Review of Diamond Select Toys Marvel Select Avengers: Infinity War Captain America

Captain America
Avengers: Infinity War
Marvel Select
Diamond Select Toys
Sculpt by Gentle Giant
Retail: $22.99

Captain America is about as iconic as they come. He represents the best of humanity and is a hero in every respect.

The Diamond Select Toys Marvel Select Infinity War Captain America figure is very well done. He is a hero in his own right.

He comes in the Marvel Select bubble packaging that we are accustomed to. The figure is well displayed in the packaging and most of the accessories are visible as well. The back of the card gives us a synopsis of Infinity War and a brief description of the figure.

The figure itself is rather nice. The face sculpt is decent, but is a little soft. The bearded face is a new look for Cap in this movie and I think Gentle Giant did a good job sculpting the facial hair. I also like the little details like the battle damaged areas on his uniform.

I really like the articulation on this figure. The packaging states 16 points of articulation, but I am going to be a bit more generous as some of the points are double jointed. I am saying 23.

• Ball-and-socket joint at the neck (x1)
• Swivel hinges at each shoulder (x2)
• Swivel joints at each shoulder (x2)
• Hinge joints at each elbow (x4)
• Swivel hinges at each wrist (x2)
• Ball-and-socket joint at mid-torso (x1)
• Swivel joint at waist (x1)
• Swivel hinges at each hip (x2)
• Swivel joints at each thigh (x2)
• Hinge joints at each knee (x4)
• Rocking hinges at each ankle (x2)

Accessories are fairly standard here, but there are a few character specific items that are really cool. He comes with four sets of interchangeable hands, two retracted shield cuffs, two expanded shields, and a stand.

The expanded shields are kinda cool as they have can extend and retract as well.

He can be displayed without the shields and shield cuffs, too.

Breakdown:

• Playability – 5 out of 5. I think Cap has some really great playability! He does run a bit on the collector end of things, but I can totally see him battling Thanos.
• Packaging  – 5 out of 5. The bubble packaging is fairly standard for Marvel Select, but everything is well displayed within the bubble, the images are nice, and the breakdown on the back is neat.
• Paint and Sculpt – 4 out of 5. The face sculpt is a bit soft. He reminds me more of Jake Gyllenhaal, but the likeness is almost there. I do like the facial hair sculpting and the little details in the uniform.
• Standability – 5 out of 5. I am happy to say this guy has some good standabillity. His legs are solid and the ankles are tight. Plus, he comes with a stand.
• Articulation – 5 out of 5. 23 is a good number. It makes for some really nice displayable poses.
• Accessories – 5 out of 5. While fairly standard, the swap-ability of the shields/cuffs and the expandability of the shields is really cool.
• Affordability – 5 out of 5. $23.99 is a nice, affodable price point for such a detailed figure.

Overall impression: 34 out of 35 is a home run for DST on this figure. I would highly recommend it for collectors and players.

** Captain America, Avengers, and Thanos are owned by Marvel and Disney. These images are for hobby only. Also, the background images were found on the internet. If one of the images belongs to you, I will gladly give credit. **

Action Figure Maniac Reviews: Hasbro: Marvel Legends: Toys R Us Exclusive: Guardians of the Galaxy v.2: Evolution of Groot Figure

Marvel Legends: Toys R Us Exclusive: Evolution of Groot
Hasbro
Retail: $15.99 @ Toys R Us

What Can I say about GotG’s Groot? He is tall, he is strong, he is intimidating … he’s a tree. He’s the most lovable tree in the galaxy though!

The collect-and-connect Groot from GotG v.1 was impressive and, while the changes are fairly limited, you are going love Groot v.2. He’s a great looking figure!

He comes packaged in a great looking window-box where the figure is prominently displayed along with two versions of baby Groot.

If it seems like Groot isn’t quite tall enough, you are right. He comes packaged with his lower legs detached. Attaching them is as easy as matching up the wood patterns on the upper legs to those on the lower legs and snapping them into place.

Groot is rather nice looking! There are a lot of woody, viney details throughout the figure’s sculpt.

“But what about articulation?” Oh, it’s there and it’s quite nice. He has 18 points altogether, but the fact that most joints have multiple functions makes him really functional.

