With Hawkgirl set to make her big-screen live-action debut in Superman next month, I thought it would be fun to look back at the first live-action Hawkgirl from the Arrowverse CW show DC's Legends of Tommorrow (2016-2022). This show featured a variety of characters already introduced in Arrow and Flash (and plenty of new characters) in time-travelling adventures led by Rip Hunter the Time Master. Some of the notable characters are White Canary, Firestorm, Vixen, The Atom, Steel, Hawkman, and Hawkgirl. Hawkgirl (played by Ciara Renée) and Vixen (played by Maisie Richardson-Sellers) were my main draw to the show. Personally, the CW shows never appealed to me, but these two characters were very cool and thankfully got the action figure treatment. I always felt the DCC Arrowverse figures looked a little stiff and unappealing in the packaging, but in person they are more dynamic than I was led to believe (but not overly so). Let's check out the Legends of Tomorrow Hawkgirl below!
UNITING ALL WOMEN OF PLASTIC
Showing posts with label DC Collectibles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DC Collectibles. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 10, 2025
Legends of Tomorrow - HAWKGIRL!
Sunday, December 22, 2024
Batman the Animated Series - BATGIRL!
With McFarlane Toys slowly re-releasing all of the old DC Collectible Batman the Animated Series and The New Batman Adventures figures, I have decided to be very selective. Some of the figures, including the TNBA Batgirl and TNBA Catwoman, have been essentially identical to the original releases (which I still have and love). But occasional there is something new, like the Batman '66 repaint of the TNBA Batgirl and this BTAS Batgirl in a distinctly-different deco. As much as I love the DCC BTAS Batgirl, the colors always seemed very dark and broody. I was very happy for this redecoed version, and I hope future BTAS/TNBA releases will have similar updates instead of boring re-releases. Plus, and I will always repeat this, we desperately need a Batwoman figure from Mystery of the Batwoman in this line. She would be such an easy figure from existing sculpts to make and a fantastic new character. Fingers crossed for a future reveal. Let's check out the updated BTAS Batgirl below!
Thursday, May 27, 2021
Watchmen - MARIONETTE!
Doomsday Clock is a 12-issue sequel to the Watchmen published in 2017-2019. I personally haven't read this story, but I'm certain that I eventually will. Without knowing much about the plot at all, just a glance at the covers lets you know that this story crosses into the main DC Universe - Superman, Batman, Lex Luthor, and Joker are on full display. But despite that crossover intrigue, I found the new characters of Mime and Marionette to be the most appealing draw. Mime (Marcos Maez) and Marionette (Erika Manson) are a criminal husband and wife team. Thematic to their names, Mime seems to be able to conjure invisible weapons, and Marionette wields wire. They remind me of comic versions of Bonnie and Clyde or Mickey and Mallory Knox. When I first saw these action figures, they didn't really appeal to me. I thought they looked a little stiff and awkward. But, typical of me, three years later I became obsessed with getting her. Better late than never. Let's check out Marionette below!
Wednesday, September 2, 2020
Justice League Animated WONDER WOMAN!
Bruce Timm's Wonder Woman design from the DC Animated Universe has become one of her most iconic looks. When the first episode of Justice League premiered in 2001, she hadn't made an appearance in television or film in over 15 years (except for a guest appearance in a single episode of the animated Superman series from 1988). Apparently her rights had been tied up in multiple (unproduced) development projects for all those years. But ever since her re-introduction in the Justice League cartoon, she has been a constant presence in television and film with no gaps lasting longer than 24 months. And a lot of those animated representations seem heavily (if not directly) inspired by this Bruce Timm design. It truly is classic and iconic. So getting a highly-articulated action figure of her as one of the final releases of DC Collectibles is really a great way to go out with a bang. She is practically perfect. And I only say "practically" because she inexplicably has no lasso. Let's check out Wonder Woman below!
Thursday, August 6, 2020
Justice League Animated HAWKGIRL!
I was a huge fan of Batman comics in elementary and middle school, and I must admit I was a bit possessive and snobby about these characters. Okay, a lot snobby. Even the Tim Burton films got high scrutiny from little source-material-purist know-it-all me (despite loving them now). So when Batman the Animated Series premiered a few years later I was not having any of it. I thought it was mocking my favorite anti-hero. I honestly didn't revisit the properties and begin to appreciate them until the early 2000s (basically when Harley became mainstream and I was diving deep). I suddenly saw what everyone else did all along. When the DC Collectibles Timm-verse line began I immediately got on board, and they remain one of my favorite collections. I'm much less familiar with the Justice League cartoon, but I always appreciated Hawkgirl's prominence and strikingly simple design. When I saw this figure in my comic shop last month I knew I had to have her. Let's check out Hawkgirl below!
