It's funny that what DC Direct is doing now is too little too late. I wouldv'e opened all my DC Direct figures had all the single figures were released in the same sculpt with the very first JLA line that featured Firestorm, Adam Strange and Atom. But then again I'm happy that Mattel got the DC lisence, that means my DC DIRECTs stay MOC or MIB forever

My issue with DcDirect was that when they first came out, the figures were 17$ a piece. Compared to an average retail figure at the time, Toy Biz Xmen for instance priced at 4$ each, it felt crazy to spend that kind of money on a single figure.

I managed to obtain my first DcDirect figures from a comic shop in Florida via an eBay auction, at 10$ each. Even so, the average price of a figure kept my purchases limited. Now, I still only have about 30, after all this time. But the ones I do have, I really like.

I pick and choose which DC Direct figures I want to buy, but I have over 100 of them, and the only ones I left in the packaging were the collector's sets (The Killing Joke, Superman vs. Doomsday, Superman Through The Ages, etc.). For comic-style DC figures, I would never consider giving these up for Mattel's lines, not even briefly.

I have a lot of DC Direct figures. The last set I bought was either Justice 8 or the last Ed McGuiness styled series of last year. I did slow down prior to that, but up until them, I picked up the majority of DC Direct releases. I used to open most of them all until I ran out of room, so most of my 2007-08 figures are still MOC. My first DC Direct was the HTH Green Arrow that I won on eBay for $7.00 from a local comic shop. From there I usually got good deals from various on-line retailers for my figures.

My biggest problems with DC Direct were scale and non-finished groups. Later, it became paint apps and over all QA. My Aqualad's ankle broke out of the box, but most were okay. Then the quality just got worse; I can't even bend my Amazonian Knightfall Catwoman's knee with out fear of breakage and even the new McGuire Batman looks to have a warped right leg.

Despite all that, I don't regret what I have purchased and DC Direct can still do some great sculpts, like the upcoming History Classic Brainiac. And some of their past stuff is perfect, like Firestorm and the Silver Age Batman villains.

I love what Mattel is doing with the DC Universe, but the biggest thing that keeps me away from DC Direct is quality. When my Mattel figure breaks, it is simple to return to the store (although maybe not simple buying a replacement). DC Direct started having too many issues for me with no great avenue for returns, or a hassle to do so.

What I like about DCD is that it's pretty plain and simple to pre-order and get what you're expecting, easily bypassing the "scalper market." Even though you can pre-order DCUC just the same, hunting down chase/variant figures can be a pain.

I think the big issue for me with DCD is their apparent inability to complete a set or team in one size/scale/style. Some of their figures are incredible, but too inconsistent for my tastes, esp at $15 a figure. I haven't bought a DCD figure in a while - probably only five or six in the last 18 mos. (Last one was the Justice Toyman, who actually goes well with the DCUC figures.)

If, however, DCD brings back the minimates, I'll be first on line for that!

As long as you are collecting the Alex Ross Justice series, scale is not a problem. Too bad they never got around to Atom though.

Sure they did! He was packaged with Martian Manhunter. He was just so small you couldn't see him

You can use any of the smaller "mini" Atom pack-ins we have gotten over the years with the Ross (or pretty much any scaled) line.

praying hard that DC direct decides to just release 6 or 7 inch figures in boxed sets, no more sets of 4 single figures