I've owned this figure for three years with little to no desire to open her. The majority of the female figures in the McFarlane DC Multiverse line have been great. I only consider there to be a few duds; Gotham Knights Batgirl, Punchline, and this Crime Syndicate Superwoman. In many ways I view this figure to be the most egregious because she is a very cool character who seems like and easy translation into toy form. But her uncharacteristic short haircut, bland face, and lack of her signature yellow cape just seemed like a confusing series of choices. I know this is representative of a very specific period in comics, the Infinite Frontier storyline to be exact, and that this is actually a multiverse version of Donna Troy (instead of Diana or Lois like all her previous incarnations) but the figure still seems off. Interestingly, the Donna Troy Wonder Girl figure looks more like an Earth-3 Superwoman than this one. But in its defense, this figure has a very impressive base sculpt. Let's check out Superwoman below!
UNITING ALL WOMEN OF PLASTIC
Showing posts with label Villains. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Villains. Show all posts
Sunday, June 29, 2025
Monday, April 28, 2025
DC Comics - PUNCHLINE!
When Harley Quinn burst onto the scene in 1993, it took me a solid 8-9 years to get on board and fully appreciate her (and 15 years before I bought my first Harley action figure). I can be very protective and judgmental to changes within the Batman Universe. So it's no surprise that I'm extremely reluctant to embrace this new Joker sidekick, Punchline. I've only read a single story with her in it, and I honestly wasn't a fan. Her origin reads like a slightly modified version of Harley Quinn (a former victim of the Joker who became an obsessive fan and eventual cohort). But her crimes are far more aggressive/gruesome and lack the quirky fun of Harleen. Plus her costume looks like a Hot Topic Roller Girl and doesn't seem very functional or inspired. But, given my track record, I will probably become obsessed in 2035 and will be glad I have this figure. I had almost zero initial desire to buy this toy, but when the set was clearanced for $23, my FOMO kicked in and I got her. Let's check out Punchline below!
Wednesday, January 10, 2024
Transformers - ANTAGONY!
Antagony is one of the many fembots who owes her origins to Botcon, the Transformers convention held annually from 1994-2016 and gave us over 150 exclusives during that run. Many of these exclusives were original female characters (Nightracer, Drag Strip (animated), Glyph. Flareup, and Flamewar come to mind). Antagony was a 1998 repaint of Inferno (the red fire ant Predacon). Over the years, her origins have been established and re-established. My favorite interpretation is that she is an ancient Predacon who can't feel pain and therefore has a maniacal penchant for inflicting it on others. Whether the motive is curiosity or jealousy, it's frightening. This new 2023 Antagony is (predictably) a repaint of the 2022 Inferno. I would have loved an original sculpt with less masculine traits. Or maybe even a Blackarachnia retooling like her modern appearances in IDW comics seem to show. But this figure still captures a certain unhinged maliciousness that I am drawn to. Let's check out Antagony below!
Friday, June 19, 2020
Ghostbusters - GOZER!
Ghostbusters is the third movie I ever saw in the movie theater way back in 1984 (after E.T. and Return of the Jedi). The nearest theater was in a mall an hour away so we went very infrequently... but the rarity of the occasion made the event memorable every time. By the time I saw Ghostbusters, I was already a big fan of villainous women. Baroness from G.I.Joe. Evil-Lyn from Masters of the Universe, and Catwoman from the Batman '66 show in syndication were all idols to me. But Gozer was the first villainess I ever saw that was actually scary (without any buffoonery to temper the evil). I still get chills when I see her on screen. This Plasma Series Gozer is the third true action figure (from different companies) in the past 16 years and it's probably the best of the lot. She has fantastic articulation and a great sculpt overall. I'm not super thrilled with her face paint, but that might just be my copy. Overall she's a great figure. Let's check out Gozer the Gozerian below!
Wednesday, June 17, 2020
Ghostbusters - DANA!
Poor Sigourney Weaver. She's a beautiful woman with striking features. But all the advanced toy technology in the world can't seem to get her likeness right. The various Ripley figures from NECA come pretty close, but it's nowhere near the realistic quality that they seem to achieve with other actors. It's such a shame too, because Sigourney has one of the most toy-worthy filmographies out there (Aliens, Avatar, Galaxy Quest, and of course Ghostbusters). In the past eight years we've seen the first three Dana Barrett action figures from three different companies. And while this newest Plasma Series figure from Hasbro is arguably the best, it still isn't quite right. I'm half tempted to see if it's just a matter of touching up the face paint, because the actual sculpt seems pretty accurate. (Although sculpting wild hair like hers often results in a poodle effect). I don't mean to be a total naysayer, because this figure is a great improvement over previous attempts and I love having her in my collection. Let's check out Dana below!
