DC Direct

Last updated
DC Direct
Industry Merchandising
Founded1998
Headquarters California
Parent DC Comics, WarnerMedia
Second DC Collectibles logo, May 2016 - February 2020 DC Collectibles Logo.jpg
Second DC Collectibles logo, May 2016 – February 2020

DC Direct is a division of WarnerMedia that sells collectibles based on DC Comics characters (Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, etc.).

Contents

Prior to 1998, merchandise sold by DC Comics was branded with the DC Comics logo rather than with the DC Direct or DC Collectibles logos. The company was called DC Direct from 1998 to 2012. From 2012 to 2020, DC Direct was known as DC Collectibles. [1] On January 23, 2019, DC Comics told its employees that DC Collectibles would be moved to the Warner Bros. Consumer Products division as part of a company-wide re-organization. [2] On Wednesday, February 19, 2020, the company changed its name back to DC Direct on its Facebook page. [3] On Thursday, February 20, 2020, the company officially announced the name change. [4]

DC Direct produces statues, busts, action figures, props replicas, and art prints for the direct market, a distribution and retail network primarily serving comic book specialty stores.

On August 10, 2020, The Hollywood Reporter reported that DC Direct was being shuttered as part of a company-wide re-structuring. [5]

On July 27, 2021, McFarlane Toys announced that it would take over management of any remaining DC Direct inventory and that it would continue to make statues, busts, and other collectibles (such as action figures) in DC Direct's previous merchandise lines. The company released new products starting in 2022. [6]

Statues and Busts

DC Direct has produced numerous statues, busts, and plastic (PVC) figures based on their characters. Previously, merchandise tended to be stand-alone releases, but over time, DC Collectibles has favored branded lines. Current statue lines include Batman: Black & White, Bombshells, Cover Girls, Battle Statues, the Designer Series, and Harley Quinn: Red, White, & Black. [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] DC Collectibles also makes statues based on characters appearing in DC Comics TV productions. [13]

DC Direct usually makes statues using cold-cast porcelain or polyresin, though the company has some history with PVC figures, such as the Ame-Comi line. [14] PVC statue lines include DC Artists Alley and DC Core figures. [15] [16]

Over the years, DC Direct has released several "mini" busts which were typically less than 6-inches tall. Between 2008 and 2011, the company released eight 1/2-scale busts. DC Collectibles released a life-size Joker bust designed by make-up artist Rick Baker in 2018. [17]

DC Direct releases props based on objects that characters use in comics. Some of these props are life-size, such as Batman's utility belt, Joker's cane, Two-Face's coin, and Wonder Woman's tiara, bracelets, & lasso. [18] [19] [20] [21] The DC Gallery line also includes high-end products that can be used practically, such as poker sets, chess sets, and bookends. [22] [23] [24] [25]

Action figures

Beginning in 1998 with three figures from Mad Magazine , DC has released several hundred figures based on characters published by DC Comics, including those under the Vertigo and WildStorm imprints. Many of these action figures are in the 6- to 7-inch scale.

For the first several years, the most recognizable DC characters were not released. DC Direct focused on lesser-known characters and comic series designed for mature readers such as The Sandman, Preacher, and Transmetropolitan. Later, DC Direct increased its production of recognizable characters such as Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Supergirl, Batgirl, Starfire, Aquaman and Robin. Figures were first grouped randomly, then thematically and now in official "lines" that may be released over several years. The first three series in 1999 had variants for each figure, through the practice was quickly discontinued. DC Collectibles shares the licenses for many DC characters with other toy manufacturers, such as Mattel (which has the master toy license for all DC Comics properties), [26] but Vertigo figures are released only by DC Collectibles. [27]

While most figures have been released on blister cards, some have been available in boxes and a very few in clamshell packaging. There have also been several boxed sets featuring multiple characters or a character with a particularly large accessory.