• Ball-and-socket joint at the neck (x1)
• Swivel hinges at each shoulder (x2)
• Swivel joints at each shoulder (x2)
• Hinge joints at each elbow (x4)
• Swivel hinges at each wrist (x2)
• Ball-and-socket joint at mid-torso (x1)
• Swivel hinges at each hip (x2)
• Swivel hinges at each knee (x2)
• Swivel hinges at each ankle (x2)

“Accessories?” There aren’t mini. Did you see what I did there? The only accessories are the two baby Groot figures, but they are frickin’ adorable!

“How does he compare to v.1 Groot?” He is quite similar to the original collect-and-connect figure. The color is a bit different. You will find he is a lighter brown with hints of green, especially around the chest.

The biggest difference is the face and head. v.2 Groot is more expressive. His eyes are vivid. They are sculpted and painted gold with a small back dot in each one. He has a very Groot-ish smile as well. There are also some slight differences to the crown on his head.

Breakdown:

• Playability – 5 out of 5. He’s a great poseable figure that is ready to rush into battle with the other Guardians to save the galaxy!
• Packaging  – 5 out of 5. The window-box packaging is quite attractive and the figures are nicely visible.
• Paint and Sculpt – 5 out of 5. I think the eyes and the new expressive face make this a home run!
• Standability – 4 out of 5. I was able to do some nice poses, but standing straight up, he’s a little top heavy.
• Articulation – 5 out of 5. He only has 18 points, but the majority are multi-functional making him quite poseable.
• Accessories – 5 out of 5. Two baby Grooooooooots!
• Affordability – 5 out of 5. $15.99 is an amazing price for this guy!

Overall impression: .34 out of 35. Hasbro’s Marvel Legends Evolution of Groot figure is fantastic! He is playable, affordable, and well done! I recommend him for all the geeks and Guardians in your life!

** Groot and Guardians of the Galaxy are owned by Marvel and Disney. These images are for hobby only. Also, the background images were found on the internet. If one of the images belongs to you, I will gladly give credit.

Action Figure Maniac Reviews: QMx: 1/6 Scale Master Series: Star Trek: Spock

1/6 Scale Master Series: Star Trek: Spock
QMx
Retail: $179.99 @ BigBadBoyStore.com

After an awesome review of QMx’s Captain Kirk, we are going to take a look at their Master Series Spock figure. Like with Kirk, I’m fairly amazed!

Spock comes in the same style book-type, window box that Kirk comes in. It has a magnetic front flap that, when opened, reveals a picture of Spock and the figure itself. The figure is beautifully displayed and is surrounded by a few of the great accessories he comes with.

I can’t say much more about Spock that I didn’t say about Kirk. He is absolutely stunning! They even got the green-ish skin tone down. This was quite evident when I accidentally mixed one of Spock’s hands for Kirk’s.

The articulation is quite amazing! He has 25 points:

• Ball-and-socket joint at the neck (x1)
• Ball-and-socket joints at each shoulder (x2)
• Swivel joints at each shoulder (x2)
• Hinge joints at each elbow (x4)
• Swivel hinges at each wrist (x2)
• Swivel hinge at each wrist (x2)
• Ball-and-socket joint at mid-torso (x1)
• Swivel hinge joint at the waist (x1)
• Ball-and-socket joints at each hip (x2)
• Hinge joints at each knee (x4)
• Swivel joints at mid-calf (x2)
• Ball-and-socket joint at each ankle (x2)

The accessories rock as well! He comes with nine extra hands (including Vulcan neck pinch and Vulcan salute!!), a phaser, a communicator, a tricorder, a stand, and an away mission belt.

As with Kirk, the communicator and phaser have functional features. The communicator opens and the phaser splits into Type 1 and 2 components (it connects via magnets)! Again, the communicator antenna is very delicate and requires a soft touch.

The best of these accessories is the tricorder. The lid flips up and the disc compartment opens. The lid is very difficult to open, so be careful.

I had a lot of fun equipping Spock with all of his stuff!

The cool thing about the phaser and the communicator is that they will attach magnetically to Spock’s and Kirk’s waists (I missed this feature on the review of Kirk) and to the away mission belt.

Spock looks amazing next to Kirk and the extra hands provide some cool interaction between the two.

