Review: DC Direct 13 Inch Bizarro
When comic fans list the characters with the best rogues gallery, Superman doesn't usually place in the top ten. Considering that his most iconic nemesis is a bald guy with a superiority complex, I guess that's not entirely surprising.
Well, relatively speaking, one of Superman's more popular villains is Bizarro, the perfect imperfect clone of the Man of Steel. Thanks to Seinfeld, this guy's name is even somewhat recognized by the populace at large. I doubt many non-geeks would recognize him on sight, however.
For a few years now, DC Direct has been producing a series of high end thirteen-inch figures. If memory recalls, Bizarro was one of the earlier releases, presumably reusing the pattern from Superman's costume. He started out costing quite a bit, but FAO Schwartz has been trying to unload him on clearance for months. By the time I finally decided to pick him up, he was going for less than I've paid for some six inch DC Universe Classics figures.
This is the third figure from this line I've picked up there. I've also reviewed the Green Lantern Corps and the Joker.
Well, relatively speaking, one of Superman's more popular villains is Bizarro, the perfect imperfect clone of the Man of Steel. Thanks to Seinfeld, this guy's name is even somewhat recognized by the populace at large. I doubt many non-geeks would recognize him on sight, however.
For a few years now, DC Direct has been producing a series of high end thirteen-inch figures. If memory recalls, Bizarro was one of the earlier releases, presumably reusing the pattern from Superman's costume. He started out costing quite a bit, but FAO Schwartz has been trying to unload him on clearance for months. By the time I finally decided to pick him up, he was going for less than I've paid for some six inch DC Universe Classics figures.
This is the third figure from this line I've picked up there. I've also reviewed the Green Lantern Corps and the Joker.
Appearance: 6/10
The same rules that applied to the other thirteen inch figures apply here: I'm holding these guys to a much higher standard than I hold most figures.
Of these three figures, Bizarro is clearly the least impressive overall, though there is some very impressive work here. The paint around the hair line has some bleed, but that's the only issue I can find with the figure. In fact, if I were just reviewing the head and hands, he'd have gotten an eight or nine. It's the outfit that drags him down.
Like with Green Lantern, they've used a tight spandex for Bizarro's costume which is nicely form-fitting. Unfortunately, it's lacking any real detail work. On its own, this isn't a huge deal: after all, Bizarro's costume isn't particularly nuanced. The issue is the contrast with his realistic head and hand sculpts.
The head sculpt has a very realistic appearance and texture (well, to the extent a monster reminiscent of Frankenstein's work can be realistic). However, the costume is toyish in comparison, almost as if it were scaled up from an old Mego figure. There are several things DC Direct could have done to correct this.
First of all, the belt is made from very simple, unpainted, yellow plastic. While it's actually a fairly accurate recreation of old comics, that's not enough here: they really needed to match the detail on the head. Personally, I think using a fabric belt and a painted plastic buckle would have worked better. The other problem area is the cape: they made it from the same stretchy nylon that was used for the body suit. This makes it look cheap, particularly around the edge.
A larger issue was the coloring. They've gone with a red I'm assuming is either the same or slightly darker than what they gave Superman. This is one of the areas they actually had some leeway on: old comics present Bizarro's coloration as being identical to Superman's, while some new depictions show him with purple instead of red.
While I prefer the older model in general, for a realistic interpretation I think purple (or at least a far darker red) would have made this more visually appealing.
And, since we're already discussing design choices, I think they should have made him a bit bulkier. Again, this is a matter of preference, since many versions of Bizarro have had him the same size as Superman, but a larger body (or at least a bulkier costume) would have made this feel more like a character in his own right and less like a variant.
Of these three figures, Bizarro is clearly the least impressive overall, though there is some very impressive work here. The paint around the hair line has some bleed, but that's the only issue I can find with the figure. In fact, if I were just reviewing the head and hands, he'd have gotten an eight or nine. It's the outfit that drags him down.
Like with Green Lantern, they've used a tight spandex for Bizarro's costume which is nicely form-fitting. Unfortunately, it's lacking any real detail work. On its own, this isn't a huge deal: after all, Bizarro's costume isn't particularly nuanced. The issue is the contrast with his realistic head and hand sculpts.
The head sculpt has a very realistic appearance and texture (well, to the extent a monster reminiscent of Frankenstein's work can be realistic). However, the costume is toyish in comparison, almost as if it were scaled up from an old Mego figure. There are several things DC Direct could have done to correct this.
