Would You Prefer More Detailed Retros with No Action?

[@Chair.Shot]

This is something that has probably crossed the minds of Mattel Retro customers before: If Mattel were to lose the mechanical component of their Retro figures and pivot towards making figures with articulation but no actions, would you be in favor of that if it meant increasing their budget? By that I mean the cost savings could be allocated towards more tooling, deco, accessories, etc.

Or is it more important to you from a nostalgic perspective that these figures remain true to their origins and have a working, responsive action function?


This is all hypothetical obviously and just for fun. I don’t think it would be a viable option at this point anyway given all of the existing tooling would require significant changes to make sure the figures weren’t hollow pieces that fell over.

[Next Manufactured’s Sweater]

I don’t see the point in making them more detailed and adding articulation and accessories. That wouldn’t match the existing retros or the old Hasbro figures. It would just be a smaller scale Superstars line, which is totally unnecessary.

[@Chair.Shot]

Oct 3, 2024 12:42:20 GMT -5 Next Manufactured’s Sweater said:

I don’t see the point in making them more detailed and adding articulation and accessories. That wouldn’t match the existing retros or the old Hasbro figures. It would just be a smaller scale Superstars line, which is totally unnecessary.

I think I didn’t explain it in a way that you understood. They wouldn’t be adding any additional articulation. They would be making more unique molds so that the same handful of parts weren’t being reused as much or certain superstars could have a look that is specific to them. For example: The torso on the Mattel R&B Greg Valentine Retro is a one-off that really can’t be used for anyone else. In this completely made up scenario, the budget used for internal parts would free up money to do more detailed looks that are both unique but fitting with the Hasbro style (Million Dollar Man, Honkey Tonk Man, Skinner, etc.). It would also allow them the opportunity to do more variations so that you don’t end up with 3 different repaints of the same figure (like Hogan).

As for accessories, I was leaning more towards things that were in scale with the Retros instead of reusing things from the 7 inch lines (mics, guitars, Book of Love). Things that all make sense with the figures they come with and not just throwing in a random cookie sheet with a Miss Elizabeth figure.

So yes, a little bit like Superstars but more like Hasttel, Epic, and FC.

[Fighter Hayabusa]

So basically ZST style? Personally I have zero nostalgia for Hasbros so this wouldn’t be a question for me cuz I don’t care either way. That being said, if one was nostalgic for Hasbro then wouldn’t they want them as close to the original line as possible?

[Warriah']

I’d prefer retros that resemble hasbros more

S1 undertaker and Brock really are the only figs that came even remotely aesthetically close to hasbros

[@Chair.Shot]

Oct 3, 2024 14:06:20 GMT -5 Fighter Hayabusa said:

So basically ZST style? Personally I have zero nostalgia for Hasbros so this wouldn’t be a question for me cuz I don’t care either way. That being said, if one was nostalgic for Hasbro then wouldn’t they want them as close to the original line as possible?

Without trying to be insulting, I specifically didn’t name that brand because a frequent critique is that line is too detailed. I think Hasttel is probably the best example right now of someone making figures using parts as close to Hasbro as possible (some will argue he does it to a fault).

This is a simple “would you rather” scenario. Would you rather have your Mattel Retro look more like a Hasbro by giving up the spring loaded action/internal mechanisms? Or would you prefer to keep those mechanisms and have them look less like a Hasbro. In short, which is more important to you as a collector: form or function.

[wholefnshow420]

I'd prefer if wwe and mattel made some kinda working agreement with Hasbro for them to strictly only make these style figures cause I mean who better to make them than the original creators of em themselves

[thehitman101]

Keep the action - that is iconic to the original line. Details are good enough 👍

[PJ]

Just get rid of the “jumper” mold and the “kicking” mold and they are fine as is. Personally I wouldn’t mind if all the retros had the same stance and action feature as the Retro Bret Hart or the original Hasbro Scott Steiner or Mr Perfect.

[D.B.K.]

keep it as is

[mrh]

Oct 3, 2024 15:35:30 GMT -5 wholefnshow420 said:

I'd prefer if wwe and mattel made some kinda working agreement with Hasbro for them to strictly only make these style figures cause I mean who better to make them than the original creators of em themselves

 I agree with this -- this would be incredible. Can't see it happening.

I would give anything for them to change the heads to the same plastic as the bodies -- and I think a it would help a lot of the problems.

[mcfclee]

I like the retros as they are.

The retro companies reimagining it or just missing the point dont get my money so Mattel shouldn’t change if it wants to keep it.

[gentlemanjohnny]

Keep the action. I’d be pissed off if they got rid of it. 

[coldblooded]

Just get rid of retros for BCA.

[bigvis497]

I'd appreciate if they added some more parts. They use the same torso for almost everybody, regardless of the action feature. Some new parts would go a long way.

[@Chair.Shot]

Oct 5, 2024 13:15:25 GMT -5 coldblooded said:

Just get rid of retros for BCA.

There is room for both! Until then, FC has got you covered.