OOPS ALL MCFARLANE BATMANS - The Dark Knight Returns, Azrael, & New 52 review

You already know about Batman by this point, you probably know that McFarlane makes a lot of figures for this character, and you can be your ass I reviewed him plenty of times, only behind Spider-Man as the most commonly bought superhero on this site. Do I need to explain you about how influential The Dark Knight Returns was at this point? The story turns 40 this year, so read it without letting some wannabe intellect on social media dissuade you from how it "ruined" casual perception on what Batman is like. I know plenty of references are made to Knightfall for the obvious Bat-Back Breaking Bane lore, but Knightquest and KnightsEnd receive far less attention despite Jean Paul Valley deserving attention. New 52 is a continuity people would either love or hate, though it was another stamp on how back and forth DC is with resetting continuity and making retcons left and right. So today, we're going to look at a few DC Multiverse reviews and see how well they turned as the license comes to an end.

Here we have TDKR Batman in-hand. This isn't the first time I reviewed this mold, though given my preference for wired capes, there is no need to turn back after owning this version. Much like the cover recreation released online, Batman has been retooled to ditch the rubberized cape, but we go a step further and retool the chest so we can accommodate the oval logo. This was before he ditched it in favor of the black, ovalless emblem more famously associated with the story. I'll get into why this should have been done sooner, but I love how well it pop on this kind of color scheme. Apart from that, he has the same grappling hook accessory good for one pose and 3 pairs of hands. Articulation is generally the same as with all other DC Multiverse figures, but he is unique for having thigh swivels more traditionally found on other toys as well as single jointed elbows with rotation at said joints instead of bicep rotation.

For a bat-comparison, here he is with Cowardly Lot and Batzarro. Now why would I bring in CL, you may ask? It's because despite TDKR partially inspiring Batman v Superman, I always felt that the Cowardly Lot version of the character looked more like a comic version of Batfleck than the one iteration who came before either. And as for Batzarro, I'll always commend McFarlane for painting the inside of the cape and giving him his upside down belt, but I and so many others never liked how lazy that upside-logo looks just stamped over the original TDKR logo. And that's making me wonder why we suddenly have the retooled torso when that was something we could have had much sooner. I remember when there were "McFarlanizations" that people mentioned when Todd deviated from the costumes, but this would have been the opportunity for him to poke fun of that complaint by using it in a way that would be fit Batzarro's half-assed nature. You're a comic legend for nearly 40 years, my brother in Christ; take advantage of your artistic license so we don't have to hear the excuse of cost-cutting when this new Fatman proves otherwise. Oh and if you want to know about the history of the TDKR mold, watch my review on the Bizarro/Batzarro set here.

Up next is Jean-Paul Valley's version of Batman. Aka Azrael Batman (or AzBat for short), this was the design JPV used when he started changing his ways of fighting crime after Bruce Wayne was temporarily out of commission thanks to the Back-Breaking Bane. This brief successor took things further than Bruce, both thanks to his belief that Batman's rules are outdated as well as the brainwashing he experienced as Azrael before this upbringing. Eventually, Jean-Paul would step down after his battle against Bruce Wayne, and the Batman title returned to its original owner. As for the figure, I'm so happy to own this in far superior colors than the original version. Not only that, but this non-BruceBat design has always been my favorite. Between how jagged and extreme he visually is, on top of the metallic colors for the blue, silver, and gold, this is what I call a true step-up when it comes to repaints. Granted, I wish he came this way the whole time, but better late than never without stupid scalpers ruining everything. I will agree than his legs are skinnier than the rest of him, but that could stem from the upper body being much bulkier in comparison. I am split on the cape remaining unchanged; while it at least prevents any sculpt discrepancies, seeing other figures released previously with modified capes would have been cool. One other complaint may be that the abs and the grey could use a wash, but they are at least textured.

His head sculpt is more covered up than Batman's, and it was one of my favorite aspects of this design with how sleek and deadly Azbat came off without a visible mouth, not to mention the red eyes that stand out from the blue of this mask. Makes him more badass despite his less than ideal nature clashing with Bruce's. Articulation is closer to the standard DC Multiverse affair, but keep in mind that the chest armor and gauntlets may limit some posing. No accessories are included, which sucks even to this day since alternate hands would have been fine.

