As for Market research I know for a fact that they do use a lot of different resources.

Great, so you can tell us all what market research “resources” led the Mattel team to choose four Justice Guild characters for that four-pack. I’m sure everyone else would be as curious about this information as I am. Do share.

Now, a “Once and Future Thing” set? THAT would be great.

No need to get so defensive.

Defensive is, “almighty blogger like some people.” My intent has been to clarify what I’ve said, since both of you seemed to read something that wasn’t there.

Despite the mini poll of 126 people, you can bet the people at Mattel have done extensive research as to who to make next that has led them to it.

No, I bet they haven’t. Have you noticed the amount of votes Justice Guild members received? If you reach out to all the other collectors who are into the line, the results aren’t going to vary much. The fanbase as a whole wants Toyman; the fanbase as a whole wants Gypsy (I personally wouldn’t care if she was never made). The fanbase as a whole is not hyped over the Justice Guild.

Watch the SDCC video again. Note the applause on that reveal.

Seen it. Heard it. It’s a few guys. The set won’t sell well.

Of course you don’t have to buy what you doesn’t appeal to you – but if is even somewhat appealing (like the legion pack you and I bought) then i say do it. IMO.

And I plan to do just that with the Doom Patrol figures. I like them, but I could have lived without them, you know?

The only point I was trying to make is that the figures appeal to some people (as noted by myself and others in this chain) or they wouldn’t have made them. Despite the mini poll of 126 people, you can bet the people at Mattel have done extensive research as to who to make next that has led them to it. Watch the SDCC video again. Note the applause on that reveal.

As for supporting the line – i meant exactly that. Of course you don’t have to buy what you doesn’t appeal to you – but if is even somewhat appealing (like the legion pack you and I bought) then i say do it. IMO. I would like the line to keep going so i can get a Kalibak!

- Me and the 6 other guys

Trust me, I’m perfectly happy without one. You, I’m not sure if you could live without one.

The poll is completely unscientific. The only people who voted were people who happen to go on this site and chose to vote. It’s not like you went to Targets around the country and gave people questionaires.

I’m not saying there aren’t some good choices on your poll. I’m saying that it would be a mistake to assume that there aren’t some other perfectly viable characters that didn’t even make your poll.

BTW, my first post was firmly tounge in cheek, which I thought was made perfectly clear with the . You’re the one who chose to get defensive and condesending with your “I don’t know how I could be any clearer” and “Here’s a thought:” and “I’m not interested in whims”, etc.

Except that you just before said you were giving your own personal opinion.

No, I didn’t. “Opinion” was your word, as was “obscure”. I’ve given my reasons for listing the characters that Mattel should include in their next four-packs from the very beginning. I said I would have personally spent money on “Once And Future Thing” pack, but I never used “opinion” as a reason for any suggestions.

Is it that I’m not an almighty blogger like some people? Fine, noted.

Now, now. There’s no need to pout. The internet is a big place, and anyone with a computer can have a blog.

You obviously have the pulse on what the people want. After all 126 whole people voted in that poll. 53 people committed to Kalibak alone! That should be enough sales to keep the line running for years.

You don’t have to be a statistician to understand the results of sample polling. You can, of course, be obtuse and ignore the results if it suits your personal preferences, but that won’t make them any less of an accurate representation of what JLU collectors want.

2)Gypsy, Speedy, Crimson Avenger, and Dr. Mid-Nite. How is this group less obscure? They’ve been in plenty of comics sure, but were simply in the background on JLU. Out of those 4 , Speedy had the biggest role, and that was for 2 minutes.

Here’s a thought: Take a look at the poll results, and see what the most requested characters are. “Obscure” was your word, not mine.

You’re giving your opinion, I’m giving mine.

Except that I’m really not interested in the whims of one collector. If I was, I’d be campaigning for Ace, Cassandra Cain as Batgirl, and Ambush Bug, all of whom I want in a Timm-style figure more than Gypsy, Speedy, Crimson Avenger, or Dr. Mid-Nite. Those are the most requested heroes from the show, period. That’s not an opinion or my personal preference; it’s a fact.

Advising people to not buy the Guild I think is a bad idea. This line needs more support not less. The hal jordan pack isn’t even sold out yet. Shazam pack either, which we thought would be a big winner. The way I look at it, they are taking an expensive risk making this line, and for us to not back their play when they are trying very hard to give people what they want, is risky.

