2011 SDCC Day 2: Mattel and DC Comics: A Heroic Partnership Panel

You've been a fan of Mattel's popular DC toy lines, now find out the latest news, sneak peaks, and behind-the-scenes scoop on your favorite Mattel/DC action figures, including DC Universe Classics, Young Justice, Action League, and more. Plus, get an exciting look at new 2012 products. Join Mattel toy designers Bill Benecke and Mike Guarniere, as well as brand managers Danielle McLachlan and Scott "Toy Guru" Neitlich, along with The Four Horsemen and surprise guests from DC Comics and Warner Brothers for an insightful Q&A.

We are covering this panel live so be sure to update your browser often over the course of the next hour.

We had some technical problems but images and descriptions from the panel have been uploaded in our GALLERY below so check them all out for DCU, MOTU, Voltron and Ghostbusters.

Joker Tank coming from Imaginext. A Gotham Jail playset is coming to with Bane.

- Little People DC figures from Fisher Price is coming.

- Green Lantern with Retro action figures. Kyle is still coming, they had to fix the ring.

- Ultimate Electronic Movie Masters Hal will be sold on Mattycollector this fall.

- Batman Brave & The Bold will continue through 2012.

- Batman Legacy Batman with Batmite will be available at Kmart and there will be a 2-pack with Robin and a FREE Batman figure at TRU with when you buy the game the classic Batman TV series uniform that will have a code to allow you unlock the costume in the game.

- Mattel has signed a deal with Diamond to dist DC figures in Europe.

- Wave 20 Green Arrow, Reverse Flash, Hawk & Dove, Red and more.

- Wave 20 will be the final wave at retail and and they will go on sale at Matty. There will be product at retail still but not the fan favorites. See coming panel slides for more details on these.

- JLU will only continue if the ones out sell well.

- Images from Panel added. Be sure to check out for more details on DCUC products.

- Batman Legacy will continue past the 2 waves.

- Nothing to announced on a GL Animated series yet but likely at NYCC we will hear more on the future of Mattel's Green Lantern plans for both movie and cartoon.

- Again 6" figures totally aren't disappearing from retail but from the sound of it the more obscure characters will be sold online through MattyCollector and their new DCUC subscription service however things are still being ironed out so nothing is really set in stone at this point other than the figures announced today for the subscription service will only be available online.

- Oversize figures will be offered in the DC subscription service like with MOTU and the ones sold this year will be $30 figures.

- No Batmobile planned for the Legacy Line right now.

- Young Justice Hall Of Justice is around 20 ft.

Panel ends. Check back to TNI soon for new images of DC product from their booth.

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More Information on ThunderCats at Comic-Con

ThunderCats Panel: Friday, July 22: 3:30-4:30 p.m.: The event will include an exclusive screening of the hour-long “ThunderCats” series premiere. Producers Michael Jelenic, Ethan Spaulding and art director Dan Norton will participate in a subsequent panel discussion and answer questions from fans. Please note that entry to the panel is on a first-come, first-served basis. No passes are available for this event.

Larry Kenney Autograph Signing (Entertainment Earth booth #2343): Friday, July 22: 5-7 p.m.: Larry Kenney, who voiced Lion-O in the classic ThunderCats animated series, will be available to sign autographs of the Classic Lion-O action figure from Bandai America Incorporated.

Toys R Us ThunderCats Comic-Con Exclusive Action Figure: Available in the Toys “R” Us / Entertainment Earth booth (#2343) and online at Toysrus.com/comiccon2011. Lion-O, the leader of the ThunderCats, is presented in a new, highly-detailed 8-inch action figure with 18 points of articulation and a metallic finish in this recreation of his classic 1980s action hero look. Now collectors can imagine taking on the evil forces of the mutants of Plun-Darr and Mumm-Ra the Ever Living with accessories that include the iconic Sword of Omens (in two sizes), Claw Shield and the Sword stand.

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2010 SDCC - Mattel's Ghostbusters Panel

Shown below is a video from last weeks San Diego Comic Con from the Ghostbusters portion of Mattel's toy panel. Give it a listen if you want to hear the latest info on what Mattel has in store for the line and check out images below in our GALLERY of the figures that were on display at the show.

