Mattel Toys has announced it will host two panels at the New York Comic Con on Saturday April 19, 2008.

11:00 – 12:00 Mattel and DC Comics – a heroic partnership. You’ve been a fan of Mattel’s popular DC toy lines, now find out the latest news, sneak peaks and behind the scenes scoop on your favorite Mattel/DC action figures including DC Universe Classics, Justice League Unlimited, Infinite Heroes, plus exciting new lines and the world premier of brand new action figures. Join Mattel toy designers for an insightful Q&A. Not to be missed! This panel will also include representives from DC Comics, Warner Bros and the Four Horsemen.

2:00-3:00 – Masters of the Universe DVD release! At long last the popular 2002 MOTU animated series is out on DVD! Come help celebrate this release with a special screening of episode 35 –The Power of Grayskull and learn the secret origin of the most Powerful Man in the Universe- HE-MAN! The MOTU Panel will also include the Four Horsemen.

PLUS- the world premier of brand new MOTU toy news- revealed here for the very first time! Q&A with Mattel toy designers to follow.

via Action Figure Insider

As I mentioned in the last Major Spoilers Podcast, Mattel JLU toys will only be available at Target stores nationwide. This sucks for me, but great news for everyone else.

16 brand new figures along with collector requested repaints and reissues will be available in singles,3-packs and 6 packs. Figures will be out in two waves. Each wave will consist of two 6-packs, two 3 packs and five single carded figures,some with brand new accessories. This line will be sold exclusively at Target stores starting Aug 1, 2008. At this time the line will be an in store exclusive only.

Wave 1 features Superman, Darkseid (both offered previously), Mr. Miracle, Forager, Lashina, and Mantis.

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The Wizard World Chicago Mattel/DC Panel is over. Mattel unveiled Wave 2 of the Classics line and promised it would be fixing the problems of some characters being extremely hard to find.

Take the jump for other highlights.

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Well here is a welcome addition to the Justice League Unlimited line - Hawkman. Now you can recreate your favorite love triangle with Hawkman, Hawkgirl, and Green Lantern, or you can go the other way with Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, and Vixen (with Hawkman standing stoically in the corner while his mace gently weeps).

The only downside I see to Hawkman is the figure uses the same body and wings as Winged Amazo, with the head being the only new item - well, there is the paint job dealie too.

Hawkman comes as part of a 3-pack featuring Rocket Red and Justice Lords Flash, although the package calls him Alt. The Flash. And come to think of it, Justice Lord Flash really isn’t correct because he was a creation of Braniac/Lex in the two part series.

Hawkman should appear in stores, and by stores I mean stores that are not Wal-Mart, on July 26.

Take the jump for more pics.

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Variety is reporting the toy company Mattel has made a deal with Warner Bros. to become the official toy maker for DC Comics.

But the new multi-year deal makes Mattel the master toy licensee for the complete DC portfolio, which includes characters such as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, the Joker, the Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, Green Arrow and Justice League.

What is really cool about this deal, is it not only includes current and future films and properties, but also DC items from the past. Since Mattel already has the Justice League line, let’s hope this new deal will allow them to create animated versions of future characters, like the surprise Comedian character that appeared on this site recently.

Mattel says they will also create a DC Superheroes section in retailer’s toy aisles. Unfortunately, the town I live in doesn’t have a Target and I’m forced to shop at that god-awful Wal-mart which tends to avoid most cool Mattel toys.

via Variety

I love Justice League Unlimited, and I’ve been heavily collecting the JL/JLU action figures since they were first released. Unfortunately, it is hard to nail down exactly what figures Mattel plans on releasing next, unless you attend one of the major cons or if you head over to Action Figure Insider.

The 2007 wave is already underway with some of the figures already in stores (but not Wal-Mart). Action Figure Insider has a breakdown of all the 3-packs including Sandman, the recently deceased Lightray, huntress, Star Sapphire and more!

via Action Figure Insider