Layoffs have been expected all day today as news trickled out from AT&T of layoffs from the company’s WarnerMedia division. Around 600 staffers were expected to be let fo from the company including numerous high-ranking staffers. WarnerMedia became part of AT&T in 2018 and the changes are part of the company’s long-term plan to be more direct to consumers. Reducing costs, including staff, has been a part of AT&T’s strategy since they bought Time Warner.
DC Comics and DC Universe have been impacted by the layoffs. The majority of the staff of DC Universe has been laid off as the entire service’s future has been in doubt since the launch of HBO Max and many of the service’s original programming has moved over to that digital service. DC Universe has recently stopped offering yearly subscriptions switching to only monthly a sign the service may be winding down.
At DC, editor-in-chief Bob Harris, senior VP of publishing strategy and support services Hank Kanalz, VP of marketing and creative services Jonah Weiland, VP global publishing initiatives and digital strategy Bobbie Chase, senior story editor Brian Cunningham, and executive editor Mark Doyle, who oversaw the rollout of the Black Label graphic novels have all lost their positions. Editor Andy Khouri has also been mentioned by some as having also been let go. Jim Lee will remain as CCO but also be more focused as a liason between the comic publisher and other divisions.
Around one third of DC’s editorial staff have been laid off according to reports.
DC Direct, the company’s in-house collectibles division, has been shut down after 22 years. Its existence was in question with recent deals with McFarlane Toys and other collectible manufacturers who have a greater footprint in markets like big-box retailers.
AT&T, and WarnerMedia’s, focus has been going more direct to consumers in recent years either through AT&T’s services or through new ventures like HBO Max. It’s clear DC is taking that focus as well with its expansion of its original digital comics in the DC Digital First initiative. By building up its digital offerings the publisher will become less reliant on the comic direct market and allow the publisher to build its own community to directly engage.
DC press has not released an official comment as to the changes. We’ll have more updates as more news is released.
A Facebook page name was the first tip-off but it’s official! DC Collectibles, known for its iconic lines of collectibles, statues and action figures, directly from the source, is returning to the name on which it was founded, DC Direct. The move cements the focus of the line of collectibles as committed to DC material and authenticity of being truly “from the source.”
During New York Toy Fair, DC Direct will display its striking new 2020 action figures and statues in its booth. This year’s lineup will feature an all-new statue line based on The Joker, a revamped Artist Alley line, and additions to expand its best-selling action figure and statue lines including DC Essentials, Batman Black & White,Harley Quinn Red, White & Black,DC Designer Series, DC Bombshells, and more.
The Batman Black & White and Harley Quinn Red, White & Black statue series lines have been a success so it’s only fitting that The Joker gets his own statue line to be based on the iconic images of the Super-Villain from the DC Comics pages. The series will appropriately be named The Joker Clown Prince of Crime. The inaugural figure is based on the iconic image of The Joker by Brian Bolland. Follow Bolland will be statues by Jim Lee with a classic comic Joker design that really portrays how creepy the jokester is with oversized features such as hands and feet and Lee Bermejo, perhaps one of the most popular comic illustrators associated with The Joker. Bermejo has designed a statue that will look amazing on any shelf as its displayed in hues of purple and green.
The highly collectible DC Artists Alley line will also undergo a revamp. The line will feature more premium format designs and figures. First out of the gate, The Joker by Brandt Peters. Peters uses his design talents to bring The Joker to life by combining his antique, Victorian style for a truly unique take on the villain. Additional artists joining the DC Artists Alley line include, Brittney Lee, a popular artist who used her talent in paper-craft-style art to create a new take on the famous villainess Catwoman, Patrick Ballesteros, who uses childlike nostalgia and imagination, to bring one back to their younger years will provide his take on the Bat Family including Deathstroke and Robin, and Zach Heffelfinger will provide his take on the Dark Knight. As a character designer for Nickelodeon on SpongeBob SquarePants, Heffelfinger brings about a sense of nostalgia with his stylistic art.
Additional statues and figures debuting at the show include Deadshot, the last character in the Batman Rogues Gallery Multi-Part Statue; A DC Bombshells: Poison Ivy Holiday Variant; new Batman Black & White and Harley Quinn Red, White & Black statues and DC Essentials and Batman The Adventures Continueaction figures.
