a question for fellow Spawn fans

[Gavrilo Princip]

http://www.spawn.com/toys/spawn/other/spawni030/images/other_spawni030_photo_01_dp.jpg


I just noticed this was the top center image on Spawntoys.com, and couldn't help but think how fitting it is now, unfortunately. Reminds me of the comic, how issue #10 became ironically relevant years later. When they released this figure a couple years ago, it reminded me how cool issue 30 of the comic was. When I saw it again a few minutes ago, all i could think was "Yeap..... that pretty much says it all."


--Gav

[Imbalance]

I remember thinking it then...

[Spanky2324]

So whats the question???

[Gavrilo Princip]

What does that image bring to mind now?

[Karnis]

Agreed, these days Spawn is left hanging & pretty much dead. Lack of attention to the quality of the comic book, no TV or movie deal and poor toy designs lately has left Spawn irrelevant.

[life]

Thats why I stop collecting Spawn.

[Gavrilo Princip]

I remember thinking it then...

true... back in '06 I was a bit more optimistic, thinking more "on the way to the gallows" rather than "already there".

[Avatar_of_Chaos]

It reminds me of how big of a debachle the cape was

[skubasteve]

That a pretty accurate depiction of the current state of Spawn toys.

[burngwngs]

sorry, no nintendo.

[Joe F.]

SKULLSPLITTER (CLUB EXCLUSIVE VERSION)
http://www.spawn.com/toys/spawn/other/skullsplitter/images/other_skullsplitter_photo_01_md.jpg (http://www.spawn.com/toys/product.aspx?product=3858)

SPAWN RESIN STATUE
http://www.spawn.com/toys/spawn/other/resin/images/other_resin_photo_01_md.jpg (http://www.spawn.com/toys/product.aspx?product=3764)

SPAWN:ENDGAME
http://www.spawn.com/UserControls/Images/Banners/banner_endgame_01.jpg (http://endgame.spawn.com/)

SPAWN: THE BOOK OF THE DEAD
http://www.spawn.com/comics/SpawnTheBookoftheDead/specials/images/bookofthedead_comic_cover_001_cs.jpg (http://www.spawn.com/comics/comic.aspx?bookid=41-1-18-0)


'ADVENTURES OF SPAWN' COMIC IN STORES THIS NOVEMBER
http://www.spawn.com/comics/adventuresofspawn/monthly/images/adventuresofspawn_comic_cover_002_lg.jpg (http://www.spawn.com/news/news6.aspx?id=13441)

And straight from the keyboard of Todd McFarlane:

****TODD SAYS****
Here is the current state of both: The animation series was locked in a legal dispute for the past couple of years. That situation has recently been taken care of. We are now looking too find the proper director to step on to this project to do a quick test we can run to the cable networks. I will be having a conversation with one of those candidates next week.

As for the movie, at least once a week, since the Ironman's movie release, I get a cll from an interested party. Both big and small. For now I am still of the mind that this isn't an idea I want to put back into the big studio system. So we are weighing our options.

As for our other projects, the OZ script is suppose to be in my hands this week (this is the first draft) and the TORSO movie project seems to be getting closer and closer to being 'greenlit'. The latest version is in the hands of those that sign off project at Paramount.

TODD


Just in case you missed any of this.

Joe

[life]

Still won't bring me back.
So joe want to buy a Spawn collection?

[skubasteve]

See anything wrong with this picture?

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/9195/currentfq6.png

Compared with...

http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/5645/haloip2.png

[Karnis]

But Joe:
You can't deny there has been a sharp drop off in Spawn figures compared to 07 & 06.
If Spawn is truly Todd's baby, then he needs more attention & cultivation. All the perspective plans for the future are a moot point if he's irrelevant now. If no one cares about Spawn now, what makes anyone think they are going to care 2 years from now?
We all get that with the difficult economy, retailers are looking to invest in only mainstream product. But Wal Mart & TRU are not the only methods of sell thru. Is TMP so obsessed with these type of large mass market outlets that they are willing to put their core figure & figurehead character on the backburner to such a degree as to risk pop culture extinction?

2008:
SPAWN SERIES 34: SPAWN CLASSICS
SPAWN SERIES 33: AGE OF PHARAOHS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2007:
SPAWN SERIES 32: THE ADVENTURES OF SPAWN 2
3-INCH SPAWN SERIES 2 TRADING FIGURES
SPAWN SERIES 31: OTHER WORLDS
BEST OF SPAWN: SANTA SPAWN I.039
PHLEBIAC BROTHERS
SPAWN 3-PACK
NECROPLASM SPAWN 2
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2006:
SPAWN SERIES 30: THE ADVENTURES OF SPAWN
SPAWN SERIES 29: EVOLUTIONS
3-INCH SPAWN TRADING FIGURES
LORD MAMMON
12-INCH SPAWN (ISSUE 7 COVER ART)
12-INCH MANDARIN SPAWN 2
SPAWN (ISSUE 30 COVER ART)
SPAWN (ISSUE 7 COVER ART) REPAINT

[Gavrilo Princip]

the Skullsplitter repaint's nice, as I already commented on. Not much, but better than nothing.

the Statue's nice, but I personally have no interest in statues, I prefer posable figures. But I'm sure many others will be all over it.

I'll wait and see on post-185 Spawn, I stopped buying the comic after 153, as (for me, anyway) it went from dismal to un-buyable after that (The first 100 issues are my favorite, for reference), and it's great that we're finally getting the Book of the Dead, but this thread is about the Spawn line of toys, to be to the point.

"Adventures of Spawn" actually tightens the noose, rather than helping.

I'd rather make a constructive post than only focus on the current state of the line with no thoughts on a solution, so I took the liberty of bringing to the top some of the long-standing petitions for and by the spawn fans on these boards (which btw, are linked in my sig below). Drop in those threads and give your thoughts, Joe... maybe you can see if Todd can too?

--Gav

[Joe F.]

Not denying that we are not as concentrated on the Spawn figures right now.
We've even gone over the reasons multiple times.

I think the movies, comics and animation will help with resurgence of the SPAWN brand. So, to me we are making all the right steps to bring him back into the mainstream.

My post was meant to show folks that we are doing plenty of projects involving Spawn. Spawn will always be a focus of this company, but at times we will put different properties in the forefront at appropriate times; like we've done in the past.

[Joe F.]

the Skullsplitter repaint's nice, as I already commented on. Not much, but better than nothing.

the Statue's nice, but I personally have no interest in statues, I prefer posable figures. But I'm sure many others will be all over it.

I'll wait and see on post-185 Spawn, I stopped buying the comic after 153, as (for me, anyway) it went from dismal to un-buyable after that (The first 100 issues are my favorite, for reference), and it's great that we're finally getting the Book of the Dead, but this thread is about the Spawn line of toys, to be to the point.

