Harley Qwednesday :: Suicide Squad Harley Quinn and Joker ReAction figures

I've never been a fan of the blind box or blind bag concept. Primarily because my luck tend to lean towards getting multiples of my least wanted figure. I am also no fan of not knowing what I'm spending my hard earned money on. Blind bags I can deal with, because I can squeeze them and determine what's in them. And sometimes they have codes you can decipher to learn what's inside.

As for blind boxes. I avoid those as a rule. I'll just rely on buying a much-needed figure second-hand if/when they become available.

Then there's the latest in 'taking your money': Blind subscription boxes. These are the absolute worst. You don't know what you might even end up with until you end up with it. Are you insane?

Anyways, like with blind boxes, when I find out there is something awesome in a blind subscription box, I just either try to get it for a good price second-hand, or forget about it because the price is too damn high.

Fortunately when I found out about the recent DC Legion of Collectors subscription box that included a ReAction styled Suicide Squad Harley Quinn and Joker and went looking for them second-hand, I was able to score both (honestly I'd have been happy with just Harley) for less than one would have cost me at retail...shipped!

I've looked over plenty of these ReAction figures at places like Toys R Us, but these are the first I've owned. The detail on Harley and Joker seems above par. They're definitely good looking figures (I've yet to open them so I can't yet attest to their physical quality.) Harley is especially nice and even comes with her bat!

Joker looks good for this iteration of the Joker. Not my favorite, and this may very well end up being the only version of Jared Leto's Joker I ever own. But I've got to have at least one version of this Joker, so I'm glad I have this guy. The packaging design is excellent on these figures, with the bomb shape and bullets circling the figures. Which is why I'm still on the fence on opening them. They're pieces of art unto themselves.

I've read online that a full line of ReAction Suicide Squad figures are set for release, and as a fan of the movie I may be tempted to complete the team in ReAction form. But if I don't get any more I'm glad I have these two (or at least Harley.)  This Harley is definitely a highlight of my Harley Quinn collection. And thankfully I didn't have to sign up for a bind subscription box to get them!

Suicide Squad Harley Quinn Multiverse Action Figure by Mattel :: Harley Qwednesday

Suicide Squad opens in a little over two weeks, and I have high hopes. Good, bad or indifferent, Suicide Squad will go down in cinematic history for bringing us the first silver screen live action version of Harley Quinn. That alone is reason enough to get me excited and make me want to own this Suicide Squad Harley Quinn action figure from Mattel's Multiverse line.

There's already a surprising amount of Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn merchandise, from shirts to POPs to action figures to minifigures to high end collectibles. Hopefully Ms. Robbie delivers and vindicates the amount of money many of you have already shelled out for her likeness! Surprisingly I've only picked up this figure and the bootLEGO (so far.) If the movie delivers I'm sure that will change.

Speaking of likeness, this Multiverse figure isn't perfect. She looks a bit wall-eyed, and this was the best one of the five or so on the shelf. Others looked even worse. Had some of the others been my only choice, I would have passed.

Not sure if the wall-eyed look is universal or if I just found a bad batch.

Another problem with my figure is that her bat is squished and malformed. I was so concerned with getting a version with ok eyes I totally overlooked the bat in the store. So again, not sure if that's a problem across the board or if I just got a wonky bat. It's too bad too, because I got this version (instead of waiting to find the Toys R Us exclusive jacketed Harley Quinn) because if I end up only owning one, I wanted the figure with the bat.

Oh well, maybe it's dented because it bopped so many noggins.

Harley's profile view looks really good.

Her holster is a separate piece, but the gun is not removable.

Harley's shirt has a few 'tears' in it. Obviously this figure represents Harley later in the movie, after she's seen some action. And lost or discarded of her jacket.

I avoided the Multiverse line when it came to Batman v Superman, but that's because there was a more budget conscious $10 line which had the movie moment characters I desired. But I doubt the same approach will be taken with Suicide Squad, so I couldn't pass up on this figure when I found her.

