Unboxing: DC Legion of Collectors “Suicide Squad”

Much like its counterpart the Marvel Collectors Corps, DC’s Legion of Collectors is another bi-monthly subscription box service featuring primarily Funko products, though this one caters to those of the DC Comics persuasion. From the official LoC website:

DC LEGION OF COLLECTORS IS A SUBSCRIPTION BOX SERVICE DESIGNED IN PARTNERSHIP BY DC AND FUNKO. CURATED ESPECIALLY FOR AVID DC COLLECTORS, EACH BOX DELIVERS 100% EXCLUSIVE PREMIUM COLLECTIBLES, APPAREL, AND ACCESSORIES CREATED BY FUNKO. EACH BOX IS THEMED SPECIFICALLY AROUND DC COMICS, DC MOVIES, DC CHARACTERS AND DC STORIES WITH A FOCUS ON COLLECTORS. DC LEGION OF COLLECTORS IS THE OFFICIAL DC SUBSCRIPTION BOX AND THE ONLY BOX CREATED DIRECTLY BY DC AND FUNKO. OUR BOX IS DEDICATED TO DC FANS IN WAYS NO OTHER BOX OR SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE CAN – JOIN THE LEGION OF COLLECTORS TODAY!

For July, the theme is SUICIDE SQUAD, timed with the release of the film of the same name on August 9th. As such, every item in the box is modeled specifically for the new film, so anyone hoping for items featuring classic Harley or not whatever-the-hell-is-happening-with-Jared-Leto’s-Joker should leave those expectations at the door. Even the box itself is modelled after Margot Robbie’s Harley (see the image above).

Let’s crack this one open, puddin’!

[SUPER IMPORTANT NOTE:  For some reason, one of the first items in this month’s box is an insert advertising the next LoC box on one side, but on the other is a breakdown of every item in this box. DO NOT READ THAT CARD UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE SPOILED.]

KATANA PATCH AND DEADSHOT PIN

Resisting the urge to put Harley and Joker on everything, Funko made a wise choice in including these two characters here. As a bonus, you also get the hooded version of Deadshot represented, so you don’t have to explain to anyone at future cons if that’s a Deadshot pin or a Hancock pin attached to your backpack. No. It’s clearly Deadshot. Pretty sure.

SUICIDE SQUAD #1 COMIC

Despite what this variant cover may depict, this is actually the first issue of the Suicide Squad comic from 1987 (written by John Ostrander), so there’s no Harley Quinn to be found in it. The New 52 Suicide Squad #1 would have made more sense perhaps but the decision from Funko to include this issue instead is another smart one. Beyond the actual interior of the comic itself, the cover is what it is; I’m not a fan of the POP design outside of the figures themselves so this one is just going in the endless void that are my comics long boxes.

SUICIDE SQUAD FUNKO POP T-SHIRT

Speaking of designs I don’t particularly enjoy, the shirt this month features the cast of film done up in their Funko POP form. And it’s black. Yeesh. This shirt is definitely a step down in terms of creativity from the two previous offerings in the DC Legion of Collector’s line, but I know these POP shirts are, ahem, POPular, so I’m sure there are plenty of collectors that are going to love this one.

ENCHANTRESS FUNKO POP FIGURE

If you followed the DC Legion of Collectors on any social media leading up to this box, this was the least kept secret of the entire lot. That being said, this POP is definitely one of the best designed in the Suicide Squad line, even if her movie costume is rather embarrassing. I know nothing about the character and hope that in the film she turns out to be worthy of being an exclusive for this box. Unfortunately, my particular POP was not handled with much care when she was shoved into her packaging and her head is stuck forward from the rest of her body. The included stand allows her to at least stand up, so that’s something. From what I’ve seen online, my case is more an outlier though.

JOKER AND HARLEY QUINN FIGURES

At first glance, these pieces look very similar to Funko’s line called ReAction, which, for the uninitiated, are figures meant to look like they were made decades ago, back when toys came with limited articulation. Why these are a thing I’ll never know, but needless to say that these figures looked like those ReAction ones was a huge disappointment initially. However, these figures are actually part of a new line of Funko figures (hopefully meant to phase out ReAction) and are definitely better, though maybe only a smidge. There’s at least articulation to be found on them, but I myself still find very little use for these tiny figures next to my full-sized collectibles. These are another item from this box that will probably find a second home in a bigger, darker box.

…AND THE VERDICT

I won’t mince words, this month’s box is mostly a letdown for me. I did enjoy the showcase piece in the Enchantress POP, but knowing that it was going to be her for the last month or so tapered my excitement quite a bit. Not to mention the diversity in this box is a little lacking with no representation for Killer Croc, Captain Boomerang, Rick Flagg, Slipknot, or El Diablo. Harley being featured in nearly half the box’s items wasn’t really a surprise but still kind of a disappointment. There’s also the whole lingering worry I have that Suicide Squad won’t be any good, so there’s that, too.

Luckily, September’s theme has been announced and it is:  WOMEN OF DC! Oh, the possibilities. Let’s try not to spoil this one ahead of time, eh Legion of Collectors?