For the complete list of DC Direct’s items to be on display at New York Toy Fair, see below:
The Joker Clown Prince of Crime Statue Line:
The Joker by Brian Bolland (NY Toy Fair reveal)
The Joker by Jim Lee (NY Toy Fair reveal)
The Joker by Lee Bermejo (NY Toy Fair reveal)
DC Artists Alley Designer Vinyl Figures
The Joker by Brandt Peters (NY Toy Fair reveal)
Catwoman by Brittney Lee (NY Toy Fair reveal)
Batman by Zach Heffelfinger (NY Toy Fair reveal)
Bat-Family by Patrick Ballesteros (NY Toy Fair reveal)
Batman Rogues Gallery Multi-Part Statue:
Catwoman
The Penguin
The Joker
Harley Quinn
Mr. Freeze
Deadshot (NY Toy Fair reveal)
DC Cover Girls Statue Line:
Batgirl by Frank Cho Statue
Supergirl by Frank Cho Statue
Harley Quinn by Frank Cho Statue
Poison Ivy by Frank Cho Statue
Batman Black & White Statue Line:
Batman by Todd McFarlane Statue
Armored Batman by Frank Miller Statue
Batman by Jim Lee Statue
Batmonster by Greg Capullo Statue
Batman by Brian Bolland Statue (NY Toy Fair reveal)
Batman Gotham by Gaslight by Mike MignolaStatue (NY Toy Fair reveal)
Batman by Freddie E. Williams IIIStatue (NY Toy Fair reveal)
DC Essentials Action Figures:
Batman Rebirth Version 2 Action Figure
The Flash Speedforce Action Figure
New 52 Nightwing Action Figure
Superman The Return of Superman Action Figure
DCeased Batman Action Figure
DCeased The Joker Action Figure
DCeased Aquaman Action Figure
DCeased Green Lantern Action Figure
DCeased Harley Quinn Action Figure
DCeased Superman Action Figure
DCeased The Flash Action Figure
DCeased Supergirl Action Figure
Justice League Action Figure 6-Pack (NY Toy Fair reveal)
DC Designer Series Statue Line:
Metal Batman by Greg Capullo Mini Statue
Nightwing by Jim Lee Mini Statue
Batman by Mike Mignola Mini Statue
Batman by Alex Ross Deluxe Statue
Supergirl by Michael Turner Mini Statue
The Batman Who Laughs by Greg Capullo Statue
Catwoman by Stanley ‘Artgerm’ Lau Statue
Harley Quinn by Bruce Timm Mini Statue
DC Gallery:
Superman vs. The Flash Racing Statue 2nd Edition
Batman vs The Batman Who Laughs Battle Statue
DCeased Batman Statue (NY Toy Fair reveal)
Batman The Adventures Continue Action Figures:
Robin
The Joker
The Batman Who Laughs
Batman v.2
Catwoman
Vampire Batman
Talon (NY Toy Fair reveal)
Thomas Wayne Batman (NY Toy Fair reveal)
Batgirl (NY Toy Fair reveal)
Robin (Tim Drake) (NY Toy Fair reveal)
Batman The Animates Series Action Figures:
Christmas with The Joker (Metallic Variant) (NY Toy Fair reveal)
Harley Quinn Red, White & Black Statue Line:
Harley Quinn by Steve Pugh
Harley Quinn by Amanda Conner Statue
Harley Quinn by Stanley Lau Statue
Harley Quinn by J. Scott Campbell Statue (NY Toy Fair reveal)
The DC Bombshells Poison Ivy Sepia Tone Variant Statue is on sale for 30% off at Entertainment Earth. The statue which normally retails for $104.99 can be purchased for a limited time for $73.99.
DC Collectibles is returning to New York Comic Con (Oct. 3-6) and will reveal an extensive slate of new statues and action figures. Big reveals include the reveal of #102 in the popular Batman: Black & White series, new character additions to the fan-favorite Batman: The Adventures Continue action figure line, and additions to expand its best-selling action figure and statue lines including DC Bombshells, DC Essentials, DC Designer Series,and more.
DC Collectibles just recently hit a major milestone with its Batman: Black & White series by announcing its 100th statue designed by Todd McFarlane and #101 by Frank Miller. With the line gaining even more notoriety the DC Collectibles team knew they had to keep going above and beyond for the line’s fans announcing the 102nd statue in the series would be designed by non-other than the legendary Jim Lee. The all new 7” Batman statue is based on a panel in Batman: Hush, marks Lee’s fifth statue in the line.
Fans will now be able to immerse one of the most popular DC Super-Villains, The Batman Who Laughs into their Batman: The Adventures Continue collections. The Batman Who Laughs figure, designed by Ty Templeton bio by Paul Dini, combines the popular character from the Dark Nights: METAL comic and the beloved animated TV series art style. The figure is due to hit shelves October 2020.
Harley Quinn fans rejoice as an all new Harley Quinn Red, White & Black statue designed by Steve Pugh will make its debut on the Comic Con show floor. Based on Pugh’s art from the young adult graphic novel, Breaking Glass, features a young Harley Quinn.
