REVIEW PART 2: Mattel Justice League Unlimited Triple Packs

Set #2: This triple pack contains JLU core members Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman.

Superman

Superman is not a character easily altered. He is probably the most well-known and loved superhero of all time. His costume and appearance are legendary, with the blue suit, red boots, abdomen, and cape, and ‘S’ symbol on the chest. His powers are many and varied, including super strength, flight, x-ray vision, heat vision, etc. The JLU version of Superman continues the established tradition.

The Superman action figure is one of the second generation JLU figures with advanced articulation. While the JLU figures began with the standard 5-points only, some of the main heroes now have ten. Superman has articulation at the neck, shoulders, elbows, waist, hips, and knees. While for JLU toys this is huge and offers decent poseability, most other toy lines have expanded well past this limit.

Superman features standard paint applications, with bright colors and sharp contrasts. He is as red, blue, and yellow as ever. Even his signature forehead curl is present. Superman’s body has the now-classic JLU proportions, with an immense upper body, small waist, and thin legs. His facial features can best be described as blocky, with an enormous squared off chin. Attached to his shoulders is his cape, made of relatively flimsy rubber. Both of Superman’s fists are open, and there are no holes in his feet. He has no included accessories.

Superman is a classic character and figure. He is large and heavy, overcoming the stability issue with a well-balanced cape. His poseability is above-average for JLU figures. However, the figures in this pack are made from fairly soft plastic that is easily bent out of shape. The joints, never a high point for Mattel, are quite basic, with exposed pegs and hinges. Unfortunately, there are also several unsightly mold lines, especially along the shoulders. All that being said, who can turn down a Superman with better than average articulation?

Batman

The case for Batman’s fame and popularity is about the same as that for his pal, Superman. However, Batman has undergone many revisions over the past decade or so, with various incarnations in cartoons, comic books, and movies. JLU, however, continues the classic Batman image.

The Batman figure wears a dark blue costume with yellow bat-belt and black boots, gloves, abdomen, bat symbol, cowl, and cape. The eyes are white. Like Superman, Batman’s large cape is flimsy rubber; unlike with the Man of Steel, the cape severely hampers Batman’s stability.

Batman’s body is very similar to that of Superman (though not quite as largely muscled), with the exaggerated JLU proportions. Also the same is the articulation: neck, shoulders, elbows, waist, hips, and knees.

Along with the body, Batman shares the problems of Superman. The plastic is soft and the joints unsightly. Batman, unlike Superman, has a major stability problem and only stands up when bent forward at an angle. This is mainly due to the large and heavy cape pulling him backward. With something supporting him from behind Batman will look just fine.

Wonder Woman

The third member of the iconic Justice League in this set is Wonder Woman, heroine extraordinaire. The Princess has never looked better in her skimpy costume, and features a more detailed face than previous figures.

Wonder Woman has pretty much always had the same costume, which this figure has. Her tall boots are red with white piping, her short shorts blue with white stars. Her bustier is red with golden eagle design, she has a yellow belt and tiara with red star, and her bullet-deflecting bracelets and star earrings are silver. Her detailed face has large blue eyes and red lipstick, and is framed by her large black hair.

Female JLU figures are just as exaggerated as their male counterparts, if in different ways. Wonder Woman has extremely long and thin legs, a thin waist, and large bust. Her face is softer and larger, with almost anime-like proportions in the facial features.

Wonder Woman is articulated at the neck, shoulders, and hips. Her legs rotate at the V-crotch rather than a T, meaning that those joints are pretty much useless unless she’s going to be sitting with her legs spread.

Wonder Woman has one accessory, a clear plastic stand (sadly there is no Lasso of Truth). Like Katma Tui of JLU before her, Wonder Woman DOES have holes in her feet for the use of a stand! Ironically, Wonder Woman can stand up just fine on her own.

Wonder Woman is a high quality figure and very recommended. She looks great, can stand on her own, and female superhero toys are always in high demand. She may be the best of the set.

No one can deny the popularity of the trio in this set. Whether or not you need these new versions, though, is another story. They each have their merits and detractions, with Wonder Woman being the most positive and Batman having the most problems. Children and newer collectors of JLU toys may be attracted to this set the most, and will jump at an opportunity to pick up three of the main heroes in one convenient set.

Review and Images by Scott Rubin