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2010 SDCC - Mattel's DC Universe Information Round-Up

Here is a round-up of information from last week’s San Diego Comic-Con for Mattel’s DC Universe line.

Justice League Unlimited

Justice League Unlimited will continue to be sold exclusively through Target stores and select online etailers. In 2010 you can expect to see new 3-packs and single carded figures that contain mix of in-show characters and fan-favorite ones.

For single carded figures, look for the following characters to be released by late fall:

- OMAC
- Martian Manhunter
- Superman (variant red/blue)
- Captain Atom
- Red Tornado
- Ultraman

For 3-Packs look for the following sets in 2010:

- Batman, The Joker, Gray Ghost
- Delmos, Warlord, Supergirl
- Adam Strange, Animal Man, Starman
- Golden Age Flash, Golden Age Green Lantern, Golden Age Hawkman

Mattle will also be offering a couple new 2-packs on their own website in 2010. These will be released before the holidays:

- Destroyer Darkseid, Kaliback
- Parademon 2-pack

In the early Spring of 2011 look for the following single carded figures:

- Batman
- KGBeast
- B’ wana Beast
- Metallo
- Cheetah
- Hro Talak

For 2011 3-packs you can expect to see the following sets:

- Blue Beetle, Powered Up Fire, Booster Gold
- Guy Gardner, Martian Manhunter, Batman
- Aquaman, Superman, Toyman
- Firestorm, Angle Man, Killer Frost

Action League

Mattel will be expanding their Batman: Brave & The Bold Action League line of mini-figures to the entire DC Universe. These 2 ¼ scale figures will have increased articulation and new poses and be sold as 2-packs.

The first wave will include the following sets:

- Superman vs. Bizarro
- Firestorm vs. Black Lantern Firestorm
- The Flash vs. Captain Boomerang
- Green Lantern vs. White Lantern Sinestro
- Green Arrow vs. Prometheus
- Batman vs. Joker
- Tomar Re vs. Low


Retro-Action DC Super Heroes

Mattel will continue their 8” cloth “Retro-Action DC Superheroes.” They will continue to be sold exclusively through Toys R’ Us stores and select online retailers.

Wave 3 will include the following figures:

- Flash
- Captain Cold
- Wonder Woman
- Cheetah


Wave 4 will include the following:

- Shazam
- Black Adam
- Martian Manhunter
- Darkseid

Starting in February Mattel will offer exclusive Green Lantern Retro figures through their website. They will release one figure per month counting down to the release of the Green Lantern movie. The first two figures will be a Yellow Corps Sinestro and Guy Gardner Green Lantern.

Speaking of the Green Lantern movie, Mattel says they have big plans for GL and their 3” DC Infinite Heroes line. Mattel was short on details right now but stay-tuned to the coming weeks for more details on these.


12" Movie Masters

Mattel will be releasing their 12" Christopher Reeve Superman figure by Christmas 2010. The figure will come with a Lex Luthor toupee and Kryptonite necklace. Look for it to be sold exclusively on Mattel's website.


DC Universe Classics

Mattel’s Toys R’ Us exclusive line of DC Universe Classics vs. Masters of the Universe Classics figure 2-packs will continue with 4 new 2 packs in 2011. Following the He-Man vs. Superman and Skeletor vs. Lex Luthor sets which are already out on shelves, we can expect new sets to include Stratos vs. Hawkman and Mer-Man (Mini-Comic Colors) vs. Aquaman. The remaining two new 2-packs for 2011 have yet to be determined but one possible pairing could see a Trap-Jaw vs. Cyborg set.

For the single carded DC Universe Classics line, look for there to be 4 mainline waves and one wave to be released as a Wal-Mart exclusive. Wave 14 which is the Wal-Mart exclusive wave is shipping to stores now and Wave 15 will ship early this Fall. Starting with wave 16, each wave will have 6 figures instead of 7 (not including variants) and a “Collect-to-Connect” piece to build a bonus figure.

