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Packaging - ***
I like the overall colors and logo for the DCU lines, although the
design is a bit retro. The boxes themselves are even
collector friendly - just cut a couple pieces of tape on the bottom
flap, slide out the tray, and pop out the figures, no damage, no fuss,
no problems.
The one aspect of the packaging
that does puzzle me is the grasping hand in the background, which is
also used on the single carded figures. Yes, it ties in with
the marketing catch phrase "An Army of Heroes Within Your Grasp!", but
still looks more like some kind of funky giant villain reaching down to
crush them. I'm not sure this is the strongest marketing
angle to use, and in fact most kids will probably not even
notice. Not being noticed is not a good thing for a marketing
approach.
Sculpting - ***
Early versions of these left me a bit cold, but the production figures
are quite nice.
The size is just about 3 3/4"
across the line, so they fit in fairly well with other figures in that
approximate scale, including some of the new Batman movie
figures. For example, Gordon looks fine with Batman, but the
ridiculously oversized Joker Henchmen in the new movie line is too tall
period, even for other figures in his own line. They also
look pretty good with Star Wars, Indiana Jones and Hellboy, if you
should feel the need for the Flash to hang with Red.
However, these aren't quite as
detailed as some of the other lines in this scale. For
example, the new Hellboy figures from Mezco would blow these away in
this category, and even Hasbro's lines are a bit more
detailed. But the work here is certainly sufficient,
particularly for the costumed characters.
The proportions are all very
good, with the exception of the hands. For some reason, they
decided to go with oversized paws on most of these, making them a bit
more cartoony than they needed to be. These same hands hold
the accessories well though (the few that are here), so that's a plus.
Other proportions of various
areas, like Gordon's glasses and tie, or the Flash's wings, are quite
well done, particularly for this small scale.
The sculpt works pretty well
with the articulation too, and all of the figures stand fine on their
own in limited poses. And in case you were wondering, yes,
the two cops
are the identical sculpt.
All that being said, my biggest
complaint in this category is the sheer number of visible mold
lines. They tend to stand out on their hands, their legs,
their jackets, just about every where.
Paint - Gordon ***1/2;
Flash; SWAT; Weather Wizard ***; Mirror Master **1/2
This was the one category where I saw a bit of variety across the
line. Some of the figures came out with almost no slop, like
Gordon. He still has a few wavy cut lines, but for the most
part, the applied paint looks very good.
On the opposite side of the
mirror is, ironically, Mirror Master. He has quite a bit of
slop, poorly defined cut lines, and even errant paint marks.
In the middle is Flash, the SWAT
cops and the Wizard. The paint work is good for a mass market
figure, but not outstanding. This is probably not character
specific, and the issues on mine could show up on any particular
character you buy...or not. It's that type of inconsistency
that can drive you nuts.
The cops sport the identical
paint job as well. They are twins all around as far as I can
tell.
Articulation - **1/2
All the figures have the exact
same articulation - cut neck, ball jointed shoulders (pin/post style),
pin elbows, cut waist, pin knees and 'T' hips.
The upper body articulation,
including the cut waist, is fairly useful. Adding in cut
wrists and switching to a ball neck would have been nice, and would
have added quite a bit of potential, but most folks will be satisfied
with what's here.
Below the waist, they're a
disappointment. Your girlfriend knows the feeling all too
well. The pin knees really don't do much with the T hips -
you have to have ball jointed hips for them to do much in the way of
posing. This is a great example of adding articulation
without doing much for the PP factor, or 'posing potential'.
It's worth noting that all the
joints are quite well made with very solid pins. They should
be able to handle rough play, perfect for little fans of B-list DC
characters.
Accessories - SWAT
**1/2; Gordon, Flash, Mirror Master, Weather Wizard Bupkis
Accessories are clearly not the hallmark of this series. Most
of the single carded and boxed figures come with absolutely nothing,
even when something was obvious (like a gun for Gordon).
The only exception here is the
two identical SWAT cops, who come with identical accessories - a gun
and a baton. The baton is held in place on their belt in the
package with a rubber band, but be careful once it's removed - they
fall off extremely easily.
Fun Factor - ***1/2
While these have their share of minor faults, they are actually great
toys for kids. Of course, that's if kids have any idea who
they are. None of the big guns are present in this line - no
Supes or Batman or Joker, etc. The character choices seem
more geared to adult collectors, but the style itself can provide
plenty of play value.
Value - ***1/2
At $5 each for the single carded figures and just $10 for the three
packs, these are about the best value out there right now.
Accessories would be nice, but the price point is even nicer.
Things To Watch Out For
-
Those paint ops. You'll probably be able to pick from several
of any of these sets and figures, so take your time and get the best
you can.
Also, keep track of the cop
batons. They are quite small, and they fall off the belt at
the lightest touch.
Overall - ***
If we'd gotten an accessory or two with some of these figures,
particularly Gordon, another half star might have very well been
possible. They are certainly fun little toys, and both the
sculpts and paint work are much better here than what we've generally
seen with the Dark Knight 3 3/4" line. I'm certainly sucked
in, but then I'm a DC kind of guy.
Hasbro has also announced plans
for a similarly sized Marvel line, so you might be able to have the
Flash face off against Spider-man in the very near future.
Score Recap:
Packaging - ***
Sculpting - ***
Paint - Gordon ***1/2; Flash; SWAT; Weather Wizard ***; Mirror Master
**1/2
Articulation - **1/2
Accessories - SWAT **1/2; Gordon, Flash, Mirror Master, Weather Wizard
Bupkis
Fun Factor - ***1/2
Value - **1/2
Overall - ***
Where to Buy -
You're best bet is Target right now.
Related Links -
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