Two cinematic scenes from my childhood scarred me for years. The first was an episode of Benson where Haley's Comet flew overhead and all the humans were reduced to gravel (or dried beans?). For a lighthearted sitcom this caught me off-guard and terrified me. The second trauma was the earthquake scene from Superman (1978) when Lois Lane's car slipped into a wide fissure and she died while suffocating under the weight of the crushing gravel and dirt. It was horrible. And I swear this played on TV every few months throughout my childhood. Lois wears several very similar outfits throughout the movie, but the 3-piece pantsuit with blue collar is unique to this horrible scene. If you've seen the movie, you know it ends happily (in the most illogical way possible), but I'm still a bit triggered. Spin Master is making some pretty great DC retro cinematic figures. I only hope they're able to sneak out the rumored Helen Slater Supergirl before the licenses shift. Let's check out Lois Lane below!
UNITING ALL WOMEN OF PLASTIC
Showing posts with label Superman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Superman. Show all posts
Sunday, November 23, 2025
Superman (1978) - LOIS LANE!
Friday, June 20, 2025
DC Direct Maquette - LOIS LANE!
I am very selective with my statue purchases. For reasons of limited display space and high price points, I simply can't purchase all the statues that catch my eye. This Lois Lane from the DC Direct Classic Animation Maquettes line was my forth statue purchase ever (not counting mini-busts). And interestingly, the BTAS Catwoman and Harley Quinn from the same line were my first and second purchases. I just love a classically-posed character in an iconic design. Lois Lane has had a lot of different looks over the years, but this 1940's brown skirtsuit will always be my favorite. I remember getting this maquette years after her release for a very discounted price of 20 bucks because of a few easy-to-fix scuffs. She's been a focal point of my collection ever since. Which is unique because I rarely buy non-costumed characters. But my love for classic animation gave her a pass. And there is almost no animation quite as "classic" as the 1941 Superman theatrical shorts from Fleischer Studios. Let's check out Lois below!
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
DC Direct Silver Age - LOIS LANE!
When I first started collecting action figures as an adult in the early 2000s, it coincided with me starting to collect comics again after a 5 year hiatus. I was in a new city with several comic shops (all my hometown ones had closed in the 90s), and those new stores were teeming with action figures from DC Direct. DCD had started just a few years earlier so I had never before seen the merging of toys and comics in one store like that. I bought a lot of these toys over the next few years. But these Silver Age Deluxe Box Sets were just too pricey for me at the time. I favored Batman over Superman and I preferred costumed heroes over civilians, so it took me twenty years to finally pick up this Lois set. Which is a shame because because this figure is gorgeous. Despite being a bit pre-posed and having sculpted-in accessories, the Tim Bruckner sculpt perfectly captures that Silver Age aesthetic. I know most people love her modern purple blazer, but these vintage browns will always be my favorite. Let's check out Lois below!
Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Mezco 5 Points - LOIS LANE!
If you have never watched the Fleischer Studios Superman series from 1941-1942, I highly suggest you do. Although people generally refer to this as a television series, they were actually a series of nine 10-minute theatrical shorts (Household televisions wouldn't become common until the mid 50s). There is a stark art deco style similar to Edward Hopper and other realists on the 1940s. The influence of this series can be seen in the works of later animation powerhouses like Hayao Miyazaki and Bruce Timm. And even in the past twelve months we've see three representations of the Fleischer Superman design in the toy aisles. The first of which was this Mezco 5 Points "The Mechanical Monsters" box set which thankfully included Lois Lane. Lois has had a ton of designs over the years. She is a plainclothed character, so no single look was necessarily iconic. But to me, this brown, green, and yellow skirtsuit will always be the best. But I'm always partial to retro aesthetic. Let's check out Lois below!
Sunday, June 8, 2025
Superman (2025) 6" - THE ENGINEER!
