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Tuesday, November 08, 2011

You call that an "All Star"? Mattel announces the line that will replace DCUC.


Mattel has announced the line that will take the place of DC Universe Classics when it ends at retail after Wave 20, and all I can say is that Mattel and I have very different ideas of what an “All Star” is.

Here’s what was announced today at Mattycollector.com, followed by my own thoughts:

“November 7, 2011

DC Universe Fans,
As you know, the DC Universe Classics line is finishing up at retail with the highly anticipated Wave 20, including the Fan's Choice Collect and Connect® Nekron. Then, following Wave 20, we'll introduce a completely new DC Universe 6" line at retail, the DC Universe All-Stars. Designed especially to complement the DC Universe Club Infinite Earths figures, this new line will blow your collector mind!

You first saw Larfleeze at New York Comic Con. Here's another look at him, plus your first official sneak peek at the rest of the figures from the first mix at retail…



Larfleeze: The wielder of orange light finally joins the DC Universe! This collection-essential figure builds out the Corps.

Superboy Prime: The only super-powered being on Earth Prime, he comes complete with his Anti-Monitor armor.



Flashpoint Plastic Man: Check out this edgy new version of Plastic Man from the popular Flashpoint comics.

Batman Beyond: Behold our sweet take on the iconic Caped Crusader.

So there they are – the four amazing figures that make up the first mix at retail. It's been an awesome year for the DC Universe line and with the DC Universe Club Infinite Earths program on Mattycollector.com and the DC Universe All-Stars line at retail, 2012 is going to be even better!

–Matty”

My thoughts: I have no issue with Larfleeze and Superboy Prime getting their shot at Mattel 6” glory, and I’m glad they are appearing at retail instead of in the Club Infinite Earths Subscription. Superboy Prime can be counted as Legion villain so that works for me, and his headsculpt actually looks like a vast improvement over the DC Direct version. Batman Beyond is a re-issue, and I was expecting that we would also see some re-dos at this point. I can live with that too,

Flashpoint Plastic Man, however, is a big worry. Why on Earth such a minor character from an alternative universe mini-series can be considered “mainstream” enough to appear at retail is beyond me. Was Mattel really chomping at the bit to make this character? Is a non-stretchy Plastic Man really going to be a retail gem? It’s hard to imagine this is anything other than a Geoff Johns ego stroke. Le sigh.

Of course, the saving grace of these figures is they don’t have CnC parts and they’re not in the sub. Still, if Flashpoint Plastic Man is an indication of what we can expect to see in DC All Stars, I may be buying even less of these than I thought.

Have your own opinions? Share them at the AFB Forum, or comment here at the blog to enter the November AFB Comment of the Month Contest!

Until next time!

10 comments:

ryanlb said...

Pretty much agree with you. Larfleeze and Superboy Prime are interesting, but I've already got all the Batman Beyond figures I need (except for villains from the show). And Plastic Man just looks odd.
Oh, and I STILL haven't opened my SDCC Plastic Man, so I really don't need another one.

Unknown said...

I guess it is cool they are keeping these figures at retail but am sticking with DC Direct for my DCU figures i just like them more. But that Batman Beyond looks nice. : )

Anonymous said...

I'll definitely be picking up Superboy Prime, but that'll be it.

--danmartin26

chrismandesign said...

only Superboy Prime would interest me & well, i still have problems with a Batman without a cape...

Mario! said...

I don't have the Batman Beyond figure, so I may pick that up Otherwise, I'm curious which figures will feature in upcoming waves. I'm with everyone else on the feelings of WTF about that Plastic Man.

fishmilkshake said...

I...just...don't...get it?

Adam said...

This is an odd and obscure character selection no matter which way you slice it. I thought we'd be seeing more DCnu characters in this lineup. I'd definitely pick up a DCnu Wonder Woman or an Element Woman (although that seems pretty obscure too) if they did those guys.

bigraj said...

Blech! Pretty sad that I want to give money to Mattel, and they keep telling me they don't want it.

Polarboy said...

Isn't it strange that Plaz looks so odd in pants

TotalToyz said...

This "new" Plastic Man reminds me of Alan Moore's classic 1980s story, a commentary on the then-current retcons, and Flexible Flynn and his "replacement".

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