Mattel regains the DC license

I've had my issues with McFarlane, but overall I was content with them. I'm really shocked that Mattel got the license back because they essentially just gave it up in 2019. I expected someone like Jazwares or Jada Toys to make a bid for the DC license. I don't collect MOTU and I haven't bought any of the WWE figures in recent years, but I did buy some of the Jurassic Park Amber Collection figures they put out over the years. If the Amber Collection figures are an indication of what Mattel will do, I'll probably skip out on their DC offerings because those figures aren't that good.

At least with Mattel having the license, we won't get anymore excessive platinum/chase figures and Jokerized characters. It will be a shame that we won't get anymore large vehicles. Even though they're meant for 7 inch figures, a lot of the batmobile figures McFarlane produced easily fit with 6 inch figures. We practically got every live action batmobile from McFarlane in 5 years which is impressive. 

@jtmarsh I would assume Mattel acquired the master toy license previously held by McFarlane. Companies like NECA can probably make figures in certain formats and scales, but not 1:12 or 1:10 scale action figures. They can probably continue to do their Toony figures which are basically statues and maybe some of the 1:6 scale movie figures they've released over the years, but I would be surprised if Mattel paid for a license that's being broken up to the degree that TMNT has been. I think with that relationship, we're just seeing how weak Playmates is in regards to their influence over the license owner. Mattel is a pretty big fish and is surely aware of what is going on with TMNT and paid for a license that will prevent that. The Playmates business model has always been to go after kids first and foremost and only appeal to adults with reissues where as I'm guessing Mattel knows the consumer base for their product is primarily adult collectors. NECA, McFarlane, Super7, etc. would all be direct competition for what Mattel likely plans to do with DC.

I mentioned it in this in the main McFarlane thread, but I didn’t want to get too negative there.   We’ve all had beloved lines come to an end.  It sucks.

However, when I see Hourman, one of my favorite DC characters that rarely gets a figure, re-using the Spectre’s cape, hood, and possibly even head, I feel like McFarlane just doesn’t care.

McFarlane at his best vs Mattel at their best?  I agree with the McFarlane fans.  It’s no contest.

However, you have to show up for work every day, not just when you’re in a good mood or you’re legitimately interested in what you’re working on that day.  I feel like Mattel will do that.

What’s the better figure?  McFarlane’s DC Multiverse Hourman or Mattel’s DCUC Hourman?  Well, it doesn’t really matter how much better of a pure action figure the McFarlane version is if I’m going to cringe every time I look at the damn thing.  I’ll stick with my DCUC Hourman.

Maybe little things like reasonably accurate costume details don’t bother some other collectors the way they bother me.  Maybe some other collectors don’t care about Hourman any more than McFarlane does.  However, I do, and I’m tired of having to pass on characters I love like Hourman because of McFarlane’s shenanigans.  Some will always maintain that McFarlane’s DC Multiverse was the best DC line ever.  I will always maintain that McFarlane’s DC Multiverse COULD HAVE BEEN the best DC line ever if not for Todd’s erratic decision making.

Does anyone know if there was a change in leadership at Mattel between 2019 and 2025? I remember someone at Mattel saying they were going to work hard to get the license back after they lost it but I don't remember who that was. Also someone said on a recent post that Mattel was this large corporate unfeeling entity that doesn't care about its products. I remember motuc and dcuc brand managers and teams being very enthusiastic about their products but obviously they can't help what executive decisions get made.

I was very surprised by this news. I never got into Todd's stuff because of his choice of scale, so I hope Mattel does pick up where it left off.  6 inch was ideal.

I'd especially like to see more of their Signature series aka the live action figures. Their TV Flash and Wonder Woman and BR Penguin were great! There's more to do there...

I'm looking forward to seeing their first reveals. I haven't paid any attention to Mattel since MotUC ended, so I don't have a lot to say about their assumed quality.

Buuuut, I remember daydreaming over the old DCUC line, and if they pair that kind of retro lineup with Legends-adjacent design, they'll have me for sure. 

Todd discusses the change without really saying anything at all.

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Watched the video. I think he was actually pretty clear. McFarlane lost the main DC license but still has a while on the contract (and therefore lots of in-progress figures to be released), and there seems to be a strong potential he’ll be doing some DC figures. I’m hoping that specifically means DC Super Powers and the B:TAS figures, but maybe that just means some other format like those mini vinyl figures. Or maybe it means the 7-inch line can continue in some capacity and just have less releases or be a comic store exclusive.

McFarlane did basically take over DC Direct from DC. It honestly seemed kind of life a favor to them. Maybe that’s the segment he still has, which, depending on how it’s done, could basically mean he produces several different lines that are comparable to existing stuff, but it can only be districted to comic stores or fan channel or something. 

I hope McFarlane can keep doing the the DC Direct figures like BTAS, TNBA, Justice League, etc. It was a great way for fans who weren't collecting the animated stuff at the time to be able to get those figures without paying the crazy prices on the secondary market. 

I hope McFarlane can keep doing the the DC Direct figures like BTAS, TNBA, Justice League, etc. It was a great way for fans who weren't collecting the animated stuff at the time to be able to get those figures without paying the crazy prices on the secondary market. 

I give Todd credit for talking about it. You know the company would rather pretend the announcement wasn't made because it's only going to hurt sales, and as he noted, they have a full year to go basically. I always wondered how the DC Direct/McFarlane relationship came into being. I could easily see it being something McFarlane requested access to, but also something DC forced on McFarlane at the onset. They had a lot of stuff in various stages of production and made McFarlane taking on production costs to release those final figures was a condition of getting the license. It sure seemed like McFarlane wanted to do their own animated Batman/Justice League stuff, which didn't take. Since those molds are all owned by Warner/DC, that's probably why McFarlane was able to make use of them more recently with the reissues which I would assume has been mutually beneficial to both parties, so no matter how it came to be, I'm sure McFarlane would like to continue doing it. It's quite possibly something that's up to Mattel now.