Mattel DC Comics 2026 Rollout is Confusing

A monster‑fan collector review explains why the Mattel DC Comics 2026 rollout is confusing, with kid‑friendly figures appearing inconsistently across Amazon, Walmart, Target, Ross and even Barnes & Noble.

I’m left scratching my head when it comes to the release of Mattel’s more kid‑friendly DC Comics action figures and vehicles ahead of the 2027 launch of the adult collector versions. For one, the items released so far are genuinely good quality. They even have a certain feel that matches the current McFarlane Toys adult collectibles. The problem is that there seems to be no real release strategy. Over the last six months, we’ve found the items we wanted (and that’s very few because they’re making very few) at completely random places. Sometimes Amazon is the only option, then suddenly something pops up at Walmart or Target. Now we’ve found a set of 12" figures at Ross. And the place with the most variety in stock? Barnes & Noble!

Mattel Robin and Robin Cycle pictured alongside a Robin from McFarlane Toys.

It’s probably not a bad idea that the kid‑friendly wave is slow‑walking onto store shelves. The first figures only included a handful of key characters: 6" versions of Batman, Robin, Flash, Superman, and Joker. Then we randomly saw a Robin figure (clearly Tim Drake) on his red cycle. As Robin and Tim fans, we picked both of those up, but nothing else. Later we saw 12" versions of Batman and Superman online, but again, we haven’t picked up anything else from Mattel.

That changed this week when, out of nowhere (we love the surprise, Mattel), we found a Ross packed with a three‑pack of 12" Batman, Nightwing, and Man‑Bat. If the Caped Crusader were swapped out for Tim Drake, we’d have all three of our favorite DC characters in one set! Even so, at $30 I couldn’t pass it up. And again, these are moderately detailed and surprisingly heavy.

Batman, Man-Bat and Nightwing 3-pack

But Ross? Was this set originally sold elsewhere and we missed it? And we only found it at one Ross — two others in different cities didn’t have it at all.

It's worth noting the design choices Mattel is making. It's almost a "best of" model. Batman is from the 2000's Hush run using Jim Lee's design (it's even featured on the back of the packaging). Nightwing and Man-Bat are both New 52. In the other figures pictured, the standalone Robin is either 90s Tim Drake or a take on the current run of World's Finest's Dick Grayson. The cycle figure is clearly a take on Tim Drake's modern look. I really like the choices they've made thus far.

As 2027 approaches, we’re hoping Mattel has a better rollout strategy. For example, the local Walmart has never gotten any Mattel DC figures. Another had one or two on the pegs. The closest Target got the original wave and then a few follow‑ups, including the most recent Batman/Killer Croc pack. However, at no point would any of the brick‑and‑mortar stores be considered fully stocked.