DC Universe Classics - Scarecrow (Sinestro Corps)

DC Universe Classics Wave 17, aka the Rainbow Lantern wave was certainly not my favorite set.  I like Green Lantern and I also enjoyed The Blackest Night comic series but I wasn't a big fan of Mattel devoting an entire set of action figures to what was really, a second string set of characters from TBN story.  Like really, how long did we see Scarecrow as a member of the Sinestro Corps?  Well, apparently long enough to get his own action figure.  We did get a Scarecrow action figure from Mattel about 4 years ago in the DC Super Heroes toy series.  I'm sure Batman fans would agree, we need an upgraded version.  Since it appears we will not be getting a new regular Scarecrow action figure in the near future from Mattel (fingers cross for something in the Batman Legacy series), I decided to bite the bullet and pick a Sinestro Corps Scarecrow.  Lets take a closer look.:

Out of all the DCUC Wave 17 action figures, Scarecrow is the only character that has not had a previous action figure released in the other DC Universe Classics toy line.  So even though he is a Lantern action figure, I still wanted to have him. 

This is a completely new sculpt in comparison to the DC Super Heroes Scarecrow (left) from head to toe. Sinestro Corps Scarecrow has thicker body parts and is less lanky than the DCSH version. 

Wave 17 SC Scarecrow looks exactly like the Blackest Night version of the Scarecrow so fans of the comic series will love this action figure, but the best part, by far, is the head sculpt on this action figure.  One of the best head sculpts I've seen in a while. 

Close up, you can see the great detail work on Scarecrow's head.  His yellow eyes are very cleanly painted and are very creepy looking.  His mouth is also highly detailed and well painted.  The hat has an old beat up look which is great too.  My one minor complaint is the rope around his neck could've been painted a different color than his mask, but oh well.  A great job overall.  Paint job is also great.  There was plenty of room for error and slop here, especially in the face but Mattel has put out a good job on this one. 

Scarecrow also shines in the Articulation Department.  All the usual DCUC joints are included and since Scarecrow's jacket is opened, his abdominal joint is not restricted, unlike what we've seen on some other jacket supporting DCUC action figures.  Scarecrow also supports the newer double elbow and knee joints for extra flexibility.  I find the newer knee joints add a little bit of height to these action figures, so compared to the characters from the older waves, Scarecrow is just a tad bit taller. 

The only accessory that comes with Sinestro Corps Scarecrow is the standard issue Yellow Lantern and of course the CNC piece of Anti Monitor. 

So, my ranting about the rainbow lanterns aside, this Sinestor Corps Scarecrow action figure was a good purchase.  Like I said, the head sculpt a is pretty amazing piece of work and I would love to see it re-released on a regular Scarecrow action figure somewhere down the road, perhaps in the Batman Legacy toy series.  (fingers crossed)

Sculpt/Design - 9, Paint - 9, Articulation - 9.5, Accessories - 5, Fun - 7

Best place to buy your very own DC Universe Classics action figures: eBay. 

To find DC Universe Classics - Sinestro Corps Scarecrow on eBay - click here

To find the DC Super Heroes Scarecrow on ebay (good luck) - click here

Other DCUC Wave 17 "rainbow lantern" action figures on eBay:

Wonder Woman

Hal Jordan (White Lantern)

Hal Jordan (Black Lantern)

Flash

Atom

Lex Luthor

To find other DC Universe Classics action figures on eBay, click here

Thanks for checking out Action Toy Review.  Be sure to check back for more news, info, previews and reviews on your favorite DC Universe Classics action figures. 

DC Universe Animated Movies

I love the DC Animated films and am always glad when news and new trailers come out.  Their movies do such a great job for the most part and the films are quite entertaining.  At New York Comic Con 2011 DC showed off the new trailer for the upcoming animated film, Justice League Doom.  Check out the trailer at the bottom of this post.  Also just out this week, Batman: Year One, which i loved as well.  So, today I thought I'd take a break from the action figure reviews and go through some of my favorite DC animated fims in the form of a Top 10 list.  If you're a DC fan, these animated films are a must see.  Marvel may have the jump on DC when it comes to the big budget live action flicks, but DC is certainly holding its own in the animated movie department.   If you haven't seen them, go out and get yourself a copy as they are better then A LOT of the live action superhero movies that have been released in recent years.  

Now, lets go over some honorable mentions.  These films were not my favorites, however a lot of DC fans enjoyed these movies and just because they weren't my favorite, doesn't mean they should be overlooked. 

A lot of DC fans felt that Justice League - The New Frontier was a great film and would probably rank it in their Top 5.  It is based on Darwyn Cooke's 2003-2004 graphic novel "DC: The New Frontier" and features all the major Justice League characters.   

All-Star Superman was released earlier this year (2011) and is based on Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely's 2005-2008 comic book "All-Star Superman".  Again, a lot of fans hold this film in high regards but I myself, was not a fan of the animation in this one. 

