Review: DC Universe Classics: Deadman

One of the things I like best about DC Comics is the way the superhero archetype permeates every aspect of their universe. They don't just have superheroes patrolling their cities, they've got them wandering between the realm of the living and the land of the dead.
Boston Brand was originally a circus performer until his murder. Thanks to a generic Indian goddess (I have no idea why they didn't use a real one, so don't ask), he got to stick around and solve the crime. Since then, he's mainly shown up when characters cross over to the land of the dead. Personally, I like the role he played in Alan Moore's Swamp Thing, where he lent a hand from time to time to the dimension-hopping plant elemental.
Mattel, in their quest to transform every DC character into plastic, got around to him in wave 11, which I picked up a while back. Even if I hadn't wanted the build-a-figure, I was considering buying him anyway. While I don't generally feel myself driven to track down every comic featuring DC's mystical characters, I really like them. I've got Etrigan, and I plan on buying Zatanna when she comes out. What I really want is a Swamp Thing in this scale, but I don't know if that's going to happen anytime soon (apparently, Mattel doesn't have the rights to "Vertigo" characters).
I should mention there's also a glow-in-the-dark variant out there. If you find one of those, consider yourself lucky: they're hard to come across.
Boston Brand was originally a circus performer until his murder. Thanks to a generic Indian goddess (I have no idea why they didn't use a real one, so don't ask), he got to stick around and solve the crime. Since then, he's mainly shown up when characters cross over to the land of the dead. Personally, I like the role he played in Alan Moore's Swamp Thing, where he lent a hand from time to time to the dimension-hopping plant elemental.
Mattel, in their quest to transform every DC character into plastic, got around to him in wave 11, which I picked up a while back. Even if I hadn't wanted the build-a-figure, I was considering buying him anyway. While I don't generally feel myself driven to track down every comic featuring DC's mystical characters, I really like them. I've got Etrigan, and I plan on buying Zatanna when she comes out. What I really want is a Swamp Thing in this scale, but I don't know if that's going to happen anytime soon (apparently, Mattel doesn't have the rights to "Vertigo" characters).
I should mention there's also a glow-in-the-dark variant out there. If you find one of those, consider yourself lucky: they're hard to come across.
Appearance and Construction: 8/10

This is one of those cases, all too common with this line, where part of the figure is awesome while other parts are just okay.
The high point here is the head, neck, and lower chest. While the angry expression wouldn't be my first choice, there's no denying it looks fantastic. The eyes and mouth are incredible, and the gray plastic used here captures the character wonderfully. This is really DC Direct quality.
Unfortunately the rest of the body is still mass-market. It's not bad, but the contrast definitely shows. As usual, the sculpt is fine, but there's far too little detail and shading. I love the look of the shoes and gloves, but the body suit is far too simplistic. It wouldn't have taken much to make the figure stand out, either. If I felt more comfortable with my painting skills, I might be tempted to make some improvements.
Anyway, I've got no complaints about the construction or materials, and the figure, despite being slender, feels solid. On its own, the head would be at least a nine, but the rest of the figure drags it down. I almost went with a seven, in fact, but I think that would have been too harsh.
The high point here is the head, neck, and lower chest. While the angry expression wouldn't be my first choice, there's no denying it looks fantastic. The eyes and mouth are incredible, and the gray plastic used here captures the character wonderfully. This is really DC Direct quality.
Unfortunately the rest of the body is still mass-market. It's not bad, but the contrast definitely shows. As usual, the sculpt is fine, but there's far too little detail and shading. I love the look of the shoes and gloves, but the body suit is far too simplistic. It wouldn't have taken much to make the figure stand out, either. If I felt more comfortable with my painting skills, I might be tempted to make some improvements.
Anyway, I've got no complaints about the construction or materials, and the figure, despite being slender, feels solid. On its own, the head would be at least a nine, but the rest of the figure drags it down. I almost went with a seven, in fact, but I think that would have been too harsh.
Packaging and Extras: -1
When you've seen one DC Universe Classics package, you've seen them all, and I've seen them all, anyway. Honestly, I'm not so much bothered receiving the same package over and over again, but I'm getting sick of trying to write about them. Why won't someone think of the reviewers?
Same old, same old on the back, as well: the bio and stats are a pleasant reminder that someone at Mattel actually knows who these characters are.
The only extra Deadman comes with is Kilowog's right arm. And a nice arm it is, too, though it won't seem as nice if you're not building your own Kilowog.
The only extra Deadman comes with is Kilowog's right arm. And a nice arm it is, too, though it won't seem as nice if you're not building your own Kilowog.
When these were theoretically eleven bucks each, I'd have called it a day, seeing as there's not a lot Deadman needs. But the retail price for these suckers is now up to fifteen or sixteen. I'm sorry, I meant to say that was the retail price for these TOYS. We're the suckers.
At this price point, we need a little more, even if it's a stretch. Ideally, Deadman could have come with an alternate head that was perhaps a tad less snarly. I understand that the odds of getting something like this are somewhere between slim and none (and not that close to slim), but I still wish Mattel would step up their game. They're competing in the collector's market now, and they're still trying to shill simple toys. If they'd thrown us something else - almost anything - this would have broken even. As it is, I've got to hit them with a -1. |
Play and Display: +2

