Packaging - ***
Remember the Batman Begins packaging? Kinda dull and with an artists rendition of the hero instead of a real picture? This packaging borrows the drawing but the similarities stop there. The superman "S" is included in the package design, both on the upper left corner and as the bubble window. The drawing of Routh on the package makes him look super-buff. We have all seen the photos of him in the suit. He doesn't look super buff. Call it artistic license. The background of the

 card is the diamond texture of the movie suit really making it look nice, plus they have incorporated the crystal theme into the bubble window and the figure card. The window shows off the figure and the included accessories very well and looks pretty nice on the peg. Of course it is a carded figure so good luck trying to find that pristine package. Mine were case fresh so it wasn't bad at all. 

So why only 3 stars? Its just not collector friendly. It is a typical "mass market ages 4 and up-meant to be totally destroyed-package."

Sculpting - X-Ray Supes *, Wall Busting ***, Kryptonite Smash **
While the bodies are the same (we'll get to those details in a few) all the figures have slightly different head sculpts. Meaning its a personal opinion. Who you think has the closer likeness to Routh. We have read it here time and time again, human faces are hard to capture, especially in a toy from a motion picture. Some of the sculpts look closer to Routh some do not. I am basing my rating on the figures look to the artist drawing in the package. 

X-Ray Superman has a longer "older" looking face with some of the lines a little deeper and harsher looking. Kryptonite Smash Supes has a similar longer face but softer lines and details. To me, Wall Busting Superman has the best looking face. Closest to Routh. (Off topic for a moment, when I was looking for the figures at Wal-Mart my "Clark To Superman" figure has the same head sculpt as wall busting, all the others had the sculpts from K-smash and X-Ray.) 
The body of the figures are really nicely detailed. There is a nice honeycomb like pattern on the suit mimicking the design on the package and on the actual suit. The "S" is raised and nicely done. The belt has some really nice details in it as do the boots. In fact I think the boots may be the best part of the figures. They are highly detailed. From the zipper sculpting to the raised pattern and sole of the boot. Unfortunately a lot of those details are lost in the heavy coat of paint applied to them. The back of the boots have little"S" symbols on them as do the treads. A nice touch for a figure Really makes it look complete. The cape is actually attached inside the figure. It is cloth and looks nice, I think to be more movie accurate a nice sculpted one would have worked very well in this case. But the cloth one works and you definitely know it is Superman.

Paint - ***
The paint on these figures is what you would expect from a normal mass-market action figure. The colors are however very sharp looking. The movie has a darker color scheme for the suit and it is nicely represented here. For the most part the lines are clean especially on the boots and trunks. There is a little slop on the belt form where the red and yellow of the belt's symbol have met. The hairline is very clean and the eyes all line up and are nicely done.

Articulation - **1/2
All these three figures are the same, and have articulation. The difference is in the action feature which we will talk about next. ALL of the figures have a nice ball jointed head. Its nice to see Mattel finally realized that Superman looks stupid flying with his head down. (Sorry that was a HUGE gripe with me as a kid.) All the figures in the first wave EXCEPT "Clark to Superman" have standard cut shoulders. Clark to Supes has ball jointed shoulders. Along with the cut shoulders are a cut waist, hips, pin knees and pin elbows. Pretty standard, and pretty disappointing. It would have been nice to see at least some ankle articulation or a swivel wrist. Oh well here is hoping further waves will improve on this.

Accessories - Wall Busting & K-SMash ***, X-Ray **
While action features are not my thing I am a fan of a nice accessory especially one that shows up in the film. Wall Busting comes with a pillar off of one of the buildings in Metropolis. In fact if you go back and watch the teaser trailer I believe it is the pillar from the front of the Daily Planet. The sculpting on the pillar is very well done. The front has a nice art deco look to it. A look Bryan Singer is going for in the film. The head of the pillar detaches and is held on by "steel bars" the back of the pillar also looks like it has crumbled away from the building with the steel bars protruding out. And believe it or not it looks kinda cool when Supes lifts it over his head. How heroic!

Kryptonite Smash comes with my personal favorite accessory. It doesn't do anything in particular, just looks damn cool. It is a huge piece of Kryptonite that has slammed into the streets of Metropolis. The sculpting is done in clear green plastic. But it evokes memories of the Donner Superman movies, which as we all know is very instrumental in this new installment. The sculpting on the street section of the base is also nicely done with the manhole cover displaying the name of the Big Apricot-Metropolis. Using K-Smash Supes action feature he can knock the kryptonite pillar into pieces.
X-Ray Supes has a safe as his accessory. Apparently it is not made from lead. The feature on the safe is a little green lens that you operate through a button to "see what supes sees." Using the action feature Supes smashes the safe apart to find a Lex Luthor planted kryptonite bomb. A nice little touch.

Action Feature - *
I loathe action features. Most take a good deal of fun out of the figures and never work in any effective way. Wall Busting and K-Smash have a spring loaded waist. Twist Supes to the side and let him go, ohhh..........ahhh....BLAH! 

X-Ray Supes has spring loaded arms to apparently throw the safe he comes with...Again.. I hate action features these are better left in the vault with Superman IV The Quest for Peace.

Fun Factor - ***
These figures are fun for kids. They offer enough playability that they will not get bored too quickly.

Value - ***
For kids, which these figures are geared towards, they will love it. it has enough to keep them entertained and saving the world over and over again. For collectors it is nice to have a new Superman figure based on a movie. The articulation is passable for a mass market figure, it could be better, but then again everything has room for improvement.

Things to Watch Out For - 
Dented bubbles or creases cards. Also be mindful of the paint ops. You know how mass market toys can be with paint.

Overall - ***
News2Me2005 left this section out on purpose - he figured he'd said all there was to say.

Score Recap- 
Packaging - ***
Sculpt - X-Ray Supes *, Wall Busting ***, Kryptonite Smash **
Paint - ***
Articulation - **1/2
Accessories - Wall Busting & K-SMash ***, X-Ray **
Action Feature - *
Fun Factor - ***
Value - ***
Overall - ***

KEEP SCROLLING DOWN FOR MORE PHOTOS!