"Adventures of Spawn" actually tightens the noose, rather than helping.

I'd rather make a constructive post than only focus on the current state of the line with no thoughts on a solution, so I took the liberty of bringing to the top some of the long-standing petitions for and by the spawn fans on these boards (which btw, are linked in my sig below). Drop in those threads and give your thoughts, Joe... maybe you can see if Todd can too?

--Gav

Any suggestion threads or poll threads are always on my radar and I share the info of the boards quite often with brand manager and higher ups. So, yes, please do drop into those threads and give your thoughts. It can help the cause tremendously!

[Karnis]

My post was meant to show folks that we are doing plenty of projects involving Spawn.

I guess this is where we'll have to agree to disagree Joe. :)
I think many Spawn fans would say the company is doing very few projects involving Spawn. ;)

[life]

so what want wrong?
the market for spawn toys sux and the comics are next worthless.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not into collecting to make a profit but i want my money back if I decided sell.

[Joe F.]

I guess this is where we'll have to agree to disagree Joe. :)
I think many Spawn fans would say the company is doing very few projects involving Spawn. ;)

I guess so. I've been with the company for 10 years now, and I can say from first hand experience that there are more projects involving Spawn right now with our company then there has been in a good 5 years.

I think the lack of figures is what your reacting to. Which is understandable, since we have released about 33 series in the last 14 years.

[Avatar_of_Chaos]

Of course there's been a dropoff in Spawn, but let's shake things up a bit...

Why keep Adventures of Spawn in there for comparison if so many people were so against them? Let's drop those lines out of there and just call them something else since so many vocal people had such an extremely negative reaction to them.

Why even count Age of Pharoahs if they bastardized the fans vision for an Egyptian Dark Ages line like so many have said?

Why not recall that there was a Series 35 in the works that was whined, *****ed and moaned about to no end and then there were people actually celebrating that the line had been pulled and shelved for now?

Nevermind the fact that we really have no idea what is and isn't coming for Spawn in 2009 and it might not be as dire as some now wants to make it. I love Spawn as a character, a comic and as a toy line and I am craving a Spawn fix, too. And I love the irony in how some of the very people who were whining about low quality, about the lack of creativity and the way Spawn fans are getting the shaft have also been the most vocal about how they wanted a Spawn line to be cancelled and yet considering that it's been tabled for now they're whining because they aren't getting a Spawn line, or at least, not the Spawn line they want.

it's another damned if you do, damned if you don't scenario.

I challenge anyone who claims that there are alternate means of distribution to put together their own plan since TMP's doing such a poor job in their opinion. Put your plan up for everyone to see and let's take a look at where your focuses are, who you think you should be selling to and how.

and while you're at it, post your lineups for what you think are sure sells. For some, look at is as spending time you could have spent griping about Halo as time you can spend looking into and putting together a plan for something you love and you want to succeed.

[Spliff]

i say let Hot Toys do a Raven Spawn figure.

yep.

that would make my head explode.

[Joe F.]

so what want wrong?
the market for spawn toys sux and the comics are next worthless.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not into collecting to make a profit but i want my money back if I decided sell.

Specialty stores started going under as well as online specialty stores.
The market for adult themed and horror themed toys is not doing well in general.

The comic comment is your opinion. Issue 185 hit a milestone that we have been unable to achieve in quite some time. And there has been a definite boost in chatter and interest about the comic.

I believe if you're collecting things to get your money back, then you might be collecting for the wrong reasons.

[Mongerty]

Well, to be honest, as soon as there are as many Spawn Fans as Halo fans, then you can expect to see an equal number of figures.

I mean, the Halo line practically prints money.

[punkg42]

The Spawn Robots line will probably not sell well... not based on the pics we saw of them...one was just a repaint of another figure in the line...

Spawn series 36 however would sell. So when the Spawn line comes back, Series 36 should be next up... as the poor Robot Line sales would probably kill what chance Spawn has left in retail.

But regardless, I would buy both lines as I am a completist. :D
As for AOS, I liked both lines and thought they were a nice refresher from the regular stuff. Do I want to see the rest of the Spawn figs go to this style, no probably not, but to have 2 series of them with a regular series inbetween was fine. There are some great figures in that line.

[life]

Thanks for the info, Joe.

Also I never wanted to see my spawn stuff but times change.

[Gavrilo Princip]

Of course there's been a dropoff in Spawn, but let's shake things up a bit...

Why keep Adventures of Spawn in there for comparison if so many people were so against them? Let's drop those lines out of there and just call them something else since so many vocal people had such an extremely negative reaction to them.

Why even count Age of Pharoahs if they bastardized the fans vision for an Egyptian Dark Ages line like so many have said?

Why not recall that there was a Series 35 in the works that was whined, *****ed and moaned about to no end and then there were people actually celebrating that the line had been pulled and shelved for now?

Nevermind the fact that we really have no idea what is and isn't coming for Spawn in 2009 and it might not be as dire as some now wants to make it. I love Spawn as a character, a comic and as a toy line and I am craving a Spawn fix, too. And I love the irony in how some of the very people who were whining about low quality, about the lack of creativity and the way Spawn fans are getting the shaft have also been the most vocal about how they wanted a Spawn line to be cancelled and yet considering that it's been tabled for now they're whining because they aren't getting a Spawn line, or at least, not the Spawn line they want.

it's another damned if you do, damned if you don't scenario.

I challenge anyone who claims that there are alternate means of distribution to put together their own plan since TMP's doing such a poor job in their opinion. Put your plan up for everyone to see and let's take a look at where your focuses are, who you think you should be selling to and how.

and while you're at it, post your lineups for what you think are sure sells. For some, look at is as spending time you could have spent griping about Halo as time you can spend looking into and putting together a plan for something you love and you want to succeed.


I agree with most of that, but as for that last part, there are plenty of people doing that already. Some people got together with a plan who call their company 'Hot Toys', and they're doing pretty well, despite the economy. The people at Sideshow are doing pretty well with their plan. Hell a bunch of the best guys who used to work for this company got together with their own plan, and they're not doing too bad either....

The guys here had a plan and made history for this corner of the business. But that plan changed for whatever reason, and the company went steadily down ever since the new plan. Anybody got an idea?

[skubasteve]

How about TMP rent the Spawn license out to someone who will do something creative with it? I'd bet my next paycheck that Sideshow could put something out that would make more money than Walmart pimping.

If letting someone else take risks with your license is an issue, then why not get a little deeper into the high end market? The part of the market doesn't seem to have any problems pushing product without retail chains. And they seem to be quite successful at it as well.

