SDCC 14 Exclusive Doomsday DC Universe Classics Action Figure

Mattel is finally bringing its hugely popular DC Universe Classics action figure line to a close, but not without one last HUGE San Diego Comic-Con 2014 exclusive! And they don’t get any bigger than Doomsday, DC Comics’ rampaging alien who once killed Superman. This massive villain comes wearing his “prison suit”, which Doomsday was seen wearing in his first ever appearance in Superman: The Man of Steel #18!

“Prison Suit” Doomsday stands over 9” tall, features 16 points of articulation, and comes packaged in a custom window box that pays homage to the cover of Superman: The Man of Steel #18. The Doomsday DCUC action figure will be available for pre-order at MattyCollector.com on June 24, 2014 to be picked up at San Diego Comic-Con 2014 and sold at the show for $35 each. After SDCC this DC Universe Classics figure will be available at MattyCollector.com on August 5, 2014.

DC Comics Super Powers 6” Action Figures by Mattel

Sadly this year Mattel is wrapping up its popular DC Universe Classics 6” action figure toy line featuring DC Comics' heroes and villains. But they’re not letting the toy line end without one last big hurrah! At Toy Fair 2014 Mattel announced it will be releasing six final DC Universe Super Powers action figures just in time for the 30th anniversary of Kenner’s Super Powers toy line. Not only that, but each figure comes packaged on a retro Super Powers blister card!

As you know The Blot is more than a little obsessed with the ‘80s Super Powers toy line, and I absolutely love the idea of blister carded DC Universe Classics figures. I must not be the only one as Medicom has done it with their line of DC Comics 100% Be@rbricks, Kidrobot will be doing it with their upcoming DC Comics Mini Figures, and now Mattel will be doing with their DCUC figures.

The final six DC Universe Super Powers figures are going to be done Four Horsemen style, and include Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Gold Superman, Green Lantern as The Riddler, and Mr. Mxyzptlk, with the giant Kalibak as the series’ collect and connect figure. Since I wasn’t familiar with the Gold Superman and Green Lantern as The Riddler action figures, The Blot turned to our friends at Action Figure Insider for the scoop! According to Daniel Picket, Chief Insider at AFi, in 1986 Pacipa released a “Super Amigos” Riddler that was a repainted Green Lantern sold only in South America, while the gold Superman was not actually released but was planned as part of the line for Superman's 50th Anniversary.

The first three figures will be released in September 2014, while the next three figures released in October 2014 exclusively at MattyCollector.com.

[Photo via TheFwoosh.com]

SDCC 13 Exclusive “New 52” Shazam! Action Figure by Mattel & DC Comics

San Diego Comic-Con 2013 will mark the debut of the world’s first action figure of the “New 52” Billy Batson, the boy turned DC Comics super hero known as Shazam! Not included with Matty Collector’s DC Universe Club Infinite Earths subscriptions, this figure arrives with a removable hood in Club Infinite Earths die cut packaging with distinctive silver foil.

Of all of DC Comics’ “New 52” redesigns, the character with the coolest new look is without a doubt the former Captain Marvel, Shazam! I’ve really been looking forward to seeing a toy of the new Shazam, but man I wish Mattel had done a better job with his hood. It fits to his head terribly and looks like it’s standing up unnaturally. Hopefully these pictures aren’t the final product and the sculpting of the hood is much better in the final product. I can’t imagine the Four Horsemen not fixing this before Comic-Con.

The San Diego Comic-Con 2013 Exclusive “New 52” Shazam! DC Universe Club Infinite Earths Action Figure can be purchased at the Mattel SDCC booth, with any remaining stock made available for purchase after the convention at MattyCollector.com on August 5, 2013.

SDCC 2012 Exclusive Death DC Comics/Vertigo Action Figure by Mattel

It has been a very long time since The Blot got really excited about a San Diego Comic-Con exclusive from Mattel, but when I do it almost always is a DC Comics figure. The last was probably 2009 when Matty released the Wonder Twins box set. But when I heard Mattel was releasing a Death action figure at San Diego Comic-Con 2012 I got giddy! What are the odds of a release like this!?! I guess it shouldn’t have been such a surprise to see an action figure of a primarily Vertigo characters since Mattel just released a Swamp Thing action figure last year, but I really was seriously shocked by the announcement.

