Super7 SilverHawks Figures - CONFIRMED

[Dcr4]

It was on in the afternoons where I lived (NY) like Thundercats and He-Man were. For me, the intro is right up there with Mighty Orbots, Wheeled Warriors and Thundercats.

[Asher Tye]

I remember it was always bouncing around as far as show times were concerned. But I did like the intro "movie" for it, and did see a lot of the episodes. I might be down for a Copper Kid or a Colonel Bluegrass if they show up.

Wonder if they'll swipe some sculpt work from Modulok to make Molecular.

[Wakko]

Here's the interesting thing about Silverhawks. Unlike ThunderCats and MOTU, which have had reboot cartoon series, merchandise, and a fairly active fan base since their initial debuts in the 1980s, Silverhawks has been almost 100% dormant as a property since the series aired in 1986 -- 35 years ago. It was not a huge hit then, and the property's only merchandising was released only back when the cartoon was new. If I'm not mistaken, there has been no (or very little) official Silverhawks merch until now, with Super7 getting the license.

My point: Silverhawks is very much an untested property. Will it sell well? Very hard to tell. It's not like the property has won over many (or any) new fans in the past 35 years, considering the complete lack of new media. And it's not like the property was a huge hit as a cartoon or a toyline in 1986, either. If the ThunderCats collector base is just a sliver of MOTU's (according to Flynn), then I do not doubt that Silverhawks is just a sliver of the ThunderCats collector base. In other words: very small.

Super7 likely has no idea how well this license will do for them, because they have no precedent to look at. I imagine that's why they're starting with t-shirts, banners, glasses, and pins just to see how they sell. And I would be willing to bet that the next step is ReAction figures. They require much less work to produce than Ultimates do. Why invest the time and money in Ultimates before testing the waters with something cheaper and safer like ReAction? So my gut tells me that the figures that they've promised are coming will be ReAction first. I could be wrong, but that's my guess. And if ReAction doesn't sell well, we won't get Ultimates.

As for paint (if/when Ultimates do happen): I really hope they're not vac-metal. I'm hoping for metallic paint like how Mattel handled the DCUC Metal Men figures.

[The All American]

Here's the interesting thing about Silverhawks. Unlike ThunderCats and MOTU, which have had reboot cartoon series, merchandise, and a fairly active fan base since their initial debuts in the 1980s, Silverhawks has been almost 100% dormant as a property since the series aired in 1986 -- 35 years ago. It was not a huge hit then, and the property's only merchandising was released only back when the cartoon was new. If I'm not mistaken, there has been no (or very little) official Silverhawks merch until now, with Super7 getting the license.

My point: Silverhawks is very much an untested property. Will it sell well? Very hard to tell. It's not like the property has won over many (or any) new fans in the past 35 years, considering the complete lack of new media. And it's not like the property was a huge hit as a cartoon or a toyline in 1986, either. If the ThunderCats collector base is just a sliver of MOTU's (according to Flynn), then I do not doubt that Silverhawks is just a sliver of the ThunderCats collector base. In other words: very small.

Super7 likely has no idea how well this license will do for them, because they have no precedent to look at. I imagine that's why they're starting with t-shirts, banners, glasses, and pins just to see how they sell. And I would be willing to bet that the next step is ReAction figures. They require much less work to produce than Ultimates do. Why invest the time and money in Ultimates before testing the waters with something cheaper and safer like ReAction? So my gut tells me that the figures that they've promised are coming will be ReAction first. I could be wrong, but that's my guess. And if ReAction doesn't sell well, we won't get Ultimates.

As for paint (if/when Ultimates do happen): I really hope they're not vac-metal. I'm hoping for metallic paint like how Mattel handled the DCUC Metal Men figures.

ReAction is probably a good test, but given Ultimates are done via pre-order, there's little risk in trying them out. Plans just may need to be adjusted in stretching out the line if it doesn't sell as hoped.

[Wakko]

ReAction is probably a good test, but given Ultimates are done via pre-order, there's little risk in trying them out.

You're absolutely right, but I'm also thinking there are a ton more man-hours and development expenses behind Ultimates than ReAction. So even with the pre-order method, Super7 might be questioning whether the license is worth the pre-production expense of Ultimates figures before they've tested the waters with something else that doesn't require as much money in pre-production to even get it to the prototype stage.

[JohnnyC]

You're absolutely right, but I'm also thinking there are a ton more man-hours and development expenses behind Ultimates than ReAction. So even with the pre-order method, Super7 might be questioning whether the license is worth the pre-production expense of Ultimates figures before they've tested the waters with something else that doesn't require as much money in pre-production to even get it to the prototype stage.