[Karnis]

I challenge anyone who claims that there are alternate means of distribution to put together their own plan since TMP's doing such a poor job in their opinion. Put your plan up for everyone to see and let's take a look at where your focuses are, who you think you should be selling to and how.

We are the customer. It's not our job to tell TMP what to do or how to do it. All we can do as the buying public is voice our opinion about the perceived lack of focus on Spawn figures. It's up to TMP to choose how to react to it.

[Spliff]

Some people got together with a plan who call their company 'Hot Toys', and they're doing pretty well, despite the economy. The people at Sideshow are doing pretty well with their plan.

you can't really compare them to TMP...

[Avatar_of_Chaos]

you're missing the point Gav...

You just named 1 company whose primary business is as a high-end figure manufacturer, 1 company whose primary business is as a manufacturer and distributor of high-end figures and other merchandise and 1 company whose primary business is manufacturing a broad base of licensed SWAG and merchandise with a strong emphasis on the non-figural part.

we'll call them X, Y and Z respectively

X basically sells to wholesale and to distributors like Y. They make small sized runs of high margin figures. They sell basically one major type of product and they license their products.

Y basically sells direct to us as well as to some wholes. They make and sell small sized runs of high margin items across many product categories, not just of their own but they sell a lot of other companies products as well. They license their products and have a few in-house lines.

Z sells primarily to wholesale and direct retail accounts and has numerous products classes and categories of which figural merchandise is a small part and in case you haven't noticed, they gotten a lot quieter lately. They license all of their products.

nowhere in here is your plan or what you think TMP's plan for Spawn is, or the overall strategy you think they should be taking.

[skubasteve]

We are the customer. It's not our job to tell TMP what to do or how to do it. All we can do as the buying public is voice our opinion about the perceived lack of focus on Spawn figures. It's up to TMP to choose how to react to it.

+1

[Avatar_of_Chaos]

We are the customer. It's not our job to tell TMP what to do or how to do it. All we can do as the buying public is voice our opinion about the perceived lack of focus on Spawn figures. It's up to TMP to choose how to react to it.

you are the vocal customer and no consumer-producer relationship can exist without communication and feedback. I find it interesting how you will give TMP whatever negative feedback you feel is necessary but when I press to have you articulate what you would do if you were TMP in order to tell TMP what it is that YOU want TMP to do you're suddenly shy.

tell TMP what you want, how you want it and where you think they should be selling it so that you can buy it. should they be advertising anywhere? should they be offering manufacturer-driven sales, coupons or rebates? do you think they should be focusing on getting it done at TRU or do you think they should be focusing more on Diamond?

if you want Spawn, what Spawn do you want? how many POA? should they be releasing them in waves with some figures released heavier and multiple times per year and others in much smaller runs? what stores do you want to see it in? how many figures do you want in a line? what do you think would help cut down on pegwarmers and be the best, most efficient Spawn line you can imagine? what is your ideal scenario?

you might be the customer, but I'm sure you have more of an opinion for all of that than just "TMP should figure out what I want without me having to say it"

you're not telling TMP what they are supposed to do. tell them what you want and feel free to be articulate and fully detailed about it. what retailers are a waste of time from your perspective? what other retailer opportunities do you think are out there that would make it easier for you the consumer to get your figures from?

are you suddenly afraid to speak up now?

[randysgut]

i wanna see spawn on tv again! give us another 3 seasons of spawn, and keep on doing it, i love that show man, the first series got me so hooked in thats all i could think about was spawn, screw halo, guitar hero, call of duty and everything else keep it spawn because spawn is what brought everyone to this website in the first place, MORE SPAWN!

[Karnis]

you are the vocal customer and no consumer-producer relationship can exist without communication and feedback. I find it interesting how you will give TMP whatever negative feedback you feel is necessary but when I press to have you articulate what you would do if you were TMP in order to tell TMP what it is that YOU want TMP to do you're suddenly shy.

tell TMP what you want, how you want it and where you think they should be selling it so that you can buy it. should they be advertising anywhere? should they be offering manufacturer-driven sales, coupons or rebates? do you think they should be focusing on getting it done at TRU or do you think they should be focusing more on Diamond?

if you want Spawn, what Spawn do you want? how many POA? should they be releasing them in waves with some figures released heavier and multiple times per year and others in much smaller runs? what stores do you want to see it in? how many figures do you want in a line? what do you think would help cut down on pegwarmers and be the best, most efficient Spawn line you can imagine? what is your ideal scenario?

you might be the customer, but I'm sure you have more of an opinion for all of that than just "TMP should figure out what I want without me having to say it"

you're not telling TMP what they are supposed to do. tell them what you want and feel free to be articulate and fully detailed about it. what retailers are a waste of time from your perspective? what other retailer opportunities do you think are out there that would make it easier for you the consumer to get your figures from?

are you suddenly afraid to speak up now?

Not afraid at all. I spoke my piece & that's that. I don't feel the need to belabor the subject over & over again like some others. ;)

[Avatar_of_Chaos]

really passionate of you there Karnis. your call for more Spawn has no teeth to it at all.

[Masked Moron]

the Statue's nice, but I personally have no interest in statues, I prefer posable figures. But I'm sure many others will be all over it.

My only "problem" with the statue was the choice of design.

I'm not a huge fan of the hamburger head, nor a huge fan of Spawn with guns. throwing $10-$15 at a plastic fig who's design I'm not all that into isn't that big of a deal, and I've done it lots of times just to get the full set... but when it's $50 - $75 - $100 + for a piece, I'm going to have to pass on it if I don't like it.

That, and companies are less likely to make the more obscure characters into statues, as they are into figures.

[Furious1]

Problem is that with the recent lack of Spawn merchandise, people will drop the line completely and move on. Me for example. So while you guys figure out what to do next with the property, I have sold off my collection and moved to something new/better that is supported better. And for the record, I havent purchased a McF toys for probably 2 years...and I have much more money to spend now than I did before. I have a feeling that many of us "diehard" have similar stories to tell. I love to see enjoyed success with the Halo line, but with that increased success there should be more willingness to give your core audience something of substance to get excited about. Remember your roots.

[Karnis]

really passionate of you there Karnis. your call for more Spawn has no teeth to it at all.

