Made contact with Icon Heroes

Hey gang, had a nice chat with Patrick Wang over at Icon Heroes. Let him know what we're all about and told him about how we'd like to work with Icon Heroes on the stactions line. He's keen to do an interview with us, and Nick I was wondering if you thought you could fit him in for a phone call / skype interview. Please let me know.

Otherwise we can just go with an e-mail interview but I'd love to do something with audio this time around as I find the text interviews a bit flat.

I also mentioned that we're looking for advertisers and Pat was very open to that idea. I'll work on this further with them but for now he's promised us an exclusive set of images on upcoming stactions.

Cheers,
Mark

Chris here...

Mark, this is amazing work, well done! I think Icon Heroes have really upped their game with the modifications they've made to their SDCC Lion-O piece, and if they're willing to work with us in any capacity, that's terrific news! :)

Re: an interview, I'll let Nick answer for himself but based on his stated views on our latest podcast episode I don't think any of the statues are really his thing, LOL! ;)

One suggestion, Mark, if you have a Skype headset, why don't you take a stab at doing the interview? :) You've got the knowledge, the passion, plus it would be great to finally hear what you sound like, LOL! ;) I'd be happy to collaborate with you on questions if you needed it (this is how Nick & I worked on the cartoon-based interviews he did), although I'm sure you'd do a great job with or without my input! :)

We could make it available as a download and (if the folks in charge of the podcast were down with this) make it a segment of a future ThunderCast podcast recording! :)

Take care... :)

That's an idea Chris, I guess I could do that myself. I have a microphone that I could use for Skype so let me give it a whirl.

Request for somebody to post this content in the merchandise section for me, and then to post a front page story directing people to it, and to the forum thread discussing Icon Heroes

Hello guys, as you know I am able to put content up, but I always mess up the coding when I do it using my html program, and I'm leaving for a short vacation until Saturday so won't even have time to do my usual butchering of our pages. Was hoping that Chris or Manny would volunteer to do this one for me...


Icon Heroes exclusive interview with ThunderCatsLair.org

Grizzlor from ThunderCatsLair.org recently had the chance to pose some fan submitted questions to Patrick Wang, VP Sales and Marketing at Icon Heroes.

------------------

Patrick, thanks for taking the time to answer the questions that have been on the minds of ThunderCats fans and statue collectors everywhere. Congratulations also to you and the rest of the Icon Heroes team on landing the license to our collective favourite 80s property. I know that fans were elated to hear that there would be a mini staction format series of statues produced and were particularly excited to hear about your planned work on vehicles and playsets.

TCL: Could you tell us a little about the back story to how Icon Heroes decided to go after this ThunderCats series?

PW: We set out to work with a license many of us wanted to always be a part of and Thundercats was at the top of everyone's list. There was no question, no plan B. We wanted something smaller in scale and more affordable than what was currently in the market. We always wanted to place a Lion-O next to, say, a He-Man or Superman and display them as such and there just wasn't a Thundercats collectible out there to fill that niche.

TCL: Will any stactions be made of characters not produced in the original toy line such as Willa, Mandora, the Lunatacks, etc?

PW: We are planning to concentrate on the primary characters first. Secondary characters, if done, would most likely be done as show or retail exclusives.

TCL: With the pictures of Lion-O riding the Thunderclaw surfacing from the San Diego Comic Con, we're wondering whether you intend to have all figures fit in the vehicles but also be removable. Lion-O is kind of half standing as he's steering the vehicle, will you follow a similar design for other vehicles?

PW: We plan to produce the vehicles where statues could be interchanged if it makes sense, for example, if various characters were shown riding the same vehicle. The Lion-O shown riding the Thunderclaw is being tweaked. The one done for the show was done quickly to be able to show what we had in mind with statues riding the vehicles.

TCL: Will the bases with the individual figures be interlocking to make a diorama type display set? If not, is there another display design in mind?

PW: They won't be made to interlock with each other but we are considering a diorama that would allow multiple statues to be displayed together.

TCL: Fans are very excited at the prospect of seeing your take on the Cat's Lair. How will it be designed? What scale do you have in mind for it? What else can you tell us about it?

