DC Icons - Flash (Chain Lightning)

The Scarlet speedster. The Crimson comet, The fastest man alive. Those are only some in the long list of names for The Flash. There are many speedster superheroes that take up the name The Flash depending on what age of comics you are reading or which Earth/reality is being read.

This particular Flash is Barry Allen from the comic series Chain Lightning, (though I'm told it could be from anyone really as his costume stayed mostly the same) a seven-issue story published in 1999. In this series, Wally West and Barry Allen must defeat Cobalt Blue, a villain who possesses a blue gemstone able to siphon the powers of a speedster.

This figure is a solid Flash with well-chosen bright reds, and cleanly painted yellows. The flash symbol on his chest is raised. He comes with another pair of hands and his cosmic treadmill.
As many have said before, the wingtips on his head are very delicate! I was careful when unpacking him, but 4 months later...he dropped and one of the tips snapped off. SIGH!

Overall very nice figure though, and an excellent compliment to the other DC icons. I'm pretty sure his boots are comically large for someone who is the Fastest man (or one of the men) alive though. Intentional?



Sculpt&Paint: 7/10 Solid: Though he doesn't have a ton of paint, I really like how they sculpt muscles on the DC icons, especially flash. They are definitely superhero muscles, but not bulky in an overly grotesque way (DCUC). The boot tops seem really...bulky! Some ways they could have improved this would be ways in which most DC icons could be improved, and that's basically shading. Any at all really.

Articulation: 8/10 27 points. Very decent articulation and mostly standard to DC icons. . The ankle rocker is better than most DC icons reviewed so far. The rest is pretty standard to the line, with an added boot cuff swivel. Points to improve: Has a lack of good range of hip joint movement common to early DC icons. His diaphragm joint also lacks much movement.

Price/Availability: 4/10 Ouch. He's not unbuyable but I have to warn you...easily 200 percent+ on eBay and Amazon.ca. More is being stocked at BBTS but the pre-order for that stock is sold out! Good luck...

Accessories: 3/5 Decent. He's got his "running" flat, fingers together hands, a gripping hand to hold the treadmill side and a punching hand. He also comes with the Cosmic Treadmill, which you assemble in three parts. Not paint details really, but well sculpted anyway.

Fun Factor: 2/5 If not for the solid, flat boots, I'd probably give him a 1. He's got a good look, but my particular flash has really loose ankle rockers, where he easily falls over. Given that and his balance it makes it hard without sticky tack to put him into his classic running pose. To add to that, it seems most buyers find his wing tips easily break. He's ok,  but not my favourite of the Icons.

Verdict: 24/40 Not bad. He does better than some Icons, but worse than some as well, particularly in Articulation. He does check all the boxes for a good Flash figure though, so he can't be completely faulted. That said, good luck finding an affordable one!

Shout out to ISMOTU for the Flash lore consultation!

Pretty decent! Just noticing some slopping paint there...

Speed punch!

Not a ton, but decent enough accessories. I wouldn't have
minded an alternate head or at least one with a smile!

Reach for the time rift! 

Classic Running pose

Use the speedforce, Barry!

Run, Barry, Run! 

About to do some twisting! 

It is a little known fact that Barry also
FARTS at the speed of light

Flashdance, for those old enough
to have seen that movie! 

Ok guys! It's time for a workout, and these are my
assistants, Diana and Bruce! 

First, a speed of light jog! 

Now, a Ninja run! 

Headstand!

Now cool down with some meditation! Bruce...that's....
ok we're gonna let that one go!