Kid Flash
By Hervé St-Louis
March 15, 2005 - 09:58
 |
Likeness
Although he gained the suit at a very young age, this is the suit Kid Flash sported when he was a member of the Teen Titans and several other incarnations of the team. Everything about this figure respect the costume as drawn by George Perez. The yellow shirt hinges over his red waist. Kid Flash's hair is part on the left side. His yellow boots end just underneath his knees. The face mask' bolts are too close to the nose, though.
 |
Although this figure is an exact recreation of Kid Flash, the figure suffers from many sculpting shortcomings such as its tiny feet. Kid Flash looks like a teen whose just went through a growth spur. As this is believable, one can forgive his skinny shape and baby-face. In fact, the face's sculpt is very good. The knees don't look good when bent and the figure has no traction soles, a Kid Flash trademark.
Paint
The paint job is responsible for the problems of the figure. DC Direct used two colours of base plastic, red and yellow. Red paint is applied on the yellow plastic cast, while his the boots, made of red plastics are painted with a shinny yellow coating. Kid Flash's hairs have great toning and highlights making his red hair more vivid. His face's skin seems a bit too pale and some toning would have helped.
Scale
 |
Stability
Although he has short feet, Kid Flash is stable. He is not top heavy and his feet are flat. If you want to pose him in a running stance, put him on his golden Flash action figure stand. The peg hole is customized only for Kid Flash's left foot. It will support the entire figure's weight on one foot. As the knees' articulations are tight, there will be no problems. When not in a running pose, Kid Flash looks off center on the stand.
Articulation
 |
Plastic
Kid Flash's plastic, while not popular with fans, because of the effects it had on the looks of the figure is one of the most resistant used in any DCDirect action figure. His torso and arms being cast in the yellow plastic. Although this colour is the right one, it reflects too much light. When put against a light source, one can even see through the figure. It makes Kid Flash look less solid. His red legs don't suffer from this problem.
Props
Except his action figure stand, Kid Flash came without any prop. A Flash ring would have been great addition.
Packaging
The card stock with which Kid Flash came in had a picture of the Starfire action figure and the Teen Titans' tower in the back. Although released in a wave with Starfire, they did not ship the same week.
Cost
Kid Flash used to sell from $12 to $25. Released with speedsters Max Mercury and Impulse, the entire set was unpopular with fans. Although Kid Flash was a fan favourite, the figure is a peg warmer. As such good deals are available. If you want to improve this figure, simply paint the base yellow plastic with yellow paint and give it some tones. Add blush on the cheeks and it will improve the figure instantly.
 |
DC Direct probably overstocked this figure, although stores did not order much. DC Direct used to order more figures than ordered in those days. With a new correct Kid Flash action figure on the shelf, this one looks odd - even if the new figure is not Wally West, One can easily customize it as one, once the boots are sanded-off. Therefore, the old Yellow Kid Flash is not going to be in demand.
Read related reviews such as:
The Flashes' Secret Ids Going Public
The Elongated Man
Deathstroke The Terminator
Black Fire
Beast Boy
Starfire
Raven
Cyborg
JLA Flash
Silver Age Green Lantern
Silver Age Robin
Aqualad
Silver Age Flash
Silver Age Kid Flash
Captain Cold
Mirror Master
Golden Age Flash
Related Articles: