Mattel seems to be encountering the kind of distribution/organization problems that proved to be the demise for Toy Biz/Marvel Toys Marvel Legends line.
The DC Superheroes line isn't hard to find - at most Wal-Marts, Targets and the like, you can find figures, but they are always Superman. Occasionally you'll see a different figure from the line, but most of the time, it's Bizarro, and only rarely a figure you're looking for. Yet, rumors say that the Cyborg Superman figure, which has never been seen or purchased by anyone at Wal-Mart or Target, is showing up at Big-Lots, and I just this evening purchased the incredibly-elusive Kara Supergirl figure at Ross (the discount clothing store, a la TJ Maxx or Marshalls) here in Hilton Head. The only reason I stopped was a tip from the same site the earlier story came from.
So what's up, Mattel?
Omar is in regular communication with their marketing folks. When he asked about getting a blue Supergirl for review, the Mattel PR rep said (something along the lines of), "What? I thought that wasn't coming out until a later line. Hmmm."
How is it that a company can screw up distribution and case assortments so badly? Did the people who left Marvel Toys just jump ship to Mattel? How does this happen? How do the major retail outlets get clogged with pegs upon pegs of the same figure, while the ultra-rares end up at discount stores?