As much as you would like to draw me in to feed your constant need for confrontation AoC, it just won't work, sorry!. ;) As I said, I spoke my piece, and I moved on....a rare quality on these boards most days. I don't believe in internetz warz and I reserve my passion for more important things in life. :D

Bye now! :p

[Spliff]

you are the vocal customer and no consumer-producer relationship can exist without communication and feedback. I find it interesting how you will give TMP whatever negative feedback you feel is necessary but when I press to have you articulate what you would do if you were TMP in order to tell TMP what it is that YOU want TMP to do you're suddenly shy.

tell TMP what you want, how you want it and where you think they should be selling it so that you can buy it. should they be advertising anywhere? should they be offering manufacturer-driven sales, coupons or rebates? do you think they should be focusing on getting it done at TRU or do you think they should be focusing more on Diamond?

if you want Spawn, what Spawn do you want? how many POA? should they be releasing them in waves with some figures released heavier and multiple times per year and others in much smaller runs? what stores do you want to see it in? how many figures do you want in a line? what do you think would help cut down on pegwarmers and be the best, most efficient Spawn line you can imagine? what is your ideal scenario?

you might be the customer, but I'm sure you have more of an opinion for all of that than just "TMP should figure out what I want without me having to say it"

you're not telling TMP what they are supposed to do. tell them what you want and feel free to be articulate and fully detailed about it. what retailers are a waste of time from your perspective? what other retailer opportunities do you think are out there that would make it easier for you the consumer to get your figures from?

are you suddenly afraid to speak up now?
daaaaaaaaaaaaaamnz, i can feel the reverberations of that mass pwnage all the way over here.

[Avatar_of_Chaos]

Here's what I'd like to see, btw.

Kick the regular figures down to Halo scale and articulate them. MSRP of $9.99 and put out 16 basic figures over the course of the year in 4 waves, 4 figures to a wave. 2 of them would be Al Simmons Spawns and the rest an mix of comics, Dark Ages, etc. You could make one of the waves all DA or you could just swap in a couple here and there. Throw in a chase using 1 slot in a 10 figure case (2 full sets of figures plus 2 extra Spawns, 1 extra in a chase case).

Lower the product requirement that a direct account must carry by 15% and look at TRU, KB, Diamond and whatever online sellers you can find to get them out there. Avoid the other mall stores who will just drive up prices and hold onto inventory and pull out ASAP.

Move to the short-card used for Halo Series 2 and 3

Offer a tie-in with the Spawn comic for a limited edition figure that can only be redeemed by providing 3-6 stickers, UPC's whatever from the comic or a point value similar to the Halo Points program so that buying the comic can net you figure rewards.

Put out 2 Spawn Statues a year directly through the Spawn Store (one in May, one in Nov). Put out 2 Spawn Store exclusive figures per year during (one in Feb, one in August).

And what I want more than anything, to see Spawn on sale just once at TRU with one of those coupons from the Xmas Big Book

now granted, it's a horrible, costly plan. but it's what I want. If all the Spawn figure fans get together and put down something in a similar type of format, It's TMP's job to wade through all of this and figure out what the best solution is.

I'm willing to state what I want because I love Spawn and I want to see it continue. How bout some of you join me and with something a bit more potent than "put more focus on Spawn" or "fix the plan"

[Avatar_of_Chaos]

As much as you would like to draw me in to feed your constant need for confrontation AoC, it just won't work, sorry!. ;) As I said, I spoke my piece, and I moved on....a rare quality on these boards most days. I don't believe in internetz warz and I reserve my passion for more important things in life. :D

Bye now! :p

you're the one with the avatar and who wants Spawn back

put some teeth and conviction to your movement to have Spawn return to a place of prominence in TMP list of priorities, that's all I'm confronting you to do.

[life]

i wanna see spawn on tv again! give us another 3 seasons of spawn, and keep on doing it, i love that show man, the first series got me so hooked in thats all i could think about was spawn, screw halo, guitar hero, call of duty and everything else keep it spawn because spawn is what brought everyone to this website in the first place, MORE SPAWN!

Agree!

[randysgut]

one of the main reasons i want more figure lines to come out is because i missed so many years of them, i wasnt a big spawn fan til i saw the Tv show, then read some comics for more , and then i came to this website and saw how many damn figures there was that i wanted, so i want to see more because im a new-ish spawn fan, and id love to see a bunch of wicked toys come out from whichever spawn comics, i just wanna be in the loop since i missed so much. but seriously SPAWN ON TV, i felt so ripped off when i found out there was only 3 seasons of spawn. If they make a continuation of the last series that would be so awesome

[Avatar_of_Chaos]

I wasn't too keen on Season 3, but 1 and 2 were awesome. And I'm glad that Spawn went on to become Arby later in his career. It brings a bit of Spawn to my mind everything I play Halo

[skubasteve]

Here's what I'd like to see, btw.

Kick the regular figures down to Halo scale and articulate them. MSRP of $9.99 and put out 16 basic figures over the course of the year in 4 waves, 4 figures to a wave. 2 of them would be Al Simmons Spawns and the rest an mix of comics, Dark Ages, etc. You could make one of the waves all DA or you could just swap in a couple here and there. Throw in a chase using 1 slot in a 10 figure case (2 full sets of figures plus 2 extra Spawns, 1 extra in a chase case).

Lower the product requirement that a direct account must carry by 15% and look at TRU, KB, Diamond and whatever online sellers you can find to get them out there. Avoid the other mall stores who will just drive up prices and hold onto inventory and pull out ASAP.

Move to the short-card used for Halo Series 2 and 3

Offer a tie-in with the Spawn comic for a limited edition figure that can only be redeemed by providing 3-6 stickers, UPC's whatever from the comic or a point value similar to the Halo Points program so that buying the comic can net you figure rewards.

Put out 2 Spawn Statues a year directly through the Spawn Store (one in May, one in Nov). Put out 2 Spawn Store exclusive figures per year during (one in Feb, one in August).

And what I want more than anything, to see Spawn on sale just once at TRU with one of those coupons from the Xmas Big Book

now granted, it's a horrible, costly plan. but it's what I want. If all the Spawn figure fans get together and put down something in a similar type of format, It's TMP's job to wade through all of this and figure out what the best solution is.

I'm willing to state what I want because I love Spawn and I want to see it continue. How bout some of you join me and with something a bit more potent than "put more focus on Spawn" or "fix the plan"

I like the majority of your plan. I could do without the further shrinkage of figures and that will kill it for a lot of people. I could also do without the candy ass articulation, but that's just a personal preference. :cool:

However, I could live with both of those shortfalls mentioned above provided TMP puts out a few high end statues a year. I just wouldn't buy the shrinky dink figures but I would still get my Spawn fix with the high end stuff.

In a perfect world, TMP would be putting out "Art of Spawn" high end statues from cover and interior art (pretty much exactly like the Art of Spawn figure line). Maybe 3 or 4 pieces a year. When I say high end statues, I mean comparable to Sideshow's PF statues and not the 7" mini statue in the works now. I'd pay some serious cheese for something like that.

