Well, the first official day of SDCC 2013 is exactly one week from now. Are you getting excited?
We are getting all of our plans made and preparations are in place to (hopefully) make this our best con yet. Until it all starts, though, we are squarely in prediction mode. We have run some previous Top-5 articles to make our picks — did you check out our MOTU predictions? Well, Mattypalooza will also announce what is on tap for our DC Club Infinite Earths line, so we better go ahead and make odds on what will be revealed for second full year of the subscription (oh, and what is left for 2013 too).
Even though it has not sold quite as much as its MOTU counterpart, I think the DC club still has a few strong years left in it to get some of those outstanding big names (and big name variants), as well as fill up the corners with some of the fan-demanded guys. So who is going to help sell those subs next week? We will find out for sure shortly after 11 AM, PDT, on July 19th, but, for now, here is our list of characters likely to be making a comic con curtain call.
5. Hourman (Rick Tyler)
I am going to start this list with the only character that I consider to be slightly “off the cuff” for a predictive list. There has been a long-standing rumor that papa Rex Tyler was supposed to have a variant of his son way back in DCUC 14 (before it went all Wal-Mart exclusive), so Rick is my “Phantom Stranger” pick for 2014. What I mean by that is I think the prototype has been sitting around the Mattel office for a couple of years just waiting to be released, and this would be the perfect time. He would be pretty simple, he is in demand and he would hopefully open the door for his special lady Liberty Belle to be released later in the year.
Odds: 20-1
4. Ra’s al Ghul
I think it is safe to name the Demon’s Head as Batman’s most high-profile adversary to not yet have a Classics figure. In fact, I am shocked we do not have him yet based off his his high profile in the Christopher Nolan Batman trilogy. He stands to be pretty basic in terms of construction, but I hope they give him a little more “oomph” so he is not just another guy in a suit. Maybe they will go with the shirtless version just to set him apart a bit more from the other Bat Villains with whom he will be sharing shelf space. It is time.
Odds: 10-1
3. Aquaman (’90s)
Just to make it clear that is NOT a wish list: I HATE this version of Aquaman. I mean, I absolutely despise it. I think it misses the mark of being character accurate in absolutely spectacular fashion in lieu of being 1990s “edgy,” and it makes the nU 52 look seem like a revelation. The DCUC series 2 Aquaman is all I will ever need for Classics, but, that being said, I know the demand is very high for the variant. I am kind of opposed to same-character variants in the sub in general, but if this version of Arthur can help make 2014 a reality, then let’s have him. Who knows, maybe the Horsemen can work their magic on his design.
Odds: 5-1
2. Ice
Fire is coming out next month. As far as I am concerned, there is no Fire without Ice and my DCUC collection will be painfully incomplete if we get one and not the other. Thus, Fire’s inclusion in this year’s lineup makes Ice some of the most sure sub-bait we have ever seen. The International iteration of the Justice League is slowly building up its membership, and Ice is most certainly the biggest name still outstanding from those ranks, if not the League at large. Heck, I put her in first place in my most needed JLA list. Really, I would be shocked if Tora is not a Mattypalooza reveal.
Odds: 2-1
1. Doomsday
Again, this is a character that I am not personally jazzed about, but in terms of a sub-selling, oversized item, there is no one out there more high-profile or in demand. I think that the Doomsday we got all the way back in the DC Superheroes line was fantastic, but he is just way too small, so I totally get the need for an improvement. I personally think that the Kilowog body, if modded and added to properly would be a fantastic base for Doomsday. Matty, you want to sell subs, the people want their new Doomsday, I think you know what to do!
Odds: Lock
So what do you think? Sound off in the comments and vote in poll. Even if this entire list is a bust, we will know for sure in a little over a week.
[polldaddy poll=7235264]
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@ John Harmon
But they went there with Flash, so there’s definitely precedent (never mind that Wally’s Flash suit has been drawn in the same way as Barry). I think if it’s a good fit monetarily for them, they’ll do it. If it’s a different character (a criteria I think is ridiculous) then it’s on the table. A character already made in plastic but in a different suit/era? That’s what he said they won’t likely do. (Again, a criteria I think is dumb.)
I would think that in order to try to drive the membership up Mattel is going to have to use either Granny Goodness or a larger Doomsday as the exclusive.
They also know they will need popular requested characters for 2014 as well.
I predict we will see:
ICE (who may be one of the final three for 2013)
RA’S
JOHNNY THUNDER and T-Bolt
VIXEN
JADE
AQUALAD
light blue SUPERMAN with MXYZPTLK
INDIGO
WEATHER WIZARD
DR. LIGHT
All are fairly simple to do with little new sculpts. Which means they might save the budget to do a figure or two with more work as they did with HUNTRESS this year.
var·i·ant (vâr -nt, v r -) adj. 1. Having or exhibiting variation; differing. 2. Tending or liable to vary; variable. 3. Deviating from a standard, usually by only a slight difference. n. Something that differs in form only slightly from something else, as a different spelling or pronunciation of the same word. [Middle English, from Old French, from Latinvari ns, variant-, present participle ofvari re, to vary; see vary.]
Now, as for Mattel and toyguru; I WAS PROMISED AN OVERSIZED DOOMSDAY. where’s my Doomsday? DOOMSDAY PLEASE!
and it’s way too early for all these variants. The DC library hasn’t even been scratched yet.
12+ sub slots and none need be wasted!
I think the only two that could be a lock are Ra’s Al Ghul and Ice. The others are variants of characters they’ve already done, and they have no interest in doing that. I know Toyguru has said as much several times, that they don’t want to fill the sub with figures that are variants of characters they’ve already done.