Additional 2020 releases include a DC Designer Series Batman statue by Alex Ross and several new DC Essentials action figures including a number based on the popular DC Comics miniseries from 2019, DCeased, where the action figures take on the some of the post popular characters in the line and turn them into zombie-like creatures. Characters include, DCeased Batman, DCeased The Joker, DCeased Harley Quinn and DCeased Superman
DC Collectibles will be hosting a can’t miss panel (Thursday, October 3rd at 1:45 pm, Room 1A21)
featuring Greg Cupullo, Paul Harding, Jean St. Jeanand DC Collectibles own Creative Director, Jim Fletcher. Fans will get a front row seat to hearing about all the new collectibles and what goes into making these amazing fan-favorite statues and action figures. Those in attendance will be treated to hearing about and seeing several upcoming statues and actions figures including, Batman Black & White: Batmonster by Greg Capullo, DC Bombshells – Carrie Kelly as Robin (designed by Ant Lucia and sculpted by Tim Miller), DC Cover Girls – Harley Quinn (designed by Frank Cho), and three new concept designs for Batman: The Adventures Continue action figure line -Talon, HUSH and Thomas Wayne as Batman.
See below for a complete list of DC Collectibles’ new line up:
DC Collectibles has revealed the latest statue in the popular Batman Black & White series – Armored Batman by Frank Miller. #101 in the series is based on the iconic designs from Frank Miller’s 1986 series,The Dark Knight Returns.
This armored Batman perfectly encapsulates the worn-out, dystopian vibe from the comics while showing the technological power Batman possesses in the story.
In celebration of the 80th anniversary, Warner Bros. Consumer Products and DC Collectibles have revealed the 100th Batman Black and White statue in the popular ongoing DC Collectibles line. The 100th statue is by creator Todd McFarlane.
The milestone #100 statue is based off McFarlane’s own cover of Batman issue #423. As with the previous 99 in the series, McFarlane’s design, reinforces the core value of DC Collectibles to represent the printed page in 3D form and pays homage to Batman’s rich legacy.
On top of McFarlane’s statue, DC Collectibles has also revealed statue #99 by Doug Mahnke.
TheDC Cover Girls Catwoman by Joëlle Jones Statue is a limited edition 5,000 pieces. Selina Kyle lounges on a vault she’s ready to crack open with a few flicks of her claws. Inspired by the powerful women of the DC Universe, DC Cover Girls is a long-running line that features dynamic depictions of the most famous superheroines and super-villains in premium 9-inch scale statues. Individually numbered. Measures approximately 7-inches tall.
Based on art by Joëlle Jones; Sculpted by Jack Mathews from Joëlle Jones, the superstar artist who took Catwoman into battle, comes this statue from the DC Cover Girls line.
DC Collectibles: Mikey as Batman: What mischief is Mikey up to now? Batman might just have to talk to him about borrowing without asking. Mikey is decked out in Batman’s iconic cowl and cape in this awesome 2019 Previews Exclusive. Accessories include a sewer lid, a slice of pizza and two extra sets of hands.
The Dark Knight Meets Mutant Mayhem!
When a new menace in Gotham City begins stealing experimental technology, Batman is put on high alert. But a team of warriors lurking beneath the streets is also on the case: the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! Led by Leonardo, these brothers – brainy Donatello, fearless Raphael and wisecracking Michelangelo – are mysterious martial artists on a collision course with the Dark Knight. Based on the hit DC Comics crossover, Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a high-flying, pulse-pounding adventure the likes of which Gotham has never seen!
For the first time that Pop Life Globaland China’s Imperial Palace are releasing this summer an amazing collaboration with DC Collectibles. These highly collectible figures include Batman, Superman, Robin, Deathstroke, Wonder Woman, Nightwing, Joker, Harley Quinn, Green Lantern, Green Arrow, The Flash, and Aquaman. The collectible products are just part of the “Creativity and Historical Culture” collection with a full range of collectibles, art toys, apparel, homewares, accessories and other inspired merchandise.
The collectible figures will launch in retail June 2019.
While experiencing their biggest year at the box office in China with feature films like Wonder Woman and Aquaman, the cast of characters from the DC Universe are fast becoming popular with fans.
These figures pay homage to the ancient Chinese warriors and soldier armors inspired by the museum collections from the Imperial Palace archives. The Imperial Palace, under the charge of the Palace Museum, is the palatial heart of China. Constructed in 1420 during the early Ming Dynasty, it is China’s best-preserved palace, and the largest ancient palatial structure in the world.
