Mattel DC Figures

Atomic Knight said:
I don’t collect WWE. Haven’t watched wrestling on a regular basis in over a decade. But I like this approach if this is indeed where they’re going with it. The main thing for me is that it is one continuous, consistent line that goes back to 2015. Even bigger is that it all scales. Figures, playsets, accessory packs, vehicles, all of it. That is a massive big deal for me and something I’ve wanted for DC since DCD started up. Marvel has been at it since 2000 with Marvel Legends. In that time DC has gone from Hasbro to Mattel, Mattel to McFarlane, and McFarlane back to Mattel. With DCD/DCC running parallel from 1998 to 2020. With Todd taking that over in 2022. Marvel has built a Universe in plastic. DC has a bunch of scales, styles, and form factors of the same characters over and over and over again. If Mattel can offer more stability and BUILD THE FUCKING UNIVERSE in the same fashion as they have with the WWE, then I’m all for it.

Having said all that, I’m probably still done when Todd is. I don’t think I have it in me to start over. Some people can just collect a specific character, usually Batman, Superman, or Spider-Man. That’s not me. Never has been. There are some unrelated personal issues as well as I edge towards retirement. A new action figure line probably isn’t the best place for my disposable income. But we’ll see. Mattel just might overwhelm me. Who knows?
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I totally get this....I'm very much in "wait and see" mode myself. In recent times, I've dramatically cut back on what I buy, and generally just cherry-pick lines I like. Life, in general, has gotten ridiculously expensive, and I find myself opting out of a lot of figures I would have once bought without a second thought. The fact that one figure now costs more than three or four did back when I began collecting is a huge factor as well (yeah, it was 20 years ago that I started, but my income definitely hasn't kept pace with inflation). It sucks, but I think many folks are in the same boat we are on this. I'm definitely jumping off some lines altogether, while others I'm being VERY picky about what I buy. There really isn't a single line I collect where I'm buying every release, and in many cases I'm only buying a few here and there. You have to do what is right for your budget and your sanity.

In all likelihood, I'll probably be picking up some of these as they come out, whether they be their "basic" or "elite" figures, but I don't see myself really diving deep into the line unless they just keep pumping out truly definitive renditions of characters. They would have to be the kind of thing where I don't see myself ever having to buy another figure of that character ever again though, and with a mass market line that seems improbable.
 
Probably the only way I'd ever buy a "basic" figure (if it matches the WWE formula) is if it is of a character that has never been made before by any of Mattel, DC Direct or McFarlance in the 6"-7" scale. I expect that to be very rare and unlikely.

Now when they get around to the Collector line in 2027 and beyond, I expect to buy a lot of those --- again depending on how the product actually ends up looking. I generally don't even like the McFarlane product (for multiple reasons) but I've still bought at least one version of every character they've made during their run. I expect to buy far more Mattel product than I have from McFarlane. I still generally prefer most of Mattel's comic stuff from their last run to what McFarlane has done. However there are some McFarlane figures that I love - but that has been the exception more than the rule. I also hope that this "chase" concept goes away completely in the transition. While it's likely allowed me to get characters that might not have been made otherwise, it's been a complete pain in the a$$.
 
Yes, Chases need to die.

I was at my local Target yesterday and took a look the wrestling figures. Seems like 90% of what was on the pegs was Elite. Is that representative? I would have thought there would be more basic.
 
Chooch555 said:
Yes, Chases need to die.

I was at my local Target yesterday and took a look the wrestling figures. Seems like 90% of what was on the pegs was Elite. Is that representative? I would have thought there would be more basic.
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The Basics are kind of scarce nowadays in my area and then they might exclude certain figures from the case, which is frustrating. I used to buy most of them when the line first started because they had a more frequent releases compared to elites so it allowed for a quicker roster build up while waiting for an Elite version. I mostly ignore them now because I can't deal with the lack of ankle articulation.
 
TheGillMan said:
I totally get this....I'm very much in "wait and see" mode myself. In recent times, I've dramatically cut back on what I buy, and generally just cherry-pick lines I like. Life, in general, has gotten ridiculously expensive, and I find myself opting out of a lot of figures I would have once bought without a second thought. The fact that one figure now costs more than three or four did back when I began collecting is a huge factor as well (yeah, it was 20 years ago that I started, but my income definitely hasn't kept pace with inflation). It sucks, but I think many folks are in the same boat we are on this. I'm definitely jumping off some lines altogether, while others I'm being VERY picky about what I buy. There really isn't a single line I collect where I'm buying every release, and in many cases I'm only buying a few here and there. You have to do what is right for your budget and your sanity.

In all likelihood, I'll probably be picking up some of these as they come out, whether they be their "basic" or "elite" figures, but I don't see myself really diving deep into the line unless they just keep pumping out truly definitive renditions of characters. They would have to be the kind of thing where I don't see myself ever having to buy another figure of that character ever again though, and with a mass market line that seems improbable.
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Money is certainly a concern, but not a currently an issue for me. In all honesty, I probably can afford to buy another line without much trouble. But do I want/need to? Maybe go on a cool, much needed vacation instead.

