Time for a bit of catch up and a bit of preview at the same time! Today we are posting up a mega gallery for the latest DC Collectibles DC Essentials figures. The second wave of regular figures featured Superman, Brainiac, Aquaman and Black Manta. This continues the VS. theme of the releases, joining Batman, Deathstroke, Flash and Reverse Flash from wave 1. On top of the DC Essentials line proper, there are also Watchemen Doomsday Clock figures releasing in actual two packs. They aren’t labeled Essentials, but are essentially Essentials (rim shot, eyyy). These include 4 classic characters and two new ones as seen in the ongoing comic series that brings the Watchmen into the DC Universe canon. Dr. Manhattan and Ozymandias, Rorschach and Mime, and Comedian and Marionette. In a perfect world, Mime and Marionette would have been paired up, but they split them among two classic guys to help movie units (I’m guessing). They are a couple in the books and themed similarly. The Comedian / Marionette pack is actually new and hasn’t fully released yet, so today’s set is a preview of that one.
Read on to check out over 95 HD images and some additional thoughts for these 10 figures after the break courtesy of Entertainment Earth and DC Collectibles!
Related Entertainment Earth links: All DC Essentials, Doomsday Clock 2 Packs, DCE Cyborg Superman, DCE Joker
DC Essentials Wave 2 and Watchmen Doomsday Clock 2 Packs
Overall Thoughts
All of these use the base body type Essentials is known for, with mold alterations as needed for each. Every single part has unique sculpting on it, so even though they are similar they are new cuts every time. Seems like they are just using a base (3d) model to start from. Marionette is the first female Essentials figure, and features soft goods leggings that are pretty well done. Rorschach is the biggest departure from normal sculpt with a jacket and pants, and he is also well done. He comes gloved and ungloved so you can rock him easily as the classic version if you desire.
Personally of this bunch, Brainiac, Rorschach and Dr. Manhattan were the stand outs. All feel good, and have great sculpts with well done paint. They’ve hit the shelf rotation here. As for the rest, they are solid, but the same Essentials issues I had with wave 1 is present. Leg tolerances are weak and ankle posing is a pain. Chests are then too tight. Arms are too long. Getting them to stand or pose in anything other than a basic straight up stance takes too much energy. Couple all that with very similar builds for most figures, to the point they look like repaints of each other on quick glance. Bottom line, the series has great potential, but some running tweaks are greatly needed. Variation in builds, technical fixes, shorter arms. Do that and they’re winners.
That being said, if you are looking for a single figure here and there to fill in your 7 inch scale shelf, and will just be power stancing them anyway, these work great. Check out the full set below and decide for yourselves!
Also of note: Several backdrops featured are from Extreme Sets. They have given us a coupon code for a discount on your orders. Enter code TOYARK at checkout and get 15% off your order!
DC Essentials Batman and Deathstroke Photo Review
DC Essentials Flash and Reverse Flash Photo Review
DC Essentials Mega Gallery - Wave 2 and All 3 Watchmen Packs! - The Toyark - News
DC Essentials Shazam Vs. Black Adam 2 Pack Early Look Gallery - The Toyark - News
I know you guys have had these a bit longer than me, but I have stayed "spoiler free" until now. I just went in fresh. Without input other than an occasional social post I ran into, these were my thoughts on first handling.
I give it 3 waves before they abandon the line, tops.
Not a fan of the unibody ninja snake eyes look.
If these things are what people keep talking about every time they pop up for the first 2 waves, sales will suffer. Someone will need to make a money decision and then poof.
If that does happen, they can hard reset without full abandon. Trot out new figs with specifically addressed issues in the promo and folks will come back. Killing supposed ongoing lines hurts the next line too. :/
I just want dope ass DC figures regularly which don't cost a car payment.
My batman came with a broken hand, couldn't pop it back in. Might superglue or just get another, but really disappointed with the quality. They're better than the essentials line from a few years back, but not good enough to be charging $26 per figure.
Forgot to add these in the review. Added now.
Yeeeeeeeeah, I'm no longer going to invest myself in DC figures until someone decides to focus on a comic accurate Flash oriented line with modern standards.
Also, the stiff cape. NECA has no qualms about giving their 7" Batmans multi-purpose cloth capes, so why not DC Essentials? It's like they're tone-deaf to our complaints
These guys will never catch up with the Marvel Legends line. Hasbro is killing it lately.
I've never met a cape I liked on any figure, plastic or fabric. I don't have the answer. I am ok with this one, it stays out of the way and can be bent to fit most poses. What I don't like is when the do things like Capullo Designer Bat's cape. Flared out.
Fabric capes, pretty much no, ever. All IMHO of course.
Fabric capes, pretty much no, ever. All IMHO of course.
Not a fan of hard plastic capes at all.
For rubbery/soft plastic capes, I think Mattel did it best when they had the capes permanently glued into the back.
Mostly. Hasbro's paint apps are hit or miss, but their capes majorly suck ass. I can not get the capes to Gladiator, Prowler, or Magneto to stay in a position at all and their pegs constantly pop out of the holes with a single shake.
Not a fan of hard plastic capes at all.
For rubbery/soft plastic capes, I think Mattel did it best when they had the capes permanently glued into the back.
I do have to agree that the NECA Bale Batman cape is also pretty great.
oh hell yeah, looks better than legends, getting that DeathStroke for sure
Additional $8? I thought the SRP on these was $22. I've been getting them for $21.99, but I have seen them for $24.99 on some sites.
News flash: Im a DC fan, i dont have to like what you like. i always March to the beat of my own drum. im not follower.
News flash: Im a DC fan, i dont have to like what you like. i always March to the beat of my own drum. im not follower.
Wow. The prices are all over the place. I love DCC, but I'll be the first to admit that if you don't HAVE to have them right now (which I did and do), the prices will be much lower in a short time on the secondary (at least if theses follow the path of all of their last few years worth of releases).
These figures look really bad, even for the retail price.
The arms do look a little long, but i don't think the issue is only with the arms, the problem is the hip to leg area. The gap between the legs and the hips are far too big, making the hips look smaller than it should. That or it looks like the legs are pulled outwards.
I cannot stand seeing pegs in the joints. Its a cost thing ok, but at least smooth out the pegs so they stay flay with the rest of the arms, ugh.
The cutting of the upper legs, why is it that it seems only japanese or asian toy companies have figured out that putting a large cut on the legs looks really bad, especially when you will have big chunks showing as soon as u move the legs out of it's original pose.
that stupid tummy joint, they are and always will be ugly.
Look batman has a belt, so does many other characters, put a ball joint in there! they you will have rotation and up and down movement.
That single piece hard cape... right, stick a joint in there or use fabric.
and finally that size problem. OMG WHY CAN'T USA toy lines agree on a scale! Again, in japan, bandai and figma and revoltech stick to a similar standard scale. Even when you have model kit figures, they are at most half a head taller, meaning you can still display them together without it looking out of place.
hasbro is moving forward, catching up with neca, bandai, figmas etc, and these are just frustrating.
Keep reading: Toyark's DC Essentials Galleries - Page 2
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