Lego LED Keychains - BATGIRL & HARLEY QUINN(S)!

DC Super Heroes LEGO Keychain LED - Harley Quinn & Batgirl - Santoki 2016-17

I have several things going on in my life right now. Firstly, I'm on sabbatical and have ample free time for the next month. Secondly, I have a new computer and I'm struggling with all sorts of software and operating system issues. And thirdly, I have been focusing on finishing long-outstanding unfinished art projects and also reorganizing my toy room. The larger effects of all these events is that I will have less time for blog posts this month and the posts I do make will likely be products and photos from 5+ years ago that were never finalized (I have quite a backlog). This post features the latest three Lego LED Lites featuring the Gotham Girls. I've always loves Legos, but collecting minifigures is a who different genre from my norm that I find intimidating. But these larger 3" figures appeal to me greatly. The larger scale lets them blend in with my traditional action figures much better. And the limited character selection is actually obtainable. That said, it's been eight years and I'm ready for more. Let's check them out below!

Imaginext - HARLEY QUINN!

Imaginext - DC Super Friends - Rivals Pack - Harley Quinn - Fisher-Price 2024

I always find it exciting when a character who is known for being villainously deranged, or violent, or any type of kid-unfriendly attribute gets marketed to children. I remember years ago seeing a Lobo Imaginext in the store and sending a pic to my friends.  We were incredulous that this was a preschool toy. Even recently I saw the Suicide Squad Little People set from Fisher-Price featuring four murderers and the label "Suicide" on the packaging (Yes, I'm aware that this set is marketed to collectors, but it's still jarring). Over the years, Harley has been sanitized to just be a little zany and irrational. Sometimes (annoyingly) she's written as being dim-witted and clueless. But I will always look at her and see the twisted psychopathic psychologist I fell in love with 25 years ago (I was a little late to the Harley party and didn't become a fan until her first solo comic series). This new Imaginext figure continues the cute-washed trend that makes her insanely popular across the generations, but belies the villainy beneath.

MAFEX - Batman: Hush - HARLEY QUINN!

MAFEX #162 - Batman: Hush (Jim Lee) - Harley Quinn - Medicom Toys 2022

Harley Quinn has become one of the most popular characters in the DC Universe. From her humble beginnings as one of Joker's henchmen in Batman the Animated Series to her leap to mainstream comics, a solo title, then to video games, the silver screen, and then back to animation with her own show, she has run the gamut of pop culture. Despite all her changes and evolutions, I will always hold her appearances in Batman: Hush (2002-2003) to be her most iconic. At this stage, she still retained her classic jester design, but she was showing her more sadistic and unhinged side underneath the wacky antics. I know her comic persona was developed greatly in her solo series since 2000, but Hush was just different. She was suddenly darker and more formidable, but still with that zany edge that makes her so unique. I think this Mafex figure from 2022 is the best representation of her from this era. Previous attempts have all been a bit off, but this just captures her perfectly. Let's check out Harley Quinn below!

12" Spin Master - HARLEY QUINN!

DC Universe - 12" Action Figures - Harley Quinn (Future State) - Spin Master 2023

Harley Quinn seems to get a totally new costume design every few years. I will always be loyal to her original bodysuit with jester hat, but there is something still unique and fun about each new version. I think Harley will always be handled by artists and writers that love and respect the character. Because of this the essential "Harley" elements will always be present. There obviously needs be a lot of black and red, and there needs to be a clear left-vs-right division of colors or patterns. Her modern trend of having pink and blue hair used to really bother me as straying too far from the original design. But a few years ago I made the realization that often when people try to home-dye their hair bold colors, they can easily end up with a much more pastel result. I now imagine this look as Harley attempting a red and black dye job with lukewarm results. This surprise 12" figure from Spin Master features Harley's new design from 2021's Future State comics. Let's check out the 12" Harley Quinn below!

BendyFigs - HARLEY QUINN!

