Jada figures are at least twice as good as Jazwares. Price is generally twice as much though so ymmv. I think the detail needed for good DC figures is above what Jazwares would put out. The closest line of Jazwares to Jada SF is probably the AEW line, which isn't bad but it's also not great. They also do chase figures, so Jazwares is not what you want if you dislike McF Platinums. Jada all the way.
There are many comparisons between McFarlane and Mattel. However, a better comparison would be between McFarlane and DC Direct.
DC Direct, except at the very beginning, was never trying to create an entire line of DC’s various characters. Instead, they produced figures based on story arcs that were occurring at the time in their comic books and later ventured into video games and television.
For example, DC Direct produced lines of figures based on Hush, The Killing Joke, the Long Halloween, Infinite Crisis, Alex Ross Justice & Kingdom Come, multiple iterations of the Justice League, Superman/Batman Public Enemies, George Perez’s Teen Titans, early 2000s Titans, etc.…..
Mattel, on the other hand, tried to create a line that created “classic” or “iconic” versions of all of DC’s stable of characters. Therefore, you had core characters from JLA, JSA, Teen Titans, Legion of Super Heroes, New Gods, Metal Men, the Green Lantern Core, as many as they could pump out in addition to Movie Masters, Video Game figures, and figures based on The Dark Night Returns. While this was undoubtedly the strategy of Mattel’s Marketing Team, it probably was unprofitable for Mattel (people aren’t buying anything that isn’t Superman, Batman, JLA, etc….) and probably not what DC wanted.
I would argue that it is DC Directs Model, not Mattel’s, is the marketing strategy for McFarlane Toy’s based off of figures produced for Dark Metal, The Dark Night Returns, Endless Winter, Rebirth, DCEU figures, video game figures, rereleases of BTAS Figures, etc…. I think it is DC’s strategy to produce figures that push their comic story arcs, not the other way round. However, this too has proven unsuccessful for both the defunct DC Direct and now McFarlane Toy’s.
The various JLA figures that McFarlane Toy’s has produced over the last year (Firestorm, Captain Atom, Animal Man, etc….) are probably tied to some DC initiative in the comics rather than McFarlane Toy’s trying to do what was done with DCUC.
Personally, as a collector, I do not need multiple versions of the same character over and over. I would rather see a DCUC, Justice League Unlimited, DC Infinite Heroes approach with a strategy of getting those figures to the collectors that want them.
McFarlane Toy’s FAILS include the Gold Label, Platinum Label, Store Exclusives, the horrible diaper crotch piece, the butterfly shoulder joint that is really just a ring around the arm pit, the 7 inch scale when the rest of the market at large is focused on 1:12, and the obvious lack of female figures making McFarlane Toy’s DC Multiverse a sausage party.
In order to correct course, McFarlane Toy’s should create various scales of basic male and female bodies (oversized, large, medium, skinny, and teen) decorating them with custom sculpted pieces as needed. They should do the same for dress suited bodies and jump suited bodies (like Captain Cold). This would allow them to create an infinite number of characters. Individually sculpted figures are just not cost effective for either the producer or the customer for a line as large as DC unless you have Star Wars money which Warner Brothers Discovery/DC does not. However, individually sculpted figures should be done when cost allows because you have to have Cyborg and Penguin. Personally, I would like to see a focus on the Post Crisis, pre New 52 stylization of characters. There needs to be more customer outreach, customer feedback, and the return of character polls. Despite their flaws, Mattel engaged with and reached out to customers, not always effectively, whereas McFarlane Toy’s seems to be standing on the Temple Mound sending down to the masses only what McFarlane Toy’s wants to produce.
DCUC was a great line despite the many flaws figures had as was Justice League Unlimited and DC Infinite Heroes. Mattel’s DC Multiverse, despite some lingering issues, showed growth and probably would have been a great line had it continued. McFarlane Toy’s DC Multiverse could be better than what DCUC was if anyone at the company really wanted it to be. I had promised myself that I would never buy McFarlane Toy’s DC Multiverse being such a DCUC die hard. However, I have purchased many of their figures this last year when they decided to stop making psychotic, scary DC figures and began releasing a wider variety of characters in mostly classic attire. I hope to see more.
Also, not sure what’s happening with the FWOOSH. This site used to be the boss. Now, not so much. Let’s Go.
LONG LIVE DC!!!!!!!!!!!
I don't know much about Jada, but those Street Fighter figures are pretty cool. I really hope people are happy with McFarlane's output. I was a big supporter, but the last year has been pretty awful to me. His "basic" bodies don't look good at all to me and they don't even work well together.
I understand people are saying he won't lose the license....and probably not.....but retail is very stingy now. How many waves have been denied? We could be seeing the end of Marvel Legends. I could see Hasbro walking since Disney properties are not doing well for them. Maybe Todd does the same. Just a thought. I likely will keep thinking this way after the Task Force wave is revealed - I expect more of the same.
Doesn't Todd have an overall WB license/deal? DC may just be a part of it.
I don't think Hasbro will give up or lose the Marvel license anytime soon. I could see them either/or reducing the amount of waves per year and going the fan channel/online route when it comes to figures. Making the big name waves like X-Men, Spider-Man, etc available to Walmart and Target. I see the same with McFarlane and DC Multiverse.