Some envision Death as a grim reaper or dark angel to be feared. But as created by Neil Gaiman for DC Comics’ line of Vertigo comics, the Sandman`s older sister is pretty, perky and always gets the job done. Death’s been around since the beginning of time and is exactly the kind of girl you`ll want to follow into the unknown. Mattel’s 8” Death action figure wears her trademark ankh necklace, comes with a skull-themed display base and retails for $25 exclusively at the MattyCollector.com SDCC 2012 booth.

Hawk & Dove DC Universe Classics Wave 20 Action Figures

The 20th and final wave of Mattel’s popular DC Universe Classics toy line recently started showing up on store shelves and The Blot is pretty excited about picking up these Hawk and Dove action figures. I’ve always been partial to B and C-List DC Comics super heroes, and Hawk and Dove are two of my favorites! Whether it’s Hank and Don (the original Hawk and Dove) or Hank and Dawn (the modern version of the duo), I’m always excited when they show up for a cameo in a comic book or get their own mini-series or ongoing title.

With Hawk and Dove it really is feast or famine. After years of non-use, Hawk and Dove played a huge role in DC Comics’ mega events Blackest Night and Brightest Day and were even given their own ongoing title as part of the companywide New 52 reboot. They even brought in Rob Liefeld, a fan favorite who got his start on Hawk and Dove back in the 90s, to be the artist (and now writer) of the series. Then we got Hawk and Dove action figures and min-busts from DC Direct and now this! Like I said, feast or famine, but I can’t complain. I’m just glad to see Hank and Dawn relevant again in the DC Universe.

Mattel’s Hawk and Dove DC Universe Classics action figures can be purchase individually for $16.99 here at EntertainmentEarth.com or you can purchase a case of DC Universe Classics Series 20, which includes hooded Green Arrow, White Lantern Flash, Reverse Flash, Hawk, Dove, Red Arrow, Sinestro Corps Sinestro and metallic Green Lantern Hal Jordan (with Collect and Connect pieces of Nekron) for $139.99 here.

SDCC 2011 Exclusive Swamp Thing DC Universe Classics Action Figure

As you may or may not know, DC Comics’ Brightest Day ended with the return of Swamp Thing AND John Constantine to the proper DC Universe after decades spent in DC’s Vertigo imprint. Since Swamp Thing and Constantine were marked “for mature readers only,” Mattel had been strictly prohibited from making toys of these popular characters. But now that they’re back in the mainstream (and all ages) DC Universe, Mattel is wasting no time in including Alec Holland’s alter ego into its DC Universe Classics 6” toy line with this exciting San Diego Comic-Con 2011 exclusive!

This fan-demanded character is available for the first time from Mattel, and is the first ever DC Universe character to feature endoskeletal articulation. While many fans have scoffed at their first at Swampy’s endoskeletal articulation (early pictures left much to be desired), The Blot has to commend Mattel on thinking outside the box. After years of playing it safe, they’ve finally tried to do something different. And that is something I can get behind.

The San Diego Comic-Con 2011 Exclusive Swamp Thing action figure will retail for $30 and comes in a paper pulp mold of Swamp Thing’s head. No ordinary packaging can contain Swamp Thing, so he’ll then be packed in a shipper box with the Swamp Thing paper pulp mold head peering out. The Swamp Thing DC Universe Classics action figure will first be available at SDCC, and then later at MattyCollector.com. If purchased at SDCC, he’ll arrive with Comic-Con exclusive mini-figures of Un-Men Ophidian and Cranius. The version of Swamp Thing sold at MattyCollector.com will not include these Un-Men mini-figures.

The Complete Booster Gold Toy Collection

Click on the photo above for a more detailed look

As The Blot counts down to Booster Gold’s world television debut in this Friday’s episode of Smallville (appropriately entitled “Booster”), I thought I’d share a photo of my Booster Gold toy collection. The Blot’s proud to say I own every Booster Gold figure ever produced, and here they all are in one fabulous group shot.

