SDCC 2013: What Happened At The Hasbro Marvel Panel?
Published by D_Martin on July 23, 2013 at 11:07 PM CST |
   
Hasbro: Marvel Comics & Movie Toys Panel
Saturday, July 20 - 4:00pm-5:00pm -- Room 25ABC
reported by Vince Zannelli
Panel Participants:
Adam Biehl, Vice President, Global Marvel line, Hasbro
Jesse Falcon, Director of Hardlines, Marvel
Dwight Stall, Senior Marvel product design manager, Hasbro
Maalvika Mantraprigada, Senior Manager, Global Marvel line, Hasbro
Panel begins: 4:02 p.m.
Before any high-resolution slides were introduced in this Saturday afternoon panel, Jesse Falcon immediately mentioned the importance of attending the Marvel movie panel which would be held later that same evening. This particular action figure panel was truncated due to significant reveals which were not to be made public until the conclusion of the Marvel movie panel. As a result, specific toy plans for X-Men: Days of Future Past, Avengers 2, and Guardians of the Galaxy were not revealed nor even hinted at.
Opening slides featured additional details and information regarding the SDCC exclusive items available at the Hasbro Toy Shop booth located on the convention floor, which included the Thunderbolts Tower action figure set, and the Deadpool Corps taco truck action figure set.
Immediately the presentation moved to a 6" wave of Wolverine Legends figures, including Cyclops, Emma Frost, Wolverine (yellow suit), and Sabertooth, as well as a build-a-figure of Puck from Alpha Flight. Beyond the Legends wave, fans are being treated 3.75" scale Wolverine All-Star action figure set currently on store shelves, which feature limited articulation: Logan, Sword Slash Silver Samurai, Warrior Claw Wolverine, and Shadow Strike Ninja.
It should be noted at this point that the "All-Star" branding with limited articulation will be applied to most 3.75" Marvel action figure releases, replacing the Marvel Universe brand in 2014 which has been in use since 2006. All-Star assortments will focus on theatrical Marvel releases, namely Avengers, and offers a refresh for retailers by instituting a slightly different brand and focus. The hope is to entice and/or increase casual collecting while staying true to the Marvel properties. Themed super-articulated Marvel action figure lines will continue but will not be as prevalent as All-Star assortments.
Iron Man Assemblers are a resounding success for Hasbro, and the line will continue in its familiar format with new 3.75" offerings which include: Wave 4 (September) - Igor Armor Iron Man, Artillery Armor Iron Man, and Neutrino Armor Iron Man. Available in October, Wal-Mart will carry an exclusive Arc Light Iron Man Assemblers 3-pack: Red Snapper Iron Man, Mark 42 Iron Man, and Dunebuster Iron Man. Also in October, Amazon.com will offer an exclusive Iron Man Assemblers Hall of Armor 6-pack, with 3.75" versions of 5 different movie-inspired Iron Man armors, and a Tony Stark figure. Finally, available in August there will be a 6" Iron Man 3 Sonic Blasting Night Ops. figure with glow-in-the-dark armor. The Iron Man 3 Micro Muggs line will continue in August with 12 new figure offerings to add to the 12 that are currently at retail.
Thor 2: The Dark World is preparing for a worldwide theatrical release and Hasbro is ready with a line of five super-articulated 3.75" action figures featuring Thor w/ armor and helmet, Dark Elf, Loki, and Thor with sash. The fifth figure was not revealed until Sunday at the Hasbro booth, and it was Kurse. Thor 2 will also see the return of role-play toys including Thor Hero Mask (helmet), foam hammer, and an electronic Lightning Strike Hammer.
Marvel Universe is slowly being phased-out of Hasbro's nomenclature, however wave 3 of the 3.75" line looks promising with Rhino, Captain America, Mysterio w/ translucent cape, and Elektra. Wave 4 will include Baron Zemo, Cloak & Dagger (variant alert), Abomination and A-Bomb (another variant alert), and black & white Iron Man. Wave 5 will feature Omega Red, Northstar & Aurora (variant alert), Black Knight, and Night Crawler. Moving from single carded figures to 3.75" multi-packs, wave 1 includes the West Coast Avengers 3-pack (currently available) and features Mockingbird, War Machine, and Hawkeye. Wave 2 in the Fall will include an Uncanny X-Man 3-pack that has Emma Frost, Colossus, and Cyclops. Wave 3 (also a Fall release) will focus on The Mighty Thor: Valkyrie, Thor, and the first-ever 3.75" figure of the Executioner.