Can't say I'll pick up any more of the Suicide Squad Multiverse line-up (except Katana because my oldest daughter is on a Katana kick lately) but if you pick up all the figures in the line you can build a Killer Croc figure. I won't lose any sleep if I don't complete Killer Croc, honestly I'm pretty sick of the BAF/C&C concept.

Those shoes! I can't believe I was able to get her to stand at all!

Suicide Squad Harley Quinn BootLEGO Minifig

Suicide Squad Harley Quinn BootLEGO - this is the type of thing I live for. I love Harley Quinn and I love BootLEGOs when they give us something LEGO can't or won't create, and when the two come together it's a thing of pure beauty!

Another high quality BootLEGO of unknown manufacture, Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn from the upcoming Suicide Squad movie has two faces printed on her head, the second blowing a bubble! This is just one of those fun design aspects the bootleggers threw in of their own volition, proving that even though these things are as illegal as heck from a licensing and copyright perspective, bootleggers are clever artists too and may have a soul afterall!

I forgot to get a pic of it, but the back of her jacket says 'Property of Joker' and as you can see her shirt says 'Daddy's Lil Monster' just like in the movie. Harley Quinn comes with a pistol and a brown stick that is supposed to be her baseball bat. LEGO makes a baseball bat, so I'll have to get an extra to give her, but until then the stick works just fine. her hair is also printed with the highlighted tips and ponytail holders. Tons of detail on this perfect little minfig!

I absolutely can't wait to see Suicide Squad and am thankful the BootLEGOers are also apparently smitten by Harley's first live action appearance on the big screen. There's also a Jared Leto Joker BootLEGO minifig available, but I haven't jumped on that one yet.

Harley Qwednesday: Bud & Lou, The Star Wars Edition

These twin Massiff were found at the flea market and will be going to my oldest daughter, a new (but now lifelong) Star Wars fan! I had one of them back when it was originally released (they came with a Tusken Raider), but had no idea my then infant daughter would grow into a huge Star Wars fan, so most of my prequel Star Wars stuff was sold off years ago. I'm glad I found these guys again as the Massiff are fun monster/beast figures to have around even if they only appeared on screen for about two seconds.

I've dubbed these two guys 'Bud' and 'Lou' after Harley Quinn's Hyena (who were named after Bud Abbot and Lou Costello, natch).

Massiff are of course pets of the Sand People (Tusken Raiders). I also found at the flea market during the same trip a female and child Tusken Raider pair. I also had these two when they were released, in conjunction with Attack of the Clones' theatrical release.

They are cool figures; a neat, deeper look at the lives of the mysterious lives of the Sand People, but kind of morbid too as their only function in the movie was to be slaughtered by Anakin Skywalker.

The kid fits into the mother's backpack/basket and is also removable. Mom originally came with one of those Sand People sticks they wave around in A New Hope, but mine didn't have hers when I found her. At least she had her kid! Priorities!

The Massiff have actual metal chains connected to them. QUALITY!

They also have movable jaws.

I love these guys and had a lot of fun shooting them. I need to do a shoot with an in scale Harley Quinn before letting my daughter take possession of them! Or I need to figure out which Star Wars action figure could/should be modified into a Harley Quinn mash-up custom in order to pair her up with them.

Seeing Star Wars as a whole (Eps 1 thru 7) through my daughter's young eyes lately, I have to admit to gaining a new-found appreciation for the prequels and all the stuff they brought to the mythos. I'm bummed I gave up so many great toys over the years. I would have never done so if I thought my kid would someday care about it all! Thank the maker for the flea market and the fact that most of this stuff is not hard to come by today!

Harley Qwednesday :: Funko Batman and Batgirl ImPOPsters Coming Soon!

Funko just announced a way to get more of my money by releasing Batman and Batgirl in villain livery ala their recent LootCrate exclusive Joker Batman. More importantly, they are releasing a Harley Quinn Batgirl AND a Harley Quinn Batman!!!

