This figure was a surprise to me on several levels. Firstly, I never expected a classic Priscilla Rich version of Cheetah to be made in the DC Mulitverse line. A more modern Barbara Minerva version with her savage feral appearance seems much more like the McFarlane aesthetic. Secondly, I fully expected to hate this figure based on the leaked photos. Even after finding her at GameStop and seeing her first hand, my hopes were dismally low. Her awkward in-package pose makes her head look tiny and her feet look huge. But when I got her in my photo tent, my judgement waned and I kind of fell in love. Sure, I only like her unexpressive face, and her re-used upper thighs (with an obvious Catwoman boot-line) is annoying, but overall I still think she's great. With McFarlane winding down the DC lines, it's surprising to get characters like Cheetah and Jayna (and the upcoming Zatanna, Black Canary, Jessica Cruz, and Ice). It's a pretty impressive roster, and I'm excited for it. Let's check out Cheetah below!
UNITING ALL WOMEN OF PLASTIC
Showing posts with label Cheetah. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cheetah. Show all posts
Sunday, December 7, 2025
Friday, November 14, 2025
Super Friends - THE CHEETAH!
I think Cheetah is one of the coolest comic villains out there. Granted, I'm obsessed with cat-themed characters and retro vibes, so she has a major unfair advantage in my ranking. Her bright yellow cat suit is both ridiculous and awesome. As later incarnations of the character became more and more feline (fur, fangs, claws, etc), I found her less interesting and always returned my adoration to the original Priscilla Rich design. I thank the Super Powers animation of the late 70s and early 80s for cementing her in the public consciousness. Despite being a regular fixture in comics, it often takes some other significant entertainment media to break a character out of comic book obscurity. That said, she wasn't a major character in the show, but I still think this role is the reason why the retro Priscilla catsuit hasn't been completely overshadowed by the modern werecat versions. Plus the occasional piece of merchandise celebrating her from in the Super Friends cartoon is always a treat. Let's check out Cheetah below!
Tuesday, November 11, 2025
DC Universe Classics - CHEETAH (PRISCILLA)!
I will always have a powerful nostalgic draw to the original Priscilla Rich incarnation of Cheetah. She first appeared in the 6th issue of Wonder Woman way back in 1943 and became Diana's fist costumed adversary until her eventual death in the 1980s (twice). I can't quite remember when I first discovered her, but I know it was in backissue bins and reprints in the 1980s. Of course I know some of my memories are conflated with the Paula Brooks version of The Huntress who I also developed an early obsession with, but Cheetah was clearly the more prominent cat-villain. Her spotted bodysuit with cat ears and tail always makes me very happy. It's cheesy, but oddly relatable. As an animal-obsessed kid this costume is the exact sort of thing I would have come up with for myself. This figure was a 50/50 variant with a Barbera version in the 13th Wave of the groundbreaking DCUC line. The figures definitely had issues, but the character selection was mindblowing. Let's check out Priscilla below!
Monday, November 10, 2025
DC Universe Classics - CHEETAH (BARBARA)!
DC Universe Classic was a very interesting toyline. It was the first modern DC action figure line in mainline retail stores, it was reasonably priced, and it hit some very obscure characters over its four-year run. I was on-board from the start, but I was also highly critical of this line. As a collector who focuses on the female characters, the production quality was left wanting. This is especially a shame because the 2-Up sculpts and paint masters by the Four Horsemen were always beautiful. But the figures we saw in stores had squished faces, scrawny short arms, and most egregiously, a neck peg that often entered the skull in a too-far-forward position giving the character no neck undercut. These problems seemed isolated to the female figures and were a constant source of disappointment for me. But the interesting character selection kept me hooked. The fact that we got two versions of Cheetah (modern and retro) in the same figure slot is a testament to the fan service Mattel was providing.
Wednesday, December 20, 2023
ThunderCats Ultimates - CHEETARA!
I have a feeling that 2024 will be an exciting year for ThunderCats fans. In February, there will be a new comic from Dynamite released (it has been six years since these characters have been in print). And if Dynamite gives this license the same treatment as they gave Gargoyles in 2023, we are in for a treat. But I also have a completely unsubstantiated hunch that we will hear more ThunderCats news. Like a new show or movie. Again, just a premonition. But in the meantime I am pleasantly surprised by this Super7 Ultimates Super Speed Glow Cheetara (a Super7 store exclusive). When she was first shown back in May, I was intrigued, but not obsessed. I generally love GITD toys, but a multi-hued yellow redeco of Cheetara got a lukewarm initial reaction from me. But all the other ThunderCats always seem to get cool variants, so it's nice to see her getting her turn. In-hand I think she's really fun. The copper-colored details and cheetah spots look especially great. Let's check out Cheetara below!
Saturday, July 15, 2023
ThunderCats Ultimates - CHEETARA!
