Raving Toy Maniac

One wall in our living room has a fireplace, a cubbyhole for a television, and a built-in shelving unit for electronic equipment. Above all of that is a giant display niche, where most people would put big vases and fake plants. Since we are both collectors, we've had several different ideas of what to display there. Until we can decide on a single cohesive display, we've just been sticking things up there as the mood strikes us.

One week, my pile at the comic book store included three Wonder Woman statues. I gleefully opened them (one included a live spider as a free bonus pet!) and placed them in the big niche next to another Wonder Woman statue that was already up there. It was an instant theme and I knew I could expand it, so I ventured into the basement and found two Wonder Woman busts.

April 13, 2012 - During a C2E2 panel today moderated by Geoff Johns, DC Collectibles revealed an exciting line-up of new products, including a new Dr. Manhattan BEFORE WATCHMEN statue, an all-new We Can Be Heroes 7-pack action figure set featuring the DC Comics - The New 52 action figures, and variant busts from The Dark Knight Rises product line.

The Dr. Manhattan statue is the third figure to be revealed in a line of products based on characters from the highly-anticipated BEFORE WATCHMEN prequel comic book mini-series. Statues for Rorschach and The Comedian were previously announced and all of the figures will go on sale later this year.

DC DIRECT RE-LAUNCHES AS DC COLLECTIBLES, EXPANDS ONLINE OFFERINGS

DC Collectibles features high-end collectible products and toys based on characters from DC Comics, Vertigo and MAD

BURBANK, CA, April 11, 2012 – DC Entertainment announced today that its collectibles product line, previously known as DC Direct, has been re-launched with a new brand – DC Collectibles. Additionally, in early May 2012 DC Collectibles will expand its online store (http://www.DCComics.com/Collectibles) to offer its entire product line for sale on the web, in addition to the line's primary availability in comic book retail locations. For those fans who prefer to purchase a product in-store, the website will also provide information on the closest retail location that carries a particular DC Collectibles product.

April 2012 - DC has sent out this gift guide for Father's Day and graduation gifts...

With Father's Day and graduation season just around the corner, we've compiled a list of books, toys and pop culture items that we think are ideal for gift-giving that are sure to please readers of comic books, graphic novels, and toy collectors.

BOOKS FOR DADS AND GRADS

JUSTICE LEAGUE Vol. 1: Origin

Why is this book great for dads and grads? While chronicling the first meetings of the World's Greatest Super Heroes, JUSTICE LEAGUE VOLUME ONE: ORIGIN also explores an explosively unique father-son relationship. Struggling to win the approval of his overachieving father, teenager Vic Stone becomes the victim of a lab accident that turns him into the hero CYBORG - which makes him the unwitting key to stopping a parademon invasion of Earth. From New York Times bestselling writer Geoff Johns and legendary artist Jim Lee, the newly re-imagined JUSTICE LEAGUE embraces the age-old quest for parental validation in an all-new way, setting it against the backdrop of some of the most iconic heroes in the DC Comics line-up.

February 2012 - Can't remember which DC Direct products are due in at comic book stores soon? Here's the schedule for the next couple of months. These release dates are the original dates from the original solicitations/ announcements. (Read this other news post to find out why we are no longer able to post the weekly shipping updates.)

After each month's batch of new solicitations, we'll "update" this list and repost it in the news.

February 15:

• Batman Black & White Statue: Batman by Mike Mignola (Variant)

February 29:

• Catwoman 1:4 Scale Museum Quality Statue (date change due to resolicit in October 2011)

February 2012 - DC Direct - THE DARK KNIGHT RISES: BUSTS

Before the blockbuster The Dark Knight Rises hits theaters in July, be the first to own these incredibly detailed busts straight from Gotham City! These life-like collectibles capture the essence of Batman and two of his greatest foes - Bane and Catwoman!

Bane - 6.5" h
Catwoman - 6" h
Batman - 6.25" h

Each Sold Separately
$80.00 US
On Sale June 20, 2012

February 2012 - DC Direct - THE DARK KNIGHT RISES: 1:6 SCALE ICON STATUES

Before the blockbuster The Dark Knight Rises hits theaters in July, be the first to own these incredibly detailed statues straight from Gotham City! These life-like collectibles capture the essence of Batman and two of his greatest foes - Bane and Catwoman!

Bane - 12.5" h
Catwoman - 7" h
Batman - 13" h

Each Sold Separately
$129.99 US
On Sale June 20, 2012

February 2012 - DC Direct - JUSTICE LEAGUE: GREEN LANTERN AND AQUAMAN ACTION FIGURES

Green Lantern - 6.75" h
Aquaman - 6.75" h

DC Comics - The New DC 52 was THE entertainment story of 2011! After the acclaimed release of the first figure comes the next wave of figures in the ongoing line based on Geoff Johns and Jim Lee's best-selling JUSTICE LEAGUE!

Wielding a weapon of immense power for justice, comes Hal Jordan, the Green Lantern - and from the depths of the ocean comes the King of Atlantis, Aquaman - both featuring a unique take on the classic costume as designed by Lee.

Action Figures
On Sale June 27, 2012

February 2012 - DC Direct - BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY: DELUXE ACTION FIGURES

Welcome to Arkham City, the new maximum security "home" for all of Gotham City's thugs, gangsters, and insane criminal masterminds.

Set inside the heavily fortified walls of a sprawling district in the heart of Gotham City, it's filled with the most murderous villains from DC Comics' Batman universe. But Batman is ready to tackle it with all-new gadgets and his greatest-and most dangerous-allies. Which is good, because he'll need all the help he can get when he faces the ferocious Killer Croc and lethal Mr. Freeze!

Based on the blockbuster video game published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, developed by Rocksteady Studios, and licensed by DC Entertainment.

Mister Freeze - 7.25" h
Killer Croc - 9.5" h

Action Figures
On Sale June 6, 2012

February 2012 - DC Direct - DEATH STRIKES FASTER THAN LIGHTNING!

AME-COMI BLACK FLASH PVC FIGURE
DESIGNED BY JIM FLETCHER
SCULPTED BY JACK MATHEWS

Black Flash mysteriously appears as an omen of impending doom for any member of the Flash family of speedsters that tap into the Speed Force.

Packaged in a 4-color window box with J-hook, this non-articulated PVC statue stands approximately 9" high and includes a display base.

$70.00 US
On Sale June 13, 2012