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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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