Hot Toys Man of Steel

Until you own a Hot Toys figure, it's hard to understand how beautiful they really are- if you truly want the highest caliber of quality and most advanced example of realism, these are the figures to get. Such is the case with the 2013 Hot Toys Man of Steel Superman. Check out the video set to Hans Zimmer's tribal soundtrack:

Superman came in a beautiful textured box with a magnetic panel to clasp shut on the side. In addition to the Kryptonian keys, this figure came with three extra sets of hands, and a huge flight stand that I absolutely love. I like pretty much any Superman movie, and thought Man of Steel's more sci-fi take on the story was fascinating! I'm a big Chris Reeve fan since the '70s, but enjoyed actor Henry Cavill in the starring role.

This is a truly great Superman figure- the sculpt and paint are immaculate, and the outfit stunning. The blue spandex and red boots are covered in a thin rubber pattern, giving it a slick appearance with more flexibility. I felt the wristbands and pinstriping in the suit were more of a dark silver in the movie, and the shield was higher on the chest, but he looks killer. I was unsure of the redesign of Superman's suit initially, both in the comics and for the 2013 film, but quickly got over that. They both pay tribute to the original with what probably was a much needed, modern update.

It's been said in more than one review on the figure that by a simple tilt of the head can change the entire demeanor of Henry Cavill's likeness, which I can affirm by my own witness...

Some collectors complained about the unwieldy size of the flight stand base, but it's hard to not like the oversized "S" shield, and the thing won't tip over. Hands down, my most epic figure base...

The pleated cape is AMAZING. Some serious reviews I watched before picking this up complained of the cape's bright color and texture, and while the screen accuracy could be argued against in more than one regard, it's hard to deny the figure's beauty.

Superman comes with both 1:1 and 1:6 scale Kryptonian keys, the former of which is so impractically tiny that I question it's relevance as an accessory. Mine were promptly returned to the box for storage...

 Comparison time! Hot Toys Man of Steel with my 12" Kenner Superman from '96 and DC Direct 13" Deluxe Superman...

BIG TOY/little toy: Hot Toys Man of Steel with my 6" Mattel Movie Masters Man of Steel and 31" Jakk's Pacific Man of Steel...

Below, the Man of Steel with my other two Hot Toys figures, Last Stand Wolverine and Amazing Spider-Man... I have to say these are are each one outstanding, and it would be hard to pick a favorite. The Hot Toys Man of Steel is tall in comparison to some other Hot Toys according to some more experienced collectors, particularly in the case of the Christopher Reeve Superman, who in real like was taller than Henry Cavill, but was a noticeably shorter figure.

The Man of Steel with my Sideshow Collectibles Sixth Scale Batman, who can now be posed realistically using his Kryptonite ring hand ...!

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NECA 7" 1989 Video Game Batman Figure

I somehow missed this NECA 7" Batman figure, freakishly painted in blue and purple to dodge character licensing stipulations under the guise as the 1989 Batman video game character. Several YouTube reviewers announced future plans to repaint him in black like the 1/4 scale figure also released by NECA, but I for one had no such machinations. You can get this figure in black with the 25th Anniversary Blu-Ray, but I actually appreciate this bizarrely colored rendition as an oddity among my collection. While I never played the video game, I was obsessed with Tim Burton's telling of Gotham's most famous vigilante, and was an unexpected fan of actor Michael Keaton's performance. The front of the box looks worn like the edges of a vintage Nintendo case, and the inside decorated like an 8-bit background from the game.

NECA Batman comes with extra hands to hold the grapple gun and batarang he comes with.

Batman has serviceable articulation, boasting over 25 points, and can do a few things with some patient posing. He can turn his head, unlike actor Michael Keaton in the real suit, though his chest emblem turns with it. He holds his very detailed grapple gun quite well...

Like his 1/4" scale counterpart, the attention to screen accuracy in the sculpt is pretty extensive- the armored shin guards, gauntlets, and cowl look very much like the movie outfit, and the facial sculpt resembles Keaton. The cape does not resemble the leathery texture seen in the movie, but it's a faithful representation otherwise... 

NECA Batman has a very detailed batarang that he struggles to get a grip on unfortunately. He has no abdominal crunch, but does hide a waist swivel beneath his belt. The shoulder and hip hinge/swivels have limited range, but the elbows and knees have hinge/swivel combos as well, and the ankle rocker joints help keep his feet flat when posed. Again, I know some would find this figure garish, and he may not bowl you over with his poseability, but I'm fascinated by him... 

In black and white, this figure looks like a still frame from the movie...

NECA Batman with the surprisingly great 4" Mattel Multiverse 1989 Batman...

NECA Batman looks right at home next to my DCUC All-Star Joker...

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Sideshow One Sixth Batman Comparison Photos

There was so much to talk about with the outstanding Sideshow One Sixth Batman I picked up recently that I wanted to do another post of comparison pictures with other 1:6 scale Batman figures in my collection...

