Mattel DC Figures

[secondwhiteline]

I've wanted a figure of her for so long. Given Todd's love of armored characters, I was hoping that she'd sneak into his line. Multiverse even had the Ystina version of Shining Knight before female characters were regularly being released!

 

[GreatCeasarGhost]

Those He-Man figures look better than Marvel Legends! Hopefully, that’s the treatment DC gets. But I could see this being a GI Joe thing, where DC doesn’t get the best articulation because they aren’t owned by Mattel.

Yeah I’m not sure why people think this is indicative of anything.

MOTU is a line they need to work. Mattel isn’t going to put the B team on one of their top prized IPs going into a movie release they only get one shot at. Same for Kpop DH. The next movie probably won’t come out until 2030 at the earliest.

The fact Wonder Woman wasn’t in that early kids wave line sort of made me think we are still playing by the same rules of who they are targeting whether it makes sense or not.

 

[TempusFromMars]

Can we at least get an original Mr Terrific and Johnny Thunder and his Thunderbolt, oh and The Inferior 5 and Ultra The Multi Alien?

 

[Niko (protozoalord)]

Those five characters were literally my top five on every vote and wishlist from the first wave of DCUC. Not a single one of them ever even happened. I was pretty unhappy.

DCUC is genuinely insane as a line to me. Theoretically incredibly satisfying roster overall that covers most things you can think of, and yet it's still missing so damn much.

It's a bit of a shame we just got Nightmaster and Ragman from McFarlane. Those figures are so whatever, and I feel like they kill any chance of Mattel doing them any time soon. Shadowpact and both Seven Soldiers rosters need to happen as figures already.

Yeah I’m not sure why people think this is indicative of anything.

MOTU is a line they need to work. Mattel isn’t going to put the B team on one of their top prized IPs going into a movie release they only get one shot at. Same for Kpop DH. The next movie probably won’t come out until 2030 at the earliest.

The fact Wonder Woman wasn’t in that early kids wave line sort of made me think we are still playing by the same rules of who they are targeting whether it makes sense or not.

If any of this was in just a vacuum, I'd agree. But we are getting two debut collector lines at once that are, at a glance, really pushing Mattel forward. I'm still a bit cautious, and Mattel is still a load of idiots, but it's hard for me to not have optimism about what a third debut toyline might look like after those. If they gave the largest IP of these three the short end of the stick, they'd be bigger idiots than I thought.

 

[Gothneo]

I feel like this list could really benefit from Valda the Iron Maiden.

Absolutely... These types of characters are what I always felt made DC standout and what I read over the standard justice league stuff.

 

[GreatCeasarGhost]

If any of this was in just a vacuum, I'd agree. But we are getting two debut collector lines at once that are, at a glance, really pushing Mattel forward. I'm still a bit cautious, and Mattel is still a load of idiots, but it's hard for me to not have optimism about what a third debut toyline might look like after those. If they gave the largest IP of these three the short end of the stick, they'd be bigger idiots than I thought.

is it though? Mattel isn’t Jada or some upstart getting its big break.

I’m not a MOTU collector but even I remembered when Kevin Smith’s animated version debuted Mattel came in full force to support it. Even now those Thundercats and Transformer mashup lines are hitting shelves. Mattel always put its best effort for this IP.

If there were some live action or animated project debuting with the kid or adult line I would be much more excited but I feel like this I just something in their cap as a way to own the diminishing toy section of stores.

 

[Damien]

The fact Wonder Woman wasn’t in that early kids wave line sort of made me think we are still playing by the same rules of who they are targeting whether it makes sense or not.

It does make sense, though. The line is targeted at young boys (overwhelmingly the market for superhero action figures) who, historically, tend toward buying figures of male characters first and foremost. If the line NEVER includes female characters, that wouldn't be great. But I'm not sure how the roster we're seeing in a line aimed at young boys is a problem.

MOTU is a line they need to work.

So is DC.
You forget that they can fuck up MOTU all they want. It's theirs. It costs them nothing to use it. They are literally paying for the privilege of making DC characters. If that fails, they stand to both lose tons of money, and that license.

Yeah I’m not sure why people think this is indicative of anything.

Because a rising tide lifts all ships, in theory. It shows that people at Mattel are aware of the weaknesses with some of their existing offerings and have decided to respond to those weaknesses by trying to actually make a better product. That understanding of what collectors want out of action figures can naturally filter out into different brands. While we have no evidence right now that the MOTU approach will filter into the DC figures, we also have no evidence that it wasn't an approach they developed for both brands simultaneously and we're just seeing it with MOTU first.

