Hasbro/Toy Biz Panel At The 2006 San Diego Comic Con

by Jay Cochran
July 23, 2006

Click on image to see coverage


We have recorded the Hasbro/Toy Biz Panel from the 2006 San Diego Comic Con for your listening pleasure.

Click here to hear the first part.

Click here to hear the second part.


We have also included a written synopsis of what was said:

The panel consisted of Jesse Falcon from Toy Biz along with Hasbro team members Billy Lagor, Randy Shoemaker, and Brian Wilk.

Things kicked off with Jesse Falcon from Toy Biz wanting everyone to know that Hasbro and Marvel will be working hand and hand to make sure everything that was done will continue on into the future. More specific to Marvel Legends, the sculptors, painters and designers who worked on that line will continue to so, and the figures will continue to be super-articulated. Jesse then jokingly asked people in the audience of the panel to quit staring at them with hate-filled eyes.

Billy Lagor from Hasbro kept things going by talking about Spider-Man Origins. It will be similar to the history of Spider-Man starting with Amazing Fantasy 15 through Iron Spider-Man. They will also look at key historical villians leading up to the hit Spider-Man III movie coming to theaters next year. They are excited about their new Mego-style Signature series which harkens back to the original expression of action figures.

Billy then handed things off to Randy Shoemaker and Brian Wilk to talk about Marvel Legends and two new lines called Marvel Superheroes Squad and Marvel Heroes.

Marvel Superheroes Squad will be a stylized 2" line. The second line, Marvel Heroes, will be another 6" line that will focus on key hereoes. The first series will include X-Men characters while in the second series, we can expect to see Hulk and Captain America.

For Marvel Legends we will see in the first wave from Hasbro the following:

Wave 1: Planet Hulk, Banshee, Hercules, Movie Beast, Emma Frost, Ultimate Iron Man (Final version should have a goa-tee when you take the helmet off), and Annihilus as the build-a-figure.

Wave 2: X3 Juggernaut, X3 Jean Grey, Lord Of Asgard Thor, Quicksilver, She-Hulk, Ultimate Wolverine, Xorn and build-a-figure Blob.

Jesse joked that a lot of research went into making sure the detail on Blob was done right - a lot of research they will never talk about again.

The 12" Marvel Legend Icons will also be continuing with Thor and Wolverine in the first wave and Dr. Doom and Punisher in the second wave.

Finally, look for a new line of movie Ghost Rider toys coming from Hasbro starting in January.

There will be a line of 6" figures including multiple versions of characters like Blackheart, Vengeance, Caretaker and of course Ghost Rider played by actor Nicholas Cage in the movie. In addition, look for items like rip-cord bikes, Ultimate 12" Ghost Rider with bike and Titanium series figures.

Hasbro states thet are looking at other scales for their figures such as the 2" for their Superhero Squad and possibly will take the Heroes line to 5". Marvel Legends will always remain at 6".

After the panelists gave their presentations the mike was handed over to members of the audience for a Q and A session.

One of the first questions asked if there were any plans for a 6" Marvel Legends-style line for Hasbro's G.I. Joe property. Billy joked to Jesse Falcon that he must have this guy planted to ask the question. After a round of laughter, Jesse asked the room to show interest in such a line by clapping. Everyone in the room clapped. The Hasbro team members stated that they were very much aware of the interest in such a line.

When asked about variants, Hasbro said they were aware of the appeal of these but wanted to make sure everyone would be able to get them.

When asked about the Henchmen figures created by Toy Biz that were never released, Hasbro said they were awesome, very appealing to collectors, and seem to generate a lot of demand.

Asked if Hasbro would ever re-release any of the build-a-figures as individual figures, the answer was no.

Hasbro said they would balance out the case ratios of their figures to the best of their abilities.

When asked, Hasbro said Alpha Flight was on their list and they were looking at all the characters who had not been done yet for future waves of figures.

Jesse said a blue-costume Kitty Pride figure wasn't done because the sleeves would have to be re-sculpted to look right and the cost wasn't feasible.

When asked if there were any plans for a Rachel Summers figure, Hasbro replied by saying they like her very much.

Audience members wantd to know if we will see characters like Wolverine in every wave. It was explained that the point of the Heroes line was to contain those key characters that attract new consumers, which would allow them to keep those type of characters out of the Legends line. We can also see villians in the Heroes line.

As for Villians line, they referred to the villians line they are doing for their Spider-Man Origins line. They will wait to see how it does.

Jesse said they didn't have time to get a X3 movie line released because the movie went into production so quickly. Legends would be a great way to get some of these figures made.

Hasbro stated that they are very interested in hearing feedback from the collectors. They watch the message boards, did a survey at the NY Comic Con, and enjoyed talking with people at the cons.

When asked if there were any plans of re-doing or re-releasing a Scarlet Witch figure, Hasbro stated it seemed to be the most highly requested figure on the boards to be re-done, so when it makes sense they will do it. Whether it will be on a single card or multi-card format remains to be seen.

When asked about their goal for the Heroes line, Hasbro stated it is to provide a figure for the younger fan or new fan.

When asked if they would ever release a figure of Onslaught in orginal form, Hasbro stated they would look at it.

When asked if Hasbro would consider doing a 3 ft figure of characters like Galactus, Hasbro stated it is about supply and demand; if there is enough demand for it they would look at it.

When asked about the Signature figures and baggy-appearing costumes, Hasbro said these were early prototypes and that the costumes should be a lot tighter when actually released. The Green Goblin on display at the show is the closest one to looking like the final product for these.

Hasbro stated Marvel Legends is and always will be targeted to collectors.

When asked why they don't do more cloth capes then plastic. Reasons given were expense and that the sculpted cape just looks better visually.

When asked about if Hasbro would continue doing the Face-Off or maybe Team-Up two packs, Hasbro stated they were looking at doing such things for the Fall and that they like Cloak & Dagger too.

When asked if Hasbro would be doing any more Age of Apocalypse figures, everyone clapped, and Hasbro said "also noted". Then someone suggested they do an AoA build-a-figure Apocalypse. Jesse said good idea and asked jokingly if the guy wanted a job.

When asked, Jesse Falcon stated that more of the Wal-Mart figures would be shipping to stores.

When asked about other pack-ins like display stands, Hasbro stated that overall the response was people wanted to see the build-a-figures. There are other options to put in there and wanted to hear from the collectors on what they want to see. We might see other types of pack-ins in something other than single carded figures.

When asked why they weren't including comics with the Marvel Legend figures, it was stated that they did it because of expense. They didn't want to take away the things people wanted like the build-a-figure.

When asked if the Marvel Legends figures would have the double-hinged elbows, Hasbro stated the figures would not have the same articulation point as previous figures but the same range of movement and articulation would be there.

When asked if they would do something like release figure stands seperatly for Marvel Legends, Hasbro again asked if people would like to see that and everyone clapped.





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