To be honest, owning every Booster Gold figure is not quite the same accomplishment if say I collected Superman or Batman figures. With the amount of toys made of DC Comics’ A-list characters over the past 80 years, it’d be nearly impossible to have a complete collection. I guess that’s just one of the few perks to having your favorite character be a C-list hero. That and none of these figures are all that rare (except maybe the Walmart Exclusive DCU Infinite Heroes action figure in the middle).

For those interested, here’s a key to the Booster Gold figures you see in the photograph above (from left to right): Lead Figure by Eaglemoss Publications, 52 action figure by DC Direct, Heroclix figure, JLU action figure, DC Universe Classics action figure, DC Universe Infinite Heroes action figure, Minimates action figure, DC Universe Infinite Heroes action figure, JLU action figure, JLI action figure by DC Direct, and two more Heroclix figures.

Super Friends Action Figures - DC Universe Classics Wave 18

Mattel announced its eighteenth (yes 18th!) wave of DC Universe Classics action figures at Toy Fair 2011, and this wave has long time DC Comics fans very, very excited! It’s because DCUC Wave 18 is comprised almost entirely of characters from the uber-popular 1980’s Super Friends cartoon. Wave 18 includes Super Friends characters Black Vulcan, Samurai, El Dorado and Apache Chief (the Collect and Connect figure). We also get a Toyman action figure based on the villain’s look from the Super Friends cartoon and two of The Blot’s favorite Suicide Squad members: Bronze Tiger in his classic look (with a swappable unmasked head) and Captain Boomerang in his new look from Brightest Day.

To be honest, after the release of the Super Friends JLU 3-pack, which included Black Vulcan, Samurai and Apache Chief, I honestly did not expect Mattel to include these forgotten characters in its DCUC line as well. It seemed like Mattel was using its DCUC line to bring back DC’s other popular 1980’s cartoon/toy line, the Super Powers collection. Boy was I wrong and thankfully so! I’ve got a feeling Wave 18 is going to be highly sought after by collectors new and old, so if you see these figures pop up at your local toy stores grab them while you can!

DC Universe Classics Super Friends Wave 18 is scheduled to hit stores sometime in July 2011. Each figure will retail for around $17 and all 6 action figures can currently be pre-ordered from Entertainment Earth here.

Green Lantern G'Hu Movie Action Figure

After months of speculation, Mattel has finally unveiled who the mystery action figure is in its upcoming Green Lantern Classics Wave 2. This Green Lantern movie specific action figure is none other than Green Lantern G’Hu of Space Sector 2937. Why Warner Bros and DC Comics decided to include this relatively new and unknown character in the live action GL movie is beyond me (although he does look pretty cool), but what is really surprising is Mattel thought this is the movie specific action figure they should release in GLC Wave 2.

To me this is just another example of why Marvel does movies and toys better. There are a million members of the Green Lantern Corps, and G’Hu is the first movie related action figure Mattel wants to release? It just makes no sense! I could list a ton of awesome alien Green Lanterns I’d love to see in the movie and released as an action figure…and yet we get G’Hu who’s not even in my top 50.

Green Lantern Classics Wave 2 action figures are scheduled to arrive in stores in April 2011, but you can preorder the Green Lantern G’Hu action figure now from Entertainment Earth for $16.99 here.

DC Universe Classics Wave 17 Blackest Night Action Figures

The Blot can’t lie, I was more than a little surprised to learn that Mattel would be releasing a DCUC wave of Blackest Night action figures after DC Direct already did such an amazing job with them. Then again, it looks like Mattel is doing everything it can to cash in on the upcoming Green Lantern craze. According to Mattel, Wave 17 is just its “first step” into DC Comics' Blackest Night, so I assume we’ll be seeing at least one more Blackest Night wave before everything is said and done.

DC Universe Classics Wave 17 consists of White Lantern Hal Jordan, Black Lantern Hal Jordan (as the variant figure), Orange Lantern Lex Luthor, Star Sapphire Wonder Woman, Blue Lantern Flash, Sinestro Corps Scarecrow and Indigo Lantern Atom. The Collect and Connect figure for Wave 17 is the modern version of the Anti-Monitor.

DC Universe Classics Wave 17 Blackest Night does not go on sale until June 2011, but you can already pre-order all of the figures above for $16.99 from Entertainment Earth.

