I’ve started this review a few times. Typically, I start off complaining about the DOA 2014 subscription and my irritation with all involved (be it the licensor, the licensee, and, yes, some folks among the fanbase too). But, really, that’s all water under the bridge. After one relatively good year and one not particularly noteworthy one, the DC Subscription is over. There are five figures left in 2014. I may not get all of them, but I am excited about what I consider my personal apology figure: Hook Aquaman. But while I’m waiting for him, I sorta got review this other guy that I’ve been putting off.
Mattel didn’t “know” that Batzarro would be the last subscription figure, but I wish they’d have thought better about Batzarro for the December slot all the same. Heck, I kinda wish they’d thought better about Batzarro at all. I’m not going to lie: I love the idea of Batzarro.
I’m not generally a fan of Jeph Loeb (not even a little bit), but Batzarro was cute. A nice update to the 60s Bizarro-Batman to be sure. But it just seems like he might’ve been a better May-July sandwich choice. One not showcased during the sign-up period. I’m not blaming his choice or timing on the sub failing, that had much bigger problems (like that monkey-faced Superboy), but I would like to be feeling a bit more warm & cuddly about the DC sub like we did with last year’s Metal Men. I have my personal list of better choices, many with this level of low-tooling and I’ve seen countless others. I don’t know – I’m not one to typically harp on a what toy isn’t. I just can’t believe we’re going out on Batzarro (course, the retail line went on Vampire Batman, so we’re doing better than that at least).
Anyway, like I said, I’ve started this review many times. I get pretty far into the whole thing without even talking about the figure, so let’s just cap all that talk about what could’ve possibly gone into Batzarro’s selection there and move on.
When Batzarro was first introduced, I snagged his DC Direct figure not too long after (along with Kryptonite Batman, they both crack me up). As you can from them being side-by-side, they’re both pretty faithful to the original design. The chains, while a fun addition to the DCD version, aren’t really necessary and I don’t mind not getting them here. Mattel used their basic Batman buck and then tooled up the pieces they needed to get Batzarro right, namely the head and “futility” belt (in the old comics, I think it was the “useless” belt. I’m not sure which name I like better). Both sculpts are nice new pieces and look good. Batman looks a little bit like a Xenomorph Alien, but I think that’s the design.
I’m not sure if the cape is a new piece – I believe it is, but it seems like such an odd thing for Mattel to do. A flared out Batman cape would’ve been great earlier in the line to give some options to the various Batmen over the years. Now, it’s moot. So I’m wondering if it possibly belonged to a different Batman and I’ve just not noticed. Continue to Page 2…
All I gotta say it that the sub should have gone out on a better note. I’ve already got this dude up on eBay along with Huntress, Red Hood, and Black Mask. I’m not a fan of the modern Batfamily and not too fond of the whole Bizarro concept as a whole. This guy is there for those who are into it but for me, it was a wasted slot, especially given how identical he turned out to that DC Direct version. Kinda pointless.
You would think though, that since it’s Mattel we’re talking about, there would be zero paint slop, lots of accessories, and something he could easily wield in his hand. Since, y’know, he is a Bizarro character.
As a non-comic reader I’ve never followed the DCD releases too closely so that may bet first time seeing that DCD Batzarro.
And yeah, wow, totally redundant. I know DCUC has the superior articulation but still. Maybe these last few sub figures were dictated by DC?
I just don’t see Mattel and the Horsemen looking at the DCD figure and really feeling passionate that it needed an update, especially with so many other team/era holes. Heck, even a more classic style Bizarro would’ve been of better use.
The DCC licensing is always suspect anymore. Mattel-folk tried to keep a tight lid on it, but if you paid attention here & there, their directions were a big part of the problems in certain situations. Batzarro could be one of the few everybody agreed upon.
My lukewarm review was a little Batzarro… too bad Mattel couldn’t do the same! 🙂
I don’t think I ever got a chance to get into it, but I like the classic Bizarro concept. The fact we didn’t get a good Classic Bizarro is a shame. I would’ve rather seen that in this slot, though folks would’ve cried foul for duplicating a character we alreday have.
After the MOTUC Dark Knight, Mattel did a poll at Mattycollector about MOTUC dressed as DC Characters or DC as MOTUC and if we want them paired or singles… I guess that won’t happen but it was quite a fun idea… lol
Talking of the MOTUC styled Dark Night, how similar are these 2, can anyone post a side by side? for some reason he looks very different to me specifically from the waist down. Thanks
Is the normal Batman body not a MOTUC one
Yep, Taro’s right. This is the basic Batman buck. I probably should’ve grabbed a shot, but I’m sure Fwoosh will have one in their First Look!
