Happy Scareglow Day

November 16, 2009 | Poe

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It’s Scareglow day! What will happen this time? I haven’t the energy even to guess. Let’s just saying, anything could happen–from Digital River exploding like a supernova to everyone getting exactly what they want in a timely, orderly fashion. The fun begins at 12pm Eastern, 9am Pacific.

Don’t forget, along with Scareglow here, you can order:

Toy Aisle Trolls > Mr. Horrific

November 16, 2009 | Poe

Toy Aisle Trolls is a feature highlighting acts of vandalism to in-store toy items. If you find a ruined package, a stolen figure, a swapped-out figure, or any other such acts, take a photo (cell phone photos are fine if they’re not blurry) and email them to poe AT poeghostal.com.

This one comes courtesy of Sir Real. Someone thought they were pretty damned funny swapping out a DCUC Mr. Terrific for a JLU Mr. Terrific. But they weren’t funny. They were just a ****head (fill in with the four-letter word of your choice).

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Here’s a question: why did this a-hole take off the figure’s jacket? What the hell’s up with that? Is he so unable to contain his perversions that he must strip his action figures? Oh, and the BAF part’s missing, too–Giganta’s right leg. I don’t even want to think what this freak wanted that for.

Let’s all hope the perpetrator of this particular crime drowns in a vat of rancid molasses, painfully inhaling the hot, decaying viscous fluid into his lungs before life ebbs away.

5 Questions With > Geoff Johns

November 9, 2009 | Poe

I’ve got a special treat for you Poesters this week. Comic scribe extraordinaire Geoff Johns, the writer behind DC Comics’s mega-popular Blackest Night storyline, has graciously agreed to answer a few questions for my little toy blog. Read on to find out which toys Geoff loved as a kid, what he collects now, and what’s it like having figures made of your own characters.

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Real Name: Geoff Johns
Specialty: Comic book writer, toy collector
Base of Operations: www.geoffjohns.com
History: Geoff Johns originally hails from Detroit, Michigan. He attended Michigan State University, where he earned a degree in Media Arts and Film. He moved to Los Angeles in the late 1990’s in search of work within the film industry. Through perseverance, Geoff ended up as the assistant to Richard Donner, working on Conspiracy Theory and Lethal Weapon 4. During that time, he also began his comics career writing Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. and JSA (co-written with David S. Goyer) for DC Coimcs. He worked with Richard Donner for four years, leaving the company to pursue writing full-time. His first comics assignments led to a critically acclaimed five-year run on the The Flash. Since then, he has quickly become one of the most popular and prolific comics writers today, working on such titles including a highly successful re-imagining of Green Lantern, Action Comics (co-written with Richard Donner), Teen Titans, Justice Society of America, Infinite Crisis and the experimental breakout hit series 52 for DC with Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka and Mark Waid.

1.) What were some of your favorite toys growing up?

Super Powers, He-Man and the early McFarlane figures. I remember pouring over the He-Man characters because their backstories were so unique and the diversity was amazing (except that Moss Man was Beast Man only green and fuzzy). I vaguely remember the Remco Universal Monsters figures, which I loved. I had always been a big fan of the Universal Monsters so those were great. I also always wanted the vinyl Monster Cereal figures, but I never had them. I think Badrock was well-loved when I was a kid because there was so much plastic. (more…)

Ask Mattel Answers for November 1

November 2, 2009 | Poe

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1.) Hayestronaut asks: With the news of a potential Major Matt Mason film and the development of vintage collector-style lines such as DC’s World’s Greatest Super Heroes, is there any chance of seeing a new Matt Mason collector line?

This is something we are reviewing. Only time will tell!

2.) Tom-Tom asks: Regarding DCUC 10: Mattel has said that Wal-Mart ordered more figures than in wave 5. However, many collectors are still having troubles, claiming it to be worse than wave 5. What is Mattel’s view of the situation?

Sorry, I cannot discuss particulars on retail distribution! That is up to each retailer not Mattel.

3.) PrfktTear asks: How long will Wave 10 be shipping to Wal-Mart?

Until the entire order is shipped.

4.) Dayraven asks: Why are some DCUC figures and accessories made of nice sturdy hard plastic, while others seem to be made of a much softer plastic grade?

Some figures have softer areas to accommodate increased articulation or stylized capes or tunics which need softer plastic.

5.) Barbecue17 asks: You have a policy of not discussing unannounced product, but you also have mentioned that once a figure has been announced there is little to no time for fan input. Is there any point in the life of a figure that fans have the ability to influence some aspect of a figure?

