Two major comics publishing companies transformed the sector into a real deal and inspired its fame. DC Comics and Marvel comics were highly famous among toy owners. Their use of attractive characters could have inspired the desire to conserve their memories in toys and collectibles.
DC Comics is one of the oldest, most successful, and most popular comic publishing companies in the world today. Entrepreneur Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson founded it in 1934. The company produced its first comic in February of the following year, naming it “Fun: The Big Comic Magazine.” DC Comics deals majorly with superheroes, and they have most of their comics based on the superhero genre. In June 1938, DC Comics introduced a comic titled “Action Comics” that featured Superman for the first time. With Action Comic’s success, DC Comics introduced another superhero in March 1939, “Batman” in “Detective Comics.” The first issues of both Action Comics and Detective Comics are unbelievably valuable and expensive now because of their impact on the comic world.
For the amazing wealth of both superheroes and supervillains in the DC Universe, it is near impossible not to make a toy based on DC Comic’s characters. Everybody wants to own a toy of their favorite comic heroes to play with or to keep as part of a collection. DC Comics has an affiliate company that produces and distributes DC Comic’s action figures and replicas.
Presenting, the best ten toys made based on DC Comics characters.
10. DC Direct’s Wonder Woman – Wonder Woman (2007)
![DC Direct's Wonder Woman – Wonder Woman (2007)](https://cdn.wheeljackslab.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/01102438/DCDirectWonderWoman.png)
Princess Diana of Themyscira had left her island to live with humans as an ambassador of peace. This issue depicts the Amazon princess’s might, her struggle with supervillains like Dr. Psycho and the Cheetah. Now, she must work on her love life with the human pilot, Steve Trevor.
In the year 2007, DC Direct produced a series of Wonder Woman toy lines with this one having the Lasso of Truth.
9. Kenner’s Swamp Thing – Snare Arm Swamp Thing (1990)
![Kenner's Swamp Thing – Snare Arm Swamp Thing (1990)](https://cdn.wheeljackslab.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/01102441/KennerSnareArmSwampThing.jpg)
The Dark Genesis was an unprecedented fusion of horror and the superhero genre. Written by Bernie Wrightson (a horror specialist) and Len Wein. Swamp Thing: Dark Genesis depicts the origin of the Swamp Thing, its reputation as both a monster and a savior, and its constant struggle to save the earth.
In 1990, Kenner produced a series of Swamp Thing replica toys, with this one enhanced with a snare arm and a monster trap.
8. DC Direct’s Shazam! – 13” Deluxe Collector Figure (2005)
![DC Direct's Shazam! – 13” Deluxe Collector Figure (2005)](https://cdn.wheeljackslab.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/01102444/DCDirectsShazam13DeluxeCollectorFigure2005.jpg)
Although regarded as earth’s mightiest mortal, the comic “Shazam!: Origin” recounted Captain Marvel’s origin tales and his struggles. Billy Batson, a young teenager, has the magical ability to turn into a fully grown man with superhuman abilities by mentioning the name of a great wizard, “Shazam!”.
In 2005, DC Direct produced and distributed a magnificent 13″ Captain Marvel replica toy. The idea of the mighty Captain Marvel being an alter ego of a teenage kid made this toy a must-have for most teenagers in the late 20th century.
7. DC Direct’s DC Essentials – Aquaman (2018)
![DC Direct's DC Essentials – Aquaman (2018)](https://cdn.wheeljackslab.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/01102451/DCDirectDCEssntialsAquaman.png)
The Legend of Aquaman narrates his story as a baby who his mother abandoned at a seabed called Mercy Reef. He survived the attempted murder, grew up on his own, and a lighthouse keeper later adopted then gave him the name Arthur Curry. He later realizes who he truly was, went back to his original home, Atlantis, and became the king.
This figurine is an action figure of the Aquaman, armed with his famous weapon, Trident of Poseidon. DC direct produced the figure in 2018.
6. Funko Pop!’s DC Super Heroes – The Joker (Batman: The Killing Joke) (2016)
![Funko Pop!'s DC Super Heroes – The Joker (Batman: The Killing Joke) (2016)](https://cdn.wheeljackslab.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/01102454/FunkoPopDCSuperHeroesTheJoker.jpg.png)
To many comic book fans, The Joker is the ultimate villain in the DC Universe, but it was The Killing Joke that served as Joker’s origin. Batman: The Killing Joke depicts the Joker as an engineer who got involved in a robbery group to support his wife and their unborn child. At the scene of his first crime, he received news of the demise of his wife and unborn child.
He was unable to withdraw from the crime which led to the death of his partners. To avoid capture by Batman, he tried to escape through a chemical waste drainage system. After getting out, he discovered that the chemical had bleached his skin to chalk-white, his lips were red, and his hair dyed to green. With the news of his wife and baby’s death, he lost his sanity, and the Joker was born.
Funko created a fun toy of him for their Pop! Heroes line in 2016. This Joker figure came with a camera to mimic the cover page of The Killing Joke comic.
