Born to the Bow: Connor Hawke Takes Aim
A PULP ARCANA FIGURE FIELD REPORT Mission Brief: McFarlane Connor Hawke Figure Review
ARTIFACT IDENTIFIED:
Green Arrow: Connor Hawke
DC Multiverse Gold Label Collection
McFarlane Toys
In the 90’s, DC Comics decided to shake some things up. This included introducing a new Green Lantern in the form of Kyle Rayner and a new emerald archer as well. Oliver Queen’s son Connor Hawke took up the mantle of Green Arrow and took to the streets to bring his bow to bear for the sake of justice. I came to DC fairly late, starting off as a Marvel kid, and so Connor was actually the Green Arrow that I first encountered, and I have always had a bit of a soft-spot for this particular archer.
Let’s take a look at this new figure from McFarlane’s DC multiverse and see if he carries on the legacy. Here we go with our Connor Hawke review.
OUT OF THE CRATE:
The packaging is the standard fare from McFarlane’s DC Multiverse line. It’s functional, if not flashy, with nicely printed comic art gracing the back. I also like the ability to see the figure clearly before purchase. And honestly, as an out of the box collector, the packaging just needs to be serviceable for my needs. But if you like to keep them locked down and boxed up, there’s nothing to complain about here.
THE DEVIL’S IN THE DETAILS:
Once unboxed, I was impressed by the sculpt. The costume design captures a dynamic blend of tactical modernity and retro flair, and the detailing across the suit is crisply executed. At first, I thought the brown might be a bit much for a “Green Arrow” but in hand, I really like the break up of the main colors. A subtle wash might have helped the intricacies pop even more, but the base work is strong. The little details help carry the figure forward. The belt has some nice tooling and I particularly like the bracer on the left forearm, which is thematically appropriate for an archer. The face sculpt is pretty strong actually. Sharp and character-rich, it gives a suitably determined expression. I especially like the domino mask that evokes the pulpy roots of superhero lore. It feels right at home on the shelf of any pulp-inspired vigilante lineup.
The hair, however, is a bit of a misfire. The visible seam between hair and scalp breaks the illusion from certain angles, giving it a slightly “snap-on” toy look instead of a cohesive sculpt. It is not bad from a distance, but up close, and especially on camera, that seam stands out a bit more than I like.
Accessory-wise, it’s a sparse quiver. We get our standard DC Multiverse stand and a card with the character art from the back of the box. Nothing special there, but I do find the DC stands relatively useful. For character specific accessories the figure comes with exactly what is needed, and that is it. The bow, a requirement for an archer like Connor, is well done with solid paint and fine sculpting, and the quiver has some nice surface detail. But it’s hard not to wish for more. While McFarlane figures aren’t really known for an abundance of accessories, a loose arrow, alternate hands, or even a secondary expression head would have elevated the play and display possibilities significantly. We get the minimum, and it’s fine, but a bit disappointing.
MOBILITY AND MANEUVERS:
Connor moves well through the battlefield. The double-jointed knees and elbows provide good range, and he can easily line up a shot with his bow thanks to smooth shoulder and neck motion. The arms pass the classic T-pose test, and overall movement is fluid.
Head movement is good and relatively unhindered by the costume’s sculpted hood. We get enough motion in the neck joint to give us good posing and characterful positions. I rarely have a problem with McFarlane neck joints, and this works just fine.
However, McFarlane’s usual limitations show up like hidden snipers: no thigh cut, minimal ab crunch, and missing butterfly joints at the shoulders reduce the overall versatility. And the joints still have visible pins. The ab joints are fine, and allow a bit of motion, but again, you will hit limits going for more extreme, acrobatic poses, which is a shame with a martial artist like Connor. With a McFarlane DC figure, you kind of know what you are going to get most of the time, and Connor is no exception. While I do not fall into the category of those who say McFarlane figures can’t pose, you are not going to be able to push things too far. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s enough to remind you this isn’t a premium import. Still, for dramatic posing and classic pulp action, he holds his own.
RECOVERED EVIDENCE:
FINAL RECKONING:
Connor Hawke is a stylish addition to the McFarlane Multiverse, with a strong sculpt and standout face, but the figure is held back slightly by minor flaws in both engineering and accessories. The hair gap is something that is harder and harder to look past, the more you notice it. And the articulation gives you enough of what you need, but not as much as you might want. The quiver and bow look great, but that is all we get. However, the costume colors and detailing do bring things back up. He’s a figure that delivers a lot to love for comic fans, especially those of us with a love for the wild ride that was comics in the 90s, but he definitely leaves a little room for improvement in future releases.
RELIC RATING: 3.5 out of 5 (3 Relics and 1 Lucky Charm)
Filed by Mark Gelineau of Pulp Arcana Studios for Fanboy Planet
https://www.instagram.com/pulp_arcana_studios/
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