Mattel Movie Masters Man of Steel

I found a ton of new Man of Steel toys at Wal-Mart last week, most of which I found pretty disappointing, save for this very cool 6" Movie Masters Superman, only two of which were left on the pegs. There's been an uproar over the altering of Superman's outfit since Jim Lee redesigned it for the New 52 reboot, and while that took me a minute to digest, I'm a fan of variant costumes on my favorite heroes in general, and the Man of Steel's uniform is essentially the same. The packaging looks outstanding, and the figure inside surprised me with it's great detail and quality! Mattel released a Jor-El and General Zod in this line, which I have yet to see, though I was only interested in Kal-El for my Superman collection.

The sculpt is very realistic on this figure, more proportionately correct than the Mattel DCUCs, and slightly shorter. The Man of Steel's suit is finely textured throughout, just like in the promotional photography and trailers for this summer's forthcoming motion picture- it reminds me of the texture of the Amazing Spider-Man's outfit, finely scaled/webbed throughout, which seems to be the popular trend in superhero outfits as of late. Superman's paint looks pretty good, black washing throughout to bring out surface detail, but it came off a little splotchy across the top of the cape's back. There's also some really great shading around the jawline, almost a five o' clock shadow affect that really adds dimension to the face, the evident likeness of Man of Steel actor Henry Cavill.

The Movie Masters figures Mattel have produced have articulation similar to the DC Universe Classics line, minus the abdominal hinge- Superman has a ball-jointed head that snaps locked into 2 positions, hinged elbows, ankles and knees, hinge/swivel shoulders, swivel biceps, waist, wrists and thighs, and those unique DCUC hinge/swivel hips. I don't miss the abdominal hinge, which would have interrupted his nicely sculpted torso.

The Man of Steel's cape is pretty long, pegged in the back to stand away from the body as though rippling in the breeze. There's no "S" shield across the back like we are used to, but the sculpt is artfully done and it's length adds support to the figure. The dark silver piping around the torso meets in an almost diving bird pattern on Superman's back, under his cape.

It was nice to get a base with this figure, during a period in action figures when we seem to be denied time and again, Mattel and Hasbro now notoriously stingy with the once standard accessory. It also looks fantastic!  The Man of Steel doesn't need it to stand, but looks beautiful in it's matching gold/dark red deco.

The movie's costume designers obviously took cues from the New 52 Superman, but removed the "S" shield usually found on the back of the hero's cape, and added dark silver cuffs at the wrists, and piping down the torso and legs. The boot tops are split at the top like classic Superman's, a design element not used in the comics New 52 Superman. This outfit looks really good, especially the dark gold behind the "S" on Superman's chest insignia.

In spite of the criticism Superman Returns received, it's my belief that Superman's outfit rendered in shaded tones came out of the 2006 film. Yes, we saw that in Superman III (1983) when Superman confronted his "evil twin", born of the hero's exposure to synthetic Kryptonite, but actor Brandon Routh wore the darker colors well in the later film. Mattel Movie Masters Man of Steel with Brave & The Bold Superman and DC Direct New Frontier Superman...

The omission of Superman's red shorts in his New 52 redesign is a hot topic, but while I'm a fan of the former design element, I'm accustomed to it now, and really like the red belt on the comics version. Mattel Movie Masters Man of Steel pictured on the left with Mattel 5" Justice League Superman and DC Collectibles 7" Justice League Superman and pictured on the right with DCUC Superman.

This figure was a nice addition to my Superman figure collection, one that I predict will be hard to get later due to the high anticipation of this summer's forthcoming film. He looks even better in person. Regardless of any misgivings one may have about the new suit, I'd highly recommend him for his singularity in aesthetic, high quality and great color.

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Marvel NOW! Calender: May Iron Man

I just wanted to share this image from the month of May in my 2013 Marvel NOW! calender- Iron Man by penciler Greg Land, inker Jay Leisten, and colors by Guru eFX. Taken from the cover of issue #1, Jan. 2013, this may be is the first single issue Iron Man comic I've bought in my life. I loved the art and dialogue in the " Demons & Genies" story arc spanning those first five issues, and in spite of the criticism of Marvel's renumbering of the title for the Marvel NOW! reboot, it made me a real Iron Man fan. The hero's redesigned armor, in black & gold with red repulsors just jumped off the page, and  when Tony's arrogant/cool demeanor is undone, humor & humility are often revealed.

