Tuesday, May 26, 2009

DC Universe Classics - Booster Gold

For my second review of the DC Universe Classics, wave 7 set, I'll be taking a closer look at Booster Gold. To find your very own DCUC Booster Gold action figure on eBay, click here . Now on to my review:


Booster Gold is one of two action figures from this set that has a variant. This version of BG is his modern look. The variant is of Booster Gold in his "classic" costume which really is just includes a high collar around his neck.



Packaging for this entire set has not changed, really no reason to. The figure is securely packaged in a double plastic bubble with cardboard backing. You'll also fine a brief write up on the character's origin.


The body sculpt is very similar to most other DCUC figures such as Flash, Green Lantern to name a few with the exception of a few minor changes specifically his wrist blasters around the forearms.


Of course, the head sculpt is totally unique his traditional yellow goggles and an arrogant smirk.

Booster Gold's is painted in a metallic blue and gold (of course) and the uniform is fairly simple so the paint job is very clean. Mattel should probably have used a lighter color for Booster's hair as it is more of a light brown instead of blond and there is no wash or highlighting to give is some depth. Skeets' paint job is a little messed up but he is so small you really have to look close to see him.

So as mentioned, Skeets is included with Booster Gold. He attaches to the hole in BG's back. Other than the Collect and Connect piece of Atom Smasher, Booster Gold does not come with any other accessories.




Booster Gold comes with all the standard points of articulation. Neck, shoulders, biceps, elbows, wrists, abdominal, waist, hips, thighs, knees and ankles. Skeets' lid even has a joint to open and close.

Overall, Booster Gold looks pretty good. As mentioned, I wish his hair color was a bit lighter but other than that, Mattel and the Four Horsemen have nailed the character fairly well.


Sculpt/Design - 9, Paint - 8, Accessories - 7, Articulation - 9, Fun - 8.5


Booster Gold and the rest of the wave 7 DC Universe Classics action figures are all over the Internet right now. eBay is your best bet in my opinion.

To find Mattel's DC Universe Classics Booster Gold on eBay, click here

To find figures other wave 7 action figures from Mattel's DC Universe Classics, click here

Thats it for my Booster Gold review. Any questions or comments can be forwarded to ActionToyReview@rogers.com. Thanks for checking out Action Toy Review which is currently featuring action figures from Mattel's DC Universe Classics action figure line. Be sure to check back for more info, news and reviews.

Saturday, May 23, 2009

DC Universe Classics - Flash

Finally, my DC Universe Classics wave 7 has arrived and the action figure I've been waiting for most is the Flash so I am going to start my review of this wave with him.
If you are looking to purchase any of the DC Universe Classics action figures, check them out on eBay by clicking here.


Mattel is continuing to package these figures in the same standard double plastic bubble and cardboard back packaging. You will notice that Wave 7 is made up of 7 action figures plus the Collect and Connect figure instead of the previous waves which only included 5 figures + C.A.C.

The sculpt used for the Flash is very similar to the Atom's sculpt from wave 5. There are some slight differences, specifically Flash's boots and the little wings on his ears and boots.
Flash's face sculpt is also a little different from The Atom's. Mattel could've cheaped out and just used the same face with different paint colors but they didn't in this case as they've slightly altered the chin and mouth and nose.



Speaking of the paint job, its not too shabby but there are red spots that cross over the lines and overlap onto Flash's face. The uniform is painted very well, included the logo on his chest and the yellow lightning bolts across his waist and arms. His yellow boots have the nasty red wash that I've complained about in some of my other reviews such as Red Tornado and Robin. For the life of me, I don't know why Mattel decides to use a red wash on yellow areas.

As far as accessories go, Flash comes with nothing. Not even a Collect and Connect piece. He does however come with a blue transparent stand which help you pose him in a better running position. I believe these stands can also be ordered from Mattel's collector web site. I wish they weren't blue. They should just be a clear plastic in my opinion.

Flash's articulation is no different than 90% of the other DCUC action figures. Joints include neck, shoulders, biceps, elbows, wrists, abdominal, waist, hips, thighs, knees and ankles

To compare, in the above pictures is a DC Direct's Flash on the left next to Mattel's DCUC Flash on the right.

I've been waiting for the Flash for quite some time. Gorilla Grodd needs someone to beat up.

Overall, Mattel's DCUC Flash is pretty good. My only complaint is the red wash on his yellow boots. Other than that, he meets the high standards that Mattel has set with this action figure series.

Sculpt/Design - 8, Paint - 6, Accessories - 2, Articulation - 9, Fun - 8.5


Wave 7 is fairly new but starting to sell out in online stores. With wave 8 already appearing on eBay, a lot of sellers will be looking to dump their older figures so Flash should be available at a reasonable price.
To find Mattel's DC Universe Classics Flash on eBay, click here

Saturday, May 16, 2009

DC Superheroes - Doomsday

While I sit and wait for my DC Universe Classics wave 7 and 8 sets to arrive, I'll go back into the action figure archive again and review a couple more of the older DC Superheroes action figures Mattel released a couple years back. So lets take a closer look at Doomsday.

