This figure stirs up a lot of old feelings for me. I remember the campaign for the first DC Universe Classics in the Mattycollector Exclusives program. The pictures online (and maybe in ToyFare?) looked great. But the reality of the figures were very different when they arrived. I felt a little ripped off. When the final product had such drastic differences from the preorder prototype images, the whole subscription process seemed unreliable and scammy. All these years later, I can appreciate her for what she is; scrawny limbs, limp hair, and anatomically bizarre cleavage and all. (Seriously though, she has more modest costume options that should have been used if they had to use this cloth-sculpted torso). In photos it doesn't look that bad, but in person there are a lot of sculptural details that just look off. The perfection of the Four Horsemen prototype compared to the sloppy Mattel tooling felt insulting to collectors who purchased these on good faith. 27 years later and I'm almost over it. Let's check out Starfire below!
UNITING ALL WOMEN OF PLASTIC
Showing posts with label DCUC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DCUC. Show all posts
Monday, June 29, 2026
DC Universe Classics - STARFIRE!
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.
Friday, August 2, 2024
DC Universe Classics - KARU-SIL!
In general, I've never been a fan of the Sinestro Corps and the Yellow Lanterns. There were a few standout characters, and the constant toys through all the Blackest Night and Brightest Days storylines were a lot of fun. Between 2008-2012 there were fifty-four Lantern figures from DC Direct and forty-three from Mattel. For fans, this must have been a dream. But for a mere observer, it was overwhelming. (Although I'm forever thankful for the awesome figures of never-before merchandized characters like Mera and Dove that we got as a direct result of this Lantern Era). My favorites of the new characters introduced in these storylines were Bleez the Red Lantern and Karu-Sil the Yellow Lantern. Bleez unfortunately never got an action figure, but Karu-Sil got this surprise release in a MattyCollector Exclusive 2-pack with Romat Ru. Karu-Sil was a feral orphan raised by three beasts. She was "rescued" by a Green Lantern (Blish) who slaughtered her beast family thinking they were attacking her.
Thursday, August 1, 2024
DC Universe Classics - SILVER BANSHEE!
My favorite villain in Superman's vast rogue's gallery is definitely Silver Banshee. I think villains that need to be stopped with brute force tend to be boring - and that rules out a ton of his foes. Second only to Kryptonite, Superman's most criminally underused weakness is magic. So a creepy nether-witch is a wonderfully contradictory image to his Boy Scout appeal. There have been two distinct versions of Silver Banshee in the comics (1987 and 2012 respectively) but both are young Gaelic girls named Siobhan who are stricken with a curse due to their family's legacy with the netherworld. Both versions of Siobhan take on a ghostly skeletal visage when they become the Silver Banshee and can emit a Death Wail that shrivels her victim into a lifeless husk. Shrieking skeletons are honestly a true childhood phobia of mine so I find her terrifying. In 2009, Target had a DC Universe Classics spinoff line for the Public Enemies animated movie that gave us this cool figure (and others). Let's check her out below!
Saturday, July 25, 2020
DC Universe Classics - DONNA TROY!
DC Universe Classics was a very impactful toy line. When the line began in 2008, Marvel Legends was irritating. Most notably, their female bucks were horribly gangly and odd. However DCUC was a bright light that boasted consistent body designs with great articulation and a standardized scale. This would set it apart from both DC Direct and Marvel Legends. The DCUC line was not without its faults. The female characters in particular suffered from spindly short arms and often were sculpted with flat faces. But the overall impact and success of the line was amazing. My absolute favorite among all 30-some female DCUC figures is this Donna Troy as Wonder Girl. Her costume is simple and well-executed, her headsculpt is... intriguing (like she's actually conveying some emotion unlike the typical blank stares), and her arms strangely don't seem too short or too skinny. She is a great looking toy. (Although some runners-up are Big Barda, Dove, and Platinum). Let's check out Donna Troy below!
Thursday, May 28, 2020
DC Club Infinite Earths - ICE!
