Annnnnnnnnnd we're back! Sorry for the delay. There is far too much geek going on this Summer. We continue our stroll down the pegs of Green Lantern plastics with a focus on the Justice League Unlimited figure series, which is winding down this year before coming to a sad but inevitable close. We had a great run! This is a love/hate line for most die hard fans. We love them because they are awesome representations of the Bruce Timm designed DC Universe in its animated form. We hate them because a good 50% of them can't stand up or stay standing...at all. They made figures stands just for that reason, correct? That would be great, if all the figures had peg holes in their feet! I can also gripe about the ever increasing prices, but this isn't a pity party. This is a TOYPALOOZA!! WOOO! Let's celebrate the animated Green Lantern Corps, shall we? Here's the lineup...John Stewart - The chosen Green Lantern of the slightly multi-cultural Justice League from the start, John brought a strict, somewhat militant vibe to the group. This allowed Flash to embrace the roll of "funny guy" as well as wild card, without any scene stealing a Hal Jordan may have inadvertently caused. As a core member, John has had many action figures over the course of the line, but few offered anything profoundly different from previous entries. Painted symbol, inlaid symbol, sculpted symbol...TECHNO GOD!! Occasionally we'd get a deluxe GL with awesome constructs, but all too often, he was left powerless in the package. (I realize now, that sentence is awesome.) Aside from the techno look, evil Green Lantern of the alternate Earth Justice Lords, and a bit of articulation in the arms and legs treated to the core members, the majority of his figures are either with hair or without. Choose your favorite ladies!
Kilowog - The massive and memorable alien star of the Corps, recently featured in the film and given an oh so puny body for his figure. Mattel bulked this one up a bit, but he is still nowhere as big as he should be. He gets the standard 5 points of articulation in the head, shoulders and hips. Kilowog comes in a 3 pack with Tomar Re and John Stewart as well as single packed with his lantern.
Tomar Re - Another alien in the mix; this figure features the standard Green Lantern chest with slimmer arms and legs and a new head. He appears only in the previously mentioned 3 pack.Katma Tui - Ahhh..the ladies. When we talk about JLU figures that don't stand at all, we are looking at you. These figures all come packed with a stand for just that reason. Katma is your very standard, very re-used female body. She comes in a 3 pack with Kyle Rayner and Arkis Chummuck. There was a second version of the character with a far more accurate paint job and different costume packed into a second three pack featuring John Stewart and Despero. (sorry no pics of that version I have yet to own.)
Kyle Rayner - So far Kyle is the only other human to make it to the core line of figures. Kyle shares a body with many other figures across the line, with the addition of the obligatory new head. Kyle can be found in the previously mentioned 3 pack as well as a purple backed single pack with his lantern. He is also set to re-surface in a convention exclusive 3 pack with Evil Star and Goldface.
Arkis Chummuck - Hey, kids! It's Kyle again! No, it's just that same body with a new head. Why mess with success? Arkis can only be found in the previously mentioned Kyle/ Katma 3 pack.
Sinestro - Before the yellow light gave him an evil stiffy, Sinestro was part of team green. When the animated film Green Lantern: First Flight was released, Mattel created a 3 pack to celebrate. This is the only place to get Sinestro in his green duds. He has also been released in his silly jester-ish blue and black costume and finally, his killer Yellow Lantern costume, using the same body with reversed arms, which would been a nice touch had they put his ring on the opposite hand. Also included in the exclusive "Origins" 3 pack were Abin Sur and Hal Jordan in his flight uniform. To appease some fans, Mattel made the heads interchangeable so you could put Hal in his GL uniform as well. Why was this a big deal? Read on.Hal Jordan - The single most important, most recognised Green Lantern of all time. Sure, he wasn't in the show, but you would think he'd at least warrant an action figure for old times sake! Hell, they made Aqua Man in his old school outfit!! Gotta complete the vintage Super Friends, right? Right?! Mattel finally gave Hal some respect in the form of a "employees and friends of Matty" exclusive, no doubt created to make us sob creepy large man tears. And by us I mean me. It wasn't until the release of the Animated film to DVD that we would see him again, this time in his orange flight suit. Three cheers for an original sculpt, but what about our love of Hal in uniform? Never fear!! Pop his head off and put it on Sinestro's body and Hal can finally join the team...sans his mask. ~sigh~ Missed it by that much...
Abin Sur - Recreate the moment where a dying alien hands over a great power to the reckless but heroic Hal Jordan! Yay dying toys. Abin rocks the standard GL body with his new, pink, pop off head. To reiterate, Abin can only be found in the Green Lantern Origins 3 pack with Sinestro and Hal Jordan; an exclusive to San Diego Comic Con 2009.MANHUNTERS!! - I do love when Matty makes the bigger guys and keeps them affordable for us. Due to their size, they are among an elite group of JLU figures that don't fall over! The mechanical menace of the cosmos come 2 to a 3 pack with their pal John Stewart alongside. Since people like to army build, finding this pack was exceedingly hard at the time of release. The Manhunters each come with a control rod accessory; a rarity in 3 packs, making the pack even more desirable. How can you resist a Manhunter holding his rod? (you didn't think I'd let that opportunity slide, did you?)
Star Sapphire (not pictured) - There's that skinny female body again. I swear I have this lady somewhere in my collection, but she chose to not show up for the shoot, so I apologize. Women...m'I right? Hal's on again off again girlfriend/evil doer/cosmic hero turns up with Sand and Superman on a purple backed 3 pack. She also got the single pack treatment along with a purple translucent lightning bolt which she used often in no episodes of the show.
CLICK HERE for the full photo shoot and stay tuned for the 6 inch madness!!
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