The majority of the time, we just go “blah blah standard articulation for the line blah the head is messed up blah”, but we’ve actually got something to report here. Just to get it out of the way though, Blue Devil does have standard articulation for Wave 13 – regular joints with the rocker ankle removed in favor of a one-piece foot. His head can look slightly up, but not down.
For the last few days, I’ve heard the word ‘overarticulated’ a couple times in relation to various things. Now, we all have our opinions. Some folks think 5 POA is good, others don’t think thirty points is enough. For me, my ideal is a little more than what DCUCs usually come with. Blue Beetle is much closer to that ideal. In addition to the usual points, Beetle includes double elbows, double knees, and ball wrists. If he had his rocker ankles back, some type of swivel below the knee, and the ability to tilt his head – he’d be my idea of perfect. Don’t get me wrong, Beetle is fantastic. He puts the line to shame – particularly because his extra points all look great. The double knees are more kind to the sculpt then a single piece and the wrists and double elbows are worked in nicely. This level may not work on figures that have bare skin in these areas, but I hope to see this level of articulation (or better) return in the future of this line.
We got accessories! Blue Devil includes a great representation of his classic trident that he can hold great in a variety of poses. It’s made of a firm, but flexible plastic; perfect for an accessory. While Blue Devil now wields Lucifer’s Trident, this piece is based on his original trident that was packed with special effects goodies. Did you know it had rockets that could carry up to two people over a short distance? Yep, we got a DCUC vehicle here…
Blue Beetle’s accessories are a tale of two plastics. The wings are fantastic. They’re sturdy and clip on to his back snugly with three pegs. Even better, while the figure looks great normally, he also looks sharp wearing these. They fit on seamlessly and the clear plastic is accurate to the later appearances of this particular armor feature. His weapon arm is a different story though. It looks sharp, but it’s really soft. To the point it can almost be folded in half before it springs back to shape (remember what I was saying about Blue Devil’s horns?). I probably wouldn’t mind that it was made of such a soft plastic, but it interferes with the play value. I’m not sure where it’s supposed to clip on, maybe the bulk of the forearm or the bicep, but in either place it’s too soft to stay and will fall off if you give it the dirty look it deserves.
And there’s buttons. Wheee…. Again, Mattel has stumped me on the Blue Devil button. I take it personally, I really do. I should know this stuff. I can tell you that Beetle’s button is from 1987’s Justice League #1 that marked the beginning of the so-called “SuperBuddies” era. This, as does the button, featured the previous Blue Beetle. Not the oddest choice in this strange 2010 button journey, but close.
Overall, I’m really pleased with both these figures. I would’ve liked Devil to get a little bit bigger of a sculpting budget and Beetle’s sword arm to get a slightly tougher grade of plastic, but that’s about the only critical feedback I can offer on these two. Blue Devil is bringing some classic 80s to my shelf (whether he ends up with the Tridents or the Blues) and he looks good doing it with the new pieces he was given. Beetle is just an awesome figure. He’s not the right height, but I’m learning to let that go. His sculpt, his paint (nose aside), his wing accessory, and his new articulation should vault the figure to the top of the DC Classics favorite lists for a lot of collectors despite his lower comic book profile.
For more DCUC reviews, check out our DC Classics Collector’s Guide.
Nice review. I laughed about the blue background. I was wondering where it went.
I think DCUCs could use a little more articulation, but not too much more.
It was too blue! It had to go for this time. I think DCUCs are the last ones using the blue background.
I would like a little more artic, but not too much more.
I want much more articulation, at least as much as Jaime has. Double-jointed knees and elbows for everyone!
The double joints really open things up. I was impressed.
I’m perfectly happy with the DCUC articulation where the head/neck articulation is fully available. That joint always seems critical to giving these things personality when on display.
Though the extra articulation on Blue Beetle (and Green Arrow, for that matter) has been welcome fun.
I’d like to see some more hand styles used though. Not everybody has to be clenching fists, do they?
Great review, and fun pics as usual!
Aquaman is the best example of how the early DCUCs had great ball joints. Tons of expression.
On the extra artic, I’d most want double knees and boot swivels. The double elbows would be nice as would the wrists, but not as important. Adding those to joints to the legs though would really open up the figure’s range.
And yeah wrists on fists doesn’t really do much for me. It’s the open hand figures with stuff to hold could use the wrists. LOL
Great review. What I consider minimal is surely called overarticulated by most.
Mattel knocked both Beetles out of the park. I still want a Dan Garrett though.
I’d love to get a Dan Garrett figure! After getting the 90s characters back into the line, the non-JSA GAers are next on my list.
shocker toys has the dan garrett license… sorry boys.
Shocker Toys is producing a 40’s Dan Garret (1 t). He’s the crimefighter that was originally created for Fox Features. He’s in public domain and available to anyone to use.
Dan Garrett (2 ts) is the once-Charlton archaeologist that is now the property of DC Comics and is available for DC Classics.
That’s really odd. It seems obvious that Charlton knew what they were copying, was the one T difference enough for them to get away with it back then? When was then exactly?
