Marvel Now! Indestructible Hulk #1 & #2

I'm delving into several of the new Marvel Now! titles currently, notably Indestructible Hulk, which has not disappointed. With S.H.I.E.L.D. unable to pin the Hulk down, it's obsessed Director Maria Hill is surprised to see Dr. Banner show up in an Alabama diner, offering a bargain out of their stalemate. Banner has come to realize that the Hulk is virtually indestructible, and there is no cure for his transformation into the gamma-driven beast. But if that rage could be harnessed in service of  S.H.I.E.L.D., they might provide Banner with the necessary environment to work on the things that can be fixed, solving scientific problems for the betterment of mankind and perhaps making up for all the damage he's done. 

The dialogue is great between Banner & Director Hill, Banner's frustration with his situation, and jealousy of Tony Stark being thought of as a hero, while he is labeled as a monster. There's an ego at play here, with a complicated psyche and a short fuse. He reveals to Hill his knowledge of  S.H.I.E.L.D.'s plan to raid the Mad Thinker's nearby bunker, offering the Hulk's services in place of what he knows to be a trap set up by the mastermind villain.

Director Hill accepts Banner's last minute offer for an "audition", and the indestructible Hulk surprised the unsuspecting villain, who launches a counter attack with his enormously powerful tech.

The Mad Thinker had mistakenly underestimated the exponentially unlimited power of the Green Goliath, who withstood beams that melted adamantium, tearing the armored battle armor apart. Director Hill pulled the defeated Mad Thinker and Banner from the rubble after the roof fell in, hiring the scientist on the spot. "I've decided I'd rather you for S.H.I.E.L.D. than against us. Come with me and let's get the paperwork started." "Thanks", coughs Banner, "You won't regret it."

Indestructible Hulk #2 finds Tony Stark paying S.H.I.E.L.D. a visit, surprised by a notably different Dr. Banner working away on various miracle projects. Sent into the field for test run on one of Banner's projects, a condescending Stark sets the frustrated scientist's transformation off while tinkering with his equipment.

A spectacular battle in the snowy Himalayas ensues, but the Hulk unexpectedly saves Iron Man at the last minute, pushing the hero away from the overloading gamma-fracking instrument right before it explodes...

The two exhausted men retire to a warm mountain resort to argue their ideologies concerning applied science over dinner, but Tony excuses himself to take a call from Director Hill, requesting he transport Banner to Montana where a situation is underway... to be continued in issue #2 of Indestructible Hulk! The artwork and dialogue are superb on this new book- if you aren't reading it, I'd recommend you start. Read Colin Smith's exhaustive summation of this new series on Too Busy Thinking About My Comics- he was less enthusiastic about the art than myself, complaining of restricted range of emotion moving the character's through the story. I understand his critique of artist Leinil Yu's sometimes unreadable body language and facial expression, but it's beautiful to look at. I will continue following this...

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New 52 Justice League Wonder Woman

 Just a couple days after finding the DC Collectibles New 52 Superman, I landed Wonder Woman at the same store- this is good in that V-Stock seems to be selling these for about five bucks less than everyone else. I hesitated a couple times at twenty-five bucks, but took her home for twenty. Wonder Woman's New 52 title looks interesting, and I liked Jim Lee's new suit design in Justice League. I love a strong female hero, and Wonder Woman is the archetype by which all others are measured.

 

I didn't say much about the packaging of these in my last post because it's kinda plain- not terrible, just plain. It looks nice enough, and shows the other figures released with the packaged figure, as well as the whole line of Justice League members in a row. Along the glossy white inner tray, the heroes are cast in light gray silhouette, which comes off a little weak and is easy to miss. The "unfurling" display window is nice however, and showcases the figure well. While it may be a waste of materials, a box makes it seem more deluxe. Though I'm medium on the design, I see what they were going for, and it does it's thing well enough. Sculptor Jack Mathews is credited on the right panel. 

 

Inside the box is a very pretty figure. She resembles the Justice League Wonder Woman by artist Jim Lee well enough, and is a killer figure anyway if not. Diana has a lot going for her here... I'm not sure if it's just the childhood crush I still harbor, but does she not mildly resemble Lynda Carter in some of these shots? I swear!  :D

 

 

The sculpt and deco on this Amazon is pretty great- I love the new metallic blue & white boot treatment, and the silver eagle trim outlining her bustier, which has incised lines running vertically throughout and behind two stars etched at the ribcage and hips. The paint on mine has a little overpainting on the back of her shorts to the left, but the rest is pretty clean. She's a beauty!

 

 I love the darker tones of red & blue used here. It's not the first time Diana has undergone a wardrobe change, this one paying homage to the classic, Bronze Age Wonder Woman we loved in the Super Friends show on television, only toning down the primary color scheme. Gone are the yellow accents, save the golden lasso of truth, molded in a rubbery plastic looped permanently at her waist. Diana's flowing raven mane is still present, highlighted in blue just as in the comics.

 

 

Wonder Woman came with a simple-looking sword that fits snugly in a hole running through her left fist. You won't need to worry about her dropping it while posing, speaking of which, DC Collectibles seems to have stopped giving us a base. Diana has a hole for a peg under her right bootheel, bust we aren't given a base, which would have come in handy- she stands alone somewhat tentatively.

 

  

  

Diana has the same articulation as New 52 Superman: really limited. She has 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 uniform. We do get some side-to-side tilt and forward motion on the head, but she can't look up. Even by previous standards, these New 52 Justice League figures are really limited in their articulation, but they really do look great. And while there were a lot of complaints about the new outfits, the members of the Justice League really haven't changed that much at all. These two make a great pair...

 

 

New 52 Wonder Woman with  New Frontier Wonder Woman- a very different design, but every bit as impressive an action figure... 

 

While on the subject of Wonder Woman figures by DC Direct, I also have the All Star Comics Super Squad and Trinity versions from 2008, pictured below, the latter of which has similar packaging to the new 52 Wonder Woman, but also includes a shield and base!  Visit the DC Direct Action Figure Archive!

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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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