Shocker Announces Indy Toy Line (Includes Solar & Magnus

ManofTheAtom · Post by **ManofTheAtom** » Mon May 08, 2006 9:06 am

<i>Press Release</i>

Shocker Toys recently burst into the fully articulated action figure game with the announcement of a 7 inch line based on the cult music phenomenon GWAR. Now, Shocker takes a crack at a line including heroes, fiends, monsters, robots and other characters created by some truly unique minds. Welcome to INDIE SPOTLIGHT! Focusing on classic characters as well as underground favorites and new arrivals to the panels, INDIE SPOTLIGHT will bring these icons of the Independent Comic Universe to comic shops all over the world and into the homes of the fans who have come to love them. For the first time ever, the likes of Witchblade and Grim Jack will stand toe to toe with Scud the Disposable Assassin and Dick Tracy!

Companies who have signed onto Indie Spotlight, pitching some of their characters into the line include Top Cow, Classic Media, Image, Troma, AAApop, Blue Water Productions and King Features. Some characters in the Indie Spotlight include Solar: Man of the Atom, Magnus Robot Fighter, Dick Tracy, Lone Ranger, Jack Staff, Madman, The Atomics, Witchblade, Darkness, Nexus, Shark-Man, The Moth, Retro Rocket, The New Toxic Avenger, The Phantom, Sachs & Violens, The Wraith, Scud the Disposable Assassin, Isis, Victoria’s Secret Service, Judo-Girl, Shadowhawk, OZF5, Grim Jack, Fallen Angel, Badger, Cyberforce, Jetcat, Atomic City, Smoke & Mirror and God of Thunder. More companies and licenses will be announced so keep watching!

Indie Spotlight will feature 20+ pts of articulation in every 6 inch scaled figure. President of Shocker Toys, Geoff Beckett stated "We want you to be able to recreate classic moments from your favorite comics so posability and accessories are key. Shocker Toys wants to have as close a relationship with the creators of each character as you have come to have over the years of reading their books, so our figures will reflect that. We also realize that Indy Spotlight will create it's own universe as it grows, so look for scale to play a big part in expressing the diversity from character to character with giant robots staring down super powered vixens and over muscled supermen going toe to toe with sickly, inhuman creatures...we'll have it all!"

For more information, visit Shocker Toys online at http://www.shockertoys.com/

Vault-Keeper · Post by **Vault-Keeper** » Mon May 08, 2006 9:11 am

Sounds cool! Can't wait for some pics.---Steve

ManofTheAtom · Post by **ManofTheAtom** » Mon May 08, 2006 9:24 am

What kind of figures should they be? McFarlane-style, in a posse, or regular stiff figures?

slym2none · Post by **slym2none** » Mon May 08, 2006 10:39 am

"Shocker" Toys? Is their motto "Two In The Pink, One In The Stink" with this as the logo -

-slym

Heath · Post by **Heath** » Mon May 08, 2006 10:44 am

Shocker Toys · Post by **Shocker Toys** » Mon May 08, 2006 12:43 pm

oops started another topic As I didn't see this one here:
viewtopic.php?t=10451

But as I said we would like to do the Valiant characters but the owners do not seem to have any new plans! So hopefully if you want em you will need to make some noise and keep e-mailing Dino who is one of the current owners of Valiant!

ManofTheAtom · Post by **ManofTheAtom** » Mon May 08, 2006 1:11 pm

With the trademark problems I doubt it be possible to do figures on a lot of the VALIANT characters.

Maybe when that problem goes away and Dino comes out triumphant you guys could talk.

I'd love to have a Timewalker figure with time arc and timetracker.

Shocker Toys · Post by **Shocker Toys** » Mon May 08, 2006 1:57 pm

ManofTheAtom wrote:With the trademark problems I doubt it be possible to do figures on a lot of the VALIANT characters.

Maybe when that problem goes away and Dino comes out triumphant you guys could talk.

I'd love to have a Timewalker figure with time arc and timetracker.

We had already spoke and it was just an action figures are not in our plans. I even spoke with the lawyers trying to trademark the names for the other party. Seems it has nothing to do with what we want to do. So if their plans are to please the fans make some noise then! We def want to get some XO, RAI and Shadowman and other Valiant figs out.

TimeWillTell · Post by **TimeWillTell** » Mon May 08, 2006 2:08 pm

We had already spoke and it was just an action figures are not in our plans. I even spoke with the lawyers trying to trademark the names for the other party. Seems it has nothing to do with what we want to do.

Huh?

-TWT

cinlach@aol.com · Post by **cinlach@aol.com** » Mon May 08, 2006 2:14 pm

huh indeed...

and we FINALLY have a near official confirmation that dino is one of the new owners...we've long assumed, could an OFFICIAL announcement be too far behind?

because unless i've missed it somewhere no one has stepped forward and said "hi, we're now the new owners of valiant."

ManofTheAtom · Post by **ManofTheAtom** » Mon May 08, 2006 2:26 pm

cinlach@aol.com wrote:huh indeed...

and we FINALLY have a near official confirmation that dino is one of the new owners...we've long assumed, could an OFFICIAL announcement be too far behind?

because unless i've missed it somewhere no one has stepped forward and said "hi, we're now the new owners of valiant."

Well, offcialy we know their real names, what we don't know is if they have screen names and are an active part of this board. Unofficialy we all suspect Dino.

Shocker Toys · Post by **Shocker Toys** » Mon May 08, 2006 2:29 pm

Ooops, thought everyone knew. Well collectors/fans owners all the same. We just want to give the Valiant fans something they deserve great figures!

Actually I don't feel to bad now slym2none mentioned Dino as an owner on the other thread before I did!

