Action Figure Barbecue: Action Figure Review: Justice Buster (Batman: Endgame) from DC Multiverse by McFarlane Toys

Wednesday, October 4, 2023

Action Figure Review: Justice Buster (Batman: Endgame) from DC Multiverse by McFarlane Toys

I'm always happy to see McFarlane Toys cover something Batman related from the New 52 era as it was such a great time for Batman and the Batfamily. Today I'm checking out one of the newest Megafigs out there: The Justice Buster! Mattel released the Justice Buster as a build-a-figure back in 2016 as part of their DC Comics Multiverse line but it was definitely a bit undersized and it felt kind of simplistic and toyish. Now we've got the Toddfather's take on the Justice Buster and I can definitely say it's much larger. This is a massive toy and it makes a pretty impressive addition to your batman shelf (or shelves, let's be honest). What do you need when you have to fight off legions of Jokerized members of the Justice League? The Justice Buster, of course. Let's get things rolling after the break...

The Facts:

Height:10 inches

Articulation: Balljointed ankles, hinged lower leg, hinged knee, swivel thighs, swivel/hinge hips, balljointed waist, swivel/hinge shoulders, bicep swivels, hinged elbows, and a barbell jointed head.

Accessories: Display stand and collectible card

Non-Scalper Price: $38-$40 dollars

Comparison:

* Just for fun here's a comparison between the McFarlane Justice Buster (left) and Mattel's Justice Buster (on the right). Overall I think McFarlane's looks better, has better articulation, and is just a chunkier, more intimidating toy, though the head on Mattel's actually looks more accurate. McFarlane's is also missing the shoulder spikes, which is kind of bizarre.

The Positives:

* The McFarlane Justice Buster is pretty decent sized. It's not massive or oversized or anything, but it is large enough that you can believe that Batman is inside of the mech-suit.

The Positives:

* The Justice Buster really does look like a piece of machinery. Just looking at it without picking it up, you'd expect it to be quite heavy. It definitely looks like it's made from metal and there are multiple different shades of grey used on the different areas of the suit, many with subtle yet effective weathering effects. It's a big, bulky suit that definitely feels like Batman's answer to Iron Man's Hulkbuster armor. There are plenty of small sculpted details like rivets, exhaust ports, and various plates, along with a nice mixture of damage. Nothing too heavy, but just small areas where you can see various dings and nicks.

* The head is very cool. It's flat with a very low profile, probably a safer bet than something massive which would present an easier target. McFarlane's helmet looks a bit sleeker than Mattel's and with better paint and detail. I'm not sure who is more correct on the "ears" on the front of the suit. McFarlane's lay flat along the top of the head while Mattel's stick up. I think the truth is probably somewhere in the middle, though in some art images they do look like they're flush with the top of the Justice Buster's dome.

* There are lots of bat shapes worked into the design of the Justice Buster. Not only do the shoulder pads form bat-like shapes but the place on the back where they connect also looks like a bat emblem. The details continue on the back including a spine like exoskeleton and two thruster in the middle of the back.

* Not only is the main batsymbol on the front just a really cool looking piece but there's lots of visible "stuff" behind it, too.

* There isn't any finger articulation but the fingers look really cool and they're massive. The Justice Buster definitely packs a punch! One hand is posed for punching while the other is open a bit, probably able to do some gripping.

* I also love these batlogo cutouts on the sides of the hands. They let you peak inside and see all of the pistons and such inside the hand. I mean, they're just sculpted details and not real pistons, but it's pretty slick nonetheless.

* The Justice Buster has some massive boots. He has a huge footprint and stands very well on his own in most poses.

* Like most DC Multiverse releases, the Justice Buster comes with a collectible card and a standard display stand with the DC logo. You won't need the stand for the Justice Buster but surely you can still put it to good use with another figure.

* The Justice Buster has sturdy articulation and most of the hinged joints have ratchets on them, keeping them nicely in place despite how heavy the limbs are. The swivel joints on the biceps and thighs are also really nice and tight, helping to add a bit of nuance to your posing.

The Negatives:

* My only complaint is that the balljointed waist seems a bit loose. It's not wibbly wobbly or anything, but it's looser than I'd like.

This is a really nice Justice Buster with some very well thought out articulation, an excellent sculpt, and a nice mix of colors and paints that do keep this from being just a giant grey mass. I would have appreciated articulated fingers for sure, and perhaps more paint applications on the little techy bits, but it's tough to complain that this isn't a very respectable offering coming in at under $40 retail. This thing is a brute and definitely surpasses Mattel's version. There are a couple redesign changes made from the comic appearance, but nothing that really hurts the toy. It's a Great 1/2 bat-mech for Batman to do some Justice busting in.

If you're looking for more of the Justice Buster I've also reviewed the Mattel DC Comics Multiverse Justice Buster.

For more DC Multiverse reviews check out the following: