New 52 Justice League Superman

I've waited months for this New 52 Superman to be released by DC Collectibles, all the other members of the Justice League coming out before. While annoying, they sure built anticipation for his January 2013 debut, and so I was pleasantly surprised to find a single Superman on the shelf a month early at my local V-Stock, and for $19.99. Several of the other League members were there, all of which were beautifully done, but I was waiting for the main man.

This is my first DC Collectibles figure, the company having changed their name recently from DC Direct- I've dozens of DC Direct figures and have always admired the quality of their sculpt and paint/deco. These new 7" DC Collectible figures seem to be going for twenty-five bucks now, and like Hasbro's 3 3/4" Marvel Universe figures, we are suddenly denied a base, and in this case, stripped of points of articulation that we were given in some of the figures released only a year ago. But I've got to say that this is an artfully executed action figure.

The side panel credits one Jack Mathews as sculptor, who skillfully emulated Jim Lee's art from the New 52's Justice League series. As an artist, I appreciate knowing who worked on a piece, just as I want to know who worked on a comic title. Unlike Mattel's version of this New 52 Man of Steel, we are given the proper cape treatment, which dips to the middle at the end, and a buck that is sculpted more like Jim Lee's treatment of Kal-El's physique in the book.

I love the new Superman outfit, rendered beautifully here by Mathews, the raised shield insignia and belt, and incised piping throughout the body carved so perfectly that it suspends belief, like Jim Lee's Superman is standing there in front of you. Well, mostly anyway- while the colors are pretty good, the skin tone is a little flat and the hair could use some subtle highlights. The eyes are decent however, and the body and cape have some subtle black wash that does the job.  

As is the case with DC Direct before, DC Collectibles figures are limited in their articulation, focusing more on sculpt and paint, and this Superman in particular is really limited. We get the standard T-hips, single-hinged elbows & knees, but no thigh, shin, or wrist swivel. We also get no waist articulation, and though it would be helpful in posing, I can respect their decision not to disturb the sculpt on Superman's sparse uniform. We do get some side-to-side tilt and forward motion on the head, but he can't look up unfortunately. I've compared DC Direct to Mattel on many occasion here on the Super-DuperToyBox, and they both have their pros and cons- while this Superman lacks the articulation of a DCUC, he really looks great! I'm on the lookout for a Wonder Woman from this series, and am really tempted by the mammoth, 13" Darkseid just released. And if I see Mattel's New 52 Supes in the shelf at Target in the future, I'll grab him for a comparison post.

New 52 Justice League Superman with the DC Direct New Krypton Brainiac...

New 52 Justice League Superman with DC Direct's New Krypton Superman, and incredible action figure. He has every bit as impressive sculpt and deco, and enjoys additional articulation in his swivel-jointed waist, wrists, and boot tops...

New 52 Justice League Superman with New Krypton Mon-El and Superwoman, and DC Direct Justice series Kingdom Come Superman... 

*Visit the DC Direct Action Figure Archive!

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Thor MiniMates: Lady Sif & Volstagg

A quick trip back to my MiniMates fascination: I picked up this 2-pack on clearance awhile back at TRU on account of the damaged package. I loved the armor designs in the 2011 feature film, which was somewhat panned by fanboys and critics alike (and for good reasons), but I was entertained  :D

MiniMates Sif  here doesn't bring actress Jaimie Alexander to mind. Shouldn't she have a ponytail? Maybe not in this particular outfit? At any rate, Jaimie is a ravishingly beautiful woman, and this is a pretty good MiniMate. The deco and colors are nice, and the uniquely sculpted wristbands are cool. She also has a nice range of motion in her limbs, which not all MiniMates enjoy, and her sword is beautifully sculpted & painted. There was also a SDCC Thor "Stormbreaker" set released that included a more comic book inspired Sif with a winged red helmet that totally rules, but this Sif is not without merit, and is probably the more sophisticated version. 

While I was pleasantly surprised with Thor's scorned lover, but I really bought this set for his other companion Volstagg of the Warriors Three. Don't get me wrong- I am a fan of heroic and powerful women, but Thor's bumbling and boisterous brother at arms has some cool armor and a beard...!