[randysgut]

id put down lots of lettuce for what skubasteve said, LETTUCE! and lots of it

[Avatar_of_Chaos]

I only mention smaller figures so that we can get some articulation and also get some in-scale villians that are just way too big to do otherwise. A Spawn could fit in the same footprint as a MC just as a new Violator could fit in the Brute footprint and Vaporizer could fit in the Hunter footprint.

but that's in my perfect world where I could get more Phlebiacs ;)

[randysgut]

who wants tiny figures, make em all 8" and up

[Avatar_of_Chaos]

who wants tiny figures, make em all 8" and up

Plenty of people want both

[Gavrilo Princip]

my previous post was only to provide a broad example of people with plans that are currently working. I'm not against Avi's idea of a Halo style business model for the Spawn line, except for the scale inconsistency it would create. What I would most like to see is a return to the business model that carried Spawn from series 1 to series 22, but I'd like to know the exact reasons for the change to accurately propose a plausible return to that model.

But what I'd like to see for Spawn is this:

3 new lines per year, 1 being a new Dark Ages line, the other 2 being comic-based. I'd like to see the Dark Ages lines have the established style of articulation from the previous DA lines (series 19 and 22) and have the other 2 lines articulated similarly to series 6 thru 23. I'd like the comic-based lines to cover classic characters as well as characters that haven't seen figures yet.

I'd also like to see 1 reborn line per year, with the focus being on partial resculpt & redecoration in addition to repainting, i.e. Reborn series 1. The line-up for this line should be based heavily on polls and input from this board.

As for the direction of the line, it should go straight back to what sold it so well in the first place, edgy and dark. The line should look exactly like what Wal-Mart would never sell in it's stores. In doing so, the line would be featured in the specialty market and stores like KB and TRU, places that have hurt from losing business to Wal-Mart. This would boost the market and be good for this industry over-all, as Wal-Mart's near-monopoly on it is a major part of what's hurting the business in the first-place. Supporting and/or submitting to a Wal-Mart controlled market is not a responsible action for a company and puts the industry at a continued risk in the future. Standing your ground can sometimes be daring, but that's exactly what you would expect an industry-leading company like McFarlane Toys to do, as they've been doing exactly that since the beginning up until a few years ago.


--Gav

[Uwe]

I want Hellspawn 3.

Oh wait. S.36 has that.

So long as HS3 comes out, I'm happy.

[classic]

SKULLSPLITTER (CLUB EXCLUSIVE VERSION)
http://www.spawn.com/toys/spawn/other/skullsplitter/images/other_skullsplitter_photo_01_md.jpg (http://www.spawn.com/toys/product.aspx?product=3858)

SPAWN RESIN STATUE
http://www.spawn.com/toys/spawn/other/resin/images/other_resin_photo_01_md.jpg (http://www.spawn.com/toys/product.aspx?product=3764)

SPAWN:ENDGAME
http://www.spawn.com/UserControls/Images/Banners/banner_endgame_01.jpg (http://endgame.spawn.com/)

SPAWN: THE BOOK OF THE DEAD
http://www.spawn.com/comics/SpawnTheBookoftheDead/specials/images/bookofthedead_comic_cover_001_cs.jpg (http://www.spawn.com/comics/comic.aspx?bookid=41-1-18-0)


'ADVENTURES OF SPAWN' COMIC IN STORES THIS NOVEMBER
http://www.spawn.com/comics/adventuresofspawn/monthly/images/adventuresofspawn_comic_cover_002_lg.jpg (http://www.spawn.com/news/news6.aspx?id=13441)

And straight from the keyboard of Todd McFarlane:

****TODD SAYS****
Here is the current state of both: The animation series was locked in a legal dispute for the past couple of years. That situation has recently been taken care of. We are now looking too find the proper director to step on to this project to do a quick test we can run to the cable networks. I will be having a conversation with one of those candidates next week.

As for the movie, at least once a week, since the Ironman's movie release, I get a cll from an interested party. Both big and small. For now I am still of the mind that this isn't an idea I want to put back into the big studio system. So we are weighing our options.

As for our other projects, the OZ script is suppose to be in my hands this week (this is the first draft) and the TORSO movie project seems to be getting closer and closer to being 'greenlit'. The latest version is in the hands of those that sign off project at Paramount.

TODD


Just in case you missed any of this.

Joe

wow are your views skewed, i guess that goes with working for the company and trying to talk them up. heres the problems

first, its awesome were getting a spawn dark ages figure. but really its just another repaint of a figure i initially paid 10 bucks for and now youll charge me 25 dlvd for the same thing i already have. i dont consider that something good. more of a ripoff and sucking more money out of a sculpt

second, spawn statue, wow cool. well it would be cool if it wasnt 70 bucks and it was just part of a normal spawn line like we got in the past and would have cost 10 bucks. again not overly impressive on your part.

spawn endgame i will give you props. i mean weve always gotten the comic so its not like your adding anything but at least todd is coming back to the book so thats a big plus

your joking on book of the dead right? this isnt something new, this is something we should have got 3 years ago. this is still only being made to recoup the costs you already sunk into the exclusive figures and the start of the book. id say we should be disappointed we had to wait so long more than anything.

adventures of spawn, again are you serious. everyone hated the cartoony spawn. those two lines of spawn are probably why future series are in jeopardy. and you think a comic that will come and go in a single weds on comic book day is going to make an impact. no one will even remember it come thurs. heck, the first book was being giving away by mcfarlane left and right at some of the cons i went to. must not have sold so well.

as for todds comments, ill believe them when i see them. i mean spawn 2 has been in the works for five years. right now i consider it part of the tortured souls movie nonsense. which means it will never see the light of day

[bigbadwolfdaddy]

wow so this is what we have become. I say letHalo burn itself out (all video game lines usually do right) then we can get spawnie back

[tatoman2525]

I share the info of the boards quite often with brand manager and higher ups. So, yes, please do drop into those threads and give your thoughts. It can help the cause tremendously!

Joe, I understand the heat that you are taking from all the Spawn fans, but I must disagree with this post. Although you may bring some of these issues to the brand managers and higher ups, it obviously doesn't make a difference. For a months now the older collectors have been spreading their discontent on where the company is headed and the lack of interest in the older fan base opinion. Still, we get ......................

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/9195/currentfq6.png

Compared with...

http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/5645/haloip2.png

I do not think that cancelling multiple interesting lines to the veteran collectors, a resin statue, a game, a book, and a repainted figure even applies a band aid on the wound. As I have stated many times before, I really could care less at this point, as neither does many of the other Spawn collectors, whether the Spawn lines is burried. I won't complain about it, or start threads or polls. For what? Really? What has that done for the multiple boardmembers who have done so already? How many petitions or requests do we see here that are great ideas, recieve great responses, but never go anywhere? A repaint, a book, a game, and a statue (within the next year, if we're lucky and they too do not get cancelled), is the shut the **** up people get. I may end up buying the Skullsplitter and perhaps I do decide to go through with the statue, but my lack of interest in TMP is growing broader by the day. And between now and the day when these products are released, I may be very much be long gone from spending a cent on any of the products.

