Archive for the ‘Mattel’ Category:
Ask Matty 8/15/10 – Action League News, a Tytus Re-Release and more!
Lots of great answers in this round of Ask Matty, as we plumb the depths of Mattel’s mind:
1) One of SDCC’s big reveals was the DC Universe Action League figures. Do you have estimated release dates or information on what will be in the first waves?
DC Universe Action League will be out in late fall 2010.
2) Back in August 2009, in a Q&A with AFI, female figures were discussed, but now a year later we still haven’t seen any. Are they still on the slate for either Brave and the Bold: AL or DCU:AL?
We will not get to females in the Brave and the Bold Action League, but do have plans to do so in the DC Universe Action League line! A female has already been sculpted!
3) Infinite Heroes fans and collectors have been getting mixed messages about the line: some Q&As suggest that the line is in danger, some Q&As suggest that big things are coming. Now that SDCC has come and gone and no new figures were shown, what does that say about the future of the line?
As announced at our SDCC DCU fan panel, the 3 ¾” line will continue in 2011 with a Green Lantern theme. We need to wait until we have retailer commitments before announcing further details to fans.
4) Regular MOTUC figures have been re-released, but will the weapons packs or larger figures like Tytus ever get re-released?
Yes. Battle Cat and Tytus have been scheduled for a re-release as have the Grayskull stands. No re-release plans for the Ultimate Battle Ground Weapon Pak yet, but maybe in time.
5) Now that we’ve got Action League style DC figures and WWE figures, can we expect to see the Masters of the Universe license get the Action League treatment soon?
Definitely something we’d love to do. Time will tell! .
Now head over to the Ask Matty section of the message board to help us come up with some new questions!
DC Universe Action League Figures
We first started talking about the new DC Universe Action League figures earlier on the message board (not a member? shame on you, it’s good fun!), but haven’t had a chance to front page it. For those that have been fans of the Batman Brave and the Bold line that Mattel has released over the past year, you know the deal. Super Hero Squad-esque figures featuring the best and brightest Brave and the Bold, and now the DCU in general, has to offer, but all pointy.
There are pictures aplenty at Toyark and Toy News International but here’s the rundown:
- Firestorm vs Black Lantern Firestorm
- Flash vs Captain Boomerang
- Hal Jordan vs White Lantern Sinestro
- Green Arrow vs Prometheus
- John Stewart vs Atrocitus
- Tomar Re vs Low
- Batman vs. Joker
- Superman vs. Bizarro
Now, I know what you’re saying… heroes packed with villains. Specifically, heroes packed with villains they face. Featuring costumes based on recent, popular stories. And edgy ones at that! Green Arrow and Prometheus are coming off the recent Rise and Fall storyline, which leads into the even more dark and stormy Rise of Arsenal storyline. Low, Atrocitus, Black Lantern Firestorm and White Lantern Sinestro all played prominently in the recent Green Lantern books, especially the zombie-tastic Blackest Night. Even Captain Boomerang has a Blackest Night/Brightest Day tie-in!
Mattel’s WWE, Done Action League Style
ARBCOtoys made an awesome discovery with Mattel’s new Action League style WWE figures. I can’t quite make out the sign behind Undertaker, other than the Toys R Us logo, but if you can help ID these figures or the line, head over to the thread linked above and join in!
SDCC 2010 Coverage
SDCC 2010 coverage has begun as you all know, so be sure to hit our message board for the most up-to-date coverage and discussion of SDCC 2010 so far!
JLU No Longer Target Exclusive?
Hopefully more information will be coming soon, but Entertainment Earth is now taking pre-orders for cases of upcoming Justice League Unlimited figures.
- The fun is unlimited with these Justice League action figures!
This Wave 2 case contains 12 individually packaged Justice League Unlimited Action Figures (subject to change):
1x Batman with Batarang
3x Flash (Barry Allen)
2x Mr. Terrific with T-Sphere
2x Starro
2x Batman Beyond with Future Batarang
2x Power Ring with Construct
- Formerly a retailer exclusive.
