I'm glad PITT won't be that big, Thanks Jeff.

These are really nice-looking toys. Yeah, I love the characters Conan, Judge Dredd and Madman, but I'm getting a bunch of the others 'cause they just look cool. And really, that's all I need out of my toys. That and posability.

You think they could get Static and ICON?

One of the interesting questions about this line is whether they have access to characters published by a DC imprint but not owned by DC. For example, Ex machina is published by Wildstorm, But owned by Vaughn and Harris. Does this mean an Ex Machina figure would have to come from DC Direct?

The same would apply to the few properties Marvel publishes that they do not own. Can Marvel Toys make Powers and Kabuki, or are they part of the Hasbro liscence?

I think it would come down to pure ownership. So what if someone else publishes a book? Certain places published Peanuts and Garfield books, but yet the products are licensed everywhere.

Peace,

Chip

Yeah, but they may have it written in the publishing contract that DC or Marvel controls the merch rights. For example, DC Direct made figures of characters from Preacher and Transmet, which were owned by the creators. Of course, that was long before this line existed. Would Warren Ellis have chosen to put Spider Jerusalem in an indie toy line rather than one owned by his publisher? It's an interesting question.

Okay,... just wanting a clarification from you guys... This is going to be a mass-market line, right?

Yep.

I can see how that might be a problem for Wildstrom. but Dwayne McDuffy (did I get that right?) said he owned Static and that nobody really came knocking on his door as far as licenced products go while the Kid’s WB Satic show was on.

wonder if these will be as hard to find as the marvel legends,I hope not cause i have to have all of these they look awesome.
cant wait to have a savage dragon,what kinda variant will he have police outfit or wife beater?

I think this toy line looks amazing and am ready to buy all of the figures in the first two lines. The stuff is fantastic looking.

Since everyone is listing who they want made into figures I guess I'll do so as well. Keep in mind that I've been reading comics for 30 years now.

The Elementals. I don't know who owns the rights to the characters. I know that Bill Willingham created the characters and both wrote and produced a lot of the early art. Comico was the publisher. I know that I'll never see these characters made into figures unless I make them...but a guy can dream.

I can tell you right now that unless Hasbro steps up to the plate, I will be spending less with them and putting my Kaching with the Marvel Toys. I like most of the figures I've seen, with just a couple that I did not care for.
I can seriously forsee Hasbro sales dropping with the Marvel stuff. ...and Marvel Toys doing well. Can't wait for July!!

Rich

The Elementals are owned by Comico, or whomever holds their properties now, that is. Bill Willingham was interviewed in the Comics Journal a few months ago, and he talked briefly about how he no longer has the rights. From Wikipedia: "Comico's publisher Andrew Rev purchased the Elementals property from Willingham in the 1990s." He was apparently something of a crook, and Willingham is not happy with the latter Elementals material (I don't blame him). Willingham has more or less distanced himself from the characters. Still, this might be good news for you, as I'm sure whomever owns the Comico properties now wouldn't mind cashing in for a few bucks.

You've confirmed my suspicions. I understand why Bill Willingham distanced himself from the books and characters....they were basically turned into a poorly written and drawn "adult" comic. Which, was about the time I had to stop buying the book. I had held out for quite a while hoping something good would save the book....and nothing did.

I would still like to have the 4 heroes from the title and even a few of the villains but I'm not going to hold my breath. I think there is a much better chance that Miracleman gets collected into a trade paperback and returns as a monthly series than a toy company produces Elementals toys.

Hmmm...Do you guys think that, if this line is successful, that they could branch it out, say, to include Legendary CARTOON Heroes?

The possibilities would be mind-boggling. I'm talking ML-style Thundercats, Silverhawks, Tigersharks, Galaxy Rangers...

They would have to acquire the rights to those properties. Considering that almost all of those started as toy lines, that would seem pretty unlikely.