Kastor’s Retro Reviews

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Kastor’s Retro Reviews

come check out the new column on Kastor’s Korner

Finally the new home is OPEN

Hi all just wanted to give all an update.  Kastor’s Korner has a new home @ http://www.kastorskorner.com/   This week will see the long over due HML3 final review as well as DCUC wave one.  We should also have some Mattel answers soon

Still no Responce

SO its been over 3 monthes and no offical word on DCSH waves, case packs or anything other then what we see on Ebay or in Walmart.  So we still have to wonder what is coming and what to waste time on.

 Though Twoface looks great

I’m Back

So, I have been gone for about 2 weeks and I’m getting a lot of support, thank you all.  We have had a few deaths in the family in the past few weeks and it has turned our lives upside down.  As things start to calm down I’m coming back to this blog.  Now the family issues are not the only reason I took time off.  The message boards have been a source of stress for me over the last few weeks, to the point that if I had to choose hunting for toys or going home, I went home.  I just wanted a break.  I have been working a lot on taking pictures and writing my ideas down some fun and some serious.  I have though long and hard and decided that if I want this blog to become my soap box, I have to voice my opinions even if others don’t’ agree with them.  After losing on Fwoosh and feeling alone on AFI I am coming back to talk about all that and toys of course.  So stay tuned it will be an interesting ride. 

Time off

Thank you all for reading this Blog and taking a look at the Hunt with me.  I think i will be back maybe soon maybe later im not sure yet so rory has helped me move it back in the closet, and the book cases are empty again.

 

What is going on?

What is going on?  That is the question that no one can seem to answer about Mattel’s DC Superheroes.  The next question that should be asked is “Why not?”. This is not some top secret project from the government, we are talking about toys.  Nowadays we are used to knowing what is going on, so being in the dark in this information age is a very frustrating feeling.  Now I don’ t know about you but I’m on a toy budget and like to plan out at least a few months in advance what I will buy.  I have had cut back a lot on my collecting over the years and have become very selective in my choices.  Well Mattel has put us in the shadows and only more confusion and frustration follows.  While the blame of the lack of DCU characters is due to DC, the lack of information for those of us who like to plan is Mattel.  It has not been so long since some of us were burned by Spin Blade He-man, DCSH is staring to look the same.  I know many people with more information are saying just wait, and you will see there are big things coming. But in a market where rising prices, repaints and reissues are the norm, how long can the average collector wait for answers. 

I have been following a thread on AFI that is in support of possibly quitting the line and it is more then the usual gripe about a figure’s paint job.  There is an overwhelming concern over character selection, case pack outs, and customer information.  While I love figures’ the sculpts from the 4 Horsemen, and the great characters classic looks, this line has died once.  The first line was a specific Batman line which went across the pond to finish up and made up 75% of the current Batman waves of this line.  Of the last 10 figures 8 of the 2 Batman waves were re-releases, while the Superman waves (3 in a row, what happened to every other wave) has suffered bad case packing.  I understand the need for a Superman in every wave, what Mattel has done is down right ridiculous.  In 4 wave of DCSH a 12 figure case was broken down to 1 Darkside, 1 Lex, 2 Braniacs, and 8, yes I said 8, old( from the dead batman line) Supermen.  If there were 4 I would say ok but 8 that makes no sence.  I know normal collectors who have not seen original figures since wave 3 and we are now on wave 5 or 6.  The next big slap in the face was when we finally saw the new purple packaging many of us found cases with only Supermen and Bizzaros, figures which we have seen in DCSH wave 2 and in the Target 2 packs which still seem not to sell in my area.   Now this is getting off on a bit of a rant (feel like Dennis Miller), but I really think the normal amount of information would be acceptable.  

I decided since we were not getting any real answers on line I would just call Mattel.  The first call I made got me only sorry that information is not available.  Again I say what issue of national security does knowing what figures are in the current waves of toys in the stores now.  I was told to go online and I could find out about thier lines and thier lineups thier website.  I checked and the line is not even listed, though Batman and the JLU are, but unclickable.  So I hang up being nice as I can and think for a moment and decide to call back.  This time I would ask for anyone who could give me the information.  And again I hit a wall, because I’m not a retailer I’m not allowed to know information about their product, but I did not give up.  I explained to the very nice woman on the phone that I did not want future information and only wanted to know what was out now so I can budget and save time. I explained that I shop mostly at local stores and if a product which was shown on the box was not part of this wave I would not waste time looking for them.  To that she understood and took the item numbers for Mongul, Supergirl, and Steel.  When she came back she had more information then I knew what to do with.  So I asked her about the Black suited Superman and Cyborg Superman which was on the newest package.  She looked them on her list and said they were to be released in March and April respectively.  Then she went on to say the Supermen figures were part of an assortment and not necessarily a “wave” so this was a multipart wave(Steel , Mongul and Cyborg).  She also told me that there were 28 figures (not characters, thanks Julius for the reminder) scheduled for this year.  Now at Toy Fair we got the number of 22, now we are at 28.  So I decided to ask one more question since Two-Face was on the CSC list for soon to be released.  Her answer was he was part of the 2006 line, which means his wave is probably not part of her list of 28. 

So what does all of this mean?  It means not a lot of information is being put out for the customers.  The company’s main focus is kids not necessarily collectors.  Our ability to get information is limited because of our position in the consumer food chain.  I understand issues 2 and 3 but issue 1 is unnecessary.  I know I may seem like a rabid collector but I’m really not, my drive has been diminished recently.  As I get older I become more patient and I think my main reason for this rant is just blowing off some steam over recent frustrations.  I’m not calling for a boycott of a product or to pester Mattel for answers, but I think our voice should be heard and our frustrations should be addressed with more then wait we will tell you soon.

So I put it to you those in the know…. What is going on???

Toy Fair

Well it’s TF07 and will we see anything to blow off our socks…. i don’t know check out all my links in my side bars for stories.  Also these have pretty good pic folders for the show.
SuperHero Times
Toynews I

 So to add we saw 2 new figures fomally for DCSH ManBat and Clayface, and got a hint that we will see 22 new figures( not all new sculpts). 

Here is what we know:
1.clayface
2.manbat
3.kal-el
4.sups(black costume)
5.cyborg sups
6.bizzaro(dark)
7.darkside(dark)
8.Batgirl(cassie)
9.twoface
10.catwomanok and we know the two-face wave has a repaint 11.joker, and 12.bats
and not sure if the steel wave is counted in 07( 13.steel, 14.parasite, 15.blue SG, 16.cheetos DD, 17.Mongrul) if so then we are up to 17 so what are the other 5????