4th Annual Top 10 Most Viewed Figures!

 It's a few (*coughs many coughs) months late but I've finally gotten around to the 4th annual most viewed figures! This year I've dived headfirst into the absolute INSANE world that is McFarlane toys in a big way. As in, I've had to really push myself away from not collecting EVERY DC Multiverse toy that came along. Some were easy decisions (often mediocre face sculpts from live-action DC films) and others were tempting but from comic lines, I had never read nor cared a lot about (White Knight, Last Knight on Earth etc). Advance warning this list of 50% McFarlane, 20% import, and 30% older figures I recently got hold of. I did recently get a Spiderman PS4 figure THINKING it was the real thing but sadly it is a knockoff. Maybe one day if I get the real one I'll do another comparison. 

So here are the ten that you liked clicking on! 

DC Icons - Blue Beetle

Just like many characters in the comic book universe, there have been a few different Blue Beetles. This one is the latest, first appearing in comics in February of 2006. Previously, the Blue Beetle scarab has a magical artifact discovered by the first Blue Beetle, an archaeologist by the name of Dan Garrett. They have retconned all this and now the Beetle scarab is alien tech from the Reach, a group of marauders who themselves have gone through a few changes over the timeline. Oh wait, they retconned that in the DC Rebirth and Ted Kord, formerly a Blue Beetle in other timelines, has investigated the Scarab and determines that it is once again magical in nature. Oh, comics. 

Jaime Reyes is a young teenager who quickly bonds with the Scarab and over the course of the first year learns to control its powers. From this, the Scarab acts a lot like Cyborg's tech in that it can create a lot of different items to help Jaimie fight villains: energy weapons, a sword, wings, communication satellite etc. 

This figure is a super well-styled and looks a ton like the comics. He's got the standard first-generation wave of DC Icons articulation but comes with a few really nice accessories. Overall, I really like this figure and got him for a steal on Amazon. 

DC Icons - Mister Miracle

First created by Jack Kirby in the 1970s, Mister Miracle is an escape artist by the name of Thaddeus Brown who actually trains Bruce Wayne in the same skill. Upon being killed by Darkseid's earthly Intergang force, Scott Free (ha...ha!) takes up the mantle and Thaddeus' old costume. 

That said, Mister Miracle's typical incarnation is that of the son of the ruler of New Genesis. He is exchanged as a child with Darkseid's second-born, Orion, in order to force a peace treaty between Apokolips and New Genesis. In this case, he is a fully-realized New God individual with immortality, super-strength, reflexes, speed, and all that. He also has the power to use energy to generate Aero discs to fly with and is a genius-level inventor. He later becomes free (eh, eh?) of Darkseid's oppressive regime and joins the Justice League International. In all incarnations, he is also husband to one of Darkseid's former warriors, Big Barda, who also joints the League at times. 

This figure is part of the very first wave of DC Icons that included Batman (previously reviewed here), Green Arrow, and Deadman. The figure looks great, despite being the lesser-known name of the wave. He's got great shiny metallic paint, some neat accessories, and good poseabilitiy (minus some of the neck and diaphragm features, but that has been true for the entire line till the end). I also like how his cape is very soft and isn't so heavy that it hinders posing. 

1st Annual Top 10 Most Viewed Action figures!

As of April 23rd, 2018, this blog has officially been running for a year! It's funny to think I've been writing this little hobby blog for *slightly* over a year. Anyway, I figure I'd celebrate that by starting a Top 10 Most viewed action figures. I figure *pun intended* I'd show off the blog posts that were of most interest to my readership. Here goes from 10th to 1st!



#10. DC Icons Aquaman
I did not expect him on this list, but it is --1. Nice that he made it and 2. Painfully funny that he is once again last on a list. I do actually like the figure, even with the gimmicky telepathy effect! He's simple, sleek and I like the glossy green parts of his suit.

Amazing-that-it-got-a-place Award!

"Willy's in trouble at the aquarium!"

#9. DC Icons Nightwing
He's always had a simple design in costume but Nightwing is my favorite in DC comics and this figure is my favorite Nightwing of the ones I own. I love the idea of a sidekick evolving to be his own thing. It's a natural progression that isn't often taken advantage of in comics. His kali sticks could be less plain but I'll be damned if I don't find his face sculpt one of the best of any Arkham or DC Classics I've seen.

Author's Favourite Award!

