I never would’ve guessed how happy I’d be to get an Ocean Master figure. I suppose it could just be that the line has a definite end date and I’m appreciating the scraps a little more, but I don’t think so. I do like hungrily want to get as many DC characters squeezed out of Mattel as we can and getting a major Aquaman villain is a huge bonus, but it just so happens I like the figure quite a bit too. Thankfully.
If you’re familiar with Ocean Master, the long & short of is that he’s Aquaman’s jealous brother. The continuity has changed over the years, even included exactly which parent the two share, but he’s always the bridesmaid and he can never handle it. His inferiority complex, though he’d never call it that, spurs him onto defeat Aquaman and, ultimately, to rule or destroy Atlantis.
When he was first put to paper by the legendary Bob Haney & Nick Cardy in 1966, Orm was the fully human brother that took an amnesiac-fueled turn to high seas piracy. When Aquaman became a full-Atlantean after Crisis, Orm was similarly upgraded to being half-Atlantean, half-human. This gave him a mystical edge; one that was later upgraded by Neron to allow him control of sea creatures through the use of his trident. The downside of dealing with Neron was that letting go of the staff would cause immense pain (hey, he came out better than Black Manta who got turned into a half-manta man!).
His costume remained largely unchanged over the years, but I believe this is more the 90s looks for the character, thanks to the muted blue/gray costume instead of the brightly clashing two shades of purple that he sported for most of his appearances. I don’t mind the muted colors – I think the figure looks great, but it is odd that went this route. Still, it just means he’s more apt to get his butt-kicked by the upcoming (& awesome) Hook Aquaman instead of my classic standby.
The body construction is what we’ve come to expect from the line. Orm only needed a new belt, finned forearms, the cape, and the new head. All the new pieces are sculpted well. I was a little worried on the one-piece head, figures with exposed chins tend to look better when the pieces are molded separately, but Orm pulls it off. His expression is also great, a mixture of determined, but grumpy. I can see him getting picked on by my other villains.
The funny piece is of course the cape. The collar is huge! I think it fits his overcompensating personality just fine and it has been depicted now and again as oversized, though maybe not this oversized. Still, it works. It looks great. Continue to Page 2…
Injustice Gang Dr. Light – that sounds like a manga title about steampunk dentists…
Thank you for the review.
As an Aquaman fan, whenever I think Rogues’ Gallery, Ocean Master is the second guy that comes to mind after Black Manta. (Manta edges Orm out thanks to Challenge of the Superfriends!) Heck, toss in the Shark (also considered a GL villain) and that’s three Aqua Bad Guys that the 4H delivered before Mattel brought down the curtain. Not bad at all, but yeah, I wouldn’t have minded guys like the Fisherman and Scavenger somewhere along the way, although their absence isn’t as bad when compared to those of …Killer Frost, …Monocle, …Rag Doll, …Signalman, …Jason Woodrue, …Psycho-Pirate, …Goldface, ….Doctor Polaris, …Hector Hammond, …Sonar, …Major Disaster, …a classic Black Hand, …the original Trickster, …Heat Wave, …Pied Piper, …Weather Wizard, …Golden Glider, …the Top, …Abra Kadabra, …Rainbow Rider, …a classic Captain Boomerang…
I could go on forever, couldn’t I? Those old Who’s Who issues are ripe with cool possibilities!
*Sigh*
I’m no ready to let go, either…
Let’s just say that I’m glad Orm made the cut somehow. Great review and funny pics as usual, Noisy. 🙂
My favorite part of this line are the C-list and D-list villains we got.
Ocean Master is the last “hurrah” for that section of the line.
I wanted a freakin’ Angle Man so bad…
Absolutely agree with both you guys. And I would’ve killed for an oversized Blockbuster and Shaggy Man. And an Atomic Skull. And a Dr. Polaris. And…
I still can’t believe we never got Hal Jordan!
I have to say, I was very pleasantly surprised with Ocean Master. I almost considered listing him on ebay without even opening the box and now he’ll probably survive the great DCUC sell off I will be undertaking shortly.
I mainly picked up the DCD version as I figured we’d *NEVER* get him otherwise. Color me wrong.
I really wish mine wasn’t buried in storage at the moment so I could compare them better. It’s the mask that sets him apart from his purple DCD twin. Better detail and coloring make it stand out. Besides the fins, y’know.
and yeah, Clutch, how is it we have TWO Orm now, multiple jester Toyman/men, and James Jesse still doesn’t have a single figure? not even in JLU!! I mean, we got WALLER in JLU!! sigh….
Really nice review, Noisy. You pretty much captured everything I was thinking about this figure, both as a toy and his importance to the line. I too was concerned about that collar when i first saw him in the box, but once you remove him from the packaging, it really does work. They also really nailed all the little details (belt, helmet, manta insignia) so that they “pop” on what is a relatively simple looking figure. He may actually be one of my favorite sub figures.
Man, this line (under all its names) caused me a lot of headaches, but looking at Ocean Master reminds me how much I’m going to miss it.
Great review as always.
I think everyone was unsure about the cape collar, but it really works for him. (I guess he’s compensating for something)
I try not to think of all the great figures there could have been. It just gets me depressed. I’m hoping it will come back somehow, or some customizer starts producing parts so we can make some of the missing figures we all want. Can’t believe there are only six more figures left til it over.
I really liked this figure, don’t understand the negative response from some. Despite the feeling that I’m betraying DCUC, I’ll probably end up getting a Total heroes at some point.
Great review Noisy! Spot on as always. This is a great figure on the best buck Mattel has. IMHO. Shame this line is ending but I am determined to garner up the will to knock off the bucks and customize my own figures one day.
This was a great line with plenty more characters left to make but Mattel is such a large corp that the profit margins are too small for them to give a crap. So away into the sunset it goes. And for that reason, once DCSHs/DCUCs/DCIEs is over, Mattel won’t be getting my money again unless they relaunch/re-offer the line again. 6″ scale COLLECTOR figs or I’m out. I’ll get the ’66 Bats stuff cause it falls into that category but I won’t be buying any Total Heroes junk or 4″ Movie Masters.
Great review Noisy! Spot on as always. This is a great figure on the best buck Mattel has. IMHO. Shame this line is ending but I am determined to garner up the will to knock off the bucks and customize my own figures one day.
This was a great line with plenty more characters left to make but Mattel is such a large corp that the profit margins are too small for them to give a crap. So away into the sunset it goes. And for that reason, once DCSHs/DCUCs/DCIEs is over, Mattel won’t be getting my money again unless they relaunch/re-offer the line again. 6″ scale COLLECTOR figs or I’m out. I’ll get the ’66 Bats stuff cause it falls into that category but I won’t be buying any Total Heroes junk or 4″ Movie Masters….I hope they choke on em.