Comic Book Resources

Wow. That's VERY unexpected.

It's like 1996 never ended!!!

MONKEYMANNNNNN

Who is Star? I'm ashamed to admit I know who all the others are. (Some I am more ashamed of others about...)

And it sounds like they're just trying to get rid of some backstock.

I think it is a cool idea to get some figures, in scale with Marvel Legends, for lesser known characters. Of course, that means lesser profits, but still, its a cool idea. I'm not terribly familiar with all of these characters (or I know who they are, but never read one of their books), but the ones I know well look great. That Darkness is wicked awesome.

I'm pretty sure Star is one of the characters from Savage Dragon. He pops up now and again as an ally of the Dragon.

I just think it's ironic that 'Marvel Toys' doesn't actually make Marvel toys.

And it sounds like they’re just trying to get rid of some backstock.

That's an interesting theory. It WOULD explain why Star, a fairly obscure character from Savage Deagon, would have a figure - as he was more prominent back about ten years ago.

But they all look like they're made the same way - did ToyBiz make all the original figures?

A new Frank Einstein, for the first time since Graphitti's aborted toyline? I'm totally there. And maybe for Dredd and Death too, I donno.

What? Doesn't come with pogs?
Forget it.....

As far as I understand it, it's called "Marvel Toys" only because they're owned by Marvel, not because they actually make Marvel toys. It's the company formerly known as Toy Biz.

Toy Biz lost the Marvel Legends license to Hasbro, so now only Hasbro can make those figures. Since Marvel Toys still has a marketable reputation for its highly detailed comic characters, I guess they're just going to be making indie figures from now on.

So, you think that these are original toys?

If so, wow - those are some bizarre figure choices.

Brian...What Flush said...this was all announced @ Toy Fare. As Hasbro now does the production side of the Marvel figs, ex-ToyBiz's production slate is doing indy comics.

Shame about the Build a Fig thing...I'd be all over a MonkeyMan & Obrien 2 set, but I'm not gonna buy a bunch of image characters to get 'em.

Yes, these are original toys. This is what Toy Biz/Marvel Toys is making now that they lost the Marvel Legends license to Hasbro.

I see little problem with finally being able to enact a Madman/Judge Dredd battle.

To clarify, as we have 2 different phrasings goign on here...

These ARE "original" toys. They are new, and made the same way and with the same articulation as Marvel Legends.

They ARE NOT "the original" toys of these characters. They are not back stock of old McFarlane & other figures.

Also, there are 2 2-packs.

One is Conan & Wraal. I don't remember the other one, mostly because I don't care about the characters.

I am all over those Darkness, Dredd and Death figures.

So Marvel Toys, the company that Marvel comics owns, lost the bid to produce figures based on Marvel comics?

So Marvel Toys, the company that Marvel comics owns, lost the bid to produce figures based on Marvel comics?

I love captialism!

the marv figure looks fucking horrible.

the marv figure looks fucking horrible.

Yup. In my (admittedly limited) experience of these toys, if they're made by McFarlane (spit) Toys - like the original Marv figures - then they'll be spot on likenesses. It they aren't then they'll be terrible likenesses.

But at least it doesn't look like Mickey Rourke.

The only thing I've ever personally seen form Marvel Toys is the TNA Wrestling figures that they make. It's kind of funny that they seem to make everything but Marvel characters.

I'm definitely getting a Savage Dragon and Superpatriot, the other 2 pack is a BodyBags one.

How about a new line of ROM and the Spaceknights? I heard somewhere that the license had reverted to Marvel. I had always thought that with an animated movie it was a concept that would sell.

But at least it doesn’t look like Mickey Rourke.

It's not the Marv toy I want, but I've got nothing against toys of the film versions.

I've got the original Marv toy with the disembodied head, but the one I really want is the one in the Electric Chair

To get the full story on the story behind "Marvel Toys" and the Hasbro deal, read this. The short story is below:

Marvel bought ToyBiz.

ToyBiz had the Marvel comics license.

ToyBiz's license expired.

Marvel recognized that they could get more money from an outside company than an in-house company.

Marvel sold the Marvel license to Hasbro for big bucks. Or maybe BIG bucks.

ToyBiz changed its name to Marvel Toys, for branding reasons.

Hasbro pays Marvel for the rights to the characters. Hasbro also pays Marvel Toys to design the figures. (Now you start to see why this was a good deal for Marvel)

Marvel Toys has other licenses beside the Marvel one. TNA wrestling, Code Lyoko, etc.

Marvel Toys has also decided to make figures based on indie comics. Why? Because their Marvel Legends line is one of the most successful things of the current decade, along with their Spider-Man toys. Because no one* but Todd McFarlane was making anything of the sort, and it has been years since he did any comics other than Spawn.

The figures re all-new, and made to the high standards of Marvel Legends: detailed sculpts, tons of articulation, and BAFs (Build-A-Figure - Pitt and Monkeyman). They're supposed to be available in real retail stores, too - if you live in Denver and can get to a Wal*Mart, you might be able to find them right now. Yes, these are a lot of obscure characters, but look at them: Ripclaw, Savage Dragon, Superpatriot? We're not talking about Francine and Katchoo, here, these are characters that kids will buy simply because they look cool. Even the most boring character in the two series, Marv, had a major movie recently. Nobody knows who Star is, but parents will buy him because they'll think it's a new Spider-Man.

Oh, and the two-packs are Conan and the Devourer of Souls, a repainted Witchblade/Darkness pack, and the assassins from Body Bags. Pictuures here.

Whew! Any other questions?

oh, and also (once the other comment is out of its moderation limbo), Marvel Toys does the sculpting for DST's Marvel Select figures - those big ones you only see at your comic shop, like Mephisto and the Watcher...