DC Icons line really should've made their
staves and sticks more interesting...basically
that's a metal bar with no features

#8 DC Icons Batgirl
Such a great Rebirth version of Batgirl. The fact this came with her big motorcycle is SWEET. With skid effects on the platform that comes with it! And a bunch of great accessories. She's a bit tricky to balance given the very light weight of the figure but is so great.

Punch pose! (for Instagram!)

Best Accessory Award!

#7 DC Collectibles Nightwing - Arkham Knight
He's only been in two of the four games, but his appearance in Arkham Knight was very pleasing. He had speaking parts, awesome dual play fights, and even some of his own missions and challenge maps. The character has a bit to be desired though. I don't particularly like his head and mask design. His articulation from his ab is just bad. His legs and body proportions also seem kinda weird. Oh well!

DC Icons Batman (Rebirth)

The DC Rebirth universe has been a bit of a softer restart. It doesn't erase the events of the previous New 52 series, but simply puts on a fresh coat of paint to some characters backgrounds/looks and adds some new, interesting conflicts and events. The new Batman definitely has an updated look and life. He continues in his role to try to raise Damien Wayne as his son, while also finding himself trying to form a real relationship with Selina Kyle (Catwoman).

She said yes!

His look has changed a bit as well. He's still got the black and grey (my preferred), but the inside of his cape is purple (not my favourite for him, but interesting when you paralell the Joker). Add to that, his gloves are a bit bigger, and his boots have more pronounced ridges on the treads. I think this gives him a more work-out-tough-guy look. The other thing I'm torn about aside the cape is the knee pads. They are the same colour as the suit, but in a strange H shape. I don't quite get it?

The Batman here represents all those elements really well though. The articulation is pretty good, and this Batman has the newer drop down hinge hips. He is a bit bulkier, so his double joints don't work as effectively. One sore point for me about the DC Rebirth figures from the 7 pack is the lack of accessories or even alternate hands. I can stand not having another batarang, but there's not much choice for alternate hands. All in all though, he's a really nice figure and the design is very cleanly painted and sculpted.

DC Icons - Robin (Super Sons pack)

Damian Wayne is the 13 year old progeny of Bruce Wayne and Talia Al Ghul. Raised by his mother and his grandfather, Ra's Al Ghul, he is dropped at Batman's door. He starts out very self-important, lacking in empathy and an extremely deadly fighter.

Even though he can act like a real dick (pun intended), I have a soft-spot for Damian. He's got a very distinct personality, and he experiences real character growth in the comics. He also is pretty good at kicking butt and executing a very independent version of Robin.

DC Icons - Superboy (Super Sons pack)

Johnathan Samuel Kent is the latest and greatest version of Superboy from the DC Rebirth comics. He is the 10 year old half-Kryptonian child of Superman and Lois Lane who has begun to gradually gain his powers. They are inconsistent powers, and fluctuate with his emotional state, but are impressive nonetheless!

He joins Robin (Damien Wayne) in the comic series Super Sons to fight various foes alongside allies like the Teen Titans. Super sons was actually a comic series created long before Rebirth in 1973. In that older series, it was Clark Kent Jr. (Of Clark and Lois) and Bruce Wayne Jr.(Of Bruce and Talia), who were basically young versions of their fathers.

DC Icons - Supergirl (Rebirth)

Kara-Zor El is the cousin of Superman and has undergone a death, retcon and many redesigns over the years. She has the fully matured powers of Superman but with less of the fine control he has had from years living under a yellow sun.

This is the Rebirth version of Supergirl which means she is primarily based off the TV show Supergirl starring Melissa Benoist. Her costume design is a mix of some previous costume elements from other comics. I am really not big into the Superman/Kryptonian storylines but this figure and the Super Sons comics caused my figure-addicted brain to DEMAND I buy this figure.

I really like the proportions and look of this figure. I try on occasion to buy female figures that aren't overly sexualized, which can be quite difficult! Now she does have a skirt but consider for a moment that she doesn't have an exposed midriff, cleavage and isn't wearing actual red underwear with nothing else (unlike the other iterations of Supergirl). This version has a strong facial expression and comes with a few nice accessories. The cape that overhands the shoulders is a tiny big annoying if you want to get her shoulders up, but the material is very thin plastic that does have give to it.

DC Icons - Green Lantern (Dark Days)

There are a lot of Green Lanterns, and I like them all, except maybe Guy Gardner...he's kind of a jerk! I enjoy the whole theme of the emotional electromagnetic spectrum, the emotions that manifest the powers, and all the other associated lore. It's neat seeing artists and writers get creative with the kinds of aliens and people that join the various Lantern corps as well.