I like the whole reddish brown thing going on here, and the copper abdominal armor is nice. There's a lot of paint apps on this guy, and some detailed sculpts- this is a well done MiniMate. His head won't turn and he's somewhat encumbered by the big armor overlay, but he has a wide footing stance. And another great accessory in this 2-pack, Volstagg's battle axe is as nicely detailed as his armor. Really cool! 

Hasbro also did a great job on their 3 3/4" Thor movie figures, the Volstagg from that line a ridiculously detailed, and perfectly executed action figure. This is a perfect opportunity for a round of BIGTOY/littletoy   :D

MiniMates Volstagg and Sif with the Armored Thor that came in a 2-pack with Beta Ray Bill, a set that totally got me into MiniMates...

*Check out the online MiniMates Database!

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Hasbro Avengers Black Widow & Hawkeye

On the same outing I found the Hasbro Avengers Nick Fury and comic series Hawkeye, I found the movie series Black Widow & Hawkeye. I've passed on these more than three times for sure in my attempt to quit 3 3/4" Hasbro figures, but finally caved in due to their great decos and character likenesses. Hasbro did well on the 3 3/4" Thor movie figures, and does it again with these. 

Scarlett Johansson played Black Widow in the 2012 summer blockbuster, whom Hasbro deftly replicated in 3 3/4" scale, as much as could be hoped for in a mass produced figure like this at any rate, even in her body and posture if you ask me. Like her pouty lips and pretty, wide-set eyes, the arch of her back, the hair, tight little torso, and even her derriere really evoke the physicality of the actress. And while the paint apps are few on her black boy suit, they are cleanly executed. Thin piping from her backside runs up over her shoulders, stopping at an impossibly small shoulder badge, then back down her front to her crisp little "black widow" hourglass buckle. Nice.

We are again denied any waist/torso articulation, yet receive incredible leg articulation, including hinged hips, swivel thighs, double-jointed knees, and very useful hinge-swivel ankles. She gets the same hinge swivel elbows & shoulders as the others but enjoys the added benefit of swivel wrists. Her ball-jointed head doesn't do much beyond side to side, but she's not hunched over or looking down and she looks like an actual person.

Black Widow hold her right pistol really well, trigger finger neatly in place through the guard, but struggles with her left hand which seems to be sculpted better to hold a dagger or the like. Again we are  treated to holsters which snugly store her twin Glock pistols, hanging from a separate belt of rubber- very cool. According to the Internet Movie Firearms Database, Natasha Romanov carried two Glock 26 in The Avengers.

A gimmicky action accessory is included with her as with the others, but I'm not crazy about it- while the spring loaded "grapple" fires dependably, the bizarre red "pincher" at the base is both clumsy and in my case malfunctioning. Whoopdeedoo. I know some of you other guys would prefer a base like myself, but this is marketing to children using an "extra" in the form of an action feature.  Opposite of my several run-in with this girl, she's more often tough to find. I resent paying ten bucks for her, but she was fun to photograph.

 In the photo below, it's plain to see how much better Widow's buck is compared to the more generalized and often unnaturally distorted results in Hasbro's female physique in the past. Avengers Black Widow with Marvel Universe Kitty Pryde, Jean Grey, and Ms. Marvel:

 As Scarlett Johansson was successfully captured in Black Widow, actor Jeremy Renner gets a great likeness, his big nose, small frown, and wide-set shades seem to do the job. While Renner is certainly athletic, the arms look mildly too bulky- not bad, just bulky.

The sculpt and deco are great on this, particularly in the layering of body armor throughout the torso and minutiae down his legs to his combat boots. The outer layer is actually a very dark navy blue, with black straps, quiver, boots and vents at the ribs and behind the black knee pads. Small silver buckles and badges, and purple base layer surrounding his vest zipper finish off an impressive deco.

Hawkeye gets the simplified articulation of many of the other Hasbro Avengers and Amazing Spider-Man line released in 2012. I've said before that it hasn't stopped me from liking their sculpts, it is mildly annoying that they raised the price while cutting the articulation.  Hasbro raised the bar in this scale with their Marvel Universe line, but took it to a whole new level with their Marvel movie figures with much more dynamic sculpts. This looks great!

