Review of Wonder Woman, Superman, Batman (Injustice)
DC Unlimited action figures

Introduction

I have to hand it to Mattel - with all the problems they had with distribution and sales with the DC Universe Classics (a favorite line of mine), they still managed to produce double digit waves. And when it ended? It really didn't, since Mattel started right back up with the DC Unlimited line. Same scale, same articulation, same basic design, and it makes me happy.

I've picked up most of the series so far - no, I still haven't convinced myself that I need that Flash. But I did pick up Superman,the Injustice Batman, and the Wonder Woman recently.

These are all new designs of course, just like everything else in the DC collectibles world right now. You can expect to find them at mass market retailers, at around $15 a pop.

Packaging - ***
I'm not thrilled with the packages, but it's not about the text and graphics. The text could be better (for example, the Batman description is a bit too generic), but it's not a major issue.

My big issue is the waste that's here. The large backer and bubble are designed to suck up peg real estate, making it tougher for other product to get on the pegs. It's an old retail trick, but with the growing concern over excess garbage, it's no longer an appropriate tactic.

Sculpting - Wonder Woman ***1/2; Batman, Superman ***
While some of these new designs are not my preference, all three of these are at least reasonable. Supes is a pretty classic style, and Wonder Woman isn't that far off. The Injustice Batman is fairly unique, but Batman is a character that's seen so many suit variations that one more doesn't tweak me off all that much.

Wonder Woman is surprisingly pretty - that's not very common with female action figures. Some of the proportions are a little weird, like the skinny arms, but overall she's a well executed sculpt.

She does have a weird feature that might kill it for you. I'll admit that I haven't paid that much attention to her new costume, so I don't know if this is actually accurate - but she has a butt loop to hold her sword. It's exactly what it sounds like - there's a loop right at the ass cleavage of her costume. It seems impractical, to say the least.

Both Superman and Batman suffer from the same issue - both are pin headed. I thought that in person it was more of an issue for Superman than the Caped Crusader, but I'd have to be blind not to see it's a problem for both.

Superman has hands sculpted into fists, perfect for a flying pose. Too bad you can't tilt the head back far enough to make that possible.

Batman has both hands sculpted to hold accessories - odd, since he doesn't come with any.

Remember, these are about a 6" scale, with Superman coming in around 6 1/2". They all stand great on their own as well.

Paint - Batman, Superman ***; Wonder Woman **1/2
While the paint work on Batman and Superman isn't amazing, it is solid B work for a mass market toy. It's relatively clean, with only a few sloppy edges and the occasional slip here and there.

Wonder Woman has a nicely done face - pretty eyes and lips, with good definition - but mine had a huge problem. There's a big paint streak on her upper inside thigh, and although I tried to get it off, it remained stubbornly obvious. Had there been one on the peg that didn't have this issue, I wouldn't have bought the messed up one...but sadly, this one is the only one I've seen on the pegs so far. Hopefully I just ended up with a late Friday afternoon figure, and this isn't a consistent issue.

Articulation - ***1/2
These figures have the same articulation that we've seen from Mattel and most of their 6" superheroes for several years. A ball jointed neck, ball shoulders, hinge hips, cut thighs, biceps, wrists, and waist, pin knees, elbows and ankles, and a cut waist with ab-crunch are all pretty standard at this point.

There are a couple slight variations here - Wonder Woman doesn't have the ab-crunch and cut waist, but rather the alternate torso joint that acts more like a rocker. While Superman is pretty much standard, Batman lacks the cut waist as well, and his ab joint is pretty restricted. He also doesn't have the cut biceps or thighs, but his knees and elbows allow the lower limbs to turn.

Still, most of the joints work quite well and allow for fairly fluid poses. I do really wish the necks worked a bit better, but it's still a minor nit.

Accessories - Wonder Woman **1/2; Superman, Batman Bupkis
The biggest issue with these is the lack of accessories - at least for Batman and Superman.

I can kind of get it with Supes. He's never been a guy with a ton of e toys. But Bats? Isn't a batarang required by law in most of the 50 states?

Wonder Woman does slightly better, coming with her short sword. There's also her traditional lasso, but it's not an accessory - it's permanently attached to her side.

Fun Factor - ***1/2
All three figures are fun, even with a lack of accessories. Kids will recognize all three characters as well, giving them a bit more value in this category than some of the others.

Value - **1/2
As much as I'm loathe to admit it, $15 is pretty much the going rate for any action figure in this scale. Even with the lack of accessories, you won't find anything cheaper on the market currently.

Things to Watch Out For -
Not a thing.

Overall - ***
None of these three are exceptional (that was Hawkman), but these are all solid work. Wonder Woman might actually be one of the better females we get this year, but that's more of a comment on the state of the female action figure market.

If you're not a major Batman fan, this Injustice version might be an easy pass. I haven't played the game, so I don't have much of a preference personally.

Superman is decent enough, but don't you already have 6,284 Superman figures? All in this scale? There's nothing here that really sets him apart unless you're a massive fan of the new look - and we all know you aren't.

Score Recap (out of ****):
Packaging - ***
Sculpting - Wonder Woman ***1/2; Batman, Superman ***
Paint - Batman, Superman ***; Wonder Woman **1/2
Articulation - ***1/2
Accessories - Wonder Woman **1/2; Batman, Superman Bupkis
Fun Factor - ***1/2
Value - **1/2
Overall - ***

Where to Buy 
Your best bet is to watch your local Target or Toys R Us, where these seem to be showing up pretty regularly. Expect to pay around $15 each. You'll may also find them at your local comic shop, but you'll pay a few bucks extra.

Related Links -
I've covered most of the DC Unlimited so far, including Hawkman, as well as Dark Knight Batman and Planet X Batman, and New 52 Batman, Batgirl and Penguin.

You should also hit the Search Reviews page, in case any other applicable reviews were done after this one was published.

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