Mego 14" Joker

It's been months now since Mego failed to deliver on the four new 14" figures they promised in the fourth quarter of 2019, and I've not heard one word on what happened on the solicited Shazam/Capt. Marvel, Black Adam, Dracula, and Frankenstein's Monster. I picked up this Joker from the third wave in 2018 in part due to pent up desire for more of these, but also to complement the two 14" Batman figures I already have. I loved the 8" Mego Joker I had as a child, and this update pays homage to the spirit of that figure in it's own way, particularly through it's fantastic, Bronze-Age head sculpt/portrait. 

While it lacked the outer jacket that the second release of this figure came with, I loved the silky orange vest and green shirt, and knew that Dr. Mego was selling tailed coats to fit this figure, which I received one week after ordering from his website. I am really happy with the coat, which is of good quality and retains the Mego style. The flower pinned lapel and collar are somewhat unruly, but the silky fabric interior and wired tails make it special, and it really completes the look of my Joker.

I have another, all-black Batman that I absolutely covet, but I also love the Bronze-Age blue and gray Batman that I bought first. I was surprised at Mego's sudden return in 2018, but their 14" figures were even more unexpected. While their appeal was somewhat of a slow burn for me, I hope Mego continues this over-sized scale. I didn't buy them all, but would buy more- they really captured the spirit of the vintage 12" Megos, with a little something extra!

I had a 9" Hasbro Joker for years, but my favorite Joker in the collection has been my 18" Figures Toy Company Joker, an over-sized replica of the original 1974 Mego Joker. These two complement one another nicely, and the 14" Mego is a good replacement for the 9" Hasbro Joker...

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DC Multiverse Croc, Batman Ninja, & Damian Wayne Robin

This is the first year Mattel hasn't produced DC action figures in 18 years, signing with Warner Bros. in 2002 as master licensee for Batman, Superman, and Justice League properties, and going on to produce the celebrated DC Universe Classics line in 2007. While that series ended at retail in 2012, it lived on through online and convention exclusives, and as re-branded waves like these DC Multiverse figures. Croc and Ninja Batman were both "Collect 'n Connect" figures, assembled by purchasing waves of  Multiverse figures. I'm nostalgic about the DCUC line, some of the first 6" action figures I posted about on this blog ten years ago, and I still have a modest collection of them.

Croc was from Mattel's last wave of Multiverse before McFarlane Toys won the license, and would fit in perfectly with the DCUC lineup- he has that construction and style. His sculpt is fantastic and he has an articulated jaw! Below, Croc with my DCUC Joker, Penguin, and Catwoman ....

Like Croc, I bought Batman Ninja complete from an eBay seller recently, more interested in the CnC than the wave he came in- while this can be an expensive endeavor, it was less costly than buying the entire wave in both cases. I enjoyed the DC animated Batman Ninja well enough, but have coveted this action figure for awhile now. Figma and S.H. Figuarts both make deluxe figures of this character, but I enjoy the simplicity of Mattel's style for what it is, and am sometimes overwhelmed by the glut of accessories to keep track of with the deluxe figure lines. I would love, however, to get my hands on one of the forthcoming Star Ace 1:6 scale Batman Ninja!

There's no belt or peg to stow Batman Ninja's sheath, but does have decent articulation and can hold his sword with both hands, a pair of fists also included. I'm pretty happy with this figure- he fits well stylistically within the DC Universe Classics pantheon, and has deluxe paint apps. Below, Batman Ninja with DC Multiverse Rebirth Batman and Zero Year Batman...

Batman Ninja made a natural opponent for Croc in my mind, the association with Croc's reptilian nature and the dragons of Asian mythology, though Croc isn't a featured villain in the animated film. Regardless, they are fantastic figures I'm glad to have acquired...

I picked up this DC Multiverse Damian Wayne Robin on a whim, and at a great price, to go along with Croc and Batman Ninja as sparring partners- he pairs well with Batman Ninja, packed with his own katana. I thought these figures would photograph nicely in my custom urban alley diorama, which I also used form my post on the DC Multiverse Batwing and Duke Thomas Robin.

Below, Damian Wayne with DCUC Wave 16 Robin, and DC Direct Batman Inc. Robin...

