Will Your Local Wal-Mart Carry DC Universe Classics Wave 10?

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If you are having problems finding DC Universe Classics wave 10, the second Wal-Mart exclusive wave, here’s a little help.  Pendragon’s Post has published a list of the roughly 3,000 Wal-Mart stores that have action figure sales high enough to warrant selling wave 10.  Please note that this isn’t a list of stores that have them in stock – just a list of the stores that are eligible to carry it.

The list is published in image format (51 images total), but it’s sorted alphabetically by state, so that should help you narrow it down.  California residents – our stores are listed on pages 4 – 7.

Pendragon also posted some notes from his conversation with a Wal-Mart PR representative about DCUC 10.  Good stuff!

On Wave 5, Walmart only had it in 1,800 of their stores. At least this time, it doubled to 3,000 stores, but still not great.

So I made a call to Walmart and spoke to Melissa O’Brien, Senior Manager PR & Brand Reputation for Walmart. This is what she told me:

  • DC Universe is hard to keep in stock because it does sell out quickly. They do realize this is a popular item and it why they increased the order from 1,800 stores to 3,000 store. Unfortunately, they wouldn’t tell me the exact number ordered.
  • They are considered a collectible and not a standard toy like GI Joe or Transfromers, and that makes for smaller purchasing amounts for DCUC.
  • They determine with stores get Wave 10, by the total number of sales in each store. The higher the overall action figures sales are, the greater the chance that store will get DCUC.
  • They do not want to put them on-line because they feel that this would be unfair to collectors. Walmart feels by selling DCUC in stores, the collectors have a better chance of finding them.
  • Walmart doesn’t always know the exact date of a shipment, and since DCUC are more limited in manufacture, they may not come in as often as other Mattel items.
  • If you can not find them, to contact your local store (see the list below). New toy stock usually arrives on Tuesdays and Wedsdays.

via PENDRAGON’S POST: FINDING DCUC WAVE 10 AT WALMART.

Bob Layton Card Art for Marvel Universe Secret Wars

secretwarssketches.jpgAs you may know, Hasbro has been working with Marvel’s top artists to create unique packaging for its Marvel Universe products.  Frank Cho drew all the card art for the first year’s five series of Marvel Universe.  Joe Quesada took on the Invaders and Captain America exclusives for San Diego Comic-Con.  And Mike Deodato is taking over the Marvel Universe main line for 2010, and those figures have been hitting in limited quantities already at local comic book stores and Toys R Us.

For the MU Secret Wars, with four series split over the latter half of this year and the first half of next, Hasbro recruited Bob Layton, the famed artist best known for his work on Iron Man.  Layton also happens to have worked on the Marvel Secret Wars comic book, and designed the original Secret Wars toy line for Mattel.  He’s had several pieces of the Hasbro Secret Wars card art for sale, and recently added a sketch from the original Mattel toy line.

Series 1 (missing – Thunderball)

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DC Universe Classics Arkham Asylum Batman – 2dtoys

As a customizer myself, I’m not usually one to hit eBay looking for custom action figures.  But every once in a while, a truly exceptional piece gets put up for sale.

This one is a Batman from the Arkham Asylum video game, by DoubleDealer of 2dtoys fame.  It uses a DC Universe Classics base, but that’s really not doing the figure justice – every element of the figure has been sculpted or textured, including a truly magnificent original head sculpt.

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Batman is made in the DC Universe style standing 6 inches tall with 26 points of articulation. His unique costume in the video game was painstakingly recreated in remarkable detail. You might not see it in the photographs but he even has that unique texture all over his suit. It also features a new accurate head professionally sculpted from scratch. Even after the extensive full body sculpting, this figure is still fully poseable.

via Custom Marvel Legends DC Universe Arkham Asylum Batman – eBay (item 310176463015 end time Oct-28-09 19:26:23 PDT)

Masters of the Universe Classics Zodak

Masters of the Universe Classics Zodak with He-Man and Man-at-Arms
Masters of the Universe Classics Zodak with He-Man and Man-at-Arms

I’m a bit confused.  Yes, my Masters of the Universe Classics Zodak arrived.  And today, I finally received shipping notification for my subscription figure for Teela, over a week after she and Zodak went on sale.  And my credit card – no charges yet for either (not that I’m complaining!)  I guess Mattel and Digital River (who runs their Mattycollector site) have some kinks to iron out.

But let’s talk about Zodak!  Of the 200X Masters redesigns, Zodak was one of my favorites.  I liked that they made him black – let’s face it – the only minorities in the original line were bad guys.  I liked the tats.  And I really liked the removable helmet.  So when Mattel announced Zodak after releasing Zodac in his back to white classic appearance, I was pretty psyched.

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AFP Hasbro Marvel Q&A Roundup – 10/23/9

Here’s the latest Q&A from the Hasbro Marvel team. Since we were all about Marvel Legends last time, this go around we focused on Marvel Universe.  Thanks guys!

1. What’s the latest on the deluxe Galactus that you showed at San Diego Comic-Con? Does it have a home at retail yet? Will it be released under the Gigantic Battles line, and if so, are you planning to release it with a companion 3.75-inch figure? What other characters in this size are you considering?

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Galactus is ready to make a statement: “Humans, prepare yourselves!”

2. We were curious about the extras that come with the Marvel Universe figures. Are there hidden nuggets in the memos that come with the figure? If so, any clues?

Ahhh… interesting question. The memos are a very important part to the story element of the MU line. We encourage you to read these important documents closely.

3. We love the multi-pack products like Marvel Universe Secret Wars, because it seems like it gives the opportunity to provide more villains and second-tier characters, as well as extras like comic books. What plans do you have to continue this after Secret Wars? Any plans to offer multi-figure Marvel Universe packs (2,3,or 5) of the same army builder (as the Joe team does occasionally)?

We do plan to continue offering theme team packs as well as items like the comic packs moving forward.

Here’s the round-up of other Marvel Q&A from other toy sites: (links to be added as they come up)

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