Monday, March 16, 2026

Action Figure Review: Zatanna (DC Classic) [Platinum] from DC Multiverse by McFarlane Toys

 

 "Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls; it's time for the Sorceress Supreme and the Mistress of Magic herself: Zatanna!" 

   Zatanna has been one of my most wanted figures from McFarlane Toys for quite a bit. Besides members of the Batfamily and Batman's villains, I'm also a huge fan of DC's array of magical and supernatural heroes, so anyone who fits that bill or who has been a member of Justice League Dark is someone I've been waiting for. Zatanna is a key member of Justice League Dark, a prominent character in the DC Universe, one of the most powerful of mages on any Earth, and it also doesn't hurt that she's pretty easy on the eyes. The character selection on DC Multiverse has definitely improved over the past few years (though we are still getting an insane amount of Batman variants) and besides just getting Zatanna, a character who has had an action figure in quite a few DC toylines over the years, we also get Detective Chimp, a character who hasn't had an action figure previously so far as I can recall. Zatanna and Bobo are part of the McFarlane Collector Edition subset of DC Multiverse, meaning they're a bit pricier than your average figure but come packed with a few more extras than normal. There are also two versions of the figure: A normal and a Platinum variant. Today I'm looking at the Platinum variant as it's the version I found first. I actually found this one at a Walmart near me last month (locked up in a glass case, so I had to get assistance to have the figure unlocked and had to purchase it at the electronics counter) and then found the standard version that evening at a GameStop. If I had found both at once I likely would have only grabbed the standard version as I like the colors better and the more modern take on Zatanna, but this more Silver Age take isn't a bad figure, either. In fact, you get different portraits for both figures that can swap easily. Ready to check out Zatanna and Detective Chimp? 

   ...kaerb eht retfa em nioj nehT 




The Facts: Zatanna

Height: 6 3/4ths inches

Articulation: Hinged toes, double swivel hinged ankles, double hinged knees, swivel/hinge hips, balljointed waist, swivel/hinge shoulders w/ ballsockets, bicep swivels, double hinged elbows, double swivel/ hinge wrists, and a barbell jointed head.
 
Accessories: Hat, hairpiece, 4 swappable hands, collector card, and display stand.
 







The Facts: Detective Chimp

Height: 4 inches 

Articulation: Swivel waist, swivel shoulders, and a swivel head.

Accessories: Collector card.

Non-Scalper Price: $35 dollars










Comparison:

* Here's a shot of the Platinum release of Zatanna and Detective Chimp (left) with the standard release of Zatanna and Detective Chimp (right). Besides the paint/ color differences, both Zatanna and Detective Chimp have unique portraits that are swappable. That's kind of cool and not something I expected from McFarlane Toys.  




The Positives:

* Zatanna is dressed up in her classic stage magician's attire with a tuxedo shirt, short jacket, bowtie, underbust corset, tiny black shorts, gloves, and hose. It's a classic look that really still feels very modern, especially when presented in a more realistic style like this. The colors are good, a bit more muted than seen in her first appearance in Hawkman #4 in 1964, but that jacket is still pretty eye-catching. There's a lot of detail in the corset and it's a shade brighter than the shirt and gloves, though I wander why McFarlane didn't go with yellow? I know the modern figure has the yellow corset, but classic Zatanna had yellow as well. Well, most of the time. You can find images with her wearing all white, but it does cause the corset to kind of blend in to much with the sculpt. It's not a bad look, but it could have popped a bit more, especially with the (comic accurate) white bowtie. 



* While the outfit might be reminiscent of the Silver Age Zatanna, the portrait isn't; it's very modern. It's really nice and showcases Zatanna's flowing black hair (with some blue highlights to bring out the detail) and gorgeous eyes. It's one of the best McFarlane portraits I've seen, giving us a Zatanna with a more serious or neutral look. Her hairpiece is removable, though it's the same as the standard release, so I'm not sure why. Maybe to make it easier to swap portraits between the two figures so you're not putting excess pressure and pulling on her hair?




* Zatanna comes with her top hat, a staple for any classic performing magician. Again, the colors aren't faithful to the Silver Age version of Zatanna, but this figure isn't really trying to be an accurate classic Zatanna; it's an inspired repaint. The hat fits well on her head and can be held in her right hand as part of her stage routine. The standard Zatanna's hat has a red band while this one gets a blue band that matches her jacket.