The Noble Collection - DC Comics BendyFigs – Harley Quinn - Noble Toys 2022

With all the popularity of Harley Quinn in the last decade, keeping up with her merchandising can be an unsurmountable task. There are so many versions of her costume now it's hard to keep track. Even this Bendyfig line from The Noble Collection has three very different Harleys in production. One positive side-effect of oversaturation though is that it forced me to pick a favorite look. And that is without a doubt her original jester costume. I didn't watch any of the Batman cartoons in the 90s so I was pretty unaware of her charms until I started reading her first solo comic series from 2000. Needless to say I was hooked. She was quirky, dangerous, unpredictable, and all-around fun. Plus I give her major credit for re-introducing me to Poison Ivy, who was a character I was very lukewarm about from her comic appearances in the 70s and 80s (but is now one of my favorites). This Bendyfig was my first classic Harley product in a long time. Let's check her out below!

Spin Master - HARLEY QUINN!

DC Comics - Batman Heroes 3.75" Series - Harley Quinn - SpinMaster 2021

The Spin Master 4" DC Comics line seems like it has hit a lull. It's been a long time since there was a new character released. A line like this could have limitless potential, but they almost always fall into a rut of releasing random repaints instead of the new characters that everyone wants. This Harley Quinn was released roughly a year ago around November 2021 (and already has one redeco on the shelves). It seem like Harley would be an easy candidate for the first wave but instead they held on to her for the close of the second year of production. Her style is based on the Rebirth comic design, a look that is surprisingly popular in the toy aisles (this is the 4th wide-release figure in this costume since her 2018 debut). But despite the lull in new character releases, I am always excited about what Spin Master might give us next. I predict Poison Ivy, Bluebird, Huntress, or Cassandra Cain Batgirl. I actually want all four of those desperately, but I'll settle for any. Let's check out Harley Quinn below.

Birds of Prey - HARLEY QUINN!

DC Multiverse - Harley Quinn (Birds of Prey Jumpsuit) - McFarlane Toys 2021

This Birds of Prey Harley Quinn in her bright gold jumpsuit is a figure I thought for sure had been cancelled. More than two years ago in January of 2020, the very first waves of McFarlane Toys DC Multiverse figures were hitting the shelves. And one of the "coming soon" images on the backs of all those boxes was a photo of Margot Robbie in this getup. But after 18 months with no mention of her, I think the entire toy community assumed McFarlane had missed the wave of movie popularity and she'd never be produced. But then around Thanksgiving of this last year she miraculously hit the shelves. I assume she was actually sculpted and tooled several years ago when those first waves were teased, because she seems slightly inferior to the recent Suicide Squad Harley. (Her face is more generic and her posture is a little slumped and awkward). It's amazing the improvements McFarlane has made in a few short years, but she's still a great and quirky figure. Let's check out Birds of Prey Harley below!

Suicide Squad 2 - HARLEY QUINN!

DC Multiverse - Suicide Squad 2 (Killer Shark) - Harley Quinn - McFarlane 2021

I just watched The Suicide Squad last night and was excited to write this review. I tried to schedule a theatre outing, but it proved impossible so I finally caved and saw it on HBO. Right off the bat, I enjoyed this sequel more than the original (note that the original is simply Suicide Squad and the sequel is The Suicide Squad). There are several returning characters, but of course Harley finds herself front and center. I was curious to see how this red dress outfit would play into the movie. At first glance, I would have much preferred the leather Arkham-esque costume that her SHFiguarts figure sports, but after seeing the movie, I think the dress is much more iconic. She wears it for the majority of the film and the lack of utilitarian features doesn't hold her back for a second. I also questioned the lack of an iconic Harley accessory like a bat or mallet. But again, after seeing the movie, I love that she has the javelin. (It's so hard to talk about my appreciation of the figure without spoiling the movie!) Let's check out Harley below!

12" Spin Master - HARLEY QUINN!

