If there’s one thing I REALLY love in this Geekly world, it’s the colorful world of DC Comics! DC Collectibles has been kicking butt and taking names since they switched over from DC Direct back in 2012. I was lucky enough to get a walk-through of their booth at this year’s New York Toy Fair, but never did I think I would have the pleasure of talking with DC Comics guru Jim Fletcher! We had a great time talking shop and geeking out! So let’s start at the beginning with DC Collectibles Official Toy Fair 2014 teaser video!
The success of the Batman Black and White statue series has led to DC producing over 50 different statues based on the designs of different artists. Well that series isn’t ending anytime soon, and in 2014 we will see the addition of the Man of Steel Superman line and the Art of War Wonder Woman line! You will now have companion pieces for your favorite renditions of Batman. Jim told me they tried to go with the same B&W look for the two new lines but it really didn’t work. So for Superman they went with a metallic finish and Wonder Woman will be in a traditional matte color. It’s really cool to see that we are getting other Batman characters in the B&W series, I really like that Harley Quinn statue!
Arrow is one of the most popular shows on TV right now, so why wouldn’t DC Collectibles want to create some great products based on it?! At Toy Fair DC showed off the first action figure 2-pack featuring the Hood and Deathstroke from season 1! I really hope that these do well and that we get more of the great stable of characters that have been showing up in Starling City! “The designs are unique enough to do in figure form but still have a “real” look to them, so it really works”, Jim expressed.
The New 52 line keeps growing and growing! This year we will see more popular characters getting the plastic treatment, including Supergirl, Nightwing, and a villainous assortment. DC has the best villains around! Also look forward to an artist spotlight series! The first being based upon the work of Greg Capullo, who currently works on the hit Batman book. On display DC had both the first and second series!
Another big success has been action figures based on the uber-popular Batman Arkham video game series. Since the days of Arkham Asylum (when DC Direct did them), to Arkham City, to the current Arkham Origins, this line has been MORE than a success! We all knew that a Clayface deluxe figure was on its way, but it was really impressive to see in person. This one is bigger than the Darkseid figure that was released with the initial New 52 line, and full of awesome detail (including a removable face to reveal the Joker’s mug). This Clayface figure is MASSIVE and the design is top-notch!!
Son of Batman is the next animated movie from DC Entertainment. It’s based on the original story arc by Grant Morrison that introduced Damian Wayne into the mainstream. I love the animated movies and I really like the new look of the figures that DC Collectibles has been producing to go alongside them. Recently the Justice League: War figures were released, and there is even a Cyborg one coming out this year from that series, along with a Deathstroke (not pictured) for Son of Batman. I really like how they look different from their New 52 counterparts and that the design is heavily based on the animated look!
For you “doll” collectors out there who are also fans of Vertigo, DC Collectibles has a beautiful porcelain doll based on the character Death from Sandman. Also being offered on the stuffed side of things is a cute Deadman plush based of the DC Nation short! I really hope we see some more collectibles from those shorts! Bat Man of Shanghai anyone?!
Batman The Animated Series defined a lot of our Geekly lives growing up, and the impression it made in the comic book world is unmatched. The show was the “gateway” Batman for many fans. So the logical step for DC Collectibles is to pay tribute to this epic by creating, or should I say re-creating action figures based on the hit series! Coming in 2014, we will see figures of Batman, Catwoman, Two-Face (not shown), and Mr Freeze (not shown)! Jim says that they are working very hard to keep the same look, creating “sensible” articulation, all the while keeping in faith with the look of the original toys. Jim told me that they have been doing their homework by going back and watching the series, even going as far as having Bruce Timm and Paul Dini come into the office to talk about it, how cool is that?!
DC Bombshells is as Jim puts it a 1940’s/Rockabilly mash-up. Black Canary is doing very well, and in 2014 we can look forward to a Star-Girl and a Zatanna (featuring a rabbit John Constantine!). These beautiful statues are designed by Ant Lucia. Also coming this year is a new line called Gotham Garage, the first figure will be Catwoman on a motorcycle, you can imagine what is coming next if this series proves to be popular!
DC Cover Girls continues in 2014 with three great statues based on Katana, Poison Ivy, and the beautiful Mera! These gorgeous statues have a ton of great color and detail! As Jim puts it the line has a lot of “leg”! The line is only getting more popular as DC keeps releasing these pretty ladies onto our shelves!!
DC Collectibles expands outside the boundaries of statues and action figures with Batman and Superman pool sticks, Batman dartboard, a villains poker set (art by Kevin Nolan) and an awesome character chess set! Perfect items to build up your ultimate Man-Cave!
Thanks again to Jim Fletcher for taking the time out of his busy schedule to talk with DFAT about the great products to look forward to this year from DC Collectibles. Keep it tooned to DFAT for updates on new figures, statues, and more from this amazing company!
About DC Entertainment:
DC Entertainment, home to iconic brands DC Comics (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash), Vertigo (Sandman, Fables) and MAD, is the creative division charged with strategically integrating its content across Warner Bros. Entertainment and Time Warner. DC Entertainment works in concert with many key Warner Bros. divisions to unleash its stories and characters across all media, including but not limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment and interactive games. Publishing thousands of comic books, graphic novels and magazines each year, DC Entertainment is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world.
