I don't think I've ever been so excited for a Funko Pop as I was for this new Black Orchid exclusive. Other Pops have been great but it's really rare when one of my favorite comic characters gets made in plastic for the very first time. Back in the day when there were official DC Direct message boards, I was the nerd constantly begging for an action figure of her. Black Orchid first appeared in Adventure Comics in 1973 followed by several years of solo backup stories in Phantom Stranger. A typical early story involved some evil businessmen being horrible for several pages, then in the final few panels, the quiet unassuming secretary would reveal herself to be Susan Linden-Thorne aka the Black Orchid and the story would be over. It was pure camp with an amazing costume. In the late 80s she became a member of the Suicide Squad before getting a Vertigo revamp for most of the 90s, then a reimagining in the New52. She's been a consistently wonderful C-lister who finally gets a toy. Let's check her out below!
The Earth Day packaging is made from a post-consumer waste materials (ie the cardboard is brown).
Upon the first few glances of her costume when I was a kid, I thought she was supposed to be a butterfly, but at some point I saw my first Orchid flower and it all made sense. The shape of her cape is one of my favorite things about her.
Here is Black Orchid's debut panel. She was dynamic from the start.
In the late eighties, Black Orchid was absorbed into the Vertigo imprint. It's been years since I read the initial miniseries, but I'm pretty sure that the character is killed and comes back as a sort of vengeful nature spirit (named Flora Black, but with the consciousness and memories of Susan). There was a beautifully painted 3-issue prestige series followed by a 22-issue traditionally-illustrated solo series.
In 2012, a new Black Orchid was introduced in the pages of Justice League Dark. Her name is Alba Garcia and she is very mysterious. She is linked to The Green, an ethereal life force connecting all plant life (Swamp Thing, Floronic Man, and Poison Ivy are other characters connected to The Green).
Black Orchid appeared in the Batman: The Brave and the Bold episode "The Mask of Matches Malone."
It's a brief non-speaking interlude where she battles Poison Ivy.
Her role in the Justice League Dark movie was very different.
She was a living embodiment of the House of Mystery created by the House itself.
Black Orchid is also a student in DC Super Hero Girls.
Time for a Comparison Pic!
Cheers!
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