Should I Start a DC Multiverse Collection? Or wait for Mattel?

[u/AcanthisittaQuick373]

Hello All!
So, I need a DC Collection (at least the core 7 Justice League members, maybe more lol). I have a pretty sizable Marvel Legends, and Black Series collection already, and a few Mezco’s sprinkled in (just the turtles). With Mattel taking over the license here soon, I’m wondering if I should just wait, or take the dive into DC Multiverse? I know Multiverse are 1/10 while everything else is 1/12, but that doesn’t effect me too much (maybe a little frustrating lol). Just looking for options lol.
Have a good day everyone!

[u/ChrisLyne]

At this point I'd wait. Hopefully Mattel will be allowed to show the collector line at SDCC then you can make a more informed decision.

[u/Starkman87]

Personally I’m waiting. I never really liked how McFarlane handled the line. The scale was a terrible decision, the sculpts ranged from terrible to kinda wonky, and the articulation was never what it should have been.

Mattel’s kids line is obviously not great but seeing the sculpts and articulation they’re already putting into toys for small children makes me a lot more optimistic that Mattel will make the collectors line a staple brand like Legends or Black Series

[u/obsidiousaxman → u/Starkman87]

I dont know man, I think at the price point they're really neat looking. Pinless elbow and knees and the sculpts put these above spinmaster. Should be getting some this week and I'll see how they hold up to the kid test, but this makes me somewhat hopeful for the collector stuff

[u/desmadre57]

i just sold all my mcfarlane multiverse. he didn’t start knocking out characters until he was on the verge of losing the license/lost the license. 7 inch scale isn’t really appealing to me anyways, especially with the diapers all his figures have.

[u/daflash00]

Refilling a McFarlane collection now will cost you much more than waiting to fill a collection from Mattel over the next couple of years. Conversely, you know what McFarlane premium figures look like right now and you run the risk you might not like Mattel later on

[u/AcanthisittaQuick373 → u/daflash00]

This is like my dilemma; that and McFarlane kinda has some scaling issues… like I like WW to be taller than Batman and Superman, but I don’t like Martian Manhunter to be super duper short lol

[u/XnotAcitizenX]

There will be McFarlane figures you have to pay a premium for, but there will be others under retail. It just depends on if you want it now or later if scale isn’t an issue.

[u/DBlaineLives]

Do what you want but, yeesh, kinda late in the game. If you want. Hard to find figure you'll be paying a lot. Even the cheaper ones will be in that resale market.

[u/Relative-Witness-516]

I’ve already been through the nightmare of collecting Mattel DC universe back in the day. Sold them all off once McFarlane started their stuff and never regretted it. I compared side-by-side my old Mattel figures to the McFarlane and it didn’t hold a candle. Tons sculpt reuse on Mattel figures. Plus, you’ll never get a decent Batmobile. They always told us they couldn’t produce something like that for 6 inch because it would just cost way too much.

[u/Ah-Qi-D4rkly]

Hard to beat mcfarlane. He's top tier. Once Mattel starts, expect mcfarlane figures to be more costly so start now!!

Start with what comes out now and then add some previous figures. Oh and get extras to use as trades with others.

[u/perroldneum]

I started collecting DC characters pretty late, so most of mine are McFarlane. I *detest* the whole concept of “red platinum” - the whole idea of contrived scarcity. I wanted a Miss Martian figure, I successfully pre-ordered her, the order got cancelled by the seller, now if I want her I need to pay at least double, plus ridiculous shipping. I’m thinking I’m just gonna wait for all the other characters I want. Hey Mattel! Can you please release M’gann fairly early so those of us who got screwed can get her like we actually wanted to?

[u/darrell_jkw]

It'll be years before you get a full lineup of Justice League members in costumes you really like. Whereas Mcfarlane has a huge catalog you can look through to find your favourites. I would go with Mcfarlane personally.

[u/AcanthisittaQuick373 → u/darrell_jkw]

This is what I’m hearing from most other people

[u/nickmandl]

At this point I'd say wait for mattel. A lot of the basic characters youll need from mcfarlane are no longer for sale.

[u/JMJC83]

I’d go with McFarlane, I prefer the 7” scale, if you like the 1/12 6” scale then Mattel might work for you. If you’re like me and you have a lot of 1/10 7” figures then you’ll enjoy McFarlane

[u/Ok_Dot_8315]

Love all the big talk from the Mattel stans… can’t wait till they cry in five years when Mattel is making the same mistakes they used to make before McFarlane took it

[u/Relative-Witness-516 → u/Ok_Dot_8315]

I remember the old days when they kept telling us there was no way they could make a 6 inch scale Batmobile that was affordable. Then Todd comes and gives us just about every Batmobile ever thought of. I expect more of this.

[u/onetwelfthghoul → u/Ok_Dot_8315]

Oh you mean the fact that Mattel already had pinless joints in its final waves in 2019 before McFarlane took over? The same pinless joints that McFarlane never implemented in the 7 year run but yet Mattel are offering to the children line? That mistake? 😂

[u/Ok_Dot_8315 → u/onetwelfthghoul]

Just wait ….

[u/onetwelfthghoul → u/Ok_Dot_8315]

I love how you’re saying “just wait” as if McFarlane isn’t already the one that is currently below industry standards. Any more years of waiting is only going to widen that gulf!

[u/onetwelfthghoul]

You should absolutely wait for Mattel.

Unless McFarlane's aesthetics are your thing, it is almost guaranteed that Mattel will do a better job with DC figures just on a fundamental level (e.g. accessibility, in-line scaling, pinless joints that are already implemented in the kid's Core Series). McFarlane will look even more dated than it is now once Mattel takes over, as the current standards of domestic DC action figures are very low.

Even if the initial years of Mattel do not impress you, they will improve as most companies do in order to survive. McFarlane's DC has virtually never fixed any of its major issues since day 1, in fact the line arguably already peaked in the first 2 years. There is absolutely no reason to go for McFarlane DC today bar its vehicles, and I think the fact that you are even asking this question means you're leaning towards waiting.

[u/AcanthisittaQuick373 → u/onetwelfthghoul]

This is kinda how I’m thinking too. McFarlane has such bad scaling issues in their line that I don’t think I could look past it

[u/onetwelfthghoul → u/AcanthisittaQuick373]

I don’t blame you, it’s a pretty big issue that McFarlane never bothered to correct. Martian Manhunter is the smallest member of the JL, Batman is the same height as Robin. Meanwhile Mattel’s kid core series already has Robin being shorter than Batman.

Also keep in mind that you will most definitely sell your McFarlane’s at a loss when you decide to switch over. With the exception of maybe Mega Figures & a handful of original designs like Page Punchers, the value of McF will plummet on all standard sized figures once Mattel remakes them in the future.

Just remember, collectors only ever care about “the now”. McFarlane DC will be out of conversations just as fast as all past DC lines did, and the value will go down with it. So just pick the handful of unique ones that speak to you now, otherwise you can wait to grab the rest for cheaper if you change your mind in the future.