As you all are aware, I’ve been suffering from some burnout lately, and it’s affected the site somewhat. While there are a number of reasons for the burnout, there’s a particular issue related to the website itself. The truth is, I’ve lost a lot of my interest in DC Universe Classics. (more…)
Poe’s Point > Who cares if He-Man’s gay?
Running beneath the bilge water that makes up the majority of the Mattycollector Facebook comments wall is a disturbing undercurrent of homophobia.
The LGBT community has been loosely associated with He-Fans and She-Ravers for a while now, but as He-Man.org founder Val Staples wrote recently, “I don’t think He-Man.org has any more gay fans than any other community for any other ’80s cartoon and/or toy. It’s just that more gay fans feel comfortable being who they are here because they know they aren’t going to be attacked for being who they are.” (more…)
Poe’s Point > Nightwing R.I.P.
The “Battle of the Cowl” is over, and to absolutely no one’s surprise, Dick Grayson has won the twin thankless tasks of being Batman until Bruce Wayne inevitably returns and being partnered with the awful Damian Wayne as the new Robin. (more…)
Poe’s Point > Thoughts on Online Comics Archives
[Poe’s note: This is a bit of an experiment. It’s not exactly a toy-related post, and I do prefer to maintain my laser-like focus on toys, lest I water down the brand by making PGPoA yet another pop culture commentary/news site. So please, post a comment and let me know whether you find this interesting or would rather I stick to toy stuff. I have a few ideas for columns like this, but I can always post them over on my other blog, where I posted this one first.]
Marvel Comics has a great online service called Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited, which allows users to read thousands of back issues for a monthly fee. It’s awesome, but I’m a DC guy these days, and I just don’t get why DC Comics hasn’t done it yet. If they did, I’d sign up in a second. (more…)
Poe’s Point > An Unscientific Analysis of Average MOTUC Aftermarket Prices
There’s been a some talk amongst the toy community about a greedy aftermarket of speculators (a.k.a. scalpers) snatching up MOTUC figures from Mattycollector.com and re-selling them on eBay for high prices. Often the existence of this aftermarket is simply assumed in forum conversations, without the presentation of any sort of evidence. It is often used to justify asking Mattel to lower the 10-per-household limit on MOTUC orders to five figures or less.
Mattel has repeatedly stated their research shows “the vast majority (close to 90%) of orders are for 3 or less units.” Of course, it would be naive to take them at their word, but it’s just as close-minded to dismiss it out of hand as corporate bullshit. The real question is: what is the aftermarket for these figures really like, and is there evidence that collectors are paying scalpers huge prices for them? (more…)
Poe’s Point > Hard Times at McFarlane Toys
Poe’s Point > Red Robin for DCUC
So far, I’ve had a lot of luck with Mattel producing the characters I’ve most wanted in DCUC: Robin in his current costume, Deathstroke, Despero, Deadshot, the Joker. I think the only one they haven’t announced so far is the black-and-gray, black bat symbol, pouch belt Batman. So given my luck in this area, I thought I’d officially announce my newest most-wanted DCUC figure: Red Robin.
Admittedly, there’s a bit of a problem here–Red Robin doesn’t really have a definitive identity–not yet, anyway. He originated in Alex Ross’s Kingdom Come graphic novel as a future version of Dick Grayson. More recently, he was introduced to the mainstream DC universe when the resurrected Jason Todd (who really needs to be put back in the cold, cold ground) took on the identity during Countdown. Finally, a minor Batman villain named The General took on the persona in the pages of DC’s late Robin series.
Starting in June, a new ongoing Red Robin series will debut, and while the identity of the latest RR hasn’t been revealed, all signs point to it being Tim Drake. While I love Tim Drake as Robin, I’d be fine with a permanent change to Red Robin. It would make an excellent addition to the Bat family.
The most appealing thing about Red Robin is the suit. It’s a good grown-up version of the Robin outfit, adding touches of Batman’s look while retaining its uniqueness. I’ll admit that’s basically why I want to see the figure immortalized in DCUC form, assuming DC is willing to commit to putting Tim Drake’s bio on the packaging.
How awesome would a DCUC Red Robin be? Customizer Lesternessman created one for an AFI contest last year, and I think the result speaks for itself.
Poe’s Point > Gleekocalypse
I’m almost striking after the iron’s cold, but last week the DCUC collecting community exploded into rage when it was revealed that Gleek, the Wonder Twin’s monkey mascot, would not be available for sale online but only as a pack-in with purchases of the WT set at the San Diego Comic Con (SDCC).
Collectors started a campaign, “No Monkey=No Money,” saying they wouldn’t buy the Wonder Twins set online if Gleek was not included.
In a note on Facebook, Mattel tried to head off the tide of anger. Unfortunately, they went a little too far in trying to offer fans a rationalization for it. (more…)
Poe’s Point > In Defense of CornerStoreComics
It’s no secret that CornerStoreComics has suffered through a bad credit card theft incident recently. It’s no secret because Thomas Gaul, CSC’s owner, has been as honest and direct with his customers as he’s been legally allowed to.
And yet, there seems to be a campaign–particularly via parties on a particular forum that allows people to remain anonymous, and therefore not expose themselves to a defamation lawsuit–to destroy CSC’s reputation and business. Most of this has been limited to snarky comments, but today I read a post that claimed CSC deliberately sold credit card numbers in order to correct a budget deficit, and called them “no-good scammers.” This is flat-out childish and petty. (more…)
Poe’s Point > Distribution timeline of a typical DCUC wave
Today the online retailer from whom I ordered DCUC Wave 7 informed me the figures had not yet arrived and are still a few weeks away.
According to a post on the Fwoosh, the first official sighting of the Wave 7 figures at retail was on January 31. Here’s a timeline of how recent (non-exclusive) DCUC waves seem to break down, distribution-wise.
- Week 1: Figures are found at a few random Midwestern Walmarts and/or California Targets. Photos posted online within hours. Collectors nationwide, including me, immediately waste a cumulative fortune in gasoline fruitlessly driving around to multiple stores looking for them.
- Week 2: Figures continue to trickle into Midwestern Walmarts and/or California Targets. Collectors continue to waste gas.
- Week 3: Figures begin to pop up on eBay, where they’re sold for a 300% markup. Figures continue to trickle in to Walmarts and Targets. On forums, collectors start to complain they’ll never find the figures.
- Week 4: As collectors began to harass online retailers, Mattel ships some fraction of the cases ordered to online retailers, who then have to wait for the balance of the shipments. Figures have now trickled out a decent number of major retailers (except in Massachusetts, of course). Collectors who have the figures start complaining about quality control; collectors who don’t have them complain about distribution.
- Week 5: Mattel informs online retailers that rest of the shipments are en route. Collectors who have pre-ordered online start buying or trading for the figures anyway.
- Week 6: Finally, online retailers receive the balance of their orders.
- Week 7: Collectors who ordered online receive their orders.
- Week 14: Figures show up at retail in Massachusetts.
- Week 15: Next wave of figures is found at a few random Midwestern Walmarts and/or California Targets.
Mind you, the impatience of collectors (my own included) is as much at fault as the erratic distribution.