A seemingly simple question, but bears a bit of thought. The sub has been pretty divisive with some of the choices, but what formula would bring in the most punters, being aware that you have to try to cater for all the different groups of collectors?

We get 17 figures a year in a full year (12 monthly, 4 oversized quarterly and the exclusive). Ignoring for now which of the slots your choices take, how would you make the decisions to create a sub that would appeal to the most amount of people?

My own thoughts, based on the 10 full minutes I've spent thinking about this, are:

2 Batman characters
2 Superman characters
1 Wonder Woman character
1 Flash character
1 Green Lantern character
1 Aquaman character
1 Teen Titans character
1 JSA character
1 "team completer" (Metal Men/Doom Patrol for example)
1 Legion of Superheroes character
1 JLA character
1 New God/Kirby-based character
1 completely unexpected character
2 free slots to distribute as needed - an extra Flash character when there's a big storyline for example.

I would also have ratios in place such as:

At least five characters are female
At least five characters are villains
At least three characters in Golden Age costumes
At least three characters in Silver Age costumes
At least three characters in Bronze Age costumes
At least three characters in modern costumes (I'm thinking last 5-10 years for this, including DCnU as we know there's a chance we may have some in there)

The last four are more exclusive, but there's no reason one figure can't be a Golden Age female villain, for example.

How would you make it work for everyone?

Jo

Scrap the Golden Age costumes and I'm with you.

Isn't it only 13 figures? I think the over sized quarterly figures count as a monthly figure...maybe I'm wrong.

That's what I thought. I didn't think we were getting 17.

I'm actually shocked at how many people who bought the sub don't understand the way the sub works...

This year, there are nine monthly figures plus three oversized, which equals twelve figures. There are only twelve because the sub started late.

Next year, there will be twelve monthly, four quarterly oversized, and a sub exclusive. That equals seventeen figures.

I guess you're right. This starting in May thing threw me off on what the year long total would be.

There isn't a magic formula.

Spend some time looking around, get an idea of what people want and go with it.

As much as I hate on some things, I do realize that they aren't going to make everyone happy.

They need to find a list of the most popular unmade characters and just go down it haha

#1. Jason Todd Red Hood.
#2. I don't care


WOO HOO!

With maybe two or three exceptions (all female characters), I'd have to agree with you.

You mean like the poll I ran which is pinned to the top of this very forum?

for you lazy guys like me...

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=23169

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=22838

I don't know that a formula is the best way to approach getting subscribers for the next year. I think it needs to be more of a "WOW" than what they used to sell us on it this year. One way they can approach that would be by offering fan favorites that have never seen plastic before, especially not in 6" scale. Superfriend and others constantly point out when Mattel is offering someone DCD has already made. Mattel should look at who they want to do and cross-off pretty much any character that has seen plastic by DCD. Shining Knight, Vigilante and Crimson Avenger have only been done in the JLU line, could be knocked out of the park by the Horseman while still using a lot of stock parts and they all fill-out the Seven Soldiers roster. Rita Farr, Mento, The Chief all work towards finishing the Doom Patrol and have never been done in this scale. Any Legionaire that wasn't in the box set: Dawnstar, Phantom Girl, Dream Girl, Blok. Finish out the Fatal Five, start the Royal Flush Gang, Ambush Bug, Ma Hunkle, Stanley and his Monster (from GA's return), Klarion and Teekl, Johnny Thunder and Thunderbolt. Start using the non-standard bodies: could Etrigan be the starting point for Granny Goodness?... Barda for Mera or Rose Wilson?... Deathstroke for General Glory?... Indigo Atom for Paul Kirk?... Jack Knight for Max Lord or Vigilante?... Raven and Wonder Girl for Roulette?... What about using the Movie Masters Dark Knight suit body for Ventriloquist?... Desaad for Anarky?... Use the sub as a way to finish out something like the new Justice League as it's doubtful that retail would want the likes of Element Woman or Lady Luck...

My thoughts with this were that working their way down a popular characters list will leave them with not a lot to go on in a couple of years. I mean, yes, I'm skeptical that anything Mattel starts at this point it won't finish, but getting all the good stuff first will mean that there isn't much of interest at a time when the sub should be going from strength to strength.

Yes, there should certainly be a wow factor, but at the same time they need to spread the love as far as possible. Just looking on here shows that some fans want to see more golden age love, others less. There isn't anything wrong with either of those viewpoints, but both need to be taken into account when planning a line that you want both people to buy.

Mattel will have something like this already in place (they have some very well-paid marketing analysts)

Jo