DCClassics.Com Retro
Review: Wave 3 – Solomon Grundy

NoisyDvL5

Nightwing

It’s grown up Robin! But everyone knows that, right? Dick Grayson’s trapeze artist parents were murdered and he was left an orphan. He was taken in by kindly Bruce Wayne, let it on the secret, and provided much needed optimism in Batman’s life. Robin got tired of the sidekick bit and struck out on his own as Nightwing in the 80s and his costume got continuely cooler until it arrived at this version in the 90s. Currently, he’s Batman. It’s cool.


Yes, I couldn’t find one of his batons. I know. But I’d put off this review for long enough, so I forged ahead with one baton. I’m sure it was in the parts/accessory box, but I didn’t want to dump it out. Moving on…

Nightwing is one of the better figures in this wave. He utilizes a standard buck, but with a unique head, forearms, and lower legs. He also has a clip in his back to hold the batons. The head sculpt is another home run, but it would have been better served painted instead of having molded skin. The details on his arms and legs are all that’s needed to make this figure accurate in terms of design. Nightwing had a clean, simple costume and the figure reflects that. The paint is similarly low-key, just the large blue symbol across his chest and down his arms. It’s surprisingly clean and looks sharp. The base figure is a mix of glossy and flat plastics, but sadly not always in the right places (more on that later). Finally, Nightwing includes two batons. Just not mine.

Robin

Hey, this guy’s Robin too! Tim Drake is the third Robin after the second one died (he got better, sadly) and has been a great Robin for most of his publishing history. He deduced Bruce’s double identity on his own and wormed his way into the role. Two things to really like about Tim was that he kept his personal life in good balance despite crimefighting (until recently when unnecessary death became a past time at the DC offices) and he was tech savvy. You really got the idea that he would be a good future Batman, except that he never wanted to grow up and be Batman. He’s currently Red Robin.


This review is really hard on me. I don’t usually buy things I won’t like, and as such, I don’t really have to write “bad” reviews. But, to be upfront, I don’t like this figure either. See, I really was almost out! It’s not the figure’s fault per se, the sculpt is accurate and uses a new, if undersized, buck as the base model. The problem here is the awful costume. I didn’t like it on TNBA and I didn’t like when they brought it into comics in “One Year Later” (though, some of that could be Robinson’s awful, awful writing in those first OYL issues). Worse still, this figure has been repainted into the ‘classic’ Robin III costume where it’s nice details make it rather off-model for the costume I actually want this figure in.

Anyway, anyway, the figure is fine! I do wish it were taller since it’s representing the older OYL Tim Drake, but it would work for a young one. I really like the belt and clasps and he is a fun figure to play with, quality control aside. I had no paint issues with the figure, but the neck articulation is hindered by the tall collar on the cape. Robin also included his trademark bow.

Deathstroke

Slade Wilson is like an evil Captain America. He was a veteran that took a super-soldier forum and became… a mercenary for hire, the Terminator! (Deathstroke was added later). Anyway, he ran afoul of the Titans because his kids just kept dying around them and he was intent on making them pay for it. His mad on for the Titans pretty much extends to any team bearing the name, even if the roster wouldn’t know his kids from Adam. He’s also known to be heroic given the right circumstances or a complete bastard depending on the writer. It’s complicated.


Deathstroke, if he were in any other wave, would be one of the greatest figures in the line. He has a ton of unique detail. There are only a handful of reused pieces because nearly everything needed a telling detail. A lot of love went into Deathstroke and it shows. In addition to the new pieces on the figure itself, Deathstroke also includes a bandolier, staff, rifle, handgun, and a sword – and here’s the best part, all of it stores on the figure! I love when that happens. Deathstroke was also available with a variant unmasked head, which also happens to be one of the best sculpts in the line too.

But Deathstroke was in Wave three. His paint isn’t always where it needs to be. His rifle is super soft. And he’s got some issues with the plastic used to make him, but more on that lat… wait… it’s time! Continue to Page 3…

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37 thoughts on “DCClassics.Com Retro
Review: Wave 3 – Solomon Grundy”

  1. This new pages format is really messing with my head.

    Good review for some old figures I hadn’t thought about in awhile. I don’t agree with all your comic book assessments, but some of them were hilarious. 😛

    1. Oh, and I’m off to check the feet of wave three. It never even occurred to me that the figures I was having the white dust issues with were from the same wave. Duh.

    2. LOL. Our articles are getting longer and longer, so we waned to break ’em in. We’ll keep adding the continues until folks get used to it.