I think I avoided reviewing this figure for so long because I was so disappointed at the end of the DC Universe Classic line. This final wave was technically part of the subscription-only Signature Series as they were trying to squeeze out a final few fan-demanded characters. I've had Ice sitting unopened on the shelf under my coffee table for six years. I would pull her out like I was going to finally open and photograph her, only to sigh and tuck her away again.. like a time capsule of a time when I had awesome subscription toys coming every month. But I finally followed through a few weeks ago and now I'm excited to set up a Fire and Ice shelf. While this figure has a number of flaws, I still find her utterly charming. Her face, hair, and neck seem oddly contorted and her ab crunch joint is very distracting, but her arms look good (not the spindly appendages most DCUC females got), her colors are vivid, and it's just a really fun toy overall. Unfortunately, I think the days of C-listers is over. Let's check out Ice below!
Sunday, May 24, 2020
DCUC Wonder Twins - JAYNA!
I think this Wonder Twins set exemplifies the perfect type of convention exclusive toy. They are very cool and very original characters, but they won't appeal to a large portion of collectors. They weren't difficult for me to obtain, and that's probably because the demand wasn't super high across the collecting community. What drove people bonkers though was the exclusive polybagged Gleek figure that was only available in person at SDCC and still demands a super high price. Luckily I was always indifferent to him, so no skin off my back. Zan and Jayna were the second iteration of sidekicks in Hanna-Barbera's Super Friends cartoon series. In 1973, the non-powered human sidekicks Wendy, Marvin, and Wonder Dog debuted alongside the traditional Justice League lineup. They only lasted one season and were replaced by the extraterrestrial shapeshifting Wonder Twins and their blue monkey, Gleek, when The All-New Super Friends Hour debuted in 1977. It was a major improvement! Let's check out Jayna below!
Thursday, July 18, 2019
Character Spotlight on BIG BARDA!
I wasn't always a fan of Big Barda. In my less-enlightened youth I thought all superheroines had to fit a cookie-cutter body type and wear a nondescript spandex costumes to be worthy of my attention. But as an adult I realize that this large woman in a glaringly bold costume is all-around awesome (and a terrific example of non-conformity). And to add to my infatuation, I just learned Big Barda's look was inspired by Lainie Kazan (who I will always adore as the mom from My Big Fat Greek Wedding). I also appreciate her classic Jack Kirby geometric designs and her bold primary colors (all the primary colors to be exact.. I love it!) She is also currently starring in the comic Female Furies, which is her first (sort of) lead role in her 48 years, so the timing of this Character Spotlight seems pretty appropriate. Her merchandise makes for a fun-looking collection, like an exploded box of crayons. It's been a few years since I've done one of these posts, but it's really fun and I'm already brainstorming my next one. Let's check out the Bardas!
Thursday, June 20, 2019
DC Universe Classics - MARY MARVEL!
Mattel's DC Universe Classics (and its immediate predecessor DC Super-Heroes) was a game-changing line for DC fans. We finally had a product with the same far-reaching potential as Marvel Legends. And over its four-year run we saw dedication to obscure factions like the Metal Men, Doom Patrol, and New Gods. Not to mention an amazing homage to the vintage Super Powers toyline. The series brought me so much joy. However, it was not without its flaws. Specifically, the female buck was very oddly proportioned. The arms were always awkwardly short and thin. The faces always seemed to get flattened in the production process. The feet often seemed over-sized. And the shoulder, hip, and abdominal joints always looked too exposed. Despite having every single female DCUC figure in my collection, I have keep few on display. I count 37 female figures, but I only keep 8 of them out. But looking at them now with fresh eyes I definitely think several more will be gracing my shelves.. including this Mary Marvel.
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
The Watchmen - SILK SPECTRE II!
The 2009 Watchmen film is probably my favorite super hero movie of all time. I first read the books in the 1980s - which I was way too immature for at the time - but I loved it all the same and found myself re-reading it every few years. I would cringe whenever there would be rumors of a film. The story was too complex and dark for the silver screen superhero treatment. But then decades later I found myself in a dark theatre with my jaw on the floor watching a gorgeous title sequence followed by a near perfect (in my humble opinion) adaptation of one of my favorite books. Every time I watch it I'm still blown away and my confusion over the naysayers amps up a few notches. Speaking of naysayers, this movie was very polarizing. I've met way more people who hated it than loved it. Including close friends and siblings who I thought I was on the same wavelength with. It's weird. One universally positive thing we can all agree on though is the awesome (and long-awaited) flood of toys the movie sparked.