No doubt the revitalization of this Marvel character is due to the success of the Robert Downey Jr. motion picture franchise, and though I've yet to see Iron Man III, I look forward to the experience. Iron Man continues his upward momentum in the public conscious, and I was thrilled to see him join the Guardians of the Galaxy in their new Marvel NOW! title recently. While I miss the short-lived black & gold armor, Iron Man's new space armor, enhanced with P.E.P.P.E.R. artificial intelligence has really grown on me. I stopped reading Iron Man after issue #5 to try some other books out, but recently got caught up on the Armored Avenger's solo title, and can reaffirm that it's a great read. More on that later...

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Stealth Strike Bow Shot & Radioactive Armor Batman

I got these in an Amazon haul about a month ago, and while I passed them up in retail quite awhile ago, for under thirteen bucks together shipped, I went ahead & picked them up. My fascination with the 5" Mattel Brave and The Bold series goes way back to March of 2011, when JBoy sent me the Bwana Beast. My obsession was more recently aroused when finding the new 5" Justice League figures, though I missed the interchangeable accessories the line was originally known for. Re-branded under the Stealth Strike banner following the animated TV show's cancellation, the line had faded away after a couple waves, which featured several Batmen, including these two bizarre incarnations.

Radioactive Batman is a must-have from this line, with a wild color scheme and cool plug-in accessories. I love the big bat symbol on his chest, and helmet with it's clear green visor. I'm a big fan of translucent action figures, and the blue looks great on the wide buck of this armored Batman.

Radioactive Batman's helmet snaps securely onto his armor, as does his back-loading "atomic extractor", the pincer end of which can be removed and plugged into the hexagonal slots throughout the figure's body. One can engage the pincers manually, but no spring loaded mechanism is present. He's big, chunky, and fun to play with. with an exciting color scheme.    

Total Destruction Batman has a larger body like Radioactive Batman, and Covert Attack Batman has a similar back-loading launcher, both non-functioning. I'm not against a static accessory, but a firing projectile in my preference. 

Bow Shot Batman is a nice compliment to Radioactive Batman, with his bright, contrasting color and translucent buck. I knew they'd photograph well together, and while I have about twenty Batmen from the line, these together were irresistible to me. 

At first I was less than enthusiastic about the plastic cape on this Bow Shot Batman, but it's silver color made  the photography fun. There are a few of these with different plastic capes, notably the Knight Battle Batman from this series, whose cape was cut from a translucent red material. In fact, my initial impression of the figure when released into retail was underwhelming in general, but at such a great price I had to get him for the Batmobile I also picked up from this series, which sports the similarly odd color scheme of yellow and silver. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but among my extensive collection of these, he'll be unique. Like the Batman the Animated line, the Brave & The Bold/Stealth Strike line, the collection is full of absurdly variant Batmen- that used to make me cringe, but now I'm somehow fascinated with it. But I'm like that about collecting, gathering several versions and differently scaled action figures of one character.

Bow Shot Batman shares a lot of parts with Green Arrow, like many of these Mattel B&TB figures do, including his crossbow projectile accessory. Mattel even gave us a quiver to plug in his back. It crumbles his plastic cape unfortunately, and has a "G" stamped on the back, the latter quibble just a reminder that Mattel sold something you already had, but I guess he needs a quiver. I like the color scheme of the figure, though its choice seem dubious, unless Mattel intended us to want him with the yellow & silver Stealth Jet Batmobile (which I did).

I enjoy the action feature accessory on this one a great deal, the arrow projectile engaged by pressing a small button atop the crossbow. The peg on the underside fits plugs into the hexagonal accessory holes throughout the body, but the crossbow can also be assembled as freestanding missile launcher. Fun!

I like both of these, but together they are most attractive for their color, translucence, and variant buck. Their parts interchangeable, Bow Shot Batman's hazmat-looking mask fits well into Radioactive Batman's atomic aesthetic, both the figures sharing grey and yellow. And Bow Shot Batman could easily double as Radioactive Batman with an accessory switch for that matter. I'm partial to the Radioactive Batman, but Bow Shot Batman has the functioning accessory- they make a great pair!

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Marvel NOW! Guardians of the Galaxy

I'd already been into several Marvel NOW! titles, but when Guardians of the Galaxy came out, I was really jazzed. I loved the Guardians of the Galaxy: War of Kings (2009-2010) and Legacy (2008) books, and was surprised at my own enthusiasm for the cosmic stories of Star Lord, Gamora, Drax, and the rest of this eccentric team of space warriors.  In issue # 0.1 we are introduced to Star Lord as a young Peter Quill, the love child of his earthly mother and a stranded visitor from Spartax. When his ship is finally repaired, Meredith Quill is left alone to raise Peter, the visitor unwilling to expose her to the dangerous war going on with the Badoon. When they showed up to kill peter and his mother a decade later, Peter discovered his true lineage, the son of Spartax royalty! 