Breakdown:

• Playability – 5 out of 5. There is so much play-ability here! Just look at the interaction photos!
• Packaging  – 5 out of 5. The book-type window box is quite stunning and displayable.
• Paint and Sculpt – 5 out of 5. QMx has another winner on their hands! The sculpt is perfect and the green tint to the skin is done well.
• Standability – 5 out of 5. Standing is a problem here. You know I like articulated ankles! With the included stand, I am quite happy!
• Articulation – 5 out of 5. Home run here too! 25 points is a good number and many of the joints allow for movement in multiple planes.
• Accessories – 5 out of 5. Kirk’s were good, Spock’s are better! The addition of the tricorder and extra Spock-specific hands is sweet!
• Affordability – 4 out of 5. Again, how do you score affordability vs. worth. Is he worth every penny of $180, of course he is. Would the average Joe be comfortable with it? Perhaps not.

Overall impression: .34 out of 35. QMx has me hooked! If I could give them 5 out of 5, I would! I can’t wait to see the next wave of these amazing figures!

 

 

 

 

** Star Trek is owned by CBS and Paramount. These images are for hobby only. Also, the background images were found on the internet. If one of the images belongs to you, I will gladly give credit.

Action Figure Maniac Reviews: QMX: 1/6 Scale Master Series: Star Trek: Captain Kirk

1/6 Scale Master Series: Star Trek: Captain Kirk
QMx
Retail: $179.99 @ BigBadBoyStore.com

Next up is a beauty! QMx has released 1/6 scale figures from the original Star Trek Series. The first two characters are Kirk and Spock. Today, we’ll look at Kirk … and you won’t be disappointed.

Kirk comes in a gorgeous book-type window box with a magnetic front cover. When you open the front, you are greeted with a great picture of the figure on the inside flap and the figure itself. The figure is displayed nicely, surrounded by two accessories and some (that’s right, some) of the additional hands.

The figures itself is absolutely amazing. The likeness to Shatner is spot-on – which has been hard for some companies to capture.

The surprise here is the uniform. It is a beautifully tailored, highly detailed cloth uniform. There are zippers, embroidery, and faux leather that make him look very cool.

The away mission belt is pretty sweet! It velcros in the back and has magnets in it to hold a phaser and communicator in place!

I’m impressed with the articulation! He has 25 points:

• Ball-and-socket joint at the neck (x1)
• Ball-and-socket joints at each shoulder (x2)
• Swivel joints at each shoulder (x2)
• Hinge joints at each elbow (x4)
• Swivel hinges at each wrist (x2)
• Swivel hinge at each wrist (x2)
• Ball-and-socket joint at mid-torso (x1)
• Swivel hinge joint at the waist (x1)
• Ball-and-socket joints at each hip (x2)
• Hinge joints at each knee (x4)
• Swivel joints at mid-calf (x2)
• Ball-and-socket joint at each ankle (x2)

The accessories though! QMx blows it out of the water on this one. He comes with 8 extra hands, a phaser, a communicator, a PADD, a pen, and stand!

The communicator, as tiny as it is, actually opens. This is amazingly cool, but since the wires holding the antenna in place are so thin, I felt like I needed to be extra careful with it.

AND the phaser actually splits into type 1 and type 2 components!

The accessories look and function great with the figure.

Interesting bit of info: Apparently, QMx mis-packed the wrong belt with Kirk and sent them out as a separate piece. Here is the explanation note that came with the figure.

Breakdown:

• Playability – 5 out of 5. This is definitely a collector’s item, but dang there is so much play possibility!
• Packaging  – 5 out of 5. A beautiful magnetic book-type window box makes this very displayable.
• Paint and Sculpt – 5 out of 5. The likeness and paint apps are near perfect. His eyes are glossy, you can see wrinkles in his forehead, and the shading is great. This is Shatner.
• Standability – 5 out of 5. He stands well enough on his own, but the included stand is nice.
• Articulation – 5 out of 5. 25 points works really well here, especially when a lot of the joints have multiple function (i.e. swivel and hinge).
• Accessories – 5 out of 5. I’m in love with these accessories. Not only are they appropriate, they are functional!
• Affordability – 4 out of 5. I hate to do it, but since I call this category “affordability,” I have to score it like it is. This is a good price for the quality, but its a little high for casual collectors.