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
Disney Sleeping Beauty - MALEFICENT!
For some reason when I first saw this Maleficent figure in GameStop last Spring, I was very unimpressed. I thought she looked too stiff and stylized. There are a handful of classic cinematic characters that have always been high on my wishlist for the action figure treatment, and Maleficent was very near the top. So I'm very aware that my covetousness made me a very picky customer. But recently I realized that all the modern interpretations of the character made me forget how the classic 1959 version actually looked. I saw a clip from the movie and I flashed back to this figure and instantly regretted my snobbery. Luckily I found her in a store pretty quickly. And although she isn't perfect, she is really pretty terrific in-hand. My only problem with her is her limited articulation. But I can honestly say I wouldn't have bought this if she had an amorphous soft goods cloak. That's the big trade-off for preferring completely sculpted figures, you sacrifice a lot of poseability. Let's check out Maleficent below!
Wednesday, February 19, 2020
Mini Power Rangers - RITA REPULSA!
With the recent announcement of the Gamestop-exclusive Lightning Collection Rita Repulsa, I realized I never posted anything on this adorable little Rita. I was pretty sad when Bandai lost the Power Rangers license to Hasbro, but it wasn't necessarily because of the collector-level 6" Legacy figures that I had been buying. Rather, I was most upset because the Power Rangers Imaginext line would also be coming to a close. Over the course of a few years, Fisher-Price had released a really fun collection of figures (including the first ever Scorpina action figure). For those collectors who dive into the preschool market, it is well known that Fisher-Price (Mattel) is much better organized and productive than Playskool (Hasbro). The Playskool Marvel line has almost no character diversity, just the same 5 guys over and over again for years. The occasionaly solicit a new character, but they are almost always cancelled.So I feared the same neglect for the Playskool Rangers (and it seems my fears are well founded).
Sunday, February 16, 2020
Masters of the Universe - SHADOW WEAVER!
Re-do figures are very surprising sometimes. I have been living the last eight years in blissful confidence that I owned a perfect Shadow Weaver figure. The 2012 MOTUC subscription-exclusive Weaver figure is amazing. I literally had no complaints about her. But her exclusive status caused her to remain a figure in high demand for most collectors. So a new figure was a welcome announcement for the final wave of MOTUC. The interesting thing is that the nature of her simple design leads to no real distinction between a Classics and Club Grayskull look, so I wasn't expecting much from this second figure. But in actuality, this new figure is vastly improved from the original: Her articulation is now mostly hidden; Her colors are brighter and more cartoon accurate; And her overall sculpt is improved with better cloth folds, a more dynamic pose, and more detailed hands. It's truly the greatest figure that I didn't know I needed. It's such a shame there won't be more. Let's check out Shadow Weaver below!
Sunday, December 8, 2019
Masters of the Universe Vintage - SHADOW WEAVER!
Shadow Weaver is one of the most iconic vampy women from my childhood. Her shadowed face and raspy voice actually made her one of the scariest characters in the (expanded) MOTU world. All the other bad guys got silly very quickly and devolved into outright buffoonery, but Shadow Weaver was always sinister. Of all the characters from the Filmation series, it was always a shock that Shadow Weaver never got an action figure made. She appeared in a whopping 52 episodes, while "main" characters like Mermista, Frosta, and Queen Angella were only in a handful. But somehow we haven't seen a vintage-style figure until now. Although when I imagine what a vintage POP Shadow Weaver would look like, I cringe. She would probably be pink and glittery with sparkly gemstones and gauzy fabric. So I'm actually glad it took so long. It's a shame this wave appears to be the last of the Super7 vintage line, because there are so many more characters deserving of this treatment. Let's check out Weaver below!
Wednesday, October 9, 2019
Batman Universe Busts - GOTHAM CITY SIRENS!
I have a backlog of Eaglemoss products I've been dying to review forever. Last weekend I finally unpackaged a ton of my hoarded busts and figurines and photographed them and now I'm excited to post them all. For sake of brevity I will be lumping certain ones into groups, and the most logical grouping to me is the Gotham City Sirens trio of Catwoman, Poison Ivy, and Harley Quinn. As much as this trifecta seems timeless, I did some research and discovered that Catwoman and Poison Ivy only ever crossed paths five times in the 27 years leading up to Batman the Animated Series (and I didn't actually read those five stories, but from the descriptions they seem like huge ensemble casts where it's very unlikely that the two even talked). Yeah, Batman books didn't really pass the Bechdel test until fairly recently. But once Harley was introduced, it wasn't long until these friendships formed and they haven't looked back. Let's check out Catwoman, Poison Ivy, and Harley Quinn below!
