McFarlane Toys is one of my favorite toy companies on the planet. Notwithstanding the fact that their founder inspired the name of this very site, I am also a huge Batman fan and McFarlane has been responsible for some of the best Batman figures I have ever owned. I have also been able to fill some of the holes in my Batman: the Animated Series collection. So, it was with some degree of sadness that I read the news about Mattel regaining the DC license in 2026, as it almost certainly spells the end for the McFarlane’s DC Multiverse line. Less clear is what it means for DC Direct, which Todd is Managing Director of. The latest word is that discussions are “ undoing” and more information will come at a later date. See the photos below and then read on for the details on what I saw.
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However, DC is just a part of McFarlane’s offerings, and there are many other lines and licenses to speak of. Remember, there was a time when McFarlane didn’t have the DC license and they still did just fine. I have no doubt they will be fine. In the meantime, the immediate news is the end of the Batman ‘66 Retro line. McFarlane really got everything they could out of this line, putting out as many characters as they were able to get the rights for. This line was made difficult by the fact that most of the actors and actresses who were in the show are deceased and it can be difficult and time consuming to negotiate with the estates of these actors and actresses. But, I, for one, am very grateful for what McFarlane was able to put out. We got almost all of the major vehicles, a Batcave, and a Wayne Manor Study set, which I never thought I would see.
Also, since this is 2025, there are still more DC Multiverse figures left to release, as well as new entries in the Super Powers and SuperFriends series. Also, on the DC Direct side, several statues are on the way, as well as a new wave of Batman: the Animated Series figures, which sees long awaited single figure releases for BTAS Poison Ivy and Bane, as well as single carded Phantasm and H.A.R.D.A.C. (Batman duplicate). The big draw with this wave is that it has a build-a-figure which has never been made in 6” scale: Bruce Wayne, in his classic brown suit from the series. This is easily one of the most anticipated of McFarlane’s BTAS figures.
Outside of DC, McFarlane has a number of other prominent lines and licenses, whose new offering were also shown at Toy Fair. Most prominent among those was Marvel. McFarlane’s line of statue-like “posed figures” continues with some stunning new entries including Venom, Beast, Cyclops. Magneto and an absolutely gorgeous Storm. Beast, Cyclops and Magneto, by the way, are part of the X-Men #1 cover series, with the aim being to recreate Jim Lee’s iconic cover. Also shown were new figures in the WarHammer, Anime, Movie Maniacs, SportsPicks, and, of course, Spawn lines. Making their debut at Toy Fair were McFarlane’s newly announced Mortal Kombat Klassic line. The absolutely stunning Sub Zero and Scorpion figures were on display, but no photos of them were allowed. McFarlane’s also announced a license for Diablo IV, but no photos were allowed of the new figures in that line either.
My person thanks to AJ at Mcfarlane Toys and to Todd Mcfarlane himself for not only inspiring this latest media venture, but also for inviting me into the booth this year. I am always humbled to be remembered by someone who sees and meets with so many people over the course of a year.
