A JLU Summary Of What We Can Expect From Mattel In 09

by Jay Cochran
January 04, 2009
Mattel has released this short summary of what we can expext from their JLU line-up in 2009.

Coming to Target stores in 2009:
20 singles
8 3-packs
4 6-packs (Fall only similar to 2008 release schedule)

At Mattycollector.com
4 4-packs (one per quarter)
1 Convention Exclusive

Other things we can expext to see in over the course of the year will be Wave 3 figures (3 packs Cheetah and Batman Beyond) and singles (Green Lantern, Booster Gold, Ultraman, Dr. Fate and Parasite) - plus some more Sinestro Corps Uniform and Batman with Wonder Pig in the case packs which should be out soon.

Shown below in the IMAGE GALLERY are carded images of the JLU Gotham Criminals 4-pack wich goes on sale at Mattycollector.com on February 15, 2009. Even those these are being labled as a 4-pack it appears they will come on single cards and just ship as 4.

Also shown below is the Target exclusive Batman Beyond and Criminals 3-packs along with single carded figures for wave 3 and 4.


UPDATE: Mattel has released this additional information for the upcoming 6-packs:

The 2009 JLU 6 packs will be all new and offered in the fall released in a similar fashion to the 2008 packs. We will have 4 different packs in 2009 but will not be rereleasing the 2008 packs.

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Comments...

Last 10 comments - ( Read All Posts )
CaptainTriumph - 2009-01-06 @ 6:19 am
Im just happy the 6 packs are coming back. The two 6 packs that came out late last year will probably get re-released.

I hope so...I never saw the last two sets at retail!

cyclonusthewarrior - 2009-01-05 @ 10:45 pm

Im just happy the 6 packs are coming back. The two 6 packs that came out late last year will probably get re-released.

CaptainTriumph - 2009-01-05 @ 10:09 am

I don't have a problem with the line it self but the release date on the 6-packs kinda sucks. They want to release all of them in November? I not sure why they wont release two of them earlier in the year, then two around the holidays. I would think that they would get better sales that way...

pesatyel - 2009-01-05 @ 6:31 am

I understand they came from the cartoon design and I don't have a problem with that.

But it just seems to me it is a matter of "quantity over quality". A lot of the female characters share bodies, for example.

They can afford to get out so many characters because they ARE little more than statues. Why bother with articulation at all if THAT is the quality of it?

So if it just boils down to getting as many character's as possible, then THAT I can get behind. Amanda Waller, in the post above, probably would never have been made if the quality of these figures was any better (and, no, I DON'T mean artistic sculpting).

But it just seems to me that these, given the nature of them would be better if they were preposed. Would they not? Having everyone just standing at attention, is that a good thing? I maean Artistrix brings up a point about them not standing so well, which I've seen as a complaint several times. Doesn't THAT bespeak of quality?

pesatyel - 2009-01-05 @ 6:22 am
I guess I have to be the bad guy here, but HOW are these "good"? There is no "action" in these figures, ESPECIALLY the female ones. Look at that pic of Zatana. At most, it looks like her right arm moves. If they are going to do little statutes, it might be better if they were in action poses or had better detail. I'm not expecting G.I. Joe level articulation, but these BARELY have as much articulation as the Star Wars figures from 1977.

Take a look at the Thanigarian (sp?) in the Batman Beyond set. That's horrible looking.

I'm not trying to step on anyones toes or ridicule anyone's collections. I just don't understand the, I guess, fascination with these figures.

Can someone explain it?

I dont know either, however, I found myself going after these cute figures of my favorite heroes.....I know I could go after the DC Classics line alone, but these animated figures are very nice, they are cool renditions of the characters from JL/JLU cartoon.

These figures are just addictive.

it's true! dam, this are pretty much happy meal toys, but because of how cool JLU was, i just have to collect these. they're addictive!

They are cool, as of now they are one of the oldest and longstanding line of figures currently, I mean have people really considered just how long this line as been going. I hate that I collect them but I love DC and yes the cartoon is hands down the best cartoon ever, so its hard and yes they are VERY ADDICTIVE.

Well its been around a long time because they are cheap to make. With, what, 5 parts, that's a lot cheaper than even Corps figures.

I liked the cartoon. It sucked they didn't do more.

Neutron - 2009-01-05 @ 5:32 am
I guess I have to be the bad guy here, but HOW are these "good"? .... Can someone explain it?

JLU figures are a very polarizing line like mini-mates where part of the line is the signature style that becomes the reason for the line. This is the JLU line based upon the cartoon likenesses of these characters. If you didn't like the cartoon or weren't especially enamored of the designs which give this line its identity, then this isn't the line for you.

This is why I generally dismiss criticisms of "The sculpts are too simplistic" or "There's not enough articulation!" If articulation and detail are top priorities for you, then you should probably be collecting something else.

Regarding the 2009 rundown of what JLU will be offering, it SOUNDS good but I remain skeptical. Sure. It sounds like we're getting a lot of characters but I have to wonder how many of those twenty single carded figures are figures that have already been released. How many more Wonder Women, Batmen, or Supermen will we be getting?

Artistrix - 2009-01-05 @ 4:20 am
Anyway, that's the appeal...at least for me.

Couldn't agree more.

What they lack individually, they certainly make up for as a group.

Diversity is a big thing to me, & unless you're talking Star Wars it's kinda rare.

JLU has brought me nearly everything I could want in a line, plenty of characters of various sizes (including numerous women) along with playsets & vehicles.

