Marvel Vs. DC Part 2: Stepping Up
Five inch Batman and Spiderman figures from the 90s: I have worse, but not much
Last time we looked at some of the smaller offerings of Marvel and DC. Today, we're going to up the scale a bit and talk about some of the larger figures.
Well, slightly larger, anyway.
Lets start with the scale that's been the center of attention for the past year; the new 3 3/4 inch figures. And when I say "new" I mean new for superheroes. This is the scale that Star Wars figures and GI Joes have been being produced in for years.
Apparently, collectors have been wanting these for a long, long time. I say apparently, because, frankly, I don't really get it. I don't find this scale anywhere near as detailed as the larger six inch figures I'll be talking about later, and they just aren't as interesting as the smaller collectibles I discussed last time, either.
I always understood this scale to be primarily geared towards figures which went with vehicles: you get enough articulation so they can stand or sit, but they're small enough to fit in a car, tank, or space ship.
But, aside from your occasional Batmobile, superheroes don't tend to collect cars. Is the option of buying and displaying Spiderman in a Spider-Car really so enticing that's it justifies picking up an inferior line of superheroes?
Mattel DC Infinite Heroes Raven: she's not a bad toy, but is this scale really necessary at this price?
It isn't even like these are cheap: I've seen the new Marvel figures in this scale going for almost ten dollars each: you can still find six inch figures in that scale (well, you can if you're lucky and shop around). In the interest of full disclosure, these are usually closer to $8, but, frankly, that's still ridiculous.
I haven't gotten my hands on any of the Marvel figures yet, and the only one of the DC Infinite Heroes I bought was a Raven figure I found loose at a comic shop. Some of these are nice, but these shouldn't be anywhere near as expensive as they are. Costs have been spiraling out of control with the increase in oil prices, but... hasn't that turned around? Why is Mattel willing to sell a six inch figure with a "Collect and Connect" torso and head for twelve or thirteen bucks, but they want eight for a tiny figure? If the cost is due to materials, it just doesn't add up - otherwise they would have charged me forty bucks for my six inch Killer Moth figure.
I'm guessing that I'm not alone in feeling this way, since DC Infinite Heroes packs have started appearing on clearance.
Between the two, Marvel's figures are easily the winners in this scale. They look better, have superior articulation, and come with a far better assortment of accessories: I can't think of one area that DC outshines them. If I come across one of these that's cheap, I'll pick it up, but I still can't justify paying full retail price for one of these.
Check them out if you're interested, but I've already got my fix near this scale. I say near, because we're about to step up from 3 3/4 all the way to a whopping 4 inches.
Well, actually 4 and a half. And that means it's time to talk about Justice League figures. These toys actually represent several lines from a couple different companies - Kenner was making these for Batman: The Animated Series back in the day (actually, the original Kenner figures are a little larger than the Mattel, but they usually work well enough side by side on the shelf).
For those of you unfamiliar with the work of Bruce Timm, these programs represent what many of us geeks consider the best versions of DC characters ever presented. That includes comic interpretations, by the way. Timm is easily one of the most influential living artists working in two dimensions.
What's more, his style translates well to toys. Which is probably why I have more than any human really should. And, compared to what a lot of collectors have, my shelf is a joke. I haven't reviewed many here (my collection predates the site), but you can take a look at one pack here.
While the sculpts are pretty good, the articulation on these is lacking, especially when compared to Marvel's new toys. But if you can find a way to prop them up, they look good.
If you're a new collector and are interested in this scale, I'd recommend Ebay. Try to find used lots of these guys: they show up from time to time, and they'll cost a lot less than trying to track these down in their packages.
Kenner Joker from Batman: the Animated Series and Mattel Joker from Justice League. The older figures are larger, but the newer ones tend to be nicer.
Even though the series they're based on has been off the air for several years, the figures are still coming out. The most interesting are being marketed directly from Mattel through Mattycollector.com, but be aware they'll cost you. As much as I want some of the new sets, I just can't justify spending $30 plus shipping for a handful of toys in this scale.
If you like the animated style and don't mind buying used, I recommend the Justice League figures. If you want a more realistic appearance, the Marvel 3 3/4 figures are quite a bit better than the DC ones. This is one fight Hasbro seems to be winning.
Still, I have a hard time recommending either, to be honest: this is really the era of the six and seven inch figures. If you're in love with the animated style - like I am - by all means go for it. Or, if the smaller 3 3/4 inch figures are a scale you like collecting, there are some great ones on the market (take a look at the "Wolverine and the X-Men" tie-in toys: they're surprisingly cool up close). But, honestly, the real value is at the larger scale: like I said, six and seven inch figures. But that's the next article.
Batman movie tie-ins
The 90's weren't the best era for toy collecting
Speaking of thinking twice before buying, there's another scale I can really only gloss over. Five inch figures aren't exactly the most popular out there, at least among collectors, but they seem to be a favorite for movie tie-ins these days.
In general, this isn't a scale I'd recommend getting involved in, at least not for "realistic" toys.
The new Batman: Brave and the Bold figures are pretty cool, though, if you can get past the ugly holes in their arms, legs, and back. I can't, which is why you don't see any pictures.
If you're a fan of vintage toys, the five inch scale was also popular in the 80's and 90's. I've got bucket loads of these guys floating around from years ago. Most were unwelcome passengers that came as part of large toy lots.
While there are some good ones, I'd recommend steering clear of the 90's Batman movie and comic book figures: far better options are available these days.
Hold on to your hat: next time we pit Marvel Legends against DC Universe Classics and ask, which is better?
I guess Mattel wasn't really trying with this Lex Luthor from Superman Returns. The sad part? He's one of the better figures from that movie. Anyway, don't forget to stop by The Middle Room, for my thoughts on upcoming movies and more.
