Please- Let's Keep the Tie-In Merchandise to a Minimum

POSTED BY: Sniper
UPDATED: Tuesday, March 1, 2005 01:07
VIEWED: 7637
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SNIPER

Friday, February 25, 2005 6:22 PM

I'm sure that most people are aware that there's a novelization and 2 additional books out after the movie, and we've got some action figures and comics headed our way just before that. While I'm a big fan of various tie-in novels, mainly Star Wars, but a couple other genres, and comics and figures, I'd rather see Firefly kept at the merchandise minimun.

Why?

Because these things have the tendancy to really mess up a franchise. Both Star Trek and Star Wars have a huge number of novels out. I know that Star Wars has done an okay job with keeping them in order, but some friends of mine, and from other things that I've seen, ST is a bit more of a mess.

The main problem that I see with fifty Firefly books and comics and whatever else is that with a number of different authors and/or artists, there will be many small differences in tone, characterization and the overall feel to the 'verse that we all know well and love.

For example: Star Wars is another universe that I really like, but some of those books are so mindblowingly bad that I've become somewhat disallusioned with the universe. I wasn't a fan of the New Jedi Order novel series, or a big fan of several other books that came along the way, mainly because they didn't feel like Star Wars to me.

It would be horrible for this to happen to Firefly.

Personally, I think that the genre is suited much better for the TV screens, where certain things get over much better. While I'm planning on getting the comics and whatever novels come out, I really don't want to see this universe be used as a stomping ground for various writers.

MOHRSTOUTBEARD

Friday, February 25, 2005 6:58 PM

I agree that merchandising should be kept to a minimum. Right now, we've got this great level of fervor because we're in "Firefly" withdrawal. . .if they oversaturate the market, we might not have that same enthusiasm.

However, I'm definitely clamouring for a full-set of "Serenity" action figures. I need the crew to join The Bride and The Alien on my DVD shelves.

"You've just gotta go ahead and change the captain of your brainship, because he's drunk at the wheel."

SNIPER

Friday, February 25, 2005 7:16 PM

Same here. I'll most likely try and find the entire crew for a shelf somewhere, and that would be pretty cool. Same thing with the comics.

But like with Star Wars, expecially the first prequel, they over did it. You can still find stuff unopened in the bargin bins. Fortunently, they've backed off a little bit.

NIKNAK

Friday, February 25, 2005 10:04 PM

I think producing different products is good as long as they keep the quality high and don't just cash in. For the case of books they should make sure they only have the best authors and stop when its time to stop.

I have a large number of Star Wars books. The first few were great but I eventually stopped buying them because the quality of the stories went down and the galaxy went in a dull direction. Its just not as exciting when Han and Leia and middle aged, married with kids and run the galaxy.

Slightly off topic but: if you're after a really good Star Wars read then get Timothy Zahn's trilogy. It's set 5 years after Return of the Jedi; The heros are trying to get the New Republic going but the empire starts making come back under a new leader. Zahn also introduced the character Mara Jade, who has since appeared in several books and computer games.

XENOCIDE

Friday, February 25, 2005 10:08 PM

Zoid may disagree with me for disagreeing with you but I have to say, personally (and to quote zoid out of context,) "More Firefly = Good. Period."

The more money people make on this product, the more product we'll get. Besides, with Joss at the helm I'm not so worried about the QC.

-Eli

If voting mattered, they'd make it illegal.

ZEEK

Friday, February 25, 2005 10:28 PM

I think you're right. We don't really want the market flooded with merchandise. Even though the starved Firefly fan in me is screaming, "GIVE ME AYTHING". I know deep down that I don't want the verse to be over exploited.

Though I am one of those people that reads most of the Star Wars books.

CRZYDEMONA

Saturday, February 26, 2005 1:53 AM

I just want to walk into a Hot Topic store and buy a shirt with Jayne on it that says "I'll be in my bunk". Is that too much too ask?!?

EMBERS

Saturday, February 26, 2005 2:15 AM

myself, I wanna a lunch box...
a full set of action figures
a model of the ship
some great comics
stickers, and Valentines, and and and and

but of course not TOO much merchandizing...
LOL

ROCKETJOCK

Saturday, February 26, 2005 4:21 AM

Sigh. I'm old enough to remember when the only Star Trek tie-in merchandise items available were a viewmaster reel set, those god-awful Gold Key comics, and a plastic flying disk gun that didn't look the least bit like a phaser. When the model kits and James Blish paperbacks came out, it seemed like mana from heaven.

Having just come from Wondercon, where there was a complete drought of Firefly merchandise, I'd be willing to risk a little over-saturization. And don't forget, the more profit Universal makes from the tie-ins, the more likely sequels/series will become.

Mostly though, I want a die-cast metal toy of Serentiy herself, complete with pivoting outboard engines, working cargo hatch ramp, and removable shuttles. But I'd settle for a micro-machine set.

Let's work at making the franchise fly for now; plenty of time later to worry about success spoiling Rock Hunter.

"Do you know what the definition of a hero is? It's somebody who gets somebody else killed." -- Zoe

EMBERS

Saturday, February 26, 2005 4:41 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by RocketJock:
Mostly though, I want a die-cast metal toy of Serentiy herself, complete with pivoting outboard engines, working cargo hatch ramp, and removable shuttles.

oh that reminds me!
I want Halmark to make a 'Serenity' Christmas ornament
where it plugs into your tree lights...
and the Firefly's tail lights
(what do we call those?)
light up on the tree....

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