This particular Lantern is Hal Jordan, maverick air pilot turned Lantern who reminds me a bit of Tom Cruise in Top Gun in personality. They take the design and accessories from his stint in "Dark Days", an 8 issue series that sees Hal Jordan become the leader of the Green Lantern Corps to figure out why the power rings from every colour of the rainbow are dying out.

I'm generally pretty happy with this figure*. It comes in a deluxe set, and unlike Cyborg, I feel there are actually enough parts and pieces that make for a lot of fun photography and display options.
He is an earlier creation in the DC Icons line though, so while his articulation is decent, he doesn't have the drop down hips, and for whatever reason, the ball peg to the head is difficult to turn.
He is painted fairly well, though the ring lacks detail.

*Note: I had a hard time deciding between the Jon Stewart, Hal Jordan and 7 pack Green Lantern figures..but in the end, decided to go with more accessories! 

DC Icons - Nightwing (Hush)

As I've said before, Nightwing is easily my favourite of the Bat-family. Where man of the other supporting protagonist characters in the Batman storylines are dour, moody, grim or have outright psychosis (Damian!). He's funny, charming and his fighting style and willpower is unique to his character.

This figure is based on Nightwing's appearance in Hush (2009), where Batman is fighting a mysterious stalker named Hush who is sabotaging him from afar. Nightwing returns to Gotham for a funeral, and gets drawn into the plot by helping Batman uncover a larger plot against him involving Ras Al'Ghul.

This figure features the most minimalist of a Nightwing design, and yet it is superbly done. The paint is clean, the sculpt is fantastic (especially the face) and it does have a mix of shiny gloss and matte paints through the figure. His batons are not detailed, but are sufficient. I like the wingding with rope accessory. The original photo releases featured 2 batarangs, but honestly we don't need any, especially since the DC Icons accessory pack and Batman already have some.

DC Icons - Batgirl (The Batgirl of Burnside)

This blog has already reviewed Batgirl previously, so if for some crazy reason this is your first time reading about Batgirl, go to this previous review of the Batman Unlimited Batgirl

This particular Batgirl deluxe figure is from the Batgirl of Burnside storyline (Oct 2014), in which all her previous gear burns up in a fire, forcing her to make her own DIY costume and continuing her fight against crime...in style! This Batgirl is an update to relate more to the modern age. Aside from being tech savvy, she's also on social media, takes Ph.D. courses and dates. The writing team on this one succeeded in making this version of Batgirl more fun and relate-able but she is still haunted by her previous trauma. 

At first I wasn't sold on the purple and yellow look, but now I'm really digging it. They also kept up this look a bit in the DC Rebirth. This figure is great, and unlike Cyborg, her Deluxe title is well worth it. I mean she comes with a whole freakin' bike! And it's huge! And it comes with a stand with kicked up dirt effects! She's a slender figure, so you have to watch moving her joints, but this one is so well done. She even comes with a regular and windblown cape as well as a regular head and a windblown hair head. 

DC Icons - Cyborg (Forever Evil)

He is Victor Stone, and as of 2011, is typically written as a football player who goes through a horrific accident involving a Motherbox obtained from the parademons of Apokolips. The obvious solution? Get his dad to keep him alive using alien cybernetic technology! Plus then he has some bad ass armor and guns!

Though not originally a founding member of the league, in the 2011 reboot of DC comics he was made to be. He's a somewhat tortured character and goes through a lot of deaths and rebirths, but such is the way of a person made of mostly alien hardware.

This figure is based on the Forever Evil crossover series from 2013 to 2014. As his part of the storyline, Cyborg fights the Grid, a being who takes over his body and temporarily disengages him from his life-sustaining alienware. Now in order to help his Justice Leaguers, he will become Cyborg again, of his own free will, with some upgrades!

This figure is an improvement in the DC icons line. He has greater back and forth diaphragm movement, and quite a few accessories. I'm not sure he needed the cybernetic block/(battery?) that plugs into his back, but what are you going to do? I also have issues with the fact they made him a deluxe instead of a regularly priced figure. Green Lantern came with just as many, if not more bulky parts, and was a regularly priced figure.

