Review: DCU Classics: Solomon Grundy

It's taken us a while, but we've reached the last figure in the third wave of Mattel's DC Universe Classics line.  Unlike the others, you can't pick Solomon Grundy up in the store: if you want Grundy, you'll need to build him yourself using the pieces packaged with the other characters.

The idea, of course, isn't a new one: Marvel Legends figures have been sold with 'build a figure' pieces for years.  I have the Sentinel, though I didn't actually build him myself: I picked him up on Ebay.

Of course, the Sentinel towers over Grundy, but then plastic was cheaper in those days.

Even though he isn't sold directly to the consumer, I suspect that he'll be a factor in many collectors' decisions to buy the whole set.  After all, he's the reason I didn't stop with Green Lantern.  Therefore, I'm going to review him the same way I would any figure.

Appearance: 8

Grundy looks pretty good, but he could certainly be better.  First off, he has the same problem a lot of the normal figures have: his head is cast in the final color instead of painted.  Well, mostly.  He actually does have some added paint, but you can still see the plastic.  This is a larger problem for Grundy, in fact, because... well... he's larger.  It's hard to overlook the problem when Grundy's head is as big as it is.

He has the same issue on his hands, as well, which certainly could have used some color.  But, ultimately, in both cases the sculpting is so well done, I can forgive the oversight.

I'm impressed with the work done on Grundy's clothing, particularly his sculpted coat and boots.  The detail work is incredible, and it really helps the look of the figure.  I do need to nitpick one aspect of the coat, however: they've sculpted and painted holes into the coat rather than actually having the holes go to his shirt.  It's not a big deal, and I like the look, but it would have been better the other way.

I really can't finish this category without mentioning Grundy's size: he's quite a bit larger than the others.  And really, that's how it should be.  Solomon is a huge character in the comics and in the animated series: he's basically a monster.  Technically, he still might be a little big for his scale.  But, you know something: he's a comic book character.  And characters in comics are as big as the artist draws them.  I've certainly seen Grundy depicted as towering over the good guys, so I have no problem with him doing so here.

Overall, his appearance is worth an eight out of ten.  If there was more paint, I could have gone higher.

Packaging and Extras: ----

Grundy comes packaged with the other figures in his line, and he comes with absolutely nothing.  Unless, of course, you count the five figures you bought him with.  Then he comes with quite a bit.

Of course, I can't think of much Grundy could have come with.  A stick?  A rock?  You get Grundy.  What else do you need?

Play and Display: ----


Grundy's articulation is about as good as the normal figures in this line.  So why did they get rewarded with bonus points left and right while he gets nothing?  Because I expect this kind of articulation and posability out of a figure this big.

And I'm being a little generous when I say he has the same articulation.  His chest joint, for one, barely moves, since it's constrained by his coat.  I can't really complain, because I like the coat.  In addition, his arms have a little less motion than I'd like, and their range isn't perfectly symmetrical (or mine isn't at least).

Also, I feel like figures this big should have some finger articulation.  Grundy's hands are sculpted into fists, and, while they look good, that means he can't hold or grab anything.  Maybe I'm just spoiled by Marvel Legends, but I feel like you should have some options here.

That said, the articulation you do have is generally pretty good, and you certainly have plenty of options for display.  He's well balanced, so you shouldn't have too much problem finding a pose you like.  I also realized that Grundy's soft coat can hold some of those extra batarangs I have laying around.

Grundy gives you some good articulation and posing options, but I'd expect no less from a figure in this scale.  If he couldn't move and stand, I'd be subtracting points; if they'd gone above and beyond, I'd be adding.  As it is, the category is a wash.

Price Tag and Final Analysis: 8 out of 10

Grundy costs somewhere between nothing and seventy dollars, depending on how many of these figures you picked up to get him.

A better way to consider his value is to ask: what's he worth?  And, judging by the quality of the figure and the size, I'd estimate a figure like this would retail for between twenty and twenty-five bucks.

This means, if you're buying the whole set, you're kind of getting a "rebate" of four or five dollars a figure.  If you're paying ten or eleven bucks each, that's not too shabby.  If you wind up paying top dollar, like I did, at least it makes the whole thing a little easier to swallow.

Well, it took some time, but that does it for Wave 3.  If you have anything to say, say it here.