Green Lantern Classics Wave 2 Action Figures

Over the weekend, MattyCollector.com released the official first look at Green Lantern Classics Wave 2, the dedicated toy line to Green Lantern comic style action figures. The Blot has to say, the makeup of this wave is very surprising. Along Star Sapphire and Ion (Sodam Yat), Wave 2 also includes two different figures with interchangeable heads and hand.

There is a Green Lantern body with head and hands for Green Lanterns Nautkeiloi and Medphyll, as well as a Red Lantern body with heads and hands for Red Lanterns Skallox and Night Lik. Night Lik is an all new character created by the Four Horsemen and named by Geoff Johns. He will appear in an upcoming issue of Green Lantern, but appears first as a Mattel toy in the Green Lantern Classics line!

This wave also includes a 3 pack of mini-characters: Green Lantern B'dg, Dex-Starr the Red Lantern and Sinestro Corps member Despotellis. The sixth and final figure is a Green Lantern movie preview figure, which is in Mattel's movie style and will be revealed at a later date. And as all Classics Waves, there is a collect and connect figure! Green Lantern Classics Wave 2’s C&C figure is Green Lantern Stel, and he’s definitely one of my favorite C&C figures produced to date!

Each figure will retail for $16.99 each, or you can order a case of Green Lantern Classics Wave 2 at EntertainmentEarth.com for $199.99 here. Each case contains 8 figures and will be released in April 2011.

Green Lantern Classics Wave 1 Action Figures

Mattel is slowly but surely gearing up for the year of Green Lantern, and it kicks off with this new line of mass market action figures. Green Lantern Classics Wave 1, the first official spin-off of Mattel’s DC Universe Classics, line consists of 6 figures and one larger “Collect and Connect” figure.

Wave 1 includes Green Lantern Kyle Rayner, Mongul, Black Hand, a Manhunter robot, Sinestro Corps Low and Mash, and Black Lantern Abin Sur. The Low and Mash 2-pack is actually just one figure that comes with interchangeable heads and two sets of hands, and the Collect and Connect figure is Sinestro Corps Arkillo.


Is it me, or is Green Lantern Classics Wave 1 all about the villains!?! What’s surprising about this set is that it only includes one Green Lantern, and it’s Kyle Rayner. This is pretty surprising since The Blot’s pretty sure he won’t be showing up in the film. One explanation for this is Mattel will also be releasing a corresponding 2-pack featuring Hal Jordan and Sinestro. I guess this way fans can get the two “main” Green Lantern figures in one fell swoop.

Green Lantern Classics Wave 1 action figures can be purchased individually here for $16.99 or as a full case of all 6 figures for $119.99 here.

Justice League of America presents Starro the Conqueror Set & SDCC 2010 Exclusive Starro Spores Bonus Pack

This special set from Mattel commemorates the 75th Anniversary of DC Comics. The Starro pack re-creates one of the most famous DC covers of all time, the cover of Brave and the Bold Issue #28, which just so happens to be the first appearance of the Justice League and Starro the Conqueror.


The Justice League of America presents Starro the Conqueror Set includes all five JLA members featured on the cover (Martian Manhunter, The Flash, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern & Aquaman) as highly articulated action figures in the same scale as the DC Universe Infinite Heroes toy line, and a giant, bendy Starro the Conqueror. What’s even cooler is the packaging for this set features lights and sounds with the voice of Kevin Conroy, TV's animated Batman, describing the characters and events seen on the cover. This set will go on sale after San Diego Comic-Con at MattyCollector.com for $50.


As an added bonus for those of you attending SDCC 2010, Mattel will be including a poly bag of four Starro Spores as a free gift with the purchase of the Justice League of America presents Starro the Conqueror Set (while supplies last). What’s weird about these Comic-Con exclusive Starro Spores is that they are compatible with Mattel’s line of 6" DC Universe Classics action figures and not the 3 3/4" DC Universe Infinite Heroes action figures included in the Starro Set. Anyone else think it is bizarre Mattel didn't make the Spores fit the figures they come with!?!

SDCC 2010 DC Universe Classics Plastic Man Action Figure Packaging

One of the San Diego Comic-Con exclusives we’re all stoked to see is the one and only malleable immortal, DCUC Plastic Man. Being that he’s a DC Comics super hero and all, Mattel felt like his packaging should be equally impressive and here’s your first look!