Halo is the hottest thing out there right now, but what happens when it dies out and tons of the backbone collectors are spending elsewhere? You would have to rely much more heavily on SP's and try to then win back some of the other collectors that were lost. Most of these Halo fans are simply game fans who so happen to want figures of their favorite games. The gaming industry has been booming, but let Guitar Hero and the lack of interest from the older collectors be a glimpse of times to come. TMP might as well decide to make Pitfall their next thing.

Nothing personal, Joe. Unfortunately you get caught up in the crossfire, but I have to disagree you on that comment.

[Avatar_of_Chaos]

where have those "backbone collectors" been the past 3 years as sales have been declining?

pulling out right along with others and spending elsewhere anyway. dropping off of the book and moving on to other things. buying little to no product and selling off their collections and then throwing tantrums about Adventures of Spawn, being bored with the little plastic statues and wanting articulation back, not wanting another all Spawn line because they have comic characters they've wanted for years who either haven't been made or need a serious update, have moved beyond figures into high-end collectibles and want something bigger, better and pricier, etc. and then you realize, those "backbone collectors" aren't exactly a cohesive group.

now that's admittedly a broad generalization, but realistically take a look at all the time you've been here and think about the 99-02 crowd and how many of them are still around, contributing to the community and in chipper moods. taking a look at a lot of the splinter boards that contain many of those people, they're either disatisfied for a number of reasons, indifferent or have moved on to other things be they 1/6th scale, statues or completely other hobbies.

those "backbone collectors," which I am one of, have been splintering apart and weak for years which is exactly why they've been looking at shaking up Spawn and trying to bring in new fans and unfortunately it hasn't been working very well.

Spawn collectors, whether new, old or future, need to have a reason to be interested in Spawn again. That's not just the figures. It's also with the comic. And it won't be with a half-assed video game. If the movie pans out and doesn't suck, and the comic revamp works and Spawn becomes relevant again then perhaps we'll get back to business. But many of the "backbone collectors" are already gone and they'll never come back.

[atriot_vl]

it's great to see all the discussion here. This has something that has been in my head for a long time too, but I can't seem to find the place to say it. My command of the language is not great so please bear with me.

Will specialty market completely die out? Is it not also part of the responsibility of a company to sustain interest in the specialty market to keep it a viable market? Repeatingly coming out with the same theme for many series (all spawn covers) can get dry for some. The creativity that is put in to lines like viking age and samurai wars seems to be really lacking, although admittedly the *technical* sculpting aspects has been great. it's just not very creative. I wonder if it might have worked better if there was a "creative" line sandwiched by a "mini statue" line. Personally, and sadly, the egyptian line was nowhere close the creativity of the viking age line. It justs feels like there is less and less effort put into the creativity of the series. I still remember there used to be some kind of back story to the series, which made it interesting for me. (The Tortured Souls 1 booklets really made the series a masterpiece for me).

Maybe it could work both ways, there could be a mass market line working in tandem with the specialty market line. But if it was really for mass market and marketed at kids maybe it would be worth the effort making the figures really appealing to kids. And generally speaking, I think kids love cartoons. If McF wanted to come out with a animated style line they should be supported with TV show of some kind (am not in the US so not aware of existence of one if there is). and kids...actually like to play with their toys? articulations would help? no? or some kinda special gimmicks (erm. spawn series 1 anyone? :p )

yeah...well.... erm thats my 2 cents. brain's just ran out of juice sorry :D

[soldiermedic]

I believe if you're collecting things to get your money back, then you might be collecting for the wrong reasons.


very well said! no doubt spawn needs a boost. from the very first time i saw a spawn comic back in 1992 at a comic shop in the mall i have been hooked; on the comic and the figures. i can see changing with the times but boy, its really hard to find a solution to things right now. i miss the good spawn figures and im excited to see where the comic is going. i hope for the best and i feel like ive been hanging by a thread for a long time. so the cover of i. 30 really says how i feel very well.

still hanging in there ( pun intended ).


larry:p

[big-e]

Maybe we should ask the government for a couple of billion dollars, as an emergency intervention to save the action figure industry.

[Masked Moron]

where have those "backbone collectors" been the past 3 years as sales have been declining?

Wasn't it right around 3 years ago they quit making movie maniacs, and switched to the "kiddie" things like Napoleon Dynamite, Hanna barbera, Simpsons, Wallace & Grommit, Corpse Bride, and things like that?

I'm sure that was just a coincidence......

[soldiermedic]

Maybe we should ask the government for a couple of billion dollars, as an emergency intervention to save the action figure industry.



lmmfao!:D

[spawnonfire]

That picture makes me think about how I really wish we got nice capes with the i.030 figure.

[punkg42]

Here's what I'd like to see, btw.

Kick the regular figures down to Halo scale and articulate them. MSRP of $9.99 and put out 16 basic figures over the course of the year in 4 waves, 4 figures to a wave. 2 of them would be Al Simmons Spawns and the rest an mix of comics, Dark Ages, etc. You could make one of the waves all DA or you could just swap in a couple here and there. Throw in a chase using 1 slot in a 10 figure case (2 full sets of figures plus 2 extra Spawns, 1 extra in a chase case).

Lower the product requirement that a direct account must carry by 15% and look at TRU, KB, Diamond and whatever online sellers you can find to get them out there. Avoid the other mall stores who will just drive up prices and hold onto inventory and pull out ASAP.

Move to the short-card used for Halo Series 2 and 3

Offer a tie-in with the Spawn comic for a limited edition figure that can only be redeemed by providing 3-6 stickers, UPC's whatever from the comic or a point value similar to the Halo Points program so that buying the comic can net you figure rewards.

Put out 2 Spawn Statues a year directly through the Spawn Store (one in May, one in Nov). Put out 2 Spawn Store exclusive figures per year during (one in Feb, one in August).

And what I want more than anything, to see Spawn on sale just once at TRU with one of those coupons from the Xmas Big Book

now granted, it's a horrible, costly plan. but it's what I want. If all the Spawn figure fans get together and put down something in a similar type of format, It's TMP's job to wade through all of this and figure out what the best solution is.

I'm willing to state what I want because I love Spawn and I want to see it continue. How bout some of you join me and with something a bit more potent than "put more focus on Spawn" or "fix the plan"


I like all that you've said... other than the changing the scale of the Spawn figures... boo I say, boo!

