Masters of the Universe Classics

[Eamon]

That interview with Seeley over the Minicomic book was very annoying. He makes it sound like he had no help on the art book yet we know they did and they say they got all the contents themselves. We were told all Mattel materials were used in their own book years ago with some odd new pieces. Seeley is actually only been involved in the brand for two years yet us labeled as an "expert" (despite factual inaccuracies). He actually avoided the question about the original comic art and went on the sing the praises of someone else for 'restoring' the pages of the mini comics = scanning the comics he got sent from other fans on his request on HM.org....and he himself said he farmed it out to others to do the scanning on that message board.

Are some people just unaware others may be paying attention or what?

Then color me crazy. I am no less of a fan because I choose not to buy a MOTU book, or anything and everything with a MOTU logo on it.

No? What would you call it then?

 

[Kuwahara]

No? What would you call it then?

What would I call what? Again, I'm not a mindless zombie collector that HAS to have everything made remotely related to MOTU. If I choose not to buy a book because it has 200x, Son of Neitlich, and gives undeserving credit to people who are more about cashing in on the property rather than respecting it , that's my prerogative.

 

[teemu]

What would I call what? Again, I'm not a mindless zombie collector that HAS to have everything made remotely related to MOTU. If I choose not to buy a book because it has 200x, Son of Neitlich, and gives undeserving credit to people who are more about cashing in on the property rather than respecting it , that's my prerogative.

"Son of Neitlich" .... pretty much! what is worse is the folks who want it as if it belongs in MOTU somehow

 

[MagpieMad]

Anyone have any idea why the June figures aren't up for sale yet on Mattycollector?

 

[Kuzeh]

Then color me crazy. I am no less of a fan because I choose not to buy a MOTU book, or anything and everything with a MOTU logo on it.

Again, I'm not a mindless zombie collector that HAS to have everything made remotely related to MOTU. If I choose not to buy a book because it has 200x, Son of Neitlich, and gives undeserving credit to people who are more about cashing in on the property rather than respecting it , that's my prerogative.

I never said it makes you less of a fan, I just find it curious that since 99% percent of the upcoming MiniComic book is vintage goodness and a compilation of some of the best MOTU history, and hard to complete as a collection by itself... passing on it because Neitlich is mentioned or there are 3 new mini-comics seems a bit odd to me... It doesn't mean you have to buy everything and anything MOTU, I mean, I pass on plenty of crappy MOTU stuff like those upcoming "vinyls", but this upcoming book looks VERY promising and a great chance to have all the miniComics...

Are some people just unaware others may be paying attention or what?

The only people paying attention to all the drama are a handful of fans...
For the casual fan or casual collector, they probably don't care about all that...

"Son of Neitlich" .... pretty much! what is worse is the folks who want it as if it belongs in MOTU somehow

I think it's worse that some people give it way much more importance than they should... all this "Classics storyline", the new MiniComics, the DC Comics, the Bios are just a bunch of nonsense, some enjoy it, most don't... I honestly don't care for any of it... and it doesn't take away anything from MOTU in my opinion... I can still enjoy the vintage Minicomics, the Cartoon, the figures and care not for anything that's been written recently...
It's like Transformers, I care not for any Bayformers, but I love the franchise, well... mostly G1, but hopefully you get the point...

 

[Zodach]

I know this is an unpopular opinion, but I give Scott a lot of credit and respect for pushing the MOTU brand while he was at Mattel. He made some bad decisions, worded some things poorly, and wasn't always honest but do you think Classics would have got off the ground or continued as long as it did if he wasn't there to convince upper management to keep the brand alive? Mattel seems to be going further and further away from collector-focused toys and I don't see much of anything on the horizon that I would be interested in purchasing from them. I think Scott's time at Mattel was a modern golden age for collectors of their product lines. DCUC and MOTUC were two incredible lines that went deeper into those properties than I think we will ever see again from Mattel.

Big props to the amazing Four Horsemen as well, but someone inside Mattel had to be there to push these brands forward. I will give Scott credit for that.

 

[teemu]

I know this is an unpopular opinion, but I give Scott a lot of credit and respect for pushing the MOTU brand while he was at Mattel. He made some bad decisions, worded some things poorly, and wasn't always honest but do you think Classics would have got off the ground or continued as long as it did if he wasn't there to convince upper management to keep the brand alive? Mattel seems to be going further and further away from collector-focused toys and I don't see much of anything on the horizon that I would be interested in purchasing from them. I think Scott's time at Mattel was a modern golden age for collectors of their product lines. DCUC and MOTUC were two incredible lines that went deeper into those properties than I think we will ever see again from Mattel.

Big props to the amazing Four Horsemen as well, but someone inside Mattel had to be there to push these brands forward. I will give Scott credit for that.

that is about all the credits he get though....that's IF he really had most of the say in getting MOTU Classics as far as it did

The guy is a weasel salesman at best

 

[Kuzeh]

Honestly he gets my respect for putting up with all the stupidity of some "fans". At the last PowerCon it was the worst when a couple of grown-ass "men" had tantrums against him during a panel and he was trying to be as nice as possible... But these guys wouldn't have it... It got so bad I was about to call security to deal with these bozos... It's funny cause a kid actually told one to just shut up!!
Dealing with fanboys is tough, and I think that he did great in that regard, as well as bts, there was a small team of Mattel employees rooting for this line, people fail to realize this...