Overall impression: .34 out of 35. That’s right, a near perfect score! If it wasn’t for the “affordability,” I would have scored perfect here. This is a must have for all fans and collectors. Keep um coming QMx! Spock is up next!

 

 

 

** Star Trek is owned by CBS and Paramount. These images are for hobby only. Also, the background images were found on the internet. If one of the images belongs to you, I will gladly give credit.

Action Figure Maniac Reviews: Marvel Select: Antman

Marvel Select: Antman
Diamond Select Toys
Retail: $24.95 @ Disney Store

I will start this review by saying that I have not seen the movie. I know … I’m an awful person. That said, I fell in love with this figure when I saw him on the shelf and had to have him.

Antman comes on the standard Diamond Select blister card. He is nicely view-able and all of his accessories are visible. The side of the card displays a close-up of Antman and the back shows a full picture of the figure.

I am fairly impressed with the likeness on this Antman. I can definitely see Paul Rudd in the face, although it is stronger in some views.

The figure comes with a second, swap-able helmet head that looks really good.The tubes at the neck plug into small holes on each side of the helmet.

He has 19 points of articulation:

• Ball-and-socket joint at the neck (x1)
• Ball-and-socket joints at each shoulder (x2)
• Swivel hinge joints at each elbow (x2)
• Swivel joints at each wrist (x2)
• Swivel joint at mid-torso (x1)
• Swivel joint at the waist (x1)
• Swivel hinge joints at each hip (x2)
• Swivel joints at each thigh (x2)
• Hinge joints at each knee (x4)
• Rocker hinges at each ankle (x2)

He comes with the extra head, two sets of swap-able hands, and a miniature Antman.

The miniature Antman is a really cool accessory. It is not articulated.

My only complaint is that the tubes come out of the helmet when the head is turned. They are made of out of semi-hard plastic and keep their original shape making it difficult to keep them plugged in.

Breakdown:

• Playability – 5 out of 5. I’m really impressed with this figure. It’s definitely a collector quality figure, but I find everything about him play-able.
• Packaging  – 4 out of 5. A character bio would have made this perfect.
• Paint and Sculpt – 4 out of 5. No real complaints. I love Paul Rudd and really see him in the figure, but some angles are stronger than others. The paint apps are pretty solid.
• Standability – 4 out of 5. He is fairly stand-able, but I did have some trouble getting him to stay up for more dynamic poses.
• Articulation – 5 out of 5. While the count is a little lower than other figures I’ve reviewed, every bit of articulation looks nice and is solid.
• Accessories – 5 out of 5. I really like the accessories here. The miniature Antman made my day!
• Affordability – 4 out of 5. $24.99 is a little more pricey than usual. I feel, though, that he is well worth it.

Overall impression: .31 out of 35. A nice solid figure! I feel like Antman is a great figure for collectors and fans alike. Plus, it’s Paul-frickin-Rudd. Love the figure!

 

 

** Antman is owned by Marvel/Disney. These images are for hobby only. Also, the background images were found on the internet. If one of the images belongs to you, I will gladly give credit.

Action Figure Maniac Reviews: Mattel: Batman v Superman: 6 Inch Aquaman

DC Comics Multiverse: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice: 6 Inch Aquaman
Mattel
Retail: $19.99 @ Target

It seems all of my lamenting about not being able to find Mattel’s Batman v Superman 6 inch Aquaman was for nothing! I found him, and then I found him again, and again. He’s everywhere now!

Aquaman comes in the second wave of 6 inch BvS figures from Mattel. The other two are ‘Nightmare’ Batman and Lex Luthor.

As with the others, Aquaman comes in a fairly attractive window box. The only difference between the package from this series and the first is the inclusion of the new wave of figures on the back of the packaging. We also get teased with a yet-to-be-revealed 8th figure in the line. The silhouette is very reminiscent of Superman.

Aquaman is easily a diamond-in -the-rough in this line. Although he had little actual screen time, Mattel put a lot of effort into him. He has a great likeness to Jason Momoa, including the scar in his left eyebrow.

Again, we get a lot of detail on the body of this figure. The tattoos look really solid and all of the gold armor looks good. Weird fact: I am obsessed with the stitching on the inside of his gauntlets.