[punkg42]

I like the majority of your plan. I could do without the further shrinkage of figures and that will kill it for a lot of people. I could also do without the candy ass articulation, but that's just a personal preference. :cool:

However, I could live with both of those shortfalls mentioned above provided TMP puts out a few high end statues a year. I just wouldn't buy the shrinky dink figures but I would still get my Spawn fix with the high end stuff.

In a perfect world, TMP would be putting out "Art of Spawn" high end statues from cover and interior art (pretty much exactly like the Art of Spawn figure line). Maybe 3 or 4 pieces a year. When I say high end statues, I mean comparable to Sideshow's PF statues and not the 7" mini statue in the works now. I'd pay some serious cheese for something like that.

Yup. Agreed on the statue thing too. 12" statues at least are a must.

[Avatar_of_Chaos]

Wasn't it right around 3 years ago they quit making movie maniacs, and switched to the "kiddie" things like Napoleon Dynamite, Hanna barbera, Simpsons, Wallace & Grommit, Corpse Bride, and things like that?

I'm sure that was just a coincidence......

if "backbone" Spawn fans are who they say they are, that shouldn't matter one bit as long as Spawn was being made even if they went ahead and did 2 Series worth of Adventures of Spawn.

Techno Spawn wasn't very Spawny, neither was most of the Manga Spawn stuff. Put those same figures into today's lineups and I don't know if you'd get a different reaction than the Robots did.

[wave]

I think TMP is just having a stand-by moment, and even if I'm not a Halo or Guitar Heroes fan I'm glad this lines (Halo at least) are selling well because at the end of the day if Todd makes more money he'll give us more Spawn and in-house lines.

[tatoman2525]

where have those "backbone collectors" been the past 3 years as sales have been declining?



But many of the "backbone collectors" are already gone and they'll never come back.


Where have they been in the past 3 years? Obviously moving on to bigger broader things since the cancellation of multiple lines throughout those years, and most of all the decrease in the level of creativity. It seems that the continuing lack of creativity and the continuing cancellation of promising lines is just about wiping the "backbone collectors" that are left. Not all are necessarily gone just yet, you know, whether they have been here since 99-02 (as yourself) or just a couple of years (as myself). Only because I haven't been part of the boards since day one doesn't mean I haven't spent a pretty penny on the items since day one. I consider myself to be part of the group left, as well. And yes, I have stuck around throughout the last 3 years still supporting TMP in whatever line interests me. However, things are becoming more lobsided to the point where I'm just getting tired of supporting TMP. Why? Because those things that have turned off the "backbone collectors" that are already gone are starting to wear into me (and quite frankly, others that remain, as well). When those practices continue to take place, plus increase of cost to me, plus reduction of product size, plus reduction of quality (combined with the other lack of creativity and cancellation of promising lines), no matter how supportive you may be, you get tired of it and start looking elsewhere.

[tatoman2525]

if "backbone" Spawn fans are who they say they are, that shouldn't matter one bit as long as Spawn was being made even if they went ahead and did 2 Series worth of Adventures of Spawn.

Not exactly. I'm not going to buy a s***** looking Spawn line just because I am a "Spawn" collector. That's rediculous. More power to those that spend their money in that fashion. I have collected just about all Spawn series (with the exception of a few series and the exception of a few figures). Now because I am not one of these completist, that doesn't mean that I'm not a Spawn fan or collector.

[Cursedknight]

you might be the customer, but I'm sure you have more of an opinion for all of that than just "TMP should figure out what I want without me having to say it"

you're not telling TMP what they are supposed to do. tell them what you want and feel free to be articulate and fully detailed about it. what retailers are a waste of time from your perspective? what other retailer opportunities do you think are out there that would make it easier for you the consumer to get your figures from?

are you suddenly afraid to speak up now?

Oh but then you get slammed by some *****}{ole on a computer, that always knows better than you, spewing the same ol rederict of "it's not economically viable", he'll do what he likes it's his company, spawn's warn" out or some other ignorance trying to seem like their opinion means mountains more than any others, all the while doing little more than sitting on a toy page most all of everyday......................

Spawn board Nazis, priceless

[Spawnomite]

Wow, a thread that is actually talking about Spawn. I thought we wouldn't see one of these again until 2009. :rolleyes:

I want more Spawn too, but we get what we get. It's Todd's company and he's gonna do what's best for him. That's why we have Halo and Guitar Hero toys. That's why he still makes Sports Picks. In the end, it's a business. A business is supposed to make profits. No profits, then why stay in business. We may not like the things Todd does from time to time, but most of us are still buying his product. Some less, some the same and some more. Spawn may have started the company and will always be the backbone, but Todd has to acquire other licenses as time goes on to stay successful.

Even if we only get 1 new Spawn line a year now, that would be okay with me.

[Avatar_of_Chaos]

Not exactly. I'm not going to buy a s***** looking Spawn line just because I am a "Spawn" collector. That's rediculous. More power to those that spend their money in that fashion. I have collected just about all Spawn series (with the exception of a few series and the exception of a few figures). Now because I am not one of these completist, that doesn't mean that I'm not a Spawn fan or collector.
I apologize for the book in advance

You don't have to be a completist. You don't have to be BlackAris or Bonedust. You just have to have a passion for Spawn and be a consistent buyer.

Once that consistency ends, a core consumer is no longer part of the core. A core consumer, is at its base a consumer and one who continues to spend their money. In the product life-cycle , you're inevitably going to move away from whoever your current core consumer base and gain a new one. It's a dynamically shifting process and Spawn's clocked in over 30 Series about 15 years which is a testament to it and to Spawn fans. That's extemely unusual for action figures all things considered.

But that shift still happens and it happens all the time. Even keeping the status quo will change it. But nothing makes people come out of the woodwork like change.

It's like over on the Sportpicks side where they're having the agrument over who is the more important buying group that should be targeted, the hardcore collector who will buy a case or two or the casual collector who will pick up a few figures?

They're still struggling as a consumer group to figure out who McF is targeting with these changes and tweaks and who they feel they should be targeting. But that's an excellent way to tap into the pulse of your collecting base. They're actually having the discussions, questioning each other, critiquing various ideas and building more concrete ideas about the 4 P's (Product, Price, Place, Promotion) the types of line-up decisions and quality issues that are plaguing them and turning them off.

We don't really do that so much here. And it's not because of CursedKnight's magic "Nazi" factor. It's because many of us are too lazy or too sensitive to actually do it. Because so many want to whine, but not to offer solutions. Or because they don't feel strongly enough about their view to stand up and debate it, which helps find areas of strength and weakness and identifies new areas and issues that weren't considered before.