Super7 is quickly becoming my favorite toy company. While no figure from any company is ever 100% perfect, the character selection and commitment to vintage aesthetic by Super7 thrills me more than anything else on the market today. The recent arrival of the first few Silverhawks figures followed by the announcement of TigerSharks in the future just makes me giddy. Then the surprise release of a vintage toy color variant line for their amazing ThunderCats Ultimates figures simply makes my head explode. The first Cheetara released in the Ultimates line from 2022 featured her cartoon design. I thought this figure was near perfection and it didn't even cross my mind to desire a toy design variant. (Interestingly, I never even noticed how stark the deisgn contrast was until Super7 released their ReAction variants were released in 2021). But when I saw the Ultimates variant solicited, complete with newly sculpted heads based on the 1986 LJN figure, I was instantly in love. Let's check out Cheetara below!
Saturday, July 30, 2022
ThunderCats Ultimates - CHEETARA!
When Masters of the Universe Classics was launched in 2009, the collecting world changed for me. I suddenly realized that what I really craved was modern interpretations of my most beloved nostalgic properties. Before this, I was buying vintage product on eBay (with modern expectations) and regularly being disappointed. Things didn't feel the way I remembered, the characters never really looked like their cartoon counterparts and the prices were too high overall. But then I realized that there could (and would) be modern figures custom-made for collectors like me. Specifically when Adora was released in Jan 2010, I knew this market would eventually give me all the characters I wanted. It would just take patience. And a mere twelve years, a few false starts, and a handful license transfers later, I have the character that was Number One on my list for years, Cheetara. And I think she's perfect. Super7 has captured the essence of her animated look better than I dreamed possible. Let's check her out below!
Tuesday, September 28, 2021
Super7 ReAction - CHEETARA!
Super7 gave us a real gift a few weeks ago when they released this "Toy Color" variant of their Cheetara ReAction figure. What I especially love about it is that I honestly never noticed the animated Cheetara color palette varied so much from the vintage LJN toy. I saw the previous ReAction Toy Color releases of Lion-O and Panthro, and I just didn't see the change as drastic enough to warrant an additional purchase, but when I got the email from Super7 announcing this Cheetara variant, I had the sudden donning realization that she has two distinct colorings. Where the animated version can be interpreted as varying shades of muted browns and oranges with a pale skin tone, the vintage LJN toy had a bright red and orange outfit with a distinct yellow-ish skintone (a true Autumn vs Summer palette). The variation excited me to the point where I bought the (seemingly) lackluster Lion-O and Panthro, and suddenly I'm eagerly anticipating a Tygra variant - and the missing 'cats of course. Let's check out Cheetara below!
Thursday, January 16, 2020
Funko Savage World - CHEETARA!
One of my very favorite toy collecting trends in the last decade has been the re-introduction of "vintage style" action figures. The first to come along was Gentle Giant Jumbo figures in 2011 featuring 12" upscaled vintage Star Wars figures, then the ReAction figures from Super7 back in 2014 which re-imagines modern properties in a classic Kenner 3.75" style. The 2015 Micro G.I.Joes offered a brief tease. And most recently Funko and Super7 have established their Vintage and Savage World lines which give new life to the vintage He-Man aesthetic. My most wanted Savage World figure from the beginning was Cheetara. As one of the major icons from 80s cartoons, she doesn't get nearly enough merchandise. While this figure has some problems, she still brings me an intense amount of joy. I don't even know if any more of these figures are on the horizon. The Bride of Frankenstein and mystery woman in the Conan line haven't been mentioned in years, but I have hopes! Let's check out Cheetara.
Friday, December 6, 2019
Two Years of DC Heroines from IMAGINEXT!
I love Imaginext so much but I get overwhelmed with the sheer amount of figures I've collected over the years. So this post is collecting 23 amazing DC Super Friends ladies I've assembled over the past two years (and there are at least two I couldn't locate amidst my clutter to photograph). I'm exhausted from editing 214 photos, but giddy about having them all unpackaged now. Way back in early 2012, the release of the Imaginext Catwoman was the push I needed to start this blog - which is funny because I never ended up reviewing that particular figure. But every time there is a new release I feel a nostalgic sense of excitement. The presence of female characters in the line is increasing at a shocking rate, and the two female-centric 6-packs in 2018 is a perfect example of Imaginext's new focus on gender inclusion. It was a very slow trickle for may years, but lately it's been an absolute flood (and I couldn't be happier about it). Let's check out two years of DC Imaginext ladies below!
Saturday, June 22, 2019
DC Essentials - CHEETAH!
Cheetah is a character that has always intrigued me. I loved the classic Priscilla Rich version, but I'm most fascinated by the felinoid Barbara Ann Minerva version. There are a lot of similar characters in pop culture (like Marvel's Tigra and ThunderCats' Cheetara), but Cheetah just seems more dangerous and feral than the others. The unfortunate thing is that there really hasn't been a great action figure of her before now. And boy did this figure make up for her lackluster merchandising history. I can't get over how gorgeous this figure is. Everything from the subtle color gradients, to the great spot details, to the overall sculpt and articulation is perfection. I wasn't surprised to see Sam Greenwell's name on the sculpting credit, he has a knack for creating stunning female figures. I have a feeling this figure will be the beginning of an avalanche of Cheetah product in advance of the Wonder Woman '84 movie. But honestly this one will be extremely hard to beat. Let's check out the DC Essentials Cheetah below!
