Mallah and Brain :: DC Infinite Heroes

I'm almost certain I once blogged about these two DC Infinite Heroes action figures: Mallah and Brain. But there's no evidence of them on the blog, so I must have deleted the post for one reason or another.

Having recently dug them out of storage, I figure it's time to look at them again (for the first time?)

The DC Infinite Heroes line was a real mixed bag. Some figures, like Hush and Jason Todd/Hush, as well as Mallah and Brain here, are pinnacles of the 5 POA (more or less) action figure genre. And some were just phoned in.

The line could have been so much more but...well...Mattel.

If I remember correctly, I had to make a trade to get the set that included Mallah and Brain (it may have been the set that also included a young Tim Drake Robin but it's been so many years!) Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately) Infinite Heroes never got around to releasing their arch nemesises (nemesi?) The Doom Patrol. But I will forever have a gorilla in a beret and a robot trashcan with a glass-encased brain, so who am I to complain?!?!

Mallah and Brain are in scale with Imaginext figures too! Actually, if you want to get technical, I always figured Brain in the 6" scale, because the actual brain is about 6" scale. VERSATILE!

Did I mention that Brain has an 'action feature'? No I didn't and I know that, my memory isn't that bad! When you push on the brain, his jaw closes. I like to make him say 'Exterminate' because I can!

Mallah and Brain are two of my all time favorite action figures.They are simple, small, well sculpted, and great characters that are rarely seen in plastic.

Attack Wing Batman (aka Azrael)

I recently discussed Mattel's 2014 'Evergreen' Batman line and it's shift from the larger 5ish inch scale to around 3.75 inches. Amazingly I was able to find Azrael right away while shopping at Target last week. Apparently these are hitting pretty heavy now, as Target resets their toy aisles after Christmas. There was only one Azrael, so he might be short packed, but only time will tell if he's hard to find or not. My guess is that he won't be, and anyone who really wants one will be able to get one at retail easily enough.

Anyways, Azrael is really a great looking figure! Here he is posed next to Batman and Robin from the infamous Infinite Heroes line of a few years back. The scale isn't a perfect match, but it sort of is considering the fact that Azrael is all armor. He should be a bit bigger than the tights clad Batman.

If there is anything 'bad' about this Azrael and this smaller scale Batman action figure line, it is that it will invariably be compared to Infinite Heroes and many fanboys are going to deride it for that fact alone. I admit there are a lot of similarities, especially with figures like Superman and the standard Batman, but Azrael has enough going on in his sculpt and design to make him stand out against his blander compatriots. And he was only $6.99 at Target, so the line is clearly the more economical of all Mattel's current offerings.

But gripes aside, this really is a great stylized version of Jean-Paul Valley in his hardcore nineties Batman costume!

Here's what the packaging looks like. 'Azrael' isn't mentioned anywhere on the packaging. His official title is 'Action Wing Batman.' I'm okay with that. No modern kid needs to be burdened with all that convoluted backstory! But us collectors know who this is, and that's good enough. In fact, I really don't care what you call a Batman variant as long as the Batman variant makes sense or is in some way relevant to a storyline or the character's history. It is refreshing that AzBats made the cut so early in the line before the inevitable Street Luge Batman!

The cardbacks on this line are a lot of fun. I love the cartoon/comic panels, and the pics of other figures in the line. I might get that Robin if I see him, his accessory actually looks pretty neat!

Speaking of accessories, Azrael's accessory is pretty lame. An axe and a body-cuff...?!?! Ugh. The less said about this drawer-fodder the better.

Azrael (or Attack Wing Batman) has nine points of articulation, which appears standard across the board for this line. Neck, shoulders, knees, elbows, hips. All swivel - no ball joints. But Azrael ain't doing any Yoga in that outfit anyways, right?

The sculpting details are really nice, and I think this stylized cartoony look really works for Azrael. My only real regret is that he isn't in the previous larger scale, since I have a handful of nice figures in that scale already.

Thankfully he fits right in with the Infinite Heroes figures I already have. As much as people loved to hate Infinite Heroes, it really did have some great figures. I think this new line is going to have a few good ones too, and a few dogs as well. You'll just have to buy what you like and leave the rest!

