DC Comics/Mattel
In DC toy news, Mattel is trying to make me lose what’s left of my hair (which is technically all of it, but still) with their newest releases (via ToyArk). Now, technically, we already knew that their retail DC offerings would continue as an expanded 4″ line. And we also knew that the second wave would feature figures from the Keaton Batman era (Batman, Catwoman, & Penguin, it turns out) as well as Reeve’s Superman (Superman & Zod). But still, seeing them filled me with a… a facepalm of joy. For the most part, they look pretty good for their scale. The Penguin looks great in particular, but the figures either seem a little of in sculpt or are (maybe) missing some key articulation. If Mattel gets that all sorted out, it could be a fun wave to collect in a line I’m not particularly thrilled about!
Sidenote: Mattel, yer killin’ me. You have done an amazing thing. You are the first company to produce figures of the Adam West Batman, the Micheal Keaton Batman, and the Christian Bale Batman. But you’ve done it in three different scales. I will (likely) buy your Keaton Batman products, hopefully the retail versions will be fantastic, but just know that you haven’t made a dent in my undying yearning for a 6″ Keaton Batman. Not even close.*
* – (I compulsively buy this Batman. I have the a couple of the original Toy Biz versions, the two accurate Dark Knight Collection versions, and the 12″ Hot Toy. I will own the 18″ NECA figure and Mattel’s 4″ figure. I will eventually get a good deal on the “Mego” version, but apparently a 6″ Micheal Keaton Batman will stay out of reach!)
Mattel also showed off more figures in their Total Heroes line (via ToyArk). This line continues to look fun. It has me thinking back to some of the fun stuff Hasbro tried fifteen-twenty years ago, but they’re just not for me. I know I’ll be weaker when it comes to some of my favorite characters though. Dr. Fate, Firestorm, etc. Luckily (?), Mattel may never get that deep in to the DC roster again…
Finally, AFI reported the other day that the TV Batman line isn’t DEAD, something we had all just assumed based on a handful of Mattel comments. The line debuted a new figure at NYCC: Surf’s Up Joker. It lives!
ToyArk’s Full Mattel/DC Gallery
ActionFigure Pics’ Movie Masters Gallery
Star Wars Black
Mostly Mattel news so far, but Hasbro did reveal a new Star Wars Black figure: Anakin Skywalker. He’s not too shabby, but I probably don’t need this version… we’ll see. In even happier news, some folks who attened Hasbro’s Wednesday night Preview Party were lucky enough to come away with the upcoming Star Wars Black Han Solo (via AFP)! I was a little worried when I saw the protos, Harrison Ford’s likeness can be tough and the figure looked off. Poe Ghostal directed me to AFP where we can see our first sneak peak at Han and he look’s fantastic! I can’t wait for him. And hopefully, Slave Leia will look just as sharp. I can tel the sculpt underneath is good, it’ll just depend on the paint. Check out AFP for some 3.75″ reveals!
Marvel Comics
Also revealed at Hasbro’s Wednesday Night Preview (via AFP) were some great additions to the 6″ Marvel line.
The Marvel Legends wave, Marvel Infinite Seres, for the Winter Soldier movie will feature a modern Captain America, the Red Skull, and that awesome Baron Zemo. Newly revealed is an awesome take on the S.H.I.E.L.D. Mandroid armor (the wave’s BAF) built partially on the Iron Monger figure. Also revealed via the cardback is that Hydra & A.I.M. soldiers will be available in some cases swapped out with Zemo & Red Skull. The other three figures are yet to be revealed, but you have to get some movie figures in there, right? Check out AFP for more pics!
The Spider-Man movie will also feature an “Infinite Series” wave with a BAF of the Ultimate Green Goblin (pics at AFP). I’m a little confused on this wave – it has an awesome Carnage, Black Cat (pictured above), & Beetle. And those three figures will all “swap” out with a Spidey, a Movie Spidey, and Movie Electro? I’m not sure how all that will work – I just hope I can find what I want because that hasn’t been the case with some of the “Swaps” in ML so far.