First of all, the belt is made from very simple, unpainted, yellow plastic. While it's actually a fairly accurate recreation of old comics, that's not enough here: they really needed to match the detail on the head. Personally, I think using a fabric belt and a painted plastic buckle would have worked better. The other problem area is the cape: they made it from the same stretchy nylon that was used for the body suit. This makes it look cheap, particularly around the edge.
A larger issue was the coloring. They've gone with a red I'm assuming is either the same or slightly darker than what they gave Superman. This is one of the areas they actually had some leeway on: old comics present Bizarro's coloration as being identical to Superman's, while some new depictions show him with purple instead of red.
While I prefer the older model in general, for a realistic interpretation I think purple (or at least a far darker red) would have made this more visually appealing.
And, since we're already discussing design choices, I think they should have made him a bit bulkier. Again, this is a matter of preference, since many versions of Bizarro have had him the same size as Superman, but a larger body (or at least a bulkier costume) would have made this feel more like a character in his own right and less like a variant.
Packaging and Extras: -1
Bizarro, just like all the other DC Direct 13 inch figures, comes packaged in a large box with an opening panel which allows you to stare at the figure for a few minutes and ask yourself, "Are these the paint ops for ME?"
Yes, the upside-down package is a cheap gag, but I felt I owed it to Bizarro. The package is fairly nice; I have no complaints about its shape or design. The text on the back and the inside flap is a bit uninspired, but who cares?
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In terms of extras, Bizarro is relatively light. You get a stand, a pair of bendable hands, and a "Bizarro #1" medallion.
The stand has Bizarro's backward S inscribed on it; other than that, it's identical to the ones that came with Joker and Green Lantern. No complaints, though: it works well. |
The bendable hands look fine to me, though I haven't swapped them out for his fists. On mine, the fists feel stuck, and I'm reluctant to try and force them off. I'm probably just being paranoid, but I'm concerned the pegs on the wrists could snap.
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I don't want to sound ungrateful for the extra hands: they're a good addition and they look pretty good. What's more, I don't know that the pegs would break if I popped them off... but why risk a good figure to try out accessories I wouldn't use anyway? The best accessory included is probably the medallion, and even that's a long way from perfect. The stone face actually looks very good, as does the lettering. The rope, on the other hand.... DC Direct went with a plain, white string here. While it's actually fairly sturdy, it looks a bit too simplistic. Something with a yellow tint would have been far preferable: things on Bizarro should not remain clean. It's odd that the rope is the low point: that's the sort of correction that could have been made for a fraction of a penny. The way I see it, that medallion is pretty much required from a Bizarro figure in the collector's market, as is the stand. Beyond those, all we're getting are the extra hands. If this were a six inch figure, that'd be fine: in fact, it would probably deserve a bonus. |
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But, like I said when I reviewed the Green Lantern Corps figure, at this scale - and this original price point - the exceptional is the expectation. And I'm just not seeing it here. I know there's not a lot that Bizarro really needs, but there are certainly options. Personally, I'd have liked to see the box of blue kryptonite some versions of Bizarro carry around for luck. They also could have given us some wreckage or something just plain odd. Or maybe a miniature version of Bizarro World.
The point is, the hands and medallion just aren't enough, particularly considering how mediocre the costume is. I'm slapping Bizarro with a -1 because of it.
The point is, the hands and medallion just aren't enough, particularly considering how mediocre the costume is. I'm slapping Bizarro with a -1 because of it.
Play and Display: ----
Like Green Lantern, Bizarro comes within a hair's breath of getting a bonus point here, but, once again, he can't quite make it.
I want to be clear that I'm not docking anything for the hands not wanting to come off. They might just require a little convincing, but I can't bring myself to take the chance. The hands can turn, of course, and they look good in several positions.
The underlying figure is, once again, very impressive. The arms and legs are attached with ball joints providing a realistic range of motion. The double-pin joints in the knees and elbows are also great. For more complex poses, you've also got some cut joints in the upper arms and legs. These work well, but the cut becomes apparent through the costume.
The head is technically ball jointed, but you can barely tilt it up and down. Considering the poses that it would otherwise allow, it's one of the more disappointing areas.
The high point on these bodies, at least in my opinion, is the abdomen, which seems to involve a couple of fairly complex joints (at least one feels like a ball joint). This provides some fantastic posing options without interfering with the sculpt. Unfortunately, there's a downside this time. Bizarro's costume is elastic, which prevents him from retaining at least some of those poses. In fact, if you turn him to one side and release, the costume yanks him back like an action feature. Hopefully, it will stop doing this in time.