- Batman, Flash, Mr. Terrific, Starro, Batman Beyond, and Power Ring make up this case of 12.
- These JL action figures will help you save the world… or destroy it!
- Add these detailed, articulated Justice League Unlimited Action Figures to your toy box or shelf!
The fun is unlimited with these Justice League action figures! To get the job done and save the world, sometimes you need a lot of superheroes. The 2010 Justice League Unlimited Action Figures are here to help… or to try to destroy it! From the hit Cartoon Network series, the assortment focuses on the DC Universe duking it out for galactic justice. Each action figure measures about 4 3/4-inches tall and includes a unique accessory. Add these articulated and detailed Justice League action figures to your toy box or shelf!
Mattel Q&A – Giant Infinite Heroes, Missing Titans, Metamorpho-no,
And catching up with Mattel Q&A’s… wait… IF the Infinite Heroes line continues? On with the Questions!
1) At Toy Fair we saw that Ravager (and unless we’re mistaken, Wonder Woman from the Starro pack) has the new articulation. Are there any plans to give any other female characters in the DC Infinite Heroes line the new articulation?
As we get to new figures in this scale we will incorporate all levels of current articulation and continue to always improve!
2) With the IH numbering discontinued for the 75th Anniversary packaging, will we ever find out who Figure 41, Figure 44, Figure 50, Figure 55, and Figure 57 were?
We’ll try to publish a full list of released figures in the near future.
3) Since we know that a 12″ Tytus and the C&C DCUC figures are possible, will we ever see a larger scale IH figure? More specifically, will we ever see a larger scale humanoid IH figure? Since we know (and are psyched about!) Starro will be offered at SDCC this year.
If the Infinite Heroes line continues then this would be a great way to get out some new news for the line!
4) The Action League Metamorpho is packaged as the Element Man. Is that a result of the name being trademarked, and if so, have you considered an approach like Marvel’s (i.e. calling the figure “DC’s Metamorpho”)?
The name “Element Man” was the name DC provided for this figure in package.
6) So far we know that a couple different teams are only missing a member or two, like Beast Boy/Changeling for the New Teen Titans, Kid Flash for the Flash family, Alan Scott for the JSA, Captain Cold for the Rogues, and Superboy (although he might be unavailable due to legal issues?) for the even newer Teen Titans/Young Justice. Have these absences been intentionally planned out or have they just sort of been victims of happenstance where no “right time” arose for these characters to be released?
All of these are just happenstance. No one has been initially left off the table and we do have plans to finish off these teams as soon as we can. Definitely don’t read into anything!
Now off to the message board to discuss!
Ask Matty 4/15/10
We just got a new round of answers back from Mattel and here they are!
1) Any chance we could see some more obscure villains in the various DC lines? For instance, a Catman would be great!
Catman would be great, but we can’t comment on unannounced figures. We do have plans for a lot more villains in the line.
2) Even though Music Meister only showed up in the Brave & the Bold TV show, would it be possible to see him in DCIH?
Sure, but not likely in the near future.
3) Is the current similar style of the Toy Story Buddies and Action League Minis a style that is being planned to carry over into other products as a sort of in-house “Mattel Mini” style? Will we see it again?
Yes, this is a “form factor” we are interested in exploring.
4) Have you considered re-releasing repaints of complete C&C figures on Mattycollector or shop.mattel.com so that collectors of different scales (ok, just IH) can get bigger characters without having to pick up other figures?
This all depends on how the DCUC Wave 5 re-release goes. It is our big test to see how re-releases do.
5) Several Brave and the Bold figures such as Solomon Grundy (“Zombie Hitman”), and the individual Metal Men have been given name changes. Can you give us some insight into why some figures get name changed?
There are several reasons for this including, comments from our licensor partners, kid testing, and trademark issues for using a name on a toy.
Well, there you have it! Now, if you want to discuss these answers, or post some questions of your own that you want us to Ask Matty, then head on over to the board!