I would LOVE a better scaled Doomsday before any of the others. Matty would more than likely cheap out on Ras and throw his head on that tired and busted suit buck. I would love to see Rick Tyler….BUT he would probably end up a GA Hourman repaint. The toughest one would be hook handed Aquaman. Thats a full new sculpt on him so he more than likely be at the bottom of Mattys list.
I’m sure we will all see Blood Pack, Razorsharp and the Psyba-Rats, Hitman, Anima, Loose Cannon, Argus and Gunfire before we see a better scaled Doomsday….or Granny Goodness
I wouldn’t be surprised if they revealed a T-shirt/jeans Superman for the DC Unlimited line with the intent to reuse the body for a Conner Kent Superboy in the sub or vice versa.It is Supes 75th anniversary after all.
ice has to be a lock since fire is coming . and rhas he would proably wind up being revealed more for the batman retail line. then the sub. hour man mattel think with jay out considered the jsa done. though would not be surprised to see him pop up just to finish the team. doomsday mattel has said no due to him requiring some new tooling they do not have the budget for even as a baf. though if nothing else mattle may just reissue the old doomsday figure. other wise no go on doomsday due to the tooling for that would be like them saying granny goodness is finaly a go to and revealed her at comic con.
You’re right. My bad. Didn’t mean to step on any toes with that.
Hourman is NOT a variant, it is a completely different character. It is no different than getting the Ted and Jaime Blue Beetles. Rick and Rex Tyler are both unique characters.
I hope to Zod they don’t put 90’s Aquaman, Doomsday, Hourman or Ra’s in the sub. For Aquaman, Hourman and Doomsday, I understand that they’re legitimate variants (or in DD’s case, a much needed re-do,) but I want UNIQUE characters in the sub, not different versions. and with Ra’s, he’d be much better situated in the Batman Unlimited line. Just give me a Wesker Ventriloquist, Mattel!!!
Whatever they do NO NU52 or I’m through
These choices are just so perfect and so obvious. Which makes me think we’ll see none of them lol.
Of those mentioned, I would *love* to see Johnny Thunder and the Thunderbolt, Atomic Skull, and Ra’s al Ghul, and throw Mxyzptlk in there somewhere while you are at it.
But frankly, if they are going to mix in nu52 figures, then I’m done with the subs.
I think Ice is a sure thing of the upcoming SDCC reveals, the only question is whether she will be concluding 2013 or be sub bait for ’14. There’s a good argument to make for either case.
Doomsday is far and away the best choice for a ’14 sub exclusive. It’s just a question of whether they’re willing to forego the supposed 100% tooling he apparently requires.
I think either GA Mr. Terrific or Johnny Thunder and T-Bolt will be offered as they’re compellingly close to wrapping up a GA JSA.
Vixen is more than likely, for all the reasons Joe Acevedo says.
And there’s also the ‘threat’ of Indigo-1. I say she’s guaranteed for a 2014 lineup, but won’t be shown at SDCC.
I agree that a major Batman or Supes baddie would be the ticket. An easy cop-out would be Zod. I’d love to see the Wesker version of the Ventriloquist or a Professor Pyg revealed, but Ra’s al Ghuld or even Talia are better bets.
Veebee, I hope you have the power of prophecy b/c Hourman, Aquaman, Ra’s, and Doomsday are all in my Top 10 most wanted. And Ice isn’t far behind.
I could see light blue superman possibly in the sub by giving him a new better headsculpt and throwing in mxyztplk as a pack in
Do you guys think Matty would put the light-blue Superman in the sub? And if so, how would you feel about it?
I’m not a sub guy, but I’d definitely grab him if he did make an appearance. I would do the same with Doomsday and Ra’s as well.
The other character I’d love to see in the sub is the Clark Kent Superboy. Take the Legion version, remove the ring hand, new head sculpt.
Weather wizard
Perez zatanna
ice
RAs al ghul
doomsday
Garth aqualad
liberty belle
those are my predictions
Vixen was on Mattel’s short list and in a poll that they had sent us. I would expect to see Vixen. I hope to see ICE in the list of the remaining figures for the end of 2013, in case the Infinite Earths Club fails to go into 2014.
Mattel needs a strong list of figures to end the 2013 year, as if it were the last year. Then they need a strong preview of the 2014 line that is awesome enough to get fans to spend nearly $30 per month to buy them. Also they have to keep to the NO NEW 52 versions in Infinite Earths Club.
What I would like to see at SDCC.
Ice
Vixen
Hourman (Rick Tyler)
Liberty Belle
Monarch
Atomic Skull
Ocean Master
Even if Hourman is lying around waiting to be made, they need to send a larger message of quality and dedication, so I’d swap him out for a super-sexy Phantom Lady or possibly a Liberty Belle. The former because they’ve started a new team and they’ll want to reiterate the goal of completion, the latter because she’s a fan-demanded female and they know we likes the females. Although really, the spot reserved for “lying around in wait” should be reserved for Vixen. You just know they’ve been sitting on her. I think she’s more likely a reveal than anyone else, Ra’s included.
And as far as ’90s Aquaman is concerned, if I can use him to shush the anti-Super Powers crowd when we finally get a repeat of Kalibak, then I’ll take him.
Solid predictions. I’d consider all a lock except for Hourman, but if he’s not there, I expect there to be at least one other JSAer in his place.
I really hope Matty takes a page from the MOTUC sub and proceeds with only the most fan-demanded characters in 2014. They need to do everything they can to entice subscribers. Gone are the days of padding out the line and spacing out the most wanted characters. Every month needs to be a home run.