I want to be clear that I'm not docking anything for the hands not wanting to come off. They might just require a little convincing, but I can't bring myself to take the chance. The hands can turn, of course, and they look good in several positions.
The underlying figure is, once again, very impressive. The arms and legs are attached with ball joints providing a realistic range of motion. The double-pin joints in the knees and elbows are also great. For more complex poses, you've also got some cut joints in the upper arms and legs. These work well, but the cut becomes apparent through the costume.
The head is technically ball jointed, but you can barely tilt it up and down. Considering the poses that it would otherwise allow, it's one of the more disappointing areas.
The high point on these bodies, at least in my opinion, is the abdomen, which seems to involve a couple of fairly complex joints (at least one feels like a ball joint). This provides some fantastic posing options without interfering with the sculpt. Unfortunately, there's a downside this time. Bizarro's costume is elastic, which prevents him from retaining at least some of those poses. In fact, if you turn him to one side and release, the costume yanks him back like an action feature. Hopefully, it will stop doing this in time.
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The other problem area is in the feet. By design, these are highly articulated, including a cut and pin joint. Unfortunately, somewhere between the looseness of the joint and the construction of the boot there's an issue with him keeping his balance. He can still stand all right, but he feels a little less sturdy than other figures in this line. This also creates issues with him standing hunched over, a pose Bizarro really needs. The stand provides some added options here, but not as many as you'd like. You can prop him up as if he's flying, but, due to Bizarro's weight, I wouldn't trust it to maintain these poses indefinitely. Still, this does allow you to correct for any issues you might be having getting him to stand. Overall, this figure has great posing potential, but that's expected from these kinds of toys. Between the feet and the costume's limitations around the waist, I can't quite justify a bonus, particularly when I didn't give one to Green Lantern. I don't think anything could have been done about the waist issue, but the feet could have been tightened a bit and the head could have been constructed with more articulation |
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Price Tag and Final Analysis: 5/10
Bizarro started out in the mid-sixty dollar range: FAO Schwartz was originally asking $64 before they began marking him down. I believe he was one of the earlier figures in this line, which is why he started less than some of the later ones. He's a good figure, but he really isn't on par with a lot of toys in this range.
The problem is his costume. It's not bad for a toy, but in the sixty dollar range there's an expectation that you're getting something that transcends being a mere "toy". The tragedy is that Bizarro's head and hand sculpts DO: those are high quality pieces of work. But, as a whole, I can't see this figure as being worth more than forty or forty-five.
And there was a time that FAO Schwartz marked him down to that point. I remember walking by and thinking, "That's a decent deal." But, times being what they are, I didn't drop that kind of dough on Green Lantern or the Joker, let alone Bizarro. Then I came back and picked up the other two at thirty and twenty-five bucks. Those vanished from the shelves, but Bizarro just stuck around. I actually passed him up at twenty, which was a phenomenal deal.
Finally, he hit fifteen dollars, which is absolutely ridiculous. I might be poor, but I'm not stupid. On the other hand, I can't help but wonder if he'll get even cheaper before the last of these disappear from the shelves.
If FAO Schwartz is too far, he's also showing up at reduced prices on Ebay. In addition, I wouldn't be surprised if he's being clearanced from other retailers, as well.
By the way, this "same" review is available translated for Bizarro World. You can find it here.
The problem is his costume. It's not bad for a toy, but in the sixty dollar range there's an expectation that you're getting something that transcends being a mere "toy". The tragedy is that Bizarro's head and hand sculpts DO: those are high quality pieces of work. But, as a whole, I can't see this figure as being worth more than forty or forty-five.
And there was a time that FAO Schwartz marked him down to that point. I remember walking by and thinking, "That's a decent deal." But, times being what they are, I didn't drop that kind of dough on Green Lantern or the Joker, let alone Bizarro. Then I came back and picked up the other two at thirty and twenty-five bucks. Those vanished from the shelves, but Bizarro just stuck around. I actually passed him up at twenty, which was a phenomenal deal.
Finally, he hit fifteen dollars, which is absolutely ridiculous. I might be poor, but I'm not stupid. On the other hand, I can't help but wonder if he'll get even cheaper before the last of these disappear from the shelves.
If FAO Schwartz is too far, he's also showing up at reduced prices on Ebay. In addition, I wouldn't be surprised if he's being clearanced from other retailers, as well.
By the way, this "same" review is available translated for Bizarro World. You can find it here.
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