The 2016 ImPOPsters release schedule is as follows:

Riddler Batman: July
Poison Ivy Batgirl: July
Harley Quinn Batgirl: August
Two-Face Batman: August
Harley Quinn Batman: September
Penguin Batman: October
Scarecrow Batman: November

Ironically I don't even own a standard Funko Batman or Batgirl (I've stayed focused on Harley Quinns for the most part, and of course my Batman Joker!) but I really think I need every one of these! But I will settle for just the Harley Quinn themed ones if I have to pick and choose.

"I'm Bat-Quinn!"

Harley Qwednesday :: Unofficial Joker/Harley Quinn Mash-up Minifigure by SickBricks

I spotted this set of SickBricks minifigure/builds at the Goodwill, and in this set I was shocked to find a Joker/Harley Quinn figure! It looks like Joker is experimenting with cross-dressing (which has gotten laughs for everyone from Milton Berle to Bugs Bunny so who am I to judge?)

This minifigure's official name is Jack Wisecracker. But we're no fool! (See what I did there?!?!)

Also included in the set is parody minifigures of Green Lantern, Aquaman, a Goth guy with a Misfits haircut and Dean Idol who is the lamest of the bunch until you realize you can stick his nondescript blonde head on the Aquaman looking figure to make him a little more Aquamanny.

We'll take a look at all those other chaps later, but today is Harley Qwednesday so Jack Wisecracker is all you get!

Gotham City Cycle Chase LEGO 76053 Review :: Harley Qwednesday

Here's something I never thought I would see; an official Harley Quinn LEGO minifigure with a dual colored hairpiece!

Sadly it's red and blue, not red and black, or blonde with red and black tips. Sigh.

This version of Harley Quinn is commonly referred to as the New52 Harley Quinn. Or Juggalo Harley. Or 'BLECH!' Take your pick, they are interchangeable.

I'm pretty sure this Harley look debuted in the pages of Suicide Squad with the last DC Comics relaunch a few years ago, and has already more or less been left behind in favor of the more respectable designs occurring in the pages of her title comic book.

I was shocked to see this version of Harley Quinn appearing in the respectably priced ($19.99) LEGO 76053 Gotham City Cycle Chase, for the reason I mentioned above as well as the fact that Harley Quinn minifigures usually appear in big expensive sets, and even then they don't mold a whole new hairpiece for her (see the LEGO Roller Derby Harley from their recent Jokerland set, which could also have used a dual colored hairpiece to be more comic accurate!)

I'm not totally 'New52'. I have pants. And the Shakespeare minifigure called; he wanted his frilly neckpiece back.

The Gotham City Cycle Chase set comes with two motorcycles (A Batcycle and a Harleycycle) and three minifigures: Harley Quinn, Batman and Deadshot. This set is clearly designed to coincide with the upcoming Suicide Squad movie, without being specific to the movie itself.

Deadshot is a great little minifigure and he too looks to be based on the New52 Suicide Squad design. I like that his gauntlet guns are printed on the sides of his arms!

LEGO gave Deadshot a bazooka, which shoots a little piece from the front with that little projectile doohickey all the gun-totin' minifigures are being issued nowadays. It's cool that one of the pieces of the bazooka build is that little basic handgun piece, because it's less bulky and still allows for Deadshot to be holding a weapon for display purposes.

Boba who?

LEGO also included a jet-pack for Deadshot. Because reasons.

Are you looking at my bum?

It's a simple little add-on that I am sure kids will love. And adults too. Because who doesn't love jet-packs?

I'm Batfleck

The Batman that comes with the set is the same Batman we are seeing in most standard Gotham-centric sets these days. Clearly inspired by Ben Affleck's Batman, this Batman sports the cowl with the shorter ears and no mask below the chin.

Batman gets a grappling gun this time around, which is pretty neat and saves you the trouble of cobbling one together out of your spare LEGO pieces (which I've done plenty of times.)

Batman and Harley each have dual expressions. Deadshot only has the one. Or maybe he has fifty, but you can't tell because his mask completely covers his face.

The Batcycle is a pretty hefty build, and is clearly inspired by the Christian Bale Batcycle.

Note to self: Have Alfred reinforce my codpiece.

Unless Batfleck drives something like this in the new movies. We shall see.

It too has projectile shootin' shooters at the back.