Iron Man joins the Guardian's ranks as their newest member in an effort to expand his knowledge on other threats to his home planet. I was surprised and delighted by this development to no end. Killer! I really liked those first six issues of Marvel NOW! Iron Man, and though I miss the black & gold armor deco he only recently received, I was happy to see Tony show up in the mix- great idea!

Issue #0.1 was a great start, with some excellent artwork by penciller Steve McNiven, inker John Dell, and colorist Justin Ponsor, who followed up spectacularly on #1. Perhaps it was the stellar setting, but it reminded me a little of Battle of the Planets, with the angular space helmets and intense highlights.

In issue #1, we are introduced to Peter's father, King of the Spartax, who forbids Peter to return to Earth, claiming he is only trying to protect it. But the rebellious young Star Lord doesn't want to hear his father's disapproval of the Guardians, Peter's "broken friends".

Intercepting a Badoon ship headed for Earth, Tony Stark laments not having left the Avengers and Stark Industries behind sooner to seek his next fortune. I wasn't one hundred percent sure about Tony's new space armor at first, now enhanced with artificial intelligence named P.E.P.P.E.R., but it's really grown on me.

The Guardians of the Galaxy, in defiance of Peter's king father, show up to head off the Badoon's course for Earth, and Iron Man is knocked unconscious during the battle. Quill gathers him and the rest of the team up and follows the enemy to Earth, where Gamora hypothesizes his father actually intended him to go, a ploy to damn his quarrelsome offspring and his home planet! Riveting! I picked up issue #2 tonight, and to say the least, I'm pretty excited about it...!

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Marvel Legends Heroes Reborn Iron Man

Another incarnation of Iron Man in 6" form I recently acquired was this Marvel Legends Heroes Reborn Iron Man. Produced in 2008 as part of the Ares Wave,  this Iron Man is styled after the 1996-97 retelling of several of  Marvel's characters, after their apparent deaths in the Onslaught series. I didn't read Onslaught: Marvel Universe, nor Heroes Reborn: Iron Man, but I did read the Heroes Reborn: Captain America, Fantastic Four, and Avengers volumes. While the series received a lot of criticism, they historically did well in sales, and entertained me with the big splashy art. I got this guy for a really low price on eBay as he was stripped of his build-a-figure pieces (Ares helmet & weapons), which is fine as my interest in the figure was medium. What I liked about him was his unique sculpt, one that would really stand out among my other unusual 6" Iron Men. I'm unsure if artist Jim Lee, who plotted the title, or Whilce Portacio, who pencilled on the book redesigned the armor, but it has a very techo-organic look to it that wass certainly different for it's time.

Tony's horned face mask does evoke the second version of the character's "Proto-Armor", a look that's a personal favorite of mine. That along with the  robotic chest repulsor and tendon-y underparts remind me of C3PO a little. I really like the afterburner pipe jutting up from behind his head like two big horns- much more imposing that the Star Wars droid.

The red portions of the figure's deco are a little flat/plastic-looking due to no shading/paint apps, but the gold has some real depth in person, a slight black wash added after the gold which accentuates the very detailed sculpt. I've noticed a lot of Legends fans weren't entirely enthusiastic about the line following Hasbro's licensing acquisition in 2007, but the relaunching of the series in 2012 was met with great anticipation. 

Iron Man has plenty of good articulation, including hinge swivel elbows and wrists, double-jointed knees, and swivels at the top of his thighs- attached to hinge-swivels at the crotch. He has no problem crossing his legs, and his abdominal hinge has good range, his poseability further enhanced by a waist swivel. The shoulders are somewhat limited in range due to the shoulder pads, but this can be overcome by swiveling it toward the back, and while the ball-jointed head has little backward range, it has enough expression to pose. 

With my Avengers Iron Man, which is merely a redeco, albeit a good one, of the Mark VI from the Iron Man 2 line...

Heroes Reborn Iron Man with some other Hasbro Marvel Legends figures: Doc Samson (Fin Fang Foom wave, 2008), Avengers Hulk (2012), and Lord of Asgard Thor (2011), the latter a re-release of Lord Thor from the Blob wave, 2007...

*See MarvelLegends.Net for the Legends visual checklist!

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