They may not all stand well & their movement is very basic, but I am glad I started collecting this line as it has become something quite amazing.

Oh, & I LOVE the Amanda Waller....Bring on Granny Goodness!!

kreyonkid - 2009-01-05 @ 2:16 am
I guess I have to be the bad guy here, but HOW are these "good"? There is no "action" in these figures, ESPECIALLY the female ones. Look at that pic of Zatana. At most, it looks like her right arm moves. If they are going to do little statutes, it might be better if they were in action poses or had better detail. I'm not expecting G.I. Joe level articulation, but these BARELY have as much articulation as the Star Wars figures from 1977.

Take a look at the Thanigarian (sp?) in the Batman Beyond set. That's horrible looking.

I'm not trying to step on anyones toes or ridicule anyone's collections. I just don't understand the, I guess, fascination with these figures.

Can someone explain it?

I dont know either, however, I found myself going after these cute figures of my favorite heroes.....I know I could go after the DC Classics line alone, but these animated figures are very nice, they are cool renditions of the characters from JL/JLU cartoon.

These figures are just addictive.

it's true! dam, this are pretty much happy meal toys, but because of how cool JLU was, i just have to collect these. they're addictive!

They are cool, as of now they are one of the oldest and longstanding line of figures currently, I mean have people really considered just how long this line as been going. I hate that I collect them but I love DC and yes the cartoon is hands down the best cartoon ever, so its hard and yes they are VERY ADDICTIVE.

Hell Yeah!! Best Cartoon Ever!!!

muppethost - 2009-01-05 @ 2:08 am
I guess I have to be the bad guy here, but HOW are these "good"? There is no "action" in these figures, ESPECIALLY the female ones. Look at that pic of Zatana. At most, it looks like her right arm moves. If they are going to do little statutes, it might be better if they were in action poses or had better detail. I'm not expecting G.I. Joe level articulation, but these BARELY have as much articulation as the Star Wars figures from 1977.

Take a look at the Thanigarian (sp?) in the Batman Beyond set. That's horrible looking.

I'm not trying to step on anyones toes or ridicule anyone's collections. I just don't understand the, I guess, fascination with these figures.

Can someone explain it?

First off, I think your criticism comes several years too late. This line has been around for YEARS now and these announcements are a continuation of the line as it exists. Quite frankly, I'd be a little angry if they suddenly changed the line and I had to start collecting all over again (Playmates did this with their Star Trek line...changed the scale and the style and I stopped collecting the line). Zatanna is a re-release, so I don't see the issue with her.

As for the "Thanagarian" as you called him, that's Warhawk. He was featured in the Batman Beyond series. In JLU it was revealed that he was the son of John Stewart and Hawkgirl.

And I think that is the key to the success of this line (and the excitement of the collectors).

The cartoon(s) that this line is based on offered a rich tapestry of the DC Universe. Many of the characters who have been made were only featured tangentially (Vibe, Commander Steel and B'wana Beast for example), but the fact that Mattel has decided to make these characters into 3-D figures is amazing!

The JLU line has made several characters that have NEVER been made into action figures before...both heroes and villains. That makes this line special in and of itself. The only other action figure line that could possibly make an Aztek, Ray, Vilgilante or a Katma Tui figure would be DC Direct (although, maybe now Infinite Heroes is a possibility too). For collectors that makes for a GREAT line. For kids (like my nephews) it makes for a huge assortment of good guys and bad guys to play with. Superman and Batman may be the main good guys of their games, but there is a huge selection of other characters for them to interact with.

Anyway, this year we have been promised Cheetah (who has been longed for by many collectors), Old Bruce Wayne, Batman Beyond, Lex in his orange prison jumpsuit, a surprise Amanda Waller figure, and many more. This line is far from dead. And, for the first time ever, two characters who were NOT in any of the series (but could have been)...Ultraman and SuperWoman. That's awesome.

Add to this the announcements that were made at San Diego Comic Con this past summer and 2009 is going to be a good year for JLU fans. I'm looking forward to the promised Legion of SuperHeroes multipack, the Shazam family multipack and the singles of Firestorm and Plastic Man.

Anyway, that's the appeal...at least for me.

superpowers1986 - 2009-01-05 @ 1:17 am
I guess I have to be the bad guy here, but HOW are these "good"? There is no "action" in these figures, ESPECIALLY the female ones. Look at that pic of Zatana. At most, it looks like her right arm moves. If they are going to do little statutes, it might be better if they were in action poses or had better detail. I'm not expecting G.I. Joe level articulation, but these BARELY have as much articulation as the Star Wars figures from 1977.

Take a look at the Thanigarian (sp?) in the Batman Beyond set. That's horrible looking.

I'm not trying to step on anyones toes or ridicule anyone's collections. I just don't understand the, I guess, fascination with these figures.

Can someone explain it?

I dont know either, however, I found myself going after these cute figures of my favorite heroes.....I know I could go after the DC Classics line alone, but these animated figures are very nice, they are cool renditions of the characters from JL/JLU cartoon.

These figures are just addictive.

it's true! dam, this are pretty much happy meal toys, but because of how cool JLU was, i just have to collect these. they're addictive!

They are cool, as of now they are one of the oldest and longstanding line of figures currently, I mean have people really considered just how long this line as been going. I hate that I collect them but I love DC and yes the cartoon is hands down the best cartoon ever, so its hard and yes they are VERY ADDICTIVE.

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