So... Did every site miss the deadline or is Mattel just late?...

I think Mattel has been closed for Rosh Hashana yesterday & today. The number of submitting sites has dwindled to the point that an odd deadline could really knock most of us out (I just missed the deadline for the Oct 1st round), but I do have a batch out to Mattel that are due back. If I'm right, we'll see 'em tomorrow.

Does anyone even have a question for them at this point?

I know, right? Most of the "questions" in our own thread are nothing more than barbs and jabs at Mattel.

Nothing there I would even want submitted much less expect an answer for.

I really don't even know if they have any product out right now. JLU and DCUC are online only and Action League is practically dead so I have zero reason to go hunting.

Uh... better to keep it going in case a good question comes up?

A few links have started to trickle out:

IAT - http://www.itsalltrue.net/?p=20973

InfiniteHollywood - http://www.infinitehollywood.com/2012/0 ... -2012.html

Mess - http://www.criticalmess.net/index.php?page=721

Mint Condition - http://www.mintconditioncustom.com/2012 ... 17th-2012/

He-Man.Org - http://www.he-man.org/forums/boards/sho ... php?230357

Org Thread for Smaller He-Sites - http://www.he-man.org/forums/boards/sho ... php?230355

"How would we ever 'finish' a team like LOSH?"

I realize he was being a bit "tongue-in-cheek" with that response, but really?

The simple answer is to "keep making more figures" which of course would get a response along the lines of "blah blah blah, fan interest, blah blah blah diverse line blah blah blah nothing planned but hopefully soon blah blah blah ...". I get it. It isn't a "simple answer" issue and there are factors at work that we don't always recognize or acknowledge (like WB's master hand in the cookie jar).

But...

I truly believe that if a toy company (any company really, this doesn't only apply to Mattel) were to announce "we are focused on completing Team-Y! as part of this year's mix" or "we are working toward completing Team-2! with a steady mix of those characters across the next x-years of the sub ..." it would generate much good will and probably greater sales.

They did it with "Super Powers" in the DCU, and with a "year of New Gods" so to speak, so why not a year of JSA, or LOSH, or TT, or (insert your favorite team here). Granted, you won't get EVERY character in EVERY version from EVERY roster, but it would sure go a long way towards a fully robust representation now wouldn't it?

Granted, my two cents and all, take it with a grain of salt if you must...

I think it would be interesting if Mattel were to supplement the regular Club IE sub with additional 6-figure subs, like the Watchmen sub, but that focused on particular groups. They could easily fill out a 6-figure Legion of Super-Heroes sub, for example. They could pepper one or two Legionnaires into the regular sub and then do additional team members through the sub-sub.

Would that model work for other teams like the JSA and Teen Titans (or my beloved Outsiders)? Hard to say until they try it. Personally I think there are enough figures of JSAers to begin with, but that's just me.

It'd be cool to see a Legion sub with a BAF of Blok or something in it. It'd have to be at a higher price point, but I feel like the Legion fans have already proven that they'll pay that to get their team built, and the added value of the BAF would soften the price blow.

The problem is that they're so worried about losing a potential sub group of their sales so they hold off members of each team and eventually get to where we are now. Multiple incomplete teams, almost no chance of finishing any of them.

And the JSA is most definitely missing Liberty Belle.

You know if they would have said they were going to focud on fleshing out the original Teen Titans to go with Robin and Kid Flash or the New Teen Titans I would have subscribed in a heartbeat for this year and next.

But Being so secretive means I didn't. I figured I'd cherry pick the ones I really wanted. Know how many I have bought? None, despite really liking some that have come out. No new Dcuc on retail shelves has made me oddly apathetic to the club lines.

One team member per quarter. It's not that hard.

Quarter One: JSA
Quarter Two: Legion
Quarter Three: Titan
Quarter Four: Flash Rogue

Rinse and Repeat

Finish a team, continue a new one.

Alternatively, larger teams like the Legion could get two members a year.

That would still take decades to even begin to make a dent in the Legion membership...

And you just used up 5 to 6 slots in the sub. If I don't care about the JSA or Legion, I hate this plan. It just so happens that I love the Titans and the Flash rogues.

That's the way the sub goes, though, I suppose. For every Wally West and Elongated Man, there's a Larfleeze and a Saint Walker.

I too, love the Teen Titans; but Mattel's execution leaves a lot to be desired. And knowing Mattel, I bet they wouldn't be able to stop themselves from adding the new... "52 -Tron Titans", to the existing clostermess.