Review: DC Universe Classics: Martian Manhunter
It took them long enough.
Wave fifteen of the DC Universe Classics line marks two milestones. The first is a more or less complete set of Teen Titans, thanks to the addition of Raven.
The second is a bit more significant. The original line-up for the Justice League of America is now complete. Fans have been demanding this for a long, long time, while Mattel has been reluctant.
Release all the key players, the thinking went, and you've removed the imputes for collectors to keep buying. It's an understandable concern: the most significant group they have left is the Legion of Superheroes. Outside of die-hard fans, not a lot of people follow that team.
Then again, outside of die-hard fans, who's buying these toys?
Of course, Mattel's situation isn't too bad. While they're not exactly ready to retire this line, they're shifting their attention from the DC Universe as a whole to Green Lantern, who's basically taken over as the center of the comics Universe and has a movie coming out next year. I wonder if that was why Mattel felt it was safe to finish the JLA.
I ordered Martian Manhunter from Amazon a few months ago. These days, that's becoming a pretty easy way to grab figures at a relatively reasonable price.
I'm assuming most of my readers are familiar with J'onn Jonzz, either through comics or cartoons. Originally, Marian Manhunter was basically a more "realistic" version of Superman. The word, "realistic" is in quotes for a reason - this is realism circa 1950's science fiction. So, while Superman looks impossibly human, Martian Manhunter looks completely alien, by which I mean he's a green human. Superman's weakness is Krytonite, a made-up element, while Martian Manhunter's is far more plausible: fire. *Cough.*
Other than that, they're both the last survivors of an alien race with a host of incredible powers (most of which are the same) who wound up on Earth and decided to use said powers to protect their adopted home world.
Wave fifteen of the DC Universe Classics line marks two milestones. The first is a more or less complete set of Teen Titans, thanks to the addition of Raven.
The second is a bit more significant. The original line-up for the Justice League of America is now complete. Fans have been demanding this for a long, long time, while Mattel has been reluctant.
Release all the key players, the thinking went, and you've removed the imputes for collectors to keep buying. It's an understandable concern: the most significant group they have left is the Legion of Superheroes. Outside of die-hard fans, not a lot of people follow that team.
Then again, outside of die-hard fans, who's buying these toys?
Of course, Mattel's situation isn't too bad. While they're not exactly ready to retire this line, they're shifting their attention from the DC Universe as a whole to Green Lantern, who's basically taken over as the center of the comics Universe and has a movie coming out next year. I wonder if that was why Mattel felt it was safe to finish the JLA.
I ordered Martian Manhunter from Amazon a few months ago. These days, that's becoming a pretty easy way to grab figures at a relatively reasonable price.
I'm assuming most of my readers are familiar with J'onn Jonzz, either through comics or cartoons. Originally, Marian Manhunter was basically a more "realistic" version of Superman. The word, "realistic" is in quotes for a reason - this is realism circa 1950's science fiction. So, while Superman looks impossibly human, Martian Manhunter looks completely alien, by which I mean he's a green human. Superman's weakness is Krytonite, a made-up element, while Martian Manhunter's is far more plausible: fire. *Cough.*
Other than that, they're both the last survivors of an alien race with a host of incredible powers (most of which are the same) who wound up on Earth and decided to use said powers to protect their adopted home world.
Appearance and Construction: 8/10
This is a great figure. The only thing holding him back from a nine is the sparsity of paint over his body. That isn't to say the color is bad: on the contrary, Mattel probably chose the most appropriate plastic I can imagine. It's just that, because it's plastic, it's a bit shiny. If they'd used some paint for shading, it would have really been something special.
As always, the head sculpt is great, capturing the character's look and personality. Whatever Mattel is paying the Four Horsemen, it's not enough.
Likewise, the outfit looks great. The crossing bands over the chest are just about perfect, and the boots and belt are wonderful, even if they are reused from earlier figures.
The new parts of the cape, namely the cowl and clasp, are excellent. The rest is what we're used to. That's not awful, although I'd like to see some new takes on capes in this line. The generic molds have a few too many folds for my tastes. I'd rather something a bit smoother and more billowing.
Martian Manhunter is good looking toy, though, and he can hold his own on the shelf beside his colleagues.
As always, the head sculpt is great, capturing the character's look and personality. Whatever Mattel is paying the Four Horsemen, it's not enough.
Likewise, the outfit looks great. The crossing bands over the chest are just about perfect, and the boots and belt are wonderful, even if they are reused from earlier figures.
The new parts of the cape, namely the cowl and clasp, are excellent. The rest is what we're used to. That's not awful, although I'd like to see some new takes on capes in this line. The generic molds have a few too many folds for my tastes. I'd rather something a bit smoother and more billowing.