Harley gets another cool hammer build to attach to her bike or to hold for herself. For the first time ever, Harley's hammer gets the decal treatment, with black diamonds on one side and a comic book 'POW!' on the other.

Since this set is undeniably inspired by the upcoming Suicide Squad movie, it would have been neat to see Harley Quinn get a baseball bat accessory. But one can never have too many giant mallets.

Or Harley Quinn minifigures!

Harley Qwednesday :: Upcoming DC Collectibles Harley Quinn Action Figures!

DC Collectibles just solicited a bunch of incredible Harley Quinn action figures and there isn't a bum in the bunch!

I still remember when there was literally ONE Harley Quinn action figure n the entire world.

One. ONE! Yeah, ok, sure, I can also remember when there was zero, but I don't like to dwell on the hell that was a world without a Harley Quinn action figure.

Now, there are dozens, approaching hundreds; more than I can even possibly own!

It should surprise no one that a Margot Robbie Harley Quinn action figure from the upcoming Suicide Squad movie is coming. Pretty sure this movie is going to be a blast, and pretty sure it will re-define Harley Quinn for a whole new audience, so I think I need this action figure.

DC Collectibles is also releasing a series of Amanda Conner designer series Harley Quinn action figures. I absolutely adore Amanda Conner's artwork, and although I am so rarely a completist, this may be the line that breaks me. First up is classic Harley. I'm a sucker for classic Harley.

Next up is Space Harley. I am not reading the ongoing Harley Quinn monthly, so I have no idea why Harley went to space, but if Usagi Yojimbo and April O'Neil can do it, why the hell can't Harley?

Last up is Super Harley. Again, for reasons. I do like this character design, it's a cute look. Pretty sure I need this in my life. even more figures are promised in this line, and you know each one is going to be as adorable as the last.

Finally, DC Collectibles is offering up the BTAS Harley that has already seen release, but in a 'Girls Night Out' five pack with Poison Ivy, Live Wire, Supergirl, Batgirl and our girl Harley Quinn. This is a $100 dollar set if it's a nickel, so I will just add it to my birthday/Christmas list and be done with it.

So there you have it. 2016, which is apparently The year of the Harley.

Figures Toy Company Harley Quinn Mego Style Action Figure :: Harley Qwednesday

Knowing how important Harley Quinn is to us here at Toyriffic, Figures Toy Company sent us their new Official World's Greatest Heroes Harley Quinn dolly retro action figure in Kresge style packaging! I also conducted a brief interview with Figures Toy Company's Chief Marketing Officer Chris DePetrillo, but first let's take a look at Harley herself:

Harley Quinn comes packaged in the Kresge style clamshell packaging which can be opened up and resealed. So you can keep your figure minty or take her out, or take her out and put her back in ad infinitum! I cut off the zip-tie that would have kept her completely sealed before the photo shoot so mine is of course not pure mint, but I like the option of placing her back in the clamshell for safe and dust-free display.

My intern is also very impressed, because she knows she can reseal the package and I will never know she has been playing with my Harley Quinn!

Harley's cardback also shows other Figures Toy Co releases Mary Marvel, Supergirl, Wonder Woman, Batgirl and Catwoman.

If you've ever owned a Mego you know exactly how Harley is constructed. Figures Toy Company has religiously recreated the style and if she weren't so fresh and new (and if Harley Quinn had existed in the seventies) you might be convinced she was of that original toyline!

These Kresge packaging versions are limited to 1,000 figures - not sure if Harley Quinn will be released in later packaging but I have to assume she will. I got #0845 - whatta coincidence, that's my lucky number!

Like the original Megos before her, Harley's outfit is removable. I did not makey her nakey, but her leotard has velcro down the back so I think it a safe assumption. Her headpiece is not removable and could probably have used a bit of glue on the front, as it has the tendency to pop up high on her forehead and make her look bald (which she is under her her headpiece.) If I knew anything about doll customization I might be inclined to give her hair, or at least some bangs. The jester 'ears' have a metal armature in them, so they can be posed too, but I fear moving them too much as I don't want them to break.

