Review: DC Universe Classics Wave 4 Variant Cyborg and Batman Beyond
Let me take you back to 2008, when Mattel released wave 4 of their DC Universe Classics line. If you been reading since then, you most likely still won't remember that I bought and reviewed Terry McGinnis, a.k.a.: Batman Beyond (well, technically everyone in the future just calls him "Batman," but that's beside the point).
Along with the normal toys, a couple figures in the line got exclusive variants. "Exclusive to what?" you might ask. Well, exclusive to KB Toys. You see, Mattel was betting that by investing in some alternate versions, they could improve their relationship with the retailer for years to come.
It didn't work out so well.
In a few weeks, KB Toys was scheduled to close. They moved what they could from what was already on their shelves then shut their doors for good. I don't know whether a single figure from this wave ever appeared on a KB shelf.
However, that wasn't the end of the story. Mattel distributed the variant Cyborg and Batman Beyond to online retailers and other stores, and they've been floating around ever since. Sometimes they've been priced extravagantly; other times, they've been put on clearance, such as when Entertainment Earth was selling them as a set a while back. Which, of course, is how they ended up here.
Incidentally, this doubles the number of DC Universe Classics figures I've bought on clearance.
Along with the normal toys, a couple figures in the line got exclusive variants. "Exclusive to what?" you might ask. Well, exclusive to KB Toys. You see, Mattel was betting that by investing in some alternate versions, they could improve their relationship with the retailer for years to come.
It didn't work out so well.
In a few weeks, KB Toys was scheduled to close. They moved what they could from what was already on their shelves then shut their doors for good. I don't know whether a single figure from this wave ever appeared on a KB shelf.
However, that wasn't the end of the story. Mattel distributed the variant Cyborg and Batman Beyond to online retailers and other stores, and they've been floating around ever since. Sometimes they've been priced extravagantly; other times, they've been put on clearance, such as when Entertainment Earth was selling them as a set a while back. Which, of course, is how they ended up here.
Incidentally, this doubles the number of DC Universe Classics figures I've bought on clearance.
Appearance and Construction: Cyborg: 8/10, Terry: 7/10
Both of these figures ride the line between seven and eight, but Cyborg's complexity and detail round up while Terry's simplicity rounds him down. That said, if you check out my earlier review, you'll see that this unmasked Terry beats the original. The skin tone does a lot to define the character and contrast the plain black suit, which is still too uniform.
The variant Cyborg, on the other hand, seems less impressive than the normal release (in the interest of full disclosure, I'm extrapolating from the photos: I don't have an actual figure to compare him to). The difference here is in the right hand: the variant has been sculpted with a sonic cannon, while the original has a hand, wrench, and some sort of laser or something.
I'll have some more to say about that discrepancy in a bit.
Anyway, the sonic cannon looks all right, but it's definitely not the high point of the figure. Even so, there's enough detail and shading to deserve an eight.
The variant Cyborg, on the other hand, seems less impressive than the normal release (in the interest of full disclosure, I'm extrapolating from the photos: I don't have an actual figure to compare him to). The difference here is in the right hand: the variant has been sculpted with a sonic cannon, while the original has a hand, wrench, and some sort of laser or something.
I'll have some more to say about that discrepancy in a bit.
Anyway, the sonic cannon looks all right, but it's definitely not the high point of the figure. Even so, there's enough detail and shading to deserve an eight.
Packaging and Extras:
Terry: +1
Cyborg: -2
Okay, let's start with the packaging. We're back to the old faithful DCUC packs, of course, without the new picture of assembled heroes and collectors pin:
Cyborg: -2
Okay, let's start with the packaging. We're back to the old faithful DCUC packs, of course, without the new picture of assembled heroes and collectors pin:
The back provides the normal biographical information, as well as photographic evidence that wrench is a far superior accessory than the cannon.
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The Collect & Connect figure this time was Despero, and each figure comes with an arm.
Terry has a couple of accessories on top of that. First, you get the same Batarang that came with the normal release. And, once again, it's the wrong color. If you want to know what this SHOULD look like, click here for Lindsay's article on kitbashing, where she improved the original. The other extra is a crumpled mask. This is completely different than I expected it to be, and I'm not sure whether I'm impressed or disappointed. Actually, I think it's a little of both. Rather than make a hollow mask for Terry to hold, they've sculpted, using what seems to be comparable plastic to the figure's, a crunched-up version with a handle. As a result, it has no custom value, but it works exceedingly well the way it's supposed to (i.e.: in his hand). |
I feel like Terry needed either the mask or batarang: he narrowly earns a bonus point for having both, though I'm being generous here. Or maybe I'm just blinded by the contrast.