I was honestly planning to skip this figure. When I first saw the assortment of Superman toys from various companies last month, I was impressed to see a second female character show up in the different assortments. My first assumption that this was Lois Lane due to the dark hair and simple outfit. It didn't exactly looks like civilian duds, but I thought perhaps she had a protective suit for part of the movie or something. But soon I saw clearer images and learned this character was actually The Engineer from Wildstorm Comic's The Authority (which is slated for a 2026 movie). Those comics were never my favorite. They were super violent and seemingly existed for shock value. But I always enjoyed The Engineer... and loved her earlier toy. But these new figures looked like a very boring version of her. In the comics, the Engineer is a scientist who replaced her blood with nanobots and often appears completely head-to-toe covered in chrome with limbs that form into crazy weapons at will.
Monday, March 31, 2025
The Flash 3.75" - SUPERGIRL!
Between the new Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow movie coming next year and the seeming demise of the Spin Master DC toylines, I figured it was about time to finally post this figure. Back in 2023 when she was released, I had a very frustrating time with this Supergirl figure. Her facepaint apps were inconsistent at best, and absolutely horrendous most of the time. I ended up purchasing several before getting a decent one. I love the Sasha Calle version of Supergirl from The Flash (2023). She reminds me of Dana Dearden or Elna Kent but with a tough persona all her own. I was excited to see her get so much merchandising from a (presumably) one-and-done character. Especially from a company like Spin Master who seems to greatly under-utilize their DC license and miss opportunities to product great toys. It's amazing that this figure exists before a Gal Gadot Wonder Woman, Margot Robbie Harley, or a Michelle Pfeiffer Catwoman. But I'm glad she does. Let's check out Supergirl below!
Monday, September 30, 2024
Imaginext - SUPERGIRL!
I'm excited that Supergirl has become such a household name in the last 10 years. Between her solo live-action Supergirl TV show (on CBS then CW) and her role in DC Super Hero Girls franchise, she suddenly became a staple character in DC merchandising after decades of neglect. Sure, she had toys on the shelf before this, but her first true action figure was only made in 1998 (exactly 40 years after she was introduced). So despite her presence in the comics and supporting roles in cartoons, the general public didn't know anything about her. But all that has changed now. And once her solo film comes out in a few years, her high position in pop culture will be even more solidified (assuming it's good). This Supergirl figure from the new girl-centric DC Super Friends Imaginext line is one of my favorites of the first wave. She is sporting a super classic costume and a mischievous smirk. This character is not often portrayed as funny or wise-cracking, but this makes me think she should be. Let's check her out below!
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!
Friday, November 3, 2023
DC Rebirth - SUPERGIRL!
It seems to be very difficult to get a good, classic-looking Kara Zor-El Supergirl. I have quite a few in my collection, but there just always seems to be something slightly off about them. Luckily Supergirl always tends to sport a pretty classic costume. She goes through eras with a slightly tweaked costume, but it consistently comes back to the basic look. I personally think this newest Target Exclusive DC Multiverse Gold Label figure is the best Supergirl in my collection. Sure, she has a couple problems. Firstly, her eyes are often overstamped which makes her look a little angry (it you're patient you can find one with better eyes). And secondly, her thigh-high boots have been swapped for red leggings. I didn't even notice this detail until I got her home. It honestly doesn't bother me too much (because thigh-high boots are impractical in battle), but it's baffling that McFarlane skipped this detail, especially since she has no special accessories. Either cost-saving cuts or simple oversight. Let's check out Supergirl below!
Monday, July 17, 2023
Imaginext - SUPERGIRL (FLASH MOVIE)!
