MisterPL

You mean it's "dead?" Or just "pining for the fjørds?"

Fortunately the licensing program still has plenty of classic DC goodness available. (That includes retro/Silver Age mainstays.) If it means we'll get classic and movie versions TOO, I'll add a few DCnU 'mates to my collection. I don't mind variety. That goes for Star Trek as well.

George Perez had Wonder Woman flying nude over Massachusetts at night early in that run. Fans rave about that movie. I really need to check it out. Still don't understand why WB Animation gets stories SO right but the live-action folks get it wrong every time. (Except for Batman, which I'm convinced is a fluke.) That seems like a viable idea. As a pack-in, DST could get some exposure through Warner Home Video. They wouldn't be a licensee (similar to DCD's arrangement) but they'd still need to go through licensor approval through WBCP. A Minimate would have a hell of a lot more play value than those static figures. I'd have bought that WW video if it had a Minimate figure based on that appearance. But if you're looking for a better retail value, add Steve Trevor to that mix and watch the videos fly off the shelves.

According to License! Global, fans of Ben 10 in the UK will have the chance to collect construction mini-figures based on the cartoon courtesy of Character Options. I have to admit, if these were Minimates, I'd be tempted. The ability to swap parts is a perfect match for this property.

The choker could serve the same symbolic purpose as the bracelets; as a memorial to the slavery of the Amazons at the hands of men. Just a thought.

I'm not sure I want the current Powers That Be at DC to have anything to do with DC Minimates either, to be honest. As much of a success that The New 52 has been, I'd like some classic incarnations of characters, too. I applauded DCD's variety if only because it demonstrated a willingness to pick from all aspects of the DCU, past, present, and even Elseworlds. DST's current business model seems to be working quite nicely for them. Some of the properties are hit and miss but that's the nature of the business. Marvel's certainly a success story. Personally I think it might be worth it to petition TRU for DC Minimates. If they're having trouble moving Mez-Itz at $12 a set featuring figures with five points of articulation and little play value but Minimates are moving well, maybe their buyer can approach WBCP on DST's behalf.

That reminds me: When DC Direct offered Minimates, their MSRP was $2 higher than Marvel's. My LCS owner said there was no way he could move them at that price so he dropped them closer to whatever Marvel's was at the time. So either DC's sales margin was ridiculously higher back then or the costs of using AA as a third-party manufacturer was too high to keep the retail down. As for Mezco, where there's a will, there's a way.

My son was around six when he got hooked on LEGO sets. Our landlord bought him a ($30?) Star Wars X-wing for Christmas and it was all downhill from there. I spent hundreds on that kid's blocks. If you're looking to get her addicted, Star Wars is a safe place to start. Or Harry Potter. Or Pirates of the Caribbean. Or that new girls' line they've got. Can't help you regarding digital comics aside from checking out comixology.com. No idea how their backissues are. Good luck!

Heavy sigh.

The Trek universe is certainly vast but the challenge is finding what truly viable assets could be turned into merchandise. Launching a line like this with the Enterprise makes sense but getting relatively obscure variants like the Constellation is unlikely. Best case scenrio: If the 2-packs come back, DST finds a way to pack in labels with a Commodore Decker Minimate so the Enterprise can be modified into his ship. A Mirror Universe Enterprise would be a no-brainer if only because it's yet another opportunity to include a Kirk figure, even though it's one collectors like myself already have. I hear Klingons are supposed to make an appearance in the next Trek flick. I wonder if DST has a Klingon ship waiting in the wings as a pseudo tie-in.

One other thing to add is the business model. As much as I disliked DST's early chase figures (pairing a Thor variant with Loki), it did seem to force retailers to buy more cases thanks to the one-per-case variants. I'm sure that if DST had their way, a character like Ma Hunkel would have been a variant and these days she'd have been paired with an army builder. I'd like to think a big property like DC would be a rare exception to the "not just Minimates" rule but that's another reason I'm suggesting the 1966 Batman license. A couple weeks ago that was wide open. I'm sure potential licensees descended upon the WBCP booth to talk terms so there may be a number of agreements in the works for a variety of categories. I expect DC Collectibles to pick up whatever slack might be left behind but it seems they'd prefer to license the categories than take the risk of manufacturing certain items themselves. I certainly don't expect to see Adam West Blammoids any time soon, though.

That's what I'm afraid of. I have little interest in the ship (although I'll admit I like it better in these shots than previous ones) but I was hoping that we'd get a Kirk that was at least a little different from previous releases. Maybe DST just used an existing 'mate for solicitation photography and the end product will have some noticable difference. [fingers crossed] That's why I'm leaning toward TRU for this purchase. My LCS gets plenty of my disposable income as it is. TRU could be the lynchpin for this property's continued success. If DST really wants to impress me, they'll offer a variant with Commodore Decker aboard the battle-damaged USS Constellation from the episode "The Doomsday Machine." (How's THAT for wishful thinking?)

I'm just not sure where I should buy this. Should I support my local comic shop or make sure TRU knows that there's still demand for Trek Minimates? Any chance we could get a better image of that Kirk figure? I'd like to compare it to past releases.

