Review: Mattel’s Multiverse Superman: the Movie Superman

Whelp…I guess I gotta remove my foot from my mouth here.  Last week, I spouted off against 3.75 inch figures and everything that’s wrong with that particular scale, especially when compared to the far superior 6 inch scale.

To prove my point, I picked up Mattel’s Multiverse Superman from Superman:  the Movie (AKA Christopher Reeve’s Superman).  Yeayeayea.  I know.  I know.  I know technically he’s really 4 inch figure, not 3.75.  But, for the sake of argument, I’m saying he’s a 3.75 inch figure (besides, what’s a quarter inch between friends?)

Grab your cameras, because this is the part where I remove my foot from my mouth.  As it turns out, Superman’s really not a bad figure after all.  One of the things that surprised me the most is how articulated the figure is.  Just about everything twists and turns, especially his lower waist/legs.  That was most surprising.  He turns at the waist, his leg move in just about every direction thanks for some sorcery Mattel was able to master.

Even his hands rotate!

On top of all that, he kinda looks like Christopher Reeve.  That is, if he were shrunk down to four inches, I suppose the figure would look like Chris Reeve.

And while I think the “S” shield on his chest is way too big, the yellow “S” shield on his cape is a really nice touch.  Not many of the Superman figures coming out these days have the “S” shield on the cape.  Which, to me, is a detail that’s lacking.

The only real downer of this figure is the price point.  $9.99 ($10.99 at Toys R Us) is a real killer.  I’m sorry to say, but for everything you’re getting, $9.99 is way too much for a 3.75 inch figure.  $7.99 is the most that it should retail for.  And, if I had my way, it would.

So, while your friendly neighborhood jman’s preference is still with the 6 inch scale figures, it’s not like there’s a Christopher Reeve Superman in that scale on the horizon.  So, this 4 inch figure will just have to do.

I suppose.

UPDATE: This figure is sold out at most retailers, but you can always shoot on over to eBay and search around for a deal on this Multiverse Superman action figure from Mattel.