Toy Review: DC Gotham Knights, Three Jokers, Swamp Thing and More

Sometimes, the toy samples for review we get sent group together easily by type. Others, it’s just a huge box of stuff. In this second of two features, we take a close-up look and some of McFarlane Toys‘ recent offering that came to us this way. Naturally, variants of Superman and Batman feature in, but also figures from Gotham Knights, Three Jokers, and the big deluxe Swamp Thing.

Swamp Thing’s size allows for an impressive level of detail. With sculpted leafy pieces on top of an already intricate sculpt, he creates a look of layered vegetation. DC Collectibles made a similar figure at this scale, but it cost $90. At less than half that, the new one makes a great deal.

The only real weakness in the sculpt? The smooth ball joints on the butterfly points. The texture and coloring just isn’t quite a match. He’s easily poseable to hide those points, but they’re a minor bummer.

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The alternate, swap-out spike hand looks great, however. Switch either of his regular hands for it.

Lit from different angles, Swamp Things sculpt creates nifty shadows. But on The Comedian Joker (a.k.a. The Killing Joke), shadows are literally painted on his face, to make his hat shade even creepier.

The hat’s permanently attached, and creates some natural shade. But like the Pennywise head in NECA’s accessory set, this Joker has some help with a specific color scheme.

It’s creepy AF, and an appropriate rendition of the character, using a new sculpt. Per WB rules, he comes with a crowbar, but that trigger finger begs for something else.

One point of interest on this Joker is his curvy left leg. He stands fine, but it looks a little anatomically weird. Like maybe Batman broke his bone and it reset off-center.

The Three Jokers Batgirl is a slight resculpt/repaint of McFarlane Toys’ very first Batgirl figure. Her legs seem proportionately long, but the color scheme really pops. She includes a grapnel launcher and a Batarang shaped like the Silver Age/1989 movie poster logo. Like many of McFarlane’s earlier figures, she sports evident, exposed wrist ball joints, but on her slenderer arms, they’re less of an issue.

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Red Hood, as seen in the Gotham Knights video game, came to us in two versions: regular, and unpainted Artist Proof. The latter includes a different trading card. In the game, Red Hood packs two non-lethal pistols. WB rules being what they are, he can’t have them. In a hilarious workaround. McFarlane gave him alternate “finger guns” hands. Even as he still wears ammo clips on his butt.

Even with the new non-DC weapons pack, Red Hood can’t hold two guns, because he only includes one trigger-finger hand. Fortunately, many DC Multiverse figures can swap hands, so if you want Jason to hold two, go looking for other black-gloved characters. There oughta be more than a couple in this Bat-family heavy line.

In the meantime, Hood looks good with She-Spawn’s guns. They both love red.

The Nightwing figure hilariously and accurately captures Dick Grayson’s uncanny valley look from the game.

The layered costume doesn’t quite have the fluidity of pose that the game model invariably can. Still, he strikes poses effectively.

Rounding out the box come two gold label repaints of previous figures. The silver White Knight Azrael looks great with metallic finish, like a poseable pewter figurine made large. The translucent shiny cape works well too. And even though Todd McFarlane did not create this Batsuit design, it has something of a Medieval Spawn look to it.

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Armored Superman gets a bit of a Tron makeover, though it looks less neon and more like a stage covered in glow-tape that’s taken human form. More creative than the red and blue basic look he previously came in.

Considering it’s Superman in bulky armor, the figure’s relatively small next to others. But it was made early in the line, when the scale was fuzzy. Arms, neck, and upper torso joints feel a little weak on this one, but the wings are highly adaptable. Leg joints stay clicky and solid.

Entertainment Earth still has many of these in stock and preorder for $19.99 (Swamp Thing for $39.99). Entertainment Earth is an affiliate partner with Superhero Hype, which may earn fees based on purchases made through links. Other outlets may offer comparable pricing, but probably not lower.

Take a look through the full gallery below for many, many more angles on these figures. Then let us know what you think in comments.

Recommended Reading: Superman: Lois and Clark

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