Mattycollector.com, Mattel’s struggling direct-to-collector business, has announced that they will close out their DC Universe 6″ collector’s action figure line with a concept that is both clever and foolish at the same time.
Ignoring the adage that In-Jokes are the kind of jokes most people don’t get, Mattycollector had decided (years too late) to cleverly replicate the packaging of Kenner’s fondly-remembered Super Powers line. They’ve also decided to replicate an odd South American variant of one figure, and created another oddity that nobody seems to be able to figure out. They’re also making these figures in the six-inch size, which is nearly twice as large as the original Super Powers figures.
WTF?
In Brazil, back in the 1980s heyday of Kenner’s Super Powers line, the Batman TV show was still popular. Kenner’s Brazillian licensee wanted to make a figure of The Riddler, but Kenner hadn’t included that character in the line. So the Brazillian licensee just took Kenner’s Green Lantern figure and painted a Riddler outfit on him.
WTF times two?
This was an amusing side note, but for some reason Mattycollector thinks that today’s collectors will want to see the same quirky cheesiness recreated as a six-inch figure. The Gold Superman is another head-scratcher. These figures will be fun to add to your collection in 2016 when they make it to Big Lots or Ollie’s for one-fourth of their original asking price.
If Mattycollector had gone with the Super Powers packaging from day one, they might not be winding up their DC series this soon. For a more enthusiastic take on these figures, check out Comics Alliance.
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