There hasn't been an official statement. So far it seems like everything has been based off of assumptions. The rumor going around is that Toys R Us and a few other stores are doing their own safety checks on select merchandise, including, you guessed it, the Movie Masters figures. Some people are saying it's a rumor that was spread to increase the hype while others really think there is a recall because of the disappearance of the figures. Your guess is just as good as mine.
Me? I call BS on Mattel's part if this paint issue is indeed true.
Why the
Movie Masters line and not the
Basic line, or the 4" line, or the 12" line? What a coincidence that the most popular items that they produce are no longer available. You would think that they would use the same paint for all the other lines, yet they still linger on the shelves and pegs.
I doubt they have any problems with the paint, and if they do they obviously haven't learned their lesson. As stated above this may be a rumor to increase the already excessive hype, or maybe the stores are doing their own safety checks, but one things for sure all my stores carry the deluxe electronic line, the role playing items, the masks, the 4" line, the basic line, the vehicles, and the Action Cape and 12" Batman figures, everything but the popular Movie Masters line. This was out for three weeks and then simply vanished. I'm really glad I was able to get a two complete set of the 4 and then some, but i'm sure others weren't as lucky.
Mattel seems to have trouble with quality and distribution, not just with their Batman merchandise but
all of their lines. Maybe Hasbro should buy them out, or at least obtain the rights for Batman and DC Comics. In my opinion, the Kenner and Hasbro Batman lines were much better.
I might just put mine away in plastic bins for now just in case their is a problem with them instead of taking them back and having them get destroyed, or worse, put up for sale. I have no idea whether this is a hoax/marketing ploy (to make people want these things even more) or a true heads up from a legitimate source.
Collectors, fans, and scalpers alike aren't really helping either. I can't tell the difference between truth and hype. One thing I just don't understand. Everyone is having trouble obtaining these, correct? They have vanished from retail, not a single peg dedicated for them, right? Then where are all these [censored] getting them from to put up on ebay. Out of curiosity I watched dozens of each figure on there, and each one went for a considerable amount of cash (except the underrated Batman and Goon). If everyone interested ignored the "buy it now" option and bid the retail price ($9.99-12.99)
everyone would be able to get one at retail price. Batman, The Joker, the Gotham City Goon, and the Unmasked Chase alike. It's always the same 7 or 8 people bidding to the death with the same outrageous amounts for each figure. I really hate the "ebay mentality" over there, but what are you going to do? The buyers are just as bad as the sellers.
And
why, if the rumors are true, would these people go after these things now. Chemicals and lead paint is a big deal, not something to buy up and make money on (that would be great in a couple of months to learn that the 14 Movie Masters figure I bought can significally harm me, or others). Are they really worth it? And just the same, are these things
that great to spread rumors to increase the hype?
If it is true, how is Mattel still in business. It's been one f*** up too many for them, in my opinion.
In other news has any one seen these new pics from Wave 2?
I'll take the Begins suit over the new one any day. I'll be all over these for custom fodder, the actual figures, and MOC specimens for display. Hopefully these will be easier to obtain (and not contain any lead paint) considering they are both heavily packed in their case ratios. Mattel better not [censored] these up. When I find a third Movie Master Unmasked Batman, I plan on switching the heads with this one so I have a Bruce Wayne in Batman Begins garb.