Hasbro lines all inform each other. While G.I. Joe, Star Wars Black, and Marvel Legends don't necessarily all look or function exactly the same -- the teams do all talk to each other and advances in one often inform advances in the other. They'll always maintain their own features, design language, and approach to the market - but what one team learns, they all learn. If you think these teams don't talk to each other and share their notes, and if you think they don't all get the same directives from above; you are not only a little nutter butters, but I can tell you from second-hand knowledge that you are just incorrect.

It's a bit of a shame we just got Nightmaster and Ragman from McFarlane. Those figures are so whatever, and I feel like they kill any chance of Mattel doing them any time soon. Shadowpact and both Seven Soldiers rosters need to happen as figures already.

McFarlane's Nightmaster is a fucking embarrassment and he should be kicked in the teeth for even letting that figure leave a factory. I'm so pissed that he'll be a good reason why Mattel might not bother to tackle that character too soon. Not that they were likely to do so anyway.

 

[Niko (protozoalord)]

is it though? Mattel isn’t Jada or some upstart getting its big break.

I’m not a MOTU collector but even I remembered when Kevin Smith’s animated version debuted Mattel came in full force to support it. Even now those Thundercats and Transformer mashup lines are hitting shelves. Mattel always put its best effort for this IP.

If there were some live action or animated project debuting with the kid or adult line I would be much more excited but I feel like this I just something in their cap as a way to own the diminishing toy section of stores.

Pushing forward in this case refers to putting out toys that exceed expectations. Masterverse, while only really being pretty alright toys akin to Legends, exceeded what expectations there were of Mattel and became the baseline of those expectations for the past few years. We can't truly tell until they're in hand, but MOTU Chronicles and KPop Demon Hunters look to be significantly better than that.

 

[Niko (protozoalord)]

McFarlane's Nightmaster is a fucking embarrassment and he should be kicked in the teeth for even letting that figure leave a factory. I'm so pissed that he'll be a good reason why Mattel might not bother to tackle that character too soon. Not that they were likely to do so anyway.

At this point, we may as well just nab whatever figure suits and make lazy customs. CT Toys Daredevil with the LooperCustoms blank kit and some other commissioned parts could make for a kickass Nightmaster.

 

[Damien]

At this point, we may as well just nab whatever figure suits and make lazy customs. CT Toys Daredevil with the LooperCustoms blank kit and some other commissioned parts could make for a kickass Nightmaster.

To me one of the biggest problems since DCUC1 is that every company doing DC figures basically refuses to even make a mail-armored body. So there's three or four figures I want where the appropriate parts just straight up don't exist. Same problem with Marvel - I can never just fab up my own different Black Knights/Dreadknight because the parts don't exist.

 

[TheSameIdiot]

You forget that they can fuck up MOTU all they want. It's theirs. It costs them nothing to use it. They are literally paying for the privilege of making DC characters. If that fails, they stand to both lose tons of money, and that license.

Correct. This isn't WB/DC, which couldn't give a fuck whether its toys are good as long as they get a hefty license fee. Mattel's business is selling toys. Good toys will sell better than bad ones. It appears that they finally realized this.

Because a rising tide lifts all ships, in theory. It shows that people at Mattel are aware of the weaknesses with some of their existing offerings and have decided to respond to those weaknesses by trying to actually make a better product. That understanding of what collectors want out of action figures can naturally filter out into different brands. While we have no evidence right now that the MOTU approach will filter into the DC figures, we also have no evidence that it wasn't an approach they developed for both brands simultaneously and we're just seeing it with MOTU first.

Hasbro lines all inform each other.

Absolutely. I'm convinced that G.I. Classified forced the Marvel guys to up their game.

 

[Xavion2025]

I know Mattel is going to play the hits (as well they should), but if they want to get collectors on board that are fatigued from collecting multiple DC lines over the last 25+ years, I think it would really behove them to include some deep cuts from the jump.

For example, I wouldn’t expect a reasonably complete Legion of Superheroes unless the line is thriving in five to ten years, but if they throw in a Shadow Lass, Phantom Girl, or Dawnstar in the first five waves, at least they’ll have us on the hook with the (implied) promise that more will folllow.

