Thursday, November 21, 2024

Action Figure Review: Hugo Strange as Batman (Batman: Transference) from DC Multiverse by McFarlane Toys

 

   Today I'm checking out a Batman figure that isn't really a Batman figure. Who could it be? Why Dr. Hugo Strange dressed as Batman, of course. The packaging sources this figure to 2020s's Batman: Transference, but Hugo Strange has worn a Batman costume many times in the past. In fact, you could say he does it obsessively. I've actually owned a few Hugo Strange figures, including the DC Collectibles Arkham City version, the DC Direct Secret Files figure, and Diamond's Gotham version. A few years back I sold off quite a few of my DC Direct/ DC Collectibles figures as I was growing concerned about impending breakage (many of them used clear plastic for joints and seemed to crumble over time). There are quite a few I regret selling, like the Arkham City Hugo Strange, but this guy is a nice fill in for the Secret Files release who was dressed the same way. Interestingly, this is a Platinum release but it's not a variant. There's just not a standard counterpart for this figure. He fortunately wasn't too difficult to find and I've seen him on Walmart shelves quite a few over the past two months. Ready to check out Hugo Strange as Batman? Then join me after the break...


   

The Facts:

Height: 7 5/8ths 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 ball jointed neck.
 
Accessories: Bruce Wayne mask, four swappable hands, display stand, and collectible card.
 
Non-Scalper Price: $23 dollars







The Positives:

* If I were only getting one Dr. Hugo Strange figure in McFarlane's DC Multiverse line, I'd take a version with a lab coat. I really wish we'd see more of the Arkham-verse figures in DC Multiverse. They all seemed to sell well. I loved the DC Direct/ DC Collectibles lines, but they were really prone to breakage and degradation. Anyway, this look would be my second choice. Hugo Strange is depicted as a tall, often pretty well built guy, so having him on a taller Batman base body works. I believe this body was used for the Batman Year 2 figure, which is one I don't own. It's an older body but it works (I think it borrows parts from the Three Jokers body). A classic belt with capsules, neat paint, and an unusually shaped Batman logo in the center which is actually a separate piece.





* The portrait is awesome on this. I mean, this is really, really good. Hugo Strange has never looked better in action figure form. McFarlane's sculptors nail these comic versions of the Batman villains most of the time and Strange is a standout. That beard and his grin just make him so creepy. There are lots of veins and creases on his forehead and bald dome, too. And the glasses? They look great. They're a separate piece but permanently attached so they don't come loose. Interestingly, the head and the neck are one solid piece here, so swapping this onto another body might not be as simple as some folks wanting to customize might hope.




* I still remember how it used to be pretty common to open up a new Batman figure and find that the gauntlets were bent or malformed, especially with Mattel's figures. McFarlane Toys is doing a great job of keeping that from happening and I'm thrilled everytime I open a new Batman figure (or Hugo dressed as Batman here) and end up with sharp, pointy blades on the gauntlets. These are some very dramatic, very sharp gauntlet blades. 




* McFarlane is going with soft goods capes more and more frequently these days and I really like this one. I've seen a few folks comment that it's not long enough but I think it's plenty long. The material's not bad. It's not super thick but it doesn't feel overly cheap or of a poor quality. It's a bit shiny, so it does have some nice flair and matches the rest of the blue outfit pieces nicely.







* The cape is wired across the top so you can make Doctor (Hugo) Strange's cape move along with the figure. You know that Hugo poses like this in front of the mirrors in his houses. He probably pulls up a huge fan to make a wind effect, stands on chairs while pretending they're gargoyles, and does the voice, too. 





* Articulation wise, this guy is solid. This is an older sculpt but it still makes for Hugo Strange being a solid and sturdy toy. He's still very fun figure to pose and mess around with and being able to pose the cape is a cool feature for a figure under $25 dollars. If you've had any other DC Multiverse figures, particularly a Batman or Superman, you probably won't be too surprised by what you get here. 





* Hugo Strange comes with four swappable hands: A pair of gesturing, grappling hands, a gripping right hand, and a left hand fist. They swap easily and help you to mix things up just a bit. 





* The oddest accessory in the DC multiverse to date just might be this Bruce Wayne mask. It looks like one of the Mission: Impossible masks pulled off. Or another prosthetic from the folks that created Karl Havoc. I think it looks like someone pulled the skin off of Christian Bale's Bruce Wayne. It's pretty cool, though really disturbing too.







* You get a collectible card and display stand included here, both of which are always appreciated. The collectible card features Hugo Strange's grinning mug with Batman reflected in the lenses of his glasses. Nice! 





    Doctor Hugo Strange turned out really well. I like him quite a bit. Sure, I'd love (and prefer) a version of Hugo Strange in a lab coat, but this is a very legitimate look/ variant for the character. The portrait is incredible, the mask accessory suitable disturbing and unique, and the cape is well done. It seems a lot of collectors also wanted to see a Batman head here (DC Direct's Secret Files Hugo Strange did include one), for this being a standard figure, I think there's a lot to like here. It's also another comic Batman villain for the shelf. Who still needs to be done in a classic comic style for McFarlane? Poison Ivy, Two-Face, Black Mask, Scarecrow, and Harley Quinn.


If you want to count this as a Batman figure since Hugo Strange is playing dress up, you could. You'll find all of my Batman reviews at The Dark Knight Gallery.

For more reviews of Dr. Hugo Strange I've also looked at the DC Collectibles Arkham City Dr. Hugo Strange. 

For more DC Multiverse reviews check out the following:
Harley Quinn (The Suicide Squad)
Impulse (Flash War)
The Joker- Bank Robber (The Dark Knight)
The Joker (The Dark Knight Rises) Jokerized
The Joker (Infinite Frontier)
The Joker- Sonar Vision (The Dark Knight)
Justice Buster (Batman: Endgame)
Kalibak (The Darkseid War)
Man-Bat (DC Rebirth)
Mister Freeze (Victor Fries)

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