We listen very carefully to fan suggestions when reviewing new candidates for toy lines. If there is a figure you really want, post about it online or talk to us at conventions. Many times the figures with more online chatter wind up being produced sooner in the line.

Ask Mattel Roundup:

DCUC Wave 13 pics hit the Web

October 26, 2009 | Poe

Pics of DCUC13 have made their way to the Web. You can see ’em here or here.

My thoughts: while DCUC has run hot and cold lately, this is a great-looking wave with what looks like a good amount of original tooling. It also finishes off a few groups fans have been hoping for, including “Reign of the Supermen” with ’90s Connor Kent and the Legion of Doom with Cheetah. Cyclotron is a welcome surprise, and Blue Devil and Beetle look great.

You can also find official pics of DCUC12, with variants, at TNI.

Walmart on DCUC10

October 26, 2009 | Poe

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Pendragon’s Post got in touch with Melissa O’Brien, the Senior Manager PR & Brand Reputation for Walmart, and got the inside scoop on DCUC10 from Walmart’s perspective. It’s a great scoop and a fascinating read, and comes complete with a list of Walmarts nationwide that are supposed to be carrying DCUC10 (whether they actually have them in stock at the moment is another story entirely). Some of the more salient points from the piece include:

  • DC Universe is hard to keep in stock because it does sell out quickly. They do realize this is a popular item and it why they increased the order from 1,800 stores to 3,000 store.
  • They are considered a collectible and not a standard toy like GI Joe or Transfromers, and that makes for smaller purchasing amounts for DCUC.
  • They determine with stores get Wave 10, by the total number of sales in each store. The higher the overall action figures sales are, the greater the chance that store will get DCUC.

Ask Mattel Answers for October 15

October 15, 2009 | Poe

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1.) Bambam asks: In DCUC wave 9, the blue Wildcat version was suppose to be the chase variant. Is this still true, or is the Wildcat ratio now 50/50? Are the Mantis figures 50/50, too?

Blue Wildcat is the chase figure. He is not 50/50.

2.) Baena asks: Is there any interest at Mattel or among the Horsemen for a “concept He-Man” in MOTUC? It could be as simple as a standard He-Man, but with a Viking helmet head?

Well we did include Demo-Man (prototype Skeletor as shown in the MOTU art book) in the bios, so it is possible that we may have plans for Vikor as well…

3.) Dayraven asks: Does Mattel have any say/input when it comes to the grade of plastic gets used? For example, the MOTUC Webstor had very different types of plastic for the hooks on his grappling hook vs the shaft of the same hook. Was the decision to use two different plastics for that in Mattel’s hands or the factory’s?

Mattel makes these choices.

4.) Barbecue17 asks: With the price increase taking effect with wave 11, many casual buyers and perhaps even collectors may be tempted to switch to lines which are less expensive and easier to find. What is Mattel planning on doing to add to the perceived value of these figures?

We have a great new theme for 2010. Wait and see!

5.) Dyl asks: Does Mattel have any interest in producing a line of figures based on the designs of the Batman: Arkham Asylum game? The designs are subtly different than the mainstream, and would be a nice alternative.

This is possible, but nothing is locked in right now.

Happy Teela Day!

October 15, 2009 | Poe

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Easy order page: http://www.mattycollector.com/store/matty/DisplayShopperDefinedBundlePage/OfferID.3198617709

I’m curious–due to the bonus figures, Ghostbusters, DCUC and so forth, how many of you have actually been able to avoid logging on to Mattycollector thanks to the subscription? As of right now, the only month in the foreseeable future that I’ll get away with it was…last month. Next month I have to get the He-Man reissue, then in December there’s the Green Goddess and Winston, January has Battle Armor He-Man, Battle-Cat in February and Walter Peck in March…sigh.

Oh, and Bank Robber Joker is on sale today, too. Also, don’t forget, the MasterPOEce voting ends tonight at midnight!

Review > Joker (DC Universe Classics)

October 7, 2009 | Poe

infantino_jokerMattel’s first Joker figure was way back in 2003 as part of their first comic-based Batman line. He was a rare non-Batman variation, which made him popular with collectors. But he also suffered from a common issue with Mattel lines of the time–scale. He was supposed to be a wee bit taller than Batman, but instead, he was too short and small (c.f. MOTU 200X Trap Jaw, who should have been larger).

Finally–after the Joker’s infamous depiction in The Dark Knight, his memorable, twisted turn in Grant Morrison’s “Batman R.I.P.” storyline and his recent bravura performance in the videogame Batman: Arkham Asylum, Mattel has seen fit to allow the Four Horsemen to resculpt everyone’s favorite clown-based psychopath. (more…)