Wave 14 includes:

- Zartana with removable hat
- Gold with removable arm attachments
- Tyr
- Obsidian
- Kamandi
- Green Lantern (Alan Scott)
- Golden Age Hourman
- Collect-to-Connect Ultra Humanite


Wave 15 includes:

- Golden Pharaoh
- Martian Manhunter
- Martian Manhunter Alien Head (Variant)
- Sinestro Corps Batman
- Starman (Jack Knight)
- Starman Classic (Variant)
- Raven (Fan’s Choice)
- Jamm, Son of Saturn
- OMAC (Classic)
- Collect-to-Connect Validus


Wave 16 includes:

- Knightfall Batman
- Classic Robin with modern head
- Classic Robin with vintage head (Variant)
- Creeper
- Jonah Hex
- Mercury
- Riddler (Jumpsuit)
- Collect-to-Connect Bane

Also look for a new 6" Joker figure to join Mattel's Toys R' Us All-Star line. This figure is a repaint now sporting a black suit.

For those of you who can’t get enough Green Lantern this year, Mattel has you covered with a new line of Green Lantern Classics. These 6” figures will be based on heroes and villains from the Green Lantern comic book series. There will be 2 waves and each wave will include a “Collect-to-Connect” figure. Also for the first time, some figures will include swappable heads and arms that can be used on different figures.

Wave 2 will include an original Red Lantern figure that will be sculpted by the Four Horsemen and named by DC’s Geoff Johns. There will also be a special Toys R’ Us 2-pack that features figures of corrected height Sinestro and Hal Jordan.

Wave one will include:

- Kyle Rayner
- Sinestro Corps Mongul
- Black Hand
- Manhunter Robot
- Sinestro Corps Low & Maash - Two Figures In One (Uses the interchangeable arms and heads)
- Black Lantern Abin Sur
- Collect-to-Connect Sinestro Corps Arkillo

Finally look for a Legion of Super Heroes 12-pack. These 6” figure will be sculpted by the Four Horsemen. The set will include a Proty accessory and die-cast Legion Flight Ring. This set will be sold next Spring exclusively on the Mattel website.

The figures included in this set are as follows:

- Superboy
- Cosmic Boy
- Lighting Lad
- Saturn Girl
- Brainiac 5
- Chameleon Boy
- Ultra Boy
- Karate Kid
- Wildfire
- Matter Eater Lad
- Timber Wolf
- Collect-to-Connect scale Colossal Boy
- Invisible Kid (Mattel Joke)

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2010 SDCC - Masters of the Universe Classics Information Round-Up

Here is a round-up of information from last week’s San Diego Comic-Con for Mattel’s Masters of the Universe Classics line.

Mattel’s Toys R’ Us exclusive line of DC Universe Classics vs. Masters of the Universe Classics figure 2-packs will continue with 4 new 2 packs in 2011. Following the He-Man vs. Superman and Skeletor vs. Lex Luthor sets which are already out on shelves, we can expect new sets to include Stratos vs. Hawkman and Mer-Man (Mini-Comic Colors) vs. Aquaman. The remaining two new 2-packs for 2011 have yet to be determined but one possible pairing could see a Trap-Jaw vs. Cyborg set.

To round out 2010 on Mattycollector, we can expect 1 new figure each month with the next oversized figures, Gygor to be released in September. There will be a second weapons pak (Great Wars) which will see a release in October.

The next quarterly figure, a King Greyskull redeco will be released in November. Also in November we will see the release of Mattel’s first army builder figure 2-pack. We can also expect to see reissues of previously released MOTUC figures each month throughout the 2010, for those of you who may have missed out on earlier released figures.

Subscriptions for Mattel’s 2011 Club Eternia subscription began last Wednesday and will continue to run till July 4. There is a $20 sign up fee which Mattel says covers the cost of the subscription only figure.