Moving into 2014, Hasbro revealed unfinished grayscale Marvel Universe 3.75" designs for wave 1: the Grim Reaper and Hyperion. Wave 2 includes Scarlett Spider-Man, Black Panther, Wrecker & Bulldozer (variant alert), movie Hawkeye & classic Hawkeye (variant alert), and Jean Grey & Phoenix (another variant alert) with a build-a-figure of Rocket Raccoon. Wave 3 Legends includes: Thor, Venom, Tigershark & Radioactive Man (variant alert), Moonstone & Songbird (variant alert), Blizzard & Batroc (another variant alert) with a build-a-figure of Jubilee.
The 2014 6" lineup will focus on theatrical property connections. Captain America figures will be featured first, with the early waves to include Captain America (comic), Baron Zemo (comic), Red Skull (movie), Black Widow (movie), Winter Soldier (movie), and A.I.M. Soldier (movie). Spider-Man will be featured next and will include a new Black Cat with whip and a build-a-figure of Ultimate Green Goblin. Finally, a pre-production grayscale image of 6" Star Lord (comic) was displayed. This was the conclusion of the video presentation, at which time the panelists opened up the floor for a Q&A session with attendees--an abbreviated version of the Q&A is recapped below.
-When asked about the possibility of a figure subscription service, representatives responded that it is definitely a possibility, but Hasbro is "not there yet" in terms of where the company stands on the issue.
-Question is raised about the possibility of the 6" Black Cat figure being released in 3.75" format as well as 3.75" build-a-figure options. Regarding the latter, it is difficult to do a 3.75" B.A.F. due to high price points. Not possible with scale and deco issues. However, with new vendors come new possibilities, and additional build-a-figures could be made such as Devil Dinosaur.
-The Sentry & Blade figures mentioned last year have not yet been released. Hasbro responds that the figures have reached the production stage and are fully tooled, but they are still trying to find a way to get them into a case assortment. It is reiterated here that new case assortments moving forward will contain one of each figure available in the entire wave, meaning that chase/variant figures will be in each case, one per case, guaranteeing a full set in each sealed case.
-Fans ask if a "most-requested" or "top 10" list of figures that collectors want to see made are ever taken into consideration by either Hasbro or Marvel. Lists such as these are in their hands are paid attention to, though the vocal crowd that contributes to this list is not necessarily the volume crowd that Hasbro/Marvel need to move forward with production on these pieces. Representatives talk among themselves and make decisions they feel are most pleasing and beneficial for all parties involved.
-Why has the "ask Hasbro" feature disappeared and why do Hasbro reps. choose not to participate in forums? It is against Hasbro's policy to have employees communicate directly through a forum environment, however it is a good point and an excellent way to create dialogue. The manufacturer relationship between Hasbro and Marvel is "good" and change is a constant in the industry.
-No more Dark Avengers figures are on the horizon, and there are no plans right now to release a new '90s Rogue figure but they are aware of the demand. There is a constant struggle between whether or not to release something entirely new, or release a newer version of a character that has been done previously. Single-carded assortments are always more marketable than multi-packs of figures.
-Question raised about the pre-school line, and whether or not further expansion is anticipated--met with a resounding "yes" by the panel. Much more to be released in the near future. Merchandizing for that age group is doing very well thanks to TV spots and shows.
-Staff at Hasbro spend numerous hours researching peg-warmers at retail, recognizing what does and does not sell by region.
-Build-a-figure giants are an example of an item being made solely in response to fan demand.
-Much more to be revealed at New York Comic-Con that cannot yet be revealed at San Diego this early into the year. Fans in attendance are once again encouraged to attend the Marvel movie panel later in the evening after the conclusion of this Hasbro Marvel panel.
Panel concludes: 4:49 p.m. |
