Mattel - better character selection (more classics IMO) and I prefer the figures being 6 inch compared to 7 inch so they scale better with my Marvel Legends and other figures

That's because they didn't have the licence to the wider DCU at the start (IIRC its because another company had the licence to non-Batman/Superman characters at the time) - once they had the licence thats when they began DCUC

Simon Baz would have also been included (meaning hes the only Earth GL not made in the Mattel series)

Wait Really? How'd Mattel make the Justice League Unlimited line then?

Yeah. I don't know why McFarlane does 7-inch figs. The only things scaling with those are other McFarlane figures like the Mortal Kombat and Spawn figures. Mattel's scale with Marvel Legends and GI Joe Classified figures much better.

They scale really well with NECA and later DC Direct/ Collectibles figures. So, they are perfect, in my opinion. The only 6" stuff I have is the earlier DC Direct and Classified. Oh, and the Batman '66 line, too, I guess.

True. I haven't got any more recent DC Direct stuff, I did notice the DC Essentials figs are 7"

I don't know the specifics, but Toy Guru did a video about DCUC going wave by wave and he says that to start (DCSH) they only had rights to Batman & Superman characters until they finally managed sort an agreement with WB to use the rest of the DCU

From about 1:09 here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZOwF1pM0ag

Interesting. Maybe at the time of DCSH Mattel only had the rights for the DCAU versions of the DC Universe until DCUC then acquired the rights to the comic renditions of those characters for DC lines going forward.

Mattel without a doubt.

I started collecting because of DC Super Heroes. That line had a few corners cut, but it gave the 4H the leeway to create what is now the standard in 6' superhero lines; stock body types, reuse as much as possible and visually cohesive. It went deep with DCUC, stumbled a bit in the DCM relaunch, but was finding it's stride right after the King Shark wave, too bad they started corner cutting by the end, eliminating waves and characters. I would have enjoyed if they had gone a bit farther and released a few Super Powers inspired waves using the MOTUC body parts.

I don't collect McF figures and have no plans to start, but more power to those that enjoy it.

Joe Mahma.

I appreciated the consistent 6" scale used by Mattel, and the focus on iconic (classic) costumes and designs, free of much stylistic embellishment and ab crunches. I wish the body proportions were a little more realistic and less exaggerated (e.g., fat calves, double jointed knees). Improvements to the 6" body sculpts and a little more attention to detail and surface textures and overall appearance might result in a new line that combines the best of both old lines.

Aye but as always take whatever 'Toy Guru' Scott Neitlich says with a grain of salt. He's been caught out talking bollocks before. Such as his insistence that Mattel doesn't actually own Masters of the Universe anymore and won't be able to make products for it come 2023.

OAFE - Points of Articulation: Mattel is Not Losing the Masters of the Universe License in 2023

Neitlich's still super proud of self-inserting his own face into MotUC Classics and also his childhood fan-character Mighty Spector into the toyline for subscribers despite most fans calling it out as a crappy Deadpool knock off that doesn't really fit into MotU at all.

Mattel, and it ain't close

For now I'll say Mattel due to the sheer number of DC characters produced, but I don't feel like it's a fair comparison. McFarlane's overall quality is better and it finally feels like the line isn't dependent on the Bat Family for every wave. In a couple of years, this might tip in favor of the Toddfather.

Mattel

Better quality, a MUCH BETTER character selection, decent articulation, plus they are 6 inch, meaning they go well with Marvel Legends

Mattel did a better job up until their stupid subscription thing.

Mattel produced pretty good figures for 15 years ago. But a large majority of them shared the same smooth buck and had an unsightly and really crappy hip joint. Which is why I couldn't get into them. I've bought way more McFarlane DC figures.

It may not matter to many but McFarlane DC figs are a JOY to customize. You can carve the shit out of them with a Dremel and smooth out areas by chemically sanding with Acetone. Acetone actually returns it to the factory color.

I wish they were closer in scale to 1/12. But I really like a lot of the figures. And I ain't really a McFarlane Toys fan.

Course McFarlane keeps sticking to Walmart exclusives and that Gold Label bull shit, not sure which model is worse.