The 1990s. Oh how I don't miss you (but kind of do)!

Poisunday Ivy :: DCIH Poison Ivy Prototype

Ah, what could have been. DC Infinite Heroes was one line that had so much potential yet was sabotaged at every turn by the brain-trust that is Mattel. Making it probably the biggest toyline disappointment (for me at least) in modern times. Second only to DCUC and MOTUC - are you sensing a pattern here?

This DCIH Poison Ivy sure would have been a hit had it made it to retail. Although if it had, Mattel would have found some other way to disenchant buyers, like by charging $30 for it or by including it in a Wal-Mart exclusive seventeen pack with sixteen Batman color variants or something.

Image via ToyArk

Imaginext Killer Croc

Oops, wrong Croc!

Ahh that's better!

Let Them Eat Cake

A couple months ago I posted about some Teen Titans figures I picked up from the swap meet for my daughter's birthday. I ended up using most of them as cake decorations for her birthday cake.

She had originally asked for a superhero themed birthday cake, and closer to her birthday began to want a beach theme for her party. So naturally I decided to combine the two and have a Superhero beach day cake!

Raven and Terra are having a dispute about umbrella placement.

Of course you can't have a bunch of teens at the beach alone, there has got to be adult supervision. In this case, a few JSA members are along for the ride.

Jay Garrick Flash, Wildcat and Wonder Woman will keep these teens in line! Of course Wildcat is content just playing ball at the shoreline.

And Wonder Woman might need a quick nap first.

Red X Robin and The Flash are checking out a cool starfish, or playing catch with Red X's shuriken.

And while Cyborg enjoys a little boat ride, terror strikes in the form of Trident! Can't these kids ever get a day off?

Random Toy Pic :: Oops!

"Well...this is awkward!"

Tricky Dick

I've been one of the few true blue fans of DC Infinite Heroes from the start. While I've also said from day one that they are over priced, I have defended them as fun toys and have collected quite a few since their debut.

I'm no articulationazi, and having grown up with the classic 5 points or less articulation standard, I've been fine with what DCIH had to offer from day one. I often fall in the "less is more" articulation camp anyways.

Well it seems I'm pretty much alone in this, and Mattel has refurbished their standard DCIH "buck" for some of their newest DCIH releases.

Only some.

Earth 2 Robin is the first DC Infinite Heroes figure I have gotten since the change-over began.

First off, from a character selection standpoint Earth 2 Robin is a character I really wanted when I heard he was a DCIH release. Dick Grayson has grown to adulthood on Earth 2 but has never left Batman's side nor has he altered his alter ego to become Nightwing. He has changed up his costume a bit though, going with a longer cape and less skin. And ditching the pixie boots. How could a Bat fan like me pass up a guy like this?

The new DCIH packaging is similar to the originals, with the plastic bubble molded to give a 3-D-ish effect; this time pronouncing the big three who are shown on all the new figures. A neat effect if only for the few seconds anyone really dwells on such things.

The new DCIH figures, like the latest DCUC fiugures, also come with a collector's button. I admit I like this add-on, and Earth 2 Robin comes with a great button representing original comic art with Earth 2 Batman and Robin.

The packaging also emphasizes that this line is for the "Adult Collector." Why? I don't get it. I understand that toys are being collected by an older audience, and I understand that kids are not likely to know who Earth 2 Robin is (or at least how he differs from any other Robin they are familiar with,) and I understand more adults are buying these DC lines than kids but why call out the designation at Walmart or K-Mart, especially on a line that has done nothing more than anger 99% of the adult collecting fanbase as it is? Is it to justify the price, the lack of availability, or to convince people they need something they otherwise would have passed on? Who knows, but I think it's dumb.

The back of the card is really nice. Some original Robin artwork here, some minimalist stats, DC's 75th anniversary called to attention (am I supposed to buy them a sterling silver gravy boat?) and the current figure line-up are all her along with all your legal jargon (don't choke!) The line-up image is interesting because it only accurately represents a couple of the figures as they appear on the shelves. The newest Joker is totally different (and an improvement) from the first DCIH Joker represented here, the newest Black Canary release is painted differently (blues instead of blacks,) and the Earth 2 Robin shown in this lineup has the old DCIH body. Green Lantern, Firestorm and Two-Face do look like the ones released; Firestorm getting the full blown new treatment and Two-Face being all old body DCIH all the way. GL I think is a combo of the two but I honestly didn't look too closely at his figure when I saw them in the store, so I may be wrong about that one.