Same thing with the Rogues. Like Reno said, give us a Weather Wizard. That’s something new. If we’re five plus years into this thing, and all we have is Captain Cold and Mirror Master…BFD. We’ve been there and done that…several times. On the other hand, give us Weather Wizard, Heatwave, or the Trickster early, and we’re going to feel pretty confident that if the line is successful, we will eventually have a complete set of Rogues.

I’m not expecting waves full of these characters. That would be commercial suicide. But one or two every few waves would probably be enough to keep people (like me) interested.

 

[Stoopid_Sandwich]

I know Mattel is going to play the hits (as well they should), but if they want to get collectors on board that are fatigued from collecting multiple DC lines over the last 25+ years, I think it would really behove them to include some deep cuts from the jump.

For example, I wouldn’t expect a reasonably complete Legion of Superheroes unless the line is thriving in five to ten years, but if they throw in a Shadow Lass, Phantom Girl, or Dawnstar in the first five waves, at least they’ll have us on the hook with the (implied) promise that more will folllow.

Same thing with the Rogues. Like Reno said, give us a Weather Wizard. That’s something new. If we’re five plus years into this thing, and all we have is Captain Cold and Mirror Master…BFD. We’ve been there and done that…several times. On the other hand, give us Weather Wizard, Heatwave, or the Trickster early, and we’re going to feel pretty confident that if the line is successful, we will eventually have a complete set of Rogues.

I’m not expecting waves full of these characters. That would be commercial suicide. But one or two every few waves would probably be enough to keep people (like me) interested.

I personally don’t care if we see Kamandi or pre crisis OMAC ever again. Those were such boring figures the last time


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[Xavion2025]

I personally don’t care if we see Kamandi or pre crisis OMAC ever again. Those were such boring figures the last time

I’m thinking more in terms of itches that haven’t been scratched like some of the names that have been dropped in the last page or two of replies. What I think Mattel needs to instill early on is the belief that anything is possible, and this is the comprehensive DC line that everyone has been waiting for. Just throw the collectors looking for deep cuts a few bones on the regular, especially bones they haven’t seen before from Mattel or McFarlane.

I can’t speak for anyone else, but I’m not getting on board hoping that if the line is successful, we’ll see those deep cuts someday. Throw me some bones early on, or I’m taking my DCUC and DC Multiverse collections and going home.

 

[Damien]

Correct. This isn't WB/DC, which couldn't give a fuck whether its toys are good as long as they get a hefty license fee. Mattel's business is selling toys. Good toys will sell better than bad ones. It appears that they finally realized this.

Exactly. Also, on a more macro scale; look at how much talk about the upcoming DC line was -generated- simply because the MOTU figures look as good as they do. Mattel sees that. As stupid as some of their execs are (and let me tell you, they ARE), plenty of people with sway in the company can see what's happening.

I can’t speak for anyone else, but I’m not getting on board hoping that if the line is successful, we’ll see those deep cuts someday. Throw me some bones early on, or I’m taking my DCUC and DC Multiverse collections and going home.

To be entirely fair to Mattel... DCUC1 was fucking Red Tornado, ETRIGAN, Orion.... and then Penguin (actually kind of a weird choice as well) and Batman. With a Metamorpho BAF. Firestorm came out as early as wave 2. Killer Moth was in wave 6. If you think about it, that's actually kind of a wild line-up.

DC has the same problem as Marvel; there are so many characters that can qualify as A and B list that you really DO need to get out there in the world. The reality is, no line can or should predicate itself on what other companies have done before. "Oh, you guys already have Batman." Nah, they GOTTA make Batman. We all know it. Lots of DC collectors aren't even going to look at a DC line that doesn't include a decent Batman figure. Say that again for basically every 'big' name.

So the reality becomes trying to weave lower-tier characters into a line where, almost by necessity, a lot of each wave is going to be taken up by bigger names. Because as much as you or I will complain about wanting this or that deep-cut character, loads more people will complain if they can't, for example, complete their main idea of the Justice League within 10 waves.

Do you remember how fucking angry people were that it took 15 waves to get to Martian Manhunter in DCUC? Pepperidge Farms remembers. I also remember people bitching and moaning that we got Harley so early, but didn't get Joker until what.. wave 10 or something?

I don't envy the people in charge of making collector-focused retail lines for Marvel or DC. It must be an absolute nightmare of 'want to make this, but HAVE to make this.'