Sideshow Batman probably has most in common with my DC Direct Deluxe Batman, in his modern/classic styling and short cowl ears. Categorizing  this DC Direct as 1:6 scale is a bit of a stretch as he's really 13", While the DC Direct version seemed a little clumsy after working with the Sideshow, it didn't diminish my appreciation for the former, which I got at at a great price back in 2011...

My first serious 1:6 figure, the DC Direct Batman Beyond, has more in common proportionally to Sideshow Batman. I like the slender body and articulation on this DC Direct- the head sculpt is truly bizarre, and looks very little like the clenched teeth visage we know as Terry McGinnis from the animated shows & comics, but he's plenty of fun and has a lot of visual appeal...

Just for fun since I've been on a Batman kick lately, a shot of Sideshow Batman with my 10" Kai Play Arts Arkham City Batman, who also came with a grapple gun/cable accessory- a feature I appreciate. While the Play Arts Batman had it's issues, it's extreme detail and hyper stylization are impressive...

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Mattel Total Heroes Batman

I have a few of these Total Heroes figures that seemed to take the place of the popular DCUC line by Mattel, along with their 4" DC Multiverse. These are targeted at younger kids, who are less particular in taste than the adult collector, and made with less articulation and paint apps to keep the price point low. I got the few I have for ten bucks or less, but more often see them go for fifteen or more- a price I wouldn't pay, except for maybe the Mattycollector exclusive Batman Beyond, which sold out and now goes for fifty bucks on eBay. I appreciated the cartoony styling, but they should be more like five or six dollars- maybe seven. That said, they produced a fun Batman figure...

We do get hinge/swivel combos on the shoulders, elbows, and hips that help with posing, and his waist swivels at the belt, so the articulation is serviceable. A lot of parts are reused on the other characters, but Batman's gauntlets and utility belt are unique to him, as his cowled head. His body is cast in a subtly metallic plastic, and boots, gloves, etc. in flat black...

Batman's cape is fabric anchored beneath his head- a feature I appreciate in an action figure. It allows more posing possibilities, and fun to swing them with ...!

I like the pegs on the back of Batman's utility belt, where his batarangs and grapple gun can be stowed. I'd think a working grapple line would be in order for this considering the target demographic, and that would have been standard  in the past, but is sadly missing. At least he got two batarangs, as all Batman figures should...

Mattel Total Heroes Batman and Superman together, sporting the New 52 design...

Mattel Total Heroes Batman and Superman with their 5" Justice League counterparts, whose styling originated in the Batman: the Brave & the Bold action figure line I was extremely fond of...

Mattel Total Heroes Batman with other recent New 52 styled Batman figures, including the Justice League Batman pictured above, the 6" Batman Unlimited, and 3" Imaginext Batman...

*Like the Batman Power Attack figures, these aren't going to blow you away, but their sculpts are dynamic and fun, there are limited accessories, and have cloth capes. See my post on the Green Lantern & Sinestro Total Heroes figures, too!

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Hot Toys 1:6 Scale Last Stand Wolverine

It was difficult not to take notice of other 1:6 scale Hot Toys figures after spending some time with my Amazing Spider-Man, which blew me away with it's immaculate quality and incredible detail. I was hooked! There are other Hot Toys Wolverine figures, including a very cool Days of Future Past version soon to be released, but this X-Men Last Stand was the version for me. Capturing actor Hugh Jackman's likeness expertly, this Wolverine looks bad to the bone in his black leather X-Men outfit, the design of which I'm fond of. It restricts the figure's range of articulation, but looks killer. His adamantium claws are cast in real metal and individually removable from one of the three sets of hands included. Wolverine came with cumbersome base molded in in the shape of a Sentinel's decapitated head with a somewhat weak light feature in the eyes, but the other stand included was all I really needed. See more in my video...

Last Stand Wolverine with my Hot Toys Amazing Spider-Man...

Wolverine and Spider-Man have had an interesting relationship in the comics, the humor of which I've enjoyed a great deal. The all-ages book Avengers: Infinity Gauntlet  I posted on in 2011 really cracked me up, the wise-cracking Spider-Man confounding a cranky Wolverine at every turn. Very funny! More serious in tone, Spider-Man Vs.Wolverine #1 (1987) was my first exposure to the odd coupling of Marvel characters, and the beginning of their longtime friendship. It was announced that Spidey will be taking his recently deceased friend's place in the Wolverine & The X-Men title, as mentor to the young mutants attending the Jean Grey School... at least until his eventual resurrection. R.I.P Wolverine- we look forward to seeing you again!

Hot Toys Wolverine with some of my other Wolverines in the Super-DuperToyBox, including 9" Hasbro Wolverine, 11" Hasbro Titan Heroes Wolverine,  9" ToyBiz Famous Covers Wolverine, and 3 3/4" Marvel Universe '90s Wolverine. Still packaged behind them are the 6" Marvel Legends X-Force Wolverine and 7" Marvel Select movie Wolverine...

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