For prior versions of this mold, we have the original in brighter colors and the Gold Label version in black and gold. I know some may like brighter blue Batmen, but this always felt too close to a Super Powers what-if, and for a suit made to mostly be armor, I'll always prefer the recent version. The black and gold version looks even more badass, if a bit closer to Black Panther. Then again, some people would probably confuse BP for the DC dude if they never heard of him until Civil War was made as a movie. Also, he came with a stand that had my preferred Batman logo, at least the font used for general merch in the 2000s (notably Lego Batman).

And this is the modified version of his armor used in Knightquest and Knightsend. The blue was used briefly before the red took over as Azrael grew more rogue. The upper body has been modified to accommodate these scythe-looking blades instead of a cape, and the head is more helmet like than before. We also have a Kenner tribute in black armor with a red bodysuit. 

Here he is with No Man's Land Batman for a 90s comparison. While the Knightfall version is out there and is more appropriate for a comparison, I prefer this one for the colors and the head sculpt. Plus a non plastic cape is better but it sucks I had to wire it myself. Some people have come up with mods to swap the forearms so the normal costume Batman can wear the AzBat gauntlets, but keep in mind you will need to knock out some pins to make that mod I found online look convincing. Thankfully, these two versions of AzBats and Batman proper color match very well.

And finally, we have New 52 Batman. This figure is a decent enough retool of the Rebirth version of Batman, and while it's not the first time McFarlane brought this suit design in the line, it is one of the weakest versions he made. Firstly, the figure has nowhere near the same level of armored layering as the suit proper, and it doesn't help that the light shade of grey used isn't that fitting for the New 52 aesthetic either. Second, being a retool of the Rebirth version shouldn't mean he can keep the gauntlets and boots from that version if they aren't entirely accurate to begin with. And while he has a wired cape, we break trend with the materials being different from what we usually get with Batman figures; actual cloth comparable to Superman's capes rather than the more ribbon-like material Batman capes are associated with. Maybe that was to fit better with the glider, but it's still an odd decision from McFarlane compared to the norm. Also, like New 52 Superman, the logo is a tampograph and not embossed. While I prefer my characters in the pre-2010s designs for the most part, this still looks undercooked for a New 52 design.

Head sculpts it okay, but far from my favorite one under the line. While I prefer the NML or Hush head designs, for example, this one is serviceable enough for anyone who likes this era of DC. At least the mouth isn't painted crooked on mine. Articulation is the same as usual, but he has his grapnel hook and Batarang first belonging to the original Rebirth Batman version of this buck, and they stay in his hands so-so.

For prior uses, we got the original Rebirth Batman made sometime around 2021 iirc, with a deco more appropriate for this figure while the scale is undersized somewhat. He was given a brighter color scheme and less paint for the belt in a 3-pack with a Megafig Clayface and a Batwoman figure that DarkSpider David thought was a retool of a Mattel version, which is one of the dumbest things he could ever theorize when this is nothing like Hasbro using ToyBiz molds in the first few waves of Marvel Legends under their ownership. A blue version with more hands and an unmasked head (seen on the Gold Label version tying in with the Rebirth Batmobile) was made for the McFarlane Digital subline. I believe this one was retooled to be slightly taller.

We also got a Frostbite version, which is cast in clear plastic and is part of a subline dedicated to making figures look like ice sculptures. The Rebirth version adds a wired cape and the same accessories as the Digital one, but the logo is now tampographed. The unmasked head is once again okay for what it is, but I wouldn't say it's my favorite version of the character. I think the Red Sun Superman head looks more like Bruce Wayne than this one does.

For anyone wondering about why I said there was a better version, this is the Bat-Glider version with a flight stand as well as a city skyline backdrop to help with the display potential. The darker grey and gold belt also help him look a bit better than the one we have here, but next to the New 52 version of Superman, I guess the positives are the wired cape and his suit not entirely being smoothened?

Overall, AzBats easily wins the best mantle of the wave, even if he isn't retooled or comes with accessories. That deco and being more widely available helps him immensely. TDKR Batman is also the best version of his mold, but I still have to question why it took this repaint to have a retooled chest where a different logo can be applied when Batzarro could have come with that benefit. New 52 Batman is okay for what he is, yet there is a far better version with a glider, and even then, I recommend New 52/Rebirth the least in general.