And that's the part that bothers me most; Mezco essentially got the license for the collectible mini-figure (IE - Minimates) category in the specialty AND mass market. They're not just offering keychains at TRU, they're offering the figures now, too. They couldn't get the vehicle category hence the Batmobile has wheels that don't spin so it qualifies as a figure instead. All the other mini-figures are probably covered under different categories (pack-ins for Fisher-Price sets, non-poseable figurines and such) but Mez-Itz are basically taking the place of 'mates at TRU and at specialty shops and they probably used DST's existing market model to prove it could work. So no, DC is definitely not "dead." It just appears that DST doesn't share the same urgency to offer this product that fans have to acquire it. If Mez-Itz fails, hopefully WBCP will give DST a try rather than assume that the category just isn't a good fit for the DC brand. I'd like to think that anyone with half a brain at WBCP could look at the pegs at TRU, see Marvel's The Avengers and The Amazing Spider-Man movie 'mates and think, "Gosh, that format might work well with the Superman movie we've got coming out next summer. We should give those people a call." Which is exactly what DST is waiting for, apparently. All that said, I'd need a year to save the money for all the DC 'mates I'd want to buy.

This set is full of fail because I'll probably only buy one set. Okay, maybe two. Seriously, what's with all the awesomeness coming out of DST lately? Must be that time of year again.

I can only speak from my experience as a WB licensee but they do allow you to cherry pick. For example, if you're only interested in the Batman or Superman brands, you can license them individually rather than pay for the whole DCU. The nice part is that, for example as a Batman licensee, that includes rights to films, video games, and cartoons. The 1966 series might end up falling under that umbrella but currently it does not, possibly because of an agreement with Fox on reporting royalties. Long story short: A DC license can include whatever the licensee is willing to pay for assuming the rights are available.

Random thoughts: - It's time to get creative again. I'm sure the rectal thermometer category is wide open. These could sport caps that just happen to be DC Minimates. Kids would love to have their temperatures taken by the Man of Steel or the Amazing Amazon! - Georg Brewer is no longer with DC Direct... DC Direct is no longer with DC Direct! - I can't help wondering how much staffing up DST would have to do if they had both DC and Marvel licenses. Seems like the workload would double. - Regarding the "DC license." In my experience some properties still fall under the DC banner even though they don't fall under the DCU character group. That's why I'm suggesting the 1966 Batman property as a possibility.

That seems pretty close to the truth. They say "you never know" regarding Hanna-Barbera 'mates and they're licensed through Warner Bros. Consumer Products, just like DC. Maybe Space Ghost will save us DC collectors!

Yes, after seeing the control art I'm glad I went with Iron Man, possibly the tallest Marvel Minimate ever. If he, Scarlet Witch, and Protector make the cut, I'm a happy camper. I don't care who else ends up in the box but I'm leaning toward Emma Frost.

I'd love to know exactly WHY "DC would seem to be a pretty closed door." I'm not saying that DST owes any of its end consumers an explanation but as someone who works in the licensing business, it's... curious. My gut is telling me that there's an unwillingness on DST's part to pursue the property. The fact that Mezco got their hands on it frustrates me as a fan but proved that, for some reason, DST wasn't that interested in the property despite the obvious demand for it.

I have reason to believe the rights are available for the block figure category. I'd certainly be all over that!

I spotted one of those Bionicle-like Marvel figures yesterday and have to admit; if they make one of those that's Sentinel-flavored, I might have to pick one up. I was thinking about customizing one but I'll wait a while.

Thanks for taking one for the (DS)Team. As an opener, I'll take the packaging that's torn, bent, or otherwise sullied so long as the product is intact. I know my LCS owner appreciates it.

DST's favorite reply is "Never say never." Yesterday I spotted – for the first time – Mezco's Batmobile set at TRU among all the merchandise for TDKR. I couldn't help chuckling because the design wasn't based on the movie. It was a generic (IE - non-specific) Batmobile. The Batman Mez-Itz that was packed with it was based on a comic book appearance. I recall them soliciting the Tumbler a while back, seemingly in time to tie in with the film, but this sure wasn't it. Add to that the $20+ price tag for a figure with far less articulation than a Minimate and a vehicle that doesn't even feature spinning wheels and the M.A.X. line is looking like an even better deal. I should be seeing the camouflaged Tumbler and Batpod sets, not these things. I could understand if it were an assortment but it was nothing but there was nothing but eight non-film toys. Mezco doesn't seem to have had much luck with their line. Worst case scenario: WBCP thinks that the category is too weak to support any DC property. C3 was a (very expensive) means to an end. The DCD line was apparently not profitable enough for all parties involved because it wasn't licensed, it was work-for-hire. Third time's a charm, right? As for DST, I can understand them not pursuing the license simply because they don't really need another property with a stable of over 5,000 characters. They're enjoying a very good run with Marvel and given the economy and this volatile, niche market, now may not be the best time to add the entire DCU to their portfolio of products. That's why I'm recommending something smaller, something that – like The Munsters – strikes the chord of nostalgia and also attracts collectors seeking some rarely produced merchandise based on a beloved, well-known property.