DC Direct September 2006 solicitations

See a complete list of DC Direct action figures


UNI-FORMZ: BATMAN (MODERN)
DC Direct begins the vinylization of the DC Universe!
BATMAN is the first in a new line of large format and stylized vinyl UNI-FORMZ™ inspired by the red-hot “designer toy” phenomenon.
DC Direct joined forces with a leader in the contemporary toy movement, Monster 5, to create this powerfully built and unique vision of Batman for the first time.
This bold new take on Batman is a must-have for collectors of contemporary toy design as well as traditional fans of superheroes!
Advance-solicited on sale February 27, 2008
Vinyl • $49.99 US


JLA TROPHY ROOM: MULTI-COLORED KRYPTONITE REPLICA DISPLAY
For the first time, DC Direct brings together the different forms of deadly Kryptonite. Displayed in a special protective case are the four primary forms: Red, Gold, Blue and Green Kryptonite. Each “meteorite” lights up and is permanently housed in the unique glass-domed JLA Trophy Room Display. Packaged in an upscale box, the prop replica measures 7.25” h x 10.75”w x 9.5” d and includes a 4-Color Certificate of Authenticity s well as the brochure “Guide to the Trophy Room” written by best-selling author and JLA scribe Brad Meltzer.
Advance-solicited; on sale February 6, 2008 • Prop Replica • $250.00 US

Look For More Trophy Room Props in 2008!
Joker’s Cane • Superman’s Cape • Starro • Phantom Zone Projector
Batcuffs • Jimmy Olsen Signal Watch • Metal Power Battery • GA Flash Helmet • Batman’s Pouch Style Utility Belt • GA Flash Helmet • Batsignal • A Mother Box... The possibilities are endless!
Suggest your favorite on dcdirectonline.com


SUPERMAN/BATMAN SERIES 5: VENGEANCE 2
The best-selling action figure line continues!
Designed by: Ed McGuinness
Each figure features multiple points of articulation and a base.
Advance-solicited; on sale February 13, 2008 • Action Figures • PI
--Supergirl 6.5”
--Power Girl 6.5”
--Batman/Superman 6.75”
--The Joker & Mr. Mxyzpltk 2-pack 6.75” h & 4.5”h approx.


ROBIN 13” DELUXE COLLECTOR FIGURE
Robin, The Boy Wonder, is the newest addition to DC Direct’s line of realistically proportioned, super-heroic 1:6 scale figures! This latest hero in the 1:6 scale figure line is the first of DC Direct’s accurately scaled “teen” style figure, and has all the detail and articulation that collectors have come to expect. The ROBIN 13” DELUXE COLLECTOR FIGURE comes clothed in an authentically detailed fabric costume, includes a display stand and is packaged in a deluxe 4-color window box with a fifth panel.
Advance-solicited; on sale February 6, 2008 • Collector figure • $69.99 US

WORLD OF WARCRAFT is the massively multiplayer online role-playing game with over 8.5 million devoted subscribers, and now its characters are captured in 3-D by DC Unlimited!
--Human Warrior: Archilon Shadowheart
--Troll Priest: Zabra Hexx
--Gnome Warrior: Sprocket Gyrospring
--Night Elf Druid: Broll Bearmantle
Advance-solicited; on sale February 20, 2008 • Action Figures • PI
Coming in October!
--Orc Shaman: Rehgar Earthfury
--Blood Elf Rogue: Valeera Sanguinar
--Dwarf Warrior: Thargas Anvilmar
--Undear Warlock: Meryl Feldstorm

BATMAN: ALL STAR POSTER
Art by Jim Lee & Scott Williams
From the cover of ALL STAR BATMAN & ROBIN, THE BOY WONDER #5
Advance-solicited; on sale February 20, 2008 • Poster • $7.99

NIGHTWING: REFLECTIONS POSTER
Art by Ryan Sook
From the cover of NIGHTWING #133
Advance-solicited; on sale February 20, 2008 • Poster • $7.99

Pop Artifacts! Peanuts figures

Pop Culture Roundup June 18, 2007

The Los Angeles Times checks out Batman's new hog.

...the new Batpod — a bike so outrageous it's hard to believe it was even built. It's not just because it's tricked out with grappling hooks, cannons and machine guns. The front and rear tires are both a monstrously huge 508 millimeters, and the engines are in the hubs of each wheel. Steering isn't by hand but by shoulder, since there aren't handlebars. Instead, there are shields that fit each arm like sleeves and have the ability to rotate around the bike's frame. The two foot pegs are set 3 1/2 feet apart on either side of the tank, which the rider lies on, belly down.



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Attention Hopalong Cassidy collectors: Gemstone Publishing is seeking vintage pics of kids in Hopalong costumes for an upcoming book.

The publishers would love to add your photo in your Hoppy outfit to the book. If you have a photo of yourself or a loved one wearing a Hoppy outfit from the 1950s, email the photo to russ@russcochran.com and it will be included in the book.

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The top UK album this week belongs to the Traveling Wilburys.

The Traveling Wilburys made a return to the charts as the supergroup scored a number one UK album with a collection of their past hits.