Included in your subscription will be:

- Twelve 6” monthly released figures
- Four Quarterly 6” “A-List” variant figures such as Battle Armor Skeletor
- Four oversized Beasts or Army Builder packs such as Panthor (3 will be $30 and 1 $40)
- Subscription only figure like Time-Travel He-Man and a new Map (These will ship in Qrt 1 2011)


Not included in the subscription will be:

- SDCC exclusive figures
- Figure stands which will be returning in 2011
- Weapons Paks
- Figure re-issues

For those not wanting to subscribe, you will still be able to try and order figures individually and the maximum order limit on Mattycollector will remain 10 figures per customer, or while supplies last.

She-Ra fans will have an opportunity to purchase her sidekick with a new version of her horse Swiftwind. Fans at comic-con were able to vote if this would be done in the classic white color or royal pink. The classic white version won with 62% of the vote. Swiftwind will be released towards the end of 2011.

For those who missed out on the San Diego Comic-Con exclusive version of the Orko with Prince Adam figure, a non-color change version will go on sale at the Mattel website starting on August 2nd and cost $25.

Also on sale in August will be the next regular figure, which will be Whiplash. This figure will have two alternate heads and two weapons.

September will see the release of the Chief Carnivus figure along with the oversized figure, Gygor.

In October we will see the release of Roboto. This figure will come with 3 robotic arm attachments along with a regular fist attachment. The gears in his chest will move as you twist his waist, just like with the original Roboto figure. Each of the gears will also be cast in the original vintage colors as well.

In November will see a release of the second weapons pak (Great Wars) which will include:

- Mer-Man’s weapons in gold,
- Gold spear from Whiplash which will go great with your King Randor figure
- He-Man’s Battle Ax and Shield in orange, which will look good with Fakor
- Evil-Lyn’s weapons in a purple which is an homage to the 200x line
- Roboto’s parts in black for Trap-Jaw to use
- Green bird perch and armor
- Optiks’ weapons in black
- She-Ra’s sword in two colors

November is going to be an expensive month for collectors. For the regular figure, look to see the Horde henchman Grizzlor released. He will come with a removable loin cloth as well as 3 weapons that will attach to his back. The loin cloth will be packed separate from the figure so he will have his classic look in the package.

We will see the release of the first Masters of the Universe Classics figure 2-pack which will contain the Eternia Palace Guards. There will be 4 different interchangeable heads included in this set including a snake-man head and one that looks a lot like Mattel’s own Scott Neitlich. Other accessories featured in this set will include 2 removable mouth guards, 4 swappable chest plates (A Lieutenant Battle Damaged and Non-Battle Damaged plate and a Private Battle Damaged and Non-Battle Damaged plate), 2 shields, 2 long axes, 1 club and 1 short axe. This set will cost $40.

Then finally we will see a King Greyskull redco figure released. This version will come with a light sword, 2 halves of the grey power sword, orb of power and it will contain flocking on it. This one will be one of the quarterly non-subscription figures.

In December we will see the release of Buzz-Off. It will come with a removable helmet as well as his 200x long ax and a short ax.

Starting things off for 2011 in January, She-Ra fans will get another nod with the release of Bow. He will have two different heads, classic with the headband and one with a mustache like in the cartoon. He will have a removable/swappable chest piece that will feature either a circle or a hart. Also included with this one will be bow without a string, arrow quiver and a bow.

The first over-sized figure for 2011 will be of a Shadowbeast. Considered to be an army builder, it will come with a very detailed club and be released in January along with Bow.

In February we will see the release of Cona…. Err I mean Vikor, He-Man of the North. Vikor is based on the original concept art for He-Man. It will come with a re-moveable helmet, axe, spike shield, skull necklace, and beast cape. It will also have a real metal chain hanging from his wrist band and come with the other half of the blue power sword (the other half is in the “Great Wars” weapons pak).

Also in February will see the release of the next quarterly figure which will be of Battle Armor Skeletor. This figure will come with a purple axe, and swappable chest pieces like Battle Armor He-Man had. This figure will NOT have a sword.

King Hiss will get his Classics debut in in March and include swappable mid-sections so you can give him human form or snake form. It’s not break-away armor like with the vintage figure which allows both the human and snake versions to be fully articulated, well the snake part has bendy articulation. This figure will come with snake staff and shield.