If you don't prefer Damian's angry face, roundly dislike by collectors, he comes with a Court of Owls mask to cover it- this is actually a cool option I will display for the time being. Damian's knee pads have an annoying tendency to pop off when handling him, but once he's in place, you're good. His biceps are a little overdeveloped for his teenage buck, but the boots, hooded cape and tunic are unique.

I had a lot of fun with this little Mattel DC haul, and great fun the past few months going back to pick up DC figures I missed in the past, both Mattel and DC Direct, and still have more of these acquisitions to show you. Along with that I still have some treasured DC figures that have been in my collection for many years I'd like to feature this year. Stay tuned: Follow the Super-DuperToyBox Instagram!

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McFarlane Toys Bloodshot

Unaware of the character or the forthcoming film starring actor Vin Diesel, I preordered this McFarlane Toys Bloodshot in January purely on it's merits as an action figure and attractive accessories package. First published by Valiant Comics in 1992, Bloodshot was created by Kevin VanHook with Don Perlin and Bob Layton. Angelo Mortalli was a super soldier, injected with nanites that give his extreme strength, durability, regeneration, and meta-morphing abilities that make him an unstoppable assassins and precious asset to his covert government creators.

I've never read any Valiant comics, but like McFarlane's Fortnite figures, he's such a cool action figure that it doesn't matter- he'd go well with any 7" McFarlane figures. I bought him to go with my McFarlane DC Comics figures. He's armed to the teeth with great weapons, all painted with washes and drybrushing to give them a realistic look. The entire figure has excellent paint apps for that matter, with a decent enough range of articulation for combat poses. And the facial portrait could not look more like actor Vin Diesel.

More range in the butterfly jointed shoulders could have helped this figure handle the assault rifle better, but it can be fudged for a photograph at the correct angle. The large pistols can be securely holstered when not in use- a strap or sheath for the knife would have been nice, but it's rare to get an action figure with an arsenal this good. Nice.

With his bald pate and big knife, this Bloodshot reminds me of Drax from Guardians of the Galaxy, played by actor Dave Bautista, a movie in which Vin Diesel voices the character Groot. Again, the accessories all look great, and belt, holster straps and leg armor have great paint apps! His hips and ankles are somewhat limited in range, but he does enough for me and is a unique character type to mix in with my other 7" action figures.

Bloodshot makes a great sparring partner with my McFarlane Toys Hellbat ...!

I am mildly interested in seeing this movie, but I'd recommend this Bloodshot to any 7" action figure collector for no other reason beyond it's cool-factor. Like a lot of the McFarlane Fortnite figures, he looks fantastic and will stand out among the others on your shelf.

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McFarlane Toys Hellbat

Batman's Hellbat suit was created by the entire Justice League to protect their only member without metahuman powers, first appearing in Batman & Robin (Vol.2) #33 in the summer of 2014. I was picking up single issue comics weekly during that period, my interest in DC Comic's was at least holding three years after their New 52 relaunch, the death and subsequent revival of Damian Wayne also of particular interest at the time. Bruce Wayne used this to fight Darkseid and reclaim his son's body from Apokolips. 

This was an interesting choice of character for McFarlane Toys to introduce right out of the gate with their newly acquired DC license, one the collector community seems unanimous in their enthusiasm for. This 7.5" figure has a 14" wingspan that is somewhat plain, but can fold up- an articulation point admittedly designed to pack the huge wings into it's package. While somewhat limited in articulation due to his girth, he's an aesthetically impressive action figure. And he does have a toe hinge, even if it's . An extra set of hands and/or unmasked Bruce Wayne portrait may have added options, but this huge hunk of action figure was priced at $20.00 like the smaller single-carded figures in this wave.

Like the other McFarlane DC figures, Hellbat has a collector card of thick stock...

Above, Hellbat with my McFarlane Batman from this first wave- I really enjoyed the McFarlane Bat-Family figures I bought this year. Below, Hellbat with my DC Direct Justice Series Armored Batman from 2007- we have been given Batman in black and red a few times, notable versions including Thrillkill Batman, Batman Beyond, and Flashpoint/Thomas Wayne Batman.

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