To find Mattel's DC Superheroes DOOMSDAY on eBay, click here

Doomsday was part of the 2nd wave of DC Superheroes action figures back in 2006 along with Superman, Supergirl and Bizarro. Doomsday stands approximately 6.5 inches tall to the top of his head. Just a little over 7 inches if you count his pony tail. He should probably be just a bit taller.

As you would expect, Doomsday has a lot of cool spiky bones protruding from his entire monster like body. Its mostly made with a soft rubber but all very well detailed.


The paint job is decent with some minor smudges here and there. There is some shading over his skin around his arms and legs. The face is very clean. Although you can't really see his eyes in this picture below, they are painted red behind the bones.

Doomsday does not come with any accessories but if you buy him still in the package, you will be treated to a reprint of "Man of Steel" Issue #19

Comparing Mattel's Doomsday to DC Direct, you will notice right off the bat a size difference. DC Direct probably has the correct size but as far as articulation goes, Mattel wins hands down. Mattel's version has joints in the neck, shoulders, biceps, elbows, wrists, abdominal, waist, hips, thighs, knees and calves and ankles. One note, the bones on his shoulders do obstruct the shoulder joint movement a little but its not too bad.

Putting the size issues aside, Mattel's DC Superheroes Doomsday is a pretty cool figure. He still stands slightly taller than the DCSH Superman figure from the same wave.

Overall, DCSH Doomsday is a cool action figure that is a must have if you collect the Superman action figures or the related Mattel DC Universe Classics toy line. Generally, Mattel has been doing a good job with these action figures and Doomsday is no exception.

Sculpt/Design - 7.5, Paint - 8, Accessories - 0, Articulation - 9.5, Fun - 8.5
Overall Score: 8/10

Now, if you're looking for your very own Doomsday action figure, my favorite place to find him would be eBay. If you read my blog regularly, you will see that I am a heavy user of eBay, especially to find older toys that are no longer in stores.
To find Mattel DC Superheroes Doomsday on eBay, click here
Thats it for this my Doomsday action figure review. Hopefully I will have some DC Universe Classics wave 7 reviews up shortly. Be sure to check back for more DCUC news, reviews and information at Action Toy Review.

Saturday, May 9, 2009

DC Universe Classics - Wave 9 and 2 Pack Previews

As I await the arrival of my DCUC Wave 7 action figures to review, and also the arrival of Wave 8 (which have already started popping up on eBay now), I figured this would be a good time to preview DCUC Wave 9 as well as some of the upcoming 2 packs.

Starting with the 2 packs, probably the one I'm looking most forward to is the Brainiac & Superman pack, simply because I want Brainiac. The figure is crafted after Brainiac's first appearance in the Superman comics and also similar to Brainiac from the old Superfriends cartoon from the 70s. The Superman figure comes with glowing red eyes. I believe this is the same head sculpt used on Eradicator from Wave 5 and in all likelyhood the same body sculpt from the Superman variant in Wave 6.
The next 2 pack is of Clayface and Batman. Clayface looks to be a re-release from the DCSH wave 8 and the Batman appears to be a repainted version of the sculpt from DCUC wave 1 Batman.

The other 2 packs coming soon are re-releases of Lex Luthor and Supergirl from the DC Superheroes action figure series and also a Hawkman and Hawkgirl pack.
You can pre-order on line on Mattycollector.com an exclusive Alexander Luthor and Ultraman two pack
Now, on to Mattel's DC Universe Classics Wave 9.
First up, Mantis who has a variant who as some cool looking costumes.
Next is Wildcat, which looks like your standard DCUC figure as far as body parts go. Of course he has his own unique head sculp, plus your not so standard hands sculpt as well. The rest looks like reused parts.
Same case with the next figure, Guardian. As far as the sculpt goes, he appears to also have your standard body parts with a ho-hum costume but a unique head sculpt.
Next up is the Deadshot who has a unique enough looking costume to forgive the re-use of body parts. Personally, I've been waiting for this guy but I'm a little disappointed as it looks like both fists are closed which means no extra accessories.
This is the third set in a row that includes at least one female character and for wave 9 Mattel is giving us Black Canary. I'm going to guess that the body parts used on this figure will be similar to Series 2 Harley Quinn
Next up is Black Adam, a fairly standard looking DCUC action figure with no accessories.
Finally, who appears to be the lead character of Wave 9, Green Arrow rounds out the seven action figures from this set. This figure looks to be pretty good from the publicity photo and thankfully comes with a few extra accessories.
And if you're lucky enough to purchase all seven action figures from DCUC wave 9 you will get to put together CHEMO

Well, thats it for my 2 pack and DCUC wave 9 preview. Hopefully my Wave 7 will arrive soon so I can start back up on my reviews. Be sure to come back to Action Toy Review for more info, news and review on Mattel's DC Universe Classics action figures.