Sunday, December 1, 2024

Action Figure Review: Huntress (The New 52) from DC Multiverse by McFarlane Toys

 


   We are quickly approaching the end of the year and it's time to check out another McFarlane DC Multiverse figure. Personally, I think 2024 has been a pretty strong for this line as the amount of unique characters and Batman heroes and villains that has been added to the roster has been pretty impressive. I believe we're probably getting more figures per year than Mattel released at the height of their DC Universe Classics line and far more than DC Direct/ Collectibles ever released in a year. Furthermore, they're all compatible, unlike most DC Collectibles and DC Direct sets, which usually had their own scales, styles, and artist specific aesthetics. Huntress is new to DC Multiverse and is part of the McFarlane Collector Edition subset which costs a bit more, but usually comes with a few more extras as well. Huntress in her default look comes in her outfit from The New 52 while her Platinum release is based on her early/ mid 1990s look that was also utilized in the Total Justice toyline from Kenner. I've seen the Platinum version around quite a few times but I haven't been tempted to pick her up. This one was a huge want for me, though, and it's probably my second favorite Huntress costume (I love her Jim Lee/ Hush design best; I'm a sucker for that era). Ready to check out McFarlane's first attempt at Helena Wayne? Then let's check her out after the break...





The Facts:

Height: 7 inches

Articulation: Hinged toes, double swivel hinged ankles, double hinged knees, swivel/hinge hips, balljointed waist, balljointed mid torso, swivel/hinge shoulders w/ ballsockets, bicep swivels, double hinged elbows, double swivel/ hinge wrists, and a barbell jointed head.
 
Accessories: Collector card, display stand, 3 swappable face plates, 6 swappable hands, and a crossbow.
 
Non-Scalper Price: $30 dollars





The Positives:

* Huntress' costume from The New 52 is a pretty good look for her, being recognizable but offering a bit of protection and storage space. This version of Huntress is Helena Wayne and not Helena Bertinelli. She's from Earth 2, is the daughter of Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle Wayne, and partnered with power Girl in World's Finest. (Helena Bertinelli did show up in the regular New 52 continuity later in the Grayson series.) I believe there is a lot of new sculpting here, particularly a new torso and lots of little elements like her shoulder pads and cool belt. That buckle could have used a paint hit, though. Her color scheme is great and the purple color is much deeper and more violet in person than in my pictures (where they look more blue).

* Rather than swappable heads, a feature we don't see on DC Multiverse figures too often, Huntress has three swappable faceplates. They swap easily, fit on well, and look pretty good. I don't think they're as nice as most of the regular headsculpts, but they're made from a different material and the paintwork is rendered differently. The first portrait is actually more tied to the 90s era Huntress and would work better with the platinum. Her mask is smaller with no flares and her face is rather stoic.






* The second faceplate has the larger, almost Wolverine style, mask. This is definitely one intended to be used with this costume and it gives Helena Wayne a bit of a smile. The faceplates do look pretty seamless as the mask edges give a natural separation between the figure and the faceplate and Helena's longer, blowing hair covers the attachment point nicely. 








* The third faceplate uses the standard mask for this portrait but has a standard, more neutral expression for Huntress. Helena is not impressed.







* McFarlane has really been leaning into soft goods capes lately and Huntress is really nice. It's a thinner but really nice looking black material edged by a thicker white material. It looks could and seems kind of practical. It would still move naturally but wouldn't way Huntress down.





* It's also wired, so you can pose it along with her as she's stalking the night for evildoers.







* Huntress' articulation is quite good. If you're familiar with most McFarlane DC Multiverse figures (or any of the company's other modern figures) you probably know what to expect. Everything moves well and the figure is nice and sturdy with a good range of motion in most joints. I do wish McFarlane would start working on implementing more pinless articulation for aesthetic purposes, but the movement of the figure is just fine.



* Huntress comes with six swappable hands for changing up her poses. There are two gesturing hands, two pistol grips for holding her crossbow, and a pair of fists for punching out the bad guys. 











* Huntress does include a handheld crossbow. She's had multiple different types of crossbows over the years (and some dart pistols), so this one works well. It's not amazing or anything, but it is a crossbow and the figure does look pretty good holding it.








* Last up is a glossier collector card than usual and a display stand with a silver logo. With this series McFarlane seems to have removed the extraneous card holders that the earlier McFarlane Collector Edition Figures came with. It feels like we've been getting more accessories with each figure (or, in Huntress' case, the extra faceplates), so I think it's a fair trade.




   How's the Huntress? Not bad at all. If you like the New 52 version/ costume (or the 1990s Total Justice look if you snag the Platinum release) than you should be pretty happy. The faceplates are a nice feature and while I don't know that they look as good as a standard headsculpt or portrait, they do offer a lot of options. The cape is great, the extra hands give the figure some more flexibility, and the costume color scheme looks great. The Huntress is a Great figure. Is she as loaded as she could have been? I'm not sure, but she does come with a better assortment of extras than most. I still want a Hush era Huntress, though. 


 Looking for more of the Huntress, whether Helena Wayne or Helena Bertinelli? I've also looked at the DC Signature Series Huntress from Mattel and the DC Comics Little Bombshells Huntress.

For more DC Multiverse reviews check out the following:
Harley Quinn (The Suicide Squad)
Hugo Strange (Batman: Transference)
Impulse (Flash War)
The Joker- Bank Robber (The Dark Knight)
The Joker (The Dark Knight Rises) Jokerized
The Joker (Infinite Frontier)
The Joker- Sonar Vision (The Dark Knight)
Justice Buster (Batman: Endgame)
Kalibak (The Darkseid War)
Man-Bat (DC Rebirth)
Mister Freeze (Victor Fries)

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