This special packaging has been shaped to look like Plastic Man, and it comes in a full-color shipper box for safe keeping. But the coolest thing of all? A pair of Plastic Man glasses are included that can be removed from the package and worn by you!


The figure itself has interchangeable standard arms, stretchy arms, giant form hands (a fly swatter and a bouncy ball with racket), and interchangeable stretchy neck and leg springs. If you do purchase Plastic Man at SDCC, he’ll also come with a special suitcase available only at the show (packed in a separate poly bag). But of course it’s not just any suitcase… Plastic Man’s arms, head and neck can be attached to the suitcase to make him appear disguised as luggage. Inside the suitcase is a chip-art comic book cover from the 75 years of DC Comics.

Can’t make it to SDCC? Don’t worry, Plastic Man (without the SDCC 2010 exclusive suitcase) will be available on MattyCollector.com after the show.

DC Universe Classics Starman Jack Knight Action Figure

It’s pretty rare for The Blot to get really excited over an action figure, but it happened last week when Mattel announced the characters included in DC Universe Classics Wave 15. Not only does Wave 15 include the Martian Manhunter, Jemm, OMAC and the Golden Pharaoh (from DC's Super Powers), but it also includes one of my all time favorite super heroes, Starman Jack Knight!


James Robinson and Tony Harris’ DC comic book Starman ran for 81 issues in the 90’s and quickly became one of my all time favorite books. To me, it personifies what a great comic book should be, and I can’t recommend it enough to both comic book fans and those who’ve never read an issue. You can pre-order the Jack Knight action figure as a two figure Starman set from Entertainment Earth (Jack comes with his father, the Classic Starman Ted Knight) here for $33.99. The figures are scheduled to ship in August 2010.


The Classic Starman Ted Knight action figure, the traditional version of Starman, comes equipped with his Cosmic Rod and a Stellar Energy Pistol. The Modern Starman Jack Knight action figure, comes with his trusty Cosmic Rod and features contemporary translucent parts.

Collectors can expect DCUC Wave 15 action figures to begin showing up at retailers this summer. These figures will first appear at Kmart in late August/early September, then retailers everywhere in the fall.

SDCC 2010 Exclusive DC Universe Classics Plastic Man Action Figure

It looks like the long rumored DCUC Plastic Man action figure is finally seeing the light of day at San Diego Comic-Con 2010! Sadly, it seems like Mattel is continuing its trend of releasing a figure as a “SDCC Exclusive,” when really only one of the figure’s accessories is exclusive to the Con (see the Wonder Twins release with SDCC exclusive Gleek).


While the Plastic Man action figure will be available via MattyCollector.com after San Diego Comic-Con, the Plastic Man Suitcase will only be available at SDCC in extremely limited supply. The DCUC Plastic Man, which will retail for $20 each, has interchangeable standard arms, stretchy arms, giant form hands (a fly swatter and a bouncy ball with racket), and interchangeable stretchy neck and leg springs.


The Plastic Man Suitcase is packaged in a poly bag and comes free when you purchase DC Universe Classics Plastic Man at SDCC 2010. You can attach Plas’ arms, head and neck to the suitcase as if he had disguised himself as a suitcase. Open up the suitcase and find chip art comic book covers from the 75 years of DC Comics. Frustratingly, The Blot predicts the Plastic Man Suitcase to sell out in 1-2 days at San Diego Comic-Con, similar to the ridiculously fast disappearance of Gleek at last year’s convention.

B’wana Beast: DC Comic’s Next Big Superstar?

The Blot’s been meaning to talk about this for a while now, but when did DC’s B’wana Beast become a major player in the DC Universe? My guess is that unless you were a hardcore DC Comics fan, you had probably never even heard of the Africa based super hero until his appearances in the animated television shows Justice League Unlimited and Batman: The Brave and The Bold. While the character has been around since 1967, he’s only showed up sporadically in comics such as Crisis on Infinite Earths, Swamp Thing, and Animal Man.