Friday, February 14, 2014
Character Spotlight on STAR SAPPHIRE!
I really tried to get this post completed in time for Valentine's Day but the fates were against me. Star Sapphire is a longtime villain in the DC Universe first appearing in 1947. Originally she was a foe of the Golden Age Flash, Jay Garrick (although this early character was much different than the scantily-clad pink ladies we see today). The most popular character to hold the mantle was Carol Ferris, the girlfriend and boss of Hal Jordan. Back then, the role of Star Sapphire was granted to women who resembled the Zamaron Queen (the Zamarons are basically an alien race of Amazons). In the mid-2000s, the history of the character was revamped to be a title embraced by an entire corps of Violet Lanterns. Their role in the "emotional spectrum" was love. This led to a notable interlude when Wonder Woman became a Star Sapphire as well. There has been a lot of excellent merchandising of this mantle in recent years. I certainly don't have them all, but the ones I do have are great (of course I stole eBay pics to fill in all the gaps). Let's check them all out below!
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Blackest Night's Star Sapphire WONDER WOMAN!
Character variations are a lot of fun. I'm willing to bet that toy designers are so frustrated with the high quotas of top-tier characters required to anchor waves, that when one of those characters makes an appearance in an outlandish but cool costume, they just jump at the chance to spice things up in the sculpting studio. DC Comics' Blackest Night storyline from 2009-2010 provided tons of variations like this. The story was centered on Green Lantern and unveiled the entire spectrum of other Lanterns in the universe (each conforming to an emotion or theme). At one point or another in the storyline, most of the DC heroes we know and love became a lantern (of some color). After Wonder Woman's spooky tryst with the Black Lanterns, she donned a Violet power ring and became the hero we see here. Although "Star Sapphire" historically seemed to be tied to the Green Lantern villain, I suppose it's more of a fluid title or rank to be applied to anyone with a Violet power ring. Let's check out this pink-hued Diana below!
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
DC Universe Signature Series HUNTRESS!
I had a lot of trepidations leading up to the release of this Huntress figure. The last few DC Signature Series female characters have been a disappointment to me. Between the sculpts, paint apps, and overall aesthetics, I had been left wanting. Huntress is one of my favorite DC heroines and I hated the thought of her long-awaited DCUC-style figure suffering the same sub-par treatment. All my worries were for nothing however because this figure is pretty great if I must say so myself. My only criticism is a slight lack of paint apps on her eyes compared to previous Mattel figures. Compared to the DCSH Batgirl, Helena's eyes look vacant and without detail. That's a small complaint however, because the high level of paint masks required for this figure were carried off successfully and that was not something I expected to see at all. Kudos to Mattel for ending their DC Infinite Earths run on a high note. Let's check her out below!
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
DC Comics Signature Series FIRE!
Fire is such a great character. Beatriz Da Costa was a swimsuit model in Brazil who was caught in a pyroplasmic explosion which granted her the ability to emit and control green fire. She was a member of many teams throughout her comic career including the Super Friends, the Global Guardians, and Checkmate, but the most stand-out and long-running role was in Justice League International (where she joined her longtime friend and companion, Ice). Fire and Ice are probably the most fan-demanded DC ladies from toy collectors. But, considering their longevity and mass appeal, they've been merchandized very little. I'm not a big fan of this latest addition to the toy roster unfortunately. For such a long-awaited character, it really seems like Mattel missed the boat on this one. The sculpting and articulation is just awkward. It's such a shame, too because with a little bit of effort this could have been a great figure. Let's check out Fire in detail below.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
DC SuperHeroes LINDA DANVERS SUPERGIRL!
Supergirl has experienced a lot of reboots and reincarnations over the years. One of the more far-fetched origin stories is that of the Linda Danvers version of Supergirl. In a nutshell, Linda was a troubled youth who fell in with the wrong crowd and found herself in the awkwardly perilous situation of being sacrificed by an evil demon cult. It was at this point that Matrix intervened. Matrix is the curly-haired post-crisis Supergirl that held the mantle from the mid-eighties to mid-nineties. Matrix was a synthetic being (who could shapeshift) created by a good Lex Luthor from another dimension. Matrix tried to protect Linda from this sacrifice and instead merged with her and together they became the newest version of Supergirl (for the next ten years or so). I wasn't a big fan of this Supergirl due to the lack of Kryptonian connections and her (non)costume. I've never been a big fan of costumes that are composed of civilian clothes. (Why can't my superheroes just be content to look ridiculously uncomfortable at all times!?)
