Well, DC Universe series one has finally hit and thanks to great Fwoosh sponsor Enchanted Toy Chest, we have the lowdown for you. Read on for the, ahem, thorough look at all of the figures.
As 2007 came to a close we were granted an early gift with the release of the first series of Mattel’s DC Universe Classics figures. While this is Mattel’s first real foray into bringing the entirety of the DC Universe into the super-posable, 1/12 scale action figure world (building on the shoulders of the successful Batman/Superman-centric DC Superheroes line), the feelings I got when opening these figures were filled with delightful nostalgia as well as excitement for the new. Thus, while this will be a review or sorts I also want to take the opportunity to discuss how this line is a "long time coming" and what details and fates had to line up to finally make it possible for us to get what might just be the new definitive DC action figure line.
You see this line, even in its very early infancy, harkens back to the the start of two action figure lines that are very near and dear to me: Super Powers and Marvel Legends. As a huge DC fan it has been rough 20+ years awaiting the arrival of the next great DC figure line but I think we have finally gotten there.
The 1990’s were mired in VERY mediocre output from Hasbro for anything that was not based off of the Timm-verse animated properties. Hasbro’s reign of "meh" finally came to a close with the "comic inspired" Total Justice line in the early 2000’s, and we have not seen comic-based figures of non-Superman or Batman related characters on mass market retail shelves for the better part of a decade.
Sure, DC Direct has been a stalwart since 1999 putting out hundreds of figures a year, but their approach has always been a little different. In the beginning Georg Brewer and crew gave us classic appearance figures of characters from just about every corner of the DC Universe. However, while having great sculpts and likenesses, DC Direct’s thing has never been articulation. Also, DC Direct has made a major shift in focus to artist-specific figures in recent years and while they are very good at what they do, for those that prefer a more "classic" or "iconic" approach to their figures with a good deal of playability and posability, DC Direct offering just really did not foot the bill.
So, what was I looking for? The rebirth of Super Powers figures with great character selection, consistent style, action features and at the 3 3/4 scale? Well, yes and no. While I have wanted DC figures with a classic feel to them and a consistent style approach for a long time now, a little line from a competing Universe upped the ante in 2002 making me require two things from a superhero action figure line I never knew I really until then: super posability and a 6" (1/12) scale.
Yep, Marvel Legends changed all the rules as far I am concerned. I suppose it really started with the Spiderman Classics line but in June of 2002 when those first Captain America, Iron Man, Hulk (and I suppose Toad) hit the shelves I was so giddy with every single aspect of what made these figures great I felt like a kid again. The detail of sculpts, the articulation and their scale set the gold standard for me and anything less would fall short.
Over five years later and the stakes are running high for what I need to make a definitive DC line: character selection, consistent style, iconic look, super posability and all at the 1/12 scale. Well, Mattel has it’s work cut out for them to win this fickle fan.
Bringing us up to speed with the already long history of what has come to be the DC Universe Classics line, Mattel sputtered around with a Batman Comic line back in 2003 that was eventually cancelled. They then brought the Four Horsemen in to handle (most of) the sculpting duties on the next new line: DC Superheroes (the Horsemen had done several figures for the 2003 Batman line as well as the Masters of the Universe line). As we all know, DCSH brought us tons of figures of comic-based characters that broke the (no pun intended) mold. We got the likes of Steel, Mongul, Darkseid, Parasite, Batgirl, Two Face, Clayface, not to mention fantastic versions of Batman and Superman in various incarnations. DCSH would have been the answer to my dreams but for the fact that the license Mattel held up until early last year only allowed them to make figures of characters from the Batman or Superman stables. Don’t get me wrong, we got unbelievable figures (like the ones mentioned above) from DCSH but the line could only go so far with what it had to work with.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of waiting, Mattel announced at SDCC 2007 that they had acquired the right to make the entire DC Universe (well ALMOST, rassum frassum) and that the DCSH line would be ending to bring us the new DC Universe Classics line complete with every Who’s Who in the DCU. Finally, it looked as though it would begin.
So has it been worth the wait? Simply put: oh yes it has and I have not been so excited to be an action figure collector since the inception of Marvel Legends. I have rambled on long enough, lets take a look at series one as whole and at each figure individually.
Overall, if you are familiar with the DC Superheroes line, you know the ground rules here. Every figure was sculpted by the Four Horsemen (as will/should the entire line from the start), there is solid paint detail on all of the figures (Hasbro needs to look at their excuses for lack of paint applications) and all the figures fall in the 18 to 20+ points of articulation. Within the latter all of the figures (except for Penguin) have the DCSH-style hips we have come to expect. Love them or hate them, they look to continue to be the standard for most of the figures.
However, new to the line is the concept of the "Collect and Connect" figure. Essentially, this is Mattel’s name for the Build A Figure brought to popularity by Marvel Legends. Metamorpho (or due to legal reasons is called Rex Mason the Element Man here) is the first series C&C figure. With characters like Grodd and Solomon Grundy coming down the pipe in series 2 and 3, the possibilities for this concept are exciting and the line moves on.
Let’s take a look at each figure individually now.
Figure 1: Orion
Ahhh… the character choice here alone is so satisfying. Dog of War, Son of Darkseid, Orion is the first of what I hope to be lots and lots of New Gods/Fourth World figures. From a character design standpoint, Orion is pretty basic. His red and blue looks great and the wash brings out the muscle detail (he shares the same basic body with Red Tornado and Batman but it works really well), but more so there is a lot of really nice sculpted and painted detail in helmet (not removable).