      And, yeah, my comic tastes are eclectic. I should avoid hero comics, but I like their potential…

  2. This is still hands down my favorite way. Green Lantern, Sinestro, Nightwing, and Deathstroke? Hells yeah.

  3. That Deathstroke is gross. Mattel needs to reissue him for sure. Do you even keep him with your other figures? I’ve got some JLU that have done that and I’m always afraid it’s contagious and I quarantine them. It’s just gross.

    Also, I’m with you on the lanterns. There’s something just not right about them.

  4. I got GL and Deathstroke from that wave–and I blame Poe Ghostal for Deathstroke, since he did some pictures that sold me on him–but skipped the rest. (Hell, I just finished Grodd last week!)

  5. I think the only one that was affected for me was my Hal.
    I’m pretty sure most of my other DCUC3’s are fine.

    Oh, and as you probably already know, slightly disagree about good paint on Grundy.

    Not a fan of the Clockwork Orange black lines on his face.
    Normally I might look for excuses to repaint stuff, but that one was begging for it! 😀

    1. Doh. I left the figures in the studio and had to review on memory. It’s okay on figs you’ve had for two years, right?

      But you’re right, I forgot about Grundy’s Tytus lines. Again, depth doesn’t need to be implied.

  6. i only have Deathstroke and Grundy from that wave, but they’re both, thusfar, dust free. and i love both!

  7. oh, and on another note, maybe the pages thing would be easier to negotiate if the buttons were a tad larger… the font size on them is small, so it is a tad easy to glide right past them while reading, even though they’re blue. i missed them until i read that top comment.

  8. Some nitpicks:

    The infamous “pants” joke came from regular old Cartoon Network, not Adult Swim (it aired before Adult Swim was around, even).

    Solomon Grundy does not use the word “am” in such a way. You’re getting him confused with Bizarro.

    1. You are, of course correct. Been awhile on those spots. (Evil Sponge!)

      For Grundy, I will simply maintain this is his latest incarnation after being killed by Bizarro in that awful Blackest Night tie-in. He picked up a few things!! 😛

  9. Weird. My OB Deathstroke and Robin have no “dust” issues. They have other QC flaws, like a giant fist and sloppy paint apps, but nothing as glaring as that. My unopened Hal from the same case has grey biceps, so I guess he has a touch of the plague. I can’t find anything elsewhere, including Hal’s legs.

    1. Plague is a good word. Are your “clean” ones CLs?

      I may have come across to fanatical, but my entire wave is afflicted. My bad if I did.

      We’ve also considered some environmental factors too. The low grade plastic may be more susceptible to degradation at certain temps or humidities.

      1. No, they’re all from the same case. I can’t see Hal’s foot, but I assume he’s an OB since the others are. Would be funny if my one dirty figure had a CL, though.

  11. Man, your Deathstroke has the infection bad. The only two figures I have from this wave both have the problem, but my GL is the worst, Deathstroke I’ve only had to clean off once and his seems to have calmed down. So I think Wade is in remission, but not so sure about Hal, he may be replaced soon.

        1. Hey! It’s not Wade’s fault he was partially created by Rob. I’ll let you guess which one’s my favorite:

          [IMG]http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z265/orionpax636/figures/IMG_2295.jpg[/IMG]

  12. Great review. This was the wave that got me into the line. It’s a fun line, but I don’t have that many completed C&Cs.

    1. I wonder how many collectors out there still have incomplete C&Cs. I tend to get them all at once, but it can be really frustrating to have incomplete ones.

  13. Thank you for going ahead and doing this review. As you discovered in the metallic Hal review (not to be confused with Shallow Hal…damn, I’m sick of Jack Black), I’ve only recently discovered DCUC 3 “dust” syndrome. This review will clue in folks like me that are late to the horrible truth and will realize that their collections need some attention. (And also, to alert parents to get these dust-infected critters away from any children, as my buddy realized.)

    One nitpicky note: Are Nightwing’s “batons” actually eskrima sticks? I’m no DC authority, but as a former practitioner it would be cool if that were true. I know that they seem to be batons because of the grip texture in the middle, but I’m thinking that Dick is an eskrimador (or I’m actually just hoping he is…though some eskrimadors call their sticks batons too).

    1. You are correct, sir. As Wikipedia says, “Dick carried a pair of Escrima truncheons made from an unbreakable polymer.”

      1. Good eye! And thanks Snowglare.

        I don’t know if you’re reading any of the Batman comics, but Batman whipped these out in Batman 700 and it was pretty cool. He even made note that he used be using them more often.

  14. Great review! Hope they rerelease waves 2 and 3 like there doing with 5. I started late and I just cant bring myself to pay the money wanted. It makes it harder living in the UK. I feel Solomon Grundy is too big but you can’t fault that sculpt.
    I WANT DEATHSTROKE!!!!

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