So, here's to start, my review DCUC 4:
I recently ordered a case from Cornerstorecomics.com. I ordered the case along with preordering several DCUC singles and sets. I was actually rather surprised to get a shipping notice in the same day. Shipping was quick, easy, and arrived in great shape.
I didn't get any of the variants, but none of them were "essential" for me. For instance, I was crazy about getting the Sinestro Corps Sinestro and would have resorted to ebay if I didn't find one in the stores. I'd love to have the gold Captain Atom, but I won't cry over it. If I find either variant, I'd pick them up, but I'll live without them.
I originally got a Batman Beyond figure several weeks ago and was disappointed when one of the legs fell off within 2-3 days of opening it. It was beyond repair and it took a dive into my trash can. I decided then, unless I find another, to order a set online.
Ok, so anyways, here's my break down:
1. Wonder Woman- Fabulous figure! Probably the best female figure I think I've ever purchased. Her articulation works extremely well to keep her feminine yet strong looking. Her face is so perfectly sculpted and painted I could hardly believe this is a mass market figure. She has a hard time holding her ax but the shield stays on perfectly. I'm a little concerned about one of her hips as it seems to flex a bit more than it should but I think it'll be alright. She also has slightly different hips than the normal DCUC males, where the joint isn't visible. Extremely well done. I don't think there are enough good things to say about this figure and it is probably the best figure I've seen Mattel put out. Perfect 10/10.
2. Batman Beyond--- I was a huge fan of the cartoon and have wanted a Batman Beyond figure with copious amounts of articulation for some time. I tried using a Black Panther figure from ML10 to be a slightly "modified" Batman Beyond but gave up when my customizing and painting skills sucked. However, if you are familiar with the show, I somewhat feel that this figure is closer to when Bruce Wayne briefly wore the costume in the first episode. He's taller, bulkier, and beefier than Terry was in the show. I realize that these figures are through the DCUC standard template of bodies, but I felt this one should have been scaled down a bit. I always viewed Terry as if he was closer to Spider-Man in physique and style (as he was a teenager). That aside, it's still a great figure. I would have liked wings but I doubt anything else could have been done with the figure. Maybe a duller paint job as I think he's too glossy. So size, paint, and wings aside, it's still a solid figure. 7.5/10.
Ares--- I know little about this character but it is a perfect representation of when I've seen him in the comics. The sculpting is phenomenal and unlike Hasbro figures, the added armor does not get in the way of his articulation. I think his neck movement is slightly hindered, but I doubt he'd ever be posed looking up bird watching or anything. He can hold his sword and maybe even his ax in both hands which is always an awesome thing for any figure to have (*hint*hint* to hasbro). His cape is a little too stiff but still doesn't hinder much. I'm amazed at the sculpting and at the simple paint job that makes this figure work so well. I'm leaning towards a 9/10 only because his weapons feel a little soft, but I'll give it a sweet 9.5./10.
Cyborg--- I've always felt weird about Cyborg. I always thought his armor was based off of weird dominatrix outfits. Can you wear cybernetic stockings? I guess so. The figure is fantastic, but the choice of "costume", I guess, isn't my favorite. I actually preferred the teen titans version which covered up his thighs and arms I think for the most part. I may have to take a silver sharpie or silver paint marker to some of his fleshy bits so I feel less like he's based from the Rocky Horror Picture show. That stuff aside, it's a perfectly sculpted and painted figure. I would have liked his cyborg eye to be painted a bright red or blue. I think it's a dark red, if red at all. His hands easily are switched, but not too easily where you think they won't stay in. They aren't loose at all but still come out easy, compared to the Forge and Wolverine ML 2-pack hands. While those are tight, I felt like I had to use my teeth to switch them out. Cyborg's hands work perfectly. I'm glad to be able to start filling out a Teen Titan's roster with Nightwing, Cyborg, Robin, and eventually Starfire. However, the dominatrix costume hurt this figure for me. I would give it a 6, but 7 I think is more fair. So, 7/10.
Captain Atom--- I honestly had higher hopes for this figure. Silver figures are hard to pull off. The paint always looks weird, whether it's casted in a silver plastic or painted on. I feel like his colors are off as his gloves and boots are different colors, which I believe is comic accurate, but it's just toooo off as I think his gloves and chest symbol are the same color and his boots are a different color that aren't represented elsewhere in his costume (I may have that reversed, I only got the figure yesterday). So it's just sort of random feeling (obviously it's going for a red-white(silver)-blue motif). His face is sort of weird, too, making him look semi-angry like he'll just realized he'll never be a top-tier character. I would have liked him to have energy fist things like Firestorm did. Without those, he looks like a silver guy with boots and gloves. Probably the weakest figure out of the bunch, which doesn't mean it's a bad figure, but he sort of lacks the pizzazz to make his shiney silver butt standout without any sort of energy attachments. Unfortunately, 6 out of 10.
Despero--- Ok, I know little about this guy. I think I read about him a little in the newer Justice League series and have seen him float around. I don't know if he had the bounty hunter look in the comics so I have no idea if his "armed to the teeth" look is accurate:
I do prefer his most recent look in comics, however:
I think this would have made a far better BAF especially since a lot of parts were reused for Lobo and are far too familiar to me. If you didn't get Lobo, then there is no familiarity. The figure is pretty decent though, a bit better than I had initially thought. Very weird choice for BAF as I don't think fans were crying out for Despero to be made. Lobo would have been a better BAF choice, I think. Strangely, though, looking at Despero's most recent incarnation, I am reminded of the Futurama character Nibbler. Not sure why though.
I didn't get a chance to do much with Despero other than put him together and look at him. His joints seemed extremely tight. The gold armor stuff contrasts waaaaay too much with his green pants and purple skin. It just seems waaaay far separated from his most recent incarnation in the comics, but that's my opinion. I give the figure a solid 8/10 completely objectively. Personally, I give it a 6 because it just doesn't match up with my image of Despero and I'm not a fan of the colors or bounty hunter look.
Final tallies:
Wonder Woman: 10/10
Batman Beyond: 7.5/10
Ares: 9.5/10
Cyborg: 7/10
Captain Atom: 6/10
Despero: 8/10
Overall Score: 8/10
Buy it?
