Since we first saw photos of Wave 13 back in October it gave rise to much discussion (as if any reveals don’t) to the characters selected for this wave. Many have said that it is one of the most obscure waves yet, and depending on your love of all things DC this can be either a good or bad thing. People are questioning how this wave will sell, especially with the little known characters, but I’m sure as with most waves of DCUC, it will have one or two peg warmers, but the majority collectors will be spending countless hours trying to locate the rest.

Fans of Wonder Woman can now rejoice as Cheetah has joined the ranks of DCUC. Wonder Woman does not have the most famous rogue’s gallery. Other than Ares and C&C Giganta, she really hasn’t had much to fight in terms of her own villains. Sure, Cheetah may look a little cheesy, especially when standing next to some of the more realistic characters, but not every villain needs to be a deranged psychopath.

Cheetah made her debut in Wonder Woman #6 in 1943. Over the years she has seen many changes as the character has developed. There have been three unique female Cheetahs, Priscilla Rich (Golden Age), Rich’s niece, Deborah Domaine (Silver Age), and Barbara Ann Minerva (modern and current). Priscilla Rich (the figure we are reviewing today) was a socialite with a split personality disorder. After being upstaged by Wonder Woman at a charity event, Priscilla had a breakdown and her inner evil self emerged taking upon the Cheetah mantle. Barbara Ann Minerva, the variant Cheetah, has more of a supernatural origin. As a British archaeologist, Barbara Minerva sought out an African tribe who worshiped a female guardian with the powers of a Cheetah. After the Guardian was murdered by a band of marauders Barbara Minerva volunteered to take her place after being told she would gain immortality. Barbara Minerva then desired for the Lasso of Truth when she learned that Wonder Woman possessed it. (more…)

Eclipso made his debut in House of Secrets #61 in 1963. Over the years he has caused trouble for none other than Batman, The Outsiders, and The Metal Men. In the ’90s, Eclipso was retconned as his own character with ties to The Spectre as an embodiment of the wrath of God pursuing revenge. Finally, although never referred to by name, Eclipso made a special cameo appearance on a Justice League animated series episode titled “Eclipsed.”

Long ago The Spectre defeated the Spirit of Wrath, exiling its physical manifestation to a black diamond called the heart of darkness. And so it remained until Dr. Bruce Gordon found a fragment — and was possessed by Eclipso, the Earthly incarnation of the Spirit of Wrath. During a lunar or solar eclipse, Gordon’s alter ego would grant him superhuman strength, light-powers and use him in its ancient schemes for control over all mortal beings. Since then, Eclipso has possessed others, and is ever ready to tempt and corrupt both superhumans and ordinary people. (more…)

Like many of DC Comics most iconic characters, The Spectre received his first story during the Golden Age of comics way back in 1940 in More Fun Comics #55. The Spectre was a hero that one could not help but root for, a slain police officer who returns as the Wrath (or the Voice) of God to seek vengeance for injustice. The Spectre was even popular enough to gain admission into the Justice Society of America. Over the years he’s had several reinterpretations, a retcon or two, and has even possessed Green Lantern, Hal Jordan.

For DC Universe Classics Wave 12, there are two variants of The Spectre. The first is the subject of this review-the standard Spectre. There’s also a glow in the dark variant, which doesn’t seem as much like a variant since I’ve seen it more than the standard version at retail. Other than the glow in the dark plastic skin there are no differences between the two versions.

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The Metal Men were created as a last minute filler feature and proved to be popular enough on their own right to get their own title. Each of the Metal Men, artificially intelligent robots, inherited their traits and abilities from their namesake metals, so whereas Iron is super strong, Lead is slow-witted and can block radiation, and Gold is their leader with the ability to stretch himself almost infinitely. As the first of the Metal Men to receive the DCUC treatment, lets see how Iron stacks up.

Professor Will Magnus invented the Responsometer- A microcomputer capable of imbuing pure elements with a semblance of life, intelligence and emotion. Implanting samples of gold, iron, lead, tin and mercury with their own responsometers, Magnus watched the metals take on humanoid shape and personalities. Iron quickly emerged as the backbone of the team. In all the challenges the Metal Men take on, Iron’s super strength and ability to withstand tremendous punishment put him on the front line of action. (more…)