Looking now at the wide array of characters covered in DC Universe Classics, and the amazing range of figures and impressive Collect & Connects we've enjoyed over the last few years, it's hard to imagine I was ever skeptical about what this line. Perhaps it was being burned by DC Direct that caused my cynicism, but the promises made by Mattel at the outset of DCUC, specifically about the scope they hoped to cover within the DC Universe, just seemed to good to be true, and while I collected the line from the beginning I adopted a "wait and see" attitude before joining the cheer squad. Needless to say, twelve waves later, the overall quality of the figures plus some inclusions that have given weight to that "nothing in the DCU is off limits" promise (Killer Moth, Gentleman Ghost, Robotman) I'm happy to be a card carrying DCUC cheer squad member!
The highlights here for me are Golden Age JSA members Spectre and Dr Mid-Nite, and the first member of the Metal Men to grace the series, Iron. I am a big Spectre fan and was never satisfied with the glow-in-the-dark DC Direct version. The glow-in-the-dark feature was always meh to me, and the skin tone never looked right. This one corrects all of that, and the headsculpt is excellent. I would have preferred a Crispus Allen variant instead of DCUC's own glow in the dark version, but a Crispus version would be an easy mod, so I'll hope for its inclusion in a boxed set somewhere down the road. Dr Mid-Nite is the best version of the character so far - very happy this turned out to be Dr Charles McNider, but again I am hopeful for a Pieter Cross version down the road. I did have a bit of trouble getting Hooty to sit properly on Dr M's arm - a magnet attachment would not have gone astray
Desaad and Copperhead are both serviceable versions of the characters. I haven't been buying the Super Powers redesigns of the New Gods, but Desaad was the same as he is in the comics, so I am glad to have him. I'm not wild about the lighter orange neck on Copperhead, as it only appeared in the JLU cartoon and not the comics, but his headsculpt is excellent, and it's great to have him in this scale.
Eclipso is a nice surprise - the initial photos weren't particularly impressive, but the facial features I didn't like so much in those pics are much better in person - his ears might be a tad longer than I'd like, but the maniacal smile is just right.
As much as I love this line, no wave is perfect, and unfortunately it's Mary Marvel's (uh... Batson......) fate to be the dog of the wave, quite literally, as her headsculpt is really awful. She looks less like an adolescent girl and more like the middle-aged star of a 70's sitcom. Strange really as the female headsculpts overall in this line have been excellent. Add to that my usual complaints about the skinny arms on the DCUC females, and I can only give this a bare pass. A sad blotch on what is overall an excellent wave.
And as for Iron........ oh, where to begin? This fellow is certainly in the running for 6" figure of the year, and one of my favourite figures in the line. He's shiny! He's metallic! He's blue!! A perfect sculpt, great design, and the option of either fists or snap-on attachments all make for great fun. Bring on the rest of the Metal Men!
You can see more pics at Facebook, discuss this at the AFB Forum, and comment on this post to enter the AFB February Comment of the Month Contest.
Until next time!
11 comments:
You are right definitely Iron is the star of the Wave, and that Darkseid is just awesome
This was such an awesome wave, I can't wait until wave 13 now.
This was a nice looking wave but the only ones I am really interested in are Iron and Darkseid, but of course then...
Copperhead and Iron are must haves for me... But how can I say no to the good old doctor?
I cheer for this wave too!
Have to agree with you on Iron for seeing him out of the package he is the star . copper head looks deranged. Desaad Mattel did well capturing the evil mad scientist new god. and also never was a fan of the glow in the Dark Spectre though think the glow in the dark one is the Variant. and his card should say if he is Crisspes or Jim
definitely Mattel is doing a great job with its DC figures... i’m barely beggining to know in-depth the Marvel & DC characters & i’m surprised of the wide variety... only Darkseid seems familiar for me =O
Loving these figures! Great review Andy!
What no love for Darkseid?
The metal men look good however.
I'm curious as to what you think about Darkseid. He seems to tower over the other figures!
I'm part of the cheer squad too.
Some people seem to want to bury Mattel's DCUC with negative commentary, but little of it relates to the end product, which is largely glorious!
And this is coming from two folks who have had harder times than most obtaining the figures (I'm Canadian).
=)
If it weren't for Darkseid's paint app, and overly craggy face, I'd be tempted, but as a not-so-interested-in-DC type, I'll pass.
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