PW: A Cat's Lair at six inch scale would be incredibly large but we do have other ideas in mind. We can't say much about that right now.

TCL: Do you have plans to tackle Mumm-Ra's pyramid or the Mutant's Castle?

PW: Not at this time but depending on how the first few dioramas do we may consider those.

TCL: Do you have other exclusives in the works? Will there be alternate versions of the main characters, similar to the Comic Con exclusive?

PW: Yes we do plan to do other limited edition exclusives as some of the characters lend themselves to interesting variants. For instance with Jackal Man, we can also produce statues of his minions with different arm poses and weapons.

TCL: Are you drawing design inspiration mainly from the cartoon, or from the original 1980s LJN toyline?

PW: We are mainly drawing from the cartoon series.

TCL: The release schedule is very aggressive (one a month?) and the figures seem to be coming together very quickly based on what you showed at Comic Con. Do you have more than one sculptor working on the line in order to achieve this or did you hire the fastest sculptor of all time? Could you tell us the name(s) of the artists?

PW: Because of some of the variants we have planned, and the length of the approval process, we will probably release the statues every 6-8 weeks. We have a few sculptors working on the line. They wish to remain anonymous but it's a safe bet that many of their works are currently in the hands of a lot of collectors.

TCL: What will the retail prices be for the vehicles and Cat's Lair?

PW: The price will vary based on the size of each statue.

TCL: Will you be producing The Mad Bubbler?

PW: There are no plans at the moment to produce the Mad Bubbler.


Could you also please mix in some of these images as you see fit into the page?

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b318/Grizzlor18/YoungJaga.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b318/Grizzlor18/Jaga.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b318/Grizzlor18/JackalMan.jpg
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RpNBtMhylrk/TDaC-KnzyFI/AAAAAAAAAIg/ApMJpWe3OQ0/s1600/IMG_6140.jpg

The forum thread to link people to from the front page is: http://thundercatslair.org/forums/showthread.php?t=4134

Chris here...

Mark, this is amazing stuff, well done! :thumbsup:

I've got a crazy day today, but will try and get this online within the next 24 - 36 hours. If it's not online by Friday, feel free to contact me and nag me, but I should be able to have this up by Thursday evening UK time at the latest! :)

Those photos are damned awesome! :thumbsup:

Take care... :)
Merged Post:
Chris here...

The interview is online - please Mark can you take a look at it and make sure everything is present, correct, and looks and functions OK? :)

http://www.thundercatslair.org/merchandise/statues/iconheroes_interview.html

Comments:

- Obviously to incorporate the images into the article they've had to be resized downwards. I thought folks would want to see larger versions and so I've set these up so that clicking on the image opens up a larger version in a new window using a Javascript function.

I normally use another Javascript file, LightBox2, to display larger versions of images, but in this case I felt it would be too distracting away from the text-based (rather than visual-based) article. LightBox2 is much better for folks who have pop-ups disabled on their browsers, but in this case I felt the Javascript function was more appropriate to the type of page.

- This image: http://www.thundercatslair.org/merchandise/statues/thunderclaw-large.jpg - isn't watermarked. The others are all watermarked at Icon Heroes' end. Should this ThunderClaw image be watermarked before we release it into the public domain? :)

- At the moment there is no "splash page" for Icon Heroes like there is for Hard Hero and Pop Culture Shock. Do you want me to whip one together, Mark, and if so, what do you want it to say? :)
-----

LMK if anything else needs doing, and well done again, Mark, for landing this great interview! :)

Take care... :)

Thanks Chris, that looks really awesome, appreciate your pro touch on this.

I've been meaning to put up a splash page for the Icon Heroes guys, if you could do one up it'd be mightily appreciated.

To your questions:

1) I love the java script clicking of the images that works great.
2) No need to worry about watermarking the fourth image, that's taken directly from their site

Could you put the front page post up too Chris? Really appreciate your help on this mate!

Mark

Chris here...

