And that’s where the fact of the matter that she’s a decent figure comes in. Not only did they decide to go with this version, they did a good chunk of new tooling to get it right. New boots & feet, the new belt, a new torso with her trademark top, a new forearm, and then the new head sculpt. Pretty much all these parts are well done too. The face looks a little off – is it the lower lip, maybe? – but it’s not a bad sculpt. I love the hair! The details on the boots, belt, & bustier are all good (though the figure appears to be a bit more… modest than the comic version. Ha! Adult Collector in name only, right?). Beatriz does feel a little small (the women in the line appear to have decreased over time), but she’s listed at 5’ 8” and so the figure is actually just a tad a larger than she should be.
On the paints, a lot of the figure is molded in the appropriate color. The good thing is that the paints are mostly sharp wherever they’re found, even the lacing on the bustier’s back under the hair. The facial details are sharply done, but the right eye is ever so-slightly off. It’s not that bad in person, but you’ll notice a couple pics where I caught it just right for it look off. There’s also a slight discoloration on the cheek. I haven’t had any luck getting it cleaned up & I’m not sure what the source is.
Aritculation is really the only place where the figure loses a few stars. Part of that is because the DC female bucks never really gelled into a great base for the figures. For Fire, the buck causes a problem primarily at the hips, where the front of the lower torso blocks the hip ball a bit and kinda creates a v-crotch. The other area where the articulation is a little off the ankles. The boots weren’t sculpted so that the ankle had forward movement and that really limits the deeper poses the figure could find itself in. Other than those two areas the standard articulation is present and works as it should.
Fire does include one accessory! A boon for a Club Infinite Earths figure. It’s a clip-on flame that fits over either fist. It’s a neat little touch, but possibly too little, too late now that this line has an expiration date.
Overall, Fire is a fine figure. The sculpt is sharp, she got the new pieces that she needed, and the paints & articulation were executed fairly well with just one or two areas of concern. It just doesn’t feel like a success though. Maybe it’s that I’m still bummed about the state of the line, maybe it’s just that I really wanted the powered up version. I don’t quite know – it could just be that she needs Ice to go with her and having half of something just isn’t all that fun? In any case, I only feel like I (& those who may feel similarly) need to knock it off. Not every figure will be a Green Arrow or Kobra. And that’s okay. If we really want the line to continue – we need to champion the solid figures like Fire.
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Her face is experiencing some definite issues, not unlike those old Mego figures from the 70’s with their purple heads. Yikes! Her jawline is also way off when viewed from the side. Oh, well… There’s always the DC Direct version from their JLI line for those who prefer the Green Flame costume.
The figure is disappointing, though. There’s around five things she needs to be perfect:
1. A couple of inches taller.
2. Her jacket.
3. An Adam Hughes-ish head sculpt.
4. A bigger rack.
5. Ice.
I’m still hopeful that Ice will turn up along with the other Club reveals. Mattel will want to get their money back on those three and the demand is still there. Hopefully by next year.
Meanwhile, I’m done with DC 6-inchers for now and will likely concentrate on older Marvel Legends so I can complete a few teams on that side of the fence as well. My Avengers, FF, and X-Men shelves are running barren in that department.
I think the Club reveals will stop pop up – at least the ones we saw. I just hope we don’t have to pay too much to get them (I will).
On your five things, I’ll give you 2-4. I hinted at no. 4 there, but I forgot to mention the jacket completely. I think that would really help the figure out.
As for no. 1 though, I’ve heard that complaint, which is why I threw in the ol’ “Usual Suspect” pics. She’s actually over 6″ tall, technically too large to be “in scale” with the guys since she’s a 5′ 8″ character. I don’t know if it’s that her head is on the small side making her seem too short or just that figures like Black Canary are way too big, but we’re looking at scale all wrong if we she think she’s too small.
I reckon she’s wearing high heels, so that’s her height sorted out and explained nicely.
It took courage to flex Snout Spout’s trunk for a gag shot. I salute you, sir. And thanks for the shout-out. };D
Good point on the heels!
Yes, when that gets stuck in my head, I also think of you. 😉
sometimes, the horsemen knock out a great female face, and she looks incredible…. this is not one of those moments. she looks like she’s had reconstructive surgery after a chimp attack or a bout with jaw cancer.
Yep. 100% yep.
LOL! I can only imagine what your description of Mary “Batson” Marvel’s face might be…
I would say another 1/8-1/4″ taller would be fine. 5’8″ seems short to me, as she was always portrayed as being slightly taller than average, then you add in her heels and ’80s big hair to that, and she should appear taller than others, or at least as tall as Canary.
