In 2003, the Teen Titans animated show premeired and exposed a whole new generation to thee characters. The influence was undeniable. The aisles were suddenly full of toys, the fast food chains had promotions, and school supplies were emblazoned with the characters. I personally wasn't the biggest fan of the slapstick nature of the show nor the cartoony redesigns. But within a few years, those same new costumes were incorporated into the mainstream comic titles, and they began to grow on me. I once thought the red ornamentation on Raven's costume was distracting, but now it seems pretty iconic. I just saw SDCC images of the new McFarlane Raven coming later in 2026 and it features a lot of these modern animated details (and looks pretty great). These DC Universe Infinite Heroes figures were all the rage 17 years ago, and this Raven was one of the more tricky figures to get. But I'm glad I eventually did because this was the gateway drug that got me to accept some change. Let's check her out below!
UNITING ALL WOMEN OF PLASTIC
Showing posts with label Teen Titans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Teen Titans. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 22, 2026
DC Universe Infinite Heroes - RAVEN!
Tuesday, July 21, 2026
DC Universe Infinite Heroes - STARFIRE!
As SDCC approaches this week, I find myself remembering back to the late aughts when Mattel was regularly blowing our collective minds with new product. Both DC Universe Classics and Masters of the Universe Classics began in 2008 and revolutionized the toy industry (I know Marvel Legends had started way back in 2002, but I think their female sculpts were pretty terrible until 2013). With all the focus on Mattel's 6-7" scale back then, it's easy to forget that their 3.75" DC Universe Infinite Heroes line also launched in 2008. It only lasted two years, but it gave us an absolute flood of characters. I believe there were 67 individual figures and 17 multipacks. That's roughly 3 new characters each month for two years. I recently dug out my old Starfire and Raven in anticipation of their new Super Powers figures on Entertainment Earth. I find the Infinite Heroes to be a little weird, a little awkward, and sometimes they're downright hideous, but I still adore them. Let's check out Starfire below!
Tuesday, June 30, 2026
New Teen Titans - STARFIRE!
Every time I get an old DC Direct figure into my photo tent I am blown away by the sculpt and attention to detail. I was very excitedly buying lots of toys back then. I loved all the Silver Age and Legion of Super-Heroes figures in particular. But in general, I was really taking this early-aughts toy renaissance for granted. I should have been buying ever single toy put out there. I think Starfire is a tricky character to get right. Especially when trying to replicate the early-80s George Pérez design. Honestly I've only seen it done right twice in toy form: the 2018 Funko mini figure, and this DC Direct figure from 2000. I desperately tried to find who sculpted this, but the information seems lost to time. My best guess is Tim Bruckner. But it could easily be Sam Greenwell as well. Both were very active with DC Direct at the time, but the sculptor names being featured on the packaging was inconsistent in those early years. Whoever the artist is knocked it out of the park though. Let's check out Starfire below!
Monday, June 29, 2026
DC Universe Classics - STARFIRE!
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!
Sunday, June 28, 2026
The New Teen Titans - STARFIRE!
The new Entertainment Earth DC Super Powers line from McFarlane Toys has me very excited. The main retail waves of these figures were pretty cool, but they were a total boys club (aside from 4 repaints of a Wonder Woman mold). But since the EE-exclusive waves were announced, we've already seen pre-orders for Supergirl, Power Girl, Starfire, and Raven. Anticipation for the latter two has put me on a bit of a Teen Titans kick. I've recently been photographing a lot of older figures that I never got around to posting about prior, and I'm really obsessed with the classic look of the characters. The 2018 Legion of Collectors Teen Titans subscription box from Funko contained 2 of 4 potential 3.75" classic Perez-era Titans figures. These are in the same style as the Batman '66 figures (Batgirl and Catwoman) from the year prior. For years these fetched about fifty bucks each on eBay, but now they can be found for less than retail. It's just a shame they didn't make the other characters. Let's check out Starfire below!
Saturday, June 27, 2026
The New Teen Titans - RAVEN!
