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DC Direct Green Lantern Rebirth Set
Hal and Sinestro return in exclusive new versions with comic pack in...
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Much has been said about this summer’s Green Lantern film and the products it has spawned, most notably the 4 inch and Movie Masters lineups from Mattel. But this summer also saw more Green Lantern comic book-related toy releases, including a superb two figure set that’s perfect for anyone just getting into the comics. Out now from DC Direct is the Green Lantern Rebirth set that includes new figures of both Hal Jordan and Sinestro as Green Lanterns, along with the new paperback version of the now classic Green Lantern: Rebirth storyline.
Back in 2004, Hal Jordan was a ghost... literally. He had turned “evil” during the Emerald Twilight story, tried to re-create the universe in Zero Hour, and finally died in 1998’s Final Night. Jordan puttered around in the afterlife for a while, eventually becoming the Spectre during Geoff Johns’ Day of Judgment event. Johns had much more in store for the fan-favorite character, but it would have to wait. Finally, Green Lantern: Rebirth saw Hal fight off Parallax (retconned to be an independent entity) and return to life and the Green Lantern Corps. It’s an epic book that is justifiably credited for restarting Green Lantern for the modern audience and making it as popular as it has become.
DC Direct’s Rebirth set comes packaged in a really nice display worthy window box. You can see both figures and their accessories, while the graphic novel looks like a background image behind them. There’s plenty of info and art on the box, making for a very attractive package.
There are countless Hal Jordan figures out there, but this one is a bit different. Representing the resurrected Green Lantern, this figure really does evoke the art of Ethan Van Sciver. At just over 6 ½ inches tall it has a good, solid feel, and it has the specific uniform details like the green torso that ends at a point. The sculpt is very good, along the lines of what we’ve come to expect from DC Direct. Of note are Hal’s hands (the right clenched into a fist wielding the ring as usual and the left open) and the aforementioned comic accurate head sculpt.
Colors are vivid and strong, dominated by a deep matte green and solid black. White of course shows up on the chest symbol and the Lantern’s gloves. Another hallmark of DC Direct’s figures is articulation that takes a backseat to the sculpt, and that’s true here. Hal looks great, but he is not super poseable. With joints at the neck, shoulders, elbows, T-crotch, and knees, you’re limited to a few iconic poses.
Sinestro too has appeared in toy form many times, but pretty infrequently in his Green Lantern incarnation. Rebirth tells of the long history between the two Lanterns, including their first meeting, and so it was high time to get a new GL Sinestro. Put simply, this one knocked it out of the park. At first glance it was obvious that some parts were reused from the previously released White Lantern Sinestro (see my review HERE), but on final examination it’s not that much. Sinestro stands about 6 ¾ inches tall, appropriately taller than Hal. He has a slim yet defined physique that’s topped off by a slightly altered version of the head first seen on the White Lantern figure. This was an awesome head sculpt then, and it’s perfect now. Tall, eggplant-shaped, and haughty, Sinestro’s head has the weird hairline, pencil moustache, and mischievous smile that captured his early identity perfectly. Sinestro has the opposite hand sculpts as Hal with a closed left hand (with ring) and open right.
Colors are also the same on the two figures, though Sinestro’s uniform design reflects the earlier style. His head is a pink shade with purple lips and pinprick yellow eyes. The former Green Lantern hero actually has a vastly improved articulation scheme with joints at the neck, ball-jointed shoulders, elbows, wrists, T-crotch, knees, and calves.
Both figures come with identical accessories: Green Lantern power batteries that they can hold in their hands and Green Lantern symbol display bases like we’ve been seeing since the beginning of the modern DC Direct Green Lantern figure line. Of course, the other main draw of this set is the Rebirth book, which I highly recommend to any existing or potential Green Lantern fan.
Your mileage may vary on this set, as it’s definitely on the expensive side (due to the inclusion of the book) if you’re only buying it for the figures. Unfortunately, this is the only way to get these figures, so don’t miss out on it if you need them for your collection. I’m really happy with them, especially Sinestro as it’s been a long time since we had a Green Lantern version from DC Direct and it doesn’t really hold up today. This new Hal has a pretty specific look that Van Sciver fans will appreciate, and it contrasts nicely with the recent single-packed release that reflects Doug Mahnke art (see my review HERE). You should be able to find the Rebirth set at your local comic book store.
Review and Photos by Scott Rubin
