NEW RETRO KISS DOLLS... MAYBE A VINNIE ONE?

[PinkWiz]

These are in the style of the '78 Mego dolls. It says that all eras of the band from '73 to 2012 will be made. Up next are Sonic Boom and DTK dolls... I bet the Creatures era would include Ace in his Elder costume instead of Vinnie.

All I can say is a Mark St. John doll or an Eric Carr "Hawk" one would rock!



http://figurestoycompany.com/

[youtube][/youtube]

[Genebaby]

Saw these too, sooooo cool. They were going on about how there was no 8" size in the 70's, but who cares, 12" all the way!

I hope they aren't expensive!!!

[erg2]

They are up for order. More expensive than I would like...but I will probably order. I = Sucker.

[PinkWiz]

They're cool to look at but I just can't justify buying even more KISS Krap seeing that most of my older KISS merch is still in storage.

But if they do go as far as releasing non-makeup figures or if a Creatures lineup was released with the Ankh Warrior (doubtful) I may rethink. I think McFarlane toys missed the boat on that one when they released the Unmasked era figures as "Creatures". The Creatures era should've had a full tank stage with smoking gun turret.

[poserboy71]

... if a Creatures lineup was released with the Ankh Warrior (doubtful) I may rethink. I think McFarlane toys missed the boat on that one when they released the Unmasked era figures as "Creatures". The Creatures era should've had a full tank stage with smoking gun turret.

I agree completely.

[erg2]

I've always wondered if they released the Unmasked era costume/make-up figures marked as Creatures because Vinnie snaked the rights to the final Fox make-up design.

[PinkWiz]

I've always wondered if they released the Unmasked era costume/make-up figures marked as Creatures because Vinnie snaked the rights to the final Fox make-up design.

I'm sure that had everything to do with it... throw the debut fox makeup on the Carr figure and Gene knows Vinnie gets nothing. No idea why they called it Creatures and had Eric wearing a red cape (actually I can see where the confusion came from on that one with the pic below... that's Gene's red cape but it looks like Carr is wearing it. Why Gene or Paul didn't catch that is beyond me.)

[PinkWiz]

... if a Creatures lineup was released with the Ankh Warrior (doubtful) I may rethink. I think McFarlane toys missed the boat on that one when they released the Unmasked era figures as "Creatures". The Creatures era should've had a full tank stage with smoking gun turret.

I agree completely.

would've looked alot like this:

[erg2]

I've always said that someone like Gene who purports to be a marketing genius is stupid. Creating MORE make=up designs/characters creates more opportunities to sell more product.
Think of any child's cartoon these days. They introduce lots and lots of characters in order to license and merchandise. By creating variations, you create a collector market.
Gene keeps talking about wanting a cartoon show...but think about if they could have more KISS characters. SUPER HERO SQUAD has dozens of Marvel characters which were made into toylines and BATMAN: BRAVE AND THE BOLD has dozens of DC character which were made into toylines.
Imagine a KISS cartoon aimed at a younger audience...with the main KISS characters AND the Fox and Wiz? You're creating a future audience and instead of selling 4 action figures in your toyline you have 6!

[PinkWiz]

I've always said that someone like Gene who purports to be a marketing genius is stupid. Creating MORE make=up designs/characters creates more opportunities to sell more product.
Think of any child's cartoon these days. They introduce lots and lots of characters in order to license and merchandise. By creating variations, you create a collector market.
Gene keeps talking about wanting a cartoon show...but think about if they could have more KISS characters. SUPER HERO SQUAD has dozens of Marvel characters which were made into toylines and BATMAN: BRAVE AND THE BOLD has dozens of DC character which were made into toylines.
Imagine a KISS cartoon aimed at a younger audience...with the main KISS characters AND the Fox and Wiz? You're creating a future audience and instead of selling 4 action figures in your toyline you have 6!