Tuesday, February 4, 2020
DC Essentials - CATWOMAN!
I'm really getting pumped for an exciting NY Toy Fair later this month. With McFarlane Toys and SpinMaster running full speed with the DC licenses, Hasbro Teasing G.I.Joe 6", and (historically) smaller companies like PhatMojo and Jazwares hitting their stride, it's likely going to be an eventful show. But my secret wish is for DC Collectibles to reveal more Essentials figures. There was a wave announced this past Summer (right before SDCC) that included Poison Ivy. I was bummed when an actual figure was never shown. And at NYCC they only showed a variant wave and some zombified figures. DC Collectibles and the former DC Direct has a history of ending lines too soon and I really hope we aren't seeing the signs of this happening again. The DC Essentials line has been amazing and honestly shows more potential that any other DC line I can think of. But if this Knightfall Catwoman happens to be the last original female character in the line, at least it's ending on a high note. Let's check out Selina below!
Monday, December 30, 2019
Batman the Animated Series - POISON IVY!
One of the biggest disappointments in my adult collecting life would have to be the release of the 2017 Batman the Animated Series GCPD Rogues Gallery 5-Pack. This deluxe set retailed for a prohibitive $175.00 and featured the final figure I needed for my personal favorites collection: BTAS Poison Ivy (and as an added insult: $175 ÷ 5 = $35, which was noticeably more than the single release figures at the time). I almost caved a dozen times over the years and bought the whole set. And on eBay the single figures were almost always over 80 bucks. But I had faith that DC Collectibles would eventually re-release her in a single, or at the very least a Gotham Girls set. It took a little over two years, but I finally have her in my greedy little hands. And while this particular animated likeness isn't the strongest in the line (the face and hair from most angles seems a little off), it's still very good and I'm ecstatic to finally have her in my collection. Now I'm wishing for a Huntress in the JLA line! Let's check out Poison Ivy below!
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Batman vs TMNT - BATGIRL!
Who would have expected that (1) there would be an animated Batman vs Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, that (2) the movie would inspire a collector-grade toyline, and (3) that Batgirl would be included in the lineup?? I feel like this Batgirl figure has a very unlikely existence, but I'm so glad the stars aligned because she is such a great addition to my collection. A lot of recent animated DC movies have had styles that were a bit too cartoony, but this one leans a lot more toward comic styling. Plus the majority of Batgirl's Burnside comics were drawn in a more animated style, so this figure ends up being a surprisingly versatile design. (PS, she's voiced by Rachel Bloom). I haven't seen the movie, but I see from screengrabs and imdb that Poison Ivy and Harley also have roles. I know it's impossible, but I would love to see them in this style as well, especially Ivy as she suffers from way too many cancelled or lackluster figures. Maybe GameStop and DC Collectibles will surprise us. Let's check out Batgirl below!
Monday, June 24, 2019
DC Essentials - SUPERGIRL!
I'm a relative newcomer to Supergirl fandom. When I really started diving deep into my superheroine idolatry, Supergirl was Linda Danvers. She wore a bare-midriff t-shirt, white gloves, combat boots, a hairband, and an almost nonexistent skirt that looked like a glorified belt. I wasn't a fan of the look, it was a weird blend of utilitarian and tarty. But I also felt that her personality was inconsistent. I made several honest attempts, but the character never stuck. The reboot of Supergirl in the New52 was the first time I fell in love with the Maid of Might. Then the TV show version captured me too and I realized I was likely a fan for life. When I first saw this DC Essentials figure in person I thought she looked odd. I thought her head was too narrow and her face looked too stern. But once I took her out of the package and started posing her all my hesitations went out the window. She's truly terrific. This whole line is filling me with joy. DC characters have been in desperate need of this. Let's check out Supergirl 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!
Thursday, March 7, 2019
DC Essentials - BATGIRL!