I've already gone ahead and offered my plan with no idea if it's the right one, chock full of holes for people disagree with and opportunities to offer their own plan. One with teeth. One that expresses as much of what you want as you can think of.

If someone telling you that "it's not economically feasible" or "it's Todd's company and he'll do what he wants" is going to stop you then you're either too sensitive or don't have the passion you claim to. if you notice what's been missing the past few years I can think of 3 main things.

1) Strong petitions for various new Spawn lines like...
-Vote For The Next Dark Ages Theme
-Vote For The Spawn Cover/Splash You Want A Figure Of
-Vote For The Spawn Characters You Want Made

2) Strong discussion about which sculpt, paint and articulation

3) Strong discussion about new ideas and opportunities

We used to do all of that here. We used to have polls and peitiions with hundred of replies and now we're lucky to get 50 with maybe 15 people actively posting up images or posting what their dream line would be

We used to talk about why sculpt and paint were important, and some talked about articulation vs. dynamic posing and what it meant to them.

We used to talk about interesting Spawn crossovers, or what could happen if they could get X into a Spawn line.

Instead, as I see it we're pushing towards 3 main types of topics today...

1) Spawn's been sold out, McF just wants more balls, Todd's in it for the money and not the fans
2) Sportspicks/Halo/GH/etc. are killing Spawn
3) I hate AoS and Robots and I want MY Spawn back but I don't want to actually talk about it

I thank God for every person who at least says in one of those that they still want Spawn and that they'd pay $2 extra in order to keep the current size and paint apps rather than harp on the negative. Or who says that they want to keep the price the same and are willing to take a hit on size to keep paint quality high.

[tatoman2525]

I apologize for the book in advance

You don't have to be a completist. You don't have to be BlackAris or Bonedust. You just have to have a passion for Spawn and be a consistent buyer.

Once that consistency ends, a core consumer is no longer part of the core. A core consumer, is at its base a consumer and one who continues to spend their money. In the product life-cycle , you're inevitably going to move away from whoever your current core consumer base and gain a new one. It's a dynamically shifting process and Spawn's clocked in over 30 Series about 15 years which is a testament to it and to Spawn fans. That's extemely unusual for action figures all things considered.

But that shift still happens and it happens all the time. Even keeping the status quo will change it. But nothing makes people come out of the woodwork like change.

It's like over on the Sportpicks side where they're having the agrument over who is the more important buying group that should be targeted, the hardcore collector who will buy a case or two or the casual collector who will pick up a few figures?

They're still struggling as a consumer group to figure out who McF is targeting with these changes and tweaks and who they feel they should be targeting. But that's an excellent way to tap into the pulse of your collecting base. They're actually having the discussions, questioning each other, critiquing various ideas and building more concrete ideas about the 4 P's (Product, Price, Place, Promotion) the types of line-up decisions and quality issues that are plaguing them and turning them off.

We don't really do that so much here. And it's not because of CursedKnight's magic "Nazi" factor. It's because many of us are too lazy or too sensitive to actually do it. Because so many want to whine, but not to offer solutions. Or because they don't feel strongly enough about their view to stand up and debate it, which helps find areas of strength and weakness and identifies new areas and issues that weren't considered before.

I've already gone ahead and offered my plan with no idea if it's the right one, chock full of holes for people disagree with and opportunities to offer their own plan. One with teeth. One that expresses as much of what you want as you can think of.

If someone telling you that "it's not economically feasible" or "it's Todd's company and he'll do what he wants" is going to stop you then you're either too sensitive or don't have the passion you claim to. if you notice what's been missing the past few years I can think of 3 main things.

1) Strong petitions for various new Spawn lines like...
-Vote For The Next Dark Ages Theme
-Vote For The Spawn Cover/Splash You Want A Figure Of
-Vote For The Spawn Characters You Want Made

2) Strong discussion about which sculpt, paint and articulation

3) Strong discussion about new ideas and opportunities

We used to do all of that here. We used to have polls and peitiions with hundred of replies and now we're lucky to get 50 with maybe 15 people actively posting up images or posting what their dream line would be

We used to talk about why sculpt and paint were important, and some talked about articulation vs. dynamic posing and what it meant to them.

We used to talk about interesting Spawn crossovers, or what could happen if they could get X into a Spawn line.

Instead, as I see it we're pushing towards 3 main types of topics today...

1) Spawn's been sold out, McF just wants more balls, Todd's in it for the money and not the fans
2) Sportspicks/Halo/GH/etc. are killing Spawn
3) I hate AoS and Robots and I want MY Spawn back but I don't want to actually talk about it

I thank God for every person who at least says in one of those that they still want Spawn and that they'd pay $2 extra in order to keep the current size and paint apps rather than harp on the negative. Or who says that they want to keep the price the same and are willing to take a hit on size to keep paint quality high.



No apologies necessary, I understand what you're saying AoC. I do have a passion for the Spawn line and I still want more lines in the future. However, the problem is that we're not getting any until next year. The last few Spawn lines have lacked some creativity, but still they were decent enough for me to pick them up and there was at least something else available that was interesting to me. I do not feel that I should buy up Halo, GH, COD, or SP's to stay patriotic to TMP and their company, though. Those lines do not interest me, therefore I will not spend my money on them. To those that do, great! That's cool. Everybody has their own personal taste in what they like to collect. I do not wish to waste my money away on lines that I am not interested in just to say that I support TMP and what they do. Believe me, I'm a consistent buyer when the product is consistent to my taste;) If you go through my Spawn collection, you may find some discrepancies here and there (*cough, cough* series 16, 18 and a few figs here and there) I will admit, Legends of the Blade Hunters and Zodiacs were lines that I would have gladly purchased in support of TMP throughout their Spawn drought, but as we all know those got canned. These 2 lines would have kept my consistency of purchasing TMP items, but I cannot when they are cancelled and when I do not care for anything else available. That leaves me with the option of the others mentioned above, which I do not have much interest for. I do occassionally purchase an SP here and there, but they're not my cup of tea. This leaves me no choice (whether I am a Spawn fan or not) to venture off into other lines or manufacturers that are creating products that are more appealing to my taste in collecting.

I do agree with you that for the most part people are *****ing more about the situation than they are trying to come up with solutions. For me, I simply spend my money elsewhere, so I really don't care to ***** about the whole direction. I also do not believe that the poll threads and all the other discussion threads would help much, which is the whole reason I posted on this thread in response to a comment by Joe. Here's an example:

http://board.spawn.com/forums/showthread.php?t=379392&highlight=Skullsplitter

This has been a great idea and has been circulating the Toy forum for God knows how long now. The response has been overwhelming. Instead we get a repaint of the 7" scale. You know, I'll take it. It's better than nothing and I'm not complaining, but it shows how much of a difference these threads really make.