Final ranking: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (AzBats)

⭐⭐⭐ and a half out of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (TDKR)

⭐⭐ and a half out of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (New 52)

Oh and for anyone wondering, no plans for Golden Age Batman for just how hard he is to get as a GameStop Red Platinum, and I don't care too much about Deadman Batman even though he makes me think of Ben Affleck playing both Batman and Daredevil. I just want to be done collecting but hopefully the end of McFarlane's license will go on a high note.

Unique Toys Dumb & Dumber (ROTF Skids & Mudflap) review

It's almost been a decade since the Studio Series line first came out, and we haven't gotten any version of the Twins, Skids and Mudflap. I don't need to explain why people get triggered over them or how they got cut from Dark of the Moon, so let's instead talk about how safe Hasbro is with their decisions for being pussies in regards to the Twins: they would rather shove in more Geewun stuff, they would rather do G1-adjacent stuff, and they made two scrapped characters from the Bumblebee movie that probably had less proof they existed unlike Megatron. At least with the MPM line, there is a much longer time to release certain characters, though given how the focus is on taking Studio Series elements on a revamped Masterpiece line, who knows if these will feel comparable to the original MP line when it comes to engineering and part count. We have Sideswipe on the way, and we're not sure who's next given the Decepticons are still huge and there is no plan yet to determine if Optimus will get a redo to go with Jetfire or not. Until then, Unique Toys helps us go haha to the haters with the appropriately named Dumb & Dumber, so let's see how they turned out!

Here we have Dumb and Dumber in their vehicle modes, and they are pretty close approximations of the Chevy Beat and Trax Skids and Mudflap turned into for Revenge of the Fallen. Obviously they lack the Chevy logos because these are unlicensed, but these do a better job at matching the on screen props better than Hasbro could with Dino. That said, they aren't 100% accurate in these modes. Skids is pretty close to what we saw apart from.needomg a slightly pearlescent green, but Mudflap should not only be a redder shade than he currently is, but he is missing the carbon fiber add-ons for the front and back! You have something vaguely serving a similar purpose for the ridges over the tires, but that's not even close to the color they should be. I know that Unique Toys prioritized the robot mode, which never had those carbon fiber grays, but imagine if Skids had none of the side decals present in his altmode? That would be just as incomplete, now wouldn't it? As a result, it looks more like the concept models pre-modifications for ROTF. Also, one minor nitpick is you can see the tabs near the rear hitches of the altmodes. That said, if one twin manages to win this category, it's Skids, all thinks to appearing more complete than Mudflap could. That doesn't make Mudflap automatically awful, but I'm sure something could have been done with the specific colors for both modes. Then again, G1 Bombshell had a similar issue where his altmode's battle thorax being purple while the robot mode torso was grey.

They surprisingly have interiors much like their Human Alliance toys once did, and while I don't have the right scale of figures to see how well they fit, these at least have proven to fit the likes of Simmons when he once rode one of the Twins. We even have steering wheels! Speaking of wheels, the rims are made out of die-cast while the tires are rubber. Never saw a toy do the former trick, but it's a cool one nonetheless.

For an alt mode size comparison, here we have Dumb and Dumber next to ol' reliable in the form of MPM-3 Bumblebee. This seems to match up how the prop vehicles scaled next to each other, and while I have a few gripes with Mudflap in terms of accuracy, I won't let that he at least completes this Chevy trio in a weird traffic light kind of way. They were the most prominent group of Autobots we saw in the second half of the movie, from the moment Sam and friends were escorted away from the Decepticons after Optimus died.

Transforming Skids is fairly involved but thankfully not as bad as I anticipated. The main issue I would have mostly stems from the front wheels having nowhere to really lock in place, instead depending on the friction of the joints and enough parts to keep the arms from sagging the wrong way whenever you move them around. The rest of the transformation is at least close to what we got before, such as making the backpacks as compact as possible while having similar leg transformations to what other MPMs did where there are more panels used bulk the legs up. Skids works pretty well for the most part, though he ends up looking a bit fat in some angles. Not that it's entirely against his squat design, but then again, it could stem from how scenes featuring him were shot. That said, this is at least less shellformery than the old toy was, and I like that the doors are folded up kind of like Bumblebee's VW Beetle design, especially since the Human Alliance toy got that wrong.

As for Mudflap, he transforms just about the same, though his proportion issues are less noticeable either because of the door wings or because of his slightly boxier alt mode. That said, the torso doesn't have that much of a derpy face look, compared to the CG model so maybe that could have been faked with the gray coloring? While the thighs are the same from Skids, everything else is distinct for Mudflap, though for some reason he came out first despite his number being UTR07. One positive is that his left forearm has a little winch for when he needs to go grappling around, like when he fought against Devastator. And as you can tell by now neither have their backs match the more broken up details from the CG models.