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Marvel Legends - EMMA FROST!
Until this Summer's X-Men reboot it had been years since I picked up a mutant comic. So when I see this Marvel NOW black-suited Emma Frost I really don't get the reference. With a name like Emma Frost (aka the White Queen), anything but her signature white garb seems odd. However, I actually really dig this figure (even though I eventually want a more classic version). The black look is very striking, and when paired with the classic bob-haircut alternate head, she's unmistakably Emma.. yet somehow even more wicked. Recently I've been obsessed with re-reading collected volumes of my favorite old comics and coincidentally Emma Frost is a major player in a ton of them: New Mutants, Generation X, and the titular Emma Frost series from 2003. I'm literally reading all of these titles in rotation right now, so this figure came at the perfect time. She's a little scarce in Walgreens right now, but if Sue Storm, Medusa, and Magik are any indication, she will be flooding the market before long. Let's check out Emma below!
Friday, August 23, 2019
Transformers - TRICKDIAMOND & FLOWSPADE
Assigning gender to robots is always a tricky business. I personally find myself drawn to characters with a typically feminine (aka hourglass) silhouette and a face with some feminine characteristics. However I cringe when those same features are exaggerated and we see gigantic metal breasts and pouty lips. On the opposite end of the spectrum are the stocky (and dare I say, masculine) characters like Strika, Manta Ray, and Override. I always have a lot of issues with these characters too. But it's not because I think femininity has to be confined to a certain aesthetic, but rather that my pessimistic side assumes the toy-makers were lazy and just wanted to re-use male parts. This brings us to the legs of the Megatronia combiner: Trickdiamond and Flowspade. I love one, and I hate one. They both have short stocky bodies (that are indeed re-used male bucks), but Trickdiamond also has a great face and cool color scheme. Flowspade has an unexpressive ninja head and a stereotypically pink color scheme.
Monday, August 19, 2019
Transformers - MEGAEMPRESS!
I just learned about this character so bear with me while I excitedly rant. Megaempress was made from Megatron's spare parts and became his love interest (think of a dysfunctional Optimus and Elita). She has the ability to manipulate and control male Transformers and is viewed as dangerous and untrustworthy by her fellow Decepticons. They even overtook her and put her in stasis for many years. When she was revived, Megatron had been reincarnated as Galvatron and she immediately began plotting her way into his regime. Also, she once had her sights set on Optimus Prime, but he was able to resist her powers by focusing on his connection to Elita One (awww). This toy is fantastic and makes the high purchase price of the Megatronia set worth it. She is a straight-up repaint of Pyra Magna from the Victorion set, which in turn is a retool of Hot Spot. But her coloring and backstory make her infinitely more interesting than Pyra Magna (imho). Plus, female Decepticons are severely lacking.
Monday, December 31, 2018
Transformers Bumblebee SHATTER (Car & Jet)!
I just saw the Transformers: BumbleBee movie today and one of the major highlights for me was the original female Decepticon, Shatter. I read online that she was inspired by the G1 character Nightbird, and I guess I can see that in her face, but otherwise she seems like a wholly unique creation. Shatter and Dropkick (voiced by Angela Bassett and Justin Theroux) formed a classic brains vs brawn that I loved. If the movie had used classic well-known villains, I would have spent the entire two hours nitpicking the performance. But as it was I could just sit back and enjoy the movie. These initial two toys aren't a great example of modern Transformer engineering, but I wanted to celebrate this character so I picked them up. There is a 12" Titan and a Deluxe Movie figure coming out soon that should hopefully make up for them. Overall I'm just glad there was finally such a significant female presence in the TF cinematic universe. Let's check out these first two Shatter offerings below!
Sunday, September 23, 2018
Transformers - SHADOW STRIKER!
I love a good villainess. And there's something especially great when they're in the Transformers family. This is probably because Crasher from GoBots terrified me as a child and I've always though there was something wonderfully wicked and detached about evil fembots ever since. I was really excited at all the new SDCC reveals for the new Transformers: Cyberverse cartoon showcasing four new female figures. Two of these were decepticons (Slipstream being an unfortunate Starscream repaint) but the Shadow Striker immediately thrilled me. While her face and color scheme seem very similar to recent animated villains like Blackarachnia and Airachnid, she is actually a reboot of a Decepticon from the early 2000s (who coincidentally had a twin sister, the Autobot Roulette.. who I really hope gets a toy as well). This toy is a little less than ideal, but I hope the character proves popular enough to get a more traditional release. Let's check out Shadow Striker in detail below!
