close menu
Figures and Speech: DC Collectibles BOMBSHELLS Action Figures

Figures and Speech: DC Collectibles BOMBSHELLS Action Figures

Welcome to Figures & Speech, Nerdist’s regular column by, for, and about grown-ups who still play with their toys but might want to know more before they buy. From product reviews to informed editorials, these are most definitely the articles that’ll make you want to strike a pose. Click on all images to enlarge for detail.

IMG_1411

Sexiness in comics is a tough thing to pull off, in large part because at times it seems like the people in charge don’t actually know any human females. From the way DC‘s New 52 upped the horniness factor in many lead characters, to Marvel‘s hiring of erotica artist Milo Manara to draw Spider-Woman with her butt in the air, mainstream comics have tended to pander more to the Beavis and Butt-Head demographic than fans craving realistic depictions of characters who desire and are desirable in a recognizable way.

IMG_1416

So it’s something of a miracle that Ant Lucia’s DC Bombshells seem to have hit the sweet spot so well. Originally just a line of statues that reinterpreted female DC characters in an art style that evoked classic pin-up, modern psychobilly/tattoo convention, and World War II nose-cone art, the Bombshells have since had their likenesses plastered on every single type of merchandise DC Collectibles could conceive of, and even spawned their own comic. While scantily clad and definitely sexy, they wear outfits that are actually functional, and convey both strength and more realistic physiques, which may be why women like to be them, and lovers of women want to see them. You’re virtually guaranteed to see multiple Bombshells at any comic-related convention.

IMG_1441

It’s not really a surprise that it took this long to get these action figures: If fans can buy a $24 figure, who’s going to want a $125 statue? The trick is to wait till the statues sell out first, then put out the figures to get (a) figure collectors like me who would never have bought the statues, and (b) Bombshells fans in general who missed the boat on the statues. They’ve been wrapped into the banner of DC Collectibles’ “Artists Series,” in the traditional DC Collectibles 7-inch scale rather than the smaller “Icons” 6-inchers.

IMG_1454

DC Collectibles packaging is fairly standard these days: a window box minimal design elements to distract from the figure itself. Each Bombshell has a different color “name stripe,” but that’s about it. The package can be opened unharmed if you diligently peel off every bit of tape and are extremely careful after that; I tried, but sometimes DC just has their packages open in weird ways, and, well…rip!

IMG_1423

See the instruction sheet? It’s to inform you they have interchangeable hands, in case the multiple sets of hands on display confused you into thinking they were the extended family of The Addams Family‘s Thing.

IMG_1425

Each figure comes with two extra pairs of hands and two accessories. In Harley Quinn‘s case, she can do a right-handed peace sign (or UK punk’s “eff off” gesture), and, like the rest, also features weapon holding hands and fists.

IMG_1431

A pet peeve of mine is goggles as part of the head sculpt. I admit there’s probably no easy workaround, unless her head could pop off for removable eyewear, and an alternate head would be a whole lot of extra tooling and paint work (McFarlane Toys’ Tetsuo figure from Akira nailed removable goggles at this scale like none before or since). Still, it is her Harlequin mask as such, and it’s a shame not to be able to duplicate this appearance too:

bombshell_harley

Ah well, maybe a variant later. It’s hard to complain about this figure when you see all the other details.

IMG_1434

DC Collectibles is probably the best toy company out there when it comes to paint details. Take a close look at the Joker card in her stocking…and the tiny Batman figure on the handle of her gun (an anachronism, yes, but I’m okay with that).

IMG_1435

Each figure has the same articulation, and it’s a lot: hinge-and-cut ankles. Double-jointed knees and elbows. Cut upper thighs. Ball hips. Ab crunch. Restricted ball mid-torso. Ball shoulders. Cut upper bicep, hinge and rotate wrists, and—of course—a ball neck. Unlike “sexy” ’90s figures, they’re not stuck in any pose. Then again, they do need to send a message that these are not the statues.

IMG_1478

The package inserts, which are all the same save the color, are reusable as diorama displays.

IMG_1456

Poison Ivy‘s hip joints look a little odd in a neutral pose, since unlike the others she doesn’t have shorts or a skirt, but lingerie. (Since she is a seductress, it still counts as a functional costume.) The trade-off is that her leg joints have a much greater range of motion.

IMG_1452

Stockings and lacy underwear are very tricky to do on smaller action figures, but the detail here is minute and awesome.

IMG_1448

Ivy’s accessories are a wrap-around carnivorous plant vine and a rose:

IMG_1451

All the better to ensnare her beloved Harley!

IMG_1474

When Wonder Woman was initially shown in prototype form at Comic-Con, many fans complained her face looked too maniacal. That’s been fixed—now she looks like a woman with strong primary colors in her makeup, laughing heartily.

IMG_1439

In keeping with her Rosie the Riveter theme, she comes with a big monkeywrench.

IMG_1443

And to prove her super-strength, she also has a chain she can snap in half, with a weight on one end and a cinderblock on the other.

IMG_1446

Her lasso is not removable, alas-o.

IMG_1461

Batwoman‘s very name is a pun. Yes, she has the bat ears and symbol, but she’s also handy with a baseball bat.

IMG_1462

Though she’s not opposed to pitching…IMG_1463

…or catching. One of her extra hands is a baseball glove that holds the included ball snugly. DC trivia fans will note the significance of her jersey number.

IMG_1460

The bat has her name printed on it, and undoubtedly has a few other uses as well…

mySuperLamePic_69df747e3db66f1fd326fad0066d6644

But beware of blowback…

mySuperLamePic_deb2034403a0dd0e182747de54027a60

The Bombshells should be available at your local comic shop and favorite online outlets now.

IMG_1437

Series 2, featuring Katana, Batgirl, Hawkgirl, and Mera are due in October. I will be getting them.

IMG_1466

Any questions? Comment below or hit me up on Twitter @LYTrules and we “shell” drop some conversational bombs.

Images: Luke Thompson for Nerdist, DC Comics

STAR WARS REBELS Movie is Headed to ABC with Bonus Darth Vader

STAR WARS REBELS Movie is Headed to ABC with Bonus Darth Vader

article
Top Ten Space Cartoons

Top Ten Space Cartoons

article
11 Greatest Mustaches in TV History

11 Greatest Mustaches in TV History

article