Solomon Grundy is a Zombie that's 10 feet tall, has a mean punch, and comes back to life every week no matter how many times you kill him. He sounds like one hell of a Halloween nightmare, and he's definitely one hell of a cool action figure. Read on for a detailed look at Mattel's DC Universe Classics Wave 3 Collect & Connect figure, Solomon Grundy.

Name: Solomon Grundy
Line: DC Universe Classics, Wave 3, Collect & Connect figure
Manufacturer: Mattel
Released: Summer 2008
Price: Online: $30.00+ loose
Scale: 6.00 in. (figure in 9.50 in. tall)
Accessories: None

     Like every other Collect & Connect figure in the DC Universe Classics line so far, Grundy here benefits from totally unique tooling. Every single thing you see on this figure is original to him, and while that might seem like a foregone conclusion, it really does mean this figure looks his absolute best and most accurate. The costume is captured perfectly here, the torn suit ripping in the right spots, dangling nicely on his torso, and bunching up effectively at the arms. Thanks to the overhang on the calves, forearms, and chest, Grundy has some definite three-dimensionality to his clothes, aided even further by the sculpted raised edge of his undershirt. The boots and belt look fantastic, and the details present across his entire body are just astounding anyway, from the scarring on his boots, holes in his clothes, "stitching" in the fabrics, buttons that appear to actually dangel by a thread, and even the veins coming from his hands.
     This is a technical masterpiece from the Four Horsemen sculpting team, but what's most amazing about it to me, is that despite all the amazing intricate elements, Grundy still doesn't look out of place compared to some of the more basic spandex-clad figures in the line. I think this is due to the lack of a "texture" to him, added to by the almost cartoonish head and proportions. Speaking on Grundy's proportions, they are possibly just a hair off to some, because his legs can look awfully small from some angles, topped by an enormous torso and long arms. He admittedly looks a bit gorilla-esque, yet I think it matches the mentality of the character and works in this instance.
     Grundy's head is another really strong piece of work, which is full of little cracks in the skin, features deeper wrinkles, crisp cuts for the eyes and nose, and even finely shaped teeth. This all comes together into a clearly dissatisfied expression that's scary enough for any Halloween night, topped off by naturally flowing and crisply detailed hair. There is one odd facial element about Grundy here, and in hindsight, I can see that it's actually a pretty common tendency among head sculpts in this line for the more monstrous characters. The distance from his nose to the top lip is quite far, giving him, again, an almost ape-like appearance. It's not actually a problem at all, because altogether his face still looks fine, but it might bother some out there.
     The biggest issue here for a lot of people will be Grundy's scale. While he's definitely one of the big hulking characters in the DC Universe, he's not usually portraryed as quite so tall. This fellow is huge compared to standard-sized figures, which I don't personally have an issue with, because I picture him as about this size. If you like your Grundy a little smaller, you're going to be unhappy. I must admit, Mattel has let scale of the larger characters get out of hand a bit, just making Collect & Connect pieces as big as they can. Grundy is an amazing looking toy, there's no doubt about that, but he has just a few too many small "problems" to get a perfect score.  

Sculpt Score: 9 / 10

 

     For a guy who lives in a swamp, parts of Grundy are so very clean. And still yet, others look appropriately yucky, covered in a brown, streaky wash or tipped with goo. I do wish he was more consistently covered in this wash, because some parts of him just look too squeaky clean for me, as I don't think just the tips of his clothes would get muddy. Whatever the case, the wash that is there looks good, because it's actually rather subtle, and does add a nice dirty effect. I'll put it this way, although it's not perfect, it could have easily been left out and no one would have complained, so I'm glad they went the extra step here, it's a net positive. The colors are nice and muted, just like you'd expect, from the not-quite-black of his suit, to the minty green undershirt, and of course his pale white skin. He looks dead and faded like he should, so the colors were good choices. There is a bit of a problem with matching across articulation, primarily at his thighs, where the upper thigh is a distinctly lighter shade of gray than the knee piece below it, causing an unnatural second glance. I have another color issue, that some might call nit-picking, but it's important to me. The holes sculpted into his suit aren't actually holes in the plastic, but just shaped to appear so, and because of this, a green color has been painted in them to simulate the color of his shirt underneath. Unfortunately, the color is a much different shade than the shirt, so they look very awkward, not to mention that from some angles, you shouldn't even be able to see green. I think the best (although probably not simplest from a manufacturing side) solution would just to have actual sculpted holes in, because this looks silly. 
     The detail applications for Grundy are top notch, with clean cut lines along his chest, well defined shoe laces, perfect buttons and string on his shirt, a thin square belt buckle, and very cleanly painted holes. Those perfect attributes carry over to his face as well, which has cleanly painted features, nicely delineated teeth, and well done hair. Depending on the day and my mood, I either love the black lines painted onto his face, or loathe them. I'm not totally sure what they're supposed to be. Are they're just deepening his wrinkles, or simulating some sort of comic book linework? As long as I don't think about them too much, I think they look all right, but when I start to analyze them alone, they bother me. Whatever the case is for you, they're still very well done, coming out very clean and sharp.  

