Action Figure Barbecue: Wrapping Up 2025: Max Shreck (Batman Returns) from DC Multiverse by McFarlane Toys

"I'm Walken here!"

For many Batman fans, having action figures based on the two Tim Burton films (Batman and Batman Returns) has been kind of a dream. We've seen companies do one or two figures here or there but McFarlane has been making their way backwards through the live action Batman films and finally put out a full series of releases from 1992's Batman Returns, AKA the strangest Batman film ever released but also one of the best. I think we all assumed we'd get figures of Batman, Catwoman, and the Penguin (AKA the Bat, the Cat, and the Penguin) but did anyone think we'd get an action figure of Max Shreck, a unique creation for the film, played by the often imitated but never duplicated Christopher Walken. Woah. Woah! (This review is better if you imagine it being read in Christopher Walken's voice.)
Who expected that, right? He's a ball of fire and a stand out guy in a movie full of actors portraying characters that are larger than life and seemingly divorced from reality. I love it. This isn't the first Christopher Walken action figure I've reviewed but it definitely has the best likeness of any of the figures based on the actor. Named after the actor Max Schreck who played Count Orlok in Nosferatu, Gotham's Shreck is just a poor schmoe who got lucky. And sue him if he wants to give some back. Actually, he's a wealthy, ruthless businessman who plans to steal Gotham's power and earn himself a massive profit. He also murders/ attempts to murder Selina Kyle, which is his biggest crime in my book. He was talking to my girl all wrong. It was the wrong tone. Even as a second grader, I wanted to stab him in the face with a soldering iron. Catwoman takes care of him, though.

This figure is a Red Platinum, which means he's supposed to be a bit harder to find, but he seems to readily be available online. That's good for folks that want him. Mine was a Christmas gift. Like all of the "Deluxe Theatrical Release" DC Multiverse figures he's quite a bit overpriced. Mine also has a weird QC issue which I'll get to in a minute. So...do you have a fever and the only cure is an action figure of Max Shreck? Then join me after the break...

The Facts:

Height: 7 1/8ths inches

Articulation: Hinged toes, double swivel hinged ankles, double hinged knees, thigh swivels, swivel/hinge hips, balljointed waist, swivel/hinge shoulders w/ ballsockets, bicep swivels, double hinged elbows, swivel/ hinge wrists, and a barbell jointed head.

Accessories: 2 swappable portraits, collector card, and display stand.

Non-Scalper Price: $35 dollars

The Positives:

* I have some problems with the cost of the figure and a weird quality control issue with the neck but that is not going to stop me from praising this as a great looking figure. The articulation model might be a bit outdated at this point but, darn, this looks great on a shelf and it's about everything I really want from Max Shreck. He just stands there looking cool and menacing. Batman Returns takes place in the winter and Shreck is all dressed up in layers, both for style and warmth. He's wearing his fantastic black and grey striped suit with a black overcoat and the paint and sculpt is all quite good. That red bowtie adds a nice burst of color, too, making the grey and black really look even bleaker in comparison.

* This is an excellent portrait of Christopher Walken. I think McFarlane's sculpting on portraits has overall been quite solid in the comic based figures but has always been hit or miss for the movie based figures. The Batman Returns line has been really spot on, though, and it's the Walken likeness that sells this figure. He just looks stern and frightening. Apparently, Tim Burton wanted David Bowie for the roll but Bowie declined to appear in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me. Interesting to think what might have been, but Walken brought some real menace to the roll and he looks great here.

* Spoiler alert for a movie that's 35 years old: Catwoman fries Schreck using a stun gun, an electrical cable, and a kiss. It's pretty wild for a film that had a McDonald's Happy Meal tie in. Wowie-wow-wow-wow! When Bruce finds Shreck's body, well, this is what he looks like. I love it! Those eyes are wild and that unhinged jaw and fried hairdo are perfect. It's a great choice for an alternate head and another entry in the shortlist of action figures who are meant to be dead, like Theodred and Mattel's DKR Joker.

* One thing I think McFarlane does really well with their suited and jacketed figures is to not make them look bulky. They look appropriately proportioned, like someone who is legitimately wearing multiple layers. It's a bit of trickery with the entire torso really just being a layered overlay with a thin jacket shell over top, but it's convincing. With a little simple customization work you could have your own figure of the Continental!

* I've heard rumors on the internet that some collector take their Max Shreck figures and play with them by having them "dance" around to the Fatboy Slim music video "Weapon of Choice" that stars Christopher Walken. If that's how you want to spend your free time, mister, well, there's no shame in that. The general suited bodies for DC Multiverse are just fine. They're pretty durable and move OK. Again, the articulation feels a bit out of date, but I imagine this figure can do most things you'd want from a Max Shreck figure. At this point I doubt McFarlane will do much updating for pinless joints and such.

* Like usual, you get a display stand and a collectible card. The fronts of the cards seem to be the same for everyone, though there is an image of Shreck (not Shrek) on the back. There's also a brief blurb about the movie: "The sequel to “Batman™” pits the caped crusader against his most fiendish opponents yet: the evil Penguin™ and the sinuous and mysterious Catwoman™"

The Negatives:

* OK, so here's the QC issue: Rather than have the neck peg attached to something in the torso it is instead glued to the dress shirt piece (which is just one piece, like a dickie). The dress shirt front is glued to the inner torso and has come loose. That's a really weird design, especially for a figure that's supposed to have a swappable head. When you pull on the head you're pulling at the glue holding the dress shirt front in place. I can glue it back down (nothing is actually broke) but it's a terrible design. The neck needs to be attached to something solid, not glued.

As you can tell, I'm pretty thrilled with having a Max Shreck figure and a Christopher Walken action figure. Standing on the shelf and just chilling out with other Batman movie villains, he's quite good with two excellent portraits. Unfortunately, the weird engineering of the neck that prevents swapping the head without damage. Also, why is this guy a "Deluxe Theatrical Release" considering he's pretty much a reused body with new portraits, right? There's nothing deluxe about this guy. I like him, but I'm disappointed with the engineering and the overly inflated price. Of course, what is the chances that anyone is ever going to deliver a Max Shreck action figure again? I like the figure but he's definitely the definition of an Eh figure. Only the most hardcore fans of Batman Returns, Max Shreck, and Christopher Walken need to apply.