DC Universe Classics - The Question

Time to backtrack a bit and fill in a few holes by getting to some reviews I have not had time for in the past.  Today, i'll take a look at Mattel's DC Universe Classics, Wave 11's, The Question which was, by the way,  the winning character of the 2008 ToyFare poll and released in early 2010.  Other characters in the poll were Huntress (who i would've rather had), Vixon, Starman (later released in wave 15), Catman and Ragman.  This was a very popular wave but not because of "The Question" being the peoples choice from a rather low level list of characters but mostly because of the very popular collect and connect character for this wave, Kilowog. 

Packaging from DCUC Wave 11 was old school.  The first 11 waves were basically the same as you can see below.  Mattel changed the DCUC packaging up a little after this wave was released by changing the graphics.  Packaging is not a big deal to me.  Its pretty but just gets tossed in the trash.

Fans of The Question should be generally happy with the final look of this action figure.  Overall, a very good likeness of the comic character. 

Those of you that are not a fan will just see this action figure as some dude without a face in a long

 coat....but if you're reading this, you're most likely a DC Comics fan at the very least and are aware of the character.

Up close, there is really not much special detail as the Question, has no face.  But the horseman have done a good job with regards to making it seem like The Question does have a face but its being covered up.  You can see indents where the eyes would be and nose and mouth. There is good detail work in trench coat, hat and jacket.  The inside suit jacket under his trench coat probably is the most flaw part of this action figure's design as it looks its sitting or it opens up a bit low on the torso.....  The Paint job is fairly clean with a decent color pallet. No complaints there. 

The are some similarities to The Question's Sculpt and Wave 10's The Joker as well as Wave 5's The Riddler and even Wave 8's Gentleman Ghost.  Mainly the Torso, arms, hands, legs and feet as far as re-used parts go.  The Question's main differences are obviously the head and long trench coat. 

The Question does lack a bit of articulation due to his sculpt.  Specifically the mid torso and hip joints we are use to with most DCUC action figures are hidden and restricted by The Question's trench coat and suit jacket.  The figure's leg movement is limited making posing this action figure in many different ways a bit hard.   I truly ran out of different ways to photograph this action figure as all the poses started looking exactly the same. 

There is not much else to mention quite honestly about The Question.  There are no additional accesories besides the left leg of the Collect and Connect action figure, Kilowog which to be quite honest is the main reason for purchasing this action figure. If you're going to give us an action figure with two open hands, then we would expect some sort of accessory to put in them, no?   

Sculpt - 7, Paint - 9, Articulation - 6, Accessories - 0, Fun - 5

Unless you are a big fan of The Question...or Kilowog, you're probably not going to be rushing out to buy this action figure.  It is a decent purchase and to finish Kilowog, well, that makes this buy totally worth it IMO.  Mattel has given us an action figure made of very good quality and sitting on ones shelf, looks pretty good with the rest of my DCUC collection.  The downside is once you pick it up The Question and start playing around with it, you'll realize its limitations very quickly.  It would have been cool if Mattel could have given us some accessories to make up for the lack of movement this figure provides us.

Mattel's DC Universe Classics "The Question" and other wave 11 action figures are not really available in the stores anymore but there are PLENTY of auctions on eBay where you can still get him at a reasonable price. 

To find Mattel's DC Universe Classics, The Question on eBay, click here

To find Mattel's DC Universe Classics Kilowog and the rest of the wave 11 on eBay, action figures, click here

Im still waiting on my DC Universe Classics Green Lantern wave 1 action figures...they are in the mail thankfully.  Hopefully soon so I can post a few reviews.  Be sure to sure to check back. 

Tintin Shop in Singapore!!!

Crowded Tintin Shop in bustling Chinatown

Tintin, Captain Haddock and SNOWY has landed in Singapore! Our camera phone simply doesn't do this shop any justice.We are absolutely in love with the shop and its extensive collection of Tintin merchandise. Michi grew up reading Tintin books and yes we do have a Snowy in our family of toys as well... just that we love it too much to let it come out of the plastic wrapping.

Much love for Snowy

Snowy in all sizes

Collectors' Snowy plush! Poor Snowy!

