASST IRON MAN 3 04/24/13 MARVEL MINIMATES SERIES 51 05/15/13 MARVEL MINIMATES SERIES 50 05/22/13 MARVEL MINIMATES HULK THROUGH THE AGES BOX SET 05/22/13 WALKING DEAD MINIMATES SERIES 3 05/29/13 STAR TREK TOS ENTERPRISE MINIMATES VEHICLE 06/05/13 STAR TREK LEGACY MINIMATES SERIES 1 08/14/13 MARVEL MINIMATES SERIES 52

Is Chef Duff a Marvel character yet? I know Disney's been on an acquisition spree lately.

Disappointed Man-Thing didn't get up there. Poor guy has performance issues.

I take that back. This isn't a character I already own. This Minimate is clearly the Mirror Universe Kirk. The character I have in my collection is Kirk Prime disguised as the Mirror Universe Kirk. I guess I can justify pre-ordering now.

I'm not really into video games. I've never played Tomb Raider and don't intend to. I've seen both movies and that's about the extent of my interest. With the exception of these Minimates. These things just look like a lot of fun. I planned on picking up Lara but after seeing the level of detail on the rest of the figures, I want them all. (Damn. It's Halo all over again!)

I agree that Dictionary.com's definition is ridiculously abbreviated but, hey, that's a dictionary for you. A much better definition of anime can be found on Wikipedia. The format there allows for much greater depth. One of the aspects pointed out there follows my own observation of anime and that's the exaggerated eyes and facial expressions. A colleague and I had a running joke; whenever we'd see something even remotely unexpected, we'd turn our heads dramatically – eyes wide open – and shout "BEAD OF SWEAT!" There always seemed to be a drop of sweat or throbbing vein on a manga character's noggin to get the point across. Anime eyes were influenced by Disney animation. A lot of emotion is conveyed through the eyes so Disney animators drew them nice and big. Japanese animators followed suit and in many cases took it to an extreme. These days there's so much cross-pollenation of art forms, it's becoming harder to classify what is and isn't manga/anime. Nickelodeon's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles uses manga tropes, as does DisneyXD's Ultimate Spider-Man, but I wouldn't consider them strictly "Japanimation," wherever they're produced. It's a smaller world and influences are all over the place. So I wouldn't classify Thundercats as anime, despite a few shared characteristics.

anime: a Japanese style of motion-picture animation, characterized by highly stylized, colorful art, futuristicsettings, violence, and sexuality. I don't think Thundercats qualifies, folks.

I only mentioned the Runabout because it was mentioned in a recent Q&A. I think you could get away with a ship that's less visually interesting on the outside (like the classic Shuttlecraft) but could offer detail on the inside for added display value. Or maybe a ship that already looks "Minimate-ized" (like the Shuttlecraft from TNG) which coincidentally mimics the super-deformed aesthetic without sacrificing authenticity. Long story short: If DST ever plans on offering Shuttlecraft in its electronic line of ships, make them with Minimates in mind.

I was a little surprised they don't have anything ready beyond Series 1 as well but I see this as a test. Rather than an all-TOS line like the one they previously offered, they're mixing things up in hopes that everyone finds something they like. I think it will work but one of the worst things a manufacturer can do is remind consumers that future product depends on sales of the current product. That just erodes consumer confidence and negatively impacts sales. As for me, I will buy every 2-pack they offer, regardless of how long the line lasts. Trek has the potential to be huge. Give it an animated series on Cartoon Network and a live-action series on CBS and you've got a line that could rival Marvel. As it is, the franchise continues to air in syndication and the new films aren't letting the property fade into pop culture obscurity a bit. There are plenty of popular characters and viable vehicles to bring to the Minimates brand. Honestly I'd be surprised if DST didn't have something waiting in the wings. The simplicity of Star Trek's aesthetic allows for a quick, cost-effective turnaround should the first series sell through quickly. If the demand's there, I have no doubt DST will satisfy it.

So these two are actually shipping around the same time? Is this happening because production numbers on the solicitation of the first ship were unexpectedly low? You misunderstand. I'm not talking about a Minimate-ized Runabout. I'm talking about a Runabout that would be offered as part of DST's regular line of ships, the one that so far has only included starships. A recent Q&A requesting a Runabout got me thinking about cross-marketing such a ship. Kinda like offering a statue of a ThunderTank that just happens to accomodate Minimates. It would be cool if a future release of an electronic (or not) Runabout just happened to accommodate Trek Minimates. And yes, I realize that the Runabout is an untested ship for DST but if you're gonna give it a whirl, you might as well maximize your market. KnowhutImean?

DST Q&A #200 put the last nail in the current Universal Monsters Minimates coffin. Hopefully they can revisit these at some point in the future toward the end of the license. Otherwise it's going to be a long wait, I'm afraid.

If the Halo figures at my TRU go on sale or clearance again, I'll be scooping them up for custom Borg fodder.

Minimates debt is a terrible curse. I want these, too, but they're a very low priority. Personally I'd love to see these blow out of the stores without a lot of support from the existing Minimates collecting community especially if it meant Disney requesting boxed sets of their other properties like: The Rocketeer Tron Indiana Jones Pirates of the Caribbean

We all saw this coming. Another Enterprise, another variant Kirk Minimate I already own. I understand but that doesn't mean I have to like it. Wake me up when it's a ship and a character not already in my collection. (Good sleuthing, though, M-J.) What would be great is if DST would sneak a ship into their regular Star Trek vehicle line that just happened to be in the same scale as Minimates. You know, something like the Runabout that could double as a display piece for fans of authentic replicas and/or Minimates.

Considering DST couldn't even use Lugosi's likeness as a parody under the Universal Monsters agreement, their own Dracula actually stands a better chance at looking like the late actor. I'd be all for that. Still, there's no way I'd pass on an official Metaluna Mutant Minimate.

One is supposed to be attached to G.I. Joe: Retaliation. Don't get too concerned. The first trailer for First Class didn't hit until four months before the film hit. It's not like Wolverine has a zero Q score. Jackman has plenty of marquee value and the studio doesn't really need to tease audiences so early. Sometimes trailers release far too soon and people forget. Personally, I'm tired of knowing far too much about a movie a year or more in advance. It tends to drive fans nuts and not in a good way. (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fans, I'm looking at you.)

Still nothing at my local TRU stores but there appears to be some peg movement. New arrivals on Tuesday so keeping my fingers crossed.

These have still not shown up at my local TRU stores. Glad that I have only a passing interest in them and wasn't planning to collect them but sad that they're not getting the distribution they deserve. At least the managers know someone's looking for them. Happy the line is doing well elsewhere.