Who’s “advising” anyone not to buy anything? I’m saying that I won’t buy them. That’s it, me, myself, and I. If by, “back their play,” you mean spend money on stuff I have absolutely no interest in owning, it ain’t happening. I’m glad you and the six other people who wanted the Justice Guild will be able to buy them, but considering the state of the line, it wasn’t a very sensible decision. If Mattel wants to, “try very hard to give people what they want,” they can check my recommendations against the poll results (see the link provided by superfriend) and get to work. Otherwise, I have absolutely no reason to, “back their play.”

As for the price, look at the dc direct prices – between 15-20 per figure in some comic stores. Paying 40 for 4 figures is reasonable to me.

First of all, the $15 each for DC Direct gets you a figure of substantially higher quality. A combo meal at McDonald’s costs less than an evening of fine, Italian dining, but that doesn’t make it the better deal. Secondly, $40 for four figures is perfectly reasonable (and as a matter of fact, I’m proposing figures that cost more), but only if they’re figures I want. $40 for four figures I wouldn’t add to my display if they were given to me for free doesn’t strike me as a bargain.

This was also probably likely that the creation of oversized new molds is a lot more expensive than reusing the ones they already have in tool and die.

Like you, I also have committed to buying the line as it comes out – I’m not a particular Legion fan either, but I bought them. Advising people to not buy the Guild I think is a bad idea. This line needs more support not less. The hal jordan pack isn’t even sold out yet. Shazam pack either, which we thought would be a big winner. The way I look at it, they are taking an expensive risk making this line, and for us to not back their play when they are trying very hard to give people what they want, is risky.

As for the price, look at the dc direct prices – between 15-20 per figure in some comic stores. Paying 40 for 4 figures is reasonable to me.

Oops sorry. A little ranty, but my .02$ for what it’s worth.

To be honest though, (and I know I shouldn’t be giving them ideas like this) but I’m surprised Mattel haven’t been a bit smarter/sneaky in their 4pk choices. I mean I would divide teams up so that there was one character from each team in each 4 pack. That way fans would be pressed to buy each set to get a whole team/group instead of picking and choosing which to buy and which to skip. Here’s what I mean:

PACK 1:
Harley Quinn, Brainiac 5, Black Adam, Mento

PACK 2:
Bane, Lightning Lad, Shazam, Robot Man

PACK 3:
Scarecrow, Cosmic Boy, Mary Batson, Negative Man

Etc, etc… if they were splitting them like this you would have to buy each set if you wanted Legion figures, or Bat villains or Marvel family characters. But doing them the way they have has meant people have picked and chose which to buy or skip.

I agree they should do any future 4 packs as an assortment of OUR MOST requested, that way there is something for everyone in each set, and more people would be inclined to pick them up. But like you say, any character choices from here on in must be those WE HAVE ASKED FOR, otherwise its not fair to kill a line based on poor sales.

Your suggestions for future 4packs are extremely solid and show strong evidence of paying attention to the fans wants.

I would love for Matty and ToyGuru to take notice of the thought and effort that you (and Chip and all those others I am forgetting) have put into the continued success of JLU. Much more so, seemingly, than Matty itself.

Make it happen Matty. You want us to make it succeed. We want it to succeed, but it needs to be a partnership for it to happen. We will do our part, can you do yours?

Seriously though, the formula for success regarding JLU and Matty Collector is really simple. Give us the most fan demanded characters. Yes there’s a lot of secondary and background guys we’d all love to have in our collections but the time has come to deliver the real goods and then get back to those characters until you feel the line is just not financially feasible anymore.

Now? Another die hard collector here scratching his head as to who thought these would sell.

I still have yet to buy anything from MC, and if it does turn out to be the ONLY outlet for JLU? well then, it was a good run while it lasted.

http://www.actionfigureinsider.com/blog/superfriend/afi-2009-jlu-poll-results/

And I agree, the line needs to follow the wishes of the fans if it is to survive. So, the next time Mattel decides to go outside the JL/JLU tv cast, it better be to make Blue Beetle Ted Kord, the only non show character to score highly in the poll.

Step up to the plate, Matty.

A Kalibak four pack with three Parademons would work.

Lobo with whoever would work. I’ll settle for a two pack, but I won’t pay $40 for one oversized figure.

Seriously though, MAKE A LOBO ALREADY! I need a JLU style Lobo.