Anyways, back to Robin.

Earth 2 Robin's head is a larger scale than most previous DCIH figures, but seems to be proportionate to the all new body. the sculpt is simple but effective.

The new hands are nice and a big change from the ham fists the original DCIH sport.

The body sculpt works on a human character like Robin, but I can see it being less effective on someone like Martian Manhunter (whom I believe shares the same body sculpt.) Robin is articulated all over the place and now that I own him I must say I like the improvements. Although the solid recast DCIH Batman cape limits his movement (cloth please) Robin's 376 new points of articulation work very well and make sense for a circus trained crime fighter.

Unfortunately the new body style does not fit in well with the older DCIH figures. I know Batman has been released with updated articulation, but his head is still too small to be in scale with Earth 2 Robin. Even Tim Drake looks awkward next to this Dick Grayson.

And as for the cost? These guys are still ranging around $6.99 - $7.99. With Marvel Universe ranging around a buck more in most places, this isn't a bad deal for the all new figures. The addition of the button helps offset the lack of accessories, and lets face it, often an accessory ends up in a drawer anyways unless it makes perfect sense for a character to have it.

I do applaud Mattel for giving the line a second chance, but I question buyers' willingness to stay with a line that has either clogged the pegs with sub par entries or has been readily available at close-out prices, or in DCIH's case...both. I did pay full price for Earth 2 Robin but I have seen and walked away from every single other release since the "new" figures started hitting. And that says more about the unique choice of character than the product itself. It would be different if this were a total line re-boot, but with the mix of old and new bodies and old and new parts, it seems more like a half-assed attempt to make a few more dollars off a half-assed attempt to make a toyline in the first place.

And Ironically, Earth 2 Robin will most likely be the pegwarmer of this release, so I will probably find him for a dollar on clearance inside of six months anyways.

Oh well, I dig him.

"I already told you I work alone, weirdo!"

Like a Bat Out of Hell

Thanks to Darius Whiteplume of Adventures in Nerdliness, I finally got my hands on a DC Infinite Heroes Batwoman!

I have been wanting this DCIH Batwoman since the day I first heard news of her release, and in all my travels and all my toy aisle wanderings I never saw her once at retail. I hate buying "new" or "hard to find" stuff off eBay, but I came close with this one, especially as the line seems to be either dying out or metamorphosing into something even more wonderful (and probably more expensive too.) Then Darius posts on his blog stating that he saw her at a discount store near him for $1.99! A buck ninety nine?! This is the one DCIH I'd have paid the obnoxious full Walmart price for, and somewhere deep in the heart of the US they're selling for a song! So to make a long story even longer, Darius sent her to me. Yay Darius, thanks again for helping a brother out.

Now back to Batwoman. This is obviously the new Batwoman, Kate Kane. Kate is cavorting around as Batwoman in the pages of Detective Comics right now and is BEAUTIFULLY illustrated by J.H. Williams III.

See:

Seriously, if you aren't throwing your eyes at Detective Comics lately, you are missing out on some sweet visuals. Greg Rucka is writing and the story is good too, so go check it out.

I really like this costume design, black and red look great together, especially on anything Batman related. The costume is also nice and sleek, simple and sharp without too many add-ons that'd detract from the stealthy nature of the bat.

I don't know a lot about Kate besides what has been shown in the last few Detective Comics issues. I didn't jump on any comics back during "52" or "One Year Later After the Knight Falls on the Crisis on Infinite Worlds Turn." I know there was all that lesbian talk before which seems to have run it's gimmicky course so we can enjoy the character as a character no matter what her sexual proclivity is. That said, I like what I see and read and wouldn't mind Kate Kane staying on as a part of the Bat Family for years to come.

Infinite Heroes: 14

Infinite Villains: 9

Teen Titans GO!

I posted earlier about select Ross stores selling Infinite Heroes three packs for dirt cheap.

