Last year, DC Collectibles promised us a two-pack of Blue Beetle and Booster Gold action figures. That set was canceled because of lack of demand. I doubt this latest Blue and Gold two-pack will suffer a similar fate.

Introducing the Previews Exclusive Funko Pop! Blue Beetle and Booster Gold vinyl figure two-pack!

From Previewsworld.com:

The DC Universe's most hilarious crime-fighting duo comes to three dimensions with these PREVIEWS Exclusive Funko Pop! two-packs!

Blue Beetle and Booster Gold stand about 3 1/4" tall and come in a collector friendly window box for display. Recreate the adventures of two of the Justice League International's greatest heroes with these PX Pop! figures!

Just last week, I was having a discussion with Randy, the owner of my Local Comic Shop about the incredible popularity of Funko Pop! figures. I admitted that I don't get the appeal of the "superdeformed" vinyl statuettes that were taking up an entire wall in his store. Randy suggested that I was just old. His argument didn't win me over, but the fact that this Booster Gold Funko Pop! figure has a collar might.

The two-packs will come in two different finishes, standard and metallic. Either version has a suggested retail price of $22.99 and a targeted arrival date of December 20, 2017.

Since these are Previews Exclusives, be sure to tell your Local Comic Shop that you want one (or two) well in advance. I already sent my email to Randy.

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Almost exactly three months ago, I pointed out that Target.com had a listing for a 12-inch Booster Gold figure and urged everyone to keep their fingers crossed that we would one day have such a fine toy. It doesn't look like that was enough.

The product has disappeared entirely from their online stores.

The figure was part of the 12" Justice League Action figures (presumably made by Mattel, which also released the 12-inch Batman Unlimited line in the same style and scale). You can find plenty of JLAction Supermans, Batmans, Flashes, and Jokers on eBay, but there's zero evidence that Booster Gold was released in any quantities anywhere. Neither was a Booster Gold figure was included in the "Justice League Action Mighty Minis" inaugural line released earlier this year.

It's starting to feel like there's some sort of conspiracy against Booster Gold. You'll recall that DC Collectibles quietly cancelled their own announced Booster Gold/Blue Beetle figures earlier this year. And, of course, there's his continued absence from comics.

It's enough to make a fan believe that someone has it out for our hero.

UPDATE 01-04-2018: This figure is now available. I ordered mine from Amazon.com.

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For this year, because the "holiday" falls on a Saturday, I will be having no April Fools Day post. That's the bad news. Yes, I'm disappointed, too. But I needed to say that so I could move on to today's better news.

So there will be no Blue and Gold figures from DC Collectibles. And we have no idea when we'll see that 12-inch Target Booster Gold. But there is at least one Booster Gold figure coming out later this year.

Kids of all ages will love the "Boostroll Gold" Troll Doll, part of DC Super Friends crossover with the Trolls movie franchise. According to Twitter, these will be in stores by Christmas.

Ever since the Thomas & Friends/Booster Gold figure was revealed in February, I've expected we'd see more crossovers between DC and other brands, but who could have predicted this? What's next? The Booster Gold Pet Rock? Coming soon through a store window near you.

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I received an email from J.D. calling my attention to this 12-inch ruler at Target.com.

Says the website:

Prepare for epic fun with this exciting, new 12" figure that captures the unique look and sleek style of the Justice League Action team! Booster Gold features a bold, enhanced power suit, refreshed facial designs and iconic details. There is also added articulation at the knees for even more posing and battle action. The full collection includes Batman, Green Lantern, Booster Gold and Blue Beetle. You can collect them all for the ultimate DC combat play. Each figure sold separately. For ages 3 and up.

Sadly, this figure doesn't seem to be for sale yet. Some Googling indicates that this product has been online amid Target.com's listings of Justice League Action figures since mid-January, but I've not seen any press releases or other notification. Perhaps it will be a Target Exclusive in a future wave of releases? (Right now, only Superman, Batman, Joker, and Flash figures seem to be available.)

Keep you eyes peeled (and your fingers crossed), Booster boosters! I'm sure we all want a foot of Gold in our lives.

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Last July, DC Collectibles revealed a two-pack of DC Icons Blue Beetle and Booster Gold figures at San Diego Comic Con 2016 to be released later this year. Yet the figures were surprisingly absent from the DC Collectibles shown two weeks ago at Toy Fair in New York.

On Friday, Jeffrey Lyles of LylesMovieFiles.com reported that he investigated the absence and was told by DC Collectibles Vice President Kevin Kiniry that the figures have been canceled.

At The Fwoosh, a web forum dedicated to action figure enthusiasts, others are posting confirmation of the cancellation. "Big Bad Voodoo Lou" posted his correspondence with DCC, including his eloquent plea for the figures:

Dear Vice President Kiniry and everyone else at DC Collectibles,

"There have been a lot of rumors coming out about the future of DC Collectibles post-Toy Fair. The one that concerns me the most is the future of the Icons Blue Beetle and Booster Gold two-pack. Those two are my favorite comic book characters, and they have been ever since I was a kid in elementary school, growing up in the '80s. I am a completist when it comes to collecting Beetle and Booster comics, toys, and other merchandise -- which, as you can imagine, is far cheaper than being a Batman completist, but also an attainable goal. (Please don't get me wrong; I buy other DC Comics and Collectibles products too!)

"Anyway, even though I'm close to 40 years old, it broke my heart a little to read that the upcoming two-pack may have been canceled due to lack of retailer interest. Is this true? I know that Etrigan is canceled, but several other announced Icons figures will still be coming out. I also read that DC Collectibles wants to move in the direction of more multi-figure sets, including "Iconic Moments" from comics, with story-specific accessories and displays.

"Well, this two-pack sounds like it would meet all those criteria. Beetle and Booster will never be among DC's A-listers or even on the strong, increasingly-recognizable B-list, but they are beloved C-listers from one of DC's most fun comics of all time. Greg Berlanti has even discussed plans for a Booster Gold movie, so there is definitely support out there! I know anecdotal evidence from one collector probably means little to you, but EVERY collector I know, in real life and online, was excited about this set, and none more than I. I've been looking forward to it since it was announced last summer, and I really hope we all get a chance to buy it, sooner rather than later.

"Could you please confirm either way, just to put my mind at ease? Thank you. I appreciate the work you're all doing, especially on the Icons line. But Beetle and Booster are such mainstays in the DCU, they are truly Icons in every sense of the word, and the line will never be complete without them."

The response Lou received read:

"Blue and Gold have a soft spot in our hearts as well. But to your point their C+ status was not enough to get retailers to order in large enough quantities. So at this time we had to cancel their 2-pack. We hope that they will live again in the future but we currently don't have them scheduled.

"Thanks for touching base and we wish we had better news to share.

Kevin
KEVIN KINIRY | Vice President — DC Collectibles

As disappointing as this news is, it can't be much of a surprise that comic shops didn't jump at a chance to sell $60 action figures of characters who haven't appeared in comics in years.

Oh, well. At least we've still got Thomas & Friends (he says, scratching his head).

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