This Isn’t Your Father’s Super Powers Figure...
Retro is certainly in when it comes to toys and collectibles these days,
and depending on your age and level of nostalgia for yesteryear your
mileage will vary. More than anything else the 80s are back in a big
way, especially the 3 ¾ inch scale figures we all loved... and while
some lines like ReAction and others continue that scale with new
characters, others reproduce classic figures in new styles and scales.
One of those is a brand new lineup from Kotobukiya. Joining their 1/10
scale ARTFX+ Statue series are DC Comics Classics, designed to
remind you of the old Kenner Super Powers figures. And of course,
there’s no one better to start with the Man of Steel himself, Superman! Read on as we take a look at this new statue that’ll be in stores very soon.
To toy collectors the Super Powers influences on this new lineup are
apparent from the very first glance at the packaging. Superman comes in
a box and not on a card, but Kotobukiya has gone to great lengths to
make the artwork and design reminiscent and evocative of the old Kenner
card backs. In fact, the package is designed to look like a jumbo
version of the old card on the front and back with all of the same great
iconography and artwork of the titles and character art; there’s even
an “unpunched hook” at the top of the front panel! Where there was once
a plastic bubble holding the action figure is now a photograph of the
new statue, and of course there are added Koto and ARTFX+ icons.
The back panel recreates the original card’s layout with a “Collect Them
All!” section showing off upcoming statues in this line, information
about the Classic line and Superman, and a couple small details showing
off its special features. As an added bonus, the sides of the box look
like a peek into a case of Super Powers figures with three Supermen in a
row!
A few twisty ties later and Superman is free to stand tall in your
display. Rather than sticking to the exact look of the original Super
Powers action figure (which as we all know is pretty dated unless you’re
going 100% for that retro style), Kotobukiya has updated this line with
modern sculpts that are reminiscent of their source material. This Man
of Steel, then, has much better proportions and is far more lifelike
than the toy, with a very detailed sculpt by Atelier Bamboo. The
non-articulated statue stands just under 8 inches tall in the 1/10th
ARTFX+ scale rather than the traditional 3 ¾ inches.
While it may not look exactly like the 80s toy, everything about this
statue is pure Superman from his spit curl to his classic costume (with
red trunks), body type, pose, etc. Clark stands in a typical “action
figure pose,” feet slightly more than shoulder width apart and hands
balled into fists at his sides. There’s a slight tilt downward to
Superman’s head as though he’s looking down at his enemies or watching
over those who need his protection; this may be a specifically Japanese
aesthetic as the previous New 52 ARTFX+ Superman had a similar nod. The
Man of Steel is muscular but not Ed McGuinness-huge, and his skintight
costume is accented with the subtle belt, layered boots, and some
creases. Supes has a good portrait that I think looks best in ¾ views
and has a great profile. You’ll notice that the callbacks to the
original figure even include joint lines in the sculpt, but there is
zero articulation on this statue - they’re just for show. Draped down
Superman’s back is a real cloth cape that’s emblazoned with his “S”
symbol as well, just like the original action figure.
Despite some companies and products over the years proving this wrong,
it shouldn’t be hard to get the paint and colors right on a Superman
statue. This new ARTFX+ version is spot on with the classic bright
blue, red, and yellow that has been iconic for so many years. It’s a
simple but highly visually effective presentation that draws your eye to
details like the “S” shield on Superman’s mighty chest and the yellow
belt with red loops over his trunks. There’s not too much else to say
about the paint work on this statue; Clark’s skin tone is appropriately
light, his eyes blue, and his hair black. Again, all as it should be.
The paint applications are very clean and nothing was out of place.
There were a couple things that made the Super Powers Superman figure
stand out, with hallmarks of the line like a cloth cape and the iconic
“Power Action” feature. The latter, in Superman’s case, was a “Power
Action Punch” activated by squeezing together the figure’s legs. Now,
the ARTFX+ statue is non-articulated, so there’s no squeezing legs or
wildly swinging arms, but Kotobukiya replicated the idea of the
super-punch with an alternate arm! The right arms pop out and slide in
easily, and the punch version is one piece that includes three distinct
arms connected by a motion blur trail as Superman’s fist flies upward
into action! I’ll probably display my Superman with the standard arm
for the most part, but it’ll be fun to switch it up every so often for a
more dynamic look.
The photos really tell the story of this cool statue, bringing back a
specific, classic, and timeless look for the Man of Steel. If you’re a
fan of the Super Powers style or a collector of everything Superman
you’ll definitely want to check out this new ARTFX+ version. In
addition to the nostalgia factor it’s just a really nice looking statue,
made even more unique by its sculpted “articulation,” cloth cape, and
optional power punch arm. Best of all, the 1/10 Superman is only $29.99
(MSRP), making him very affordable and not that much more than the
price of many new 6 or 7 inch scale action figures. Superman will be
out in late August or September at retailers online or near you, and
he’ll be followed in succession by other DC greats like Flash, Green
Lantern, Batman, Robin, and more. Hopefully Kotobukiya will get to all
of the characters released in the original Super Powers line, and even
beyond!
To buy action figures, take a look at BigBadToyStore.com, TheToySource.com, Toynk.com, BriansToys.com, ToyWiz.com, MonkeyDepot.com, EntertainmentEarth.com, Amiami, HobbySearch and Hobbylink
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