He has 20 points of articulation:

• Ball-and-socket joint at the neck (x1)
• Rotating hinges at each shoulder (x2)
• Swivel joints at each bicep (x2)
• Hinge joints at each elbow (x2)
• Swivel joints at each wrist (x2)
• Swivel joint at the waist (x1)
• Swivel joints at each hip (x2)
• Hinge joints at each hip (x2)
• Swivel joints at each thigh (x2)
• Hinge joints at each knee (x2)
• Hinges at each ankle (x2)

The bits of disappointment with the articulation have been seen in other figures in the series: neck is hard to articulate because of the solidly sculpted hair, no mid-torso articulation (he’s a swimmer for goodness sake!), and no rocker ankles.

Compared to the others, he looks really cool. Seeing them together makes me excited to see what the team looks like in the Justice League movie.

He comes with his trident, which is silver, not gold, and with two articulating grapnel hooks for the collect & connect piece.

Breakdown:

• Playability – 4 out of 5. He’s a good looking figure. A bit more articulation would make him a perfect play piece.
• Packaging  – 4 out of 5. I’m still disappointed that we don’t get some type of character bio, but it looks really nice.
• Paint and Sculpt – 5 out of 5. Home run for Mattel on this one! He looks like Momoa and all the tattoos are cool. He is a little hunch-backed, but I can overlook it.
• Standability – 4 out of 5. No rocker ankles means that truly dynamic poses are difficult, but he still stands well enough.
• Articulation – 3 out of 5. Missed some points here for the ankles, torso, and hair – although his neck is more forgiving than Wonder Woman’s.
• Accessories – 1 out of 5. He has an accessory! Yes! But it’s silver! Dang! I feel better about completing the grapnel now, but it adds no true value to the figure in my opinion.
• Affordability – 5 out of 5. $19.99 works well here. He is very affordable for collectors and fans alike.

Overall impression: 26 out of 35. Not bad, not bad at all! I like this figure a lot! If it weren’t for the points off on accessories and articulation, he would have made one of my top figures lately. I wish Mattel had taken him to the next level, but he’s still a great figure!

And just because I was getting creative:

 

** Wonder Woman, Superman, Batman, Aquaman, and all related characters belong to DC Comics. Batman v Superman Dawn of Justice is owned by Warner Brothers. These images are for hobby only. Also, the background images were found on the internet. If one of the images belongs to you, I will gladly give credit.

Action Figure Maniac Reviews: Mattel: DC Comics Multiverse: Batman v Superman: 6 Inch Superman

DC Comics Multiverse: Batman v Superman Dawn of Justice: 6 Inch Superman
Mattel
Retail: $19.97 @ Walmart

Well, Batman v Superman has been out in theaters for over a week now. The reviews have been mixed, and so have my reviews of Mattel’s 6 inch movie figures.

Up next is the 6 inch Superman figure. He is one of the first four figures released. The others are Wonder Woman, Batman, and Armored Batman

The window box these figures come packaged in is fairly nice. Superman is very visible in the center of the window. The back shows us the collect & connect Batman grapnel gun and the other figures in the series. One the side, we get a nice picture of Superman and a movie synopsis.

Superman looks quite nice, but for some reason, Mattel cannot get Cavill’s face correct. He looks squished up.

They do add a lot of detail to his costume though. There is texture everywhere and the details on his belt, flanks, wrists and boots are well done.

He has 20 points of articulation:

• Ball-and-socket joint at the neck (x1)
• Rotating hinges at each shoulder (x2)
• Swivel joints at each bicep (x2)
• Hinge joints at each elbow (x2)
• Swivel joints at each wrist (x2)
• Swivel joint at the waist (x1)
• Swivel joints at each hip (x2)
• Hinge joints at each hip (x2)
• Swivel joints at each thigh (x2)
• Hinge joints at each knee (x2)
• Hinges at each ankle (x2)

I don’t understand why, when Superman is a flying character, he didn’t get mid-torso articulation. It would have made for better flight poses. As with the other figures in the line, there is no rocker ankle. I can get some dynamic poses, but not as good as I would have gotten with the rocker.

The trinity looks quite amazing all together.

There are no character specific accessories, which is a bummer. He does come with the pistol grip for the collect & connect grapnel.

