“Best of DC Universe Classics” case up for preorder

March 11, 2009 | Poe

Interesting! Entertainment Earth is accepting pre-orders for a “DC Universe Best of DC Classics” wave. Crammed with all-stars, the case costs $139.99 and comes with the following:

This Best of the DC Universe Classics Wave 1 contains figures from Wave 3 to Wave 8. The case includes 10 individually packaged action figures (subject to change):
1x Superman (Red)
1x Superman (Black)
1x Dr. Impossible
1x Robin
1x Batman
1x Firestorm
1x Shazam
1x Captain Cold
1x Booster Gold
1x Aquaman

Note: The Aquaman is apparently the blue variant from wave 7, and the Booster Gold is the modern variant.

Review > The Flash (DC Universe Classics)

March 11, 2009 | Poe

A week ago, if you’d ask me who my second-favorite DC superhero was (after Batman, of course), I probably would have said Superman without hesitation. However, after receiving the DCUC7 Flash in the mail (thanks Paul!), I suddenly remembered just how much I used to love the Flash. (more…)

DCUC Deadshot!

March 11, 2009 | Poe

deadshot

Mattel passed along this image of Deadshot, which they forgot in the batch they sent yesterday. I’m giving him his own post instead of just adding him to that other post because he’s possibly my most-wanted DCUC figure (after the Joker, of course).

I sure hope the production figure comes out looking that awesome. Question for those in the know: what are the things on his hips? Extra clips?

Any questions for Mattel?

March 11, 2009 | Poe

mattyI should be getting the mid-March round of Q&A answers from Mattel in a few days. I’ll turn in my next round of questions about the same time, so if you have any questions for Mattel, post them below and I’ll choose some to ask.

As always, please be civil. I’m much more likely to choose a polite, well-thought-out question than a mean-spirited or whiny one.

DCUC9 images and updates from Mattel

March 10, 2009 | Poe

Mattel passed along some hi-res images of DCUC Wave 9, along with some news.

Please note that the Guardian figure will indeed be the Classic Guardian and not the modern Guardian as shown at NYCC and in ToyFare. (This was due to the fact that we did not have tooling available to do both and vintage version was farther along in the process.)

Also note that we will have a second variant of Wildcat but have not confirmed what that is yet.

DCUC Ultraman and Alex Luthor 2 pack will go on sale April 15th and the JLU LOSH pack will go on sale May 15th.

Faker will be on sale this Monday March 16th and will be limited to 4 per person due to his availability at NYCC.

(more…)

Review > Recovery Suit Superman (DC Universe Classics)

March 10, 2009 | Poe

In the early 1990s, the comics boom was fueled by the likes of the X-Men, Wolverine, the Punisher, Ghost Rider, and especially Cable, the time-travelling, Terminator-like cyborg superhero with a mysterious past (and future). Created by Rob Liefeld, Cable’s big robotic muscles, rectangular guns, and thigh-pouches came to represent the quintessential 1990s superhero cliche–so much so that Magog in Alex Ross’s Kingdom Come was designed as a parody of the character.

Rather than jumping on board the bandwagon, the editors at DC decided to show readers what it would be like if DC’s classic heroes were “modernized.” Batman was out of commission for a while in the Knightfall storyline, which saw the Bat-mantle taken up by a newcomer named Azrael, whose Joe Quesada-redesigned costume sent fans screaming back to their 1970s Batman trades. As for Superman, after his “death” at the hands of the very Image Comics-esque Doomsday, Superman was replaced by four heroes–a hip young teen, a Cable-like cyborg, an urban hero of the streets, and the borderline insane Eradicator. When Supes himself returned, he was initially dressed in a black “recovery suit,” and since his powers hadn’t returned to him, he equipped himself with some very Cable-style guns.

(I particularly love Steel’s little dig at Cable–you can’t tell me that’s not a deliberate reference to Marvel’s then-cash cow.) (more…)

Toy review roundup (via Fanmode)

March 9, 2009 | Poe

fanmode-copy Michael Crawford reviews the DC Direct Watchmen Dr. Manhattan 1/6-scale figure. Excerpt: “The best feature of this figure is the suit …”

Michael Crawford reviews the DC Direct Watchmen Ozymandias and Silk Spectre (Modern) figures. Excerpt: “… the lack of articulation is disappointing.”

Michael Crawford reviews the DC Direct Watchmen Nite Owl (Modern) and Rorschach figures. Excerpt: “(Re: Rorschach) … the figure is basically a statue, and the selected pose really ain’t doing it for me.” (See also.) (more…)

Pic of the Day

March 6, 2009 | Poe

hairdryer1 by Anthony Chuang

Poe’s note: “So how does it look? I really kind of want that Michael Knight kind of thing going…what’s that actor’s name? Hasov, something Russian? Anyway, I love that show…”

Sponsor DCUC roundup

March 6, 2009 | Poe

While I love running this website, I hope you won’t begrudge me a little salesmanship to offset the expenses of running the site and perhaps compensating me a bit for the time I invest in it.

Anyway, apologia aside, here are a few links to items for sale by my sponsors. All these items are in stock as of this writing.

If you decide to order something from Entertainment Earth, be sure to click through using my link. If you order from Enchanted Toy Chest, if you could mention you got there through this site in the Comments section of your order I’d greatly appreciate it.

Entertainment Earth:

Enchanted Toy Chest:

Review > Big Barda (DC Universe Classics)

March 5, 2009 | Poe

Ask anyone who the biggest female superhero in the DC Universe is and they’ll usually tell you it’s Wonder Woman. And in terms of name recognition, they’re right. But in terms of size, attitude, and general bad-ass-ness? That crown might very well go to Big Barda, a prominent member of Jack Kirby’s New Gods. (more…)