DC Universe - 12" Creature Chaos -  Harley Quinn - Spin Master Toys 2020

When the news of Mattel losing the DC Comics license to McFarlane Toys and Spin Master hit the collecting community last year, one of my biggest fears was that the 12" True Moves line from Mattel would not continue.  The line showed so much potential but only technically had three female figures released (Batgirl, Mera, and Wonder Woman - which were all gorgeous). I had high hopes for many years of figures suddenly dashed. But I had no reason to fear because Spin Master almost immediately revealed a pretty robust wave of 12" in the exact same style as Mattel. Harley Quinn is the first female offering and her scale and articulation is identical to the Mattel Batgirl. There is a comic-based Wonder Woman is apparently being released in March and I hope Toy Fair shows us some more fun characters. I have a wishlist a mile long, but I only wish I could conjure up some supersized display space to accommodate them (I still keep them mostly on windowsills). Le'ts check out Harley Quinn below!

McFarlane Toys - HARLEY QUINN!

DC Multiverse - Series 01 - Classic Harley Quinn - McFarlane Toys 2020

I was really upset and nervous last year when the news came out that Mattel had lost the DC Comics license. In the past few years especially, Mattel had produced some of my very favorite DC Figures (Batwoman, Spoiler, and Burnside Batgirl to name a few). Meanwhile McFarlane Toys, the new licensee of the DC collectible lines, was hit-or-miss for years. I've collected McFarlane lines that abruptly ended, that fizzled out too fast, that had odd character selection, and some that had very inconsistent paint apps. But when the first waves of figures were revealed right after the new year, I suddenly had faith that the DC license will be handled well. The first female released is this "Harley Quinn Classic" which is a great figure seemingly inspired by BTAS, TNBA, and early comics. I didn't love her face design before I owned her, but in person her expressiveness shines through. Her articulation and scale is unlike anything else in my collection and I'm excited to see what's next. Let's check out Harley below!

Two Years of DC Heroines from IMAGINEXT!

An Assortment of Imaginext DC Super Friends Ladies - Fisher-Price 2018-2019

I love Imaginext so much but I get overwhelmed with the sheer amount of figures I've collected over the years. So this post is collecting 23 amazing DC Super Friends ladies I've assembled over the past two years (and there are at least two I couldn't locate amidst my clutter to photograph).  I'm exhausted from editing 214 photos, but giddy about having them all unpackaged now. Way back in early 2012, the release of the Imaginext Catwoman was the push I needed to start this blog - which is funny because I never ended up reviewing that particular figure. But every time there is a new release I feel a nostalgic sense of excitement. The presence of female characters in the line is increasing at a shocking rate, and the two female-centric 6-packs in 2018 is a perfect example of Imaginext's new focus on gender inclusion. It was a very slow trickle for may years, but lately it's been an absolute flood (and I couldn't be happier about it). Let's check out two years of DC Imaginext ladies below!

Eaglemoss BTAS - GOTHAM GIRLS!

DC Super Hero Collection - BTAS Gotham Girls - HeroCollector/Eaglemoss 2019

Batman the Animated Series did wondrous things for the female contingent of the Batman universe. Sure, Catwoman was a pretty major presence in the comics at the time (She recently had her first self-titled comic mini-series and she starred in Batman Returns just a few months before the BTAS debut), but Poison Ivy was practically forgotten and Batgirl had recently been paralyzed. Then BTAS burst onto the scene and made them all major players again, and of course the cartoon soon introduced us to the iconic Harley Quinn. Not only did these characters suddenly have a higher public profile, but their personalities and relationships with each other were developed into the intriguing dynamic we still see today. I was really excited when Eaglemoss first started soliciting this BTAS sub-line of the DC Super Hero Collection, I had hopes to get all four of the main girls, and thankfully my wishes were fulfilled. (Now I will patiently wait for The New Adventures of Batman versions). Let's check out the ladies below!

Batman Universe Busts - GOTHAM CITY SIRENS!

