As the reigning master of torture in the DC Universe,
Desaad even had an effect on me. Every time I try to get this review
done, something comes up and I have to step aside, thus torturing me
and everyone else who is waiting on this review. Well it's finally time
and Desaad's review is here. Enjoy!
Name: Desaad
Line: DC Universe Classics Wave 12
Manufacturer: Mattel
Released: January 2010
Price: Retail: $15.00-$18.00, Online: $16.00-$24.00
Scale: 6.00 in.
Collect & Connect Piece: Figure stand
Accessories: Chest attachment torture device (inspired by the Super Powers figure)
Sponsor Listings: Amazon-$16.99, Ka-Razy Kings of Toys-$21.99
Compared to most of the DC Universe Classics line, Desaad is awfully unique. A robe without any distinctive designs or even multiple colors may not seem like the most unique of attires, but in this case, it actually is. And it also means he's loaded down with examples of fresh tooling, another welcome reprieve from the reuse that's running rampant. All the wrinkles are nice and realistic looking, while the robe "hangs" naturally off his body, bunching appropriately and taking to the shape of his body well, especially around the hunched knees and back. It does a great job of simulating a loose hanging robe, even better so than real cloth might have considering the scale, and still stays within the style of the line nicely. His hands, calves, and head are brand new pieces too, each of which contribute to the comic book accuracy and make him look fantastic as a whole. Nothing feels left out or compromised despite the simplicity, so the job has been one correctly.
Desaad's proportions are accurate to my expectations, slightly hunched, with longer arms, a thin frame, and shorter than other figures. He's looks fine alongside other News Gods characters, and looks fine on his own as well. His face might be a little too far forward inside the hood, but it's not a huge issue for me, and just adds to the illusion that he's hunched over with his neck craned forward. The torture device accessory (inspired from the Super Powers figure's) fits over his shoulders and stays in place well too. He can't grip the handles very effectively, and it takes a little coaxing to keep them from sliding out or popping into weird angles inside his hands. The accessory itself is all sharp corners and crisp tech details. There are individual buttons, straight lines worked into the pipes, and perfect textures sculpted on.
There aren't too many specific problems with Desaad's sculpt. Some scraping on the top of his hood is a little distracting, and I'll admit that the holes running up his sleeves could go deeper up the arm. The typical flat crotch issue isn't even visible here, and the shape of his feet isn't so obvious with the detailed boots and possible fashion variations of Apokolips. The details in his hands and face are fantastic enough that they make up for any of these smaller deficits. he has perfectly defined bony fingers, clearly visible palm wrinkles, and crisp facial features, including his eyebrows and hair. His facial expression is a bit chip-munkish, but works for a socially awkward deviant like Desaad. Overall, this is an attractive sculpt that shows the design attention and detail capturing prowess of the Four Horsemen.
Sculpt Score: 9 / 10
There's not so much to say about Desaad paint. You may have noticed he's mostly the purple color of his robe, which is a good shade that catches light well and looks like you'd expect him to based on classic appearances. It's outlined in a browner purple color around the edges, kept thin and straight all around. His belt is the same purple-brown (only visible from behind), as are his pants and the straps on his boots. This ties him together well, and the varying colors are just enough to keep him from getting boring. His boots are painted bronze which gets sloppy around the top, though the leather straps and circle ornaments are clean and nearly perfect. The fine texture of the leather straps is lost in the dark color, but that's just a missed opportunity and not particularly a fault, because the boots do look good and surprisingly 4th world-like.
The inside of his sleeves is visible at the end, and instead of running back up the arm further (as is the case with Solomon Grundy), they're practically flush along the end, meaning the brown paint outlining the cuff is visible across what should be the entire hole. This isn't terribly ugly, but it could have been handled much better. Other than that, there aren't many problems here. His face had some smal specks that were easy to remove, and the rest of the paint job was clean and free of smudges or slop. The facial features themselves are clean, with defined teeth, sharp eyes, and tightly applied hair. The face must be painted separately and then attached to the hood, because there aren't any signs that someone had to paint around an annoying hood. That might seem like common sense, but some companies would cut that corner and be left with a sloppy face. Mattel didn't here, and it pays off with a nifty face. While his accessory isn't as clean as his face, it does have intricate paint applications that turned out well.