Watchmen figures

There was a proposed series of figures based on Alan Moore's Watchmen that never got past the prototype phase. Rumored to be scheduled for release in July, 2001, a few of the figures were displayed at summer conventions: the Comedian, the Silk Spectre and Dr. Manhattan. [28] There were two different prototypes of Dr. Manhattan - one solid blue, one with a translucent chest. It is unclear if other characters such as Nite Owl, Ozymandias and Rorschach were to also receive figures. The proposed figures were to be part of a 15th anniversary celebration of the miniseries, as was a Watchmen hardcover. Moore and co-creator Dave Gibbons decided not to participate in any promotional activities, in part because of a long-standing dispute over merchandising [ broken anchor ] for the series. [29]

In February 2018, DC Collectibles announced that they would finally release figures based on Watchmen characters in print, specifically the Doomsday Clock story arc. [30]

See also

Related Research Articles

An action figure is a poseable character model figure made most commonly of plastic, and often based upon characters from a film, comic book, military, video game or television program; fictional or historical. These figures are usually marketed toward boys and adult collectors. The term was coined by Hasbro in 1964 to market G.I. Joe to boys.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harley Quinn</span> Character in the DC Universe

Harley Quinn is a character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. She was created by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm for Batman: The Animated Series as a henchwoman for the Joker, and debuted in its 22nd episode, "Joker's Favor", on September 11, 1992. While intended to appear in one episode, Quinn became a recurring character within the DC Animated Universe (DCAU) as the Joker's sidekick and love interest, and was adapted into DC Comics' canon seven years later, beginning with the one-shot Batman: Harley Quinn #1. Quinn's origin story features her as a former psychologist at Gotham City's Arkham Asylum who was manipulated by and fell in love with the Joker, her patient, eventually becoming his accomplice and lover. The character's alias is a play on the stock character Harlequin from the 16th-century Italian theater commedia dell'arte.

McFarlane Toys is an American company founded by comic book creator Todd McFarlane which makes highly detailed model action figures of characters from films, comics, popular music, video games and various sporting genres. The company, a subsidiary of Todd McFarlane Productions, Inc., is headquartered in Tempe, Arizona.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bruce Timm</span> American artist, character designer, animator

Bruce Walter Timm is an American artist, animator, writer, producer, and director. He is best known for contributing to building the modern DC Comics animated franchise, most notably as the head producer behind Batman: The Animated Series (1992–1995), Superman: The Animated Series (1996–2000), The New Batman Adventures (1997–1999), Batman Beyond (1999–2001), Justice League (2001–2004), and Justice League Unlimited (2004–2006).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Super Powers Collection</span> 1980s Kenner Products action figure line based on DC Comics characters

The Super Powers Collection was a line of action figures based on DC Comics superheroes and supervillains that was created by Kenner Products in the 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Batman action figures</span>

Batman action figures have been produced since the 1940s. These action figures, inspired by the character's appearance in comics and serials, were created by DC Comics and manufactured by various toy companies. These figures were made of various materials such as wood, tin, and plastic. They were typically between 6 and 8 inches in height and featured movable joints that allowed them to be posed in various positions.

Lego Batman is a discontinued theme and product range of the Lego building toy, introduced in 2006, based on the superhero character Batman, under license from DC Comics. The sets feature vehicles, characters and scenes from the comics and films. The inspirations for the design of these vary widely. For example, the Batmobile retains its basic sleek shape and prominent fins from the Tim Burton films, whereas the "Bat-Tank" seems to be based on the tank-like Batmobile in Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns. The theme was relaunched in early 2012 as part of the Lego DC Universe Superheroes line, which is a sub-theme of the Lego Super Heroes line. In total there were 17 sets, almost all of them including Batman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DC Superheroes (toys)</span>

DC Superheroes is a collection of action figures originally produced by Mattel in early 2006. It is divided into three different lines - the Justice League Unlimited toyline, with figures based on the animated Justice League Unlimited series; the S3: Select Sculpt Series, featuring more comic-accurate figures in the 6" scale; and a 12" figure line. The S3 line is further divided into two lines - one featuring Batman, and the other featuring Superman. Series 1 of the S3 line began shipping just after Christmas 2005 to Wal-Mart and began arriving in retailers like Target and Toys "R" Us approximately one month later. The figures have characteristics similar to the competing Marvel Legends line in terms of detailed sculpting, articulation, and including a comic book or diorama with each figure.