Batman Universe Busts #3 Harley, Catwoman #5, Poison Ivy #8 - Eaglemoss 2019

I have a backlog of Eaglemoss products I've been dying to review forever. Last weekend I finally unpackaged a ton of my hoarded busts and figurines and photographed them and now I'm excited to post them all. For sake of brevity I will be lumping certain ones into groups, and the most logical grouping to me is the Gotham City Sirens trio of Catwoman, Poison Ivy, and Harley Quinn. As much as this trifecta seems timeless, I did some research and discovered that Catwoman and Poison Ivy only ever crossed paths five times in the 27 years leading up to Batman the Animated Series (and I didn't actually read those five stories, but from the descriptions they seem like huge ensemble casts where it's very unlikely that the two even talked). Yeah, Batman books didn't really pass the Bechdel test until fairly recently. But once Harley was introduced, it wasn't long until these friendships formed and they haven't looked back. Let's check out Catwoman, Poison Ivy, and Harley Quinn below!

DC Essentials - HARLEY QUINN!

DC Essentials - Action Figure #13 - Harley Quinn - DC Collectibles 2019

I'm really excited for this new DC Essentials line from DC Collectibles. There have been a lot of all-encompassing toy lines developed for DC properties over the years. DC Universe Classics and the more recent (but short-lived) DC Icons line come to mind as two stand-outs. But even after only seeing one female figure from this new DC Essentials line, I already love the body structure so much more than the previous attempts. I had gotten so used to those gangly arms and gaudy joints that I was blindly accepting them instead of demanding something better. So seeing this strong, well-proportioned buck is a breath of fresh air. I'm already excited for the Batgirl, Cheetah, and Supergirl figures coming out this year, and I'm eagerly anticipating future characters like Poison Ivy and Catwoman (They seem to only be A-List heroes and villains for now). I think the quality, price point, character selection, and character design is all finally in balance and I hope this line will have years of momentum. Let's check out Harley below!

DC Multiverse Rebirth HARLEY QUINN!

DC Multiverse (Lex Luthor) Walmart Exc Gotham Girls - Harley Quinn - Mattel 2018

At some point I'm going to have to stop buying Harley Quinn figures. It seems like every time I blink there is a new one tempting me and my Harley shelf is positively overflowing. So far though I can only think of a single one that I intentionally skipped (and I won't mention the exact one since I'm friendly with the sculptor). But most figures, including this comic style Rebirth one, are so unique that I feel I need to have that version represented in my collection. Plus I am very impressed with the direction that the DC Multiverse figures have been heading recently and I want to support the line to ensure this momentum continues. The upcoming Vixen, Hawkgirl, and Starfire look especially good and I can't wait to see what is next. These recent Harley comic designs are interesting because they incorporate pieces from Suicide Squad and the Arkham Series games while also seeming to retain a style all their own. But we all know she will change her look again, so it's just fun to sit back and observe her evolution unfold.

Funko Bat-Family DC BOMBSHELLS!

A Variety of Bat-Family Products: Dorbz, POP, and Rock Candy - Funko 2017-18

The amount of DC Bombshells merchandise that has come out over the past year has been a little overwhelming. The majority of these products have been from Funko.  They have released tons of products from their Pop, Dorbz, and Rock Candy lines (Plus the first Vynl figures have been solicited and I'm sure Mystery Minis and Pint Size Heroes will come eventually). With all that glorious product hitting the shelves, I defaulted to my standard cost-saving methods and limited myself to only Bat-Family characters. But as you'll see in this post, that still left me with a ton of characters to collect. When the Bombshells designs first appeared five years ago I wasn't instantly sold (I have hangups over the historical objectification of pinup girls vs their cool modern reinvention). But after about three years I caved and bought my first DC Bombshells item (a Harley keychain from Elephant Gun). Well then the dam broke and I have almost 30 pieces (with more on the way). Let's check out the current roster below!

Suicide Squad Rock Candy - HARLEY QUINN!

