Sometimes as toy collectors, we can look across our displays and, no matter how many toys we have, only see the ones that aren’t there. They are the missing figures. The characters toy companies never got around to, never thought were important enough, or worse – the figures companies felt the need to show us at comic-con in the “We’re Never Gonna Make These” case…
Anyone that’s read our Blackest Night reviews knows that I have a love/hate relationship with DC Direct. A fully realized DC Comics toy collection has long been a dream of mine. When DC Direct started with Swamp Thing & Wonder Woman in 1998, I made a commitment to have a complete set of DCDs. I kept that up until summer 2004 when I started picking and choosing. Since then, I still add a few DCD figures to my toy collection each year. There are some beautiful figures in there, but what finally soured me on DC Direct was what we weren’t getting.
If there is one thing DC Direct is good at, it’s leaving fans wanting more. Fans never got the “big 7” JLA in the same style/scale. Fans never got a full set of the Endless. Fans never got a complete group of Titans from any one era. Fans never got a good Zatanna (despite three attempts). And fans never got Watchmen figures based on their comic looks.
The difference between Watchmen figures and the other things mentioned was that we actually got to see the Watchmen figures. DC Direct had them on display at the 2000 San Diego Comic-Com. They debuted a Comedian (w/ alternate heads to capture his three main looks), Silk Spectre, and two versions of Dr. Manhattan with varying degrees of translucence, but were unable to bring them to market. It’s complicated.
Yeah, we’re not calling out DC Direct for violating cardinal toy sin #2 by showing us figures that they didn’t release because it’s not entirely on DC Direct that they didn’t come out. DCD showed the figures at SDCC 2000 and anticipated having them out in 2001 to coincide with the 15th Anniversary of the Watchmen series. What they hadn’t taken into account was Alan Moore. Suffice to say, an agreement between the two parties couldn’t be reached and a planned 15th anniversary graphic novel was canned. The figures were shelved along with it. And Watchmen fans, circa 2001, were crushed.
We had been shown amazing Tim Bruckner sculpted figures of some of our favorite characters and then been summarily denied. Now, this wasn’t my first experience with this type of bitter pill. There was already fourth wave Super Powers, Earthworm Jim Series 2, Iron Man Series 5. It happens. But not getting the Watchmen figures tasted especially bitter. So much so, that I still remember it’s sting as we come up on the 10th anniversary of the figures being shown.
Since its nearing the 10th anniversary of the 15th anniversary, we’re nearing another milestone. At least, if you put any stock into those 5’s & 0’s being more important than all the other numbers. I don’t know what the specific roadblocks that keep the Watchmen figures under wraps. I’m guessing that Alan Moore or Dave Gibbons retain some manner of control over merchandising rights despite not having a controlling interest in the property. I suppose it’s possible that DC Direct just kindly cancelled the proposed figures to be amenable to their wishes, but I doubt it.
So how can fans ever get these figures? How can we join the likes of Georg Brewer and have them on our shelves too? I don’t know. This may be our most pointless request yet. We can all agree that no amount of money DC Direct could offer Alan Moore would get him to budge. That’s not what’s important to him. We can only hope that as time goes on, Alan Moore might mellow and let the idea of pleasing his fans wash over him and release the embargo he holds over those comic Watchmen figures. And we must hope that DC Direct is ready to go if that day comes.
These are never coming…
I know. But I can dream…
That was a major disappointment at the time. DC Direct should have cleared the Alan Moore hurdle before getting that far along. I’m all for creator rights, but there is a limit when it cones to giving a **** about your fans and Alan Moore is well past it.
I don’t totally understand the disagreement myself, but yeah, denying fans cool stuff is mean!!
I just googled these for the full body shots and they’re awesome!! That sucks!!
Did you find the original pics from Comicon? They looked great. I’ll always be jealous of Brewer’s office.
I loved the movie and the figures weren’t bad Rorschach is spot on, but I’d have much rather had these.
Rorschach could pass. I still skipped the movie batch, I liked them but I didn’t know if I’d keep them long term.
After the movie didn’t get these out, I gave up on them. 🙁
That’s probably the reality of the situation.
Watchmen is one of those things I love, but don’t want toys of so I’m okay with their being shelved.
I did save your graphic though. It’s fantastic. Love that you captured the trade dress and the bottle is good imagery for what you’re asking.
I second that!
Thanks!
If I promise to buy 10 of each will that help??
I don’t think they’re worried about how they’ll sell. It’s more about Moore and how he’s been treated.
I would have rather bought these the movie figures.
Me too.
Lol, I wouldn’t have gone there if I were you, but this is a great blog post.
Spam?? Hmm…
Yes!!!!
What’s your screen name mean?
I didn’t spend a dime on movie stuff (besides the ticket price, I guess :P) but I would buy every one of these.
I wanted to buy some of the movie stuff, but I just never got around to it.
I know.. I want them too… but it’s not gonna happen. Not THOSE anyway. In talking with the people involved they don’t even think the molds for those exist any more. And Tim would rather resculpt them if they were to ever give us a comic based line. He feels like he’s grown and learned alot over the past 10 years and he’d rather redo them than for those to see the light of day.
Thanks for letting us in on some more information for these! They were canned so quickly, I had wondered if molds had even been made for them.
I’d be cool with new versions too. I don’t buy much DCD stuff anymore, but Tim Bruckner was a big draw for me back when I did.
And, thanks for stopping by too!
Also, I know not all of the figures have been released… but in the DC Direct McGuinnes line we are getting “the Big 7” in a uniform style and scale.
You’re right! I’d totally forgotten about those. The dumb thing was that I want that McG Kyle and he’s in the same wave with the hook-hand Aquaman, isn’t he?
That McG line is a love/hate thing for me. I like the idea and I kinda want them all, but at the same time they’re so silly. I don’t know. I think that Kyle comes out soon too…