Mattel October Q & A: 2.0

For a great selection of super hero action figures and collectibles, check out fine retailers Attakus, ToyRocket.com, HobbyLinkJapan.com, BigBadToyStore.com, ToyWiz.com, StatueToys.com, CornerStoreComics.com and WhiteWizardToys.com and TopSecretToys.biz.

For a great selection of pop culture and super hero-themed apparel, check out TShirtGurus.com.

Mattel continues their Q & A program with another round. If your question wasn't answered this time, be sure to get it in by posting it in our FORUMS.

SuperHeroTimes: What's the most exciting aspect of having the entire DC Universe available to Mattel?

Mattel: Definitely character selection. It is so liberating to be able to choose from beyond the Batman and Superman worlds. Not only does this allow us to expand the lines but imagine all new toy lines as well.

SHT: Working with the Four Horsemen gives your DC Universe: Classics line "street credit" with collectors and fans. How have their creative choices helped drive the line?

Mattel: The Four Horsemen are die-hard fans and it really helps to have a team that knows so much about the property. We don’t need to remind them about sculpting details as they tend to already have these bases covered (such as including a Mother Box on Orion’s vest). It also really helps when doing variants. Cornboy especially has been helpful in coming up with great ideas for variants that aren’t different for different sake (like smile face head vs. sad face), but rather doing variants that are truly unique characters. They are all very determined to sculpt the entire DC Universe and we want to let them!

SHT: What motivated Mattel to choose the 5-figures-per-wave model and what lead to the inclusion of build-a-figure parts with the line?

Mattel: Both questions are actually interrelated. We decided to do the build-a-figure simply because it is what the fans have been asking for. The 5-figures per wave was chosen to help facilitate doing a build-a-figure. Five was the number of parts we were able to break the larger figure into without making the individual parts too small.

SHT: Please explain why you developed the upcoming Fighting Figures line and what role you seeing it play in the average fan's collection.

Mattel: The Fighting Figure line was designed to meet the needs of the younger collector as a gateway line into action figure collecting. At the same time we thought it was important to appeal to the older collector as well which is why we commissioned the Four Horsemen to do all the sculpts.

SHT: Obviously with a Justice League movie in the works, Mattel will be making action figures. Will fans see figures from the film with actor's and actress' likenesses and when can fans expect these to debut?

Mattel: Quite frankly, it is simply too early in the process to make any statements about the JL movie or toy line. We will be doing toys based on the film, but most likely won’t be able to make any announcement until at least Comic-Con (2008)!

For even more Mattel Q & A answers, visit Figures.com.