Paint Score: 8 / 10
After a recent string of figures that have sacrificed some articulation for appearances (Kilowog, Mary Batson, Chemo), I was afraid that Mattel was starting a trend that would have a bad end. Desaad has restored some of that faith for me, because despite having what would appear to be a super restrictive costume, he actually comes out of this mess with a decent range of motion. Instead of creating a frozen torso (like with Mary Batson), Mattel made Desaad a pullover that retains his chest crunch and waist swivel while keeping a perfect unbroken sculpt. His legs also have a fair range thanks to the softer plastic used on his robe. Don't expect anything extremely dynamic, but there is a certain degree of freedom to his legs, making the joints less than pointless (as was the case with Mary). His arms are exactly what any fans of the line should expect, resulting in some great poseability and personality. His neck has a slightly better range than the now-limited DCUC standard, but it could definitely stand to be more limber too. His joints are function smoothly without a single weak point, nor any tough joints out of the package refusing to yield and offering scares. I really think Mattel made the most out of this figure's articulation; I wasn't expecting much, but it actually turned out okay, and for that he earns a marginally better score than would a figure without his expected limitations. Another bonus is that the "arms" on his accessory can move up and down, resulting in adding some character to the machine.
Articulation Score: 8 / 10
I would say Desaad isn't much fun, but look at the photo I managed to capture below. Who doesn't love a guy who can literally pick up and carry (on his own two feet, no tricks) the master of escape himself? Regardless of how much fun that photo might have been, this isn't en enormously entertaining toy. He's first and foremost just a guy in a robe that few will recognize and even fewer will care to own just because of his looks. A backstory and an understanding of the character are necessary to enjoy this one, because he doesn't look cool, scary, big, alien, or anything else that might capture someone's attention and imagination. Even his accessory is designed for older collectors who had the Super Powers Desaad figure from long ago. On its own right it might be seen as goofy and questionably useful. The articulation makes posing an engaging activity, and his looks help there too. I'll put it this way, nothing about this figure is going to make you laugh with joy, but nothing is torturous and frustrating either. Fans will adore him, and everyone else will be okay with him.
Fun Score: 7 / 10
After the recent price hike to $15 apiece, the DCUC line is going to be dropping in priority for a lot of people. Standard sized 6 inch action figures that take advantage of lots of part reuse just aren't acceptable at $15 for people yet. Desaad is a fine toy, one that's well made and will make many buyers satisfied from a quality and production standpoint. And yet there are still going to be doubts in many minds about the price paid. I spent even more than the $15 from retail (buying online can be more expensive), driving my satisfaction even lower. I doubt I'll drop the line altogether, but if I didn't benefit from reviewing them and run a website, I'd be questioning the soundness of this investment.
For Desaad specifically, he does feature a lot of unique tooling, which helps him here. The accessory is also another check in the positive category, because it's large, has its own paint applications, and it's even articulated. That's much more than many figures get, and seems worth a dollar or two to me, especially thanks to the nostalgia factor. On the other hand, there's a consideration to be made for his lack of a true Collect & Connect piece. While most figures come with an essential element of the C&C figure (Darkseid this time), poor old Desaad just includes his boss's stand. That's nothing unique and certainly not a requirement, so nobody is going to be taking the plunge on Desaad just to complete Darkseid.
Value Score: 5 / 10
9 / 10 - A good looking toy that's great for comic fans or toy fans of old.
8 / 10 - Simple in spots, but most clean with strong colors.
8 / 10 - Surprising flexibility and working joints.
7 / 10 - If you're a Super Powers collector, Desaad should be a treat. Otherwise you'll have to love the character for who he is or make the best of his accessory and articulation.
5 / 10 - For what he costs, he's just not worth it. More accessories, extras, or something totally unique is needed here.
75 / 100 - This is a Good Toy
Desaad is definitely a good toy, primarily thanks to his sculpt, paint and articulation. Some people might think that's all that matters in a toy, but unfortunately is costs just too much to get this figure, dropping his score and my recommendation considerably. Basically what that means is fans and completists shouldn't avoid him, while others shouldn't necessarily seek him out.
-The Articulated One
This could be the figure given away in this month's Review Commentator Contest. Join the discussion by leaving a comment on this review for a chance to win!
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