The head sculpts each have their strengths and weaknesses, Mudflap moreso from how underpainted his face is. It appears Skids has been at least painted with the same pearlescent green I was hoping would be used throughout him, and maybe that would at least help the face from looking undercooked. One funny thing is because the ears are the same in terms of detailing and ball joints, you can make them have the swapped orientations. Muds and Skidflap, anyone?

Articulation consists of ball jointed necks, swivels for the shoulders moving front and back and ratchets for moving in and out, bicep rotation, ratcheted elbows, conjoined finger articulation for the smaller hands and thumbs, but individual finger articulation for the larger hands (bird time!), waist swivels, universal hips, thigh swivels, ratcheted knees, and ankle pivots. Their guns are hand held and are very generic-looking. They don't really fit that well with the movie aesthetic, and at least would look better with paint to make them fit better with their own designs. That said, it is funny how they're likely ambidextrous that way, and said guns may be accurate to the Titan comics.

Here we have them once again with Bumblebee. Robot mode scale is going to be a bit harder to work with this time than in their vehicle modes, mostly due to how the Twins were 8 feet if you consider their mass distribution and how squat they tend to be. You can make them squatter if you were to pose them a certain way, but given toy limitations, even for third party standards, it may not be as ideal as one would expect. That said, maybe if Hasbro finally grew a pair and made Studio Series versions of the Twins, they might scale better with the MPM group?

Overall, Dumb and Dumber aren't perfect when it comes to accuracy or scale, especially Dumber not having any of the carbon fiber grey in his altmode or not having enough paint to accentuate his head sculpt, but to give them credit, it's amazing to see how much of a robot they can make out of these smaller vehicle modes and maintain robot modes that aren't shellformer-like. Plus, in a sea filled with so many G1 Prime recreations for the MP scale, a heavier bias towards AOE and TLK for the Chinese market, and Hasbro preferring to do unnecessary characters for Studio Series that have nothing to do with the live action movies, who else to do the Twins justice than Unique Toys? Saying that makes me wish Black Apple made their ice cream versions that are chibified, but hey, maybe UT can do the DOTM versions with a few mods for each brother while using the same altmode. Until then, maybe wait for a sale on these two, and get them from places like TFSafari or ShowZStore rather than US sellers on eBay that charge double the prices.

Final ranking: ⭐⭐⭐ and a half out of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

McFarlane DC Multiverse Larfleeze & Lobo review

It's that time again where we have to review two different villains with little to no correlation beyond the company that made them. Larfleeze is an Orange Lantern so deeply obsessed with greed that he would outright keep this power of avarice away from anyone else. He made his debut in 2008 as one of the Blackest Night participants, was forced to share his power with Lex Luthor temporarily, and was even given his own Christmas spotlight. As for Lobo, he is more well known than Larboi, no doubt thanks to appearing much earlier than the greedy bastard (1983, making a 25 year gap between debuts), and was intended to be a villain for a while before he was later repurposed as a bounty hunter with various goofy yet hardcore stories when he isn't involved with his anti-hero actions. Whether you know him as the Main Man or the Last Czarnian, you would see him in stuff like the DCAU (with a Flash-animated series) or having been in the short lived Krypton series. Oh and he is also played by Jason Momoa in potential flop Supergirl, because God won't let us have a movie directed by Michael Bay and would rather have us deal with the DOA DCU. Anyways, let's see how McFarlane's figures turned out!

Here we have Larfleeze in-hand, and while he may seem new at first glance, he is a reuse of Dawnbreaker (an evil version of Batman powered by a Green Lantern ring from Earth-32). I never got Dawnbreaker, but even if I did, I think the reuse works pretty well for a character whose design came out when the Lantern suits started to have a bit more detail. I love that the orange is metallic and not neon safety levels of garish, especially given how that color specifically has that problem when translated in other toys I've seen. The deco is generally crisp apart from the shoulder emblems looking slightly off model from the chest emblem, likely due to scale. The skinnier proportions honestly work even better for Larfleeze than they do Dawnbreaker, especially with Larfleeze being both alien and not usually one to use physical strength thanks to his bigger commitment to greed than anything. Plus, he almost has that Waluigi-esque energy. 

