Character Spotlight in LIVEWIRE!

A Collection of Metropolis' Most Electrifying Shock-Jock: Livewire

I've always considered Livewire the Harley Quinn of Superman's world. They're both formidable villains created by Bruce Timm for the DC Animated Universe.  Since their unassuming beginnings they've both become pretty popular in mainstream comics and video games.  Livewire has also appeared on television in Smallville and very recently in Supergirl. Harley is way more popular obviously, but Livewire has always had my attention. Just to clear up her first appearance dates: She debuted in the comic Superman Adventures #5 (March 1997) and her first television appearance was in Season 2, Episode 5 of Superman: The Animated Series ("Livewire" - September 1997).  Leslie Willis was a shock-jock hosting an outdoor concert in Metropolis during a dangerous storm.  Superman tried to get the concert to disband, but Leslie refused and was struck by lightning. Her hair turned blue, her skin turned white, and she gained crazy electrical power - irrationally blaming Superman for all of it. Revenge-based villains thrill me.

The New Batman Adventures - Bendie POISON IVY!

The New Batman Adventures - Bad Girls Boxset - Poison Ivy - NJCroce 2015

It's such a good feeling as a collector when you feel like you've completed a set.  A constant trio of characters I'm always trying to a assemble is Catwoman, Harley Quinn, and Poison Ivy.  When these characters came together in the cartoons and comics, it was just instant magic. Their personalities blend and clash in an entertaining and addictive ways and toys of any single one of them just seem incomplete unless you can get all three. Luckily most toy companies seem to feel this way as well. Lego, Mez-Itz, Funko Pop, Imaginext, and even Polly Pockets have all made the effort to complete the group. Now NJ Croce has joined the fray with this Poison Ivy bendie.  I know Catwoman was released at the same time, but she was likely to be produced no matter what.  Ivy is almost always the odd woman out, so her inclusion in a toy line is always a reason to cheer. Although bendies are usually not on the radar of collectors, I think these figures should not be overlooked. Let's check out Poison Ivy below!

The New Batman Adventures - Bendie CATWOMAN!

The New Batman Adventures - Bad Girls Boxset - Catwoman - NJCroce 2015

I'm becoming a huge fan of these NJ Croce Bendie figures recently. The character selection is fantastic, the prices are reasonable, and the sculpts are spot-on. The only problem is that they aren't actually action figures. I've never owned any bendie figures until a few years ago so I don't know what to expect from this medium. My paranoid imagination foresees them crackling, melting, discoloring, or becoming sticky for no discernible reason. But those random anxieties have proven to be baseless. I now have 8 bendies displayed with little Kaiser doll stands and they all seem perfectly fine mingling with the action figures on my Ikea bookshelves. I'm excited to see what future characters they'll show at Toy Fair. I'm thinking that they'll probably delve into the Arkham video games series next, but secretly my biggest wish is for a companion "Good Girls" box with Batwoman, Huntress, Batgirl, etc. (The Mystery of the Batwoman design is sorely absent from all merchandising).  Let's check out the Catwoman below!

The New Batman Adventures - Bendable HARLEY!

The New Batman Adventures - Bendable Figures - Harley Quinn - NJCroce 2015

Bendies bendies bendies. I'm becoming inundated with these little amorphous beauties. About an hour ago I was showing my collection room to a very excitable five year old and her favorite thing by far was the Batgirl '66 bendie (that I reviewed last month) -- "because it's the sparkliest." I would add that a major factor in her choice was probably its placement at her eye level, but that's just nitpicking. It is a stunning little figure. A few years ago I would have never ever considered including bendable figures in my collection, but the quality and character selection of these recent NJ Croce figures has completely changed my tune. I'm greatly looking forward to adding more of these ladies in the coming years. Animated Poison Ivy and Catwoman are the logical next contenders, but I'd buy pretty much anything honestly. This Harley is a nice placeholder for the upcoming BTAS figure from DCC. I'm dying to compare these two when she finally comes out. Let's check out this bendable Harley below!

The New Batman Adventures - Bendable BATGIRL!

The New Batman Adventures - Bendable Figures - Batgirl - NJCroce 2015

NJ Croce is having a killer year with their Batman novelties. These bendable figures are the perfect thing to fill the doldrums in the weeks leading up to SDCC.  They're bright. colorful, well-made, and inexpensive.  I've never been much of a fan of bendies, but in a few short years I've acquired six and I must admit I think they're pretty cool. Batman the Animated Series (and all its subsequent iterations) are getting a lot of love this year.  There is an awesome New Adventures Batgirl action figure due out next month from DC Collectibles.  And Diamond Select showed a BTAS mini-bust and PVC statue at Toy Fair in February.  Up until this point I've actually had very few animated-style Batgirls in my collection (I used to be a "comics-style" purist until a few years ago).  But now I welcome them with open arms.  I don't want to backtrack too far though because collecting all 2 billion Kenner variants will kill me.  I'm fine with this glorious bendie for now.  Let's check her out below!

Batman '66 Bendable BATGIRL!

Batman: Classic TV Series - Bendable Figures - Batgirl - NJCroce 2015

This little beauty was one of my favorite discoveries at Toy Fair '15. Ever since I stumbled across the NJ Croce booth in 2013 and saw the very cool JLA New Frontier bendable figures, I have made it a point to stop by each year to see what new offerings they have. They have yet to disappoint me. Last year they had a Julie Newmar Catwoman. Then this year they wowed us with a BTAS Harley Quinn and Batgirl, as well as this Batman 1966 Classic TV Series Batgirl. I honestly already have low hopes for 2016 because this year will be a tough one to beat. I supposed a BTAS Poison Ivy or Catwoman is possible (and a Mystery of the Batwoman figure would make me faint). But this Batgirl '66 figure is something special. I believe this is the first official piece of merchandise featuring the Yvonne Craig Batgirl on the market. We have 2 Statues (Tweeterhead & DST), a Bust, and an action figure due out later this year, but I think this is the first. Hopefully this is only the beginning. Let's check out Batgirl below!

TOY FAIR 2015 Coverage - OTHER COMPANIES!

Mezco - NECA - NJCroce - Madame Alexander - Monogram - Schleich - I Am Elemental

Batman '66 Bendable CATWOMAN!

Batman: Classic TV Series - Bendable Figures - NJCroce 2014
 
Woohoo!  I now own my second bendable figure.  I never thought I would see the day.  I think the toy gods knew it would take a Julie Newmar Catwoman to get me to cave again.  Bendable toys are an interesting conundrum for action figure collectors.  The character selection can sometimes be awesome, but they just don't have the same display potential and longevity of a true action figure.  But being the big Julie Newmar fan that I am, I knew this beauty would find it's way onto my shelves.  I first discovered this figure at Toy Fair earlier this year when I went out of my way to hunt down the NJCroce booth to see their new products.  Their booth is kind of buried in the novelty section (i.e. far from the action figure area that I gravitate toward).  Last year I stumbled across their New Frontier style bendies and was impressed with the quality (and distribution - these suckers are everywhere).  So anyway, I made the trek down the aisles where all the vendors were throwing balls at me or startling me with noisemakers and was very happy to see Catwoman on a peg.  Let's check her out below!

TOY FAIR 2013 Coverage - OTHER BRANDS!

Bandai (SHFiguarts) - Toynami - NJCroce - McFarlane - Little Mates