I have been doing a little traveling, so I’ve bundled up the last three updates from Mattel’s Facebook page.
Ghostbusters Egon Spengler – carded
Ghostbusters Egon Spengler – card back
Anti-Monitor 30-inch Giveaway
MOTU Classics He-Man
In regards to Mattel’s update on Masters of the Universe Classics (the third note attached), I’m hoping that Mattel and the Four Horsemen will be able to incorporate some of the design updates that we saw in the 200x line, even if the angular styling of that line will be left out.
In particular, I thought the non-humans were particularly good. For example, check out the 200x Whiplash compared to his vintage counterpart. Which look would you prefer to see in Classics styling?
Mattel has provided an update on how exclusives will be sold at San Diego Comic-Con. Gone are the stamps, and there’s no effective limit on how many you can buy if you want to keep circling the booth. I’m not sure, but I think that means getting to the Mattel booth early is the best option. In past years, some exclusives have lasted until the crowds have thinned on Sunday, but with Gleek-Mania sure to strike, and the no limits boon for scalpers, I am guessing it’ll be like watching the red screen on Mattycollector.com hoping for a quick refresh – until they sell out.
Any guesses on the mystery MOTU Classics item?
Hey gang,
Only a few short weeks left to SDCC and we could not be more excited.
The latest info on our exclusives is on MattyCollector.com including limits and which items will be sold online after the show. While the limit on most items is 6 per person, you can get back in line and buy an additional 6 units if you wait again. (and hey, if you want to spend all of SDCC waiting in line over and over, that is each fan’s choice!). But it will be 6 of each item per person per line wait. We will not be stamping badges except for the free 3 3/4″ Anti-Monitor.
Speaking of which, here is a quick run down on how the Anti-Monitor program will work.
The 3 3/4″ version will be available for sale at our retail booth and online after the show for $10.00. But if you have Anti-Monitor points from the back of all Infinite Heroes figures, you can exchange them at the central kiosk in our marketing booth (not the retail booth) for a FREE 3 3/4″ figure. Each fan will be limited to one free figure and tickets will be stamped. (although additional 3 3/4″ figures, again, can be purchased at the retail booth).
In addition, for each 25 points you have (including the first 50) you will receive a raffle ticket for a 30″ Anti-Monitor. At least one 30″ hand painted hand made Anti Monitor will be raffled off at 2:30 each day. You do not need to be present to win, but if you do not claim your prize by the next days auction it will be re-auctioned off.
We’ll have a lot of other exciting events and signings from Mattel designers and the Four Horsemen as well as two fan panels on Friday. DC and Mattel – A Powerful Partnership will be at 11:00 in room 2 , and Mattypalooza featuring MOTUC and Ghostbusters will be at 2:00 in room 2.
And lastly, we have a really exciting Masters of the Universe item for sale only at SDCC that has yet to be announced. Look for more details in the next two weeks!
This will be the last Ask Matty before San Diego Comic-Con, and it’s a double-sized edition. Mattel will resume taking our questions in August. Now, buckle up and have fun!
1. What are the DC comics that you’re reading? How do they influence what you want to see in the various DC toy lines?
From Toy Guru:
Pretty much everything DC puts out these days is required reading! On a personal note, I really enjoy the current Green Lantern and Flash Rebirth storylines. Booster Gold, Legion of Superheroes, Batman, the War that Time Forgot and Action Comics are also favorites.
The current DC Archives collection hardbacks have been a fantastic way to re-read some classic stories like the Batman Annuals and the Roots of Swamp Thing. Highly recommended! Kamandi and anything by Jack Kirby is also a favorite of mine.
Favorite characters definitely have a way of influencing both Mattel, DC Comics, Warner Brothers and the Four Horsemen as we decide each year who makes the cut in each line!
We got an update from Toy Guru that next week’s Q&A would be the last before August, so our strategy to save up all the hard-hitting questions until the July 15 Q&A was tragically flawed. On the plus side, a lot of our questions were going to be about what lines would they have on hand at the show, when their panels were going to be, and what exclusives were they selling – and Mattel just posted all of that info on Mattycollector.com.
One license that I was expecting but is not in the announcement is WWE – they’ve told us in the past that with the license due to kick off in 2010, they wouldn’t be sharing any information until San Diego at the earliest. We’ll try to find out whether they’ll be talking about WWE at San Diego.
San Diego Comic-Con 2009—New Toys & More
By Matty
Comic-Con is coming!
For us toy collectors, the granddaddy of events has to be San Diego Comic-Con. The 2009 show starts July 23rd (preview night July 22nd) and runs through July 26th, and this year I’m bringing more cool stuff than ever before!
FAN PANELS
First off, we’ll have not one, but TWO fan panels at the show:
Mattel & DC Comics, a Powerful Partnership
Friday, JULY 24
11:00 AM – 12:00 NOON
ROOM 2
MattyPalooza
Friday, JULY 24
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
ROOM 2
NEW PRODUCTS
Then, visit me at Booth #2845, and you’ll find tons of new toys either just coming on the market or soon to come. We’ll have Ghostbusters™, DC Universe, DC Universe Classics, Infinite Heroes, Justice League Unlimited, Masters of the Universe Classics, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Disney/Pixar CARS, Toy Story, Hot Wheels, Scene It? The DVD Game, and the insane new Mindflex game — plus a few surprises!
PRODUCTS AVAILABLE AT COMIC-CON
Products will be sold starting preview night. Customer service and safety is our number one priority, so we’ll have a separate booth run by our Toy Club to handle sales. Lines will only be allowed to get as long as the designated roped-off area, but “fast-pass” tickets will be handed out to reserve your spot later that day. Limits on all exclusives will be six per person, per visit to the Mattel booth.
If you choose to wait in line a second time, you’ll be eligible to buy another 6 figures (there will also be a limit of six figures for online purchases after the show). It should all go very smoothly for the best buying experience yet!
We’re going to have plenty of gotta-get products available for sale, including (click each for all the scoop):
Disney/Pixar CARS Toon Rescue Squad Mater
3-3/4″ scale Buzz Lightyear figure
DC Universe Infinite Heroes Anti-Monitor figure
Justice League Unlimited Green Lantern Origins 3-pack
DC Universe Classics Wonder Twins 2 pack
Masters of the Universe Classics He-Ro figure
Ghostbusters™ Classics Dr. Egon Spengler™ with Slimer
Can’t make it to Comic-Con? Fear not, fair comic fan! You’ll be able to get everything listed above on MattyCollector.com starting at 12:00 Noon on Monday, August 3rd, except these items:
SDCC variant He-Ro
SDCC variant Buzz Lightyear (with “Andy” on his foot)
SDCC Gleek (but the onder Twins without Gleek will be available)
Whew! That’s it for now, but stay tuned to MattyCollector.com, because I’ll have more news as Comic-Con gets closer.
Khalil at Kastor’s Korner has posted some pics from the Four Horsemen at Wizard World Philly. The Question was a two-up (a prototype that’s sculpted at roughly 2x the size the figure will be in production). It’s a little more apparent here than in the pics of him in Toyfare magazine that the double-breasted coat is a separate piece and not part of the torso sculpt. Remind me to ask in an upcoming Ask Matty Q&A if there’s ab articulation under there.
For those of you who are Teela fans, what do you think of her badonkadonk? Personally, I’d like to see some more curves on her backside.
NEWS: WIZARD WORLD PHILLY
Kastor’s Korner was not able to attend Wizard World Philly this year, but our friend Pendragon was, and got some great pictures.