Snowy biting off a lion's tail, a scene from Tintin in Congo. (Wundertime)

The Tintin Shop

56 Pagoda Street

Tel: 6472 4291

View Larger Map
Decent Pictures Found HERE

Featured Artist ~ Ella from Dolls and Bunnies

I recently found these enchanting felt mice from dollsandbunnies while being featured in one of Ella's treasuries. I love the vintage, Beatrix Potter inspired collection of animals she creates. The way she photographs them with cottage photos in the background really adds to the charm of her handmade characters. If you have ever made miniature dolls you can appreciate Ella's work. I've seen tiny felt dolls in the past and I know how difficult it can be to turn those tiny arms and legs. It takes a special kind of patience to do so and Ella never cuts any corners while making her dolls. They are perfect!

Goals for 2011 - Licensing

At the end of every year I finish up my business paper work and write down goals for the next year. My goal for this year is to wear my jammies to work. What I mean by this is that I'd like to work full time from home, creating art all day. In fact I was so inspired to do so that I bought some cozy fleece pjs, a robe and some fuzzy slippers. I thought if I at least wore the work-at-home uniform it would help my dreams come true. Funny thing is, they make me feel like some lazy old goat instead of a confident independent artist making a living selling my artwork from home. I'm not yet convinced wearing elastic waist pajamas all day inspires motivation and energy.

Anyways, last year was a so-so year. Half the craft shows were very challenging and unprofitable. I started to write down goals for my shop after the new year. I began with small goals - getting items into my Etsy shop that I've been putting off. That didn't seem to be enough, I had to think bigger. I've been wanting to get into licensing for some time now and this is the year to do it. I want to take Fantastic Toys to the next level.

I've always loved the idea of my toys being sold in stores around the nation. In the past I've done wholesale orders where I'm the sole manufacturer - making each item by hand can be so draining. I love to design and create and would prefer to have someone else manufacture the items, which leads me to licensing. I didn't know much about licensing so I began researching and found some great blogs online as well as some books specifically for licensing artwork. So I'm getting my ducks in a row, learning as much as I can about licensing and supporting my self with my art, jammies or not.

My 2011 Licensing Goals

• Continue researching licensing

• Revise Fantastic Toys website, include the following:

- Licensing page

- Portfolio page

- Freelance info

- Press kit

• Research IP lawyer

• Write licensing proposal

• Research licensing agent

• Score my first licensing deal!

Finding good information on licensing can be tricky. If you're interested in licensing here are three invaluable blogs written by artists that will jump start your journey.

Joan Beiriger Blog on Art Licensing

Kate Harper's Blog

Maria Brophy

Below are some books I've recently purchased with lots of business info.

Graphic Artist's Guild Handbook of Pricing and Ethical Guidelines

Licensing Art 101, Publishing and Licensing Your Artwork for Profit

DC Universe Classics - Green Lantern Wave 2 Preview

Quite a lot of new stuff coming out in 2011, so much that i find I'm doing more previews of new stuff than reviews lately.  As I await the arrival of my DC Universe Classics Green Lantern Wave 1 figures, lets take a look at what wave 2 is going to look like.  The line up for this wave was announced a couple months back but you probably wont see these babies Q2, 2011.  And here we go....

First up, we have a 3 in 1mini set of Despotellis, Dex-Starr and B'dg.  I believe they are all suppose to come together in one package.

Looks like Mattel is going to continue giving us action figures with interchangeable heads and/or hands.  Medphyll and Nautkeiloi.  Looks like the hands are exactly the same on these guys.

I'm pretty sure these next two figures also will have interchangeable head and hands, Night Lik and Skallox

Next is Sodam Yat

And finally, Star Sapphire

ahhhh...but there is one more.  A secret action figure modelled specifically from the upcoming Green Lantern movie.  Guess who....

Finally, the DC Universe Classics Green Lantern Wave 2 Collect and Connect action figure - a very cool looking Stel. 

So there you have the DCUC GL wave 2 line up.  Green Lantern fans will have nothing to cry about in the coming months, thats for sure. 

That's it for this preview.  Hopefully I'll get a chance to actually post a review in my next post.  I still have some from as far back as wave 11 to review.  Be sure to check back with Action Toy Review for all the latest news, previews, info and reviews on Mattel's DC Universe Classics action figures.

If you're looking to add to your collection of DC Universe Classics, I strongly suggest you troll through eBay.  There are good deals to be found if you look hard enough. 

To search for DC Universe Classics action figures on eBay, click here.

'Toy Boot Sale' go semi-pro!

