Review of Mera - DC Bombshells statue

Introduction

Hi, my name is Michael Crawford, and I'm a completist.  It's not a problem with every collectible, every license, every series, but certain ones...it's a thing.  And one of 'those' is the DC Collectibles series of statues called "Bombshells".

I really like this series, although I'm expecting someone to complain about the sexist nature at some point and ruin all the fun.  The idea is simple enough - combine the beauty of the DC ladies with the pin-up style of the WWII bomber artwork. The line has been successfully cranking along for several years now, and we've gotten a good assortment so far.

The latest is Mera, wife of Aquaman. While that might indicate to the casual observer that she's a heroine, big Aquaman fans know she's what folks in the mental health industry like to call "bat &$!# crazy". That makes her an interesting addition to my shelf, and a terrific conversation starter.

She's currently shipping, and is a limited edition of 5200. Expect to pay around $100 - $115 depending on the retailer.

Packaging - ***
While this is a limited edition of 5200, there's no Certificate of Authenticity. The edition size and number is included on the box, and on the bottom of the base.

The box itself is attractive, although the white 'peel away' design has been boring since they first introduced it. Inside are medium density foam eggshell trays that hold the statue pieces (this one comes in multiple parts) safe and sound.

Sculpting - ***
I have a pretty strict standard for this series.  I want the DC character to be obvious first and foremost. The design should indicate right up front who I'm looking at - it should not be a generic pin-up character.  The designs of Ant Lucia have generally met this criteria, although I feel the Black Canary is a perfect example of a miss.

The second key criteria is that the pin-up style should match with the appropriate time frame. The fashion and style of clothing/costume should be something I'd actually see on the side of a B-52 bomber.  Again, I'd say that the majority of the statues have managed this one as well, but there have been misses - take Harley for example.

Mera hits on both categories perfectly.  The overall design of a girl at the beach, losing her big hat to the wind, is a perfect idea for the Queen of the Sea. She's also got plenty of specific Aqua-elements, like the gold trident, the scale textured bathing suit, and even the Atlantis inspired sand castle at her feet. Anyone familiar with the character knows immediately that this is supposed to be Mera.

The style and design of the clothes, as well as the selected pose, all speak to the 40's and 50's pin-up style as well. The big hat, the flowing cover-up, the one piece bathing suit - they all remind me of the look and design of the era.

So why the average score? It's her face...not that she's not attractive, but rather that the expression seems out of place with the rest of the scene. The artwork on the box looks sexy and playful, with a twinkle in the eye and slight smile.  But the final product looks bored, distant, and vacant. It lacks any dynamic feel, which is in contrast to the pose and style of the rest of the sculpt.

The proportions on the face are also a bit off from the artwork.  While the style is not intended to be uber realistic, it is generally close. But the face has large eyes, a smaller nose, and pooched out lips that give her a more anime look, almost like a Bishoujo statue. These are minor nits, but enough for me to pull the score down a half star or so.

This statue comes in four pieces: Mera, her trident, the base, and the placard.  The placard is held in place with a magnet, while Mera attaches to the base with two metal posts.  The trident has a plastic handle (but metal prongs), which fits tightly in her extended left hand. The overall assembly is easy enough if you take appropriate care, and the final product looks like it's actually one complete piece.

She fits in nicely scale-wise with the rest of the series. The series is generally in a 1/8th scale, with the ladies in that 9" range without the base.

Paint - ***
The paint work is solid, but not exceptional, and there's enough slips to pull her down to a B score.

The best work is where it's most critical - on the face. The eyes are clean with no bleed, and the lips and eyebrows have excellent edges. The skin tone is consistent, and the make up around the eyes is realistic and attractive.

Another big plus is the translucent nature of the short wrap, or skirt.  It gives it a thin, flowing, soft look that adds realism to the overall statue.

Most of the issues are on the other pieces of the costume and clothes, where there are more slips on the edges and cut lines. For example, the green straps on her shoes have quite a bit of paint slipping over onto the skin of her legs.

Value - **1/2
These started to get up there in price, but have leveled out a bit around $100 for the last couple releases. While that's not cheap, it's a reasonable price considering the scale, license and quality.

Things to Watch Out For -
Assembly should be done with great care!  The metal posts on her feet didn't *quite* line up with the position of the holes in the base. That means I had to pull the legs apart slightly at the ankle, and if you've ever done this with a resin statue before, you know you can snap off a limb without much effort.  Take your time!

Overall - ***
Mera isn't a home run, but she's a solid hit. I really like the design quite a bit, and it perfectly fulfills my two major criteria for this line: it's the character first, and the pin-up second; and it has a true 40's bomber artwork style.

Had the facial expression been a bit more congruent with the overall design, she would have picked up another half star easily. Clean up a few of the paint issues, and four stars was within reach.

She might not be perfect, but she is a terrific addition to the Bombshell line up, and deserves a place in the collection.

Score Recap (out of ****):
Packaging - ***
Sculpting - ***
Paint - ***1/2
Value - **1/2
Overall - ***

Where to Buy 
Online options include these site sponsors:

- Entertainment Earth comes in at $100

- or you can search ebay for a deal.

Related Links -
I've covered quite a few of the DC Bombshells statues, including Hawkgirl, Stargirl, Black Canary, Batgirl, Harley, Poison Ivy, Supergirl and Wonder Woman.

You should also hit the Search Reviews page, in case any other applicable reviews were done after this one was published.

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