In the hallowed realm of action figures, where adults secretly cater to the whims of their inner child, the big news of the week comes courtesy of McFarlane Toys. Bracing ourselves for an exciting tsunami of releases in the near days, this premier collectible company is said to turbocharge their already substantial DC Multiverse Collector Edition lineup. Meanwhile, their Marvel cohort gazes on with a polite, yet palpable, wrestling of envy.

Ladies and gentlemen, polymers are about to collide. The trifecta from the DC Multiverse McFarlane Collector Edition lineup roars closer – Red Hood (Detective Comics), Ragman (Shadowpact), and Clock King. These caped crusaders, albeit with a proverbial swing in their step, are expected to be available starting July 12th at precisely 9 a.m. PT/ noon ET.

Seldom does one have the honor to come face-to-face with such comic exuberance, with the hoarder’s scent wafting tantalizingly in the air. Relish every smirk, every tightened jawline, every stealthy glance of these characters who seem to have jumped right out of their pages! And oh, the drama of logistics, the struggle against time, and the quiet exhilaration when the “order confirmed” note finally hits your mailbox – aren’t these the true aphrodisiacs of our comic indulgence?

In tandem with DC comes Marvel, staged for a grand entry, with McFarlane Toys set to release 1:6th scale figures inspired by Todd McFarlane’s iconic artwork that graced the covers of Amazing Spider-Man #301 and The Amazing Spider-Man #323 – Captain America and Spider-Man. Each figure will come equipped with an environmental base, a diorama backdrop, an art card, and most importantly, a comic book reprint. Circle July 18th at 9 a.m. PT/ noon ET on your calendar if you’re not the kind to dawdle.

Also not far behind in Marvel collection’s lineup are 1:10th scale posed figures featuring other comic stalwarts like Wolverine, Iron Man, and Deadpool. These have been based on cover art by comic legends such as Todd McFarlane, Rob Liefeld, Jim Lee, Steve Ditto, and John Romita Sr. The release date is shrouded in some comic book suspense, but summer is said to bring forth a fruition of sorts.

McFarlane, speaking about the series, made known his soft-spot for the characters he grew up with, and his intentions to tip his hat to his inspirations, George Perez and John Byrne. However, he’s cognizant of the shifting comic sands and acknowledges the potential demand for more contemporary characters.

And on the DC front, brace up for DC Multiverse Batman/Superman Fusion (World’s Finest), Dick Grayson Batman (Batman: Reborn), and Adam West Batman’66 figures launching on July 25th at 9am PT/ 12pm ET. A visual feast, indeed.

Such is the pulse of the world of figures and this, dear collectors, is the comic smell of singularity – the essence of McFarlane Toys in a Joker-shell.

By Daniel Burns.