What really makes the figure for me though is the Astro Harness. Orion fits into to it perfectly (from the shoulder harness to the foot rests) and it is made of a soft plastic in the leg extension pieces. Overall, Orion is probably my favorite basic figure from series 1 and it is very good to be able to match him up against his dear old dad.
Figure 2: Crime Stopper/Classic Detective Batman
Batman has never been short of quantity in the action figure department. In fact, I am pretty sure there has always been some incarnation of Batman on retail shelves since Super Powers so long ago. Towards that end, while Mattel now has over 3000 characters to play with in the sandbox, the Bat is going to show up early (duh) and often in this line as the consummate anchor character. The least Mattel can do is give good figures in variations that make sense.
Well, I am happy to say that this could possibly be the best Batman figure. Ever. That is saying a lot right? Especially coming from some one that prefers his Black and gray and dark blue and gray look over this Bronze Age light blue and gray with the yellow symbol. But the fact is, everything just hits right with this figure (he might be a tiny bit buff for the era). The articulation is standard DCSH/DCUC fare and works well. He comes with a grapple gun and a Batarang (that he can actually hold) as well as his piece of Metamorpho, the right arm and attachment.
The best part of this figure though is the head sculpt. What can I say? It just looks and feels like Batman from the 70’s and 80’s (helped along by the capsule belt). The black shading (which is always a point of debate) looks really nice with the contrast of the white eyes. I am completely taken by this figure and I hope it will be used as base for a future black/gray or navy/gray modern Batman figure.
Figure 3: Penguin
I have to admit up front that Penguin was the figure I was least thrilled about when series 1 was debuted. Sure, he looked just fine but did not really do a whole lot for me, though, I would be happy to get him.
I am happy to say that upon getting the figure be turned out to be my most pleasant surprise. He is really, really great. He is significantly shorter than the other figures which is right on and his outfit is classic all the way (though I have heard some rumblings about the orange vest, though I think it works). The real standout point though is the head sculpt. I am not sure what it is (aside from the great detail) but this IS what Oswald Cobblepot should look like, to me anyway.
He also comes with the head and torso of Metamorpho as well as a great umbrella accessory with a Gatling gun attachment to shoot up those pesky Bat-brains. Overall, a great surprise figure and a good addition to the ever-growing Batman Rogues Gallery.
Figure 4: The Demon Etrigan
Wow. That sums it up nicely. From sculpt detail to construction, Etrigan is the winner of the most impressive basic figure in the set. No little detail was left out.
Let’s start with the figure itself. He is HUGE. Like, a lot bigger than I expected him to be when I saw him at SDCC. He is made up of all new parts and can stand toe to toe with Mongul or Clayface. All of his joints are nice and tight too and he can stand up with no effort supporting all of that massive weight.
The details on the head, hands and legs is also great, especially the head. His horns, eyes, fins and gnashed teeth are perfect and highly detailed. Great stuff all around. Oh, and the ripped and tattered cape looks fantastic too.
As I said, while not my favorite figure in the group, Etrigan is the stand out in terms of detail and quality at all levels. He also comes with the left hand of Rex.
Figure 5: Red Tornado (classic)
First off: there seems to be some confusion as to which version of Reddy is the standard and which is the variant. Originally, the modern was slated to be the standard figure and the classic (shown here) was to be the variant. Well, it seems as though that has changed as everyone is coming up with the classic and the modern has yet to be seen. But that is okay by me, I wanted the classic more anyhow.
On to the figure- I am kinda sad to say that Reddy is my most disappointing figure of the group. Sure, he is a good figure and all of the details from his head sculpt to the gloves and BOOT CUFFS are there but I am just not as excited for him as I thought I would be.
Yellow is a tough color to work with in terms of paint and while all the lines on RT are crisp, I don’t really care for the red wash over them. I know what they were going for here but it just did not work out as well as it could have. Also, if there is any paint slop problems in the line it is on his cape. None of this is terribly outstanding and he is better than most figure offerings out there, but it does bring him down a bit for me. Not to disappointing, just ho-hum. He also includes a neat tornado accessory and the left leg of Metamor- I mean Element Man.
Collect and Connect Figure: Rex Mason The Element Man (Metamorpho)
So, if you buy all five of the basic figures you get enough pieces to make your own Rex Collect and Connect figure. I am happy to say that it is WELL worth it and he is my favorite overall figure of the bunch.
While he is smaller (the same size as the rest of the figures without his attachments) he really does make for a really nice C&C figure. His sculpting is amazing and all of the different sections of his body that make up different elemental areas are perfect. I especially like the purple portion of his upper body. His head sculpt is really perfect too, he looks threatening and stoic at the same time.
The part I love the most about him though is that all of the little add ons- the lava hand, the hammer hand and the mud extension snap on and off easily so you can display him normally or "powered up". Little details like this go a long way with me and I am glad you can have a choice in how to display him. Very well done, Mattel and I am REALLY looking forward to future collect and connect figures.
I know, this has been long winded, but I am so thrilled to have these figures and this line so I could go on all day. Overall, this is a home run of a first series. Keeping with the baseball references (I don’t even like baseball) not a grand slam but that is only because it seems series 2 and 3 are going to blow series one out of the water. Amazing stuff.
I finally have my DC counterpart to Marvel Legends and I could not be happier. Kudos to Mattel and the Four Horsemen, you guys have a hit and I hope the line goes until every character in the DCU is made under this banner.
If I can leave you with one thing it is this: if you are on the fence about this line and STILL have not bought into DCSH, pick up a few of these (or all of them), you will not be disappointed.
Finally I would like to again thank Scott and Enchanted Toy Chest for making this review possible. Head on over to the store and grab a set of these, as I said, you will be glad you did. Look for a Fwoosh Archive update soon. Thanks for reading!
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