What’s old is new again!
You know, as much as I rag on Scott Neitlich (ToyGuru) for his efforts on the Justice League Unlimited action figure line, I have to give him the ultimate props on what he’s done with DC Universe Classics. This line is what the Super Powers line could have been had it lasted, say, as long as Star Wars did and produced 100+ figures instead of the 34 that SP eked out in 3 years back in the mid-1980′s.
If there’s one thing I respect, it’s passion. Scott and the Four Horsemen have translated their passion for Super Powers into action and not only re-created all (the rest are coming, folks) of the characters that Kenner came out with, but they also have applied that same vision to making the line that Kenner might have produced if they started development in 2007 instead of 1982.
I know a lot of you will hate this idea, but I’d absolutely LOVE them to make a Quadrex, Shockwave, or Silicon in DC Universe Classics. A lot of the proposed Wave 4 characters have already been produced (Man-Bat, Vigilante, Blue Devil, Bizarro, John Stewart, Deathstroke), as well as some of the new deluxe "Power Plus" line that would have debuted in 1987 (Zan, Jayna). Their passion certainly fuels mine in collecting DCUC, and it spills over into the other characters in that line. Case-in-point :
Awesome, eh? I love them all. When I look at my DCUC collection (now in the living room on top of the television) it’s really amazing we’ve gotten all the characters we have…and the current license agreement is only halfway done! Not only that, it’ll probably be renewed in 2013 for another 5 years! I can’t even begin to imagine what we’ll have in our collections by 2018…
That being said, the whole point of this blog is to share the Super Powers connection…and since I took this photo the other day :
I wanted to take shots of everyone I have (so far) with their Super Powers counterpart
First off, some close-ups of that "original 12" Super Powers shelf, featuring the figure releases from 1984 :
Next…well, and last since there are so many of them (heh), are all the ones I have peppered throughout my massive Super Powers collection.
They really do complement everything so well, and are certainly perfect for my display. I’m not even done yet, since DCUC Desaad and Cyclotron (just released) have yet to appear here, and NM Super Powers examples of Mr. Miracle and Cyborg (already released in DCUC) are on the purchasing back-burner for now. There will also be expansion around Christmas time once Golden Pharaoh, Samurai, Tyr, Martian Manhunter, Plastic Man, and Robin have all been released.
It’s an exciting time to be a DC Universe action figure collector, just as it was 25 years ago when Super Powers first hit aisle 7C!
Until next time, thanks for reading!
Peace,
Chip
interesting how the dcu classics when put by their counter parts show how far dc figures have come not to mention Kaliback looks different then his super powers counter part same with Orion. even Doctor fate looks improved from the super powers day.
this isnt superpowers… this is too big in scale and i truely hate it! i think if matty has the rights over superpowers, maybee they could make a too scale mondern looking superpowers line… and i truley hate the 3.75′ line… its all an excuse to make dc fans but 6′ dcu, 4′ jlu and 3′ ih. point and case i want figures from each line but not a thousand lines, and then you have the batman bab line… what the hell is going on here?
mattel needs to stop rapping my wallet!
i know this is my opion, so im not making an argument out of this, but its not fair….
mattel has more love for the heman lines… sorry but i think heman is gay!
you “think heman is gay”? What are you, 12 years old?
no im 28… but thanks! i wish i was 12.. but no i have to have a pay bills and raise kids.
but i wasnt trying to offend the gay community! its not the right word to discribe heman figures..
Cool display pal!!! So my prayers have been answered. We will be getting a Grayson Robin this year. I’m so looking forward to it. Plus, I am gald we’re getting Martian Manhunter, Samurai, Tyr, and Plastic man. Since those we’re few on my want list(among others). Thanks for the post, Chip.
Peace
Man. Those pics are just so beautiful… I’m in toy Nirvana here, Chip.
Love the evolution pairings!
Nice comparisons. And yeah, I do hi
Now, just a note. Some people perceive Shockwave as a Super Powers / Mattel designed character. But he actually appeared early on in Blue Devil. And later Booster Gold, Teen Titans and I think Superman.
I do hope we get more from the fabled 4th Wave. Manhunter, Creeper, Reverse Flash and Black Vulcan in particular are on my wishlist.
However, at some point, I’d like to see Mattel try a “BUild a Playset” Wave or two where the pieces come together to form THE HALL OF JUSTICE. Wishful thinking though, I guess an HoJ carrying case may be too much to ask for>
Cool blog, as usual! What’s amazing to me is how well the Super Powers figures really stand the test of time. It’s a testament to the people who worked at Kenner back then. Those figures look better than 90% of the junk on the shelves today!
It would have been nice if Mattel had made the Infinite Heroes line in the Super Powers scale. Even though most of those figures are absolutely horrific, it would have been great to display them alongside their old “teammates.” Yet another missed opportunity from Mattel.
Also wanted to ask: what are the clear plastic shelves you have your figures displayed on? did you make those or buy them somewhere? Great collection, man!
I could complete my Super Powers collection, all still factory sealed. Those figures bring me back great memories from my childhood. Because of them, now I’m also a DCUC collector, and I truly hope to see the other characters like Golden Pharaoh, Martian Manhunter and Brainiac robot, but above everything Samurai. They need to release Black Vulcan and Apache Chief (could be a collect and connect figure like Giganta)in this collection.
Great pictures…
Golden Pharaoh and Martian Manhunter, will be in wave 15. I may be wrong but I’m betting that Grayson Robin and Samurai will be in wave 16. Yes, I’d love to see Black Vulcan and Apache Chief be made soon too. Along with Toyman from “The Challenge of the Superfriends” cartoon.
I repainted Kalibak and Penguin, and even tweaked Hawkman a little bit to match their SuperPowers counterparts.
http://www.toymania.com/customcorner/cc25/zellers.shtml
I really love how this line is coming along. Thanks Mattel & 4H, for giving us Cyclotron & Golden Pharaoh!
Wow! Thank you for the great information Eric…
I can’t wait for the Waves 15 and 16.
Toyman (of course)….I forgot that one.
This was a fun ride! As a big fan of the Super Powres stuff, especially the first two waves, I have to admit these have ben SO tempting!!! Good to see them through the eyes of someone who can really appreciate what they are trying to do with the SP throwbacks in DCUC.