On his legs, part of that is due to some blockage at the hips when trying to move the legs forward. The legs are also long and the length between the joints exaggerates the need for a thigh swivel. He would be that much better if just those were added. The arms felt more limited than they should be for a gun-totin’ fella.
Most of the figures in this line have included a ton of show accurate accessories. I saw one collector describing them as “excessive”; I was aghast. These are exactly the the types of accessories I’ve been dying for for years. Freeze does include his trademark freeze gun, the stand with turnarounds from the control art, and a nice complement of hands, fists, relaxed, and gripping hands. Those are all great. But where’s all the cool stuff?
Well, Freeze didn’t get show accurate props because he got something even cooler. I mentioned that surprise in his TNBA costume? His disembodied head could escape the robot shell thanks to a spiffy set of spider legs! It was awesome when it was first revealed, awesome when the classic toy replicated it, and it’s awesome again now. Freeze’s head pops off and the four legs attach to the base easily. i friggin’ love it. Kinda makes me wish I had a second head to display him both ways.
Overall, this line has been amazing. The sculpts have been great, the show accurate accessories are fantastic, and the added articulation is surprisingly neat. Having had all the vintage figures, it’s neat to have them again in 6″, articulated form. It’s almost an indescribable feeling. There is just one big flaw though and I have to mention it even though you’re not seeing it in these pictures.
None of my four animated figures have broken. I imagine a lot of them have not broken, but there are a lot of reports on breaks. It’s hard to figure out how many. Unfortunately, we collectors flock to those QC issues like the news media to a shark attack. There is really no way to know how many or what percent have issues (though I’ve laughably seen collectors spit out a high statistic, which, in my eyes, is as irresponsible as saying there isn’t a problem.). I know that just because I haven’t had any issues (and I put these guys through the paces), that the amount of breaks being reported still feels like something DCC should look into. I’ve seen tons of great pics on FB & Instagram and I’ve seen the break pics too. I just don’t know. We do know that DCCs haven’t always been the most sturdy and these designs have some narrow areas. That’s not always a good combination. I’d love to see this line go on and on, but DCC will need to look at the process and see if they can cut down on the breaks, no matter how many or few there are.
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This is another situation where I would prefer his original design in Batman: TAS, but this figure looks pretty sick regardless.
I’m really excited for this original design too. I’m hoping they’re still doing the cool accessories by that point. I’d love to get the… I guess you’d call it a music box.
Only because it’s a music box.
I bought the batman and I am the most careful of collectors. I rarely break a toy and when I do it’s a qc issue not from roughplay. My batman fell off the shelf and broke both ankles. I love the sculpt and would buy all the figures. I am not though because of the frail ankles. It’s horrible. The line is great overall but I can’t stomach $25 a figure when the ankles break and are made so thin. What a waste of what could have been an epic line. Epic Fail!
Wonderful review :). I’m stll trying to refuse to collect these figures because I don’t want to start collecting one more line but man, I feel like I will not be able to resist at some point. I so loved those Timm cartoons and the take on those characters and the figures and accessories look so terrific. Keep posting those cool reviews and I bet I will fall for them^^.
This line is so tempting.
Okay I gotta update my Christmas List. These have each looked great and the reviews add to the want level. I did enjoy this update and like this version of Freeze better as well throughout the series and into Beyond. Now the great debate with me as started up another pricey line (figuarts) is get one version or try and complete. A great review once again.
With the upcoming original series Batman an accessory idea came to mind. Think like with Dick going from Robin to Nightwing. The Costume display we see in Batman Beyond came to mind for an extra pack in.
So I’ve caved and decided to dip my toes into this line. I’m picking up Joker and that glorious BTAS Batman they just revealed. And maybe Harley. Maybe Scarecrow or Clayface if they do them as well. And… DAMMIT, NO, MY WALLET CAN’T HANDLE GETTING SUCKED I TO ANOTHER LINE!
However, if Freeze had been the BTAS version I would totes grab him as well. Alas they chose to do the crappy NBA version, so my wallet gets a pass. Honestly, the only NBA designs I liked were Scarecrow and Batman & Batgirl’s costumes (wasn’t keen on the art style of the characters themselves though). So fortunately there hasn’t been much temptation for this line thus far.
But I do have to just say, that color-changing Mr. Freeze! That figure holds a very special place in my heart. Not only was it my first ever Batman figure, it was that figure that got me interested in Batman in the first place. And is still my favorite Freeze figure that’s ever been done. Sadly it got lost along with the rest of my (original) Batman collection several years ago. I really need to try to find one again at some point.
I’d agree it’s tough to gauge exactly what the percentage of quality issues is on the whole line, but I can’t remember another line (or figure if you want to narrow it to just Batman) that had such widespread reports of problems. Maybe Arkham City Killer Croc? The quality might not be as bad as it looks, but it’s certainly not good. Between that and the peg holes in the hips it makes me wonder if DCC might revisit these the way they have so many figures in the Arkham series.
Great review, as per.
When I come to power, it will be legal to pimp-slap anyone who complains about “excessive” accessories in high-end toys.
I’ve picked up all four wave 1 figures, and I haven’t had a single issue with broken limbs or anything like that. I bought online, so I was a little worried about the paint jobs, but I got lucky as they’re all pretty flawless.
And the accessories are great! I keep switching out hands, capes and weapons every few days for a little variety.
I’m also really impressed with the recently revealed wave 4 figures. I look forward to seeing what they come with. I’m guessing Riddler might come with that puzzle toy he created when he supposedly went straight.
I really want to get into this line, but I’m not at a point where I can piss away $25 a figure and just cross my fingers that they don’t break. I’ve had horrible luck with DCD in the last year or so, and those were on figures that didn’t have anywhere near the high lemon rate that’s been reported on these animated figures.
That trio shot just sells the line, for me. I’ll have to keep an eye out for these, now. If only to replace DCUC.
as for the QC issues, I just saw on facebook that DC Collectibles is asking people to email them about their issues. I’m just wondering what has taken them so long to respond, or even take this minimal action? There have been a few DCC’s I’ve thought about buying, but when they switched over from DC Direct, QC went down and price has slowly crawled up, so I’ve balked at a fair few I wouldn’t have given a second thought to, before.
then again, how long did we b!tch about the J-Legs Unlimited line and only got empty promises Scott was “looking into it” as the line crawled on years after the show ended….
I bought the entire wave. So far, Batman’s ankle broke right out the box and I had all of Catwoman’s joints moving when they were warmer than room temperature. Starting reposing her the next morning and lost her left knee and left shoulder. The knee just snapped like brittle glass into 3 pieces and the arm was soooo tight that it just stopped moving forward and backward. When it got really loose, I had DCUCs flashbacks and knew the peg had sheared clean off.
Left DCD/DCC a long time ago. Perhaps it was a mistake to try them out again.
That’s awful. I had been tempted to get some of these but I think I will have to pass. Hopefully they can get the QC sorted by Wave 4 for TAS Batman. With poor QC I can’t afford to buy them as the only way to get them in the UK is online or comic shops….and there really isn’t much chance of getting a replacement or refund from either.
DCC has been very responsive to the breakage issue, so contact them as Lee and I did. Was worth the time and BBTS stood by the merchandise as well. I expect that will change if they get a DCUC epidemic number of defective figures, but so far that has not seemed the case.