Toy Review: Mattel’s DC Comics Premier The Flash Has Some Good, Some Bad

After taking a close look at Robin about a week ago, we’re back to revisit Mattel’s first wave of DC Comics figures — this time with the Flash.

Barry Allen is one of DC’s most recognizable and iconic heroes. He debuted in 1959’s Showcase #4, ushering in the silver age of comics. He’s also one of the most adapted DC heroes, with two TV series, a film, and starring roles in every on-screen version of the Justice League (I genuinely can’t think of a single animated Justice League that didn’t include Barry or Wally West). It was a natural move to adapt him early in this first wave of figures.

I’ll echo what I said in my Robin review first about the packaging- “The first impression I had was great. The packaging was eye catching and I actually really dug that both figures were posed in the packaging (something rarely seen with non-collectors figures). I also really liked the packaging art. It is a little odd that the back of the packaging was labelled “DC Super-Villains” with only one villain in the wave, but maybe that will be made clear soon.”

That is absolutely the case here as well. I’m really curious about the DC Super-Villains branding in particular, especially since wave I’s villain is the Joker, and wave II’s villain is … the Joker (in a Batman costume). Other villains have been announced (Killer Croc in a Batman two-pack specifically), but “Super-Villains” branding would make more sense if the waves were equal parts heroes and villains.

It also has a slew of accessories, but I didn’t personally taken them out of the packaging because, in my opinion, the Flash doesn’t need tons.

But what about the Flash?

Well, where I was most impressed by Robin, I have mixed feelings about this figure at best.

First of all, the design is great. This is a very classic look to Flash. It’s also very distinctly Barry’s costume, with a few elements borrowed from Wally, specifically the lack of wings on his boots, and design of the arm band and belt being more angled than straight across. Here’s where my first complaint comes in though.

For some reason, blond-haired blue-eyed Barry (or ginger and green-eyed Wally, depending on who you assume it to be), has a remarkably dark complexion. Rather than looking very Caucasian, as this version of the Flash normally is, he looks closer to Latino or middle-Eastern. It’s a weird choice. This isn’t just a paint application issue either though, as the figure’s knees are a completely different shade of red (which the other joints are as well, but they’re hidden under the brighter red of the rest of the body).

Posing, the figure is mostly good. The pivoting ankles Robin had are gone, with is a little disappointing for a runner. The neck joint on my figure was remarkably loose though. It doesn’t feel like the head is going to fall off, but any slight jostle moves it around. Otherwise, I was able to pose it pretty well.

This is still a fun figure, it’s just not as good as its companion I reviewed about a week and a half ago. Still, for a budget figure, it’s pretty great, just a little flawed.