July 26, 2007 - Universal Studios Consumer Products Group has announced its first partners in the company's Heroes licensing endeavor. DC Comics, Random House, Mezco Toyz, Topps, and others have signed on to create product based on the hit NBC show.

Publishing, trading cards, apparel, stationery/social expression, action figures, and an interactive game will all head-up the Heroes initiative. The products will be timed to appear on store shelves when the second season of the show kicks off on Sept. 24th, right after the release of the season one DVD set in late August.

"Heroes is an unbelievable breakout hit and one of the most popular series in NBC's history," says Cindy Chang, Vice President of Global Business Development, Universal Studios Consumer Products Group. "There is a dedicated fanbase out there who has proven through various online applications to have a strong hunger for Heroes beyond the TV screen, and this new merchandising program will provide them with a fulfilling Heroes experience."

Product will include:

- DC Comics will develop a hardcover compilation book of the popular online Heroes graphic novels currently available on NBC.com. The new book will also include the original Tim Sale artwork as seen on the show.

- Random House will introduce Saving Charlie, an original novel based on the characters Hiro and Charlie created by Tim Kring.

- Titan Publishing will launch the official Heroes magazine. A bi-monthly publication presented in comic book style, the magazine will "lift the lid on the lives of the stars of the show, from the actors and actresses to the back room special effects experts."

- Topps will release a full line of trading cards featuring the Heroes characters and in-depth episodic coverage. The trading card packs will also include randomly inserted one-of-a-kind rare cards such as autographs, hand-drawn artist sketches, and cards embedded with a piece of actual costume material worn on the show.

- WizKids Inc. will be adding Heroes into their HeroClix line, which already includes characters from the DC, Marvel, and Dark Horse universes.

- MeadWestvaco will introduce a 2008 calendar.

- Scorpio Posters will offer traditional wall posters.

- Changes will develop an officially licensed apparel line.

- Mezco Toyz will be responsible for developing toys and specialty product including collectible action figures, dioramas, and deluxe figures in a variety of scale sizes ranging from 3" to 18". Mezco's Heroes product will hit retail in early 2008.

- Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group and Ubisoft are partnering to create an interactive videogame based on and inspired by the Heroes universe.

Additionally, international licenses have also been confirmed. GBEye Limited will launch a series of posters in the UK. Trademark will handle apparel in that territory and Danilo Promotions Ltd. will develop 2008 calendars for both the UK and Ireland. In Italy, Edibas Srl. will unveil a series of calendars, stickers, and photo albums later this year while partner ZigZag will launch posters in Germany during the same timeframe.

A Heroes-themed booth (#3912) can be found at San Diego International Comic-Con this weekend where more information on the upcoming product lines may be gleaned. Licensee booths include DC Comics (#1915), Mezco Toyz (#4145), Random House (#1135), Titan Publishing (#5437), Topps (#5536), and WizKids (#2743). In addition, Topps and NBC will be distributing new collectible Heroes promotional trading cards at their booths each day of the show and Tim Sale will be signing at the DC Comics booth on Friday, July 27th, from 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. and Saturday, July 28th, from 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Random House will celebrate the announcement of its Heroes book by asking fans to help make 1,000 cranes at their booth by the end of the show. Random House will offer prizing for every 100th crane submitted.

whats that mean?




..like..an ARG?



Oh dear god. How will I afford all of this?

Dear God! Tim Kring knows we are ready to buy this crap up! I want to just set up an account at the Heroes Store and pay my bill monthly!

Ubisoft will be making an actual video game for PC and Next Gen consoles, which will include characters from the show and actually tie into Season 3, the game is planned for release Fall 2008. WizKids makes HeroClix, a table top RPG game. Heroes will now be apart of this line.

It means that Heroes will probably introduced into if not get its own HeroClix system.


I have a question: What is ARG? Action RolePlaying Game?

this is all insane..but I'd be happy with the freaking ARG we were supposed to have


Great. I wasnt going to buy a pack or two of the trading cards. Now I'm going to have to buy boxes. *sigh*

I am buying EVERY TOY!

Alternate Reality Game. All of the Heroes 360 stuff, really. So Hiro's puzzles, Hana's blogs..

cool all that stuff sounds awsome

I just want a Sylar ACTION FIGURE with articulated index finger! YAY

This stuff is going to be super expensive for us lol.

Figure the action figures will be 20 each, at least. Video games, boxes of trading cards, a magazine. So worth it, though.

<---Me now

<---Me when those come out

<----My money and time

Figures will probably be 15 bucks at the least. Depends on height, accessories, etc. I would like an entire line in the 6 inch range. Good height for detail and posability.

The ARG is free. Though, yeah. It takes over your life. Its sooo worth it though. When you crack some code or find some link..its worth the weeks of your life that you're never getting back

Are action figures $20/$15 now? When I was still getting them they were still $10

Yeah, but the actual video game will cost some cash, 60 probably. It's due on Next Gen consoles and PC.

Action figures are about 6 to 10 bucks, but these will probably be very high end, so 15 seems fair.

O .,. M .,. G this is flat surreal! JEEZALOU, this show taking off. WOW!

Would probably buy the following quoted Items:

i want all of this...but i have no money. im trying to save for so many things.

UGH!

*sobs*

I'm gunna be spending all of my money on the DVD and the wolrd tour! Ahhh!