Tuesday, August 14, 2018
DC SuperHero Girls - CHEETAH!
I'm really sad about how much the DC SuperHero Girls action figure line has slowed down. After the initial release back in 2016, there have only been four new characters released: Katana in late 2016, Hawkgirl and Starfire in 2017, and finally this Cheetah in 2018 (and of course the unexpected Beast Boy). It's really been a slow trickle. There have been rumors of the brand being rebooted for over a year and then this Summer the Lauren Faust redesigned series was unveiled. I really like her designs, but I question whether they will be as toy friendly as this initial line. Some additional information came out saying that the new design and cartoon is in addition to the popular Web Series. So maybe there is hope that we might see some additional characters in this series. I feel like Catwoman, Jessica Cruz, Killer Frost, and Star Sapphire are a glaring absence. But if this Cheetah does happen to be the final character in the line, at least it's going out on a major high note. She is just a terrific figure. Let's check her out below!
Friday, May 11, 2018
Imaginext Collection of DC SUPERHERO LADIES!
The DC SuperFriends Imaginext line is one of my favorite collectibles at the moment. For a long time the line was void of any female characters. Then in early 2012 they introduced Catwoman. That figure actually inspired me to create this blog, Because when I found it (in a Target in the middle of a blizzard), I was super excited to share my discovery, but I didn't have any outlet. Coincidentally, the DC message boards had been taken down a few months prior as part of the New52 reboot (that was my go-to nerdy community at the time). So within a month I started She's Fantastic - although I never did review that Catwoman. Over the course of the next few years, we got Wonder Woman, Harley Quinn, and Poison Ivy. Then the floodgates opened and I've had trouble keeping up. This review will collect my nine latest figures: Black Canary, Batgirl v3, Harley Quinn v2, Vixen, Hawkgirl, Carrie Kelley Robin, Wonder Woman v4, (Flashpoint) Wonder Woman v5, and Cheetah v2. Let's check them out below!
Monday, March 27, 2017
Imaginext DC Super Friends - CHEETAH!
Imaginext has been pretty cruel to us collectors over the past few years by teasing this extremely elusive 2-pack. It was announced two years ago as a Target Exclusive, which a lot of the DC Super Friends were at the time, so I assumed that it would be relatively easy to find (especially considering I have a whopping 18 Targets within my monthly stomping grounds). But despite a few eBay appearances from the Oregon/Washington area (which sold for hundreds of dollars), these characters were a no-show. Then miraculously a few months ago, a shipment seems to have been nabbed by a few re-sellers and they were posted in large quantities on eBay and Amazon for very reasonable prices (ten to twenty dollars - which is double the shelf price, but worth it for the rarity). Anyway, I finally got my hands on this precious little feline and I love her. There are a lot of new female Imaginext due this year, so hopefully the same distribution problems don't happen again. Let's check out the long-awaited Cheetah below!
Monday, March 2, 2015
Super Friends CHEETAH!
Cheetah is a character who has gone through many transformations since her introduction in 1943. Numerous people, both men and women, have adopted the title over the years- but this earliest incarnation of Priscilla Rich is my favorite. I'm a sucker for retro costumes and she totally fits the bill. Priscilla's version of Cheetah has fallen out of favor to newer more mystically-feline versions in modern comics, but this classic look still makes appearances in shows like Batman: The Brave and the Bold and videogames like Scribblenauts Unmasked. Her most notable representation, though, was in the Challenge of the Super Friends animated series from 1978 wherein her role in the Legion of Doom was cemented. These early Super Friends figures by DC Direct mark the first time I realized DC Direct was going to be a powerhouse toy company. Back then, you didn't ever see "throwback" toys. They seem to be all the rage now, but 12 years ago this was uncharted territory. Let's check out Cheetah below!
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Lady SQUINKIES of the DC Universe!
My nieces and nephews have been obsessed with these little toys for years. I personally never understood the fascination. To me, they looked like overpriced gumball machine toys. They're made of a really soft rubber, often sloppily painted, and they just seemed silly. I guess it's just a matter of perspective though, because as soon as I heard there were DC characters being made, I was on the prowl like nobody's business. There are presently four DC sets available. DC Universe Series 1 & Series 2 are readily available at Toys R Us, Target, and presumably everywhere that carries Squinkies. The Justice League and Batman sets are rumored to be exclusive to Walgreens (which is where I found mine). Squinkies are less than an inch tall, come in individual plastic capsules, and can be played with in a large playset (which are glorified gumball machines which will dispense your toys). They are usually sold in 2 formats: 1) Blindbagged single figures, or 2) Carded complete sets (usually sets of 12). On to the Ladies!
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