MARVEL BASES LIMITED SERIES ON TOY LINE

[MattBrady]

Update:Toy Biz and its parent company Marvel are about to engage in some relatively rare corporate synergy with the release of a four-issue limited series based on an upcoming toy line called Marvel Mega Morphs, a sort of Marvel Super-Heroes meets Transformers with a Power Rangers tip hybrid.

Here’s how Toy Biz describes the line of toys scheduled to debut this summer.

“Mega Morphs. Next generation Super Hero Assault-Bots meant to end crime and herald the dawn of a peaceful planet. But there’s one big hurdle standing in the way of the goal…

”Developed by the mastermind behind Iron Man’s armor, Tony Stark, Mega Morphs are towering metal Assault-Bots that transform into attack vehicles. Only the super hero that the Mega Morph was built for can unlock its unique battle features. But the maniacal Doc Ock stole Tony’s designs and used them to build his own Mega Morph to help him devise some type of terrible secret weapon.

”Gathering some of the strongest super heroes in the universe, Stark intends to equip the assembled team with their own Mega Morphs to stop Doc Ock in his tracks. Can this battle be won? Only time will tell!”

Now comes word from writer Sean McKeever that he has already penned six 8-page “4x”6 mini-comics penciled by Lou Kang that will be included with each figure and will be loosely tied together reflecting the “backstory” (as described above) of the toys. Presumably the six focus on Spider-Man, Wolverine, the Hulk, Captain America, Ghost Rider, and Doc Ock. These will also serve as prequels to a 4-issue Marvel limited series, presumably scheduled for release beginning in August along with the toys.

This will be McKeever's second go-around with giant Marvel robots, as he created the short-lived through critically-appreciated Sentinel ongoing series, which last week in his weekly Newsarama interview Joe Quesada said is at least a candidate to make a return in some form or another.

At McKeever’s website SeanMcKeever.com, the writer said of the comic book series, “If you enjoy old-school, action-packed Marvel comics, you'll enjoy Mega Morphs.”

Elsehwhere McKeever has mentioned the limited series features, "...the return of a long-forgotten Marvel property."

[nyhardcore]

From the people that brought you the Jump To Conclusions Mat.

Lame.

[mrhelm]

Am I the only one who think these toys are really cool, and this idea is really really fun?

I'm going to have to look in to the comic and these toys.

[adamcasey]

Originally posted by Shadowcards
Just wanted to be first.

SlashDot is over here.

Anyways, these toys look horrendous. Would any kid want one of those?

[skaly]

Um. No.

[ShadowBrat]

... wouldn't Hulk be too dumb to pilot one of these thigs? Not to mention he'd probablyy get frustrated and Smash the darn thing,

And how is a giant robot Gonna help Ghost Rider dispence vengance? Well I suppose it could always transform into a giant Motorcycle, though that may not be for the best...

[Strike]

Silly but, y'know, kind of cool. I can't but like this idea. And I might even read these comics.


Of course, I wouldn't want them to be in actual continuity. After all, what would Hulk want with a battlebot?

[Layters]

Wellllllll.......

Before anyone bitches, please remember this is obviously aimed at kids. Sure it seems a bit tacky to us but kids love this stuff.

Also Sean is a good writer so i'm sure the books will be entertaining in their own right.

[Brian Langlois]

The toy itself looks funky (the Wolverine Jet) but thee idea is cool and the artwork for the comic looks nice. Really, Giant Robots are inherently cool. Hopefully some of the other figures will look better.

[HartyPotter]

It's just a toyline with one mini attached to it. It sounds like it could be a fun way to promote the toyline. I say that it sounds like a nice idea.

[onslaughtall]

Originally posted by Layters
Wellllllll.......

Before anyone bitches, please remember this is obviously aimed at kids. Sure it seems a bit tacky to us but kids love this stuff.

Also Sean is a good writer so i'm sure the books will be entertaining in their own right.

this is indeed true...I think this might be pretty cool for those kids that are into it..and hey, it's another nice attempt to lure more into the comics community..so thumbs up for Marvel..!