Imaginext never fails to surprise me with the fun character selection under their DC Super Friends banner. This toy line actually inspired me to create this whole website when I learned about the Catwoman Imaginext via a similar blog (Toyriffic) back in 2012 and I realized none of the "big" websites had mentioned her. I was able to run out and buy her the same day I learned she existed yet she was somehow off the radar of all my many toy news feeds. Since then I've become a member of several Imaginext communities and I never miss a release, but somehow this brand still surprises me eleven years after their first DC female. A couple weeks ago I posted about the new Stephanie Brown Batgirl and soon after I learned that the Sasha Calle DCU Supergirl from The Flash movie was in a new 2-pack easily found at Kohl's. I thought this movie and this reimagined Supergirl were both great. But I'm still surprised Fisher-Price green-lit her for a figure, especially with such a new sculpt. Let's check her out below!
Sunday, June 18, 2023
The Flash - SUPERGIRL!
I saw The Flash tonight and was really impressed. I had pretty low expectations going in but was pleasantly surprised. (I won't give any spoilers that weren't in the trailers). It's pretty apparent from even the first trailer that Barry uses the Speed Force to travel faster than the speed of light and enter a sort-of Multi-verse scenario. In one alternate reality (original to the film), there is a reimagined version of Kara Zor-El Supergirl played by Sasha Calle. Her short dark hair is reminiscent of Cir-El from the comics, but her costume is a fairly traditional Superman design that I really like. She played a pretty significant role in the movie and had a lot of great screen time (and thankfully she got the action figure treatment right away). This figure is amazing. The face sculpt is great, the costume looks awesome, and I love the dynamic curve of the cape that looks cool whether in an action pose or standing stoic. And I like the figure even more after seeing the movie. Let's check out Supergirl below!
Saturday, April 29, 2023
Injustice 2 - SUPERGIRL (and Customization)!
This figure made me laugh a little when I found her in Walmart last week (in the Entertainment section with the Funko stuff FYI). I laughed because I thought this figure is very decent with a lot of potential. But the hairstyle was so distracting to me that it ruined the whole figure. It was a... wait for it... Injustice. It literally says "Injustice Supergirl" all over the packaging - and I couldn't agree more. I have seen images from the Injustice 2 game and I know the actual character design has odd hair. Plus the Hiya Toys Supergirl figure from the same game a few years ago had a similarly off-putting design. But this didn't stop me from picking her up with a the idea that I could pretty easily modify her hair to my liking. I haven't attempted anything like this in a while and seemed like a simple single-piece mod. And honestly it was. I ended up liking her quite a bit, but my fingers are still crossed for a classic Kara someday (right after the classic Wonder Woman we've be clamoring for). Let's check out Supergirl below!
Sunday, January 2, 2022
DC Direct - URSA!
I've made it a New Years resolution to purge my SD camera card and, with a timestamp of 2013, this Ursa was the oldest photoset there. I skipped this figure when she was released back in 2007. I didn't love her design or her pre-posed sculpt. But five years later I found her in a bargain bin and thought what the hell. My original criticisms still hold up, but I think the character has an interesting history so I like that this toy exists. Ursa was first introduced in Superman: The Movie (1978), but this toy represents her first comic appearance from 2007 (a storyline written by Richard Donner himself). I actually dig this costume, but I'm not thrilled with the hair, goggles, neck tattoo, and glum expression. I always expect Ursa to look wicked, cocky, and a little unhinged. This figure doesn't give me any of those qualities. I normally love sculpts by Karen Palinko, and I think she stayed very true to the source material, but the overall translation into plastic is a little lackluster in my opinion. Let's check out Ursa 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!
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!
Wednesday, June 7, 2017
DC Collectibles TV Series SUPERGIRL!
I just saw that season two of Supergirl is up on Netflix and I have a date with my couch two weekends from now to catch up. I loved the first season so much and I felt so deflated when CBS announced its cancellation. But then CW swept in and saved the day. The unfortunate thing is that I personally have no easy real-time access to CW so I have to wait for streaming or DVD. Hopefully the second season is good. I know one of the reasons for CBS to drop it was the high production cost, which I can only assume prompted a major budget cut when CW took over. I'll report back in a month. This is the first figure I've picked up from the DCC's DC TV line and I'm pretty impressed. Melissa Benoist has an extremely unique face. Every time she makes a different expression she looks like a new person, so my hopes for a decent likeness are pretty low, but I must say I'm very happy with this figure. The face paint isn't as detailed as the box imagery, but the essence of Melissa is there. Let's check out Supergirl below!