I hear ya for sure. My guess is that they won’t bother with ReAction. The original toys were “toyetich” in the sense of their action feature and the wings flapping open. ReAction figures don’t move that way, so what would be the point? Not that Ultimates would have the automatic feature, but they could at least be posed in those positions. So my guess/hope is on Ultimates style figures.

As for how many they’ll sell and fan base... let me just throw this out there: Tim Clarke, who created Boglins and worked with Mattel in bringing them to market, just did a Kickstarter for a relaunch of the product to not only backers, but to retail stores (I think Walmart is included, but don’t quote me). They raised so much damn money for those things that they got it going without a hitch. I’d venture to say that Boglins has less of a “fan base” than Silverhawks. I’m also aware that Brian has been saying he’s gotten tons of requests for Silverhawks figures. Sooooo.... I don’t think they’d bother with the property if there were possible dollar signs involved (Super 7 is a business, after all). And, since they’re bothering with it, I think they’ll do something that true fans will want, ie Ultimates.

I’m no guru though, so I can guess in one hand and crap in the other and see which gets full first.

-Johnny C

[The All American]

You're absolutely right, but I'm also thinking there are a ton more man-hours and development expenses behind Ultimates than ReAction. So even with the pre-order method, Super7 might be questioning whether the license is worth the pre-production expense of Ultimates figures before they've tested the waters with something else that doesn't require as much money in pre-production to even get it to the prototype stage.

Ya, I have no idea how much work/money/time it takes to sculpt the figures/accessories and plan potential logistics, but I'm guessing it's a fraction of the costs for the molds and production. They're currently doing a pre-order for Papa Emertus I Ultimate who I have no clue who he is and I'd guess has less of a market than Silverhawks.

[Granamyr's Helmet]

I only discovered SilverHawks about 7 years ago despite having grown up with all the 80's toons, so I'm guessing they didn't air where I lived (or at a time I completely missed). I bought the DVD collection, and it was like uncovering a time capsule I forgot I had buried Still like ThunderCats better, but an enjoyable show for sure.

I only took the plunge into Super7 this last year with MOTU because I thought the vintage line $20 figures with molds that looked like the characters on the show with nice retro cards was brilliant. I would like something like that. Ultimates look nice but just personal choice, I tend to have too many vintage toys on the search list to drop the extra $$ there unless it is particularly special, and ReAction just doesn't tend to grab me.

[Dcr4]

I wouldn't be too interested in reaction figures. I have some of the vintage Silverhawks figures on display and IMO they still hold up as good looking figures and I really can't imagine reactions looking any better than them. Id only be getting them for the sake of getting something new Silverhawks-related.

What I would be interested in is if they rereleased the Kenner figures and continued with that by making characters that didn't get made the first time like Melodia and Pokerface. Probably not a popular opinion but there it is.

[Granamyr's Helmet]

They're currently doing a pre-order for Papa Emertus I Ultimate who I have no clue who he is and I'd guess has less of a market than Silverhawks.

"Papa" is a stage persona of the singer of the modern theatrical hard rock band "Ghost"...VERY popular and I would venture a much bigger market than Silverhawks.

[Durendal]

"Papa" is a stage persona of the singer of the modern theatrical hard rock band "Ghost"...VERY popular and I would venture a much bigger market than Silverhawks.

Exactly - Ghost is one of the biggest bands in hard rock/metal of the past 5 to 10 years. They have a huge fanbase.

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Hoping for vac metal or electroplating but I think metallic paint could work if done right.

They could use a shinier silver paint like vintage Battle Armour He-Man. Vac metal and high articulation is a recipe for disaster.

[The All American]

"Papa" is a stage persona of the singer of the modern theatrical hard rock band "Ghost"...VERY popular and I would venture a much bigger market than Silverhawks.

News to me, LOL. I don't listen to much music so I never heard of him.

I'd imagine the customer base for most Ultimates are 80's and 90's collectors, so I think Silverhawks has enough recognition, otherwise they wouldn't attempt it.

[Wakko]

New Pixel Dan interview with Bryan Flynn on YouTube... Both Ultimates and ReAction are coming. Ultimates first. Two or three months yet until preorders go up for the first wave.

Edit to add: the plan is for shiny metal paint, not vac-metal. A concern being the wear and tear on vac-metal when the figure is highly articulated.

[Dcr4]

Metallic paint is fine. I dont know if theyve done that with any of their Ultimates before so I guess we'll see how their Voltron v2 turns out since that's supposed to have a metallic sheen to it.

[JohnnyC]

New Pixel Dan interview with Bryan Flynn on YouTube... Both Ultimates and ReAction are coming. Ultimates first. Two or three months yet until preorders go up for the first wave.

Edit to add: the plan is for shiny metal paint, not vac-metal. A concern being the wear and tear on vac-metal when the figure is highly articulated.