I was heading to my new home the other day and discovered a Ross mere blocks from my house, so of course I stopped in to see if there was anything I hadn't found at the last Ross. Well Ross comes through again with another $4.99 three pack - this time with a Teen Titans angle!

The three pack I found this time includes two good gals and one villain. Let's start with the villain; Captain Boomerang:



This isn't the original Captain Boomerang; I'm no Flash rogues gallery expert, but I did read Identity Crisis and I believe that was the storyline that brought the original Captain Boomerang's son into the role.

This dude has got a lot of boomerangs. Seems excessive for a weapon that's supposed to come back to you - I mean it isn't like they're ninja stars fer chrissakes!

Crikey, that's a lot of boomerangs, mate! But regardless, it makes for a pretty cool design and a nicely sculpted figure.

Along with Cap. B. came two Teen Titans; Raven and Starfire!

I actually saw Starfire recently as a single, and nearly bought her.

Starfire is well sculpted and painted and appropriately larger than her other female counterparts. But what really sets her apart is her hair:

Not only did they do a great job representing Starfire's famous locks, but they painted them with a fade to represent her flaming hair powers or whatever her schtick is in the comics. Keen!


Last but not least is Raven. I know little more about Raven than what little I saw on the sometimes tolerable Teen Titans cartoon, but I like her look and her Infinite Heroes figure is really cool too. The only problem I have is that she has a raven on her chest, and I don't think that is comic accurate, but I could be wrong. Regardless, she's very cool and another fine addition to my ever growing Infinite Heroes roster.

I would have gladly paid $4.99 for any of this set individually, so finding them at that price for all three is awesome!

This new set brings the Infinite Heroes tally to:

Infinite Heroes: 11

Infinite Villains: 2 (Hush finally has a friend!)

I'm a Sweet Little Bird in a Gilded Cage...

First, a toy-collecting-public service announcement. If you have a Ross store in your town, check their (notoriously disastrous) toy section. DC Infinite Heroes 3 packs are showing up there and are selling for $4.99!

I had read this news on various toy forums but did not realize until last weekend that a my town close to me actually does have a Ross! So I went there and was lucky enough to score the Hawkman/Thanagarian warrior three pack!

At $4.99 this set is phenomenal! (Sword did not come with the set - I stole it from a Schleich knight.)

Hawkman alone is worth that price (and maybe even a bit more IMO.) I usually prefer the classic Hawkman look but I really like this barbarian take on him too.

And considering the fact that I couldn't find this set at the usually (gouging) price of $15 - $20 (depending on where you buy them...or where they shelf-warm) I was doubly excited!

The more DCIH figures I get the more I like the series. They aren't nearly as bad as many toy collectors make them out to be. The price is high (especially without accessories,) and the scale between characters isn't as consistent as it could (should) be, but I imagine that'll all adjust itself in time. In the meantime I'm just picking up the ones I can't live without...and a nice sale doesn't hurt either!

Here's one of the two Thanagarian Warrior figures that come in the set. Both are exactly the same so I only photoed one. They are also weaponless, and I added the mace myself, also taken from a Schleich knight. It looked kind of fancy and official, so it seemed appropriate for this guy.

Hawkman's wings don't move at all but are very well sculpted and surprisingly they do not tip Hawkman backwards.

The Thanagarian is a cool addition and melds the "old" with the "new" in the Hawkman mythos - one could imagine this is actually Katar Hol of Hawkworld if one wished.

Their builds are vastly different and make Hawkman look a little short in comparison, but DCIH figures have scale issues and I'm over it ;)

Hawkman's helmet is well designed and more primal than his classic superhero looking mask.

His boots are really cool too, with birdlike feet sculpted in and not just painted over.

This is a good set no matter what but at $4.99 it's phenomenal! DC Infinite Heroes need more accessories though - at least for the characters who it makes sense to have them...like Hawkman and his Thanagarian warrior pals. Good thing I have toys laying all over the place from which I can borrow.

For those keeping track, Hawkman and his cronies cause our DCIH goodguy-to-badguy ratio to soar into the stratosphere:

Infinite Heroes: 9

Infinite Villains: 1