Hard Hero - Short Q&A with Rob Potts

Hey guys, I took a few questions to Rob Potts over at Hard Hero based on what some of us were wondering with the release of Bengali and just a general sort of update on how things are going with the line:

Q1) A rumour is going around that HH is going to stop production after a total of eight statues. Is this true, and if so which characters are you planning to produce?
A1) Not sure where this came from, but as long as the fans want to collect, we'll keep 'em coming!

Q2) Is HH planning to extend the license window with WB so that more characters can be done?
A2) This kinda goes with the demand. We'd love to keep going as long as fans want the statues.

Q3) Some folks have been pleased to be guaranteed their AP number for each character produced. With the exclusive Bengali statue, how will you accomodate buyers whose number is higher than 50? Does the number match apply to Bengali and other exclusives? A3) www.BigBadToyStore.com has agreed to offer the same edition number for those AP collectors. Just let them know what number you need. If you have a number over 50, maybe they can help you with the same LE edition number. With such a limited edition exclusive (350 pieces) making 100 APs just wouldn't work. Joel and the guys at BBTS are great to work with, just let them know what you need and they'll take good care of you.

Q4) Can you indicate likely shipping dates for Cheetara and Mumm-Ra?
A4) As soon as possible. Cheetara is close to final QC and Mumm-Ra is after. Sometimes we can't predict exact delivery dates. We're dealing with hand crafted items, packaging, surface shipping, approvals, etc. And it seems the shipping lanes are all clogged up right now. So when Cheetara is ready to go, maybe the dock guys will have things moving a bit faster. I think some fans might not want too many statues in a short timeframe.

Q5) How are sales of the Cheetara and Mumm-Ra statue going relative to the Lion-O statue?
A5) Great and we're moving forward. I love the Tygra sculpt and the S-S-Slithe is going to be dead on!

any chance of seeing the tygra sculpt and panthro has to be a future one-ppl seem to have forgotten about him.

Great interview, Thanks for taking the time doing it, some crucial issues have been answered for all the fans.
Apparently the demand will determine the production and this is how it should be done.

My personal opinion about the list of Thundercats i would like to see being produced by HH and avoiding an overabundance of superfluous characters goes like that (starting and going by the order of importance and aesthetic appeal):


Lion-O-Mumm-ra-Tygra-Panthro-Cheetara-Grune or Jaga or both-Bengali-Twin siblings (made together in one statue)-Lynx-o-One mutant(Ratar-o probably is the ideal with second coming Vultureman and S-S-Slythe)-One Lunatac(either Chilla or Alluro)


I could live without Snarf and Pumyra being made and i wouldn't mind if the rest of the Lunatacs weren't made either.
Also Hammerhand and Hachiman could be added on the list above. They both have beautiful designs,the first reminding us of a modern Viking/Pyrate and the latter has the great visual appearance of a Japanese Samurai.

Hey thanks for this!

I would prefer at all costs to have the main 6 cats and then the new thundercats, and then HH can go nuts with anyone else. I agree rataro or grune would make some good looking statues.

But I'd be less inclined to get those until I knew I could get the main cats. Nothing like having an incomplete collection of main cats and a couple of vilians thrown in.

Anddddd What are you talking about! Pumyra would probably make a great statue! :pumyrahappy:

"aewsmith, post: 27627" said:

Hey thanks for this!

I would prefer at all costs to have the main 6 cats and then the new thundercats, and then HH can go nuts with anyone else. I agree rataro or grune would make some good looking statues.

But I'd be less inclined to get those until I knew I could get the main cats. Nothing like having an incomplete collection of main cats and a couple of vilians thrown in.

Anddddd What are you talking about! Pumyra would probably make a great statue! :pumyrahappy:

Statues don't follow the Action Figures strategy produced in mass numbers with as many characters of a brand as possible. Keep in mind we are talking about very expensive and limited pieces. If many were to be made, the uniqueness then would fade away. Actually, i don't understand why HH chose to bring Slythe as the 6th statue of the line prior to Panthro, maybe they wanted to test how well he sells so as to make more mutants in the future.
I agree that the main Cats should be made but generally they should narrow the list down to the most important characters.

Yeah, I have agree with wanting the main cast first but Lordore is right about the statues loosing steam if they release all the goodies first. However, they could use Bengali, LynxO and Pumyra after the main cast to spread out the line while still keep the interest.

Yea spreading them out sounds like what will most likely happen. But I wouldn't be surprised if they keep releasing the new thundercats as exclusives.

I'm worried for tygra though. I hope they use his whip in some cool way. :tygra: