Beast Kingdom Doing '66 Batman and Robin

[AndyFish]

Well won't be reporting on the quality-- I cancelled my order for the Dark Knight and Carrie Robin figures in a fit of rational thinking-- I have too many Batman figures already. I'll revisit the '66 versions when they are actually up for order or in stock in two years or so.

[BatToys]

Ditto Hot Toys-- owner Howard Chan wanted a '66 line and got Batman and Robin produced. The work on the other figures he did for pre-production had to be done before sales figures came in, and the numbers weren't there to continue the line. But Howard got the prototype figures, same with his Batmobile.

Hot Toys does poor marketing. I've met so many fans who were unaware they even existed. People love the realism. Hot Toys should advertise on the Me-TV Svengoolie TV show. They're 1966 Batman line would have been a lot more successful if they advertised it better. Sure we know about them but it's surprising how many other fans do not.

[AndyFish]

Ha- I don't think Howard cares-- they sell TONS in Asia and that's the market he's in. When you're in Japan they are the toy featured in all the modern stores. Like Toho Studios a lot of theses folks find dealing with the overseas import market a pain in the neck.

I think, and I can't believe I'm writing this, a lot of us in the USA think we are the market that matters. There are a LOT more people outside the US than in it-- we are a tiny percentage to those Asian sellers.

[Ben Bentley]

I think, and I can't believe I'm writing this, a lot of us in the USA think we are the market that matters. There are a LOT more people outside the US than in it-- we are a tiny percentage to those Asian sellers.

Bingo! I've had conversations along these lines very regularly over the last decade or so.

[AndyFish]

I think, and I can't believe I'm writing this, a lot of us in the USA think we are the market that matters. There are a LOT more people outside the US than in it-- we are a tiny percentage to those Asian sellers.

Bingo! I've had conversations along these lines very regularly over the last decade or so.

Howard is one of the nicest guys I've ever met-- and he is beyond successful. That said I buy all of my Hot Toys figures from overseas instead of the US importers and I pay about ⅔ the price. Cut out the middle man I say!

[BatToys]

Ha- I don't think Howard cares-- they sell TONS in Asia and that's the market he's in. When you're in Japan they are the toy featured in all the modern stores. Like Toho Studios a lot of theses folks find dealing with the overseas import market a pain in the neck.

I think, and I can't believe I'm writing this, a lot of us in the USA think we are the market that matters. There are a LOT more people outside the US than in it-- we are a tiny percentage to those Asian sellers.

Well for one thing they're very influenced by what Americans watch. It would be nice if they were bigger fans of 1966 Batman so maybe they don't show enough reruns over there.
Hot Toys is very into Iron Man because that's popular with his Asian market. I'm saying for the American market many fans never heard of Hot Toys. They would sell more if they did more advertising here like on Svengoolie.

[AndyFish]

My friend the world watches American films and it's a two way street for film-makers-- the US Film market, especially Marvel and DC, RELIES on overseas markets. There would be no superhero movies if not for the popularity of the overseas markets, more than one franchise has been saved because something that bombed here (I'm looking at you DCEU) did well in Asia.

I stand by my original post, they don't care about selling in America, and as someone who often has to deal with buyers who feel they are entitled to something just because they are willing to pay for it, I can understand, sometimes its not worth the hassle.

Getting it back on topic, I happened to run into an acquaintance yesterday at a restaurant who is doing design work for Beast Kingdom, he said they are all pumped about doing the '66 figure and that he was told it should be "on shore" early 2024. For what its worth-- they can be slow.

[BatToys]

I hope it's true that there will be CGI of Adam West Batman, George Reeves Superman, Lynda Wonder Woman, maybe the Lewis Wilson Batman so that Hot Toys can make figures of them.
And then McFarlane can finally make a 7-in 1966 Batman.

If they do it's too bad it takes a year to wait for them. I bet Hot Toys would sell more if they were immediately available same time as the movie.

Andy, It's too bad Hot Toys doesn't care for the American market as you say but that opens it up for someone else. JazzInc wants to make Hot Toys level action figures of retro characters using HT sculptors. I would like to see them make a Hot Toys level the Van Williams Green Hornet.

[AndyFish]

There's also GoHero too- they've done great figures of Buster Crabbe as Flash Gordon, Doc Savage, The Shadow and Buck Rogers. Lewis Wilson was in the works but the process fell apart.

[BatToys]

There's also GoHero too- they've done great figures of Buster Crabbe as Flash Gordon, Doc Savage, The Shadow and Buck Rogers. Lewis Wilson was in the works but the process fell apart.

Warner Brothers licensing was a problem?

[AndyFish]

Wilson Family>WB/DC>Sony - case of too many people having a say.

[rickkrefft]

Andy, did your source feel there was any chance in going beyond Batman and Robin for Beast Kingdom? My guess is no, but the main 4 villains would be an instant purchase for me.

[AndyFish]

Just going by BK history-- they don't go deep. I'd expect Batman and Robin and that's it.

[rickkrefft]

That’s what I figured too

[AndyFish]

In hand pics of the '89 Batman and Joker are getting some pretty negative reviews, at least in what I've seen. I'd most likely wait to see what they actually look like before ordering, but truthfully I probably will pass overall.