Head sculpt is like a mix between Beta Ray Bill and an alien cattle with tusks; while I wish he had an articulated jaw, I love that the fur is painted and likely given a wash to make it appear layered and natural without appearing like orange frosting. Articulation may be the same as usual, but in spite of reusing the same effect parts I first own from Blackfire, they at least fit someone who uses his powers from the lantern he possessed.

His other accessory is the same lantern accessory we mostly see from the GLC. Even if the grip on the left hand is a bit wonky, we know it's his and his only. Next to the classic Hal Jordan, he may look a bit more modern in detail compared to the Green Lantern, but not too much so where Larfleeze is textured enough to look like a live action suit...and thankfully not the DCU Lanterns show variety. Now to get more Lanterns wherever I may find them...

And here we have Lobo in-hand, specifically the Platinum version in more classic colors. This isn't the first time we got this character in McFarlane's DC run, but it is the first version of him that I own in general, so is it a good figure to own of the main man? In terms of proportions, Lobo contrasts Larfleeze with a bulkier build that not only goes well with the fictional world of superheroes and villains, but it also makes perfect sense for a character who was once drawn by Simon Bisley; despite being intended to serve as a parody of someone like Wolverine, his biker attitude made him more of a fan favorite despite being an intended jab at the antihero trope. I love the wild  clothes he wears with the ripped, sleeveless jacket, denim accompanied with these mean-looking boots and a belt with a skull as the buckle. The fingerless gloves are also fit for somebody who wants to get a good grip on his space bike while still wanting to leave his fingertips exposed. I already described Larfleeze as Waluigi-like, and this guy could be closer to Wario in some regard, mixed with a few bits of Sons of Anarchy and, you guessed it, Wolverine. While the blue may look a bit oversaturated for some people's tastes, at least the "BITE ME FAN BOY" print on his back is has no QC errors.

Head sculpt is equally as wild as a boomer biker wished he could be, and while some (mainly AnthonysCustoms) have said he looked like Vegeta, keep in mind that was how he was drawn in the 90s, while some appearances gave him slicker hair that went down. He has blue shading applied, but I'm not sure if I'd rather have the blue downplayed or at least give him a more neutral face. Articulation is standard as usual, but he comes with a hook with an actual metal chain rather than one molded to wrap around an arm! I saw this feature already with Doomslayer and Spawn, both from the Elite Edition line, and I appreciate them going for something a little more authentic. Also, that is not a random dolphin toy; space dolphins are associated with Lobo because they are one of the very few things he cares about in life, and they also help him deal with his hangovers.

The other accessories he comes with are a giant blaster rifle that almost looks like it could come out of a Transformer's arm in the High Moon Cybertron games (but in a good way) as well as an oversized dagger that is better suited for stabbing alien beasts bigger than him. He has to defend himself after all. Paint is mostly reserved to the handle on the dagger, but at least these are not as rubbery as some other weapons were.

As far as prior uses are concerned, the original is based on his DC Rebirth appearance with the more muted colors and black jacket. Also, yes, that is his hook weapon only facing forward for some reason. Also for some reason, the figure was released in prototype gray, and that is only good for customs or completionists.

Lobo also saw a Deluxe release that came with the same screaming head we see for this release, his dog, a wicked as hell guitar that is probably impractical for anyone else to play, and the space bike that comes in a few pieces before you assemble it. Also I clouded is a stand that features his appropriately themed logo. I would have gotten this but I don't know if it's in demand in the aftermarket. Oh and the original version of the Collector Edition, which is functionally the same as the one we have here, but the colors here are the same as the ones we covered earlier, only with a bluer hue.

Here we have Lobo with Superman for a general size comparison, since Supes is one of the taller McFarlane bucks in this 1/10 scale, and Lobo has him beat by a smidge. Surprisingly, his blue is a bit brighter than Superman's, despite the biker guy trying to be edgy and what not. Despite my issues with Lobo here and there, I think I ended up.liking this figure a bit more than I expected. Not as much as Larfleeze, but he still deserves some love. That said, weird how now we get a Collector Edition after the regular and Deluxe releases, but then again, it's likely made to tie in with the Sid Phillips looking ass Supergirl movie. If you already got prior versions of Lobo, you may not need this one.

Final ranking: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Larfleeze)

⭐⭐⭐ and a half out of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Lobo)