BOOM. I'm all in. Shiny metal, vac metal, metal metal, they can just take my money.... that's how excited I am for these. Bring 'em on!

-Johnny C

[Wakko]

BOOM. I'm all in. Shiny metal, vac metal, metal metal, they can just take my money.... that's how excited I am for these. Bring 'em on!

-Johnny C

Totally agree. Odd as it may seem, my "must have" 6-7 inch collector figure toylines have always been DC, MOTU, TCats, and Silverhawks.* So my life is now complete. ;-)

I'm all in and cannot wait to see the first wave line-up. Let the wish lists begin!

*If there's ever a Dungeons and Dragons Ultimates (cartoon) lonely, I'll be very tempted

[wyldman11]

News to me, LOL. I don't listen to much music so I never heard of him.

I'd imagine the customer base for most Ultimates are 80's and 90's collectors, so I think Silverhawks has enough recognition, otherwise they wouldn't attempt it.

Google ghost band gets 258,000,000 page results
silverhawks on the other hand 1,700,000
granted other things get into their but you get the picture.

Thought about getting the Papa Emeritus figure actually.

[JohnnyC]

Totally agree. Odd as it may seem, my "must have" 6-7 inch collector figure toylines have always been DC, MOTU, TCats, and Silverhawks.* So my life is now complete. ;-)

I'm all in and cannot wait to see the first wave line-up. Let the wish lists begin!

*If there's ever a Dungeons and Dragons Ultimates (cartoon) lonely, I'll be very tempted

I'll put my wish list below, but wanted to first say, as an aside, that I am TOTALLY with you on the Dungeons and Dragons cartoon toys! I know there have been some great maquettes/statues, but no action figures of that property.... wonder why? If it ever happens I'll be first in line. VENGER!!!

As for wish list:

All core hawks of course: Stargazer, Quicksilver, Steelwill and Steelheart, Bluegrass, Copper Kid - then add Hotwing, Flashback, Moonstryker, and Condor. I'd want them all with mask accessories.

Baddies: Mon*star (both transformed and untransformed versions), Buzzsaw, Molecular, Windhammer, Hardware, Mumbo Jumbo.... Then we have to get Yess-man, Poker-Face, and Melodia.

Everything else would just be pure candy on top, there are so many secondary characters. Even the "cab driver".... wasn't his name Seymour?

Such a great time to be a collector of these properties!

-Johnny C

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silverhawks on the other hand 1,700,000

I look at it this way: if there are 1,700,000 people who cared enough to make a page or mention Silverhawks out there, then that is just a cross section of people who know, remember, and enjoy the property. For every page that mentions Silverhawks, I guess you have to think that it represents a multitude of others... in this case, I think that makes for enough interest in a line of action figures. I'm glad to know its confirmed and that we are getting Ultimates to boot!

(In case anyone hasn't noticed.... I'm ecstatic. )

-Johnny C

[Ornclown]

So... this is great news. A favorite property of mine being revived after 35 years without any type of tie-in is always a win.

But, this is a line of characters who have WILDLY different body types/structures... the only characters who could benefit from a MOTUC buck are Steelwill and Mon-Star.

I really, read: really hope that Super 7 doesn't half-bake this line. It requires unique tooling throughout. (Just think about all of the protagonists... they are very abnormal in comparison to a "human" body type...)

And if they pull a stunt with the Silverhawks wings like they did with the Sorceress's??? Oh! There will be war!

[Jim_Abell]

Almost every time that I can remember Brian talking Silverhawks he mentions how huge the property was in South America. I wonder if SA is really the target audience for this venture with the rest of us just being along for the ride.

Going from memory here but from what I remember of the Kenner toys (don't really remember the cartoon at all) the main Silverhawks all had what I would call "blank" bodies of different sizes, the heads and colors were what really made them who they were. If my memory is serving me right about the way the characters looked perhaps S7 is using the line as a way to get different size bucks into their tooling library.

[Ornclown]

Possibly... but, each Silverhawk had unique armor which covered every part of their bodies - with the exception of either their right or left wrist and face (when their shield was up.)

And, the enemies are so unique in shape that they couldn't be used for anything else...

[Bonehead]

If they are Ultimates, I'm in!! I'd even break my "rule of 10" to buy these. I love Silverhawks even more than Thundercats.

Buzzsaw was one of my favorite figures as a child.

[chuc98]

Really hoping they're ultimates and not Reaction!

[JohnnyC]

Really hoping they're ultimates and not Reaction!

It’s both. Ultimates first. Watch Pixel Dan’s interview for more details.

-Johnny C

[dedset13]

So awesome to hear they're making Ultimates, I'm definitely all in!

And with that confirmed, now I can start dreaming about a TigerSharks Ultimates line!