Comic Book Resources

MattyCollector.com also experiencing pain-enducing levels of traffic this morning

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Comic-Con International aren’t the only ones having trouble selling things on the internet. Mattel’s action figure collector’s site MattyCollector.com released several new items today, including a Masters of the Universe figure, Superman and General Zod figures, and (the reason I was checking the site) a new Darkseid/Kalibak two-pack for their long-running Justice League Unlimited line.

Everything went on sale at 9 a.m. Pacific, which is when I hit the site and got this:

I did get in about eight minutes later, selected my item, went to checkout, and then started getting the “traffic management” page again before I could complete my transaction. Dang it. Around 9:17 a.m. I got back in, and it remembered where I was in the checkout process (which was nice … I figured I’d be starting from scratch). A few seconds later, my order was complete. Trying to go back to the home page, however, brought the holding page back up.

I guess today is good practice for next February, when the hotel process for San Diego kicks off.

(Update: And of course, after I post, the site doesn’t appear to be having any issues … and it doesn’t look like anything is sold out yet, so head over there quickly before it does).

SDCC ’10 | Mattel’s Starro the Conqueror packaging sounds like Batman

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Well, it is Batman … or Kevin Conroy, to be precise.

One of Mattel’s exclusive items available in San Diego this year will be a Justice League of America Starro the Conqueror set, which includes the villain and five heroes — Aquaman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Martian Manhunter and Green Lantern. The packaging is pretty nice:

More info on it can be found at MattyCollector.com.

Geoff Johns wants the Power of Grayskull

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Geoff Johns and I have something in common: We both want Geoff Johns to write a He-Man comic.

In an interview at writer Poe Ghostal’s toy and action figure news blog, the Blackest Night, Green Lantern, and Superman: Secret Origin writer says that He-Man and the Masters of the Universe is the only toy property he’d like to take a shot at writing. Now, normally this kind of offhand blue-sky wish-list comment wouldn’t merit a post, but I really love He-Man and Johns has written some of my favorite superhero comics of the past several years — and dammit, I’ve got a bully pulpit and I intend to use it.

Oh yeah, Johns discusses various other toy-related topics with Ghostal, including his childhood favorites and the highlights of his current collection. Unsurprisingly, Lantern Corps figures from DC Direct and Mattel fare pretty well, with Johns citing the action-figure version of his Blue Lantern character Saint Walker as his fave.

But seriously — Geoff Johns on He-Man! Start your letter-writing campaign to DC and Mattel in the comments.