My inability to get Wonder Woman has been really frustrating. I’d love a proper Morrison JLA but no way I’m paying $60 for her. Had so many orders cancelled already. I ordered through Books a Million as well and I’m nervous it’s going to get cancelled.
I pre-ordered the Plastic Man wave but I’m a little less excited about it than I was originally. Maybe it’s because Jon Stewart is of the wrong era and I’ll have to sell 2 figures instead of one. I just want to find one era and stick to it. Outside of the texture I think they did a fine job on the figure but I wish he was 90s or 2000s.
She's back in stock on Best Buy right now. Hope you are able to snag one.
They also do chase figures, so Jazwares is not what you want if you dislike McF Platinums. Jada all the way.
I don't know if he's an overall Jazwares employee or just focused on the AEW figures, but the guy spearheading the AEW line worked on the old Jakks WWF/WWE lines, which LOVED chase figures.
The Jada Toys Fei Long is maybe the best action figure I’ve purchased at $25 in some time. It’s got ridiculous articulation, pinless joints, the torso is paint washed…really just an outstanding figure. I can stand him on one foot for multiple poses, and he’s got true butterfly joints. If Jada made DC figures of this quality, I’d be all over them.
Makes me wish Todd went to 6” scale for one simple reason…economics. You use less plastic on the figure, that’s more we get in paint and accessories. No way Jada could have made this figure in 7” scale for the same price.
Wasn’t able to grab WW on Best Buy but thanks for posting that she was around. I’ll keep refreshing.
Is anyone else having a hard time "thumbs upping" or quoting this weekend?? Maybe it's just me, but I have tried reacting to some comments here and it's not happening.
In any case blackcomicnerd and rebirthbat I absolutely think JadaToys would kill it, but not holding my breath. Hasbro should and likely will go hard on X-Men. The show looks really good and will be carried by retail. A rare instance in recent years where something Disney would want to push is actually something a lot of people want. Hopefully it saves them.
Not sure on Todd, we don't know his financial statements like Hasbro's, but chances are he keeps doing Batman" TAS figures.
@salemcrow I think he has a hand in all of it. You're right, dude absolutely loves chases. He'd dig his claws into DC and make Todd's platinum versions look common and easy to find. Imagine the chaos here if Todd was releasing wanted decos in chase 500 or chase 1000.
Hmm. As much as I like what Jada is doing so far with action figures(SF and Joes the only two lines I’m willing to pay full price for currently), I’d wait on Jada just a couple of more years before handing them some A level license like DC or Marvel. If you have not been following them, they were already having problems with their distribution due to switching factories and quality issues. Both releases 1st and 2nd waves had staggered figure releases in their own waves due to problems on their end. Chunners late for wave 1 and Bison and Dhalsim late for wave 2 and all the while already announcing wave 4? Don’t get me wrong, they may already have their sh!t together by the time the DC license is up for grabs, but current Jada is not going to cut it IMO as they are now. They just started getting into action figures and are in the midst of smoothing out their bumps on the road. I’d give them DC or Marvel in a couple of more years at least once they get more action figure production experience.
Good points. TBH I'm fine with McF DC figures. They're unique and sometimes the best domestic figures on the market. I wouldn't really want Jada to have the license, they have their plate full, I just would really dislike Jazwares to make the figures. We'd be getting happy meal toy Batman in no time.
I really enjoy Jada, mostly because they're doing flat out fun toys of relatively unique characters, but I don't know that I would be too interested in a DC line by them.
I feel like it would essentially be DCUC 2.0, but with even fewer figures released (as noted above). They didn't even finish their Universal Monsters line to what I would consider a bare minimum standard.
Got my Glow in the Dark Parallax from Amazon today. It looks good. I'm glad I wasn't able to find the Walmart Gold Label version since it has black hair and this one has brown hair with white temples that is more accurate.
I went out last week to a few Targets in my area and was able to find a few figures. Kordax was under $10. I saw the Silver Age Superman and just couldn't get it because of the inaccurate belt. I liked the head & the color of the outfit but I am not a fan of the S symbol on the belt since it is already on the chest. I also saw a bunch of Midnighters & Waveriders, I can't believe they haven't been discounted yet.
I had noticed for a while that the stores haven't been carrying many figures. There was always mention of how the shelves were stocked with McFarlane figures. Many made it sound like the figures would sell and then be restocked but it just seemed like they would hang around until they were marked for clearance or a sale would finally happen to get rid of them.
Since I was in a shopping mood I ordered some stuff off of amazon as well.
Got my Glow in the Dark Parallax from Amazon today. It looks good. I'm glad I wasn't able to find the Walmart Gold Label version since it has black hair and this one has brown hair with white temples that is more accurate.
Same here, this one was worth the wait, plus I wasn't aware his eyes glow the brightest of all, so in the dark(est night) he makes for a rather imposing spectral presence. The glow of the dark power effects / fireballs would be good for a spawn figure too. The white temples and brown hair are what sold me, I couldn't pull the trigger on the black haired one. Even though GITD is a rather old gimmick I still find myself falling for it at times. Overall pleased
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