The results are finally in!!!
*cough*
OK, yes, I know the results of this latest Bracket were in like 3 months ago, I know. And I now that this happened the last time, too. But just in time for SDCC, here is the long-overdue Results and Wrap-up of the AFi DCUC Fan Bracket! I know you all have been anxiously awaiting the final standings!
To refresh your memory, this latest iteration of the Fan Bracket consisted of characters and legacies from DC Comics’ Golden Age – the Justice Society, the All-Star Squadron, the Freedom Fighters, the Seven Soldiers of Victory/Law’s Legionnaires, Infinity Inc., and the Young All-Stars – along with their respective villains. Some names you might have known; others were extremely obscure, but all-in-all this Bracket had many classic characters that would look great as action figures. And better yet, some of the characters in the Bracket have been announced for DCUC Wave 19, so hopefully we haven’t seen the last of this group of historic B- and C-listers.
So here we are, the Top 8 of the DCUC Fan Bracket. Why the top eight, you ask? Well there used to be 8 figures in a wave, including the C&C, so it just made sense, ’cause there’s math and pictures and stuff. Plus, it gives Mattel a better feel for the fans’ top wants instead of just one or two final choices.
So without further ado and in no particular order, here are the winners!
Vigilante
After toiling in DC limbo for years with a few revivals mixed in, the original Greg Sanders/Saunders Vigilante gained new exposure on the Justice League Unlimited series, and has been a fan-favorite since. Taking cues from the Lone Ranger outfit, the Vigilante would look great on our shelves. We’ve already seen the 80s Vigilante and a cowboy in Jonah Hex in the line, so why not this classic gunslinger and founding member of the Seven Soldiers of Victory?
Uncle Sam
Uncle Sam first appeared in 1940, at that time published by Quality comics and later purchased by DC. He was depicted as a mystical being who was originally the spirit of a slain patriotic soldier from the American Revolutionary War, and who now appears in the world whenever his country needs him, often with his team of Freedom Fighters. He continues to be a common choice on wish lists, and he defeated the equally-popular Jade for this final spot. Seeing as how Uncle Sam has already been used in a Wizard poll, he is likely at the top of the short-list for Mattel.
Psycho Pirate
The second villain to bear the mantle of the Psycho Pirate, Roger Hayden was a cellmate to the original version, who divulged the secret location of the emotion-manipulating Medusa Masks. Hayden finds the masks, merges them into a single faceplate, and becomes a regular antagonist to the JSA and JLA. After the Crisis, Psycho Pirate was one of the few individuals to maintain all the memories of the event, which eventually drove him insane. During Infinite Crisis, Black Adam punches a hole through his head. Bummer. Anyway, his costume is cool and would look fantastic as a figure.
Phantom Lady I
The classic and modern versions of Phantom Lady decimated the Freedom Fighters section of the Bracket, with the classic version edging out the modern version. Most likely, fans were voting because of the character’s long history, legacy, and active role as a Freedom Fighter, and had nothing to do with the costume (or lack thereof)…although, her skimpy costume was eventually explained as a deliberate tactic to distract her usually male foe. That’s good enough for me. This figure may be a tough sell to Mattel, as that costume would wreak havoc on Moms and the 4H buck alike.
Vandal Savage
The immortal caveman known as Vandal Savage has been a thorn in the side of the Golden Age JSA and is considered by many to be one of DC’s greatest villains. He claims to have ruled hundreds of civilizations under hundreds of names – Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Genghis Khan, Blackbeard, and Vlad the Impaler, and terrorized Victorian era London as Jack the Ripper. He has also worked as close friends and advisers to the likes of Erik the Red, Napoleon Bonaparte, Ra’s al Ghul, Otto von Bismarck, and Adolf Hitler. Impressive resume, but Savage unfortunately suffers from a curse in toyland: having multiple costumes and uniforms over the years, many of them plain, nondescript or just silly, and none of them sticking around long enough to provide a definite, recognizable, dynamic ‘look’ for an action figure. Nevertheless, the fans voted Savage into the final spot over Count Vertigo, and he comes out the winner of the Villains Bracket.
Speedy
Garnering votes from the Teen Titans fans, the classic Speedy manages to overcome the oft-requested Shining Knight to grab a final spot. Now technically, Roy snuck into the Bracket based on his Pre-Crisis history as a member of the Seven Soldiers of Victory, and was only removed (along with Green Arrow) from their history after the Crisis on Infinite Earths. But we like to keep things fair and included him since he was considered a member for over 40 years, and he’s obviously at the top of many Wish Lists for those looking to complete their Golden Age Seven Soldiers lineup (unlikely) or classic original Teen Titans lineup (definitely). Or maybe, fans just want to go back to a time before Roy lost the arm and his daughter due to a foolish editorial edict, and before we get a DCnU figure of him in his kewl ballcap.
Stargirl
From the beginning, Stargirl and S.T.R.I.P.E. were picked as contenders for the final spots, and fans were right. Courtney and her armored partner/stepdad ended up battling for one of the final spots in the end, with Stars coming out on top. Luckily, Mattel is giving fans a two-for-one here, with both characters finally coming in Wave 19. Granted, it may not be the ‘classic’ version of S.T.R.I.P.E., but it’s a start. Maybe we’ll see a classic version of Stripesy down the road…anyone? anyone?
Golden Age Flash (Jay Garrick)
Finally, we get to the guy that was considered a lock since the beginning – Golden Age Flash Jay Garrick. He beats out the Liberty Belle version of Jesse Quick (who could anchor an entire line of figures with just her various costumes). A founder of the JSA, forebearer of the Flash legacy, and one of the cornerstones of the DCU, Jay has now replaced Martian Manhunter on the Most-Overdue List. And it’s a forgone conclusion that we will see this Flash at some point soon, maybe even at SDCC. But please – no open-mouth-screaming headsculpt.
So there it is! The results of the Bracket were interesting, with some close calls and a few upsets mixed in. Most of these characters, and the other characters in the finals, have been at the top of the Wish Lists for many fans since the DCUC line began. Mattel and the 4H love to see the fans’ opinions and interest in regards to DCUC characters, so let us know what you want to see – just DCU Villains? Maybe members of teams like Teen Titans or Legion of Superheroes? Maybe nothing but obscure C-List characters? Post in the forums, let your voice be heard, and watch for the next AFi DCUC Fan Bracket!
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Posted by SuperFly |