Monday, June 10, 2013
DC SuperHeroes KARA ZOR-EL SUPERGIRL!
I just learned some interesting things about this figure. It wasn't something I read or anything. Rather, I learned that this figure was apparently produced in varying degrees of attractiveness. Just this afternoon I found multiple images of this figure which look significantly better then mine, and even a few that were worse. I don't feel that there are true variations in the sculpt, but rather that some figures seem to have a "smooshed" mold that makes her face look severe. Also, the placement of her hairline varies from figure to figure creating a subtle but significant variation. Mine is average. From the front she looks good, but from any other angle she looks pretty goofy. The DC Superheroes Select Sculpt Series was the direct precursor to DC Universe Classics. The waves alternated between Superman and Batman-themed assortments. This version of Supergirl was released later in the series and was showing up in discount stores like Ross without ever appearing in the big box stores. Let's check her out below!
Friday, June 7, 2013
Character Spotlight on SUPERWOMAN (The Evil One)!
I know this character is more of a Wonder Woman homage than a true member of the Superman family, but there's no denying her a spot in this lineup with a name like that. The Crime Syndicate first appeared in a 1964 issue of Justice League of America (#29) and quickly became classic JLA rogues. This super-team is an other-dimensional version of the Justice League where all heroes are bad and the villains are good. Superwoman is the anti-Wonder Woman, complete with a lasso and Amazonian heritage. The backstory and design of the Crime Syndicate has changed a few times over the years, but the essence of the group has remained consistent. Superwoman and her evil teammates have received very little merchandising over the years, which is a little surprising considering how "iconically evil" they look. Any kid or mom would recognize them as evil versions of the the JLA, and I think that's always a recipe for a successful villain (ie. Knight Rider's K.A.R.R. and Garth, Goateed Spock, Bizarro, etc. Plus my favorites: New Mutants vs the Hellions). But I digress. Let's check out these Superwoman figures below!
Friday, April 26, 2013
Batman Unlimited BATGIRL (and Customization)!
Batgirl is one of my favorite superheroes of all time. I like almost every incarnation of her, and the newly reinstated Barbara Gordon under the cowl in the DCU New 52 is definitely no exception. She retains all the character traits that I've always loved about Babs, but she seems tougher all-around. Her costume is pretty classic, but with updated armor detailing and a new Black, Gold, and Purple color scheme (although it seems the Purple has officially been ditched in the most recent comics). Overall it's a terrific update to a well-loved and greatly-missed character. Mattel is the first company to make a toy of her in the new duds (not counting the Heroclix, Eaglemoss, and Squinkies pieces). At first, I would have sworn this was a straight repaint of the Batgirl figure we've seen from Mattel since back in the DCSH days. But in actuality, this figure uses almost all new (or newly tool'd) parts and is a great and unique addition to any Batgirl collection. Let's check her out in detail below!
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
DC Comics Unlimited WONDER WOMAN!
The New 52 Wonder Woman has been getting a lot of play in the merchandising world. I honestly don't even make it a point to collect Wonder Woman figures (there are way too many for me!) but despite that, this figure is my fourth version of Diana in her silver redeco. My reasons for purchasing it were really to see how she compared to the original DCUC Wonder Woman from 2008 and the DC Collectibles Justice League Wonder Woman from 2012. Honestly, this new Mattel version is my favorite of the three, but I think the upcoming DC Collectibles Trinity Three-Pack is going to contain the best one yet (well, not better than this one, but close). So many Wonder Women to choose from! Anyway, this figure is very nice, the paint apps on the face are a little garish (especially her lips), and her articulation is typically awkward for this style of figure, but beyond that, the sculpt and costume design are pretty great. She has lots of cool details like her armband and the ribbing on her bodice. Let's check her out below!
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