Hey Mark, glad to know that the article looked and worked OK for you - my pleasure to help! :)

Glad to see you got it added to the front page too - I've yet to update our new front page, I'm slightly nervous of messing it up, but one day I'll have to give it a try, LOL! :)

I'd be very happy to do a splash page for Icon Heroes - please can you LMK what you'd like it to say? It would probably be good if you wrote the text so that the writing style matches across the statues area of the site. If you can throw that in my direction I'll get something whipped up ASAP! :)

Take care... :)

Hey Chris, would it be cool if I did something up under the new version of the site, and then ask you to replicate it in the current site?

I'd like to try and develop the new pages over there but still get fans and the folks at Icon Heroes to see that we're current and supportive of the Icon Heroes products.

Pat Wang from Icon Heroes asked if he could call me today to go over some ideas he has, he wants some fan feedback on a few fronts. Dealing with the statue guys is fun, I've been working with Jerry on ideas for the Limited Edition Lion-O too and clarifying colours of eyes lighting up and how the sword may light up. It's pretty fun feeling like you're having input to the latest incarnations of your favourite characters from growing up.

Chris here...

"grizzlor, post: 29010" said:

Hey Chris, would it be cool if I did something up under the new version of the site, and then ask you to replicate it in the current site?

I'd like to try and develop the new pages over there but still get fans and the folks at Icon Heroes to see that we're current and supportive of the Icon Heroes products.

Hey Mark, yep, go for it - I'll try and replicate it as close as I can in the HTML for the current version of the site we're using! :)

"grizzlor, post: 29010" said:

Pat Wang from Icon Heroes asked if he could call me today to go over some ideas he has, he wants some fan feedback on a few fronts. Dealing with the statue guys is fun, I've been working with Jerry on ideas for the Limited Edition Lion-O too and clarifying colours of eyes lighting up and how the sword may light up. It's pretty fun feeling like you're having input to the latest incarnations of your favourite characters from growing up.

That's awesome that you're having that input - well done, my friend! It's great to know that TCL team members like yourself are so proactive in the development of things like the statues! :) I'm convinced that our Larry Kenney petition helped land Larry the role of Claudus in the forthcoming new ThunderCats cartoon, too. Let's hope that these things (the petition and your awesome involvement with the statues) are the start of many more such instances where this site can help shape the development of our favourite felines!! :thumbsup:

Take care... :)

Guys,

Had a real fun talk with Patrick Wang last night and it sounds like they have a lot of passion for the ThunderCats line. The sculptor who did the Jackalman figure says that its his favourite villain of all time. WOW. All time? Nice that he gets to do the statue for his favourite all time villain!

They have a lot of plans for further characters and intend to do all the mutants. Next up is Everliving Mumm-Ra and ... PANTHRO (that's for you Manny).

I didn't ask what we could publish so please keep this under your hat for now.

Pat asked if we could check in with each other on a weekly basis, which will probably be more of a monthly basis in practice but he's a big fan of the site and is very pleased that we're running the updates on his statue line.

Chris here...

Hey Mark, quick reply as I'm on our local library computer, complete with ticking clock! Our whole home phone line has gone down, complete with our broadband, grrr!

Just to say this all sounds awesome - you're a legend, my friend! :)

Will be back in touch with the team when we're back online, hopefully shouldn't be more than a couple of days! (Or is that tempting fate?!) :)

Take care... :)

Chris here...

It now seems that Icon Heroes are handing over exclusive reveals and pre-release samples to MannyF over at ThunderCatsNOW - I believe Manny's mentioned Pat Wang by name... :(

I'm looking forward to Mark's return to the site when he can hopefully pull some strings and put us back in the mix - obviously it would be unreasonable to expect the statue companies not to throw MannyF some bones, but just to keep the scoreline ticking on our side too! :)

Take care... :)

"He-Fan, post: 44296" said:

Chris here...

It now seems that Icon Heroes are handing over exclusive reveals and pre-release samples to MannyF over at ThunderCatsNOW - I believe Manny's mentioned Pat Wang by name... :(

I'm confused :confused:

Did he say all exclusives will go to Manny? While we will get review samples of already released product?

Chris here...

"blackiecats, post: 44310" said:

I'm confused :confused:

Did he say all exclusives will go to Manny? While we will get review samples of already released product?