Deadman's faults don't extend to this category, though - as always - Mattel could have pushed the envelope even further.
As usual, the ball-jointed head gives you nothing beyond side-to-side movement. I've heard this issue is about to get fixed, but I'll believe that when I see it. The rest of the joints are what we're used to: ball joints on shoulders, quasi-ball joints on the hips (well, okay, more swivel joints, but they work as well as ball joints), hinged abs, pins in the ankles, knees, and elbows, and finally cuts on the waits, upper legs, wrists, and biceps.
All of these work, with the exception of the head, but we've been over that already. In addition, there are a few joints Mattel's used in the past that Deadman could have benefited from. The extra pin joint in the wrist they gave us with Green Arrow, for instance, would have gone great with Deadman's sculpted hands, and enhancing the pin in the ankle with a rocker would have opened up some great stances. If they'd thrown in these, I'd have gone to a +3.
So, why the +2? It's mostly because Boston Brand is a trapeze artist, and the slim body combined with the standard highly articulated figure opens up some poses that would be meaningless on other figures but are wonderful here.
As usual, the ball-jointed head gives you nothing beyond side-to-side movement. I've heard this issue is about to get fixed, but I'll believe that when I see it. The rest of the joints are what we're used to: ball joints on shoulders, quasi-ball joints on the hips (well, okay, more swivel joints, but they work as well as ball joints), hinged abs, pins in the ankles, knees, and elbows, and finally cuts on the waits, upper legs, wrists, and biceps.
All of these work, with the exception of the head, but we've been over that already. In addition, there are a few joints Mattel's used in the past that Deadman could have benefited from. The extra pin joint in the wrist they gave us with Green Arrow, for instance, would have gone great with Deadman's sculpted hands, and enhancing the pin in the ankle with a rocker would have opened up some great stances. If they'd thrown in these, I'd have gone to a +3.
So, why the +2? It's mostly because Boston Brand is a trapeze artist, and the slim body combined with the standard highly articulated figure opens up some poses that would be meaningless on other figures but are wonderful here.
Whether sitting cross-legged or performing a full split, the articulation will allow you to try out a variety of poses (and the full split even offers an explanation for his expression). Add in some great balance, and you've got plenty of options for posing and displaying this figure. While he's not perfect, he's an excellent example of why Mattel's articulation is some of the best out there right now. |
Price Tag and Final Analysis: 9/10

This is a great action figure; no question. But is he worth fifteen bucks? And that's assuming you can find him for fifteen: the Toys R Us around here is charging seventeen-fifty, and he's going for even more online.
On the other hand, the head is absolutely fantastic. We're starting to see Mattel offer figures that look like DC Direct's and move like, well the DC Universe Classics line. Granted, we've seen this before: back when these were called DC Superheroes and Mattel was limited to lines based on Superman and Batman-related characters. But that was a different era, and (to be fair) we weren't exactly getting build-a-figures back then.
If we're getting collector-quality figures with a wide range of motion, shouldn't we at least be paying specialty rates? Well, yes, except only the head and upper chest are really "collector-quality." Looking over this, I can't shake the feeling this should be a twelve or thirteen dollar figure. I'm willing to pay more, but there's no denying that these are overpriced.
Still, if you want a great Deadman with some real articulation, this is the way to go. He still doesn't supplant my favorite Deadman action figure, though.
On the other hand, the head is absolutely fantastic. We're starting to see Mattel offer figures that look like DC Direct's and move like, well the DC Universe Classics line. Granted, we've seen this before: back when these were called DC Superheroes and Mattel was limited to lines based on Superman and Batman-related characters. But that was a different era, and (to be fair) we weren't exactly getting build-a-figures back then.
If we're getting collector-quality figures with a wide range of motion, shouldn't we at least be paying specialty rates? Well, yes, except only the head and upper chest are really "collector-quality." Looking over this, I can't shake the feeling this should be a twelve or thirteen dollar figure. I'm willing to pay more, but there's no denying that these are overpriced.
Still, if you want a great Deadman with some real articulation, this is the way to go. He still doesn't supplant my favorite Deadman action figure, though.
Dead men tell no tales, eh? Eh? Ah... yeah. Sorry about that. Let me make it up to you with a link to a fantastic blog, a brilliant look at everything you love and nothing you hate. Really, truly worth your time. Who writes it? Well, I guess I can't say for sure. Some guy; his name escapes me now. I think he also wrote a book or something.