Paint Score: 8 / 10

 

    Looking at the image above, you'll see that Grundy has the sandard DC Universe Classics articulation model, and except for the chest hinge, it all works quite well too. The ab crunch is pretty much useless, because it barely goes forward or backwards at all, limited by the way his coat drapes in the back. I almost listed his ankles as rockers, because they do have a bit of a rocking motion to them, but it's not quite enough to classify it as its own joint. just know that his feet will stay flat with his legs turned out at slight angles, which is nice. Even his neck joint works splendidly, with a full range of motion. It's very easy to pose this old zombie in some fun or action-packed ways, and you can even add a bit of personality with his tiltable head. The articulation looks good too, with hidden joints at the wrist, biceps swivels that sneak into the folds of his clothes, and other joints that are made more subtle by the color of his black outfit. This is an attractive, functional, and diverse set of articulation that could only be aided by adding a few more joints here and there, and somehow freeing up those hinged abs.

Articulation Score: 9 / 10

     First off, this is a Collect & Connect figure, which is in itself a fun process. Buying up all the necessary figures (which was also much easier with Grundy than it is now) in order to build the super special bonus figure is a great idea, and since Grundy is such a popular character anyway, this was one of the best C&C experiences I've had. Finally having a fully assembled giant was a joy, as was posing him alongside the other villains released so far. Even now, some 7 waves later, Grundy is still one of the most enjoyable figures in the line, hulking over others, and taking a presence on the shelf that few can muster. He really is the kind of toy that stays at the center of your collection for all to see, especially since it's so entertaining to pose him and look at him over and over again. And once you take him off the shelf for play, that same presence is carried onto the carpet of battle, tearing his way through puny superheroes with his huge fists and flexible articulation. He looks cool, looks huge, and is very playable, so I've got not complaints. There's also nothing frustrating or inhibiting about his construction, so you'll be able to play for hours (and even years) with this fellow. He may not include any accessories, but he's a bonus figure, and a sort of accessory himself. This is a very enjoyable toy, for kid or collector alike. 

Fun Score: 10 / 10

     I absolutely hate trying to gauge the value of Collect & Connect figures, because they have no price. At the time of his release, Grundy would have cost about $60, but that's also with 5 extra figures too, so I think he was a really good deal. If you want all the figures that you have to purchase in order to complete the C&C, then it's like he's a free figure, and given the high quality of character selection in Wave 3 of DCUC, I'd say for most people, Grundy was much like a free figure. Compared to the current C&C waves which take 6 figures to complete a C&C, it only took 5 figures to finish Grundy, making him a much cheaper investment. On the quality side of things, Grundy is very well made, has a nice weight, and certainly doesn't skimp when it comes to new tooling and paint applications. Mine has last for over a year, through some tough tumbles and lots and lots of posing, so I think he'll do the same for you. The biggest advantage Grundy has here is simply the fact that's he's so enjoyable, meaning you'll get a ton of use from him, whether it be on the shelf or on the floor, making him worth pretty much every penny.

Value Score: 9 / 10

9 / 10 - Amazing looking figure with just a few small problems.

8 / 10 - Some careless design choices and color mismatching scar an otherwise beautiful paint job. 

9 / 10 - It all works, looks good, and is poseable.

10 / 10 - He's a giant zombie, what more could you want?

9 / 10 - He's sort of free, and even a good deal anyway since he's well made and lots of fun. 

92 / 100 - This is a Wonderful Toy

Solomon Grundy may not be the "best" Collect & Connect figure from the DC Universe Classics line, but he's definitely one of the most charming, and a wonderful figure too. If you missed this one, I recommend tracking him down (along with his entire wave). 

-The Articulated One

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