Vault Review: Apache Chief
Week – DC Classics Toyman

Vault

Out of all the teams in the DC Universe, I never thought the Legion of Doom would be completed before the end of the line. But with the addition of DCUC18’s Toyman we now have a complete roster to go up against their Superfriends counterparts. Our 30 year wait is over!

Not everyone’s a fan of the Super Freinds series, which I totally understand. Rewatching them as an adult it’s really hard to look past the terrible storytelling and bad animation. But I love the DC Universe and all of its most absurd depths. I can’t say for sure, but I think that seed was planted long ago while watching this show. Even as a kid I knew who Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman were. But the Superfriends introduced me to a whole new gang of heroes that may not have been as famous, but were still as important as the big three.

The Super Powers toyline was just as important in introducing me to the DC Universe. Not only were these some of my earliest toys, but they were my first DC figures ever. And like the show, the toyline didn’t solely focus on the A-list. It introduced me to a wide variety of DC staples like Red Tornado and Dr. Fate, as well as new and bizarre characters like Golden Pharaoh and Cyclotron. This is where my passion for DC Comics began, and it’s amazing to see it come to toy fruition so many years later.

Toyman here is a quite the odd duck. Originally appearing in 1943, Toyman is one of the oldest ongoing Superman villains, yet this is only his second figure ever. The first Toyman figure is from DC Direct’s Justice line and based on the art of Alex Ross. He had a similar design, but was an actual marionette with strings. This made for an excellent toy and is one of my all-time favorite figures from DCD.

The DC Classics Toyman is based on his appearances in Challenge of the Super Friends cartoon, which in turn is based on the second Toyman, Jack Nimball, from the 1970’s comics. This comic book look didn’t last long as the original Toyman, Winslow Schott, eventually returned from retirement and killed Nimball. After that, Crisis erased Nimball from continuity. It’s an ironic revenge that his character may no longer exist, but his persona will live on forever as an action figure. Something the original Toyman has never accomplished.

Toyman’s sculpt is perfectly simple. He’s based on the newer tall and thin buck that we saw with Mercury, but with a couple of changes. Most notably, he was given a belt and his thighs are now pants instead of those odd Metal Man shorts. He has a new head with a sculpted jester’s crown and very creepy smile on his face. To top off the look they gave him his pointy collar/shoulder pads, which actually have a nice bit of sculpted seems around the edges.  Continue to page 2…

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25 thoughts on “Vault Review: Apache Chief
Week – DC Classics Toyman”

  1. So DCUC ends in wave 20? or it will go on if the subs are enough at Mattycollector? I’m a little confused…

    1. No matter what it’ll end at wave 20 for retail.

      If they sell enough subscriptions, then Matty will continue it through their website.

      There will also be a new line at retail in 2012, but it will mostly focus on well known characters and DCnU designs.

      1. Man I wish Club Infinite Earths works, because they left a few teams without some members… and that’s not fair for collectors.

        1. Know what would be the ultimate Matty dick move?

          “Oh, the sub didn’t make 100%! But what the heck, we’ll go ahead with it anyway! However, since you guys obviously don’t want these figures, we WON’T be selling them individually on the site!”

  2. Never realized how undeveloped the paint applications on Solomon Grundy were. His hair is totally undifferentiated from his face.

    Thanks for the review. It was a great read, even if I’ve sworn off Mattel’s products. I really enjoyed your use of the DC Direct figure. Who would have thought that the most articulated figure that DC Direct has ever produced would be based on Alex Ross’s work?

  3. Toyman is one of my favorite figures in wave 18. I loved his entire head/face and hands, but I wouldn’t mind if he was skinnier.
    Yes, I also waited all these years to complete Legion of Doom, and that last picture made me see why my long waiting worth it. But I must say again that I would love to see Giganta in 6″ size too and a non-Sinestro Corps Scarecrow.
    Great review as usual…

  7. Also, it’s darkly ironic that the ONE team that gets completed before DCU goes bye-bye is the Legion of Doom.

    altho I guess to be fair. depending on iteration, we HAVE gotten at least one JLA team completed, right? I mean, Supes, Bats, Flash, Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter, Hawkman, Aquaman, that’s pretty much your core JLA during the ’60s.

    (crap. And Atom, Green Lantern, Green Arrow, Black Canary I used to know this stuff…)

        1. Ya know? If DCU reboot# x6 just erases all the crap that happened to Ralph and Sue and let them be just those happy light totally in love with each other crimesolvers again, I’d be a happy man.

  9. 2 questions
    wasnt the joker in the LOD?
    where is that Scarecrow from? do they have a dcuc scarecrow and I missed it? ok well thats 3 questions sue me!
    great review 😀

  11. However, even though that is a superior version and more representative of the Superfriends, they did release Blackest Night Scarecrow in the lifespan of DCUC, so I’d still say it counts.

  12. I’m not really sure that does count. Its a mice fig but I would prefer a real crow over some lantern crow any day. Maybe we will get a decent one from dcnu….suuure we will

  13. Great review, dude! I donlt say this often, but now I’m gonna have to pick him up! Gotta love the comics too! 😉

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