Superman/Shazam - Return of Black Adam is a DVD made up of a bunch of short films.  In addition to the Black Adam Story, also included are short films on Green Arrow, Jonah Hex and The Spectre.  By far, the best short film on this DVD is The Return of Black Adam.  A lot of action squeezed into a short story.  I wish they would've hammered out a full length film on this one.  Black Adam kicks some ass!  Green Arrow was probably the next best story.  Worth a watch if you can get it cheap. 

Batman Gotham Knight was basically a collection of short films, each of which each has its own style of animation. It was released as a tie into the Christopher Nolan's films supposedly taking place in between the Batman Begins and The Dark Knight films. Batman Gotham Knight features short stories that include the likes of Killer Croc, Deadshot, Scarecrow and many more Batman regulars.

Okay, on to my TOP 10 DC Animated Films:

#10.  Superman: Doomsday 

Loosely based on The Death of Superman comic book, this action packed movie did a great job of taking the concept of the popular comic series and condensing it into a 90 minute film.  It features Superman, Doomsday, Lex Luthor, Lois Lane and Jimmy Olson

#9. Green Lantern: First Flight

Its sort of a new take on the origin story of Hal Jordan becoming the Green Lantern.  Although they rush though Hal's training process (he seems to pick things up fairly quickly), this movie is filled with some pretty tight action sequences and Victor Garber voicing of Sinestro is brilliant. For those unfamiliar with the Green Lantern world, you get a good introduction to the Green Lantern Corps characters.  The movie does have its flaws but is much better than the Ryan Reynolds live action version.   

#8. Superman/Batman: Public Enemies 

First off, Tim Daley IS the voice of Superman, and without a doubt, Kevin Conroy is the best Batman voice ever!! When you get them both in the same movie, you know its gonna be good.  Superman/Batman: Public Enemies is based on the  "The World's Finest" comic series where Lex Luthor is President and puts a bounty on Superman's head.  So of course, you have a ton of villains looking to collect. Look for appearances from Captain Atom, Metallo, Black Lightning, Powergirl, Shazam, Hawkman, Gorilla Grodd, Toyman and many more in this one.   

  

 #7. Superman/Batman: Apocalypse

Based on the "The Supergirl from Krypton" story, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse again features the voices of Tim Daley and Kevin Conroy as well as the equally great Susan Eisenberg as Wonder Woman.  This movie tells the story of Supergirl and features some really brutally violent fight scenes, which of course, is a good thing.  Darkseid is your main bady this time around and Granny Goodness and Big Barda to make noticeable appearances as well. 

 #6. Justice Leauge: Crisis on Two Earths

Loosely based on JLA: Earth 2, Crisis of Two Earth tells the story of a good Lex Luthor from a parallel Earth looking to recruit the Justice League to help save his planet from the Crime Syndicate.  A very good story and animation the only real knock against this film, is no Kevin Conroy.   

#5. Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker

Yep, that's right, I'm including the older animated films in my list simply because they must be seen.  Batman Beyond was not my favorite TV series but this movie is definitely worth the watch.  Released in 2000, this movie features a retired Bruce Wayne at 80 years old and his Batman protegee Terry McGinnis and tells the story of the mysterious return of Batman's arch enemy, The Joker is voiced by the great Mark Hamill

#4. Batman: Mask of The Phantasm

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm was released in 1993 and takes place in the Batman: The Animated Series world.  An original story about the Phantasm arriving in Gotham and killing off Gotham's crime bosses.  Batman becomes mistaken for the Phantasm and now must run from the police and apprehend the killer and clear his name. 

#3 Batman: Year One

An origin story based on Frank Miller's Year One comic book, this story looks at Bruce Wayne's transformation beginnings as Batman but even more so, tells Commissioner Gordon's start in Gotham.  Also included in the DVD is a 15 minute short flick on Catwoman.  Very Impressed with this one.

 #2. Wonder Woman

Batman does not totally dominate the Top 5.  A great origin story released in 2009, this Wonder Woman animated movie does a great job telling the story of how Diana of Themyscira becomes the greatest female superhero ever.  Amazing story, stunning animation and brilliant voice acting, this movie really fills the void DC fans are feeling from a lack of a live action Wonder Woman film.  Hey, if Marvel can pull off a live action Thor movie, I say that DC can pull of a Wonder Woman. 

 #1. Batman: Under The Red Hood

The story of Batman: Under the Red Hood is based on the comic book story "Under the Hood" where Batman and Nightwing are dealing with a new mysterious vigilante in Gotham known as the Red Hood.  This leads Batman to interactions with some of his greatest enemies, The Joker, Ra's Al Ghul and Black Mask.  Bruce Greenwood voices Batman this time around and truly does an amazing job.  If ever you need a replacement for Kevin Conroy, Bruce is the man.  Great story, violent, dark and full of emotion, Batman: Under the Red Hood will be very hard to top and is a must see animated movie for any super hero fan.

