My 2 cents:
I have 3 Walmarts equal distance from me. 1 has been redone, one is doing it now. The one redone has less stock but not more walking space. It was my favorite of the 3, now I avoid it, too many things I get are not there now and my complaints were ignored.

I don't collect JLU, too big, takes too much space to display but great for small hands to play with. It also uses more plastic per figure so costs more to make per figure (after tooling costs). I have been a rabid Star Trek collector for years but still hate Playmates for changing the scale.

Packaging is definitely an issue. The DCIH and JLU packages look the same to the average stocker, and end up getting mixed by the stock people. This happens in all departments at Walmart. Distinct color schemes for each line are needed.

Playsets. The main reason I hate Playmates. The smaller the figure, the less it costs to make playsets for it. I see JLU people begging for playsets. Never gonna happen. If anybody gets it, DCIH will, just on cost. BIG if. But a Wayne Manor would be cool. Fisher Price is part of the Mattel family. Do you have any idea how many "doll" houses they have in their total inventory, past and present? That are scale to DCIH! Tooling is already done! Change the paint, add a couple of theme specific details, BAM, Wayne Manor! That is probably the cheapest playset they could do. Or give us something modular, packaged in pieces so we only have to get the ones we want. You know, a Matty exclusive playset would be a good idea. Like a test to see if there is interrest. They also have other playsets that could be reissuet. Does the Tower of Doom tooling still exist? They did a JLU scale Batcave that works for these too. A little imagination goes a long way, and those expensive to make "action features" are not necessary.

CCC.

quote:

Originally posted by lordwormm:
Do any of you guys think Mattel would look if we all posted out "genius" ideas for the next waves? Maybe we could start a new thread suggesting the new release order? They claim to be watching us after all. Couldn't hurt and I would love to read your ideas.

As I said, Playmates screwed up when they changed the scale. Even so, there is one playset that would have worked, and only one, and they did not do it. The Holodeck. I had a brilliant design for it. I tried to contact them to express it to them. Nothing. No, they won't listen, they are too brain dead, and I dare any and all of them to prove me wrong, consistently.

CCC.

quote:

Originally posted by lordwormm:
Crusader - You may not be far off. DC just finished the death of new gods right? I didn't get to purchase every related issue but I wanted to. Since they are doing themed lines, an line like that could be just what the doctor ordered.

Your ideas are great. I can see some of the lesser known guys as singles with the ones you named as multipacks. Forever People, Female Furies (was that their team name?). Infinite Man, Forager, Black RAcer. You are right though. We are probably pushing the envelope there, but you never know. Universe is cranking out Mantis et al.

Death of the New Gods was a couple of years ago, but with so much from Crisis on Infinite Earths in DCIH, I don't think that's a big deal. The Fourth World characters are a huge part of the DCU, so I think they'd sell as well as anything else.

quote:

Originally posted by lordwormm:
Do any of you guys think Mattel would look if we all posted out "genius" ideas for the next waves? Maybe we could start a new thread suggesting the new release order? They claim to be watching us after all. Couldn't hurt and I would love to read your ideas.

Like you said, it couldn't hurt, but one thing I believe the guys at Mattel know how to do as well as anyone is character selection.

You're probably right, they aren't bad at character selection. I just get pouty until my favorites get made.

quote:

Originally posted by Caped Crusader:
There is a big void in DCIH where Darkseid and the rest of the Fourth World characters should be. I know it's wishful thinking, but I would love to see a couple of Apokolips-themed six-pack. The first could have Darkseid, Desaad, two Parademons, Steppenwolf, and Mantis. The second could have Kalibak, Granny Goodness, Bernadeth, Lashina, Mad Harriet, and Stompa. Parademons could be released again as army builder two-packs. Like I said, wishful thinking.

I don't see any reason this wouldn't work; the Apokolips 6 pack for JLU apparently went over well enough with Target that they ordered the subsequent set of six-packs, and it doesn't seem that the DCUC New Gods have been major peg warmers for the most part. THey're laying off the Fourth World in DCUC for now, so it might be a good time to start going into it in Infinites.

I know there are plenty of DC fans who aren't as into the Fourth World stuff as I am, but you're right. The figures do generally sell.