Thursday, March 23, 2017
Superman: The Animated Series - LIVEWIRE!
I've really been paying attention to the rise of Livewire over the years. Similar to Harley Quinn, Livewire was introduced in a 1997 episode of Superman: The Animated Series. Within a year she was guest starring in the comics associated with the show, and about eight years later she finally crossed over to mainstream comics in Action Comics #835. She's appeared in several animated series (The New Batman Adventures, JLU, and JLU: Unlimited), one movie (Justice League: Gods and Monsters), and two live-action shows (Smallville and Supergirl). So her popularity is consistent, yet somehow understated. She's also appeared in four video games, so she's literally hit every facet of superhero media. I'm glad in a way that she hasn't had the same crazy popularity as Harley Quinn, because her character has stayed pretty true to form over the years, which is pretty rare these days. Although I must say I would love a good solo mini-series or special eventually. Let's check out Livewire below!
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
Superman: The Animated Series - SUPERGIRL!
I was never much a fan of all the Timm-verse shows when they first aired. I was going through a weird too-cool-for-school phase where I would only read manga and watch vintage cartoons. It wasn't until I was much older that I really appreciated the cultural impact and Timm's unique character design. It also doesn't hurt that my better half happens to be a big childhood fan of BTAS & TNBA so the shows became a natural connection to all my adult hobbies. It's hard to be with someone who is totally detached from your obsessions, so I eagerly dove into all these cartoons as a saving grace. Of all the shows, I'm least familiar with Superman: The Animated Series, but I love how it recharged interest in Supergirl and Lois Lane (and not to mention introducing Livewire). It's nice how they are committing to the Superman Universe now. We already know that Superman and Lois Lane are coming this Summer, so this set adds an additional two characters to the lineup. Let's check out Supergirl below!
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
DC Collectibles Darwyn Cooke SUPERGIRL!
The saddest moment of 2016 for me was the heartbreaking news that Darwyn Cooke had passed away. Moreso than actors and musicians, the passing of comic artists always hits me particularly hard. It might be because I have no acting or musical skills whatsoever, so the art forms I relate to most deeply are drawing, painting, and sculpting (all of which I dabble in). Comic artists in particular always seem immortal to me. The serial nature of comics and the constantly regenerating storylines tease you into thinking the artists behind them will be just as long-lasting and consistent. Plus there's a unique bond that forms between comic artists and their fans. Over time you really feel as if you know them. I've never met Darwyn Cooke, but I hear he was a wonderful man and he will be sorely missed. I have all his older New Frontier figures and I am so happy to have his unique style further represented in my collection with this new artist series. It's bittersweet, but the tribute is fitting and welcome.
Monday, August 8, 2016
DC Comics Multiverse - SUPERGIRL!
I'm really nervous for the second season of Supergirl. I very rarely like superhero TV shows. I started off very excited for Smallville, but it never took. I watched all of Birds of Prey out of some misguided sense of solidarity to all the female heroes in it, but it wasn't easy for me. Then I gave Arrow, Flash, and Legends of Tomorrow all a fighting chance, but I just never got hooked. The only shows I've ever truly liked are Gotham, Agents of SHIELD and Supergirl. If you notice the trend there.. I apparently just don't like any CW shows. So with Supergirl switching from CBS to The CW for season 2, I'm nervous that it's going to have the teen drama feel that makes me tune out almost immediately. But luckily before that potential cord-cutting, I get to immortalize Kara in my collection with this great Multiverse figure. The previous production shots of her looked pretty odd, but in person I found her to be a lot better than I expected. I'm very happy overall. Let's check out Supergirl below!
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