REVIEW: Mattel Justice League Unlimited Triple Packs

Mattel's Justice League Unlimited three packs have undergone several evolutions, and the new incarnation matches other current DC Comics toy packaging like the new Superman series. The main colors are purple and black in vertical stripes on the card behind the figures. On the top of the card are depicted the main heroes and villains from the cartoon. On the left is “DC Super Heroes” with the new DC Comics logo. The figures are encased in angles in their plastic with an embedded star design along the right-hand side. The bottom of that section lists the figures included.

The back of the card is dominated by a cool diorama of figures standing on a translucent purple crystal landscape. Other figures shown include Aquaman, Stargirl, Parasite, Green Arrow, Hawk, and Volcana. At the bottom is copyright and license info.

Set #1: Lightray, Amazo, and Nemesis

Lightray

Lightray was a minor Justice League-related hero, one of the New Gods of New Genesis. Like his comrade Orion, Lightray fought for good, sometimes alongside the Justice League and the heroes of Earth. Possessed of fantastic light-based powers Lightray can emit photon blasts and lasers, create holograms and mini suns, and even fly at the speed of light.

Lightray looks like a flamboyant sort. His costume consists of a white bodysuit with boots in red and gold trim, gold gauntlets with black bands, red abdomen, a gold belt with black painted details, and flesh colored hands. On his chest is a symbol: a downward pointing red arrow in a black circle. Lightray’s head is a unique sculpt with a staring wide-eyed face, gold head harness, and red wavy flaming hair.

The Lightray action figure is based on the standard JLU body, and so is articulated at the neck, shoulders, and hips. He has the large upper body, small waist, and tiny legs like the rest. The body has no sculpted details individual to this character. As with most others he has no accessories, and no holes in his feet.

Though Lightray is a minor character, his action figure is a nice addition to the JLU line and the growing number of superheroes, especially with fellow New God Orion (sold separately). He has the usual JLU figure balance problem, but careful positioning can keep him standing straight and tall.

Amazo

Built by the villainous Professor Ivo Amazo was an android powered by absorption cells that allowed him to mimic the superpowers of heroes. It was one of the League’s most powerful and formidable foes. In the Justice League cartoon its back-story was similar, though connected to Lex Luthor. Amazo of the cartoon has nanotech powers that mimic and enhance superpowers. It fought with the League on several occasions.

Amazo is a very simple action figure. Its body is the most-used of the JLU series, the same one that comprises Lightray and others. It has the traditional large upper-body, small waist, and thin legs. However, a pair of large feathered wings are attached to its back, and its face is blank with a tiny slit around its eyes. The body has no sculpted details, though the wings do have sculpted feathers. Amazo’s paint job is very simple. It is altogether a solid blue-gray color. Its visor-like section is black, with two red pinpoints for eyes.

With the standard JLU body comes the standard articulation: neck, shoulders, and hips. Amazo has no accessories.

Not too much more can be said about this android. It looks simple, but is an interesting new take on an old character. It is fearsome without a face, and looks cool. Also, thanks to the weight of its wings, Amazo is more stable on its small feet than most other JLU figures.

Nemesis

The man who would be Nemesis had his normal life turned upside-down when he became a vigilante and secret U.S. operative. He later became a superhero and member of the Suicide Squad. His appearances in Justice League Unlimited were fairly minor ones.

Nemesis is an interesting JLU figure. While he is based on the standard JLU body, the differences are threefold. First, the figure has enlarged lower legs to depict pants and tall boots. His head is unique, a typically-styled JLU head with an enormous square chin and long blonde hair. Finally, Nemesis has an attached accessory, a brown plastic chest harness with non-removable black pistol in its holster.

Nemesis’ bodysuit is completely black, with his personal symbol on his chest, a black scales of Justice over a red circle. His hands are flesh-colored, as is his face, and his hair is long and blonde. Articulation is standard at neck, shoulders, and hips.

Nemesis may not be the flashiest superhero, but he is an interesting-looking secret agent type, tough and no nonsense with his shoulder harness and black stealth suit. The thicker lower legs help alleviate the JLU balance problems.

As the JLU brand continues to expand it’s nice to see sets like this. Fans may love the main heroes, but only so many versions of Superman can be appreciated. These may be relatively minor characters, but they add to the heroes and villains in a JLU figure collection, and that’s always a good thing. For fans of the JLU and superhero toys this set is recommended.

Review and Images by Scott Rubin

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