I don't think I will ever get enough Batgirl action figures. I feel for the longest time she was absent from the action figure world. Sure, there were some animated toys and some weird stylized ones (the Legends of the Dark Knight one was especially trippy), but I feel like the first true Batgirl action figure didn't come out until 2003 - which was long overdue. And ever since then I've been hooked. I especially long how the Burnside Batgirl revamp has given her a lot of new momentum. This DC Essentials figure is the fifth figure in this design in the past two years. And I especially love that this design features a purple and yellow color scheme so reminiscent of Yvonne Craig. Of course her current comic costume is already vastly different and I expect a few figures in that style soon. And I'm not even diving into my excitement over the DC Essentials line as a whole. I'm really impressed so far and really looking forward to the inevitable Catwoman (and wishes for Huntress, Ivy, and Batwoman). Let's check out Batgirl below!
Saturday, March 2, 2019
DC Essentials - HARLEY QUINN!
I'm really excited for this new DC Essentials line from DC Collectibles. There have been a lot of all-encompassing toy lines developed for DC properties over the years. DC Universe Classics and the more recent (but short-lived) DC Icons line come to mind as two stand-outs. But even after only seeing one female figure from this new DC Essentials line, I already love the body structure so much more than the previous attempts. I had gotten so used to those gangly arms and gaudy joints that I was blindly accepting them instead of demanding something better. So seeing this strong, well-proportioned buck is a breath of fresh air. I'm already excited for the Batgirl, Cheetah, and Supergirl figures coming out this year, and I'm eagerly anticipating future characters like Poison Ivy and Catwoman (They seem to only be A-List heroes and villains for now). I think the quality, price point, character selection, and character design is all finally in balance and I hope this line will have years of momentum. Let's check out Harley below!
Sunday, December 30, 2018
A Long Overdue 2017 YEAR-END REVIEW!
I kind of love my new tradition of doing an annual review a full year later. While all the other blogs are posting their top picks for 2018, I'm flashing back to the yesteryear of 2017. It started because of pure laziness. For example, right now I have a stockpile of 2018 toys that I haven't even photographed yet (and won't get around to for a while). But a major unexpected perk is the chance to really look back with a bit more perspective than you get with the immediate year. I had to doublecheck so many dates while preparing this post, because it honestly feels like I was buying the A-Force set and the Wonder Woman movie figures this past year. But no, they were all in 2017. It's also nice to prepare a giant post where all the photos are already finished. The unspoken timesuck of having an active blog is photo editing - rotating, cropping, resizing, and retouching - it takes a lot of time. (Luckily I find it relaxing and I'm a pro multi-tasker). Alrighty, without further ado here are 172 images of my favorite 2017 action figures.
Thursday, November 23, 2017
DC Collectibles Icons - SUPERGIRL!
Supergirl is a character I've always appreciated but never fully embraced. A lot of this has to do with the fact that her personality never seemed well established. Every time I would read a story with her, it felt like I was meeting a new character. But then the New 52 version of Supergirl came out and I was hooked. I read the first 40 issues and loved it all. Then the Supergirl show began, and again it seemed like a brand new character, but I loved this one too. The show is truly terrific and it doing a great job of propelling her character into the mainstream. And the great thing about going mainstream is that it provides an avenue to produce classic versions of the characters. While this Rebirth Supergirl is actually one of the most modern comic interpretations of her, it has a real classic look that I think can fit in with any era. It's a shame the Icons line is being phased out so quickly after its debut. (I'm still praying that we can somehow get that purple Catwoman figure released). Let's check out Rebirth Supergirl below!
Sunday, November 12, 2017
DC Bombshells - HAWKGIRL!
One of my biggest collecting regrets is selling off a large Hawkgirl collection I had accumulated about 12 years ago. I had always been drawn to Hawkgirl's image. The Yellow, Green, and Red costume, the big wings, the beaked helmet. I loved everything about her design. But every time I tried to read her in a comic, I could never get interested. So as much as I loved her look, I was never emotionally invested in the character. The collecting angle had its own headaches. By nature of their bulky wings, displaying any large group of Thanagarians is a headache. They take up a ton of space, they often don't stand well, and when they topple they take a ton of neighbors down with them. I remember feeling good and decisive when I sold them, but almost instantly regretting it. Since then I've picked up about 4 or 5 new Hawkgirls and I'm always tempted to hunt down my old favorites, but for the most part I refrain. I was really surprised as how good this Bombshells figure looked in my LCS and just had to pick her up.
Monday, October 30, 2017
DC Bombshells - BATGIRL!
