Google+

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

DCUC Wave 14 - Up Close

Mattel has released up close pics of DC Universe Classics Wave 14 at Facebook. This is the Wal-Mart *sob* Exclusive *sob* for 2010.

A few thoughts:

I'm really excited about Alan Scott and Obsidian appearing in this line, but not sold on the open-mouthed headsculpts - must be a father and son thing. It's a personal preference thing, and while it's good to see The Horsemen experimenting with doing something different, I just think it looks weird. Still the overall figures look great - Obsidian in particular is smashing and I hope him appearing in his classic form opens the door for more Infinity Inc. members down the road.

I've read comments about the decision to paint the inside of Hourman's cowl yellow instead of the black we might have expected. Well and good if Mattel checked on what the colour is supposed to be, but it's almost always been drawn either as black or with a shadow, so it looks weird. I suspect this will be an oft-repeated custom change for those that want it to look right. Still, it's Rex Tyler, and it's great to see the GA JSA getting so much love.

As for the other figures: Gold's face doesn't look quite right to me - a bit small or something, but the metallic finish and snap-on attachments look fantastic. Kamandi looks a little more like Kamandi here, but without a truly Kirby-esque headsculpt he still looks a bit more like a generic shirtless construction worker than the Last Boy on Earth. Zatanna's hat is a separate piece - hoorah! She looks great, but I'm still not sold on the yellow vest thingy. Tyr looks great, and while I know he's there for Super Powers nostalgia, he's a Legion villain and that's how I'm counting him.

Ultra-Humanite can only be described as Ultra-Badass. I'd love to see him in scale with the other figures, but regardless he looks amazing, and I can't wait to have him. Which, of course, will be all the more challenging by the nature of my geography, but I was very fortunate to have some great US based help in getting Wave 10, and if the distribution is on the same level I should be able to be looked after by the same great friends again. I sure hope so - despite the nit-picky points above this is a wave I'm greatly looking forward to!

You can see the full set of pics at Matty's Facebook Page, discuss this at the AFB Forum, and comment on this post to enter the March AFB Comment of the Month Contest. ** Remember - this month only an AFB Facebook Fan will be chosen for a second prize, so if you're not a Facebook fan - become one now!

Until next time!

16 comments:

Dan M. said...

What's the big deal about this being the WalMart wave? Wave 10 was terribly easy to get.

Scott said...

Hi Dan! We don't have Wal-Marts here in Australia. Bit of a distribution issue!

Like I said I am very lucky to have some US based friends who helped me out with 10, but at best I'm still paying retail plus international shipping, so Wal-Mart waves are a costly exercise for me! Hope that makes sense!

Kyle said...

Yeah, but even with wave 10 being easier to find than wave 5, there is still that anxiety of not being able to put a preorder on a set and having to actually hunt for the figures.

Dan M. said...

Scott, that makes sense. Typical American that I am, I hadn't considered other countries. :)

Kyle, the hunt is the fun of the hobby, as long as we've got a fighting chance. At least, that's my take on it.

chopa said...

Sure hope Kamandi comes with all those guns.
God Ultra-humanite is sweet.
Matty should really not be using these Matte test paint jobs for promos like this. Like the promos for Wave 13 look nothing like the paint on the figs at Toy Fair.

Jon action figures buff said...

Humanite's veins across his head are much less noticeable with this figure than when I saw him on JLU.

Westy said...

Another wonderful exclusive set that won't show it's face outside of the US except via the secondary market. And while the hunt can be part of the fun, dealing with what we internationals have to put up with to get a shot at some of these things is just demented. I've got to the point of if I can't pre-order it , I more or less know it's going to end up as an expensive trip to eBay, and that's not fun, it's toy manufacturer brutality.

Christian Zamora said...

This Obsidian looks amazing :)

bigraj said...

Can't wait to have these guys in hand. They look awesome.

ryanlb said...

Yeah, this wave looks pretty good.

I like the finish on Gold, Tyr looks like he'll stand out pretty well from other figures in the line.

Zatanna looks great! I don't like the yellow either, I might paint it white, but odds are good I won't be able to drum up the energy to do so.

Ultra-Humanite looks very good as well. I likes Obsidian, too.

fishmilkshake said...

They all look pretty sweet and I agree Obsidian should have a closed mouth. Not happy either that this is an ebay exclusive wave.

Prowl26 said...

Alan Scott is the only for sure want from me. Gold would be second followed by Obsidian then Hourman. Of course if I get Gold I'd have to get Iron so...

Westy said...

FMS needs to win for that comment.

demoncat said...

i can not wait to hunt down this wave. even though i have to agree they did not need Obsidian mouth to be open for he looks pissed off and ready to go pycho. the ultra Humanite is one of the main reasons to hunt the line. besides gold. and now Mattel has to do jade and rose and thorn to complete the family. and Kamandi will come with what is shown even though wish the wave was not just walmart

Doug H said...

Ultra-Humanite looks sweet! And here our one local Wal-Mart STILL hasn't been getting anything new DCUC-wise in quite a while!!! AAAAGGGHHH!!!

One shipment of Wave 11 and that was it...and the two remnants left then were none I wanted (Batman & Superman). This is startng to feel like bad deja vu!! And our regional grocery chain used to be a good place to luck out and find some, but they stopped carrying them after Wave 2!!

Unknown said...

They all look great even if you're not into all the characters.
Walmart will always be a mystery to me . I live in Montreal, Canada and it's pathetic(Toys r Us too) . But if I drive 2 1/2 hours to Burlington ,Vermont (a city about a 1/5 the size of Montreal) and it's like I died and went to action figure heaven . I can't afford to take trips to the States every other week so it looks like its Ebay toy scalper/scumbags(+ ridiculous shipping/duties) for me too.
For god's sake , these are plastic toys produced in China. Theres gotta be heaps of them. What's the f##$@ing problem!?

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...