Around ten years ago, collector's subscription boxes were all the rage. The most I ever subscribed to was two at a time, and honestly even that felt a little overwhelming. You would get a shoebox of surprise goodies every other month and it was an exciting aspect of the hobby for a while. I say "for a while" because the novelty wore off quickly. After several consecutive boxes with nothing particularly appealing to me, I started to feel like a sucker. That said, there were plenty of true gems that came out of these subscriptions. Funko was one of the leaders and I distinctly remember a Marvel subscription and a separate DC subscription. The second to last DC box was (in my opinion) the best of the bunch with two (of 4) 3.75" New Teen Titans action figures included. It was sad because it was hard to get all four, and even sadder that they never made more (like Beast Boy and Wonder Girl) like they hinted at in their YouTube videos. But the figures we were able to get are amazing. Let's check out Raven below!
Tuesday, June 23, 2026
DC x Sonic - STARFIRE!
I love how modern interpretations of Starfire have been so covered up. I know her original barely-there costume is iconic and classic, but I always found it so cringey - especially in a team of teenagers. Ironically, the first time I truly started to love this character was in the New52's Red Hood and the Outlaws when her outfit was even tinier and her actions were portrayed as much more cold and sexual than she had ever been before. Something about the art and older appearance of Koriand'r made her super appealing to me. But since then, DC has really course-corrected and she's mostly been costumed in an almost prudish way. But honestly I love it. This DC x Sonic design is new to me, but I realize it's her primary costume in the most recent (2023-present) Titans series. She still has the iconic orange skin, firey hair, purple outfit, and bright green alien eyes, but the pulled-back hair and more utilitarian uniform really makes this design stand out. It's crazy that Jakks was the first to give us a figure. Let's check out Starfire below!
Monday, December 22, 2025
The New Teen Titans - BLACKFIRE!
Of all the character who deserve a figure in McFarlane's DC Multiverse line, or even a second re-do figure, Blackfire no even on my radar. Last year's Platinum edition Blackfire in her Titans Reborn design was a great figure (albeit in a lesser-known outfit). So I was shocked to see this redeco solicited in an odd design reminiscent of her first appearance, but missing her voluminous hair, large cape, and ornate headdress/tiara. I was fully planning on skipping this figure, but FOMO during the preorder blitz this past fall made me cave. She's a pretty cool figure, and I know a lot of collector's missed the Platinum release last year, so I kind of understand how she was awarded a coveted figure slot ahead of so many other contenders. And for someone who was on the fence, I appreciate how significantly different the color palette is, and the multihued purple/blue legs are mesmerizing. They have a color-shifting effect like an oil slick, and I've never seen that on a toy. Let's check out Blackfire below!
Tuesday, October 1, 2024
Imaginext - BUMBLEBEE!
When I think of criminally underused DC characters, Bumblebee always hits pretty high on that list. Karen Beecher first became Bumblebee in the 1977 issue of Teen Titans #45 and is considered the first Black female (costumed) hero in DC Comics (Nubia appeared three years earlier but wasn't considered a traditional costumed hero, and Vixen wasn't introduced until 1981). Bumblebee's powers and overall concept weren't groundbreaking. She was essentially DC's version of Marvel's Wasp (who has been around for 15 years already). But something about her design, personality, and role in the Teen Titans lineup was much more appealing to me. She has been a regular team character in several comic series over the years, but she never hit the spotlight. Her animated presence has had a lot more momentum. Since the first Teen Titans animated series in 2003, she has been regularly included in Titans or various DC Girls media, Bombshells, etc. - with a decent amount of cartoony merch to support it.
Thursday, August 15, 2024
Titans Rebirth - BLACKFIRE!
Sister rivals are one of my favorite tropes in Comics and pop culture. They're more common than you think (Alice to Batwoman, Elphaba to Glinda, Okiko O'Brien to Ann O'Brien, Zaladane to Polaris, Mortis to Dazzler, Dark Annisia to Red Sonja, etc) but I'm a sucker for that dynamic every time. I think the most famous adversarial sisters in the comic world are Princess Koriand'r (aka Starfire) and Princess Komand'r (aka Blackfire). Their sibling relationship had been a plot point in several Teen Titans animated series as well as the live action Titans show. Plus Blackfire has actually been merchandised a decent amount (a luxury that most evil sisters don't get). This McFarlane Toys figure is a clever repaint of the Collector's Edition Starfire released as a limited edition Platinum variant. And while this figure doesn't exactly look like Blackfire in her Rebirth design, it's still a fun representation of the character (and a great precedent for Platinum releases to be wholly new characters). Let's check out Blackfire below!