I love Batgirl. She is one of my longest-lasting comic book infatuations (right behind Catwoman). And she was the catalyst that made me really boil down and analyze what kind of characters I am drawn to - that being female versions of established male characters. It's easy to view this as reductive and almost following an "Adam's rib" type origin, but I have always seen it as an interesting gender-swap experiment where extremely popular characters are altered (improved) by applying feminine traits and principles. The majority of female heroes fit this mold actually, but Batgirl will always be my baseline example. These Bombshells designs by Ant Lucia are extremely popular. It took me a long time to warm up to them personally, but now I'm officially hooked. Of all the designs however, I must say that one of my least favorites is the Batgirl paratrooper look. It's not horrible or anything, just not my favorite. I'm just not a huge fan of a goggles-and-bare-midriff combo I guess. Let's check out the Bombshells Batgirl below!
Friday, August 11, 2017
Batman the Animated Series - BATGIRL!
Batman the Animated Series is loved for many reasons. It kept Batman on the forefront of non-print media (between films) in the 1990s, it developed many under-used characters like Mister Freeze, Ventriloquist, and Poison Ivy, and it introduced the powerhouse character Harley Quinn. But one of the things I was most appreciative of was the re-introduction of Batgirl to the Batman universe. Several years earlier she had been shot and crippled by the Joker in the comics and I was young enough to think the character was just gone forever. So when she started appearing in BTAS I was very very happy. Despite never really watching the show in it's first run, I was just ecstatic that she was out there somewhere. When the DC Animated Universe figures started coming out three years ago, this figure was one of my most wanted. I thought it would be difficult to get a good likeness because her (face) design seemed slightly different every time she appeared. But overall I'm very happy with the final result. Let's check her out below!
Tuesday, July 25, 2017
Amanda Conner - HOLIDAY HARLEY QUINN!
Merry Christmas in July! When I was in college 17 years ago (God that makes me feel old), I was taking some extra Summer classes and signed up for a day trip to the beach one July day. None of my friends could join so I went alone on the bus. I promptly fell asleep on the beach (as I'm prone to do) and was awakened hours later by a raucous scene. Parked ten feet in front of me on the sand was a pickup truck full of lifeguards in red swimsuits, sunglasses, with Santa hats and beards. They all had brass instruments and were trumpeting Christmas carols. Then another scantily-clad Santa approached and gave me a candy cane. They soon went on their way and I was left bewildered on a mostly empty beach thinking I had hallucinated. It wasn't until later that evening back on campus when I heard about this crazy thing called Christmas in July. It was quite a dramatic way to learn of the holiday. I was planning on holding off on this Harley post until December, but luckily I remembered good ol' July 25th!
Wednesday, July 12, 2017
Amanda Conner - SUPERHERO HARLEY QUINN!
Harley Quinn has had a lot of costume designs in recent years. Video games were the biggest catalyst for the changes and most of them seemed like awkward misinterpretations of the character rather than a true evolution. The Roller Girl revamp of 2014 was the first time a Harley redesign felt right for me. It wasn't too long before the movie version became canon and now she seems to alter her looks quite often (and I'm mostly okay with it). Squeezed into those early post-rollergirl changes was this Superhero costume which she donned in order to team up with a brainwashed Power Girl, convincing PG that she was her trusty sidekick to enjoy all the perks of superheroics. It was a fun storyline that eventually spun off into its own title Harley Quinn and Power Girl (which only lasted for six issues, but was great). This figure is one of those gems I never expected to see but makes a really quirky addition to an already insanely-quirky Harley collection. She's my favorite of this series. Let's check out Superhero Harley below!
Saturday, June 24, 2017
Character Spotlight on CARRIE KELLEY (AS ROBIN)!
This time last year I didn't own a single Carrie Kelley toy, but I was just learning about all the new figures about to be released and decided that I needed to assemble a small collection of the most popular female Robin in the DC Universe. I started by picking up the old DC Direct figure from 2004 and within a few months I was hunting the Mattel Multiverse Robin. Now a year later I've added three new Carries to my collection: an Eaglemoss figurine, a Funko POP! vinyl, and an animated-style DC Collectibles figure. There is also a recent mini-bust from DST in her animated style, but I've decided to pass on that particular item along with a few of the higher-end statues that have come out over the years. I somehow doubt that we'll see much more Carrie as Robin merchandise, but with the Dark Knight themes in the Multiverse line, there's a slim chance we could see her as Catgirl (from Dark Knight Strike Again) or Batgirl (from DKIII: The Master Race). Maybe there will be some surprises at SDCC. Let's check out Carrie below!
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