Sunday, July 9, 2023

Action Figure Review: Project Superman (Flashpoint) from DC Multiverse by McFarlane Toys

 

   The Target excusive Flashpoint build-a-figure series continues with Project Superman, an alternate take on Kal-El where he was captured as a kid and kept in a secret military complex overseen by General Sam Lane, Lois' dad. Hidden away and experimented on, Superman (known as Subject One) doesn't have access to the rays of Earth's yellow sun, so he's really scrawny and pale. The recent movie The Flash used some of the elements of this storyline, but they used Kara Zor-El/ Supergirl instead of Kal-El. I'll admit that I bought this figure pretty much just to get the pieces for the build a figure of Cyborg as he's not overly exciting on his own. Ready to take a look at Project Superman? Then join me after the break...




The Facts:

Height: 7 inches

Articulation: Hinged toes, double swivel hinged ankles, double hinged knees, swivel thighs, swivel/hinge hips, balljointed waist, balljointed mid torso, swivel/hinge shoulders w/ ballsockets, bicep swivels, double hinged elbows, double swivel/ hinge wrists, and a barbell jointed head.
 
Accessories: Collector card, display stand, and the arms for the Cyborg build-a-figure.
 
Non-Scalper Price: $25 dollars





The Positives:




* Project Superman is definitely a unique take on Supes with an all black outfit, pale skin, and an odd logo across his torso. He definitely looks scrawnier and more sun deprived than any other McFarlane Superman figures, so that's a plus. I mean, the character is supposed to be really thin and wan. 


* The headsculpt is a nice take on the character mixed with the McFarlane DC Mutiverse stye. It's not overy artist specific, but it does capture the feel of the character with a lot of sculpting and paint details to make Kal-El look very gaunt and unhealthy. His hair is really nicely sculpted with a lot of detail, including the curl on the front hanging down, and some stubble. Just a bit; very patchy. His eyes are also very deep with rings around them. 


* Project Superman is a very simple figure with no extraneous elements hanging off of his person, so he's very smooth and easy to pose. Just put him in the sunlight for a few minutes and he's ready to mess somebody up in a variety of poses. Solid articulation with the standard array of joints makes him fun to pose in a variety of emo inspired mopey poses. 

* Project Superman comes with the standard collectible card with some information about his backstory in the Flashpoint universe.


* He also comes with a standard display stand. It's just a simple disc stand with the DC logo on it but it works well and keeps the figure standing upright in most poses.



* Project Superman coms with both arms for Cyborg (Aquaman comes with the body) and, yeah, Vic is definitely going to be a big guy. The Flashpoint Flash is already shipping (mine should be her tomorrow), so we're getting close to completing this guy. Who do think the fourth figure will be? Since McFarlane has already done a Thomas Wayne Batman, I'm hoping for a Martha Wayne Joker but guessing we'll either get Wonder Woman, Deathstroke, or Abin Sur. 
The Negatives:



* While McFarlane has definitely used a thinner body for Subject One, he still looks too muscular. Project Superman is scrawny. Like... inhuman looking skinny. Check out some art; he's clearly not just thin. I get that this is an interpretation of the character and not direct interpretation, but I would have liked more of an emaciated look to the figure since that is what really sets him apart visually. 

   Project Superman. While he's Superman, he's definitely a bit of an unusual choice for this line. He's a bit dull, yeah, and lacking anything cool like extra hands or a more emaciated build, but he's not a bad figure, per say. He's just  bit dull. I'm sure there are hardcore Project Superman fans out there, but for most folks this guy feels like a bonus figure you get for buying Cyborg's arms. He gets a Good rating from me; there's nothing majorly wrong with him, but nothing to get too excited about, either. 

If you're looking for more of Superman, the Man of Steel, you've come to the right place. I've reviewed the One:12 Collective Red Son Superman, the One:12 Collective regular Superman, the Justice League Multiverse Superman, the BvS Multiverse Superman, the Multiverse Earth 23 Superman, Rebirth Superman, the Multiverse DKR Batman/ Suprman 2-pack,  Split Cycle Superman from Mattel's Man of Steel line, Superman from DC Primal Age, the Superman minifigure from Teen Titans Go! To the Movies!, and the 5-pack and 10-pack Superman DC3, Superman DC15 and the Superman DC15 repack from the series 4 5-pack A, Superman DC100 from the Series 4 20-pack and Superman DC52 from the Nano Metalfigs line.


Harley Quinn (The Suicide Squad)
Impulse (Flash War)
The Joker (Infinite Frontier)
Kalibak (The Darkseid War)
Man-Bat (DC Rebirth)
Mister Freeze (Victor Fries)
Nekron (Blackest Night)
Nightwing (Titans)
Raven (Titans)
The Riddler (Arkham City)
Scarecrow (The Dark Knight Trilogy)
The Signal Duke Thomas
Two-Face (The Dark Knight Trilogy)


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2 comments:

  1. Barbecue17July 12, 2023 at 10:52 PM

    So it turns out that this guy uses the same base body as the Jon Kent figure, so it was a reuse. I also just realized that my Cyborg's right arm is actually missing a piece from the top. (There's a pane that fits over the arm, but I just have a hollow area.) McFarlane says on their website that they don't carry parts or do any exchanges for retail purchased items, so I might have to purchase another figure, if I can find one, and swap the arm, then return it as defective. Bummer.

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  2. Barbecue17July 17, 2023 at 12:38 PM

    I'm going to try. I need to reach out to McFarlane and Target. It's been a bit since I've had this figure. When I first got it I assumed that the fourth figure would have a piece that popped into that slot, but now I've realized that, yeah, mine is just missing.

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