5. DC Direct’s The Dark Knight Returns – Batman (2004)
![DC Direct’s The Dark Knight Returns Batman (2004)](https://cdn.wheeljackslab.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/01102139/DCDirectDarkKnightReturnsBatman.jpg)
The Dark Knight Returns depicts the story of a retired Batman, who returned to crime-fighting after ten years of retirement. Gotham had witnessed a new form of organized crime, and criminal groups were on the rave. Batman came back and cleansed his city of all criminals, defeating the Joker, Harvey Dent, and the Mutants’ leader in the process. His success drew jealousy from the White House, and they sent Superman to arrest him, they had a remarkable brawl to the amusement of comic fans, but Batman had to fake his death to continue his crime-fighting.
This action figure is part of a series that DC Direct produced in 2004.
4. DC Direct’s Series 3 Green Lantern – Sinestro (2008)
![DC Direct's Series 3 Green Lantern – Sinestro (2008)](https://cdn.wheeljackslab.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/01102457/DCDirectSeries3GreenLanternSinestro.jpg)
Formerly a Green Lantern himself, Sinestro of Korugar and his new band of supervillains, powered by the yellow lantern of fear. Sinestro felt that his fellow green lanterns had betrayed him then banished him to Qward. After years of planning his revenge on the Green Lantern Corps, Sinestro returned to wreak havoc on the universe with his newly formed Sinestro Corps.
DC Directed produced this action figure in the year 2008. Included in the packaging was a Yellow Lantern and Despotellis, also a member of the Sinestro Corps.
3. DC Direct’s Superman – Supergirl (1998)
![DC Direct's Superman – Supergirl (1998)](https://cdn.wheeljackslab.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/01102500/DCDirectSupermanSupergirl.png)
Imagine Superman but a girl instead. Kara Zor-El is Superman’s cousin. Her parents also sent her to Earth to save her from dying with Krypton and with taking care of her cousin, Kal-El. Mysteriously, Kara’s space pod arrived dearth much later than scheduled. Her cousin already is a grown superhuman in Superman.
So, the Denver family adopted and raised her as their daughter. She has all the same abilities as Superman and draws her powers from the earthly son. Super Girl: The Silver Age Omnibus depicts the life of Supergirl and how she aids her cousin in protecting the universe.
DC Direct produced this beautiful work of art in 1998.
2. DC Direct’s Identity Crisis – The Flash (2006)
![DC Direct's Identity Crisis – The Flash (2006)](https://cdn.wheeljackslab.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/01102506/dcdirectidentitycrisistheflash.png)
Deemed the fastest man alive, Barry Allen used to be the Flash, but after his death on “crisis on infinite earth,” the mantle fell to his friend and protege Wally West. The Flash: The Return of Barry Allen depicts the sudden return of Barry Allen. It was a Christmas morning, and Barry knocked on Wally’s door. Barry Allen grew more violent and was too eager to become “The Flash” back. It took the whole Team Flash a while to realize that the man with them was not their Barry Allen but was The Reverse-Flash.
DC Directed released this action figure in the year 2006.
1. DC Direct’s Superman Basic Series – Superman (1998)
![DC Direct's Superman Basic Series – Superman (1998)](https://cdn.wheeljackslab.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/01102509/DCDirectBasicSeriesSuperman.png)
There is no comic fan that is not familiar with the stories of Superman, from his origin tales to his conquests against his foes, his love life, friends, and family. The one thing this issue illustrates is the end of Superman. “Whatever happened to the Man of Tomorrow” depicts the final disappearance of Superman. The comic started with an interview with Lois Lane where she tried to explain the mental state of Superman.
It all started with the revelation that his secret identity is Clark Kent. This discovery made things difficult for everybody associated with him. Then there was a visit from The Legion who came to pay their last respect to him. The decisive battle was between Superman and a brainiac-infected Lex Luthor. Superman discovered that Mr. Mxyzptlk was the mastermind behind all this.
Now, Superman decided to capture him in the Phantom Zone, but Mxyzptlk had already tried to escape into the Fifth Dimension. Mr. Mxyzptlk was torn in half because of the two dimensions’ pull, and he died instantly. Breaking his own rule of not killing, Superman shed his super abilities using gold kryptonite, and he disappeared into the Arctic.
DC Directed produced this figure of Superman in 1998.
Final Thoughts
DC Comics has produced over 25,000 comics, and they have created over 10,000 characters for the DC Universe. With this abundance of wealth to pick from, the DC is a soft target for manufacturing companies to model their work by drawing inspiration from. DC Comics also has its own toy-producing affiliate company.
Only Marvel Comics can claim to rival DC Comics, and these two companies have rebranded our ideas of toys.
About the author
Author: Chris Ingledue
Contact: email
Bio: I am the founder and owner of Wheeljack’s Lab pop Culture and Toy Shop. My vision has always been to reunite customers with their favorite childhood toys and pop culture, triggering fond memories, and reigniting their imaginations. Every day, I work in the “lab” where it’s Christmas 365 days a year. I scour the internet, like when we had the Sears Catalog of yesteryear, for the next great treasure. Then, I await the arrival of the postman as if he were Santa Claus himself and helping collectors worldwide with their own versions of Christmas. Every day as a vintage toy buyer is an absolute joy!