DC Universe Classics is an action figure toyline, a sub-line of the DC Universe toy brand manufactured by Mattel. They were 6-inch scale figures based on the fictional characters owned by DC Comics. The entire line was sculpted by the Four Horsemen Studios, and was first available for sale in 2008. The "DC Classics" line ceased to be sold at retail in 2012 with wave 20. The series then became an online-and-convention exclusive line. It was announced in late 2014 that the line would end with a final series of six figures celebrating the history of the line.

The Imaginext System is a brand of role-playing, adventure toys designed for kids 3 or older made by Mattel, under the label of Fisher-Price.

DC Universe: Justice League Unlimited Fan Collection is an action figure line based on the highly popular Justice League and Justice League Unlimited animated series. Though it was based on the show(s), the line has continued well beyond it, and has been re-branded in 2008, as a Target exclusive. Mattel announced in February 2011 that the line would come to an end later in the year with the final figures being released on the Mattel website including the final two three-packs, a seven-pack as well as the three exclusive Con three-packs being made available to the public.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DC Universe (toyline)</span>

DC Universe is a toy brand manufactured by Mattel. It has five sub-lines – Classics, Fighting Figures, Giants of Justice, Infinite Heroes, and the reintegrated Justice League Unlimited line.

Movie Masters is an action figure toyline from Mattel based on popular movie franchises, most notably DC Comics. The line has featured characters from the films Superman, Avatar, The Dark Knight trilogy, Green Lantern, and Man of Steel. Figures in the line are sculpted by Four Horsemen Studios, who also sculpted figures for Mattel's DC Superheroes and DC Universe Classics lines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cryptozoic Entertainment</span>

Cryptozoic Entertainment is an American publisher of board and card games, trading cards and collectibles based on both licensed and original intellectual properties. The company is well known for its "Cerberus Engine Game", the catch name for its series of deck-building games. Cryptozoic's first game was based on DC Comics characters, having been released in 2012. The Cerberus engine is utilized in various games; all Cerberus games are compatible with each other, allowing gamers to intermix different decks and characters from different universes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diamond Select Toys</span> American Toy Company

Diamond Select Toys was founded in 1999 by sister company Diamond Comics Distributors to create collectibles for adult collectors, and has since licensed a variety of pop culture properties, including Marvel Comics, Star Wars, Star Trek, Transformers, Ghostbusters, Halo, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Indiana Jones, Battlestar Galactica, 24, The Muppets and Back to the Future. While they have made collectibles in numerous product categories, including action figures, plush, banks, busts, statues and prop replicas, many of their licensed properties are released in the form of Minimates mini-figures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sideshow Collectibles</span> American collectible manufacturer

Sideshow Collectibles is an American specialty manufacturer of movie, film, television and collectible action figures, statues, and high end pieces. Sideshow's licenses include Star Wars, DC Comics, Marvel Comics, The Lord of the Rings, Disney, Harry Potter, Masters of the Universe, Pokémon, Dragon Ball Z, Street Fighter, Game of Thrones, and Star Trek.

<i>Batman: Arkham</i> Superhero video game series

Batman: Arkham is a superhero action-adventure video game series based on the DC Comics character Batman, developed by Rocksteady Studios and WB Games Montréal, and published originally by Eidos Interactive and currently by Warner Bros. Games. The franchise consists of four main installments and a spin-off, along with four smaller titles for mobile devices, 2 virtual reality games, tie-in comic books, and an animated film. The continuity established by the games is often referred to as the Arkhamverse.

