2018 was another great year of brand development and growth for Masked Republic which included the launch of new IP as well as the expansion of our Legends of Lucha Libre™ licensed line.
Early in the year, Masked Republic announced a new relationship with Asteri Networks which will lead to the eventual release of mobile and platform games, but kicked off first with the launch of Lucha Central™ (LuchaCentral.com), the first bilingual (English and Spanish) site dedicated to lucha libre and featuring not only top news reporting, but video features and galleries from the industry’s leading photographers.
Masked Republic’s Legends of Lucha Libre brand, the “players association” for the icons, legends and superstars of the industry, continued its roll-out of consumer products with toys and collectibles from both Super7 and Figures Toy Company. Juventud Guerrera and Konnan received 6” figure releases from Figures Toy Company as part of their Legends of Wrestling line.
M.U.S.C.L.E. figures, based off the Japanese manga series Kinnikuman, became popular in the United States after Mattel acquired the rights and rebranded it for foreign markets. Despite being based on the world of pro wrestling, Masked Republic’s Legends of Lucha Libre luchadores Tinieblas Jr., Solar, Super Astro, Konnan, Juventud Guerrera and Blue Demon Jr., became the first real world wrestlers to be included in the line when Super7 released two sets of figures in June – and they were sold out just days later. In fact, the company had planned to have them available at San Diego Comic Con, but the sell-out prevented that from happening. Super7 was, however, able to share protoype figures of Legends of Lucha Libre figures being added to their ReAction figures line in early 2019. Tinieblas Jr, Solar and Blue Demon Jr. will be the first luchadores added to the classic 3.75” line that began with Kenner’s Star Wars figures in the late 1970s.
San Diego Comic Con, one of the most important pop-culture events of the year, served as the launch of a new comic book universe, The Masked Republic Luchaverse™. In collaboration with Chido Comics, the company released the first volume, Luchaverse: Rey Mysterio, along with the most inconic luchador on the planet. With praise coming in from not only fans, but comic book industry veterans who applauded the birth of a Latinx-centric universe featuring real-life luchadores harkening back to the Mexico releases of the mid 20th century which began with El Santo and lead to him becoming a national icon. Luchaverse: The Lucha Brothers was released at Expo Lucha in August and Luchaverse: Tinieblas Jr. at New York Comic Con in October. Luchaverse: Solar & Super Astro will be released in January 2019 and Luchaverse: Konnan in February. Masked Republic is currently working toward developing the universe for film and television.
August 31 to September 1 in Las Vegas, Nevada, Masked Republic presented the first ever lucha libre expo and convention outside of Mexico. The company’s new Expo Lucha™ brand is one-part fan convention, one-part cultural celebration and one-part experiential marketing event. Appreciated greatly by both fans, who traveled from all over the world to attend the 2-day event, and the luchadores who were able to meet many of their foreign fans for the very first time, Masked Republic will bring the event to San Diego August 17-18, 2019. Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and San Antonio are among cities under consideration for future Expo Lucha events.
Expo Lucha was also used as a time for Masked Republic to make new licensing announcements including licensee Bottom Line Merch for logo apparel, Star Cutouts for Legends of Lucha Libre lifesize standees and RSVP for a 2020 Legends of Lucha Libre calendar.
Just in time for holiday 2018, Running Press released the Legends of Lucha Libre “Mexican Thumb Wrestling Kit” in stores nationwide. The kit includes rubber masks & capes for two thumbs, a display wrestling ring, a thumb sized championship and a 48 page mini-book including lucha libre history, glossary and bios along with photography and illustrations. The kit marks Masked Republic’s first foray into licensed publishing with plans to expand the company’s publishing division greatly in 2020.
2018 also saw Masked Republic continue to release officially licensed apparel with ProWrestlingTees.com, Merch by Amazon and Uware Tees. These relationships will continue into 2019 with additional apparel licenses expected to be announced later in the year as well as the launch of a number of new apparel brands.
As 2019 begins, Masked Republic is poised for another year of brand and IP expansion and remaining the leader in not only the further expansion of lucha libre globally outside of Mexico but in the development of lucha libre related entertainment for the masses.
