Blog Post

I always think that it’s a beautiful thing when one company obtains the rights to make toys from both Marvel and DC Comics’ respective universes. Marvel and DC are fierce competitors, engaging in pricing wars, rebooting universes to make it easier for new readers to pick up comics, and sometimes fighting over the talented artists and writers who defect from one label to another. Aside form the occasional crossover, it never feels like an overly amicable relationship.

But when I can collect both Batman (DC Comics) and The Hulk (Marvel Comics) figures that fit into the same scale and universe, I’m pretty happy. It rarely happens.

WizKids’ Heroclix line is probably the greatest example of Marvel and DC existing in the same playable universe, wherein you can pit tiny figures of Iron Man and Superman against one another and see who emerges victorious in a game of dice, superpowers and strategy. Eaglemoss makes lead figurines from both universes which are pretty great and fit into the same aesthetic. Other examples are few and far between… but now, we have DC Comics Squinkies to mix with our Marvel guys.

I know. Squinkies aren’t exactly action figures, and they’re probably intended for a younger audience than my lumpy, three-decade-old self, but before you make any judgments, I’m an employed guy with a girlfriend, and who has a significant life outside of comics and toys. So, let’s just get some of those stereotypes out of the way. I’m all of these things, and I like Squinkies.

I’ve explored Marvel Squinkies in depth twice before. Not only did that initial character selection rival most other figural properties (anything that includes a MODOK and a Galactus at the same time is pure gold, as far as I’m concerned), but they’re just weird enough to be awesome. Squinkies keeps it up with the DC Comics character selection, offering four different packs of 12 figures just in their opening gambit for my wallet: DC Comics Series 1 and 2, as well as Batman and Justice League-themed packs. The best part is that these inch-tall, rubberized heroes are so small that you can barely tell that some of them are from DC Comics’ rebooted “New 52″ universe. I like my heroes classic.

That’s four different Batman Squinkies right there, because the people at Squinkies know what’s really important. Not only are there four Batmen, but there are also two Jokers, two Catwomen, two Two-Faces, and two Penguins, as well as a classic Batmobile (which is one of the secret figures).

These sets cover the core DC Comics universe pretty well, but one of the strengths of Squinkies’ comic lines is that they’re not afraid to get a little more obscure. Included in these sets are Deadman, Kamandi, Swamp Thing, Darkseid, The Spectre and Zatanna.

I’ve created a full gallery of these guys in our Community, so check out the full lineup. There’s a whole lot to see, and I’m relatively certain that there’ll be many, many more weirdo characters to come in future waves. Can I request anything Jack Kirby every created, please? Well, maybe not everything. Not even a nerd like me wants Squinkies of the Forever People.

Squinkies, you’re doing a pretty rad job providing nerds with an inexpensive source of new nerdery, as well as introducing a new generation of mini-nerds to the creative depths and history of the world of comics. And any history you can squish between your fingers is okay by me.