Monday, August 12, 2024
Titans Rebirth - STARFIRE!
For all of Todd McFarlane's crazy talk about female action figures causing young boys to become serial killers, his company sure does produce a lot of female characters (Google that cringey interview from March 2022 if you need a good eye roll). This Starfire figure is the latest in the Rebirth Titans lineup, and a character who was very notably absent from the Beast Boy wave last year. Starfire has gone through a lot of changes in the 44 years since her debut, but her orange skin, flame-colored hair, green eyes, and purple costume have remained consistent despite a ton of stylistic changes. She has an interesting distinction of donning more and more clothes as the years progress, but conversely becoming more sexualized in the story context (at least in the New52 reboot when her libido was making headlines). I always prefer Starfire's modern designs over her original. Her outfits are no longer ridiculously skimpy and her hair looks more flame-like. This figure is a great representation of that. Let's check her out below!
Saturday, June 24, 2023
Infinite Crisis - DONNA TROY!
I don't think there is a single DC character with an origin story more convoluted and confusing than Donna Troy. Originally, Wonder Girl was simply a younger version of Wonder Woman in flashback tales. But then she began appearing alongside Diana like a sidekick. And eventually in Teen Titans she was first given the name Donna Troy and given her own unique identity... which would be continually revamped and rewritten (I believe she is currently a golem made my the Amazons as a failsafe in case Wonder Woman goes rogue). Along her eventful comics journey, she has also worn a variety of costumes. My personal favorite is her red jumpsuit with yellow stars. But another look that I've found myself increasingly drawn to is this 2005 redesign which seems to incorporate the style of her classic red look with the black starfield design that became a feature of her costumes in the late 80s when she went by the name Troia. When this figure originally came out, I wasn't fond of the "new" look, but I've since become a fan.
Tuesday, May 9, 2023
Titans Rebirth - RAVEN!
I remember being pretty young the first time I saw Raven in the pages of The New Teen Titans and being inexplicably scared of her. The funny thing was that it wasn't her hooded, shadowed-face look that spooked me, but rather her uncostumed visage with a pronounced widow's peak and stark features. My reaction made no sense, but it oddly lingered into adulthood. Her quirky revamp in the Teen Titans animated series from 2003 seemingly opened the floodgates for new interpretations of the character. And I've honestly loved every version of her since (I was particularly fond of the feathered "Black Bird of Terror" look in the New 52). This figure represents a newer look that I believe debuted in her 2018 Daughter of Darkness solo series. I love that this version blends the classic 80s look with some newer details like pink hair, prominent red medallion and belt, and "feather-cut" cloak. It's a fun modernization while still being very recognizably Raven. Let's check her out below!
Monday, May 1, 2023
Titans Rebirth - DONNA TROY!
Donna Troy is a very interesting character with a dynamic history. I say dynamic in the truest sense of the word as her origins are seemingly rewritten every few years. This figure exposed me to the newest incarnation from the recent Titans: Rebirth comics. The collector's card included in the packaging has a bio I never heard before. Now Donna is not even human, but rather a golem made of clay and magic as a control or safety net in case Wonder Woman would go rogue. I really like this origin, and it makes her pissed-off countenance have more resonance - like she's acknowledged that she is just a tool/weapon for the Amazons and is trying to carve out her own place in the world.. perhaps in futility. I'm totally speculating as I haven't read any recent Titans books, but I'm sticking with it. But, wow, I really like this figure. I typically ignore black-suited Donna in favor of the classic red, but this gave me a whole new appreciation for her and she'll be getting her own shelf space soon. Let's check out Donna below!
Saturday, June 26, 2021
Women of the DCU Busts - DONNA TROY!