Breakdown:

• Playability – 3 out of 5. I really like the feel of this figure and he is one of my favorite DC characters. That said, a figure alone, does not make a very playable figure. Some sort of accessories would have been nice and limitations in the articulation are a little disappointing.
• Packaging (formerly Collectability) – 4 out of 5. My only complaint about the the packaging is there is no bio. It is very displayable and quite attractive otherwise.
• Paint and Sculpt – 3 out of 5. I love all the little details on the costume, but Mattel can’t seem to get a good sculpt of Cavill as Superman.
• Standability – 4 out of 5. He stands pretty well, and, in a weird shift, the cape actually helps with some poses on this figure.
• Articulation – 3 out of 5. 20 points is really nice, but without rocker ankles and a mid-torso articulation (which is more appropriate here than on Batman), I can’t get too excited.
• Accessories – 0 out of 5. Another miss for Mattel. I am less concerned about finishing the collect & connect now, but it adds nothing to the figure itself.
• Affordability – 5 out of 5. $19.99 is a good price point. He is affordable for collectors and casual fans alike.

Overall impression: 22 out of 35. Another low score for this line of figures. I really love Superman, and this figure isn’t horrible by any means. There just seems to be a lack of going the extra mile to make these knock-out figures. He does look awesome with the others and will make a decent addition to a collection.

 

 

** Wonder Woman, Superman, Batman, Aquaman, and all related characters belong to DC Comics. Batman v Superman Dawn of Justice is owned by Warner Brothers. These images are for hobby only. Also, the background images were found on the internet. If one of the images belongs to you, I will gladly give credit.

ActionFigure Maniac Reviews: Mattel: DC Comics Multiverse: Batman v Superman Dawn of Justice: 6 Inch Batman

DC Comics Multiverse: Batman v Superman Dawn of Justice: 6 Inch Batman
Mattel
Retail: $19.97 @ Walmart

I still haven’t seen Batman v Superman, but I am having fun reviewing the figures.

Batman is one of four in the first series of collect & connect 6 inch figures. The others are Superman, Armored Batman, and Wonder Woman.

He comes packaged in a nice window box. He is prominently displayed and looks nice in the box. On one side, we get a brief overview of the movie’s premise with a view of Batman. The back of the box features the collect & connect piece – Batman’s grapnel blaster, gives a description of the Multiverse line, and shows the first four figures in the series.

Batman looks pretty good. I am not a big fan of the oversized bat symbol on his chest, but as it is screen accurate, I won’t hold it against the figure. He’s got decent size and feel in the hand, though, and the rest of the costume looks nice.

There is some really cool texture on his cowl, bat symbol, and gauntlets. The bat belt isn’t very impressive, but I’m sure I am just nostalgic for an Adam West, even holds shark repellent belt.

He has 19 points of articulation:

• Ball-and-socket joint at the neck (x1)
• Rotating hinges at each shoulder (x2)
• Swivel joints at each bicep (x2)
• Hinge joints at each elbow (x2)
• Swivel joints at each wrist (x2)
• Hinge joint at mid-torso (x1)
• Swivel joint at the waist (x1)
• Rotating hinges at each hip (x2)
• Swivel joints at each thigh (x2)
• Hinge joints at each knee (x2)
• Hinges at each ankle (x2)

He looks nice up against Wonder Woman (see my last review). I hope that they are in scale, because both figures are the same height.

As accessories go, he only comes with a piece of the collect & connect grapnel – part of the base. This is disappointing, especially as one of his hands looks like it was sculpted to hold a miniature grapnel or gun.

Breakdown:

• Playability – 3 out of 5. He is nice and solid, but DANG, give me some of those cool Batman devices!
• Collectibility – 4 out of 5. The window box display is really nice, but a bio would have been a great addition.
• Paint and Sculpt – 4 out of 5. While the colors are a bit drab, Mattel did what they could to add some small touches – weathering on the belt, bits of color on the boots and gloves, texture on the cowl/symbol/gloves, and some texture/veining on the costume.
• Standability – 4 out of 5. A rocker ankle would have given him a perfect score. I was able to get decent poses, but he is a bit cape heavy.
• Articulation – 4 out of 5. 19 points if a decent amount, but he needs rocker ankles.
• Accessories – 0 out of 5. I hate to do it, but this was my biggest disappointment. Yes, he comes with a collect & connect piece, but with Aquaman (who is out at retail) being so hard for me to find, I am afraid I won’t be able to complete it. Also, Batman is almost nothing without his gadgets.
• Affordability – 5 out of 5. $19.99 is affordable in the collector’s market. I think casual fans would be able to handle it as well.

