DC Direct - Martian Manhunter

How do you top a Kryptonian with super strength, speed, stamina, flight, heat vision, freezing breath and nigh invulnerability? Easy! A martian who can do all those things, and more!

J'onn J'onzz is Martian Manhunter, a being who even Superman said: "He is the most powerful being on the face of the Earth".  - JLA #80

I really like the character of Martian Manhunter. He's got a gentle, compassionate personality as well as being very badass in his ability to do...just about anything! Super-everything, invisibility, shape-changing are just a few of his powers. Like Supes, they had to sneak in ONE weakness, which is fire...because! Later on, writers created this as a built-in psychosomatic effect to J'onn's race in order to prevent them from regressing to a more domineering, aggressive, conquest-type of race. They later removed this weakness completely. Oh, writers! 

DC Direct Catwoman: Arkham City

A 2012 arrival along with many of the Series 2, Catwoman was a very fun character to play in the game. The ability to use her whip to traverse terrain and fight enemies, as well as the extra fun factor of having her own collectibles mission was great. This figure has some good qualities, but also some very poor ones.

The suit textures and shading applied are fantastic on this figure. The sculpt is generally good, but unfortunately, QC issues caused the right arm to break off from its shoulder socket when it was rotated. It looks off because I had to drill holes and glue a pin in order to give the arm back its mobility! The head is WAY too big for the body, and the either purposeful or accidental shading of the eyes with red causes her to look not only googly eyed but bloodshot as well.

The bolas type weapon that she comes with is ok, While the rubber used is fine for the chain and ball ends, it makes it hard to put in her hands because it flops around a bunch.
Like most of the Arkham figures before the Arkham Knight, the articulation is fairly limited.

DC Direct Scarecrow: Arkham Asylum

 Arkham Asylum had a very suspenseful and frightening atmosphere. One part of that intensely blood-curdling, hair-raising experience were the scenes involving Killer Croc and Scarecrow.
The fear-induced delusions were excellent, being both successful in jump scares and chilling horror.

His appearance was more like that of the classic incarnations: burlap sack coverings, rope ties, glowing yellow eyes and for the added terror each finger of one hand adorned with fear-toxin needles. Most of the details are in the stitches, and they did a good job of his representation from the game. This figure really suffers in articulation even more so than others in the line (and that's saying something!). He does come with one bag-o-toxin accessory, and that's nice enough.

DC Direct Harley Quinn: Arkham Asylum

Although true to the character of Harley Quinn, the Arkham games had a radically different take on her appearance, with Asylum being the most drastic. With the Asylum under control of the Joker, Harley Quinn adopts the image of a highly sexualized nurse. Gone are the black and red contrasts, replaced with burgundy reds and azure blues. 

Fantastic details in this one. She comes with a Titan venom injection gun and lots of great paint details. Rivets, blood spatter, collar, boot designs and even buckles on the corset. The poseability is about the same as others in the line, which is to say limited. Apparently, a re-release of this figure came with another accessory; Quincy Sharp's cane used to beat him. Ouch. 

DC Direct Joker: Arkham Asylum

Voiced by famous actor Mark Hamill in the game, Joker was played superbly. An insane, psychopathic mastermind, he has always been Batman's most iconic villain. Although, as a villain the Arkham games perhaps overused him, Asylum gave him the most focused plot role. 

This Joker has tons of great paint from spooky face down to the painted lines of his suit. He even has a real chain link to his pocket watch! 

Though it comes with no accessories, previous iterations of this figure came with the puppet Scarface. Perhaps it will be available on eBay....one day!

DC Direct Batman: Arkham Asylum

In 2009, Rocksteady released Batman: Arkham Asylum,easily one of my favourite video games of all time. Compared to the sequels and prequel game, Asylum had the spooky factor down. The original figure for this line looked like this: 2011 Batman Arkham Asylum Figure. Needless to say, an odd mix of blue and black in the batsuit.

This version was released in a boxed set with Joker, Harley Quinn, and Scarecrow (reviews to come).

This Batman is a solid figure with very little in terms of articulation. The paint is decent in the eyes and face, but very little paint or details elsewhere. The accessories are pretty nice though! A shiny black Batarang that folds? A grapple gun with removable grapple? If only more figures in the Arkham Asylum line had as much!