ManofTheAtom · Post by **ManofTheAtom** » Mon May 08, 2006 2:31 pm

http://www.shockertoys.com/forums/viewt ... 9&start=25

There's the Beefcake figure for everyone to see.

How many points of articulation will these figures have?

Shocker Toys · Post by **Shocker Toys** » Mon May 08, 2006 2:32 pm

ManofTheAtom wrote:How many points of articulation will these figures have?

GWAR will have 18poa

But the Indie Spotlight figures will have 22poa+

TimeWillTell · Post by **TimeWillTell** » Mon May 08, 2006 2:33 pm

Well collectors/fans owners all the same.

Huh?

-TWT

ManofTheAtom · Post by **ManofTheAtom** » Mon May 08, 2006 2:36 pm

TimeWillTell wrote:
Well collectors/fans owners all the same.
Huh?

-TWT

Stop that

TimeWillTell · Post by **TimeWillTell** » Mon May 08, 2006 2:46 pm

I'm confused.
If the new owners own the copyrights to the characters and stories (excluding the Gold Key characters) and there is a question as to the ownership of the trademarked names, how can you go ahead with any non-Gold Key figures without the permission or either one or both of the parties?

-TWT

Shocker Toys · Post by **Shocker Toys** » Mon May 08, 2006 2:47 pm

I loved all the Valiant stuff as a kind and growing up! And this new line of ours is about us being fans also. We are owners, and creators of new toys but first and foremost we are fans!

greg · Post by **greg** » Mon May 08, 2006 2:52 pm

I do not speak for the new ownership of Valiant. Period.

However, I can tell you that if I was in charge of Valiant,
I would be very careful with my "first impression" to the fan base
related to my characters. As of today, there is no official announcement
or official product from the new ownership of Valiant.

That first product, whatever it is, will be a "first impression" for the industry.

I doubt if Shocker Toys (or a few pages in an unrelated comic book) should
be the "first impression" that really gets the "new Valiant" message out.

In particular to Shocker Toys, I clicked on the pages of the site
and found the "Indy Comic Line" mentioned on this page:
http://www.shockertoys.com/products.htm

When I clicked on "Indy Comic Line", it opened a new window about a Pirate "kini" pack.

What?

That was Shocker Toys "official" first impression to me just now
(in addition to Shocker Toys comments on this board),
and I must say that so far, I'm unimpressed.

If the Valiant owners were two or three years into their plan (I assume they have a plan)
and wanted to branch out into other products, that would be one thing...
Because they haven't done anything yet... they should make a wise choice
about that "first impression". Especially if it is an "alignment" with someone else.

I'll definitely keep an eye out for the Magnus or Solar items,
because those are always of interest... so Shocker Toys, get to impressin'.

Shocker Toys · Post by **Shocker Toys** » Mon May 08, 2006 3:31 pm

Feel free to have that impression! As far as our site it is being updated the front page contains all the info you need to know as well as the PR! The impression you should have is wow a company wants to do all these properites as 6" super poseable action figures. We will make sure they are done to the artists standards which should be good for all the fans! I can also say that alot on our list are relaunching and are very impressed with us so much that they are signed up and ready to go! So as far as a plan I'd say that great 6" figures is def a way to go.

cinlach@aol.com · Post by **cinlach@aol.com** » Mon May 08, 2006 4:06 pm

please understand...we're die-hard, rabid, and extremely protective fans.

we've fostered a community of such devotion that one of our members has apparently BOUGHT the whole freakin' thing.

we're so passionate about these characters and stories that other fanboys refer to us as "sir".

we've waited for 10 years for the chance for this company to make a return...now we're right on the cusp of that return and we simply don't want anything to screw it up.

so if we act cautiously or critically towards someone who wants to do something with the characters we've helped keep alive and out of obscurity then please understand our motives.

if the gold key figures are up to the quality i expect after seeing the gwar prototype then you've got nothing to worry about...this community will embrace your product with open arms.

so, just understand where we're all coming from...we didn't wait this long to see these characters get screwed up, trust is earned.

for now, i'm onboard and excited about what you guys are doing...but if you're going to do it, then do it right.

otherwise we'll never forgive you.

Shocker Toys · Post by **Shocker Toys** » Mon May 08, 2006 4:28 pm

Well if we get it they will be done right we will make sure of that. Oh and the products page is updated we are slowly updating our site so so busy now lol!

jedimarley · Post by **jedimarley** » Mon May 08, 2006 7:43 pm

cinlach@aol.com wrote:please understand...we're die-hard, rabid, and extremely protective fans.

we've fostered a community of such devotion that one of our members has apparently BOUGHT the whole freakin' thing.

we're so passionate about these characters and stories that other fanboys refer to us as "sir".

we've waited for 10 years for the chance for this company to make a return...now we're right on the cusp of that return and we simply don't want anything to screw it up.

so if we act cautiously or critically towards someone who wants to do something with the characters we've helped keep alive and out of obscurity then please understand our motives.

if the gold key figures are up to the quality i expect after seeing the gwar prototype then you've got nothing to worry about...this community will embrace your product with open arms.

so, just understand where we're all coming from...we didn't wait this long to see these characters get screwed up, trust is earned.

for now, i'm onboard and excited about what you guys are doing...but if you're going to do it, then do it right.

otherwise we'll never forgive you.

Well said.

dellamorte · Post by **dellamorte** » Mon May 08, 2006 9:24 pm

Beefcake looks like he's on the Atkins diet.

Shocker Toys · Post by **Shocker Toys** » Mon May 08, 2006 10:50 pm

dellamorte wrote:Beefcake looks like he's on the Atkins diet.

Yea his armour and all is dead on. Brian Dooley sculpted him 1 week before Toy Fair so the weight factor didn't get weighed in. But we had to change them because of their new costumes so it is being resculpted.