Well if it does happen, we have to get a Forager!

STOP CALLING IT 3.75 SCALE. That is why they are so undersized. They should be referred to as 4 inch so that Mattel will make them in 4 inch scale and then they will be compatible with the rest of the toys on the market. That is how to fix them. Until then, they will always be viewed as toys that most do not buy. I am just saying.

quote:

Originally posted by Caped Crusader:
I know there are plenty of DC fans who aren't as into the Fourth World stuff as I am, but you're right. The figures do generally sell.

Do you ever shutup? Oh and I suppose you no how to solve the world problems too? (You would probably be a better world leader then the "dude" that is in office now tho! )

First of all with all assortments, put well known characters as the majority in the case assortments. This I believe was a problem at retail where you'd go in there looking for your well known hero like Superman, Batman, Flash, or any JLA figure and they would be the hardest to find. They should flood the pegs like Star Wars does with it's "Greatest Hits" or "Legends."
For example, Adam Strange or Shazaam is ok, but really what typical kid in the toy isle knows who he is?

There's plenty of variations from each Gold, Silver or Bronze Age to do, which we got some, but they were hard to find usually. You could also do an "evolutions" multi pack with famous super heroes in their various outfits. Some of this was done, but you had to buy an obscure figure to get the one you wanted in a multi-pack. They should be released on a single card first.

Next start running themes like mostly the JLA, all the heroes from the series, vilains, etc. Collectors are completists for the most part and will buy all to complete the wave. Were all the JLA released? Were all the Teen Titans released? The Metal Men? For that matter, not one Legion of Super Heroes or their villains was released. I would give my left appendage for the complete set of LOSH figures in 4" Silver or Bronze Age. They rival GI Joes in the number of characters available to do. Not to mention the villains. (but hey we are getting a "to scale" Validus at least if we can find him to put together)

One of the problems is...very well touched on in this thread.

Collectors WANT a complete team, yet, won't touch a line such as this one because they CAN'T get a complete team out of it.

Why not relaunch this as the JLA line, and simply finish the Silver Age Justice League of America?

We have:
Superman
Batman
Wonder Woman (W-chest)
Flash (Barry)
Green Lantern (Hal)
Martian Manhunter
Atom (Ray)
Black Canary (Dinah Laurel Lance, original outfit)
Firestorm

Need:
Aquaman (yes, he was in the Starro set, but that was with yellow gloves, so EASY retool!)
Green Arrow (original outfit and Neal Adams outfit)
Hawkman (Silver Age version)
Elongated Man (red/blue version and purple/white)
Red Tornado (original red with purple, and usual android version)
Hawkgirl/woman (Silver Age version)
Zatanna (pixie outfit and perez....though the top hat version wouldn't hurt either).

And maybe Vibe/Vixen/Steel/Gypsy as a Mattycollector exclusive?

Mix in a few of the popular characters as re-releases, add a few villains both of the individuals and the team, and this line would have a chance.

If it does well enough, expand to JSA and Teen Titans, and if those, keep it going with the rest of the DCU.

Articulation! Seeing as you can't figure it out! Copy Hasbro's Marvel Universe line with your DC library! Stop giving us figures poor in articulation from the 70's! If you want collectors to pay the same then start creating figures with more detail and quality!

quote:

Originally posted by Retro Robin:
Articulation! Seeing as you can't figure it out! Copy Hasbro's Marvel Universe line with your DC library! Stop giving us figures poor in articulation from the 70's! If you want collectors to pay the same then start creating figures with more detail and quality!

there is more to it than just giving them better articulation. the last few waves if IH figures actually had a lot of articulation, but MU equivalent articulation means nothing with the quality of the figure itself isnt there

the sculpt, scale (the IH figures were smaaaaaaaalll), articulation and overall quality need to be stepped up considerably to even stand a chance against Marvel Universe

True....but I actually started to get into these figures more because I felt as if ONE DAY they might get as cool as Marvel Universe! However the added articualtion was a a step in the right direction! The extra articulated Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman were my favorites!

For all the New Gods fans-

I find the Marvel Universe Apocalypse figure to be a very easy Darkseid custom.