DC Comics Bombshells


DC Comics Bombshells refers to a line of figurines released by DC Collectibles depicting DC Comics superheroines in a retro 1940s look based on designs by Ant Lucia. The line has further expanded to encompass variant covers of DC Comics and licensed memorabilia such as art prints, T-shirts, mugs and their own ongoing comic book.

Initial conception

The DC Comics Bombshells franchise began "in spring 2011 at a convention in Chicago where DC Collectibles found Ant Lucia's prints re-imaging DC superheroines as pin-up girls". World War II history, fashion, and air planes were studied to conceive the franchise. DC Comics worked with Udon Entertainment to produce illustrations. In fall 2011, four character designs of Wonder Woman, Stargirl, Poison Ivy, and Harley Quinn were used to pitch the idea of a nine-inch statue line. DC later asked Ant Lucia to redesign their initial conception of a retro Wonder Woman. Tim Miller was requested to handcraft the sculptures. In 2013, the first sculpture of the franchise, Wonder Woman, was sold in stores.
Ant Lucia, the creator of the sculptures' and variant covers' designs, drew a heavy influence from World War II aesthetics and pin-up models. He juxtaposed past pin up girl designs with current rockabilly culture. The sculptures created a convergence between modern ideologies regarding feminine agency and nostalgia for the golden age of comics. The Bombshells variant covers were able to cultivate a coherent narrative by placing contemporary characters in the past. Ant Lucia details his process on detaching the characters from their current history and the construction of their new placement in World War II era: "In our initial conversations, we brainstorm on who this character is and if they were set in this period, what elements would make up their costume". The sculptures were able to pay homage to acclaimed images in America's 1940s cultural landscape. Wonder Woman's sculpture has noticeable similarities to Rosie the Riveter's famed iconic image. The similarities between the two icons is seen in both of the characters’ bandanna pinned back hair and nearly identical color scheme of red, yellow and blue.
The American pop culture references of the sculptures become more tongue-in-cheek in Harley Quinn and the Joker's statue as to better reflect the former's explosive behavior. The Bombshells statue for Harley Quinn depicts her dressed in a World War II nurse's uniform. Harley Quinn is seen dipping a flustered, lipstick-stained Joker in an Sailor's uniform. The sculpture was a humorous rendition of the infamous "Kissing on VJ" photo where a sailor embraces a nurse in a moment of celebration.

DC Collectibles statues

The first statue was released in September 2013 with an initial assortment of twelve statues planned for the line. High interest in the line has meant that the line has continued beyond the initial twelve statues, with releases planned through 2019. The DC Collectibles statues have matching "steel plate" bases. The earliest statues were shipped with the nameplates attached to the bases; some statues were shipped as single solid pieces. However, DC began using separate pieces attached with pegs or magnets due to a high percentage of damaged early statues. Between 2013 and 2016, the statues had Edition Sizes of 5200. Beginning with 2017's Katana, the statues currently have Edition Sizes of 5000.
CharacterRelease dateSculptorNotes
SupergirlSeptember 2013Tim Millernameplate attached to base
Wonder WomanOctober 2013Tim Millernameplate attached to base
Poison IvyOctober 2013Tim MillerFirst batch: nameplate attached to base; Vines C & D were separate pieces. Second batch: nameplate separate from base; Vines C & D were glued together.
Harley QuinnDecember 2013Tim Millerentire statue shipped as single piece
BatgirlFebruary 2014Tim MillerFirst batch shipped as single piece; second batch shipped with figure, nameplate, and base as separate pieces. Also, second batch doesn't have "beauty mark" on face.
Black CanaryJune 2014Sam GreenwellFirst batch shipped as single piece; second batch shipped with figure, right arm, nameplate, and base as separate pieces.
StargirlAugust 2014Tim Millernameplate attached to base
ZatannaDecember 2014Tim Millerentire statue shipped as single piece
Harley Quinn December 2014Tim MillerIn addition to being re-painted with holiday colors, character is holding a large bag instead of a gun in her left hand. First batched shipped as single piece; second batch shipped with figure, nameplate, and base as separate pieces.
HawkgirlFebruary 2015Tim MillerN/A
MeraMay 2015Tim MillerN/A
Lois LaneAugust 2015Adam RossN/A
CatwomanOctober 2015James MarsanoN/A
BatwomanOctober 2015Tim MillerN/A
Wonder Woman Holiday VariantNovember 2015Tim MillerIn addition to being re-painted with holiday colors, character is holding decorative lights instead of chains.
Harley Quinn & the Joker First EditionDecember 2015Tim MillerJoker is wearing a black sailor suit.
Harley Quinn & the Joker Second EditionMarch 2016Tim MillerJoker is wearing a purple sailor suit. Harley's Hair is tipped with Red and Black and is wearing Black and Red Socks instead of the White ones in the 1st Edition.
CheetahJune 2016Sam GreenwellN/A
Power Girl & SupermanAugust 2016Jack MathewsN/A
Batgirl Halloween VariantSeptember 2016Tim Miller & Karen PalinkoIn addition to being re-painted with Halloween colors, Palinko sculpted an entirely new head. The parachute backpack was changed to a coffin.
Killer FrostOctober 2016Tim MillerN/A
Killer Frost November 2016Tim MillerEdition Size 500; Local Comic Shop Day Variant available only to physical stores. The hat, skirt, and boots have glitter paint.
BumblebeeNovember 2016Tim MillerN/A
KatanaFebruary 2017Jack MathewsN/A
Jesse QuickMarch 2017Tim Miller & Karen PalinkoPalinko sculpted the face.
RavenApril 2017Tim MillerN/A
AquamanJune 2017Jack MathewsN/A
VixenNovember 2017Amy SharpeN/A
StarfireJanuary 2018Jack MathewsN/A
Green Lantern Jessica CruzApril 2018Jack MathewsN/A
Joker's DaughterOctober 2018Tim MillerDesigned by Jim Fletcher instead of Ant Lucia.
Batman & CatwomanNovember 2018Jack MathewsN/A
Harley Quinn February 2019Tim MillerRe-paint of previously released statue; different decoration on jacket back.
Big BardaMarch 2019Tim MillerFirst Bombshells digitally sculpted by Miller
Batwoman "Away Team" VariantApril 2019Tim MillerRe-paint of previously released statue.
Poison Ivy Sepia VariantMay 2019Tim MillerRe-paint of previously released statue.
Black Canary Sepia VariantNovember 2019Tim MillerRe-paint of previously released statue.
Shazam MaryDecember 2019Tim MillerN/A
DeathJanuary 2020Tim MillerN/A
Huntress May 2020Tim MillerN/A

