McFarlane Toys Digital Series Aquaman

 

I've tried my best to buy as few of these McFarlane Digital Series as possible, but this cheery Aquaman was too classic to resist, and the little water sprite accessory, Qwsp, put me over the edge. An imp from the 5th Dimension (like Mr. Mxyzptlk), appeared first in Aquaman #1 (1962). I'm more in the black trunks class as far as classic Aquaman interpretation, but the extra smiling head portrait for really helped set the mood for this fun package. Again, I have zero interest in whatever digital asset can be redeemed by downloading McFarlane's app- I clearly don't need another way for them to sell to me.

DC Comics eventually did the predictable thing and turned Qwsp into a dark character, tragically/ironically captured and imprisoned by Green Lantern and Captain Marvel with the help of Mr. Mxyzptlk. I prefer this sunny Silver-Age version, that looks like he practically dropped out of the Silver-Age comics. The head and shoulders are on a swivel, but that's all the articulation on this mini figure.  

Aquaman's trident was at least as rubbery as the last, so I gave mine a shot with a hot hair dryer, followed by a trip to the freezer. While the basic design is acceptable, I hate McFarlane's floppy accessories. I would've paid another five bucks for a cool wave/flight stand accessory.

Below, Digital Series Aquaman with McFarlane Toys Justice League Aquaman and DC Multiverse Aquaman and Ocean Master. This Digital Series Aquaman is a straight-up repaint of the previous bearded Aquaman with a different head, but I like this brighter variant.

And finally, Digital Series Aquaman with a few other "classic" Aquaman figures in the Super-DuperToyBox: Mego 50th Anniv. Aquaman, Mattel DCUC Aquaman, DC Direct New 52 Justice League Aquaman, 14" Mego Aquaman, Mattel Batman Brave & the Bold Aquaman, McFarlane DC Multiverse Aquaman, and Mattel DC Retro-Action Aquaman ...

Honestly, I'm unsure I'd have picked up the bearded McFarlane Aquaman if I knew this one was on the way, though it's fun to compare. While Aquaman is a sometimes overlooked character, he'll always be included in my personal Justice League- he's an alpha-tier hero on the level of Superman, and original member. I loved the Hanna-Barbera animated Super Friends show from the '70s, and all its later incarnations, so this friendly Aquaman really scratches that itch.

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Imaginext DC Super Friends Series 1 (2024) & More!

 As soon as BubbaShelby posted shots of these Imaginext Super Friends on Instagram, I had to at least snag that Martian Manhunter! And though I had sold off my collection, I compulsively scooped up what amounted to nearly the entire wave. And then I bought some other DC Imaginext...

As a Mego kid from the '70s, this color combo of Batman in his blue & gray with his chest insignia over a yellow oval with black trunks is my jam. Only the "bullet capsule" belt and blacked-out face cowl could have made it better, but he's certainly reminiscent of Bronze-Age Batman.

I found a similarly Bronze-Age Batman in a 2-pk with Riddler a couple years ago...

Oddly, this new Imaginext Batman has a black cape, made only stranger by the fact I bought my Figures Toy Co. Mego Batman an extra black cape just for something different only a month ago. The break of color between cape and cowl is too visually jarring for some, but I say why not?

I completely forgot I have a 4" Spinmaster Man-Bat, but I like this more classic brown with blue trousers and bandolier. He comes with a great katana sword accessory that could be useful to any number of other figures, too.

Bane looked a little plain to me, but the excitement ratchets up when the glow-in-the-dark feature kicks in. I guess the grapple gun is an okay accessory, again it's an accessory that can be used with other figures.

Classic Martian Manhunter is how we ended up here together, Friends- a character I took to later on more as an adult when starting this blog many years ago. J'onn J'onzz is the other alien powerhouse on par with the more popular Superman, and last of his kind from a lost world like the Man of Steel.

Classic Imaginext Martian Manhunter w/my BootLego Martian Manhunter:

Superboy Prime was an unlikeable brat and murderous psycopath in DC Infinte Crisis, but I did like his Ant-Monitor armor! I had a couple other Imaginext Superman figures I loved- I'll be on the lookout for another!

This is a more modern interpretation of Aquaman with the single shoulder pauldron, but he still hits a lot of the classic notes. I also had another Imaginext Aquaman I sold in a lot on eBay, but this is a fantastic, updated replacement! 

I love the classic Ted Kord Blue Beetle, but I also love the Jaime Reyes Blue Beetle in his alien tech, and have a few other figures of this character. I'm particularly fond of the Batman Brave & The Bold Jaime Reyes figures ...

Imaginext Blue Beetle w/my BootLego Blue Beetle:

After opening some Imaginext blind bags, I found a couple Imaginext Batman 2pks:

Both these figures are designed to accommodate Imaginext's more recent light-up feature trend, central to the design of their more recent figure and playset interaction. The unfortunate consequence of this is the ugly slot in the cape in back. I need one of the light-up accessories to make this work better, but I still like the black and blue Batman.

This Imaginext Batman reminded me of my XL Imaginext Bat Tech Batman:

I had the this very Scarecrow before, but w/o the translucent torso- great sculpt!

These are more modern interpretations of Batman and Huntress w/updated sculpts and paint apps- like the Batman/Scarecrow 2pk above, only one figure had an accessory, but I do like the crossbow.

Batman with Imaginext Batwing and Apokolips Armor Batman:

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Brave & The Bold Happy Meal Premiums

I have many of the Batman: The Brave and The Bold line, styled after the animated show that aired on Cartoon Network from 2008 -2011. It had been awhile since I posted on my collection of these, but I had started picking up loose figures recently, including some of these McDonald's Happy Meal premiums. There were smaller figures without articulation offered, and larger figures with action features released in another, separate wave. I've posted on two other Brave and The Bold fast-food premiums in the past, Blue Beetle and Plastic Man- both of which were super fun!

 

I loved how the show stylized Green Arrow in his Silver-Age outfit, with red boots and gloves- in April I posted on the 9" Green Arrow that Hasbro produced in 1999 wearing that outfit, circle back and check him out:

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