Red Tornado

Some folks find it easy to dismiss DC Comics character, the Red Tornado, as that company's answer to Marvel's Vision, an android, pure and simple.  They're both Pinocchio, and like Star Trek's Data, the fun is in telling stories which tweak that progression from cybernetic to cells.

That is absolutely correct ... sort of .. kind of .. maybe.

The tale of the Red Tornado gets increasingly complicated, both Pre and Post-Crisis versions (and if you don't know what Crisis was, you are either not an avid Comics reader, or way, way too young...)  Red Tornado has, at different times, been an android, an air elemental, a tornado-based alien from the planet Rann. In fact, the latter incarnation as the alien Tornado Champion gets his memory wiped as he is encased in the metal body, effectively making him an android (if you think this sounds as complicated as most old television soap operas, you are absolutely right). It doesn't get much easier in Post-Crisis times, either.  We eliminate the alien origin and substitute an air elemental instead, who also gets a soul, a human body, then is trapped in the metal body (which has now been rebuilt).. and ... whew, am I tired.

OK, so the saga of the Red Tornado is complicated, and resembles a stew made by a team of chefs, each one, adding his favorite ingrediants, trying to counteract the others. However, there is ONE thing in common with all of these variations: WE STILL DON"T HAVE A FUNKO POP OF THE RED TORNADO (and that leaves a tornado-shaped hole in our Justice League display).

Enter me, theFunkustomizer (also known to my wife as Compulsive Man!). I had to create a custom POP! figure of Red Tornado ... and I did, but first, the requisite reference pictures:

And here's our custom Funko POP! Red Tornado figure:

Here is the customs recipe:

• The head is from a classic Iron Man POP, repainted (we could have gone with a Martian Manhunter POP, but ultimately decided for variety's sake, to choose the more robotic look).
• The body is from an Avengers Thor POP, repainted and with the hammer removed.

Firestorm

I've always felt that Firestorm was something different and special. Sure, he has nuclear powers and is actually composed of two people (originally), student Ronald Raymond and teacher Martin Stein. Yet, there's more to it than that. Firestorm is on the cusp of the world of "classic" DC and a more modern incarnation of DC comics (the one that just preceded the CURRENT incarnation of the comics, confused yet?)

In fact, prominent artist Alex Ross makes his dividing line of "classic" comic characters Firestorm (as opposed to the Kyle Raynor Green Lantern, who he refuses to draw). Firestorm is on the cusp of  classic vs. (recently) modern DC and the cusp of the Crisis on Infinite Earth's saga (1985).

First conceived in Firestorm the Nuclear Man in March 1978, this sometimes brash but honorable character is actually composed of two normal human beings who combine to form Firestorm. The one "doing the driving", Ronald Raymond is the young and sometimes brash student, while his mentor, teacher, Martin Stein is also their "in spirit".

So why don't we have a Firestorm POP figure?  It's time to resolve that FUNKO oversight.

Here's a reference picture of the classic Firestorm character:

And here is our custom Funko POP version of Firestorm:

 The recipe for Firestorm is as follows:

• The head is from a Funko POP Ghost rider, repainted and with significent sculpted alternations (with Magic Sculp)
• The body is from a POP Wolverine, with the claws, removed.

Now, Firestorm stands ready to take his place with the rest of the Justice League!

Superman (Silver Age)

Anyone who knows me is aware that I am a big fan of Superman. Being a baby boomer now in my fiftieth decade, MY superman is the vintage Silver Age variety (and wears his trunks on the outside, thank you very much).

The good people at Funko Inc. made a great Superman POP figure but unfortunately, it is of a later design of Superman. You see, somewhere back in the dust covered eighties, his costume suddenly was darkened to a different shade of blue (at about the same time his almost Godlike power levels were decreased).

Needless to say, I prefer the classic (Curt Swan artistically styled), Silver Age Supes, rather than the more modern one (don't even get me started on the current design, sans trunks ).

Time for a quickie super easy (they don't get any easier), custom Funko POP fix.

Here's a reference comparison pic:

 Wow, what a difference between the Silver Age (left) and the more modern (in this case, drawn in an Alex Ross style) on the right.

So here's a similar comparison, now Funko POP custom style:

Stock Superman (left)  Custom Silver Age Superman (right)

Now ... much better.

And it's Up, up and away!!

Extra: Here's a pic of our "improved" Superman posing with the rest of the JLA at the Hall of Justice. Where's Green Arrow, you ask?  Well, who do you think took the picture?