Deluxe statues

The Deluxe statues have diorama-style bases instead of the shared "steel plate" bases of the regular statue line. Currently, they have Edition Sizes of 5000 each.
CharacterRelease dateSculptorNotes
Harley Quinn DeluxeSeptember 2017Tim MillerCustom "falling bomb" base
Wonder Woman DeluxeJuly 2018Chris DahlbergCustom "destroyed tank" base
Batgirl & Supergirl "Celebration"September 2019Tim MillerCustom battlefield base
Harley Quinn Deluxe No. 2September 2022Tim MillerCustom "high striker" base; designed by Emanuela Lupacchino

Comic books

''DC Comics Bombshells''

Based on the increased interest in the property, a digital-first ongoing series written by Marguerite Bennett and various artists began in July 2015, with a printed comic book following in 12 August. The series ran for 100 digital issues, concluding in June 2017 and 33 print issues with the final issue release in August.
In her initial conception for building a narrative out of Ant Lucia's designs, Marguerite Bennett has stated: "We were able to retro-engineer this complete environment that lets them showcase their powers that lets them have good relationships and friendships that they wouldn't have been able to explore in another sphere....Going down to the smallest details that puts into the statues and creating whole backstories for items". Bennett also speaks on her decision to incorporate mainstream canonical backstories of characters in this new world. Bennett explored traditional genres and mediums of the 1940s such as radio shows and propaganda films to provide a realistic history for the Bombshells franchise. Bennett speaks on this decision when she states: "Each of the heroines actually has, essentially, her own genre. Batwoman started off as this cheesy radio adventure reel, Wonder Woman is a war story, Supergirl is a propaganda film, Zatanna is this Hammer horror film, Catwoman is like a noir spy story". Bennett concludes and acknowledges the importance of the decision: "We were able to complete this whole new world that wasn't just one thing because no woman is just one thing. So they each got to have a distinct voice, a distinct personality". The foundation of feminist tones in the comic are seen in the structure of this atypical history as Bennett says: "We wanted to make a principle of the series to have the conceit that in this alternate history World War II the women came first. No heroine is derivative of a male counterpart. They are the heroes".
TitleBindingMaterial collectedPublication dateISBN
DC Comics Bombshells Volume 1: EnlistedTrade PaperbackDC Comics Bombshells #1–6 March 2, 2016
DC Comics Bombshells Volume 2: AlliesTrade PaperbackDC Comics Bombshells #7–12 July 13, 2016
DC Comics Bombshells Volume 3: UprisingTrade PaperbackDC Comics Bombshells #13–18 March 15, 2017
DC Comics Bombshells Volume 4: QueensTrade PaperbackDC Comics Bombshells #19–24 June 21, 2017
DC Comics Bombshells Volume 5: The Death of IllusionTrade PaperbackDC Comics Bombshells #26-29; Annual #1 October 11, 2017
DC Comics Bombshells Volume 6: War StoriesTrade PaperbackDC Comics Bombshells #25, 30-33 March 28, 2018
DC Comics Bombshells The Deluxe Edition Book OnehardcoverDC Comics Bombshells #1–6 August 29, 2018/
DC Comics Bombshells The Deluxe Edition Book TwohardcoverDC Comics Bombshells #7–12 July 31, 2019/