Oh and teemu, he seems to be great at it since he has you buying stuff every month!
Even after he's gone from Mattel!! [emoji1]

 

[teemu]

Honestly he gets my respect for putting up with all the stupidity of some "fans". At the last PowerCon it was the worst when a couple of grown-ass "men" had tantrums against him during a panel and he was trying to be as nice as possible... But these guys wouldn't have it... It got so bad I was about to call security to deal with these bozos... It's funny cause a kid actually told one to just shut up!!
Dealing with fanboys is tough, and I think that he did great in that regard, as well as bts, there was a small team of Mattel employees rooting for this line, people fail to realize this...

Oh and teemu, he seems to be great at it since he has you buying stuff every month!
Even after he's gone from Mattel!! [emoji1]

He doesn't have me buying stuff every month...the MOTU Classics brand and the four horsemen sculpts do! Has NOTHING to do with Neitlicker

 

[Azrael23]

.the MOTU Classics brand and the four horsemen sculpts do! Has NOTHING to do with Neitlicker

My sentiments exactly. It's a testament to the strength of the brand as well as the power behind the sculpts as to why so many have stuck with the line this long.

 

[Kuwahara]

I know this is an unpopular opinion, but I give Scott a lot of credit and respect for pushing the MOTU brand while he was at Mattel. He made some bad decisions, worded some things poorly, and wasn't always honest but do you think Classics would have got off the ground or continued as long as it did if he wasn't there to convince upper management to keep the brand alive? Mattel seems to be going further and further away from collector-focused toys and I don't see much of anything on the horizon that I would be interested in purchasing from them. I think Scott's time at Mattel was a modern golden age for collectors of their product lines. DCUC and MOTUC were two incredible lines that went deeper into those properties than I think we will ever see again from Mattel.

Big props to the amazing Four Horsemen as well, but someone inside Mattel had to be there to push these brands forward. I will give Scott credit for that.

IMO... It's kind of a catch 22. First of all. It was Neitlich that made it sound like he needed to convince upper management to keep MOTUC going. Sounds to me like just another example of him passing the buck. Neitlich is the FOUNDER and was the manager of mattycollector, it was HIS baby and HIS responsibility. Second, I think the longevity of the line is based on a few factors. One of them was simple marketing. Neitlich is a pro at manipulation, and he manipulated us fans into buying subs year after year; and during those years it was the customers being suckered into buying these subs that funded the line and made it last so long. The other factors are sheer love for the property and the 4H sculpts. The 4H's love for the line shows in almost all of their work on MOTUC, and the fans devotion and love has kept it alive. In a way, Neitlich should probably get some credit for the lines longevity because he kept sales up. but his methods were borderline criminal at best. So, would the line have lasted this long or even existed without Neitlich? Maybe, maybe not. I wouldn't go far as to definitively say "NO" though. A different brand manager could have done wonders for the line and it definitely would have gone in a better direction. Also, it was the 4H who pitched the idea in the first place.

 

[niennumb1]

Yeah I am totally the sucker for the 2015 MOTUC sub line and will never do it again. I haven't collected MOTUC in about 3 years and saw the plea to get the subs or that the "final" run of figures would be in danger of not happening. I bought into the sub thinking it would be easy to recoup the costs and break even helping fans/collectors, but it's been a money pit and have made back only some of what each figure is costing me to push them out the door at all. On average I LOSE about $10 per figure.

I will not fall for any more of this pity subbing again. I felt like I was helping the community get that last run of figures made, but now they're talking a new line for 2016, which means this ISN'T the end of the line, only the end of the filmation/classic series.

In the end it is 100% my fault for buying into something I wasn't intending on keeping. It's come at a heavy price. People are just not buying these as much as they used to. I can't say I wonder why because I know why I got out of it with the rising costs with shipping and the whole mentality of an all or nothing structure. It's otherwise hard to be selective about getting the ones you want due to fast sellouts for the monthly club eternia figures to the general market.

 

[teemu]

All I can say is good luck with the 2016 sub happening....I'm out! and I keep reading many are pretty much done the sub method

I will cherry pick for now on and have no intention of buying garbage like Crita in 16

 

[Gleekor]

He doesn't have me buying stuff every month...the MOTU Classics brand and the four horsemen sculpts do! Has NOTHING to do with Neitlicker

I concur. Scott's greatest contribution was unabashed self-promotion.

