Stargate Action Figure Q&A (Part 3)

GateWorld continues its Q&A with Stargate action figure creator Diamond Select Toys, with questions submitted by readers at GateWorld Forum! We’re now taking questions for the next round, so hop on over to the forum if you have a question you don’t see answered here — or in Part 1 and Part 2 of our on-going Q&A.

We’ve also received five brand new photos of the figure prototypes for Colonel Jack O’Neill, General Jack O’Neill, Black Ops Jack O’Neill, and the Serpent Guard. Just click any photo in this story to see the full-size image!

The first wave of Stargate SG-1 action figures will arrive on store shelves this summer, starting with Daniel Jackson, Colonel Jack O’Neill, General Jack O’Neill, and a Serpent Guard. The 7-inch figures will be available at comic book and specialty stores for about $15 each.

An announcement regarding Wave 2 will be made soon.

Reader questions appear below in bold. Our thanks to Diamond Select’s Michael Leavey for answering our questions!

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How many variants can we expect from each figure? And will the Serpent Guard have different face sculpts as “variants,” or no differences at all?

Main characters, like Jack and Daniel will usually have one or two variants, depending on the retail partners that we have lined up and future line plans. Right now there are no plans to have a variant on the Serpent Guard, but we never say never.

I’m really excited about getting a closer look at these figures! Have you considered setting up displays at the Stargate Conventions this year? Maybe giving us a preview?

DST will be at the Grand Slam Sci-Fi show in Pasadena in March, as well as a future Stargate show or two in 2006. We will keep you all posted as to which show we decide on. We do attend all Wizard World Conventions and San Diego Comic-Con as well.

When can we see Carter, Fraiser, Hammond, and Teal’c? I’m hesitant to buy the first wave if all main characters are not going to be released.

With Toy Fair around the corner, I guarantee that we will be announcing the next series VERY shortly.

When you go further into the roster — which you will because there will be lots of demand for them — will the super soldiers be released, and when will they?

We only like to announce one wave of figures at a time, but anything is possible as far as characters. It depends on the success of the overall line.

Will it be possible to buy the figures online, in case some countries don’t have a supplier?

The figures will be available at several online retailers, including the Diamond Select Toys’ site (although we do not ship internationally). International partners have been set-up in most countries including the U.K, Europe, and Australia.

Will there be a way for people to mail-order the figures if they do not have a store that stocks them nearby?

The DST Web site — diamondselecttoys.com — will offer all of the figures for retail.

Having looked at the recently released photo of the Jackson figure, it’s obvious you are using the Season 5-8 Jackson with short hair and no glasses. While the clothing looks dead-on, the neck also looks over proportioned. Is this a byproduct of the sculpting or maybe articulation?

Everything that has been seen thus far has been from the first round of prototypes. There will be some change depending on where the points of articulation are and this is always a challenge — to add articulation without taking away from the original sculpt!

What is the difference between the Colonel O’Neill and General O’Neill figures?

The General O’Neill figure is wearing his base uniform and is more representative of how the character looked in the most recent years on the show.

I would like to ask about the articulation on the Serpent Guard. From the photo in Spectrum it looks as if his arm is one piece with a ball joint at the top, and then a turn at the wrist? How about the legs? When can we expect a picture sans the Serpent Helmet?

The photos we have shown to day are resin casting of the sculpt, so none of the articulation is cut into it.

I like the Daniel prototype that we’ve seen pictures of. But the uniform is incorrect. The offworld uniform has no name patch on it. Is someone carefully checking props and costumes from the set for accuracy? Fans are picky!

MGM checks the sculpts and Mr. Anderson checks all his sculpts personally. Fans for every property are very picky — DST works on Star Trek and Buffy, and both have very picky fans. And we’re not done making small changes like this.

Looking at the two released photos (Daniel and Serpent Guard), where are the elbow and knee bends? Are they really well hidden or are we looking at prototypes?

Again, the photos you’re seeing are prototypes. None of the articulation is cut in yet.

Can you give us any clue who the alien for the second wave might be? Is he a bad alien, a good alien, or a bad alien turned good … or is he a “he” at all?

Not only do I have a clue but I’ve seen the sculpt … and we plan to show it off at Toy Fair next month.