Of course Harley Quinn is in exact scale with her original Mego counterpart Joker. Her head/face does look a bit more modern than his though.

If you're a fan of Harley Quinn and Figures Toy Co and Mego, you pretty much need this figure (she can be ordered direct from Figures Toy Co website.) She's the most retro Harley Quinn figure out there, (even though Harley Quinn as a character isn't old enough to be considered retro, at least in my mind!)

Definitely true to the essence of Harley Quinn in design and execution, this figure will be a focal point of your Harley Quinn collection and will fit in great with your old Megos or your new Figures Toy Co retro figures.

Now on to my interview with Figures Toy Company's Chief Marketing Officer Chris DePetrillo, who was kind enough to take the time to answer a few questions about Figures Toy Co, Harley Quinn and their DC line in general:

Toyriffic:
Other than the obvious answer of ‘why not?’ Why Harley Quinn?

Chris:
Harley is one of DC's most popular characters, one with one of the strongest followings. Obviously when we think of DC we immediately think of Batman, Superman, and those synonymous with the brand. Harley may not be what's considered a legendary character, but she is definitely one of the essential, core characters of the modern era.

Toyriffic:
Figures Toy Co focuses primarily on retro characters and themes. Harley Quinn made her animated debut in 92, and her first action figure wasn’t released until 1997. I’m no spring chicken to be sure, but I shudder to think of the nineties as ‘retro’. Is Harley the most modern comicbook character FTC has made to date?

Chris:
At this time Harley is the most current character we've offered as part of any of our DC Comics toy lines.

Toyriffic:
Is Harley the harbinger of more Batman Animated designs? Or perhaps Batman: The Brave and the Bold, which was itself very retro?

Chris:
We don't have any "cartoon specific" plans for a Batman series, but we are definitely looking to include as many famous characters from the Bat-universe in our lines as we can.

Toyriffic:
What has been your most popular figure or line so far?

Chris:
The Batman 1966 line has a tremendous following. It's the perfect blend of fans who love Batman comics, and who love the TV show coming together to collect these items. Plus if you're a fan of popular culture, it's also a draw to collectors to see the likenesses of these famous actors and actresses that have been on the show. Adam West, Burgess Meredith, Vincent Price, and so on. So many factors have made that into our most beloved line.

Toyriffic:
Were you into Mego figures as a kid?

Chris:
I was born at the tail end of Mego, but I did have a few. In fact, I still have my original Mego Incredible Hulk, which was the first toy I can remember being given. Anthony, the owner of Figures Toy Company, was into Mego figures as a kid, and it's been his love for the Mego line and the retro style of action figures that led to us pursuing DC Comics and other licenses for this format.

Toyriffic:
What toy or toyline made it's biggest impression on your younger self?

Chris:
I've always collected Incredible Hulk merchandise, dating back to getting that Mego Hulk as a kid. I've been a huge fan of the Marvel Legends figures since they debuted. Also, as a wrestling fan, I loved Hasbro's WWF figures in the early 90's. Looking back on them now, they're something that I think collectors would enjoy today. With their action features and small stature, they're the perfect "quirky collectible", along the lines of Funko's figures.

Toyriffic:
Has FTC toyed (get it haw haw haw) with the idea of any modern series or character costumes? Like the Flash TV show, Arkham video game costumes, or upcoming Suicide Squad movie designs?

Chris:
At this time the figures will continue to be based on the retro comic designs of each character. We have many figures coming out that are tied to the modern day (our upcoming Flash series, for instance), but the figure designs will be based solely on the DC artwork that collectors know and love.

Toyriffic:
Well Chris, thanks a ton for the Harley Quinn figure and thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions! Before you go, can you give us any hints on which famous Gothamites we might see in the near future? Poison Ivy, perhaps?

Chris:
Ra' Al Ghul and Commissioner Gordon are two names that will be out soon, and '66 fans will be getting their long awaited Batgirl and Barbara Gordon figures too. As for Poison Ivy or other famous faces from Batman lore, you'll just have to stay tuned to see what we have up our sleeve!