McFarlane Toys Digital DC Direct Green Lantern review

McFarlane Toys is slowly taking their time cranking out classic versions of the Justice League. With this latest Digital subset of the Multiverse line we’re one step closer with the DC Direct Green Lantern figure.

This is about as classic a Silver Age Hal Jordan that collectors could hope for. It’s got the added bonus of being the outfit Hal is currently wearing in the Green Lantern title from Jeremy Adams and Xermanico.

Let’s see if this will be the definitive Silver Age Hal Jordan figure or if McFarlane will need to take another shot at him later.

Packaging: McFarlane actually mixed up the familiar packaging scheme from the DC Multiverse line for these DC Direct figures. The window is wider with a turquoise and dark blue color scheme. It’s a sharper presentation than the Multiverse line.

The right-side label shows this is Green Lantern: The Silver Age so there’s no confusion for the figure’s inspiration. I can’t place the artist whose work was used for the rear packaging.

Likeness: DC Direct Green Lantern is using the Blue Beetle buck right down to that annoying boot cuff. Otherwise, it’s a smooth buck that matches up nicely with the simple Silver Age outfit.

All that’s needed is the head sculpt and right hand with the ring. The head sculpt is superb. It’s right up there with the best McFarlane Toys has done with the line. It perfectly captures Hal’s personality with that slight smirk and perfectly coiffed hair.

The ring could use more sculpted detail instead of being a circular blob on his finger. That was done better with Mattel’s DC Classics Hal Jordan and the earlier DC Direct figures. 

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Scale: The Beetle mold is taller than I’d like since it puts characters right up against Superman height-wise. That’s less of a problem for the Silver Age characters though I’d like Superman to be the tallest of the Justice League.  

Paint: There’s not a lot of paintwork, but what’s here is solid. The biggest concern was the logo with the white circle having some bleed through.

It’s a little weak but is mostly consistent. The mask outlining is sharp. Maybe the lips are a little too dark red, but it’s not too distracting.  

Articulation: Green Lantern battles around like a jet pilot with a certain fearless recklessness. His figure similarly shouldn’t be burdened by wonky articulation. 

Hal can hit a number of dynamic flying, aiming, gesturing and to hit dynamic running poses, deep stances and charging punches. Thankfully the Blue Beetle mold is one of McFarlane’s better base bodies and accomplish these poses with little trouble. 

DC Direct Green Lantern has:

• neck
• ball-jointed shoulders [with pop up/down point]
• elbow
• wrist
• wrist hinge
• torso
• waist
• hip
• thigh
• knee
• ankle
• toe

Accessories: It might be a different line, but McFarlane Toys hasn’t changed up its accessory rollout.

Hal’s got two additional left-hand options — a fingers spread and a lantern holding hand. These are useful alternate choices.

Additionally, Hal has his lantern. This version is translucent. It’s got a decent amount of detail although the handle is thicker than ideal.

To simulate Hal’s construct, there’s two energy swirls — one for each hand. 

Naturally getting some unique constructs would have been better. I doubt I’ll use them much beyond this review. As always, he’s got the small black stand to help him balance. This stand has a McFarlane Toys Digital logo. He has a code for the digital figure as well as the standard McFarlane Toys card.

Worth it?  The DC Direct figures have a higher-than-normal price tag of $24.99. This is the usual McFarlane Toys price for a Build-A-Figure wave. The digital figure doesn’t make up for the extra cost, but at least this figure is really well done.

Rating: 10 out of 10

Hal joins Knightfall Batman and Flashpoint Flash as one of the definitive figures in the DC Multiverse line and well worth seeking out. 

Where to get it? I got DC Direct Green Lantern from Amazon. He’s been the hardest of the trio with Aquaman and Batman to find in stores, but Target and GameStop carries this line as well. McFarlane Toy Shop, which is the best bet for now.