Marvel Vs. DC, Part 4: The Big Leagues
If you've been following these, you know that I've been looking at action figures in a variety of sizes and scales representing the battle between Marvel and DC. We started with very small figures, looked at the middle scale, and last week we took a look at the popular six and seven inch figures.
This week we're going to look at larger toys. Or... we would if I owed more.
Here's the thing: this isn't really I scale I collect, so I can't really provide much of a first-hand perspective. If you want reviews, head on over Michael Crawford's site and search through the archives: he's got an amazing log of reviews going years back.
I considered skipping this scale altogether, actually, but decided it wouldn't be right to cut this off at the seven inch scale. What I can provide is some reflection on what I do have and what I've seen around.
The nine inch scale isn't the most sought after these days, though Marvel recently put out a line of "Origins" figures that were this size. These were a mixture of plastic figures and cheap fabric costumes, somewhat reminiscent of the old Mego figures from the seventies. If you like this style, you can probably find these fairly reasonably priced on Ebay, but, honestly, I wasn't impressed. The Mego figures were before my time, and, while I can certainly understand the appeal of nostalgia, toy production techniques have evolved far beyond these styles.
No, if you're willing to cross over to DC, there's something better at a slightly larger scale. Remember those Justice League figures we looked at a while back? They've got larger cousins. I've got nearly the whole set, so expect to see a disproportionate number of photos, starting with the Green Arrow above.
Sporting very little articulation, these are more statue than action figure. But the stylized, streamlined designs, along with solid construction, make these exceptional collectibles. If you're interested, these can be found on Ebay for relatively reasonable prices, provided you're willing to buy used.
Before Mattel produced these, Hasbro was once licensed to make twelve-inch scale figures (dolls, honestly) for Batman: The Animated Series. While they're less than stellar, they had solid accessories, and they're pretty cool. The costumes are nice, though I don't think they're quite on par with what Mattel's doing with Barbie these days. Still, if you want animated figures with fabric costumes, these are the way to go. They came out more than a decade ago, but you'll find them on Ebay for around thirty bucks. That might not be dirt cheap, but it's perfectly reasonable for a costumed figure in this scale.
The real action for Marvel and DC is in the high-end twelve and thirteen inch scales, of course. Like I said before, this isn't really a scale I collect. These tend towards the expensive side, and, on top of that, my New York apartment is getting crowded as it is.
Harley Quinn with... well... Harley Quinn. The one on the left is a Barbie from a few years back. The one on the right was made by Hasbro for Batman: The Animated Series way back in 1998. Note the differences in feet and heads.
Companies like Hot Toys and Sideshow produce some amazingly realistic figures. If you've got the cash and the space, start with them. These companies put out toys that are photo-realistic. Seriously, they've got stuff you'd expect in a museum. They might be expensive, but some of them are still bargains... they're just bargains I can't afford.
At a slightly lower price point, DC Direct has been putting out a line of thirteen inch toys. Some of these are fantastic; others are merely good. Honestly, it's hard to justify collecting these when Hot Toys is putting out a far superior product. Sure, Hot Toys will charge more, but they're in the same order of magnitude.
Mattel's Justice League Superman and Batman. Incidentally, this is my single favorite Batman toy I own.
If you're like me, you'll probably be wanting to set your sights a mite bit cheaper than Sideshow. Fortunately, both Marvel and DC offer toys for less dough. Mattel makes larger versions of their DC Universe Classics figures, which run about $30. Unfortunately, these don't have the same level of articulation of the smaller ones, and, while thirty bucks is a drop in the bucket compared to the really expensive figures, it feels a bit pricey for these. It doesn't help that very few figures have been released; most aren't characters you'd really need. I'd rather spend the same money buying two of the six inch DC Universe Classics, to tell the truth.
Hasbro's double-sized Marvel characters are a bit more interesting. First of all, there are more of them, so you'll have the option of building a decent sized collection. Second, these usually sell for closer to twenty bucks, which is a lot easier to swallow. They're highly articulated, which has pros and cons: you get some posing options, but the sculpts suffer a bit.
Still, if this is the sort of toy you're looking, go with the Marvel. The DC Universe Classics may have won out in the six inch arena, but in this scale, Marvel has them beat. Both of those options are better than any of the mass market movie tie-in figures I've seen recently. At best, these tend to be halfway decent toys, but they seldom pass for collectibles.
Of course, there is one more option you should consider. Twelve inch figures, great costumes (though limited articulation), for a relatively good price.
But... ah... well...
You know how people keep saying you play with dolls, then you correct them: "I purchase collectible action figures."
Yeah. Well, here's the thing. Barbie makes some awesome superhero costumes.
Not everything they put out is top-notch, of course: some of them are downright ugly. But others are fairly impressive. At forty bucks they're overpriced, but these have a tendency to go on sale. I got my "Electra" Barbie on clearance for something like five bucks. I had to buy her, because I couldn't stop laughing. She's one figure I leave in her package, not because I expect her to ever be worth anything, but because the box is half the joke.
I mean, Barbie for President is one thing; but ninja-assassin Barbie? How sweet is that?
I also have a Harley Quinn Barbie in my collection and, when I'm being completely honest, I sometimes admit I like her almost as much as the twelve inch Hasbro version.
Lets move on while I still have some shard of dignity remaining.
Once you go larger than thirteen inches, things get... weird. Hasbro and Mattel put out some very large toys - usually for movies - but you're probably better off steering clear of these.
Likewise, there are no shortage of high-end statues out there, but these are a little outside my field of expertise (or price range). Besides, I don't really consider these "toys".
Electra, the first Barbie I ever bought. She's not even one of the collector labels: this was a mass market figure intended for young children.
I do want to mention another line that doesn't really belong here anymore than elsewhere. And that's the Krypto figures from a years back. Okay, so technically I probably should have mentioned these when we were talking about smaller figures, and I forgot. But, hey, if a dog is six or seven inches, it's really in scale with twelve inch figures, right? Right?
Ace, the Bat-hound. By Fisher Price.
Anyway, these are, at least in my opinion, kind of awesome. I only caught a few episodes of the show, but it struck me as pretty fun. Sure, it was a kid's show through and through, but if I was self-conscious about things like that I wouldn't collect toys.
The only figure I have is an Ace from the show, but I sort of love him. They put a lot of intensity in his expression, and that made him more than worth the six or so bucks I paid. It didn't hurt that he came with accessories galore - including a pair of hyenas (yes, those of you counting may note I have four hyenas in this scale).
On that note, I'm wrapping up our four week look at DC and Marvel. I'm sure I missed a lot of figures - for example, I forgot all about the Marvel/Transformers crossovers (and you'd be wise to forget them, as well).
There's a lot of options out there, so keep an eye out for deals. Good hunting.
Well, that was time consuming. If you still think you can stomach more of my babbling, feel free to stop by The Middle Room, my blog for all things geek.