That face I didn’t really notice until you said something. It reminds me of one JLU customizer who kept using the same F head mold over and over and each head turned out a bit like that on profile, and the front was flatter and more triangular. It was not a good look.
As for a more Adam Hughes look, some would probably still argue for a DeMatteis appearance. I’m not sure who would win that argument? Sometimes a more neutral appearance is the best option?
Its a shame the end of the line has to overshadow everything. Theres still some promising figures in the pipeline with Huntress and Ocean Master and RAG. She does feel a little short but no biggie. I do think its because the head seems a little small. They overcompensated for the glorious big 80’s hair. This is definitely the costume I prefer, both her and Ice. To bad we cant get that flame form as a variant. I too will be picking up Ice whenever and however that happens.
I know. I tried not to do that, but I’ve not got much else to talk about DC-wise. Like you say, there are some exciting things in the pipeline. Huntress looks great. I’m excited for Ocean Master & Batzarro. I think Ra’s will be the only one to *choke* down and he’s not bad, the suit body is just boring.
Love the minion gag!
Thanks! I almost didn’t do that part. It’s still stuck in my head…
Here’s a good image of the various costumes. They didn’t make the wrong choice, but still my least favorite. The earlier Green Flame costume is available as a DCD at least.
Wow, #1 was pretty conservative when compared to the rest. I like #3, and #4/#5 the best. I think #6 was the one she wore during the battle with Doomsday, so 90’s readers might be familiar with? Her most iconic looks are likely when drawn by Maguire and Hughes.
#1 was Super Friends! I’d like to see any of the last three.
You got me wondering, and it turns out #7 was the Doomsday era (though it took searching, cause hey, she’s usually powered up).
And now I’m bummed we didn’t get Maxima & Bloodwynd!
it appears they were going for a 4-5 period, but she almost always had the jacket ON at that time, too. Like Clutch and I said, the jacket is pretty much essential for this look and Canary already has it ready to go.
and again, I’m just glad we didn’t get Checkmate’s black bodysuit Fire! urfta.
Giving her the jacket from the middle designs would have made me like the figure a lot more.
It’s sad pretty much everywhere in DC Nation:
http://comicsalliance.com/dc-comics-new-52-batwoman-harley-quinn-dan-didio-editorial/
Wow, interesting about the vest. Mattel could have so easily rigged that up, too, from black canary.
But I call it a great fig. I’m glad we didn’t get a redo of the V-nude costume that DCD covered. That costume was so funky. More like a gawdy wrestling costume (same for shy Ice).
Hope Ice still comes out. It was stupid of Matty to refund our money if they plan to release Ice, Superboy, and Aquaman. Just make it a 3-figure line. They are going to sell out, for Heaven’s sake!
the initial payment and refund were for Doomsday, not anything else.
looking at that line up of costumes…I’m surprised that Mattel didnt use #6 or #8 just cuz its just an easy paint on a blank body.
Funnily enough mine arrived in the post today. I like her for the most part but I think she could have used a base of some sort, she has tiny little feet. But my biggest bug bear with her is the belt it just looks odd the way its hovering half way up her torso, i think it might look better just sitting loose rather that trying to imitate a jaunty off the hip look when the hole to do this is in her midriff.
Agreed. That was over-engineering at work!
Fire was the only DCIE of this year I was able to get. Saw Saint Walker but by time my $$$ was getting low and couldn’t talk.seller down from his price.
On Fire, I can live with it but agree that the flame on version woulda been nice (even as a static flying posed prop) I like her but with her array of looks surprised went this route. A jacket woulda been nice (removeable even better) ofcourse Ice will be even better. Hoping she does show up.
Yeah, we keep coming back to the jacket! I’m wondering if Canary’s would fit or be too big…
What is the deal with heads/faces this past year? Do they have some intern doing the master or something? That side profile is terrible on her!
Ah, the heck with it. Noisy, here’s your next toy buy:
http://www.hlj.com/product/htt17554
Chew on THAT, Mattel! 🙂
I’m contemplating those. I do have four Hot Toys here and 2-3 pre-ordered (I just never review ’em)
You know you want to put the Adam West head on the Keaton Batman. I’m assuming that’s the only way to play with them as I don’t think the costumes are meant to be removed.