I would love to have a few more MOTUCized DCUCs. Don’t need any DCUCed MOTUs though! lol
I need a MOTUC Supes 😉
All I know of Batzarro is he ended up in the Red Son universe and thats it. So many others coulda been in this spot and really Batzarro shoulda been in Batman Unlimited. Ice, Conner, Indigo-1, Phantom Lass, 6″ Gigante(w packed in CnC head and crotch), Ventriloquist and Scarface, Cowboy Vigilante, Weather Wizard, Wildcat 2, a Star Spangled Kid, oh so many choices
Speaking of Red Son Supes, oh how wish a Superman Unlimited line woulda been done to cover the missing Supermen, Earth 2, Red Son, Speeding Bullet, and DKR Superman to name a few.
I didn’t even read that far along!
Great list on possibly last figures. And, I’m so with you – a Superman Legacy/Unlimited line should’ve happened with MOS. Total waste of an opportunity.
The paint on my Batzarro was really sloppy too. Its not a bad figure overall, I do find the futility belt amusing. It’s place in the history of the line is really what will make it somewhat infamous. Fortunately I am looking forward to the remaining figures, even Superboy.
The comic on the top of page two, cracked me up!
Any other time, this figure just would’ve blended in definitely. Mattel just whiffed on scheduling him last – even if it was just to end one sub going into the other. Duh.
And thanks!
Kind of hard to talk about this figure without first wanting to get into the ol’ “coulda, shoulda” discussion of what character we woulda liked Mattel to have made instead. So let’s just skip past that old chestnut since we’ve already given our personal lists somewhere else on this site…
But like Clutch said above, talk about going out with a whimper. The only thing they could have done to make a final figure less spactacular was to make this yet another Hal figure, or worse yet, a figure based on our old friend, the “suit-and-tie” buck. Ugh.
Batzarro falls into the trap that plagues this subscription line: It’s not a BAD figure. It’s just a figure no one really wanted or asked for. I mean, it’s serviceable, it looks like the character. But it’s just kind of ho-hum. And for what we paid for this sub, didn’t we deserve a better effort?
And yes, this figure should’ve come with some guns, and maybe some chains, too (why does he have those chains again?). And really, Matty should’ve done right by the DC fans the same way they try to appease the MOTU fans and thrown in some cool extras if they were going to put zero dollars into the buck. Throw in some blue kryptonite or a Bizarro Bruce Wayne head or a (God forbid) a Mxyzptlk mini-figure (wasn’t he involved in a Batzarro story somehow?). Anything would have been nice, really. So what could have been an opportunity for a cool farewell gesture just turns into Matty fulfilling their obligation with the bare minimum. Leaving us (well, me at least) feeling kind of…indifferent.
I really tried not to do that, but it still kinda took over the review!
Batzarro is definitely a whimper. He’s not bad at all, he’s just not scratching an itch (which most of the MOTU sub does, even if the figure is subpar) and DC just stacked too many of those into this sub.
I sent this to a group of collector buddies of mine and it seemed appropriate to post here as well:
DAYUM!!!! Talk about phoning it in!!!
Makes me glad that this is finally over. I love the DC universe and this is by far the most comprehensive DC line ever created but the whole enjoyment has been constantly tainted by the aggregation of dealing with Mattel. The early bad distribution, the fucked up character selection of the online 2 packs, the mid-line absolute shitty QC with the frozen hips and pre-school paint apps, the eventual digital river headaches with the subscription, the disappointing end of the retail line and asinine roll out of the subscription and the out with a whimper end of the line altogether.
This line has been plagued with missteps, miscues and mistakes. What a fucking clusterfuck it’s been to be a DC collector under Mattels reign from JLU, DCIH, DC Retro Action to DCUCs, DCIEs & DC Young Justice. Just one big shit storm blunder after the next.
Thanks for the wonderful toys Mattel, but goodbye and good riddance.
I sent this to a group of collector buddies of mine and it seemed appropriate to post here as well:
DAYUM!!!! Talk about phoning it in!!!
Makes me glad that this is finally over. I love the DC universe and this is by far the most comprehensive DC line ever created but the whole enjoyment has been constantly tainted by the aggrevation of dealing with Mattel. The early bad distribution, the fucked up character selection of the online 2 packs, the mid-line absolute shitty QC with the frozen hips and pre-school paint apps, the eventual digital river headaches with the subscription, the disappointing end of the retail line and asinine roll out of the subscription and the out with a whimper end of the line altogether.
This line has been plagued with missteps, miscues and mistakes. What a fucking clusterfuck it’s been to be a DC collector under Mattels reign from JLU, DCIH, DC Retro Action to DCUCs, DCIEs & DC Young Justice. Just one big shit storm blunder after the next.
Thanks for the wonderful toys Mattel, but goodbye and good riddance.
Sorry for the double post and profanity…meant to edit that out
No way, man, let it fly!
These clowns were handed a golden goose and managed to screw up damn near every aspect of the line at one point or another. They deserve to hear about it.
And one more time(’cause it just never gets old)…HEY MATTY, I WANT MY NEKRON SCYTHE!!