Post by /\/\att on Sept 12, 2006 23:28:44 GMT -5
Legions Of Gotham had the exclusive announcement about Scott Beatty's newest guide, the DC COMICS ACTION FIGURE ARCHIVE this past August. Now, we've taken questions from the fans about the guide and Scott has taken a moment to answer them here.
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LoG: Please clarify for fans exactly how far back this book will venture. Are we talking back to the first Captain Action dress-up sets, or will we begin at Mego? And what was the cut off point for the most recent figures to be included?
Scott Beatty: THE DC COMICS ACTION FIGURE ARCHIVE begins with Captain Action and ends with the figures most recently announced at the summer cons. Hopefully, future editions will include updates of both text and pictures.
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LoG: You're famous with fans for your various DC related guides. How did this one come about?
Scott Beatty: I proposed this to DC's licensed book division a long time ago, right after I completed BATMAN: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO THE DARK KNIGHT. At the time, photo/production costs made a toy book of this nature cost-prohibitive, but advances in digital photography and computer scanning have caught up with us.
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LoG: What kind of research went into compiling and fact-checking the guide? Did you utilize any online or fan resources, or did DC have a complete list ready for you?
Scott Beatty: I've relied on DC, the various toy companies, and several fan sites, including Legions of Gotham, in order to compile more than 500 pages of text.
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LoG: ***All collectors know that there have been some..shall we say interesting versions of Batman in the past. Are there any that are a real "stand out" to you? Something you find bizzare or head scratching?
Scott Beatty: Interestingly, all of the Bat-Variants do make sense in a weird sort of way. I'm sure the "Inline Skate Batman" will look all very dated a decade from now. I'm awaiting a cool retro "Roller Boogie Batman."
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LoG: In researching this book have you noticed any Batman or Dc characters that have seemingly been neglected over the years? Any personal "fanboy" figure wishes that you've always wanted to see made?
Scott Beatty: Manhunter Paul Kirk. There's already been a cool as heck statue. Make it a two-pack with a blue-suited Manhunter clone for good measure. Or a bag of clones! The more the merrier!
*******************
LoG: Do we have any idea what the approximately cost of the book will be, and the format? Will it include pictures of every figure, or just a sample image from each toyline? Whether it will be hardcover or softcover?
Scott Beatty: No idea on cost just yet. It'll be in roughly the same production format as Chronicle Books' softcover STAR WARS ACTION FIGURE ARCHIVE. We can't show every single toy this go 'round, but every character will be represented. Obviously, Batman and Superman will be represented in a BIG way.
*******************
LoG: No idea on cost just yet. It'll be in roughly the same production format as Chronicle Books' softcover STAR WARS ACTION FIGURE ARCHIVE. We can't show every single toy this go 'round, but every character will be represented. Obviously, Batman and Superman will be represented in a BIG way.
Scott Beatty: Just action figures for now. Minimates and Pocket Superheroes fall under that definition. PVC figures and the WW releases don't. If the book does well, however, we might be able to expand the book to include both action figures AND toys.
*******************
Thanks to Scott for taking the time to answer questions from the Bat-Fans!
*******************
LoG: Please clarify for fans exactly how far back this book will venture. Are we talking back to the first Captain Action dress-up sets, or will we begin at Mego? And what was the cut off point for the most recent figures to be included?
Scott Beatty: THE DC COMICS ACTION FIGURE ARCHIVE begins with Captain Action and ends with the figures most recently announced at the summer cons. Hopefully, future editions will include updates of both text and pictures.
*******************
LoG: You're famous with fans for your various DC related guides. How did this one come about?
Scott Beatty: I proposed this to DC's licensed book division a long time ago, right after I completed BATMAN: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO THE DARK KNIGHT. At the time, photo/production costs made a toy book of this nature cost-prohibitive, but advances in digital photography and computer scanning have caught up with us.
*******************
LoG: What kind of research went into compiling and fact-checking the guide? Did you utilize any online or fan resources, or did DC have a complete list ready for you?
Scott Beatty: I've relied on DC, the various toy companies, and several fan sites, including Legions of Gotham, in order to compile more than 500 pages of text.
*******************
LoG: ***All collectors know that there have been some..shall we say interesting versions of Batman in the past. Are there any that are a real "stand out" to you? Something you find bizzare or head scratching?
Scott Beatty: Interestingly, all of the Bat-Variants do make sense in a weird sort of way. I'm sure the "Inline Skate Batman" will look all very dated a decade from now. I'm awaiting a cool retro "Roller Boogie Batman."
*******************
LoG: In researching this book have you noticed any Batman or Dc characters that have seemingly been neglected over the years? Any personal "fanboy" figure wishes that you've always wanted to see made?
Scott Beatty: Manhunter Paul Kirk. There's already been a cool as heck statue. Make it a two-pack with a blue-suited Manhunter clone for good measure. Or a bag of clones! The more the merrier!
*******************
LoG: Do we have any idea what the approximately cost of the book will be, and the format? Will it include pictures of every figure, or just a sample image from each toyline? Whether it will be hardcover or softcover?
Scott Beatty: No idea on cost just yet. It'll be in roughly the same production format as Chronicle Books' softcover STAR WARS ACTION FIGURE ARCHIVE. We can't show every single toy this go 'round, but every character will be represented. Obviously, Batman and Superman will be represented in a BIG way.
*******************
LoG: No idea on cost just yet. It'll be in roughly the same production format as Chronicle Books' softcover STAR WARS ACTION FIGURE ARCHIVE. We can't show every single toy this go 'round, but every character will be represented. Obviously, Batman and Superman will be represented in a BIG way.
Scott Beatty: Just action figures for now. Minimates and Pocket Superheroes fall under that definition. PVC figures and the WW releases don't. If the book does well, however, we might be able to expand the book to include both action figures AND toys.
*******************
Thanks to Scott for taking the time to answer questions from the Bat-Fans!