Martian Manhunter is good looking toy, though, and he can hold his own on the shelf beside his colleagues.
Packaging and Extras: ----
More or less what we've come to expect, J'onn is dynamically posed in a generic DC Universe pack:
I like that the head of Validus is coming at you. I suppose it's something of a selling point in its own right. More on that in a moment. The back offers a quick explanation of the character's back story, as well as the requisite photo of the entire wave. Collect them all? At $15 - $20 a pop... not this time.
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Depending on your math, Martian Manhunter comes with two or three extras. First, there's another button. These still aren't doing it for me.
He also has a few chunks of Validus: namely, the head and butt. I like Validus's head - I doubt its similarity to that of the monster from Alien is entirely coincidental (yeah, I know the character predates the movie by about ten years, but its head has altered shape in the past few decades). There are a few factors saving Martian Manhunter from the penalty I hit Raven with. First, Validus's head is REALLY cool (look at the paint work on those teeth). It also has some potential for customizing - or even potentially display or play - for those who don't complete the figure. |
In addition, Martian Manhunter is bigger figure, so he doesn't feel like quite as much of a ripoff. Finally, there aren't as many accessories he could have used. Sure, the alternate version could have been skipped by packing the other head with this one, but I'm not going to whine too much about that.
There is one accessory I'd have liked, though. I'm not going to penalize it, since it's one of those obscure things. I'd have loved it if J'onn came with a miniature pack of Oreos.
There is one accessory I'd have liked, though. I'm not going to penalize it, since it's one of those obscure things. I'd have loved it if J'onn came with a miniature pack of Oreos.
Play and Display: +1
Again? I have to go through this again?
Fine. Ball joints on the head and shoulders. Pins in the elbows, knees, and ankles. A hinge in the abs. Cuts on the boots, wrists, upper legs, waist, and biceps. And swivel/hinge hips.
Everything works about as well as it usually does. No complaints.
The figure is well balanced. Again, this is pretty much the standard for male figures in this line.
I do have a minor note; nothing big, but worth mentioning. I'd have liked the cape to be removable, mostly because it looks like it should be. Like I said, this is nothing major.
Unless this is the first of these reviews you've seen, you already know why I'm handing over a bonus point. If it's your first time here, then it's because the body used by Mattel, even though it's been used a hundred times now, is still leading the field. The amount of articulation they've fit in without damaging the look of the figure is still fantastic, and I'll keep adding those bonus points until this is industry standard.
Fine. Ball joints on the head and shoulders. Pins in the elbows, knees, and ankles. A hinge in the abs. Cuts on the boots, wrists, upper legs, waist, and biceps. And swivel/hinge hips.
Everything works about as well as it usually does. No complaints.
The figure is well balanced. Again, this is pretty much the standard for male figures in this line.
I do have a minor note; nothing big, but worth mentioning. I'd have liked the cape to be removable, mostly because it looks like it should be. Like I said, this is nothing major.
Unless this is the first of these reviews you've seen, you already know why I'm handing over a bonus point. If it's your first time here, then it's because the body used by Mattel, even though it's been used a hundred times now, is still leading the field. The amount of articulation they've fit in without damaging the look of the figure is still fantastic, and I'll keep adding those bonus points until this is industry standard.
Price Tag and Final Analysis: 9/10
This isn't an exceptional figure for this line, but that says more about the line than anything else.
This is a great toy. I paid Amazon sixteen dollars to add him to my collection. Is he worth it?
Eh. Sixteen bucks is a lot for a toy. He was worth it to me, but I can't imagine this is going to appeal to anyone who doesn't already have most of the League in their collection already.
That's fine, though. Mattel is aiming these at collectors, and we're the ones who are buying.
Like I said when I reviewed Raven, I'm starting to see some DC Universe figures drifting to clearance, though I'll be a little surprised if Martian Manhunter or Raven last that long. Now, the other figures in the wave, on the other hand... who knows? Maybe I will end up with Validus after all.
This is a great toy. I paid Amazon sixteen dollars to add him to my collection. Is he worth it?
Eh. Sixteen bucks is a lot for a toy. He was worth it to me, but I can't imagine this is going to appeal to anyone who doesn't already have most of the League in their collection already.
That's fine, though. Mattel is aiming these at collectors, and we're the ones who are buying.
Like I said when I reviewed Raven, I'm starting to see some DC Universe figures drifting to clearance, though I'll be a little surprised if Martian Manhunter or Raven last that long. Now, the other figures in the wave, on the other hand... who knows? Maybe I will end up with Validus after all.
Oh, and there was something else... What was it? Something important, something time sensitive. Oh, yeah.
CHECK OUT MY NEW NOVEL!
After you peruse the pictures below, of course.
CHECK OUT MY NEW NOVEL!
After you peruse the pictures below, of course.