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Actually, that's not entirely fair, since Cyborg has a decent accessory, as well: his sonic blaster. I'd have liked a few other options, but a single accessory is all I need in situations like this. Except for one minor problem. The blaster comes in place of a hand, rather than in addition to. I have no idea how or why this happened: my guess is it was a production oversight. The cannon pops off easily, so it's obvious the toy was designed to have this be changeable (also, the normal release comes with a couple options). It's a pretty substantial issue, though, and I'm going to hit Cyborg hard because of it. Even though it wound up being a blessing in disguise. But then I'm getting ahead of myself. |
 Bottle not included.
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Play and Display: +1
The figures' articulation is identical, with the exception of the head joint (Cyborg's works like a ball joint; Terry's might as well be a cut).
I can't imagine this is going to be all that insightful by now, but here's the list: ball jointed head and shoulders, pin jointed knees, elbows, and ankles, cuts on the waist, wrists, upper legs, and biceps, a hinge in the abs, and a partridge in a pear tree.
Oh yeah, and swivel/hinge hips.
Terry's accessories work well with his hands, and Cyborg's cannon pops out easily. Of course, this would be far more helpful if he came with something you could switch it with, but we've already been over that.
The DC Universe Classics line has impressive balance and articulation for this scale. As such, there's basically always a +1 coming their way, unless there's a reason to do something differently.
I almost withheld that point from Cyborg, though, on the grounds that the missing hand is a massive impediment to posing options, but I felt the two point deduction I already hit him with was sufficient to convey my disappointment.
I can't imagine this is going to be all that insightful by now, but here's the list: ball jointed head and shoulders, pin jointed knees, elbows, and ankles, cuts on the waist, wrists, upper legs, and biceps, a hinge in the abs, and a partridge in a pear tree.
Oh yeah, and swivel/hinge hips.
Terry's accessories work well with his hands, and Cyborg's cannon pops out easily. Of course, this would be far more helpful if he came with something you could switch it with, but we've already been over that.
The DC Universe Classics line has impressive balance and articulation for this scale. As such, there's basically always a +1 coming their way, unless there's a reason to do something differently.
I almost withheld that point from Cyborg, though, on the grounds that the missing hand is a massive impediment to posing options, but I felt the two point deduction I already hit him with was sufficient to convey my disappointment.
Price Tag and Final Analysis:
Terry: 8/10
Cyborg: 7/10
Originally, these were supposed to go for somewhere between ten and thirteen bucks. Actually, I think the initial price was closer to that $10 price point, though I can't remember for sure. On top of that, these figures basically skipped their mass-market release and jumped directly to the secondary market. There's a store in Queens where they're still asking twenty-one dollars for Terry, which is more than a little ridiculous.
Every now and then, I've seen these going for fairly reasonable prices, though it took me a while before I stumbled across an offer where they sold together and the shipping was reasonable. Entertainment Earth had these reduced to fifteen for the set, plus five for shipping. So I wound up getting them for ten apiece, which, technically, is what they were supposed to cost in the first place.
Even so, I'm going to think of them as being on clearance, since it's rare to get DC Universe Classics figures for less than fifteen (and, in my case, sixteen to twenty is far more likely).
Anyway, while I was initially irritated by the lack of a right hand on Cyborg, I've made piece with the situation. Actually, I made pieces with the situation. Lots of pieces of old accessories. I took things apart, glued them together, and now I've got a whole bunch of options. But that's going to require another article to describe in any real detail.
See you next week....
Cyborg: 7/10
Originally, these were supposed to go for somewhere between ten and thirteen bucks. Actually, I think the initial price was closer to that $10 price point, though I can't remember for sure. On top of that, these figures basically skipped their mass-market release and jumped directly to the secondary market. There's a store in Queens where they're still asking twenty-one dollars for Terry, which is more than a little ridiculous.
Every now and then, I've seen these going for fairly reasonable prices, though it took me a while before I stumbled across an offer where they sold together and the shipping was reasonable. Entertainment Earth had these reduced to fifteen for the set, plus five for shipping. So I wound up getting them for ten apiece, which, technically, is what they were supposed to cost in the first place.
Even so, I'm going to think of them as being on clearance, since it's rare to get DC Universe Classics figures for less than fifteen (and, in my case, sixteen to twenty is far more likely).
Anyway, while I was initially irritated by the lack of a right hand on Cyborg, I've made piece with the situation. Actually, I made pieces with the situation. Lots of pieces of old accessories. I took things apart, glued them together, and now I've got a whole bunch of options. But that's going to require another article to describe in any real detail.
See you next week....
Next week I'll go over some experiments and custom work I did putting together some accessories for Cyborg. In the meantime, you can while the days away on The Middle Room, my geek-themed blog. Or peruse my fiction. Or you could always go for a walk. It's a pretty nice time of year, after all.