B’wana Beast was actually killed off in the early 90’s but his protégé, Freedom Beast, was up until recently fighting crime as a member of the Global Guardians, sporting B’wana Beast’s signature headdress. That was until he too was killed a few months ago in Justice League: Cry for Justice #1. So what does that mean for the B’wana Beast legacy? The Blot has no idea, but for some reason DC and Mattel believe there’s a growing sentiment to bring back this classic D-list superhero. How else can you explain four, yes FOUR, different B’wana Beast action figures being produced in 2009-2010!?!


I know, it’s crazy right? There are popular DC characters that are lucky if they get one JLU or DC Universe Classics figure, but B’wana Beast, off his two cartoon appearances, is getting a figure in each and every toy line Mattel produces. Already out is the impossible to find JLU B’wana Beast action figure (see above) that was included in the JLU: Legends of the League 6-pack. In stores now is the Batman: The Brave and The Bold Action League B’wana Beast figure, which comes packaged with a standard Batman figure (see below).


Coming very soon is the online exclusive DC Universe Classics 6” B’wana Beast action figure that will only be available in the Animal Instincts 2-pack, which also includes an Animal Man figure. I really dig this 2-pack because it actually ties in to a former Animal Man/B’wana Beast storyline that ran in the first couple of issues of the ongoing Animal Man series from the early 90’s. The MattyCollector.com exclusive Animal Instinct 2-pack will go on sale December 15th and retail for $25 per set.


The final B’wana Beast action figure is the one I know the least about. As you can see from the photo below, it is a Batman: The Brave and The Bold B’wana Beast action figure based on his appearance in the cartoon of the same name. I haven’t been able to find out if and when this figure will see its worldwide release, but with B’wana Beast’s resurgence in popularity you know this figure will be released sometime soon…oh who am I kidding!?! A character can’t have a resurgence in popularity when he was never popular to begin with!


Ok, maybe I’m being a little too hard on the guy considering he’s currently dead in DC's comic book continuity, but seriously? Was there really a need for four different B’wana Beast action figures in less than twelve months? I know Mattel and DC Direct have done an amazing job producing a wide variety action figures based on the heroes and villains from the DC Universe, but let’s move past B’wana Beast already and start giving some other characters their due!

While we've already gotten JLU versions of Vibe and Steel, couldn’t we all use a DC Universe Classics version of the greatest break dancer in the history of the DCU? And what about Gypsy, Lady Blackhawk, Mister Bones, Major Diaster and Big Sir, don’t they deserve multiple action figures too? I know I’d kill for a JLU or DCU Classics Doctor Mist action figure! I could go on for days, but I’ll spare you my ramblings. Who would you like to see in an upcoming release from Mattel or DC Direct?

DC Universe Classics Wonder Twins 2 Pack with SDCC Exclusive Gleek

Wow, it’s early April and news of upcoming San Diego Comic Con 2009 exclusives is already starting to leak out! Mattel and its official Mattel collecting website MattyCollector.com will be releasing a number of SDCC exclusives this summer, but the one that has The Blot really excited is their DC Universe Classics Wonder Twins action figure 2 pack. That’s right, the one and only Wonder Twins, Zan and Jayna, are available for the first time in Mattel’s DC Universe Classics line sculpted by the world famous Four Horsemen. This is definitely one SDCC exclusive I am going to have to get!


As fans of the Super Friends cartoon probably remember, each Wonder Twin had the ability morph into different forms; Zan can take the form of any type of water, while Jayna can take the form of any type of animal, real or imaginary. To recreate this, the Wonder Twins box set also includes Zan in the form of water (in a bucket naturally) and Jayna in the form of a hawk.


As an added bonus, available ONLY as an exclusive gift with the purchase of the Wonder Twins box set at San Diego Comic Con 2009: the Wonder Twins’ mischievous monkey, Gleek! Gleek is only available this summer at the convention and he will not be included with any sets sold online afterwards (the Wonder Twins will be available without Gleek on MattyCollector.com after SDCC 2009).


While the price and edition size of the DC Universe Classics Wonder Twins 2 pack is not yet know, we do know they will come in special window box packaging complete with character accurate accessories as well as amazing light and sound action. Hopefully this means the figures can say “Wonder Twins powers activate!” As more details become available I will be sure to update this post.