Sometimes it takes a single collectible or piece of merchandise to make you really appreciate a character. For some reason, Donna Troy as Wonder Girl just never appealed to me. On the surface, she has all the trademarks of a character I would love: a long history, a colorful costume, and a direct familial link to an A-list hero. But it took this 2007 Women of the DC Universe bust to really make me stop and pay attention. This is especially ironic because my single favorite comic issue of my childhood was The Uncanny X-Men and The New Teen Titans team-up special. While her character was essentially drowned out by the huge roster in the issue, her image on the cover is a fixed memory for me. Of all the product lines that went away with the dissolving of DC Direct, the Women of the DCU mini bust series is one of biggest losses to me. Dedicating each series to the unique designs of a single artist made for a very cohesive aesthetic. This Wonder Girl was from the first series by Adam Hughes and John G. Mathews.
Tuesday, August 18, 2020
The Imaginext Ladies of TEEN TITANS GO!
The Teen Titans have become such an unexpected presence in pop culture. I remember trying to explain the team to my friends way back in gradeschool only to have my excitement fall on deaf ears. But then flash-forward many years later sitting in a hotel room with my siblings on a rainy vacation day when the Teen Titans cartoon premiered on the Cartoon Network. It was a very weird re-imagining, and it honestly was not to my liking, but I felt a sort of vindication that this cast of characters I loved would be exposed to the masses. That original series from 2003 lasted five seasons and was rebooted with a more super-deformed redesign as Teen Titan Go! in 2013 (which is still ongoing). While all these shows are a bit too wacky and nonsensical for me personally, I keep getting drawn in to the merchandising. The character designs are fun and colorful. And when Fisher-Price started to release a Teen Titans Go sub-line under their amazing Imaginext brand, I was hooked. Let's check out the lady Titans below!
Monday, July 27, 2020
Infinite Crisis - WONDER GIRL!
This figure and I have a past. Way back in 2007, I ran to my comic shop the day of her release and picked up both her and the Donna Troy (black starfield costume). I had been waiting excitedly since their solicitation months prior. But in person, I didn't love them. I took them home, opened them up, posed, re-posed, re-re-posed... I just couldn't make them look good. They both had cocked-hip contrapposto sculpts, which isn't my favorite thing in the world, but sculptor Sam Greenwell is a pro at making it look great. The problem was the arms. They stick out at an unnatural angle and are way too long. Even the fingers are significantly longer than they should be. I blame almost all of this on the engineering and not necessarily the sculpt. I eventually sold both of them because I didn't like seeing them on my shelf. But we all know how this story goes.. ten years later I regretted the sale and began hunting her again. I'm much more accepting these days (although she still stays in the back row). 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, July 23, 2020
Silver Age - WONDER GIRL!
One of the things I miss most about the heyday of DC Direct (circa 2000-2010) is the constant mix of genres and eras in their action figure lines. For any given A-list character, you could see a variety of representations from Golden Age to Modern (and with a healthy dose of Elseworlds re-imaginings thrown in). That kind of attention just wouldn't happen today. Of course less common characters also saw inclusion, and I think those are the real gems of the line. The Silver Age line of 2-Packs from 2001-2004 was a great way to get collectors classic designs of the Teen Titans as secondary pack-in characters. The costumes were not consistent to a specific roster, but the figures are still great in their own right. I especially love the wide-eyed good girl art style in the face sculpts. It's cheesy. But spot-on. This Wonder Girl figure is a favorite of mine. It features her second costume (her original was styled after Wonder Woman) back when she was Diana's younger sister, Donna. Let's check out Wonder Girl below!
Sunday, August 25, 2019
DC Multiverse - STARFIRE!
I've really been liking all the modern redesigns of Starfire. I know her New52 look got a lot of flak for being too provocative (and her having a sexually disassociative personality), but I liked it. I thought it was an appropriate adaption of the character, considering she was historically always making awkward sexual advances and basically wearing suspenders as an outfit. She's had two noticeable design changes since then. One was her solo series redesign by Amanda Conner, and the Rebirth design seen with this new DC Multiverse figure. I like that she always has the same consistent color palette with orange skin, reddish hair, and a purple and silver outfit. Starfire is one of those characters that will always be provocative, no matter how much flesh is being bared. So taking that into consideration, I actually much prefer the more covered version that we see here over her signature strappy getups. I'm glad we got a figure of her in this version since I'm sure it was change again soon. Let's check her out below!
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