Rock Candy Vinyl Collectible - Suicide Squad Harley Quinn - Funko 2018

One thing I've always said about Funko is that they consistently deliver. It may take several years, but the product you wish for almost always gets released eventually. (My favorite example is the Yvonne Craig Batgirl which came out four years after the first Batman '66 Pop wave). When the Rock Candy line launched two years ago and we got two Harleys almost immediately, I just assumed we would get a Suicide Squad version before Christmas. Then my assumptions were further bolstered when the GameStop Exclusive Enchantress Rock Candy dropped on Black Friday. I was literally saving space for the new Harley that was certainly coming. And she did come of course, but two long years later. But I wasn't upset because I never doubted that she was coming. And honestly she looks perfect so she was well worth the wait. It makes me excited for all the other fun Rock Candies coming out this Summer. Let's check out the long-overdue Suicide Squad Harley Quinn below!

Batman Missions HARLEY QUINN!

Batman Missions - Basic Series 01 - Harley Quinn (Rebirth) - Mattel 2018

I've never found myself too excited about the various Batman evergreen series over the years. Mostly because they just seemed like endless repaints, limited articulation, oversized accessories, and a complete lack of female characters. But this new Batman Missions series (sometimes referred to as Knight Missions) seems to remedy all those previous gripes of mine. The first female in the line is a 6" Harley Quinn in the style of Amanda Conner's Rebirth Harley (which is a great blend of comic and Suicide Squad movie looks). The first wave has a few Batman repaints as is expected, but the repaints aren't absurd. But what's more impressive are the other 6" characters on the horizon like a Killing Joke Joker, Robin, Bane, Nightwing, and Batgirl. And that's not even mentioning the equally impressive 12" lineup whose Batgirl I'm dying to get my hands on. Hopefully this line will continue to impress me. It's one of the things I'm most looking forward to hearing about at SDCC. Let's check out Harley Quinn below!

Justice League Action 12" - HARLEY QUINN!

DC Comics Justice League Action - 12" Batman & Harley Quinn - Mattel 2018

Sometimes poor Harley can't catch a break. This is Mattel's second attempt at a 12" classic-looking Harley Quinn and both have been pretty far misses. The funny thing is that it all comes down to proportion. The first Harley from 2016's Batman: Unlimited line had a bizarrely tiny head on a really tall slender body. And now this new Justice League Action Harley has a bizarrely oversized head on a shorter body. The new figure's body construction is interesting. She appears to have the Torso and Arms of the original Harley, but with new shorter legs which are a shrunken version of the legs from the Justice League Action Wonder Woman figure (complete with high heels and articulated knees). If she had a more stylized Bruce-Timm-like body she would look teriffic, but the contrast between body and head is a little too extreme. I both hated and loved this figure when I first discovered it last month. But now I kind of adore its weirdness. And it makes me very excited about future JLA figures. Let's check her out below!

Funko Vynl - HARLEY QUINN!

DC Super Heroes Vynl - Harley Quinn & The Joker 2-Pack - Funko 2018

Harley isn't just for the comic nerds anymore. She belongs to the world now and our opinions about her character trajectory don't carry much weight anymore. I'm actually pretty okay with most of her various evolutions. I was skeptical of her most recent Skullbags punk rock look at first but I quickly grew to love it. And honestly all the comic looks had the same gradual acceptance for me. That's because my all-time favorite look will forever be her original cartoon and early comic outfit. Whenever a piece of merchandise comes out in that red and black jester getup, I feel an irresistible draw toward it.  I pick and choose with all the other Harley looks, but the classic will always be a shoe-in. I'm getting rather fond of Funko's Vynl line. This Harley was my fourth Vynl (Sorceress will be my 5th when she arrives), and I like them more and more with each purchase. I'm really hoping we see a Catwoman next just to round out the Sirens. A Huntress and Batwoman wouldn't hurt either. Let's check out Harley below!