McFarlane’s DC Multiverse Wave 20 – A Closer Look at Icon, Superman, Tempest & Dark Flash

McFarlane Toys is back with another round of DC Multiverse figures, and Wave 20 is looking sharp! This wave brings us four figures: Icon, Superman (Classic Animation 1940), Tempest, and Dark Flash (Walter West). As someone who loves toy restoration, I always enjoy breaking down the details of new releases, so let’s dive in!

DC Multiverse Wave 20 Superman McFarlane – Classic 1940s Superman

If you love classic Superman, this one is a must-have! Inspired by the Max Fleischer Superman cartoons, this figure takes us back to the Golden Age of animation. The bold colours, the chunky “S” emblem, and the muscular, heroic pose scream 1940s nostalgia.

The sculpt is simple yet effective, giving us a Superman that feels like he leaped straight out of a vintage animation cell. I previously covered the Classic 1940 Animation Fleischer Superman figure, so it’s nice to see more figures embracing this era. If McFarlane keeps this up, we might get a full Fleischer-style Justice League in the future!

DC Multiverse Wave 20 Tempest – The Atlantean Warrior

Once known as Aqualad, Garth took on the mantle of Tempest after training in Atlantean magic. This figure does a great job showcasing his mystical side, complete with water effect accessories that mimic his spellcasting abilities.

The sculpt captures his Atlantean tattoos, which are a crucial part of his design. The vibrant blue and red costume stands out, and the figure’s overall look feels like a solid blend of comic accuracy and McFarlane’s signature style. This is a great pick for Titans fans, and it pairs well with other recently released characters like Power Girl and Guy Gardner (check out my review of them here).

DC Multiverse Wave 20 Dark Flash McFarlane – The Shadowy Speedster

This one’s for the Flash fans who love alternate timelines and darker takes on heroes. Walter West, aka Dark Flash, hails from a timeline where tragedy pushed him to become a more brutal and battle-hardened version of Wally West.

McFarlane went with an almost entirely black costume, accented with jagged lightning streaks that give him an ominous look. The sculpt looks great—sharp, aggressive, and definitely standing apart from standard Flash figures. From what I’ve seen, fan reception has been divided—some love the dark, edgy design, while others were hoping for a different version of Dark Flash. Regardless, it’s a striking figure, and if you’re into the multiversal chaos of the Flash universe, this one’s a no-brainer.

DC Multiverse Wave 20 Icon – The Alien Hero We Needed

Icon finally gets his moment in the spotlight! For those unfamiliar, Icon, aka Augustus Freeman IV, is an alien who crash-landed on Earth in 1839 and was raised as an African-American man. Despite his Superman-like powers, his story is deeply rooted in themes of identity, history, and responsibility. His partnership with Rocket made him one of the standout characters from Milestone Comics.

The figure itself is a GameStop Gold Label exclusive, and from the photos, it looks like McFarlane did justice to his regal presence. The wired cape is a great touch, adding dynamic posing options. The costume detailing is sharp, and I appreciate the sculpting on his face—it gives him the stoic, powerful presence he deserves. Given how long fans have waited for an Icon figure, this one should make collectors very happy.

A Bit of Icon & Rocket’s Backstory

Icon isn’t just a Superman clone—his story is unique. When his ship crashed, it restructured his DNA to match that of a human, leading him to be raised in the American South during slavery. Over the years, he lived through major historical events, always hiding his powers. It wasn’t until he met Rocket (Raquel Ervin), a young girl from Dakota City, that he embraced the idea of being a superhero. Rocket convinced him that he had a responsibility to use his powers for good, and together, they fought against crime and corruption. Their dynamic was a fresh take on the superhero-mentorship trope, and it’s great to finally see him in DC Multiverse Wave 20.

DC Multiverse Wave 20

This wave has a little something for everyone—classic nostalgia with Superman, deep-cut Milestone Comics representation with Icon, Titans love with Tempest, and multiversal madness with Dark Flash. Fan reactions seem mostly positive, though some wish we had more variety instead of yet another Flash variant. Personally, I’m thrilled to see Icon get a figure, and I hope this opens the door for more Milestone characters in future waves.