Alright, I think that’s it for Day One… More to come…
I’m hoping the Anakin headsculpt looks better in person
The new 6″ movie Spidey and Carnage look great! Hasbro is definitely putting effort into their 6″ lines.
In other news, Bandai revealed their Legacy Dragonzord (to go with the current Legacy Megazord) and even I have to admit it looks friggin’ bad-ass. If all the sculpted and painted detail survives from the prototype through mass-production, I daresay it could be the most glorious Power Rangers toy ever.
Oh, and there’s also gonna be a full-sized Dragon Dagger and a mass-release of the Gold Morpher similar to the one at SDCC this year.
Best part of the Dragonzord is that it has the actual emblems from the show on it, rather than poorly-drawn lightning bolt decals.
I still have my old school Dragonzord that I got in ’94, but I never had an original Megazord to go with it. Since I have the 2010 Megazord (same mold as the LEgacy), I can finally get both and have the Mega Draonzord and Dragonzrd in Battle Mode. I guess I’d have to hunt down one of those awful “Mix n Morph” Titanus bases if I want a Ultrazord, though. Ugh.
Dragon Dagger’s awesome, too. I never had the original, but even as a kid I thought it was undersized. Having a full size prop replica will be awesome.
I already have the standard Legacy Morpher, along with some really nicely done metal Dragon and Tiger coins from it, but an official Gold Morpher release would still be a must-have for me. I’m expecting it won’t be 24k this time, though. 😀
Mattel’s “decision” to make different scales for every Movie Master series is incompetent, at best.
Hasbro better decide what they’re doing about their variants/running changes. I haven’t seen hardly ANY new/2013 product this year! In fact the only times I’ve seen ML refresh was a Target sale where they shipped more Arnim Zola wave, and Warshington WM finally got in their first new case in over six months and…ZOLA! except Wrecking Crew and Madame figs were swapped for Ghost Rider and …Drax? someone else from Terrax wave. ugh!
Bad enough when executive decisions are turning you against your hobby, but then the fact you can’t even FIND them, even online is ludicrous.
Whoa, the Chris Reeve figure is not 6 inch??
It is not, nor is the Keaton Batman. “Why” is a question I don’t think anyone can answer.
Best news so far is knowing the 4H have done Extendar justice. Looks to be a sweet figure.
Cool to see Star Wars’ Black Series offering more characters from ESB. The new Dagobah Luke and Yoda are awesome.
The only bad news so far is Hasbro’s continued “swapping” in their Marvel Legends lines. I want Baron Zemo, Batroc, Tiger Shark, Radioactive Man, Blizzard, Moonstone, and the Black Cat, but I also want some guarantee that the figures will be released on a 50/50 basis of some sort and not suffer the fate of last year’s “variants” or present ones such as Bulldozer and Classic Hawkeye, who also seem to be destined for limbo.
It’s bad enough that the Marvel Universe line split Cloak and Dagger up when they could have easily been distributed as a comic pack. Same deal with Abomination/A-Bomb and the upcoming Northstar & Aurora. It simply makes no sense to display figures at shows only to release a few while shelving the others.
Extender look cool for what looked goofy to me as a kid.
The DC stuff will have wait and see in person.
Marvels figs I expected something like the Iron Man 3 line. Guessing not that type of setup. The troop builders could be released without BaF parts. Ofcourse thats my idea. The MU splits floored me and I have not seen any of those waves here. I did snag the new Cap though and that was luck.
Great coverage and connectivity. Thanks!
Extendar looks sweet, and the 3.75″ Star Wars have me excited to collect them again! Like you, I hope Extendar’s gloves don’t turn green. Personally, I was hoping for rounded extensions (like in the comics) instead of the square ones, but I think I’ll live.
Addendum: rather disappointed that the Snowtrooper Commander has a plastic skirt, but that’s an incredibly easy fix.
Thank you for covering this, Noisy! I do appreciate the work!