The 2011 Club Eternia figure will be of a Preternia Disguise He-Man which apparently was designed by Bruce Timm of “Batman the Animated Series” fame. He will come with a cosmic key which was seen in the 80’s live-action “Masters of the Universe” movie. This allows He-Man to travel through time. He will also come with a giant Bionatops gun for hunting Eternia dinosaurs.

Club Eternia subscribers will also get a new map with their subscription. This time it will be a map of Etheria during the Horde occupation. Both the map and figure will ship in quarter 1 of 2011.

Other things to look for in 2011 that will be available to everyone will be the following:

- Greyskull stands will be offered again in Q1
- Reissued figures almost every month
- Small diorama pieces in Q2 like a Castle Greyskull weapons rack
- $25 SDCC exclusive item in Q3
- First vehicle in Q4 like a Battle Ram


For those watering over the Battle Ram shown at the Four Horsemen booth during the San Diego Comic-Con we showed you last week, we should note that this was a mock up created by the Four Horsemen to show Mattel and possibly won’t be the first vehicle released for the line, though we feel the chances are pretty good at least some portion of it will be. Vehicles are their own new category, not considered over-sized figures and will not be included in this years subscriptions.

We also overheard some Mattel folks talking at the Mattel booth last week about Panthor coming in 2011??? This is by no means a confirmation in our eyes that the purple pet of Skeletor will get his day in the sun, but we feel it’s a good indication he will.

As far as Masters of the Universe returning to regular retail, don’t expect anything besides the 4 new Vs 2-packs in 2011. Beyond that, anything is possible, especially if we ever see that new long-rumored Masters of the Universe movie finally make it to the big screen. If or when Masters of the Universe figures were to make it back to retail, Mattel’s Scott Neitlich explains it would be with fewer accessories to keep costs down and preserve the collectivity of the online versions.

Mattel is currently looking at possibly bringing back MOTU playsets and if they do, the first one would likely be Castle Greyskull.

For the VS. figures, don’t expect anything but regular figures, no over-sized or “Collect-To-Connect” figures in this line.

When it comes to the 200x sculpts, if Mattel were going to release characters from that line, it would be those characters in the Classics style. So for example if they were to do a Snake-Armor He-Man for the Classic line, it would be a Classics looking He-Man figure wearing the Snake-Armor. The hyper-details depicted in the 200x line have been retired and won’t be returning any time soon.

When it comes to making Filmation characters into figures, a character like Granamyr is a possibility because he first appeared in the mini-comics, and not the cartoon. Anyone created by Flimation though such as Blizzard Man, Shadow Weaver, Icor and Batros are off limits to Mattel at this time. Even if they appeared later on. The only exception are characters used in the 200x series like Marzo and that window is now closed.

Check out more images below form SDCC.

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2010 SDCC - Image Update - Mezco, Shocker Toys, Four Horsemen & More

We've spent the day updating our IMAGE GALLERY with new images from the 2010 SDCC. We've added folder for companies like Shocker Toys, Mezco, Sota, The Four Horsemen and more. We also added additional images in other company folders to give you a better look at those companies products. Check them all out down below.

You can also check out our sister sites for additional images and information from Comic-Con for Star Wars, Transformers and Marvel and more!

- Marvelous News
- Jedi Insider
- Tformers.com
- Enewsi.com

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2010 SDCC - Gentle Giant Reveals Statues For Zack Snyder's "Sucker Punch"

Gentle Giant unveiled new statues for Zack Snyder's new chick flick "Sucker Punch." Check out the images below in our GALLERY.

The film stars Emily Browning as Baby Doll, Abbie Cornish as Sweetpea, Jena Malone as Rocket, Vanessa Hudgens as Blondie, Jamie Chung as Amber and Carla Gugino as Madam Gorski. I think I dated some of these types of girls in high school and in college and after college and maybe even last week... Ahhh, good times...

The film follows a character named Babydoll who is confined to a mental institution in the 1950's by her stepfather, who intends to have her lobotomized in five days. While there, she imagines an alternative reality to hide her from the pain, and in that world, she begins planning her escape. Needing to steal five objects to help get her out before she is deflowered by a vile man.

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