Overall impression: 24 out of 35. Not a horrible figure, but not as good as he could have been. Batman fans, and fans of the film, may find him worth picking up. He’s a nice display piece, but not very play worthy.

 

** Wonder Woman, Superman, Batman, Aquaman, and all related characters belong to DC Comics. Batman v Superman Dawn of Justice is owned by Warner Brothers. These images are for hobby only. Also, the background images were found on the internet. If one of the images belongs to you, I will gladly give credit.

Action Figure Maniac Reviews: Mattel: DC Comics Multiverse: Batman v Superman Dawn of Justice: 6 Inch Wonder Woman

DC Comics Multiverse: Batman v Superman Dawn of Justice: 6 Inch Wonder Woman
Mattel
Retail: $19.97 @ Walmart

The Dawn of Justice is upon us! Batman v Superman is in theaters this weekend, but the toys have been on shelves several weeks. Mattel has a vast selection of different toys, but I bought into the 6 inch DC Comics Multiverse figures because I prefer larger figures.

The first four in a series of collect & connect figures from the movie are Superman, Batman, Armored Batman, and Wonder Woman.

Today, we look at Wonder Woman.

The packaging is a pretty decent window box. Wonder Woman is nicely displayed with her sword and shield viewable. One side panel gives us a nice look at Wonder Woman and a brief synopsis of the movie. The back gives a description of the Multiverse line, a picture of the collect & connect piece, and a line up of the available characters.

Wonder Woman is a decent enough figure. She has a pretty face, her costume is nicely detailed, and the colors are good. Something about this figure throws me off though. She seems too “square” to me. You can see the female form, but something says “masculine.” Maybe that’s OK, though. She is Amazonian after all.

I like the detail on her forearm cuffs and boots. There is a scabbard for her sword on the left and her lasso is sculpted onto the right side. The leather straps across her chest and midriff do not come off and hide some of the detail of her costume.

She has 20 points of articulation:

• Ball-and-socket joint at the neck (x1)
• Rotating hinges at each shoulder (x2)
• Swivel joints at each bicep (x2)
• Hinge joints at each elbow (x2)
• Swivel joints at each elbow (x2)
• Swivel joints at each wrist (x2)
• Swivel joint at the waist (x1)
• Rotating hinges at each hip (x2)
• Swivel joints at each thigh (x2)
• Hinge joints at each knee (x2)
• Hinge joints at each ankle (x2)

It’s important to note that her hair is sculpted solid so any movement at the neck is negligible.

She comes with three accessories: a sword, a shield, and a piece of the collect & connect grapnel blaster.

There is no lasso accessory!

I like the little details on the sword. Her shield’s face is absolutely beautiful, but the handles are poorly designed. They are placed for right hand grip, but with her sword scabbard on the left side, her right arm is her sword arm. Plus, the handles are small, and getting her hand in and out of them is really difficult.

I’m indifferent about the collect & connect piece right now as there are only four out of eight figures readily available. We get the stand piece with Wonder Woman.

Breakdown:

• Playability – 4 out of 5. I can definitely see Wonder Woman battling along side her super hero companions, but I NEED A LASSO!
• Collectibility – 4 out of 5. I like the way she is displayed, but I would have liked to see a bio.
• Paint and Sculpt – 3 out of 5. What is it about this figure??? I want to love the way she looks, but Wonder Woman shouldn’t seem butch. Also, there was some paint slop that was a little disappointing.
• Standability – 4 out of 5. I was able to get some fairly nice looking poses, but a rocker at the ankle would have made this a 5.
• Articulation – 3 out of 5. 20 points good, but a rocker at the ankle would have made it better. The solid sculpted hair and the limited neck articulation are disappointing.
• Accessories – 3 out of 5. I am giving points off for no lasso, but adding points back in for the detail on the sword and shield. I like collect & connect, but I can’t get excited about this one yet with my search for Aquaman ongoing. I am afraid I might not be able to complete it.
• Affordability – 5 out of 5. $19.99 is a nice price. She’s affordable for most folks.