I like the faces in the pictures of the prototypes of Jack and Daniel so far, but I was wondering why both of them have uniforms different from those worn on the show? (I mentioned Daniel’s nametag above, and Jack is wearing some kind of BDUs under his medic vest instead of the offworld uniforms.) Are these mistakes? Or is there a licensing or copyright issue that prevents the figures from wearing the same costumes as those seen on the show?

All the outfits are from the costume department reference so they are accurate in one way or another. We have full access to everything on both shows. Some of the photos may not have the exact correct matching of tops with accessories, etc., and that might be what you’re referring to.

In recent pictures of the SG-1 figures the O’Neills look different from each other. The General O’Neill has the green offworld jacket, which I thought it was going to be a BDU. And both Colonel O’Neills have the BDUs instead of the jacket. Is it because they are prototypes? Also, is there going to be another General O’Neill with the blue BDU shirt, like the green one?

We are making several version of each character in different uniforms and different uniform colors — and YES, you are not looking at anything close to final product. The final versions will have the shirts switched.

How big is the Stargate?

Over 16 inches tall when assembled.

The gate looks good, though it looks as if you used the movie version of the ramp. Is there any reason for this?

We did not use the movie version of the ramp — we do not have rights to the movie.

What can you tell us about the Stargate? What is the size, and does it light up, spin, or take batteries?

The Stargate does not light up or spin.

What will the scale of the gate be in relation to the 7-inch figures? Is it large enough for the figures to walk through?

It is not scale-accurate to the show, but yes, it is plenty big enough for them to walk through.

Black Ops Jack O’Neill

What can be expected in terms of accessories, and in terms of the number of accessories with each figure?

The gate is the main accessory but each figure will have a couple of additional accessories. They will be on display at Toy Fair.

Will accessories be standardized, or will each figure have unique accessories?

A mix of both.

Are you going to give Daniel Jackson glasses? Molded on, or as an accessory?

We are undecided if they will be an accessory or added on to the head sculpt.

Will any of Daniel’s accessories include a journal and his field archaeology kit? Remember, Daniel is an archaeologist and a linguist, not a soldier.

We’ll be unveiling the accessories at Toy Fair — but yes, we know! (Although he certainly has great aim with a P-90 for a scientist …)

Will the Colonel O’Neill be packaged with the older seasons’ HK MP-5 or the new seasons’ P-90?

Toy Fair will reveal all.

Are there aspirations to add playsets to the line if sales warrant further figures, like in the Star Trek: Enterprise line where several key figures also came in set components — like having SG-1 come with parts for, say, the S.G.C. gate room?

The gate will take two full series to complete. We’re not sure yet what we will do for series 3 and beyond. A full control room, though, would not be practical.

What about figure bases? Will they be free-standing or will they include bases for the figures to stand on, adding to their stability (maybe molded in factions, i.e. O’Neill on an S.G.C. base, the Guard on one molded in Apophis’s symbol)?

Free-standing.

Since episode-oriented accessories will be included, will such devices as the personality switcher that Ma’chello used or a naquadah generator be in the first wave? (Or in the future?)

Certain accessories that may have only appeared once or twice certainly come to mind, but we’ll show these at Toy Fair.

Colonel Jack O’Neill

How about a death glider and/or F-302 to scale with the figures?

Not likely.

Will there maybe be an “Ancient life signs detector” or a working “zat’ni’katel?”

Not likely.

Will there be a Puddle Jumper for the Atlantis figures?

Not likely.

Will you eventually release Replicator figures, maybe a pack of them or a few with certain characters?

The Replicators are a big part of the show, so of course some are being considered.

Does DST have role-play and ship/vehicle models included in the license?

Nope.

After the gate has been completed will you continue with the build your own (fill in the blank)? My idea was a ring platform. Each character will come with a ring. The ring can somehow snap to another ring with a clear plastic piece, giving the illusion of them floating above each other. Maybe one or two figures can come with the floor ring pieces. Then you can put your team inside the rings making it look like they are ringing to somewhere.

Other people had the idea of build a M.A.L.P. (could be separated into four parts), or build your own dial-home device. Is that something DST would consider?

To be honest, we haven’t even started officially planning the details for SG-1 series 3 or Atlantis series 1. We have some ideas brewing, but there is no set formula for future releases.

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You’ve still got questions nagging at you, don’t you? Now it’s your turn!

Just post your question in the “Ask Diamond Select Toys” thread at GateWorld Forum, and we’ll forward them on to get the official scoop. Stay tuned for more Q&A installments — and the very first look at the figures! — as we get closer to their release.