I have an on-again/off-again relationship with Mattel. I used to love DC Universe Classics but the figures started migrating into tubs as the display started feeling stale with no new releases. Some Multiverse Collect&Connects have interested me but not enough to buy the whole wave. I grabbed Dr. Psycho and the two figures to build him but wasn’t really impressed. I was waiting for this Batwoman.
She was going to be the determining factor on whether or not I need to keep an eye on Mattel’s DC offerings in the future. Sporting a new sculpt and, more importantly, a new articulation layout, I was basing all my hopes on this one figure. Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate the old style hips from DCUC but the females left a lot to be desired. And taking away some points of articulation as the line went on didn’t do it any favors.
Well, I’m happy to say that Batwoman got me fired up again. Kinda sorta.
The new articulation is a step in the right direction, but they still have a ways to go. The double knees work great and are smooth. Too smooth. To the point where they are loose. Detents (it is a word, silly spellcheck) are definitely needed here. And then the elbows are hinge-and-swivel but the cut-out for the hinge isn’t very deep, hindering range. It barely makes ninety degrees. But the filled-in pegholes are pretty sweet.
The neck and torso points are almost dumbbell joints but instead of the lower parts being balls, Mattel made them hinges, allowing for only forward and back movement. So okay range in that direction but side-to-side is limited. And the semi-dumbbells are made of a rubbery material so there is some flex.
Finally, the ankles. I consider these the most important points of articulation when it comes to action poses, and they aren’t up to par here. Sure, the do have detents so they are nice and tight when it comes to the forward and back hinge, but that’s all the movement they have. Need. Rocker. Ankles. Or a forward facing pin. The hinge is already a separate piece from the foot, it just needs to be rounded and pointed towards the toe instead of the heel.
Now, that’s me doing a lot of bitching about the articulation. But you know what? I still like the figure. It cuts a fantastic silhouette and looks amazing in neutral stances. It’s Batwoman in plastic for and some of us have been wanting that for a long time. Yeah, the articulation is wonky and action poses are awkward but Mattel is moving in the right direction. I hope hope hope they continue to improve on what is being done here, but part of me expects this to be called good enough and they roll with this set-up for the next few years.
C’mon Mattel. You can do it.
Including the head of Clayface was a bit of dirty pool. Now I want to finish it because the pieces I got look fantastic. But I’ve seen pics of the other figures in the wave and I don’t know how much I like Superman’s tiny crotch and skinny legs, and I’m not really attached to the other characters. Hmmm.
Package:
Figure:
Alternate head:
Clayface parts:
Comparisons:
Action (be it as it may):