dude I love your way of thinking! the super hero squad fukn rocks. the weird thing is that me and my brother as kids used to sit around and draw "kid versions" of the marvel and dc universe. now 20 years later you have marvel's super hero squad and the dc kiddie heroes... but that's here or there.

regarding new characters, the bad thing is I believe paul has more to do with the image and stage show staying the same. as funny as it sounds, gene doesn't wanna step on his toes... gene would probably be all over new character designs... he's a comic book freak. both gene and paul like to blame the addition of the fox and wizard as the downfall of KISS, but the truth is by 1982, the world had enough of KISS being shoved down their throats for the last 5 years.

tommy should wear a somewhat redesigned version of the bandit makeup and eric should most definitely be the hawk. i think a new KISS kartoon should even include the bandit and hawk... the shirt tales had "honorary members"... KISS could too.

[erg2]

I think they both want to keep the 4 make-up designs. Gene is so infatuated with the term "brand" that he has been applying it incorrectly in most situations. The 4 (6 actually) character designs are properties, not brands. "KISS" is the brand. Just like "General Mills" is a brand and they have properties like Cheerios and Lucky Charms.
Right now the KISS brand has been arbitrarily limited to 4 properties in it's portfolio.

I think if they went overboard and created dozens of characters under that brand (the KISS brand), it would water down the impact and confuse the casual consumer. But 6-8? Why not?

Plus, from an ethical stand-point the characters were creations of Peter and Ace...with help from the Aucoin team. Gene and Paul as the KISS corporation bought the rights to the characters and have the legal right to use them. However, I put forward that just because you have the legal right to do something does not mean that it is morally right.
Extreme example 1: I have the legal right to call a black person a n****r, but it's morally wrong.
Extreme example 2: Gene has said he will do anything if the money's right. What if the Nazi party offered him $100,000,000.00 to be their spokesperson? It's perfectly legal. It's very profitable. He would not do it because it's morally wrong.

[PinkWiz]

I totally get what you're saying, but IMHO KISS should've kept the four same characters from the get-go (as much as I love the Fox and Wizard characters, you'd have Carr the Catman, Cusano the Spaceman and so on. Paul and Gene would've if they'd had the rights to Peter and Ace's characters in the early 80's.) To avoid any backlash with new guys in the old makeup, they would've had to go with concepts that are forever linked... for instance the 4 characters being Earth, Wind, Fire and Water instead of four "personality based" random characters like KISS had.

I'll admit it's fun to brainstorm about new characters, but you have to take into consideration the individuals ego. Vinnie was only in KISS for a little over a year and wore the ankh for only 3 months. If KISS hadn't decided to remove the makeup in '83, that means yet ANOTHER character for St. John... and another each for Kulick, Singer and Thayer. It'd be less cheesy to have the new guy wear the old makeup and put the "bringing their own personality to the character" spin on it.

If KISS would've remained in makeup their entire career, there would've been TEN different characters... and I have to agree with Gene and Paul on this... somewhere along the way "Goat Boy" probably would've been introduced.

[erg2]

The problem was that they should've done the right thing and found the right members who would've stood the test of time. Gene and Paul...and even Vinnie at some point I think...admitted that they had an album and tour and they needed someone and they "settled" for Vinnie.
When they brought in Mark St. John it was through a headhunter. According to a story I read from Mark, his audition was his audition tape.
If Gene and Paul had been focused on the band, spent time truly auditioning and getting to know the potential members then they wouldn't have been as much beach blanket bingo. Instead they were busy moving to Hollywood, producing other bands and being stars. They took the quick solutions and they got what they got.

[PinkWiz]

Good point, but then Carr dying and the potential of another member passing away, getting killed, or just bored with being in KISS could've presented problems.

Haha, I could talk about this kinda stuff all day... at least we did get the Fox and the Wizard and old photos of the Bandit and Carr as Big Bird... er, I mean the Hawk.

