The inspiration for a custom can come from various places. Usually it’s “I want this character on my shelf.” Sometimes it’s a case of “let’s see what can be made from this.” And that’s where Maxima started.

McFarlane’s DC Multiverse line has re-written the rules for DC figures. The line is not perfect, but I am very much enjoying it. I’m buying characters I would have passed on had Mattel or DC Direct made them, simply because Todd’s figures are so much fun. That includes the Drowned, the Batman of Earth -11. Todd hasn’t made many female DC characters outside of Wonder Woman yet, so the jury is still out on what’s to be expected, but the Drowned hit all the marks. Solid sculpt, decent articulation, character accuracy, etc. I wanted to see what else I could make from it, and figure out if I could fit it into the Bombshell world.

Given the marine nature of the costume, a water-based character seemed like the obvious choice. But outside of Mera, if you’re not a die-hard Aquaman fan, it’s difficult to name any other female characters from DC’s Atlantis. I did some research, and no character really seemed like the right fit. At that point, I realized I didn’t want to go the obvious route. Why must the character be water-based?  I expanded my search. Around this time, NECA’s Defenders of the Earth figures were hitting stores, and given their sci-fi pulp roots, I felt they worked well with the Bombshells. That led me to think of space pirates. Was there a space-faring female DC character that fit the bill? (Or really, any character. Didn’t have to be DC.) The answer, of course, was Superman’s would-be wife from across the stars, Maxima!

I sliced off the seaweed skirt and trimmed the vest. I replaced all of that with the lower portion of the coat off of a Marvel Legends White Rabbit. The head is Ann O’Brien, from the Not-Marvel Legends series years ago. I sculpted the headband thing, basing it off Maxima’s STAS appearance.

In my mind, this version of Maxima serves as a pulp sci-fi hero of the 1940s, traveling across the stars in search of adventure!

Created May 2021