Charlton comics had obtained the rights to the character much like DC had. During the 60s they decided to revamp him and added the second t to his name. This new Dan Garrett was different from the original having different powers, origins and an entirely different mood. The original BB was an ex-cop with super powers, the two t version was an archiolgist with who gained his powers from a magic scarab. They were entirely different characters who just had the same name. Two years later Dan Garrett was replaced by Ted Kord who kept the mantel until Jaime took it a few years ago.
The original Dan Garret is the one who fell into public domain, while DC gets to retain the rights to Dan Garrett. So it’s entirely possible for us to see the original Beetle get a figure in the DCUC style.
Thanks, Gambit!
Double elbows and knees are a bit much. They don’t add as much functionality as they take away from the aesthetics.
I think double knees improve the aesthetic the kneecap piece helps hide the joint.
Blue Beetle III may have a nice figure, but he’s still a waste of a character. There was no reason to kill and replace Ted for this. He’s got different powers and look, he shouldn’t be Blue Beetle.
Ah, but see the catch there is that if DC started a new book starring Jaime as an all-new character, it would be a guaranteed to failure regardless of quality writing and art. This way, he was given a slightly better chance of success. And it’s been 4 years and he hasn’t been killed to bring back his predecessor yet, so I guess that now qualifies as good.
Honestly, I’d say comic fans bring it on themselves with the legacy heroes because the companies can’t sell new characters to them in any other way, but the truth for many seems to be that they don’t want new characters in the first place.
that was the problem with Jason Rusch. suddenly, Ronnie was tossed aside for this new kid (regardless of color), and we had to wait six months before we found out what happened to Ronnie, and that was an insulting death to boot! In the aftermath of Blackest Night, we now have Ronnie and Jason as Firestorm, whether the Brave & Bold cartoon had anything to do with it or both series were planned to end up this way, time will tell.
Am I still mad at Ted’s EXECUTION? Hell yeah, but we’ve had some decent stories play out of that since. I haven’t read Jaime’s book, so a few appearances in Teen Titans before I dropped that book (with Red Devil’s death, coincidentally) and the Booster Gold back-up is my main exposure since his introduction in Infinite Crisis other than the B&B cartoon.
Jason Rusch really put me at odds with myself. I prefer the new, the different, the changes, over the same old same old. I like newer characters, but here DC went and took my fave and replaced him. I still bought Rusch’s book and, after they got rid of Dan Jolley it became readable.
But I’ve never gotten over how he was killed. That was incredibly lame and pathetic. I don’t think every hero needs a great death, but a sensible one would’ve been nice.
However, I do think he should’ve stayed dead. I think it’s only a matter of time until some joke of a writer comes along, kills off Jason and puts Stein back in the matrix.
Ted’s death and the garbage associated with it is my #2 problem with DC right now, after the general grimdark tone of their stories, but I love Jaime. His series was great. Reminded me of James Robinson’s Starman in many ways. They tied the three Beetles together in a way that made all of them better for being part of the legacy. They even brought in Peacemaker and made him not lame! That is Herculean.
That sounds like something I need to read.
I ordered most of my wave 13 off of walmart.com. When I got Blue Beetle III, i thought he seemed a bit odd. Then I realized that he didn’t have his arm blade. 🙁
It’s not worth having, but it still stinks all the same.
I think it is worth having. Mine clips on and stays well enough. Not as good as the wings, but way better than Deathstroke’s rifle.
Armored Beetle and Blue Devil look quite taken aback by Mr. Kord’s announcement, and the last pic is a glorious example of how West Side Story SHOULD have been done.
Though I’m not a fan, I too would like to see the more demonic version of Blue Devil figure-ized. Probably an excellent opportunity for Mattel to use that Public Enemies buck, wouldn’t you say?
LOL. I love Beetle’s face in the last pic. 😀
The PE buck would be great for the armored up Devil!
Am I the only one who thinks the second to last pic should have had, AquaCamo lean in the frame to Danny, “psst, can I see you over here?” and then we see the final pic? Those two are in a class by themselves.
and what new calf piece does Danny have? Isn’t that the same boot cuff piece used by Reddy and the SHAZAM! family?
I do hope we get the more modern, Shadowpact Danny, but I’ll pass on the demon in gold armor look. I just was not a fan of that.
Also, no mention of the Trigon parts? doesn’t Danny come with Trigon’s trident, too? You could have had a pic of him deciding which trident to take today! LOL
I wasn’t sure if I could call Trigon’s deal a trident. I don’t usually mention the C&C parts in the review because I don’t usually address “value” and the parts are listed on the checklist.
That would’ve been a funny pic though. 🙂
Great pics this time around. I loved the ending!
Thanks!
What do you mean when you say Beetle can’t tilt his head? Mine tilts like mad. No ankle rockers, but his neck rocks in every possible direction.
I tend to think of tilt as their ability to cock their head from side-to-side. Most DCUCs can’t do that, but I really appreciate it on the ones that do.
That’s what I thought. Yours can’t do that?
I like new characters in the books. I enjoyed Blue Beetle’s comic as well as his run on Brave and the Bold. I’m gonna need to buy his figure when I find it.
Happy hunnting! I think they’re only showing up at Wal-Marts right now.