IMO... It's kind of a catch 22. First of all. It was Neitlich that made it sound like he needed to convince upper management to keep MOTUC going. Sounds to me like just another example of him passing the buck. Neitlich is the FOUNDER and was the manager of mattycollector, it was HIS baby and HIS responsibility. Second, I think the longevity of the line is based on a few factors. One of them was simple marketing. Neitlich is a pro at manipulation, and he manipulated us fans into buying subs year after year; and during those years it was the customers being suckered into buying these subs that funded the line and made it last so long. The other factors are sheer love for the property and the 4H sculpts. The 4H's love for the line shows in almost all of their work on MOTUC, and the fans devotion and love has kept it alive. In a way, Neitlich should probably get some credit for the lines longevity because he kept sales up. but his methods were borderline criminal at best. So, would the line have lasted this long or even existed without Neitlich? Maybe, maybe not. I wouldn't go far as to definitively say "NO" though. A different brand manager could have done wonders for the line and it definitely would have gone in a better direction. Also, it was the 4H who pitched the idea in the first place.

I'm a firm believer Scott's antics drove away customers and actually hurt sales.

 

[Kuzeh]

I know several MOTU fans that hardly even know who Scott is... You guys are giving it more importance in the whole MOTU scheme of things than it should... He contributed just like dozens of other people have... I've said it before and I'll say it again, MOTU is bigger than any one person... All the speculation of what would've happened is futile... We'll never see such a diverse and robust MOTU line as Classics ever again... That's for sure...

 

[Battle Ram Man]

That interview with Seeley over the Minicomic book was very annoying. He makes it sound like he had no help on the art book yet we know they did and they say they got all the contents themselves. We were told all Mattel materials were used in their own book years ago with some odd new pieces. Seeley is actually only been involved in the brand for two years yet us labeled as an "expert" (despite factual inaccuracies). He actually avoided the question about the original comic art and went on the sing the praises of someone else for 'restoring' the pages of the mini comics = scanning the comics he got sent from other fans on his request on HM.org....and he himself said he farmed it out to others to do the scanning on that message board.

Are some people just unaware others may be paying attention or what?

Yeah, that's pretty weak of him.

 

[Battle Ram Man]

I know this is an unpopular opinion, but I give Scott a lot of credit and respect for pushing the MOTU brand while he was at Mattel. He made some bad decisions, worded some things poorly, and wasn't always honest but do you think Classics would have got off the ground or continued as long as it did if he wasn't there to convince upper management to keep the brand alive? Mattel seems to be going further and further away from collector-focused toys and I don't see much of anything on the horizon that I would be interested in purchasing from them. I think Scott's time at Mattel was a modern golden age for collectors of their product lines. DCUC and MOTUC were two incredible lines that went deeper into those properties than I think we will ever see again from Mattel.

Big props to the amazing Four Horsemen as well, but someone inside Mattel had to be there to push these brands forward. I will give Scott credit for that.

I'm pretty sure his stories about having to convince upper management to pretty please keep the line going were fairy tales. The fast sellouts of just about every item is what has kept this line alive - not to mention the Four Horsemen, who do all the sculpts and who pitched the line in the first place

 

[Kuwahara]

I'm a firm believer Scott's antics drove away customers and actually hurt sales.

I don't doubt it. However, sales must have been good enough to see more and more SKUs year after year. All the scare tactics and fear mongering coerced many fans into buying more subs than they needed because they felt obligated to support what they were misled into thinking was a toy line on the brink of cancellation. Not going to name names but a handful of fans with deep pockets apparently bought 30+ subs for a number of years to support the line, and that adds up. The catering to resellers and artificial scarcity also boosted sales. etailers and ebay sellers bought tons of MOTUC stuff to sell at a markup because they recognize the supposedly quick sellouts on mattycollector.

 

[Kuwahara]

All I can say is good luck with the 2016 sub happening....I'm out! and I keep reading many are pretty much done the sub method

I will cherry pick for now on and have no intention of buying garbage like Crita in 16

I honestly wouldn't be surprised if a 2016 sub DOES go through. There are WAY too many MOTU fans/collectors that seem to absolutely have to have it all, and I think we all know where those people can be found. The same people who fall for the same tricks year after year will fund the 2016 sub, and the usual scare tactics will add even more sales. I personally would like to see it end completely after 2015, especially if matty continues with this SOHM nonsense.

 

[Zodach]

Scott was the face of the brand for Mattel and he was the one to take the praise and criticism. I don't think he ever denied the importance or involvement of others at Mattel or the Four Horsemen in the success of the line, but he was the one constantly putting himself out there to promote the DC and MOTU lines. As brand manager that's what I would expect.

Honestly if you look back at what Mattel has offered in their collector action figure lines while Scott was there, we saw a spike in many different offerings and initiatives. We had DCSH, DCUC, DC Club Infinite Earths, DC Signature Series, MOTU Classics, Ghostbusters Classics, Epic Creations props, and Batman '66. I don't see anything like this from Mattel before Scott got there. Obviously there were others involved that should share the credit for making these lines happen, but to not give Scott any credit as the brand manager is off the mark.

I personally would like to see it end completely after 2015, especially if matty continues with this SOHM nonsense.

I will also be surprised if 2016 goes through, but this is probably my last year subscribing anyways. I have most of what I want especially with the 200X sub getting tacked on.