Toy OTD: DC Direct First Appearance Figure: Robin The Boy Wonder

I don't think that this toy line lasted for very long, but it did generate some really cool figures! Robin was part of series two, which also included Hawkman, Green Lantern, and Superman.

Naturally, this Robin is from the Jerry Robinson cover for Detective Comics #38 - when he first appeared with Batman. The sculpt does a fine job of capturing the cheer of Robinson's artwork. The paint passes are nicely done, and the fabric cape is a nice touch - the scale is a little bulky, but overall it's just fine.

There's a good amount of articulation on this toy - there's at least nine points, and possibly more. This does lead to some balance issues - the knees aren't tight enough to really lock into a pose, so it's tough to keep the figure upright, even though a display stand's included. You'll need to weigh balance (would you be better off with a maquette?) against price (can your budget go over action-figure level?).

You also get a mini-comic of Detective #38, but if I were on the fence about buying this figure, it doesn't really tip the scales in any meaningful way. The packaging is eye-catching, but otherwise about average for a blister-pack - nothing you'd be tempted to keep unopened.

This is still an easily-found, affordable toy - you can buy one for as low as $12.99 + shipping on eBay, or dodge the auctions for $14.50 + shipping at cosmicclutter.com. Happy shopping!