And now I’m thinking of Adam West as Iron Man and can’t stop laughing… 🙂
OK, back to Mattel. It’s not fair of me to zoom on Matty because 1/6 scale Hot Toys figures are just not anywhere near in the same category but it would have taken so LITTLE for the Mattel ’66 Batman stuff to have been epic.
It’s like they just don’t CARE anymore. Meanwhile their Imaginext toys are getting more and more impressive. Saw a Black Manta with a small manta-ray shaped sub, for under $20. I haven’t been collecting the Super Heroes line but I just may have to start.
Black Manta with a sub for $20, or horse face Fire for $25+insane shipping. Kinda leaning towards the Imaginext there. 🙂
I’m kind of surprised that everyone’s so surprised this is the outfit they went with. I’m not a huge Fire & Ice fan, but I am aware of them, and whenever someone mentions Fire, this is the costume I think of. And, generic as it is, it’s nowhere near as fugly as any of the other options.
I’m only surprised by it in that her most recognizable look is no costume at all.
Once they decided to go this route, this was the logical one to choose – though I disagree, it is as fugly as the others. 🙂
She looks good enough for me, but I do feel you on the “meh” state of DCU figures, which I’m sure nu52 isn’t helping. This is exacerbated today as Matty announced they were going to open the MOTU sub AGAIN this weekend, but NOT the DC sub, so it’s DC vs MOTU fans on their page, right now.
(One guy even slammed GB as being “2 movies a million years ago”, to which I had to remind him that his toys were based on an even older cartoon! LOL)
As for the figure itself, I like it with a few minor quibbles. I do wish she had a proper belt, or at least, not whatever she’s wearing now. also, would it have been that hard to make a zippered crotch piece? (Hello, Dolphin and Lois!) I also would have liked to see the jacket, which could have been borrowed from Canary. (in fact, I think I still have a spare BC in order to custom a jacketed Fire?)
Had this figure made it to retail, I would hope she would have gotten a transparent green “flame on” variant, using this head and a blank F buck. I know they did it for DICH and a few JLU customizers pulled it off, but neither Matty nor DCD did this version in their 6″ lines. I do recall Timm or someone saying they had to modify the ‘powered up’ look for the cartoon, adding on darker green ‘flames’ for certain areas, much like Amazing Spider-Friends had to make sure they always drew the zipper line on Firestar. heheh. 😉
Scott has “promised” to get the announced 6″ figures for 2014 out once the club failed to meet it’s goal, but no firm plans, now. We can only hope Ice is one of the first females in the next iteration of the DC line(s). Dare I hope they redo Fire with jacket then? or will we be stuck with Checkmate Fire in her black bodysuit with (nearly invisible) green piping? Not exactly holding my breath for news on this front. :/
on the bright side, this lull in DC properties means I can hopefully pick her up cheap once I get one of my legal cases closed next week. (YES! after nearly FOUR years! trying not to splurge, BUT…! LOL)
I’ve noticed reviewers tend to like this figure a lot more than I do. She’s a little too small compared to other females in the line, as your line-up photo shows. Not just height; her FACE is slightly too small. The side profile is bizarre – how long is her skull supposed to be? – and it makes the figure top-heavy. The belt doesn’t sit right, and the color is the reverse of what it’s supposed to be: yellow/gold on green, not the other way around.
I just received Huntress a couple of days ago, and it’s reinforced my suspicion that Mattel has let the quality of the doomed line slip: my Huntress’ face paint is sloppy, and she can’t hold her crossbow! I’m guessing it was a panograph slip or something, making it slightly too big. …and then I remember Tin being way too small, and Rocket Red being both way too big and in the wrong armor.
Maybe I’ve gotten a little too cynical, and maybe imports have raised my expectations too high, but as much as I loved the DCUC line, the quality of recent releases has left me not all that disappointed that we’ll not get another year.
Fire’s face is correctly proportioned. It clocks in at 1/6 body height, which is anatomically appropriate.
I consider Fire to be a great figure. I think we’re all wing-dinging Mattel a little bit… I mean, she’s pretty in the face (the number one details toy makers usually fob), her corset is sculpted, and her boots are sculpted. She’s an outstanding figure.
Us JLU collectors got the flame variant 😉
http://www.mattycollector.com/store/matty/en_US/pd/ThemeID.1298800/productID.259010100#.UjyqGGTXjJA
huh. I could have sworn DCIH was the only version of that figure?
#insane
Am I the only one whos had a problem with the head sculpting for the Right earing?
Its in her hair rather than on her actual ear.