What will it take to get me into the new Mattel line? At least the 2027 collector stuff? As ludicrous as it sounds, I want it all. And I want it starting in the first year. I want the (entire) JSA. I want the New Gods. All of them. Well at least the Kirby ones. But past that, gimme the rest of the comic book DCU that doesn’t connect to the Justice League. Bloodlines, New Age of Heroes, Freedom Fighters, Will Payton Starman, Shade the Changing Man, Claw, Space Ranger, Madame Xanadu, Resurrection Man, and dozens more. I’m just getting warmed up. Todd’s lineup on steroids and meth. Otherwise, I’ll probably be signing off. Or lurking a lot. Or pot stirring.

The next iteration of classic/iconic A listers just sounds dull to me. From Ragman and Nightmaster rotating back to Batman and Flash. I can’t stand it.
 
For me, I have never bought a Batman or Superman figure, or any of the A-listers outside Aquaman-- primarily because most of them don't suit my wants, or the price is unjustifiable. I LOVE the look of Mafex Knightfall Batman, and Superman I'd have to kitbash as I NEED him to have a smiling head to be happy with him on my display, but that's only available in 1/12 from a Mezco release So I'm not totally upset if they start this line off with good figures of the core characters. Especially if Flash is Wally, Robin is Tim Drake (though I'm guessing it'll be Damian), and Batman is an evergreen design. So long as the toys are great.

But my real passion is for those weirdos, and despite the valiant attempts DCUC has done and Todd has started to dig into, and all of them I want to see either redone or finally given the spotlight. I'd really like to see the Aquaman family, Shadowpact, and modern Seven Soldiers built out. I don't know how we've never gotten a Mera figure ever.
 
Atomic Knight said:
Bloodlines, New Age of Heroes, Freedom Fighters, Will Payton Starman, Shade the Changing Man, Claw, Space Ranger, Madame Xanadu, Resurrection Man, and dozens more.
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Speaking g my language!

My kingdom for good versions of Sandra Knight, Dee Tyler, Stormy Knight, Jennifer Knight, Rampage. A good 90s Catwoman aka THE DREAM
 
Niko (protozoalord) said:
For me, I have never bought a Batman or Superman figure, or any of the A-listers outside Aquaman-- primarily because most of them don't suit my wants, or the price is unjustifiable. I LOVE the look of Mafex Knightfall Batman, and Superman I'd have to kitbash as I NEED him to have a smiling head to be happy with him on my display, but that's only available in 1/12 from a Mezco release So I'm not totally upset if they start this line off with good figures of the core characters. Especially if Flash is Wally, Robin is Tim Drake (though I'm guessing it'll be Damian), and Batman is an evergreen design. So long as the toys are great.

But my real passion is for those weirdos, and despite the valiant attempts DCUC has done and Todd has started to dig into, and all of them I want to see either redone or finally given the spotlight. I'd really like to see the Aquaman family, Shadowpact, and modern Seven Soldiers built out. I don't know how we've never gotten a Mera figure ever.
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There was a toy line in 1967 callled Super Queens by Ideal that made Mera, Wonder Woman, Batgirl & Supergirl. DC Direct made a comic book Mera figure. Mattel has made Mera for Barbie as well as the Justice League & Aquaman movies.
 
tenzilkem said:
There was a toy line in 1967 callled Super Queens by Ideal that made Mera, Wonder Woman, Batgirl & Supergirl. DC Direct made a comic book Mera figure. Mattel has made Mera for Barbie as well as the Justice League & Aquaman movies.
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I know of all these, but I was referring to specifically 1/12 super-articulated comic figures. Movie and other media designs count as other characters to me, unless they are indistuingishable from the comics.
 
There was a version of Mera made for the Bombshells line. I thought those were cool, although I never bought any.
 
Niko (protozoalord) said:
But my real passion is for those weirdos, and despite the valiant attempts DCUC has done and Todd has started to dig into, and all of them I want to see either redone or finally given the spotlight. I'd really like to see the Aquaman family, Shadowpact, and modern Seven Soldiers built out. I don't know how we've never gotten a Mera figure ever.
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Shadowpact and modern Seven Soldiers of Victory are big wants of mine as well. I'd love to see those teams get some love.

If Mattel is going the route they do with wrasslin' figures, then I get why they'd come out the gate with A-listers in the first wave of the basic line. My hope is their "elite" line will be a mix of iconic heroes and some more obscure characters. That seems like a decent strategy to pull in casual buyers and kids, while also having something that caters to the collector. It makes sense to have recognizable names on the shelf like Batman & Joker from the get-go...and if this is what it takes to eventually get Nightshade or Black Alice then I'm all for it.

Of course, like @Damien pointed out, Mattel often makes baffling choices, so this could go sideways and we could get some real head-scratchers. We could wind up with an under-articulated Nightwing and a premium, super-articulated Jim Gordon.
 
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