Jenny Sparks

"Just once I'd like to read about a megalomaniac or a serial killer I wasn't linked with at some point in the past." Born at the beginning of the 20th Century - and dying on the eve of the new millennium - Jenny Sparks was the spirit of the century, the fantastically powered member of The Authority. Backed by both brains and brawn, Jenny Sparks was an indomitable spirit whose exploits and sacrifices made her one of the greatest heroes of the 20th century. Jenny Sparks was the heart and soul of the Authority, a team of superheroes who genuinely wanted to make the world a better place, and weren't afraid to kick a few heads in to reach their goal. As the Spirit of the 20th Century, Jenny influenced or interacted with the gods and monsters of her time: she told a young Austrian artist that he might be better off in politics than painting, and intimated to her big, burly American lover that no one would want to read a book called "The Old Cuban Guy and the Big Fish." Her mood mirrored the globe - she felt great when the world felt great, violent when the world was at war, and in the thirties she was nearly suicidal. But enough about Jenny the character - let's discuss Jenny the action figure. Part of the Authority line from DC Direct, Jenny Sparks is in scale with the rest of DC's figures. She's sculpted here in a very typical outfit - midriff-baring Union Jack tee, pockety vest, cargo pants, and clunky shoes. In fact, if the pants were tucked into her boot tops, the figure'd be a spitting image of the way Jenny appeared in issues three and four of the comic. Bit of a chav, but better. She has her long blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail, and a stern look on her face. If she had a fag, and she'd be perfect. Now, before you flip out, you need to realize something - Jenny's a Brit. If she wants to smoke a fag, it'll go right past the censors; of course, I'd imagine that DC Comics (and its uberparent, AOLTimeWarner) wouldn't be thrilled packaging ciggies with something that is ostensibly aimed at children. So poor Miss Sparks remains fagless, and is likely having a tiny plastic nicotine fit as I type this. Fag. Jenny stopped physically aging in her late teens or early twenties, and the figure's physique reflects that - she's got the lean build of an athletic college student, rather than the humoungous knockers one (stereo)typically expects of comicbook heroines. She stands 5⅞" tall, and is articulated at the neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, and knees. Bloody good! While the Authority comicbook may be on hiatus, you can create your own adventures with these figures. -- 08/26/02

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