Sorry Neil, this was an earlier post of mine, before I even e-mailed Pat at Icon Heroes! ;)

He hasn't stated that we won't get any exclusives - however, MannyF has managed to get an exclusive for ThunderCatsNOW, he's getting the first ever advance look at the Mumm-Ra with Ma-Mutt statue which he already has and will be uploading a video of to TCatsNOW's YouTube channel any day now! :(

...Thus reinforcing my view that TCatsNOW is basically a ThunderCats Lair ripoff! :mad:

Take care... :)

Ah I see. Maybe we should wait to see if we are offered any exclusive stuff before accepting review samples? I know it sounds childish, but if they want us to advertise their product free, then they should give some exclusive content in return...

But then if we are getting free samples is that payment enough? What does everyone think?

"He-Fan, post: 44315" said:

...Thus reinforcing my view that TCatsNOW is basically a ThunderCats Lair ripoff! :mad:

Take care... :)

You know after we all poured all our hard work into the site it is clear that Manny F is going on a spiteful spree to do what it takes to push us down.

I was never a fan of his constant instability and this reinforces that he is indeed a pretty unstable and vengeful individual. The contacts he has are because of us not because he got them himself.

In any case there is one important factor we have that he doesnt have and that is that we are on the very front page of Google rankings...which took us literally years to get and i dont think it will be that easy for him to attain anytime soon.

Sadly Manny F has gone the way of Celesta

Chris here...

"MannysCollectibles, post: 44324" said:

You know after we all poured all our hard work into the site it is clear that Manny F is going on a spiteful spree to do what it takes to push us down.

I was never a fan of his constant instability and this reinforces that he is indeed a pretty unstable and vengeful individual. The contacts he has are because of us not because he got them himself.

Yep, I agree - however, the one thing he is doing is getting my competitive juices flowing, which is just the motivation I need! :evil:

"MannysCollectibles, post: 44324" said:

In any case there is one important factor we have that he doesnt have and that is that we are on the very front page of Google rankings...which took us literally years to get and i dont think it will be that easy for him to attain anytime soon.

I agree 100%, and this is why we need to keep a steady stream of new content flowing and be ready to capitalise on the new ThunderCats material that's coming our way - I think all of the team are working really well in this regard, let's stick together because together we can see off any imitations! :thumbsup:

"blackiecats, post: 44320" said:

Ah I see. Maybe we should wait to see if we are offered any exclusive stuff before accepting review samples? I know it sounds childish, but if they want us to advertise their product free, then they should give some exclusive content in return...

But then if we are getting free samples is that payment enough? What does everyone think?

It's a tough one to call - my own $0.02 is I'd like to wait to judge this until Mark is fully back on board, as he's always managed to get the statue companies eating out of his hand and I'm sure that he could do so again. For the meantime I don't see the harm in featuring some of their product whilst we get the feel for the lay of the land - if it looks like it's working out we can always say "How's about throwing us an exclusive first look at something" and see what comes of it! :)

Take care... :)
Merged Post:
UPDATE:

Here's the video on ThunderCatsNOW's YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-bugHP3cwQ&feature=share .

Manny has taken one VERY big risk with this, in that somehow he's managed to get hold of a copy of the ThunderCats original series soundtrack and has put an entire music track to the soundtrack of his video! :eek:

The only person I know who has this is Nick, but I know he hasn't shared it with Manny - seems like maybe our old buddy Celesta knows some people...! ;)

Take care... :)

"He-Fan, post: 44325" said:

Here's the video on ThunderCatsNOW's YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-bugHP3cwQ&feature=share

That video is shockingly bad quality! :eek: Did he film it in a cellar? (or Mumm-Ra's Pyramid? lol)

I'd film my videos outside during the day to take advantage of natural light.... If I were Icon Heroes I'd be very disapointed :(

I've not given anything to Manny - but it's very disappointing. Mainly because his editing skills are amateur and he hasn't even bothered to do a half decent job. Let him do what he wants - absolutely nothing to do with us. As Chris said, he's trying to spite us and get a reaction. Not with those shoddy production skills.