[Genebaby]

People passing through sickness or accidents is always an issue, you can only hope things go well, so with Eric dying it puts a different light on the need for a new member as opposed to "we picked the wrong guy cause we were in a hurry, here's today's new member".

I guess we should be grateful for what we have and I can see it's not that easy to come up with a good new Kiss member. It happened organically at the beginning and everyone brought out something from within.

Possibly, with Ace and Peter proving so problematic during the 70's still, was to have an area of Aucoin's massive office brainstorming new character names and designs for makeup and costume.

Would have had to have been kept secret maybe or you could tell everyone it's in case they got hit by a bus.

I guess they really didn't think they would have to replace anyone and they did take it pretty far with Peter. In any other band he probably would have been replaced during the Dynasty tour, not after.

[erg2]

I guess they really didn't think they would have to replace anyone and they did take it pretty far with Peter. In any other band he probably would have been replaced during the Dynasty tour, not after.

Good point. I guess along with the increased marketability of new designs, I'm also in the camp that feels that if they just keep putting new people in old designs...it's a broadway play. Not a band.

[doublev2]

yeah, i think kiss should have brought in new members and new life. its a little stale to me now.

[PinkWiz]

At this point I feel Singer and Thayer have proven themselves... new designs would definitely pique interest imo. Either redo the hawk and bandit (my choice) or do brand new designs.

Ah, who am I kidding, as if Gene and Paul care enough anymore to think that far into it...

[erg2]

Ah, who am I kidding, as if Gene and Paul care enough anymore to think that far into it...

True..

[Dondoubleu3]

This is a sore issue for me. The makeup needs to come back off. The novelty ran out for me by 1999 or so.


Just on a dumb note...I called the Reuni*n about 2 years before it happened. I remember doing a "mock radio spot" for a college class. I did a voice over for the reunited KISS. I gave the album the title, "Rock, Pound, Shake & Rumble". Ace rocks, Gene pounds the bass, Paul does the annoying shoulder shake thing, and Peter had a song called "Rumble". That was my inspiration. Then KIss did Unplugged then the rest is the rest.

[erg2]

I've made MY prediction from here on out on a different thread:

- Monster will come out
- KISS will tour on it for a year
- 6 month break
- Next album will come out
- KISS will tour on it less, possibly announcing it as the final farewell tour
- Gene & Paul will hire 4 new musicians to continue the KISS stage show and touring
- The new "KISS" might release an album...but only if it is produced by Gene & Paul with songs written by Gene & Paul
- KISS will become the Blue Man Group of rock and roll, with a world-wide touring band and stationary shows in major cities like NY, Chicago, LA and Las Vegas.

[PinkWiz]

Good call Erg, but I could see the retiring predictions coming true a little later on down the line. I just don't see Gene and Paul (especially Paul) giving up the glory of the stage that soon. I bet they look at their influences like The Stones, Ian Hunter and Paul and Ringo still pushing along at 70 and beyond and use that as a blueprint for themselves. Since Tommy and Eric are quite a bit younger I could see Paul and Gene trying to continue into their 70's (sounds weird but years ago we would have never predicted them continuing... especially in makeup... into their 50's and 60's.) If their health holds out, as long as they've gotten used to being onstage, I don't see them stopping anytime soon.

But yes, one day KISS will be like The Blue Man Group. It won't be just one official KISS cover band... it'll be a couple around the globe. Honestly, I don't see why anyone would care seeing as there are already thousands of KISS cover bands, but who knows?

[erg2]

You may be right, but I think with the increasing health issues Gene & Paul are having it will start impacting them more and more. Paul's throat and heart, Gene's heart issues, age and weight.

I think they will sell the new KISS "groups" as being officially sanctioned, supported and produced by the Gene & Paul. Whether it is successful at all...or long-term..., who knows?

[PinkWiz]

I bet the pickled and preserved Criss and Frehley will out live 'em all...

[erg2]

I bet the pickled and preserved Criss and Frehley will out live 'em all...

I hope so.