Maybe they will have 9th wonders give aways. We can ...er..test everything out! Make sure its okay for the general public and all !

I am going to be SO BROKE.

You ain't lyin...

I wonder what the video game will be like. It could be you're a character from the show or maybe they will take a City of Heroes approach and you create your own. Ether way I know I will buy it and all/most of the other merchandise.

Just yesterday I was in B&N in the comic book section wishing there was a book of the Heroes comics.
Has anyone looked at the TV tie-in comics? They have everything, there was a CSI comic and a Labyrinth manga!

The game will actually tie into the Heroes series. You will be playing in an ensemble cast, and play as more than one character.

if they're smart, they'll make the video game along the lines of X-Men Legends/X-Men Legends 2 (or Marvel Ultimate Alliance, Justice League Heroes, etc) -- choose your team, hot-swap during play, drop-in/drop-out multiplayer, earn experience and upgrade/unlock abilities

I just wouldn't be able to get into a game like that. It's just so... I dunno, impersonal. I mean, a dungeon crawl? Wave after waves of opponents? I mean, I love laying the smackdown on enemies as much as the next gamer, but it's very rarely have I found it a satisyfing experience. There's only so many times I can punch, kick, and special attack roomfulls of bad guys on my way to the boss before I throw something, most likely my controller.

I think the game will be more along the lines of an interactive RPG, if you will. You'll play as a core group of characters and follow them through whatever destiny UbiSoft has set up.

Yes, I love both of those games (MUA and JLH). Would we be fighting Sylar... I have issues with that.

I'll be happy with a Sylar doll and the video game.

Really? I hated JLH, the gameplay was dull and redundant. Left alot to be desired. I would LOVE to play as Sylar. An Ice cream eating mini-game FTW. lol

OMG, I need to get a new job. I'm going to be so broke...& so happy.

I bought it for the ps2 and i didnt like it either, I would rather have the game be like an RPG where you come across characters along the way. mabye even style it like KOTOR. idk, but plz dont make it an arcade game or Xmen.

OMG, I need to get a part-time job just for Heroes stuff.

"DC Comics will develop a hardcover compilation book of the popular online Heroes graphic novels currently available on NBC.com. The new book will also include the original Tim Sale artwork as seen on the show.

- Random House will introduce Saving Charlie, an original novel based on the characters Hiro and Charlie created by Tim Kring."

Okay...TPTB have totally been lurking on this site! I don't know how many times I've read someone post about wanting a compilation of the online comics and a story of Hiro and Charlie! WOW...I feel special!

Okay..they'll definetly have to make the Peter "action figure" with flippable bangs! And a "concentrating" Hiro! Claire with detachable limbs! Wow...the possiblities are endless!

hahah don't we all..

I wish I had the money for all this stuff. I might be able
to afford a few bits, but I want it all! >.<

Haha, im so not going to be able to afford any of that...


i guess im going to have to start ebayin' my stuff...*sigh*

That's exactly what I was thinking. Something like KOTOR 1, a small, but good sized cast, like an ensemble piece. Slowly bring them together for a purpose, saving a city of something. And leveling up would be related to their power, maybe have them grow strong in specific parts of their ability, or make them an Empath. I'd rather see them with a specific power each, and being able to level them up in unique ways.

Plus, GOTTA have cameos of the characters from the show.

ok so im like definitly gonna get the hiro/charlie novel and the comics

i might get some cards and maybe learn to play heroclix lol just for heroes (well ... not really). and i might rent the game. if its good ill buy it

this is awsome news!

Dude! I'm so excited for all this stuff! I can't wait to see what Ubisoft does with the game. Already, I've read about people saying that it couldn't possibly be any good. But I say this, Tim Kring knows that people LOVE the show, and most would want it to be as much like the show as possible, while still deviating a little into its own storyline.

When I thought of it, I thought maybe they could do it like Final Fantasy, not RPG type gameplay, but as some have said before, you could pick up characters along the way. I don't think Tim would let people screw with his brainchild, he knows we like it too much!

Any Idea if either the action figures or the "clix" will have Claude?

How soon will they be selling the callendars? or any of the rest of the items I quoted?

A KOTOR style game would be the BEST THING EVAR.

And I'm not just saying that because I absolutely love that game -- I'm saying it because KOTOR was done well.

The calender is a 2008 calender. There's your answer. The figures, well, no specific details have been revealed beside what I reported. I dunno if CC is having prototypes up or what, maybe they will.

Woohoo! Great news! I used to play Heroclix. I think I might start again when these come out!

Still hoping for VS System cards. A Heroes Essential Collection. *hopes*

You can pre-order the calendar on the NBC site. I'm not sure of another place as of yet. I will check and get back with you.

Heroes 2008 Calendar <------check there

Thanks LordFirefly : )


I'd love a calendar with 12 months of Claude, personally

I just realized MY thread was linked to on the Main Page.

AWESOME.

Gah, I gotta go back to get a job so I can pay for all of this!

Apparel, does that mean like... costumes like Claires uniform or Sylar's coat[GAAAH!] or shirts like they have on CafePress.

You know, I was wondering that too. I want Sylar's jacket that he wore during the finale. lol

I think it would be cool to have a Sylar watch. Don't know if I'd buy it though, I tend to break every watch I ever owned. (Reason enough for Sylar to kill me...those poor timepieces!)

OMG, that'd be pretty pimp to have a Sylar watch!