[BlueThunderArmy]

My first instinct is that this looks horrible, but thinking back to what I might have liked as a kid this strikes me as a pretty good idea.

Granted, back then all I had to choose from was Transformers and Go-bots, and now mecha toys are everywhere, but this could be some fun.

[youbastards]

Originally posted by Strike
Silly but, y'know, kind of cool. I can't but like this idea. And I might even read these comics.

I agree, some of the first comics I ever read were Marvel comics based off of other toy lines, and after I stopped playing with the toys I still read the comics.

Anything that is done to help introduce younger readers to comics (regardless of the believability or success of the toy line) is fine by me.

These toys may sound lame to us, but have you seen the crap that kids are playing with now? Pokemon/Yu-Gi-Oh/Power Rangers make the GIJoe and Star Wars toys I played with look like educational toys!

[starvenger]

Originally posted by Brian Langlois
The toy itself looks funky (the Wolverine Jet) but thee idea is cool and the artwork for the comic looks nice. Really, Giant Robots are inherently cool. Hopefully some of the other figures will look better.

Yes, but Minicons are so two years ago...

[Alfonso]

Just too ridiculous.

[Rod1Million]

The point being is that it's supposed to be fun!! What a cool combo! If they were vinyl and 23 1/2 " high they would be perfect standing alongside my shogun warriors...

[rogue_tomato]

Sean McKeever & Lou Kang (wondered where he disappeared to after his 'Sandscape' mini with Dreamwave...)? Count me in! This idea sounds like some crazy anime-inspired fun to me, kinda like the 'Marvel Mangaverse' Avengers one-shot with the Stark developed combining mechs Loved that issue, just some crazy old-school fun

Will pick up the issues.... and am hopeful on the cool potential of the toys

[innocentboy]

ha ha, funny.
cheesey as hell but the comic might end up being on some good old fashioned action packed funage

[Chris1]

Originally posted by skaly
Um. No.

Truer words have never been spoken.

[Jed Saxon]

Oh boy.

But it's by McKeever, so I'm buying it anyway.

Now... how will I get those minicomics over here in Germany. *sniff*
My McKeever fanboy heart is broken.

[youbastards]

Originally posted by Alfonso
Just too ridiculous.

Wow, you're right. There's absolutely no point in trying to bring in new and younger readers by aiming at creating a tie-in with a genre that is popular with kids. God forbid any child may be interested in the possibility that there might be a story related to the toys they are playing with...

[Goat warrior]

Originally posted by Layters
Wellllllll.......

Before anyone bitches, please remember this is obviously aimed at kids. Sure it seems a bit tacky to us but kids love this stuff.

You're right, I'm not interrested by that kind of books, but if it can help bring back kids to cimics then it's a good idea.

[adamcasey]

Originally posted by youbastards
God forbid any child may be interested in the possibility that there might be a story related to the toys they are playing with...

Well, we don't know what the stories are actually. It could be anything from the heroes riding around in these Transformers to the heroes minds being put into the machines.

But, either scenario is drastically different from what they'd find in the Marvel Universe, and I thought it was Marvel's M.O. to make things as unified, recognizable, and palatable to as many people as possible (organic web shooters, X-Men in leather, etc.)

This toyline would seem to appeal to two demographics of children, those who love anything robot/mecha/Transformer and those who love anything Spider-Man/X-Men. I can't see any kid just casually picking up the toy though.

[cousindick]

Another toy to play with in the bathtub. Gonna throw out the rubber ducky!

[youbastards]

Originally posted by adamcasey
I thought it was Marvel's M.O. to make things as unified, recognizable, and palatable to as many people as possible (organic web shooters, X-Men in leather, etc.)

Marvel's "M.O." is to be a profitable company by marketing any of their properties into products that someone may be interested in purchasing. Period.

Originally posted by adamcasey
This toyline would seem to appeal to two demographics of children, those who love anything robot/mecha/Transformer and those who love anything Spider-Man/X-Men. I can't see any kid just casually picking up the toy though.

You're forgetting another demographic: parents that grew up with these characters and want to share them with their children.