Overall impression: 26 out of 35. I don’t dislike this figure, but I can’t love her. I am at a loss as to why she looks odd, and she lost some big points on accessories and articulation as well. She is nice and solid. She displays nicely. Pick her up, you might not be as disappointed.

 

** Wonder Woman, Superman, Batman, Aquaman, and all related characters belong to DC Comics. Batman v Superman Dawn of Justice is owned by Warner Brothers. These images are for hobby only. Also, the background images were found on the internet. If one of the images belongs to you, I will gladly give credit.

Action Figure Maniac Reviews: Mattel: MOTUC: Club Grayskull: He-Man

Masters of the Universe Classics: Filmation: He-Man
Mattel
Retail: $30.00 @ MattyCollector.com

Mattel is not disappointing me lately. As the MOTUC line winds down, they have offered a new subscription service called Club Grayskull. This line will offer characters we’ve already seen, but stylized after their Filmation counterparts.

The most recent release is He-Man himself!

The packaging on this one is REALLY awesome. He comes packaged in a window-box display with a slip-cover designed to look like Castle Grayskull. When you remove the slip cover, you see He-Man beautifully displayed in his “I have the POWER!” pose inside the mouth of Grayskull. The back shows an image of Filmation He-Man and gives a brief description of the line.

The eyes and nose of Grayskull are part of the window box and look really cool.

He-Man looks really nice out of the box as well.

The buck is similar to the original release and most of the differences come from his costume. His chest armor is less ornate with no orange squares, raised panels, or divots. The cross is bigger and more screen accurate. His belt and wrist cuffs are missing the spherical embellishments. His loin cloth is smoother and less detailed. Finally, his boots are missing the straps from the original release and the fur at the top is softer.

He also has a scabbard on his back to store the Sword of Power.

I’m sorry, I couldn’t find my original release He-Man for comparison pictures.

The biggest difference is the head and face. You can definitely see the Filmation inspiration here. The hair is more in the style of his 80’s pretty-boy style and the face looks more like the cartoon character we all knew and loved. My only complaint is that it seems a bit more rough than cartoon He-man.

He has 20 points of articulation:

• Ball-and-socket joint at the neck (x1)
• Rotating hinges at each shoulder (x2)
• Swivel joints at each bicep (x2)
• Hinge joints at each elbow (x2)
• Swivel joints at each wrist (x2)
• Hinge joints at each wrist (x2)
• Swivel joint at the waist (x1)
• Rotating hinges at each hip (x2)
• Swivel joints at each thigh (x2)
• Hinge joints at each knee (x2)
• Rocking hinges at each ankle (x2)

The most awesome of these is the hinge joints at each wrist. They allow you to recreate his famous “By the POWER OF GRAYSKULL!” pose!

He comes with only two accessories: the Sword of Power and a sword stone.

Breakdown:

• Playability – 5 out of 5. Club Grayskull/Filmation He-Man is pretty awesome! I loved the original release, but this one is straight out of the cartoon. I can’t wait to have him battling Skeletor!
• Collectibility – 5 out of 5. Wow! I am an out-of-box collector, but this packaging blew me away. I almost left him alone.
• Paint and Sculpt – 4 out of 5. I love Mattel’s approach to these Filmation figures! I have no complaints other than the “roughness” of his look.
• Standability – 5 out of 5. His joints are solid and he stands even in dynamic poses.
• Articulation – 5 out of 5. 20 points is nothing to sneeze at. With the addition of the wrist hinges, I almost want to give him a 6!
• Accessories – 2 out of 5. Booo! This could have been so much better! A sword and stone? Really? He-Man could come with so much more. Plus, I had to look up what the stone was for … that’s why there are no pictures of the sword in it.
• Affordability – 4 out of 5. $30.00 is a little steep. I know collectors will shell it out, but casual fans might a bit of trouble justifying it.

Overall impression: 30 out of 35. Not bad Mattel! Club Grayskull/Filmation He-Man is a great figure! His nostalgia and build make him very playable! I can’t wait to see the other offerings in the Filmation style – and make them fight!

 

** He-Man, Masters of the Universe, and all related characters belong to Mattel. These images are for hobby only. Also, the background images were found on the internet. If one of the images belongs to you, I will gladly give credit.