In the action figure collecting hobby, there is what is referred to as a Holy Grail. This is a figure that is rare and considered a "chase" item that usually commands a considerable price. It is not necessarily a good figure in terms of articulation, paint, or features, and to consider a figure to be a grail is also subjective and can be personal. Some people may consider a particular collectible as a grail while others may consider it as trash or not worth pursuing.
The Blue Beetle figure from DC Icons is considered as a grail by many. Some speculate that only a few copies of the item were made, which made it rare, or perhaps collectors are unwilling to resell their figure so that there is relatively only a few of it available in the secondary market.
In this particular collector's part of the world, this Blue Beetle is quite hard to find. And when it is available, it has a relatively high price tag. One local store sells it at a staggering price of more than 60 US dollars. And it does not even have complete accessories nor even a box. Pretty exorbitant.
That is why when a sealed and new item became available online, it was not to be passed up, especially since the price was only 40 dollars. Still steep, yes, but at least it is complete, sealed, and brand new.
Initially, this collector was never interested in the Blue Beetle character at all. He grew up in the 80s, where the current Blue Beetle was Ted Kord, who did not have any powers and only relied on technology for his exploits and adventures.
The newest Blue Beetle represented by the action figure featured in this post is the third one to take the mantle and the name. He is a Latino named Jaime Reyes, and contrary to the past Blue Beetles, he is among the most powerful of all characters in the DC Multiverse.
An alien "scarab" chose him and attached itself to his spinal column, granting him various technological abilities such as creating various weapons from his hands and the ability of flight.
Since this collector likes collecting characters with extraordinary powers, the third Beetle is the perfect addition to the colleciton.
The figure came with a considerable number of accessories, which is quite unusual in the DC Icons line. He has two detachable wings, two hand weapons, and two detachable forearms and hands.
The figure itself is well sculpted and painted, and there is a decent number of articulations on its various joints and body parts. One limitation is the head articulation, since it cannot move up or down.
This is the scarab attached to his back. If this collector has his DC history right, the actual scarab is inside the spine, and this outer scarab is only a construct created by it.
This is Jaime with the wings.
The forearms and hands can be detached, and in their place the weapons can be attached. Sadly, the weapons have a loose connection in the pegs. But they are manageable.
One seems to be a sonic blaster of some kind, while the other looks some kind of gatling gun.
The wings can be positioned in various angles.
Beside the Icons Beetle is the DC Universe Classics version of the character. It is also great in its own way, and the collector bought it without the weapon included. A 3D-printed version of the weapon is on the way.
The wings of the DCUC version cannot be moved, although it is also detachable.
Here are some fellow DC Icons figures, namely Firestorm and Hal Jordan. The DC Icons is a great line that should have continued to create all the characters in the DC Multiverse. Fans have been clamoring for its return for years. Unfortunately, the company supposedly already closed.