Thats it for my Top 10. Feel free to leave a comment below about which movie you liked the best or didnt like at all or check out the readers poll on the left side of your screen to vote for your favorite.   See the trailer below for a preview of the upcoming DC animated film - Justice League Doom:

DC Universe Classics - Superman (Gotham City 5 Pack)

Mattel's DC Universe Classics Gotham City 5 Pack includes a classic version of Superman, something we have not gotten to date in the DCUC toy line.   

There have been many variations of Superman however.  So far, we've seen Blue and Red Superman variants from DCUC wave 2, mullet head Superman in his classic and recovery suit variants in wave 6 and Heat Vision Superman from the "Clash in the Cosmos" Brainiac/Superman 2 pack.

As you can see below, Gotham City Superman (left) is essentially the same action figure as the Clash of the Cosmos Superman figure (right) with the exception of Superman's eyes. So I'm not going to go into to much detail on this review. You might as well read my Clash of the Cosmos review (click on the link).

Here's a close up of GC5 Superman.  Seems like black paint around Superman's left eye (your right) ran a bit towards the inside.  Other than that, the paint job on this figure is great. 

Comparing Gotham City Superman (below right) to Mattel's previous toy line's DC Superheroes Superman which was released in 2006, there are a number of differences, which in my opinion, are an improvement for one, the red colour of his cape, boots and trunks are all a brighter read on GC5 Superman.  Also with GC5 Supes, his cape is now shorter and includes the yellow "S" symbol plus his legs are not stuck in a wide stance as with DCSH Superman. 

Articulation on the figure is great just like any other DCUC action figure and there were no major issue with regards to loose joints.  Unfortunately, if you're looking for accessories, you'll be disappointed as GC5 Superman doesn't come with any extras. 

Is the Gotham City 5 pack worth the price?  We'll that's for you to decide.  Do you want a classic version of Lex Luthor and Superman?  Than yes.  Do you own the DC Superheroes versions of Two Face and Catwoman? No? Then yes, go buy it.  Do you like repainted versions of your favorite action figures? ....only you can decide.   Even for the casual collector, this set gives you some classic characters so there are plenty of reasons to go buy this baby. 

The Gotham City 5 Pack is a wal-mart exclusive, so if your local wal-mart is not carrying this product, there are plenty (currently) listed on ebay.  Just be prepared to pay for shipping costs. 

To find Mattel's DC Universe Classics Gotham City 5 Pack on ebay, click here. 

To find Mattel's DC Universe Classics Superman action figures on ebay, click here.

Be sure to check back for another DC Universe Classics Action Figure review.  I've added a poll on the left menu so you can choose what the next DCUC review will be so be sure to vote!

DC Superheroes - Scarecrow

Today's review: DC Superheroes - Scarecrow.

Scarecrow is from the series 1 set of Mattel's DCSH action figures released in 2006. This particular sculpt is actually a re-release of a figure from Mattel's previous Batman toy line which ran between approximately 2003-2005.

Scarecrow is thin, tall and lanky, standing at 7 inches tall to the tip of his hat. The figure is well crafted with plenty of detail from head to toe. His face has a great evil smirk and the costume looks like it was put together with rags and rope. Very classic Scarecrow and very well done.

The paint is mostly done in various browns, orange and has a dark wash over most of the figure that really gives the figure some depth. The face is cleanly painted (always a good thing). No complaints really.

Scarecrow comes with 2 accessories. A sling blade and a skull bomb. The skull is very small but has some a good amount of shading and detail as well. There are two canisters on the back of the skull which are probably meant to hold Scarecrow's fear toxins. The sling blade also has great detail. The grains of wood are seen on the staff and the blade is made to look very rough with chips and scratch marks all over it. The skull sits nicely in the palm of Scarecrow's left hand but will fall out if the hand is not positioned correctly. The sling blade also has a pitch fork on the opposite end and can be held by two hands or just one.

As you can expect with these Mattel figures, Scarecrow has a good number of joints. The neck can be moved forwards & backwards as well as side to side. The main problem with the neck joint is that it can not be moved very far back so for the most part, Scarecrow appears to be looking slightly downwards. He has joints in his shoulders, biceps, elbows, forearms, waist, abdominal, hips, thighs, knees, shins and ankles. All joints were reasonably tight out of the package. He can sometimes be hard to pose due his lankiness but overall it is not a big hassle.

Overall, Scarecrow rules! This is a great action figure to compliment a cool Batman villain. He fits in great with all DCSH, DC Universe Classics and even DC Direct collections. Even in 2008, this toy is still reasonably priced online (not in stores anymore) and there are deals to be found on eBay. He can easily be purchased in the $10 range which is quite cheap compared to other Mattel DC toys.