OK, so, am I the only person who sees the mini MOTU figures and wonders…
Why don’t they just make them part of the Imaginext line? They HAVE a buck to work with, it’s a ‘standard’ scale, they can re-purpose playsets if they don’t want to go new-tool…
I mean, have you SEEN the Imaginext Darksied or Grodd? Awesome.
Completely agree. The Imaginext lines are bar none the best toys available at retail. Durable, fun and affordable. I love them, and more, I love that my son loves them. Masters is a natural fit for the line, and I feel they’re kind of edging toward that anyway, maybe saving it for when a movie finally arrives. But I hope they do it sooner. And hey — they’ve already got the base for bionatops!
http://www.fisher-price.com/img/product_shots/W1908-imaginext-triceratops-d-2.jpg
Their entire Dinosaur line is *this* much away from being a straight-up ‘Dino-Riders- relaunch it’s not even funny.
Did you see the Stegosaurs with wings? A FLYING STEGOSAURS!! How can that NOT be AWESOME?!
*ahem* sorry. 🙂
I also note they’re relaunching the Ghostbusters figures. This time with separate Proton Packs, the way they SHOULD have been made in the first place. These I may have to get. Bet they still don’t come with any shooty-zappy beams for the wands.
All four come with proton streams and “no ghost” stands.
Oh, so? Sink me, I believe I’m impressed. 🙂
Cynical me whispers they had these in production in anticipation of selling that Ecto-1. OTOH, now that they have the ‘backpackless’ versions they should have made in the first place, maybe there’s going to be another attempt to solicit that car.
yeah, it’s a bit circular in the logic department, but hey, it would make sense for Matty 🙂
The removable backpack body was announced as being developed for Ecto-1 months ago. Yes, it’s the way they should have been from the beginning, along with the proton streams. Even though my Winston is experiencing plastic molting, and I’d like to have matching bases and proton streams for all of them, I don’t think it’s worth $100 plus shipping.
This is where I mention that a rational company, in tune with the desires of its customer base and wanting to extend the ROI on speciality tooling would of course make an ‘upgrade’ accessory pack of just streams and stands. I bet they could bone collectors maybe $25 for that.
BUUUTTT this is Mattel we’re talking about. ‘Nuf said! 🙂
With Extendar, what’s the point of Meckaneck? Don’t they have the same powers, except Mecka only extends his neck?
Mekanek had a telescopic vision ability, while extender grows stronger when he up sizes.
So what you’re saying is Extendar with some binoculars makes Mekaneck obsolete?
Anyone with a step ladder and binoculars makes Mekaneck obsolete
Is there some rule I’m not aware of that none of the characters can have slightly overlapping gimmicks?
Heck, I always thought Stratos was pretty pointless even before they brought out Buzz-Off. };D
Hrm… may have to buy two Blades just to get two blades! 😉
Extendar looks awesome as well. He may warrant a duplicate.
Hi all,
I was at the con, the Mattel booth, Mattypalooza, and even asked Toyguru some questions personally. The discoloration in Extendar’s gloves will be fixed, the painter was working off a faded vintage figure and unaware of the discoloration. The Mini-Masters are indeed smaller. The rising plastic cost was mentioned several times throughout the panel. Also one of the skulls was stolen off the Castle Grayskull model. We were scolded to which someone shouted, welcome to New York 😉 There was a vintage Tytus, and laser He-Man and Skeletor under glass at the booth, courtesy of Jordan Hembrough and the Toy Hunter crew. As for the face palming, the 4″ line is all Mattel retail and the divide between them and Mattycollecor has never felt wider. The retail team will not answer any more online Q+A (news via AFI) and when I asked about a Yvonne Craig Batgirl, TG simply said “not my department”. It doesn’t make it right, but at least helps sort things out.
Mitch O’Farrell said that we need tax increment financing something that Los Angeles hasn’t done yet. Oops I don’t think that this former advisor to Garcetti knows that Tax Increment Financing (TI) was the financing mechanism that came from redevelopment activities. Los Angeles did this (utilized Tax Increment Financing) through the former Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles. Strike against O’Farrell.