The band - which included Roy Orbison, George Harrison and Bob Dylan - formed in 1988 and produced two albums.

"Here's to George, Roy and the Boys, my favourite guys. Congratulations Wilburys," Olivia Harrison, George Harrison's wife, said about the Wilburys collection reaching number one.

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Ex-Kink Dave Davies has a new solo album out July 31. From the press release:

"Fractured Mindz" is Davies' first all-new studio album since his recovery from a serious stroke he suffered in 2004 during a visit to the BBC to promote the UK release of his last solo album, "Bug."

"Fractured Mindz" is a jubilant tour-de-force, which Dave wrote, arranged and produced, while singing and playing all instruments including guitars, bass, piano and organ.

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Ringo Starr has returned to Capitol/EMI, with a new record deal. Details:

EMI Music will also make Starr's EMI works available in digital format for the first time on a global basis.

On August 28, Starr's EMI catalog, including the albums Sentimental Journey (1970), Beaucoups Of Blues (1970), the platinum-certified Ringo (1973) and gold-certified Goodnight Vienna (1974), will make their digital debuts. Fans will be able to purchase Starr's EMI catalog works from all of EMI's digital distribution partners, and the titles will also be part of EMI's premium download offering (free of digital rights management and in a higher-quality bit rate) from participating retailers.

On the same date, Capitol/EMI Music Catalog Marketing will release the first-ever career and label-spanning collection of Starr's best solo recordings, PHOTOGRAPH: The Very Best Of Ringo Starr. To be released physically in CD and Collector's Edition CD/DVD packages and digitally, the new collection presents 20 standout Starr tracks, including seven Top 10 Pop hits, released between 1970 and 2005 by Capitol, Atlantic, Mercury, Boardwalk, Private Music and Koch.

The Collector's Edition adds seven never before released film and video clips on DVD, including original promotional films for "It Don't Come Easy," "Sentimental Journey" and "Back Off Boogaloo," among others, and the music video for "Act Naturally" (with Buck Owens).

Starr's next solo album, titled Liverpool 8, is scheduled for global release by EMI Music in January 2008, via Capitol/EMI in North America and Parlophone in the U.K.

Vintage DC Comics house ad

Today's video: Gnip Gnop TV ad

Pop Artfact! Spider-Man and Fantastic Four game

Pop Culture Roundup June 15, 2007

Entertainment Weekly posted this new in-costume pic from the upcoming Batman film, "The Dark Knight."



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Heritage Auctions is selling three pages from an uncompleted Disney comic by the great Carl Barks.



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Fun sharity:

Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer review roundup

Chicago Tribune:

Someone should tell "Fantastic Four" that it's live action and not a cartoon. The performances and effects again seem fit for Saturday morning TV. And "Surfer" again heaps on a helping of hokey lines. (One of many: After Mr. Fantastic stretches his body so he can dance, Johnny says, "The guy really knows how to loosen up.")

Desert News:

The movie plays out like a particularly unfunny, dysfunctional family sitcom and features even less action than its predecessor.

Detroit News:

As sequels go, it's better than the original. As action sequences go, its final flurry is the best so far this summer. And as far as movie surprises, it may be the biggest of the year so far.

St. Paul Star Tribune:

The target audience appears to be Cartoon Network fans. Anyone outside that category is likely to find "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer" a dull slog no avalanche of razzle-dazzle digital hooey can camouflage. It's not even entertaining camp.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

With so many superhero movies aspiring to mythic significance, it’s easy to forget that comic books were originally a low-brow, disposable form of entertainment. Of the many superhero franchises that have invaded the
multiplex — “X-Men,” “Spider-Man,” “Superman,” “Batman” — “Fantastic Four” is the least artful. But for young boys or old comic-book collectors, it might also be the most fun.

Vintage Marvel Comics house ad

Today's video: Fantastic Four Rise of the Silver Surfer teaser

Pop Artifact! Marvel Super-Heroes puzzle

Pop Culture Roundup June 14, 2007

Maybe it should be "Fantastic Bore," says the Associated Press.

Amid all the vapid dialogue and visual fireworks, the performances seem like afterthoughts, particularly those of Gruffudd and Alba, who could use a snap of the fingers by fiery Johnny to light a spark of personality within them.

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Meanwhile...

A projectionist at a Memphis theater chain has lost his job after writing an unauthorized early review of "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer" for the Web site Ain't It Cool News.

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Blake Bell has more details about a TV documentary on comics artist Steve Ditko to air on the BBC at an undetermined date. Hopefully we'll be able to see it State-side too.

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"Lost" producer Carlton Cuse says the "Bad Twin" novel spin-off and the Nikki and Paulo characters were missteps.

"We buried them alive," Cuse said of Nikki and Paulo. "OK, you guys don't like Nikki and Paulo, there."

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Posters on the DC Archives Message Board weigh in on the new Jack Kirby's Fourth World Omnibus Vol. 1, which came out yesterday. Reviews seems mostly good, though there are some mixed feelings about the lightweight "newsprint-style" DC used. My copy is on order at Amazon and I'm hoping it'll ship soon.

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Remember those "Polaris submarines" you could order from comic books? Assembled, they look like this.

Vintage Marvel Comics house ad