Here’s hoping you fans of DC action figures have all those holiday credit card bills paid off, because McFarlane Toys is about to start preorders on Target exclusive Batgirl and The Rival figures. There’s no obvious connection between the two. One’s a hero, one’s a villain. Both are connected to major Justice League heroes — Batman and The Flash, in this case — one of whom has only sort-of appeared onscreen in a very different form.
Assassin’s Freed
In the movie Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn, Cassie was portrayed onscreen as a pre-teen pickpocket. In comics, however, she’s Batgirl. Or at least, a Batgirl. And let’s be honest: the scariest looking Batgirl to date. Batman at least lets criminals see a human part of his face. Cassandra just makes them look into complete darkness. The daughter of David Cain and Lady Shiva, she was taught to fight at an age before other kids even learn to speak. Also known as Black Bat and Orphan, she rebels against her assassin parents by fighting for justice alongside the Bat-family.
The Rival, real name Edward Clariss, is a familiar sort of Flash villain in that he’s a speedster, but evil. Or perhaps “embittered” is the better word. Created in 1949, he’s the arch-rival of the original Jay Garrick Flash, who believed he had recreated the formula for Flash powers. He donned a similar suit to Jay and committed crimes, but the effects proved only temporary. Oops. The figure is distinguished by evil Speed Force emanating from the eyes.
Both figures begin preorders at Target starting Jan. 30th. And here’s where the two may have a connection — you’ll need to be fast and deadly to get those orders in, if Target’s past record is anything to go by. Fortunately, they’re highly likely to show up in stores too.