DC Comics Bombshells refers to a line of figurines released by DC Collectibles depicting DC Comics superheroines in a retro 1940s look based on designs by Ant Lucia. The line has further expanded to encompass variant covers of DC Comics and licensed memorabilia such as art prints, T-shirts, mugs and their own ongoing comic book.

References

  1. "DC DIRECT RE-LAUNCHES AS DC COLLECTIBLES, EXPANDS ONLINE OFFERINGS". DC. April 11, 2012.
  2. "DC Publishing Laying Off 3 Percent of Its Workforce". The Hollywood Reporter. 23 January 2019.
  3. "IS DC COLLECTIBLES REBRANDING BACK TO DC DIRECT?". DCCollectors. February 20, 2020.
  4. "DC DIRECT AT TOY FAIR 2020". DC. February 18, 2020.
  5. "DC Comics, DC Universe Hit by Major Layoffs". 10 August 2020.
  6. "McFarlane Toys Reveals New Deal with DC Direct".
  7. "BATMAN BLACK & WHITE: THE BATMAN WHO LAUGHS". DC. April 16, 2018.
  8. "DC BOMBSHELLS: BATMAN & CATWOMAN DELUXE STATUE". DC. February 15, 2018.
  9. "C2E2: SUPERSTAR ARTIST JOËLLE JONES REVEALS NEW DC COVER GIRLS STATUE ON DC UNIVERSE PANEL". DC. April 6, 2018.
  10. "BATMAN VS. THE JOKER LAFF-CO BATTLE STATUE". DC. November 20, 2017.
  11. "DC DESIGNER SERIES: SUPERMAN BY JIM LEE STATUE". DC. April 16, 2018.
  12. "HARLEY QUINN RED, WHITE & BLACK: HARLEY QUINN BY MICHAEL TURNER STATUE". DC. February 15, 2018.
  13. "DCTV: BLACK LIGHTNING STATUE". DC. November 20, 2017.
  14. Brown, Luke. "DC Teases Rainbow Batmen, DCU Online Figures from the Vault". ComicsAlliance.
  15. "DC Collectibles Artists Alley". DC. May 19, 2017.
  16. "DC CORE: WONDER WOMAN PVC STATUE". DC. January 22, 2018.
  17. "DC GALLERY: THE JOKER 1:1 BUST BY RICK BAKER ULTIMATE EDITION". DC. February 15, 2018.
  18. "BATMAN UTILITY BELT PROP REPLICA (FEB140311)". www.previewsworld.com.
  19. "DC GALLERY: THE JOKER CANE PROP". DC. November 17, 2017.
  20. "DC GALLERY: TWO-FACE COIN PROP". DC. November 20, 2017.
  21. "DC GALLERY WONDER WOMAN BRACELETS WITH LASSO AND TIARA PROP". DC. May 18, 2017.
  22. "DC COMICS SUPER VILLAINS POKER SET (MAR140313)". www.previewsworld.com.
  23. "JUSTICE LEAGUE CHESS SET (MAR140301)". www.previewsworld.com.
  24. "SANDMAN CHESS SET (DEC140429)". www.previewsworld.com.
  25. "DC GALLERY JOKER & HARLEY QUINN BOOKENDS (APR170469)". www.previewsworld.com.
  26. "Mattel Wins Master Toy License For DC Comics". Action Figure Insider. June 28, 2007. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved April 20, 2008.
  27. TJ Dietsch (April 19, 2008). "Mattel, two of the Four Horsemen and DC talks DC Universe Super Heroes, Infinite Heroes and much, much more". Toys. Archived from the original on April 21, 2008. Retrieved April 20, 2008.
  28. "DC Direct". 411 Games. July 28, 2000. Archived from the original on August 12, 2008. Retrieved April 20, 2008.
  29. "No Watchmen Edition, Figures". Comic Continuum News. August 25, 2000. Retrieved April 20, 2008.
  30. "Toy Fair 2018: Doomsday Clock Action Figures from DC Collectibles". www.previewsworld.com.

Further reading