* While the joint design on DC Multiverse (and most McFarlane Toys releases these days) is a bit clunky and out of date, Zatanna still has a decent number of articulation points with a pretty solid range of motion, especially in her arms. Her shoulders, elbows, biceps, and wrists do allow you to get her in a variety of poses using her wand, her top hat, and her two magical effect hands. She stands fine and her balljointed waist is nicely hidden under her corset. 



* Zatanna comes with four hands that swap easily and give her a few different display options. First up is a pair of hands with the palms open to showoff a magical flame. That's kind of a fun inclusion that can work for a number of poses. A left hand is included with Zatanna's wand permanently attached. I'm not usually a fan of most attached accessories, but this one isn't too bad. It's a simple wand, so it's not something you'd really need as an extra piece. The last is a standard right hand grip for holding her top hat. A pair of just basic hands would have been nice, or at least a standard left hand, but would you really pose Zatanna without a wand?

* While he's not billed on the packaging, the set does come with a second figure: Detective Chimp! Yes, the simian detective is included here and is definitely one of the best inclusions in a McFarlane Collector Edition set. Usually these sets feel like we're paying more for a more obscure character but this set definitely earns its price tag with a second figure. Fully painted and with a great sculpt, Detective Chimp is a figure that we haven't received before. He looks excellent here in a tan suit, mixing things up from the green suit of the standard release. 





* Detective Chimp looks pretty angry here! I'm getting flashbacks of Primate! Or Congo, for those of you as old as me. It's a great sculpt with excellent work on the teeth, solid paint applications, and a non-removable deerstalker cap on his head. Fierce. 









* Check out Detective Chimp's furry hands! That's some solid detail. 






* The same can be said for Bobo's feet. They're very eerily realistic. He doesn't have foot pegs but the feet are wide enough to really keep him standing just fine.







* Detective Chimp isn't just a slug figure; he is articulated. Not fully articulated, sure, but he has a swivel waist, swivel arms, and a swivel head. You're not going to get any crazy poses out of him but he definitely qualifies as an action figure and you can work to get him in a better pose that fits your display. Too bad he doesn't have a pipe and a magnifying glass. 








* Not only does Zatanna get a collectible card and a display stand but Detective Chimp also gets a collectible card. That's pretty neat! I know it's not a huge thing but I'm glad McFarlane Toys threw an extra one in for him.






The Negatives:



* Let's talk about the negatives. I have two complaints and both involve Zatanna's legs. First, considering this is supposed to be an attractive woman in hose, I mean, c'mon! Those visible pins are just terrible. I mean, that is one of the worst joints I've ever seen. And that sculpted seam? And the way it bunches at her ankles? It's just absolutely terrible. 








* Also... doesn't Zatanna pretty much always wear fishnets? I mean, I get what McFarlane was going for here with the slightly darker color representing someone wearing hose, but it just doesn't look right. Mattel did actual fishnets for Zatanna back in... 2011? Yeah, 2011. On a slightly smaller figure. And they did better. I actually like this figure quite a bit, but the hose/ fishnets here are just pitiful. 




FYI:

* Just FYI, Zatanna's portrait is easily swappable, so you can put the smirking face from the standard release on this one and vice versa. The hair is removable, though it's the same as the other one, so I'm not completely sure why. Maybe so you don't rip it if you're removing the head? It's a bit softer so if you pulled on it when swapping heads, I guess it could tear. 







* Detective Chimp can also swap heads. The hats will be colored differently from his suit, but that's actually not a bad thing. The faces are very different, so it's a nice option. 







   Did I complain about Zatanna's legs? Yes, I absolutely did. Do I like this set quite a bit, though? I really do. There are some odd design choices, sure, but as a paint variant/ headsculpt variant of the standard figure? I'm pretty cool with this. Plus, Detective Chimp isn't a bad figure on his own, either. Getting both of them together definitely makes this set feel more worth the asking price than most other McFarlane Collector Edition sets out there. It's actually a Great and a 1/2 set. It's a shame Detective Chimp doesn't have a magnifying glass, though I think I can easily find him one. Now my Justice League Dark is ready for action. 


Looking for more of Zatanna Zatara? I've also reviewed the Kotobukiya Bishoujo Zatanna and the DC Comics Little Bombshells Zatanna. 

This is the first figure of Detective Chimp I've reviewed. For more DC Multiverse reviews check out the following:
Harley Quinn (The Suicide Squad)
Hugo Strange (Batman: Transference)
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

What'chu talkin' 'bout?

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)