DC Icons - Aquaman (Legend of Aquaman)

He's the most ridiculed superhero and founding member of the DC Universe. I feel like I should mention to those that aren't familiar with Aquaman that this superhero has Super strength, Super hearing, Telepathy/Empath connections with sea life, Super durable skin/armor, among his other super powers. He definitely has more going for him than many Justice Leaguers. The negative press he's received maybe lessened somewhat now that he's being played by Game of  Thrones star Jason Mamoa. Though, one could argue his casting is in direct response to DC attempting to make Aquaman edgier and more intense.

Lucky for us, this one is a more classic comic book version. He's based on the Aquaman: The Legend of Aquaman #1 from 1989. This comic was a origin story for the character before he was the King of the Seven seas. The reader follows the meeting of his parents, the discovery of his powers and his time when he first enters the role of Aquaman.

This figure is decent, which impresses me since I have never had any interest in Aquaman except to complete my Justice League collection. His shirt has finely sculpted, shiny metallic orange and his face sculpt and paint is clean and well done. His accessories are great and his sea forker is an elegant weapon. His articulation could be a bit better though.

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?

DC Icons - Wonder Woman (Amazo Virus)

She's a demigod, nigh invincible and the top female superhero in DC!
First appearing in comics in 1941, her original concept was that she was sculpted from clay and infused with life by Aphrodite. The newer story is that she is the daughter of Zeus.
This

This figure takes its likeness from the Justice League: Amazo Virus story line of 5 comics. In it, Lex Luthor has created a virus that has the ability to copy the meta-human abilities of those it encounters.
She is somewhat different from other versions of the Amazon warrior in that she has silver rather than gold metal adornments. Also her sword is MASSIVE. We'll get into that.

I was really excited to find this figure at a local video game retailer. I was just a little bit disappointed in two features however:
1) The face is not the same as the promos. It's not awful, but the promo pictures are definitely better. See them here.
2) They painted..red polished nails on all the hands. I don't have a problem with beautification, but nowhere in the comics does Wonder woman have painted nails. I also feel that generally speaking Amazon warriors wouldn't paint their nails. Maybe that's just me.

Aside the paint applications on the face, this is an otherwise great figure. She's got tons of posability, a lot of good accessories, and is well sculpted.

DC Icons - Superman (Man of Steel)

Originally conceived in 1933 and first published in 1938, Superman has been an iconic character in both comics, movies and pop culture in general. He has undergone quite a few changes since his original concept, such as the addition of "heat vision" since 1949 and other powers. Writers ran into issues as they increased the scope of his powers, making it much more challenging to create a real obstacle for Kal-El. His origin story was given a six issue reboot in 1986 titled "Man of Steel". This became the modern reboot until the early 2000's.

All in all, this figure encapsulates the 1986 Man of Steel pretty well. He's got the basic facial features: the hair curly, high cheekbones and chin dimple. The costume is pretty spot on and he comes with Kelex, a robot who acts as caretaker for the Fortress of Solitude. There are some issues with the articulation compared to other figures released previously and after Superman's release.

I'm not usually a big superman fan but I think they did a fair job of this one. Not perfect, but decent. Too bad this one doesn't come with a smile! Issues of Man of Steel show him as a bit more...contented?

DC Icons - Batman (Last Rites)

Two things to talk about here before the figure:

1) DC Icons: Many of you who collect DC Collectibles are probably familiar with the pros and cons of the DC Icons line. The pros being really good articulation and likeness to the comic "icon" version they represent. The cons being mostly out of scale for other figures as well as some cancellations and slow release dates. Personally, I quite enjoy the line, despite it's flaws. I find I'm still able to have fun posing the figures and given that I have many figures that usually aren't in scale with Marvel Legends, it doesn't bother me. I'm a bit disappointed they are stopping the line soon and producing the new Essentials line. I'm definitely not going to rebuy all the figures it has taken me nearly a year to collect.

2) Last Rites: This was a Pre-New 52 storyline of the Bat Family that dealt with Batman's disappearance during the Final Crisis event. It leads to several other storylines, including the Battle for the Cowl, in which there is a Batman imposter, and Tim Drake temporarily assumes the mantle of Batman, and so does Grayson. I haven't read it, but it seems like this Last Rites figure could be either Jason Todd, Tim Drake, or maybe Dick Grayson as Batman. I could be wrong though!

Back to the figure! Despite the size, I really like this figure. It's the first figure I bought at the first Comic con I attended, so it has a special place. He has some decent paint and gloss, really good articulation, some good accessories and is just an overall well rounded figure! I am more of a fan of the Black and Grey look for Batman, but this one works for me. The cape doesn't limit things, I personally find the ab articulation works well on my figure and he just looks good!