In order to streamline my sales, I have finally setup my online store and Paypal Express Checkout. You can browse for all the items available for sale, add them to the shopping cart and work out the shipping costs. Payment is via Paypal so it is fast and secure. I have added 150+ items for sale, so please take a look over at http://shop.doc18.com

DC Universe Classics - 2010 Year in Review

Happy New Year everyone.  Its time for the 3rd annual DC Universe Classics Year in Review.  Mattel started off the 2010 year by releasing the DC Universe Classics wave 11 set which featured such characters as John Stewart, The Question, Kilowog and Deadman.  Personally, I feel this was the best set of the year.  A current poll of Action Toy Review readers asking which DCUC Collect N Connect figure was their favorite, is showing an overwhelming response for Kilowog compared to the other 4 CNCs.  I myself, did not go for this entire set but went out of my way to make sure i bought the all the right pieces to finish Kilowog.

Wave 12 features characters such as Dessad, Eclipso and Copperhead with the Collect and Connect action figure being a much bigger Darkseid than the one we were previsouly given in the DC Superheroes toy line.  Some decent characters but in my opinion, this was one of the weaker waves we've seen so far. 

Wave 13 had a bit of a Teen Titan theme to it featuring Superboy, Donna Troy, Blue Beetle and Trigon as the Collect and connect figure. 

I was very happy to get a classic version of Cheetah from this wave. Even by todays standards, the show sucks, when i was a kid, i loved the Super Friends cartoon with the Justice League vs the Legion of Doom so this action figure as a no brainer.

Trigon, well....i felt completely meh about him.....It looks like a very cool connect and collect action figure, but I was not ready to dish out $120 plus for this set.  I will keep my eye out for good deals on eBay on both wave 12 and 13 figures. 

Much like DCUC wave 5 and 10, when the wave 14 line up was announced, it was also announce that it would be a Walmart exclusive which pisses off a lot of collectors who already find it hard enough as it is to get their hands on these babies.  Walmart exclusives make it even harder because they're not sold at every one. 

The most appealing figures to me in this set were Zatanna, Alan Scott and the Collect N Connect figure, Ultra-Humanite.  This set also included Hourman, Gold and Tyr. I was not one of those people that ran out around from Wal-Mart to Wal-Mart stores looking for this set. 

Wave 15 was a tad bit more interesting.  First we have the winning character voted by the fans in 2009, Raven action figure released.  Also a main Justice League character, Martian Manhunter (2 versions actually), the first ever action figure of Jemm and a new Batman figure with a new face sculpt in a Sinestro Corps outfit.

By far my favorite figure in this set was J'onn J'onzz.  Very cool. 

The Collect N Connect figure for wave 15 was Validas. 

We've seen a number or re-released figures in two packs this year. Yet another Batman 2 pack this time with a repainted Robin, As well as an Aquaman/Black Manta 2 pack, both figures from wave 2 which again were just repainted.  Also (Below) you'll see the "Power Struggle" two pack which features Superman from the Gotham City 5 pack in 2009 as well as a re-release of Parasite from the DC Superheroes toy line in 2007. 

Also re-released, was a Hawgirl/Gentleman Ghost 2 pack which i assume was because of the ridiculously low supply of DCUC wave 8 figures that were out back in 09.  These two figure were VERY hard to find.  I have seen the original Gentleman Ghost figure alone go for $80.00 plus on eBay auctions recently.  The bad part of this set...no Giganta pieces included.

Mattel is also starting to gear up on the Green Lantern merchandise in anticipation of the Green Lantern movie coming out in June 2011.  A 5 pack called "Green Lantern's Light" was released in mid 2010 which included a few repaints as well as a new Guy Gardiner and Tomar Re action figure. 

Also just released towards the end of 2010 was a 2 pack featuring a taller Sinestro (compared to the shorter version in wave 2 which sooooo many people cried about).  and a repaint of Hal Jordan in shiney green. 

Finally we've also seen a DCUC spin off set featuring Green Lantern Characters.  I'm not too sure how many wave's we will see of this toy series but wave 1 has already started invading ebay and online stores as well as an official announcement for the wave 2 characters.  I hope the GL movie isnt a flop....Here is the GL Wave 1:

And GL Wave 2:

And finally, for all you hard core collectors out there, the 2010 San Diego Comic Con exclusive action figure is Plastic Man.  As you can see in the picture below he comes with a large assortment of accessories which may lead to hours of fun and excitement if you want to pay about 40-60 bucks for him on eBay. 

Well, thats it for my DC Universe Classics 2010 year in review.  Be sure to check back multiple times in 2011 for news, previews, info and reviews on Mattel's DC Universe toy line.  Wave 16 has some promising characters and Blackest Night fans will probably love the just recently announce DCUC Wave 17 line up.  Green Lantern fans will have it good in 2011 so we should see some more interesting characters in the coming year.