The Terrible Toyman : The Suicide Squad and the Winter Guard

The Suicide Squad and the Winter Guard
DC Multiverse - McFarlane Toys and Marvel Legends - Hasbro

So, the first Suicide Squad movie sucked, but at least I got some obscure DC figures out of the mess. Expectations for a second movie are low, but like hell I’m gonna pass on a figure of Polka-Dot Man!

I don’t dislike Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn, I’m just a lil tired of that character carrying the bulk of the weight of the DC Cinematic Universe. Having been Harley(ed) to death with figure variations since 1993, I would have passed on this one altogether had it not been for the King Shark build a figure piece. Still, the red dress is something new, and the applications of her bonkers tattoos are clean and crisp. There is something a bit off with the face…almost there, but not quite. It really depends on the lighting and angle.

Same goes for John Cena’s Peacemaker. Being a WWE fan, Ive had my fair share of better likenesses from Mattel. It’s there, but not quite…which may be a minus for a face covered 50% by a helmet. The costume looks great. See, Marvel…you can do movie-ized versions of comic outfits and get away with it…if you arent secretly ashamed of the material you’re writing for.

The Idris Elba likeness is…um…nonexistent. Yup, Todd McFarlane wants you to buy a figure with 95% reuse just so you can get an alternate head. It’s always 1997 in Todd’s world! Eh, I like the helmet anyway. Has Bloodsport had an outfit or color scheme like this in current comics? It’s a lil too “placeholder for Deathstroke” if you ask me.

Saving the best for last, Polka-Dot Man is here is all of his goofy glory! And he has a fairly comic accurate costume! Love the removable goggles. Not sure how they are going to explain his bizarre dot powers, but at least he comes with an appropriate weapon and blast effect. Now, If we could only get Kite Man for SS III…

Oh, speaking of weapons…I assume the movie will explain the weird swords and staff included with these. Apparently, Warner Brothers will approve you to make toys of your violent, not-for-kids movie, just as long as they don’t have guns. Um, that kinda dulls the MO of two world class assassins being on the team (one having once shot Superman with a Kryptonite bullet.). Sigh…Thank goodness for Jazwares’ Fortnite figures and their plethora of ammunition. I was able to grab a few appropriate firearms for this photo shoot.

I already have a King Shark from Mattel some years back, but this is a unique take: chubby and deceivingly friendly looking. From they trailers, I assume he’s the team’s big, dumb tank. And he’s voiced by Stallone!

Sharky may be one of the weightiest figures in some time…lottsa solid plastic. His articulation is fair for a figure of his size, but the shorts restrict most of his knee movement. No team running pics for this guy. The articulated mouth makes up for it. Nomnomnomnom!

Aside from Harley overload, this is a pretty solid wave of figures. I know there are a ton of characters on the team this time around (though who knows who survives more than a few second of screen time), so I hope the movie is successful enough for another wave or two. The Thinker, Ratcatcher 2, and Mongal are musts for me. They can keep the Pete Davidson figure, though…he looks like you could catch something from him just by standing next to him, and I don’t need any of that near my action figures.

One good, wacky team deserves another, so I’m pairing the Squad with Marvel’s Soviet Super-Soldiers, the Winter Guard! Not much to say about Marvel Legends in general…more of the reused bodies, but great articulation and head sculpts.

I’ve covered the awesome, steampunky Crimson Dynamo before, and Red Guardian came out several years ago at this point. Darkstar and Build-a-Figure Ursa Major are new additions. It’s hard to keep track of Legends…I think we’ve had four waves hit in one summer!