Hawkeye gets two bows- he hold them securely, but can't simulate a firing pose with his limited articulation. One is a standard, realistically proportioned compound bow, and the other a cannon that fires spring-loaded projectiles. The missiles don't snap into lock that's released by any trigger however, requiring the operator to pull back the missile and release, like a bow & arrow I suppose, but clumsy. That's a shame.

  

He is quite like his 6" Hasbro Avenger's doppelganger, the Marvel Legends-styled Hawkeye...

 Hasbro Avengers 6" Captain America and Hawkeye with 3 3/4" Captain America and Hawkeye... 

Avengers movie series Hawkeye, Avengers comic series Hawkeye, and Marvel Universe Dark Hawkeye...

Hawkeye and Black Widow make a great pair here. While there seems to be a mixed bag throughout the Avengers line, the sculpts are still really good. Better articulation could have improved these to some degree, and I'd originally decided to boycott them on principle, but they looks so good that I couldn't deny them.

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Hasbro Avengers Nick Fury and Comic Series Hawkeye

 

I surprised myself buying more of these, but enjoyed the two Captain Americas from Hasbro's Avengers series I picked up recently quite a bit, so I got some more....

  

 

Unlike the Super Shield Captain America, these two came with a lot of accessories- look at these full trays! Some were a disappointment, which I get into later, but at least an effort was made. Why Hawkeye gets two handguns and a crossbow, and Cap doesn't even get an assault rifle is a mystery to me.

 

 

Nick Fury looks to have a lot of parts that Captain America series Winter Soldier had, and benefits by getting more articulation than the other 3 3/4" Avengers figures. Along with double-jointed knees, he enjoys a torso/abdominal joint and hinge-swivel ankles. His elbows are the same hinge-swivel as the others however, and his wrists don't move.  I must say that from some angles he certainly resembles Samuel L. Jackson, and he looks killer in his trench coat! His weapons fit securely in his hands, and Hasbro smartly molded a holster for the pistol onto his left leg. They also glued a holstered sidearm onto his chest, but the pistol cannot be removed- looks good though!

 

 Fury's rocket launcher is only okay- it doesn't sit on his shoulder well and there's no good way to grip it with both hands, but it does fire pretty well. Pushing the ridged missile into the spring-loaded chamber until it clicks, the projectile is released by pressing the end protruding from the rear of the barrel.

 

 

Man did they pile this "comic series" Hawkeye with accessories- I love the backpack for his extra missiles, which are molded in three bright colors- fun! His cannon is far to big for him to hold, but fires nicely, launching the projectile by pressing the big red triggers on it's sides.

 

Both of Hawkeye's handguns fit securely when placed in the correct hand- he doesn't hold anything but the larger .45 type pistol in his left hand. We actually get two holsters on his utility belt- we've been treated to some nice detail on these figure's belts, and Hawkeye is no exception.   

 

  

Apparently, this is the version of Hawkeye featured in the Ultimates Universe, of which I am unfamiliar, but am eager to read. He only gets the simpler articulation a lot of the comic series figures got, like the hinge-swivel knees & elbows, but there is some incredible detail and paint apps here. They probably should have molded the knee guards onto the lower leg for a better look when his knees are bent, and a waist joint would have vastly improved this figure, but he's otherwise quite awesome.

I'm probably going against the popular vote, and though I'm a fan of Sam Jackson, I like this comic series Hawkeye better than the Nick Fury figure. I wasn't crazy about it the first couple times I saw him, but he's rad!

 

 

 I know I should hate Hasbro for raising the price on these while cutting the articulation, but I've been having fun with them, particularly the comic series figures which are beefier, colorful, and enjoy sculpts that are better than a lot of the 3 3/4" Marvel Universe figures we've seen. Hawkeye with fellow Hasbro Avengers comic series Shield Launcher Captain America, Battle Hammer Thor, and comic series Grappling Hook Spidey from the recent Amazing Spider-Man line...

 

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