Sculpt/Design - 9, Paint - 9.5, Accessories - 9, Articulation - 9, Fun - 9.5

Overall - 9.5/10

To find DC Superheroes Scarecrow by Mattel on eBay, click here

Thanks for checking out my DC action figure review blog. DC Universe Classics series 4 will be arriving shortly. Be sure to check back for more.

DC Superheroes - Superman

Looking for information on DC Comics Action Figures? You've come to the right place. Welcome to Action Toy Review. My main focus is the DC Universe Classics and DC Superheroes toy lines by Mattel but I will also throw in some DC Direct and even the odd Marvel Legends & Star Wars figure just to mix things up.


Today's review will be from Mattel's DC Superheroes series 2 - SUPERMAN.

Since I've already gone through a few Batman characters from this toy line, I figured it's time to look at DC's other poster boy.

This Superman was originally released in the 2nd series of the DC Super Heroes toy line back in 2006. It was re-released again in the 5th series in the newer purple packaging. The only other difference was the Series 2 Superman came with a short comic book. The series 5 figure did not. Check out my Mattel DC Superheroes checklist for the others figures from these sets. This figure also came in 2 separate Two-Packs. One packaged this figure with an original Clark Kent figure. The other pack included both Superman & Bizarro from DCSH series 2.

If you only get one Superman action figure, then the DCSH Superman is the one you need to get. The face sculpt is the best I've seen. DC Direct as a few decent figures but I really like this one. The figure has a strong and classic look. I'm not a fan of the older looking Supes either. The cape is big and looks great but it is very heavy and can sometimes weigh the figure backwards. Like some of the other figures from this line, Superman's legs have a bit of a wider stance and can't be closed together.

The rest of the figure's design is also just classic Superman. Red undies & boots, blue tights and a yellow belt.

DCSH Superman (below middle) about 6.25 inches tall. About the same as the DCUC series 2 Blue Superman (below right) and a bit shorter than the DC Direct Doomsday Collectors set Superman (below left). If your collection mainly consists of DC Direct figures, then this DCSH version may be a bit short compared to the rest of your figures.

Like all the figures from this toy line, the paint job on DCSH Superman is reasonably well done considering it is a mass market toy. Generally, it's not uncommon to find some minor issues with the toy's paint job in certain areas. My Superman has a few sloppy areas. In the pictures below, you'll see on his right hand, a bit of the blue has run over onto his hand. (click pics to enlarge). Also the red paint on his belt is a little sloppy. The other issue was on the face. One eyebrows was painted on thicker than the other. As i mentioned, each figure might have some minor issues like this. You're best bet when buying anything from the store is to examine it before you purchase it and pick the best one.

Superman does not come with any accessories. The DCSH series 2 version came with a comic book but the series 5 does not. The Superman from the Doomsday set also comes with a Doomsday figure and the Death of Superman comic graphic novel. For info on Blue Superman, check out the DC Universe Classics series 2 review.

DCSH Superman has great articulation, like all of Mattel's DC toys in the 6 inch size range. Starting from the top, he's got joints at the neck, shoulders, biceps, elbows, wrists, abdominal, waist, those awesome Mattel hip joints, thighs, knee and ankles. The same as Blue Superman. DC Direct Superman lacks the waist and abdominal joints. None of the joints on DCSH Superman gave me any problems out of the package.

Overall, I really like the look of the DCSH Superman. The face makes the figure. The paint job is great and it fits in nicely with the other DCSH & DCUC toys. I really feel its the best of the bunch.

Sculpt/Design - 8.5, Paint - 8.5, Accessories - 5, Articulation - 9, Fun - 9

Overall Score - 8.5/10

This figure is discontinued but can still be found at many online retailers, eBay & Amazon. You should be able to find it still in the $10 range or even less for a "loose" figure (meaning out of the package). Just watch out on the shipping.

If you're into the DC Direct instead, you can probably find the DC Direct Doomsday Collectors set for around $25 bucks. For 2 figures and a graphic novel, that's pretty good value.

Mattel's DC Superheroes Superman on eBay

DC Direct Superman/Doomsday set on eBay

Series 4 of Mattel's DC Universe Classics should arrive next week at my door step. Living in Canada, I pretty much have to rely on eBay and online stores to get these toys. Other than Series 1 of the DCUC toy line, I haven't seen any of figures at my local toy stores from series 2, 3 or 4. Once I receive series 4 (aka wave 4) a review of each figure will follow. Apparently Series 5 & 6 will be coming out soon just in time for Christmas shopping followed by series 7 early 2009. My DC Universe Classics checklist will show you which characters you can expect to see in the upcoming waves.

Thanks for reading my action figure review blog. Be sure to check back for more reviews on Mattel's DC Universe Classics, DC Superheroes and other action figures.