Sunday, August 19, 2018
Marvel Legends - SCREAM!
I'm really obsessed with this new Marvel Legends Scream figure. My infatuation is likely due to the fact that I just spent weeks frantically hunting her down... and she'll now circumstantially have the rank of "Newest Marvel Legends" in my collection until sometime in 2019. But regardless of that, she is legitimately a great action figure. The yellow and maroon color scheme contrasts very interestingly with my other Spider-ladies and it's nice to get a villain in the group. With all the potential female characters that still need inclusion in the line (Julia Carpenter anyone?), Scream seemed like quite a random choice. Of course, since her first reveal, we've learned that she will be a character in the Venom movie played by Michelle Lee. Hasbro never seems to miss an opportunity to sync-up their character selections to the newest movie tie-ins. Of course having just one female symbiote won't do. I think we need an Agony, Mania, and Bride of Venom at the very least. Let's check out the Marvel Legends Scream below!
Saturday, August 18, 2018
Marvel Toy Biz - SCREAM!
This original Scream figure from ToyBiz was honestly one of my first big disappointments as a young collector. I love how (relatively) obscure she was and I was very excited to get a toy of a female character who was never intended to be pretty. But when I actually got her I found her to be oversized and cumbersome. Don't get me wrong, I never even considered parting with her, but at the same time I disliked her so much that I've never had her displayed for more that a couple days before hiding her away again. But in celebration of the new Marvel Legends Scream, I wanted to bring her out and try to appreciate her for what she is. It turns out she's a lot more photogenic than I gave her credit for. I still have the same criticisms of her, but my initial teenage disappointment has dissipated quite a bit. Maybe I'll give her a spot on my ever-expending spider-lady shelf, back row, but still a spot. Let's check out the original Planet of the Symbiotes Scream figure below!
Wednesday, March 7, 2018
Marvel Legends - PROXIMA MIDNIGHT!
As much as I love Marvel Legends, one fear has been creeping into my head lately. That is that this line could go the way of Mattel's WWE figures and just keep recycling the same three bucks over and over again. Sure, the Hasbro Legends bucks are amazing and work so well together, but sometimes you need someone big. The recent A-Force She-Hulk was okay, but I honestly wished she looked bigger and stronger. But then this Proxima Midnight figure came out and assuaged all my fears. When a character requires a unique body type, Hasbro clearly isn't afraid to flex their muscles and give us something new. Proxima Midnight is a member of the Black Order (named the Children of Thanos in the movie), a group of ruthless aliens who follow Thanos like a cult. I predict an epic Mrs. Weasley/Bellatrix level confrontation between Gamora, Nebula, and Proxima. That father/daughter dynamic is toxic in different ways for each of them. Can't wait until the Infinity War. Let's check out Proxima Midnight below!
Tuesday, August 1, 2017
Thor Ragnarok Marvel Legends - HELA!
Today was a great day for a toy hunt. August 1st was the street date for all the Thor Ragnarok toys as well as all the Justice League merchandise. It didn't hurt that I happened to be home sick so was able to be at the stores as they opened. (And it's nearly impossible to find a silver lining in having a cold in Summer). So I was home by noon with my bounty (I had to go to 3 TRUs and two Targets to get everything I wanted) but then I was too exhausted and sick to photograph them until late this evening. Under normal circumstances I would have just waited, but I was too impatient and wanted to free this beauty from her box. Marvel Legends has just been making perfect action figures recently. Maybe I'm foggy from meds, but I have no criticisms of this figure whatsoever. When I first saw the imagery of Cate Blanchett as Hela I was not impressed (I thought it looked like the movie Rita Repulsa), but over the months it has really grown on me and now I can't wait to see her on the screen in November. Let's check out Hela below!
Saturday, May 13, 2017
Power Ranger Mega Collection - POISANDRA!
My favorite thing about all the various Power Rangers series are all the crazy bumbling villains. Unfortunately the ratio of male to female characters is dismal at best and when the females do make their rare appearances, they are usually more ridiculous than ten male characters combined. And topping the ridiculous list would definitely have to be this amazingly absurd character, Poisandra. She was the love interest and evil henchwoman to the main baddie, Sledge, in the recent Power Ranger Dino Charge series. She looks like a court jester festooned with giant puffy hearts and her ultimate goal is to defeat the Rangers so Sledge will marry her. I believe her powers are simply that she's strong a ruthless. So no poison-related powers as her name implies (fun fact, her name in Japan is Candililla). Due to her offbeat appearance and personality, she quickly became a fan-favorite and the clamoring for a Poisandra action figure filled the message boards. It came a little late, but here she finally is in all her pink-hearted glory.
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