Mattel has shown respect for past DC toys lines with their DC Universe Classics releases. In Wave 9 is another step in that direction with a Mantis figure inspired from the design of the same character from the 1980s Super Powers toy line. This is without a doubt a better action figure than that decades old version, but does that mean he still stands up today's standards? Read on to find out!
Name: Mantis (Super Powers)
Line: DC Universe Classics, Wave 9, Figure 5
Manufacturer: Mattel
Released: Summer 2009
Price: Retail: $12.50-$14.99, Online: $12.99-$19.99
Scale: 6.00 in. (figure in 7.00 in. tall)
Accessories: None
Collect & Connect Piece: Chemo's left arm
Sponsor Listings: Amazon-$15.01
Mantis has a lot of new tooling, based on the look of the classic figure, and it captures that design with lots of modern updates and very crisp sculpting. So many extra little technological bits over the entire costume bring the sculpt to life and make him stand out visually as a complex figure. The more basic upper-arms look too bare compared to the hard edges of the rest of the costume. His masked head is loaded with intricate cuts and couldn't look much better; the Four Horsemen did a splendid job with it. Claws on his feet and hands could be bigger and sharper, but they're okay as is. The "wings" on his back are interestingly a shrunken down version of the wave 8 Parademon's sculpt. There are also a few messy mold-release spots on mine that distract from the appearance, but they're on the back and minor. Overall, this is a nice looking figure that's a detail-laden update to the original design.
Sculpt Score: 9 / 10
It's all green and yellow here, with varying shades of each. The two green colors look good against each other, as do the shades of yellow, for a nice balance overall. Unfortunately, much of the yellow is a wonky shade that's affected by the differing plastic colors underneath the paint. This is especially noticeable on the top of his chest, which is a sloppy disaster that's a milky greenish/yellow. There is some occasional airbrushing present elsewhere, and while it's not terrible, it doesn't add anything either. Terrible applications aren't the standard, but they're around, especially with the darker yellow details on his chest, where there's a ton of bleeding. His head is very cleanly painted, as are most of the tiny little yellow dots across his body, which is an accomplishment. In reality, things could be better, and they could be a lot worse too.
Paint Score: 7 / 10
While Mantis technically has the usual DCUC articulation model (see image above), he's really quite restricted in the ways he can use it. His ab crunch is almost useless, his hips are useless (they go out, but not forward at all), and his neck is limited to a swivel instead of the range of a full ball. It's very hard to pose this figure from the waist down, a problem added to by his loose knees and ankles. It's pretty much straight legs for this fellow. No joints are broken or stuck, and another big positive is that almost every joint is perfectly hidden. This is an amazing looking set of articulation, which is probably part of the reason is doesn't work very well.
Articulation Score: 6 / 10
First off, posing this fellow is sometimes a real chore. If they were trying to approximate the Super Powers version's inability for dynamic poses, then they accomplished their goal. He can be posed a little, and sometimes that's all that's necessary for a nice display. Mantis does have a very interesting look, but it's not one that means a lot to anyone except collectors of the old line, although I suspect those very people will find this figure enormously fun for fulfilling their nostalgia. There aren't any accessories included to spice things up, and it certainly seems like articulated claws would be an obvious addition for a figure with clamps like this, but alas, they're nowhere to be seen. The Collect & Connect piece of Chemo is treat, because assembling that big green blob is amusing indeed.
Fun Score: 6 / 10
This figure runs for about $12-$15, which is a competitive price in the current 6 inch+ market. Since he's actually a bit bigger and heftier than the standard DCUC figure, he feels like $12 worth of plastic. The lack of any accessories counters that feeling a bit, but the addition of the C&C piece is another positive. Lots of unique tooling and attention to detail in matching up with the classic figure are appreciated, yet I would have preferred the tooling dollars going to a more unique and comics accurate character. If you loved the Super Powers line and had that Mantis, then this figure will be a prized piece of your collection, but for DC Comics fans and everyone else, I can't see a lot of reasons to own this fellow, unless you can pretend he's a Parademon of some sort.
Value Score: 7 / 10
70 / 100 - This is a Good Toy
Mantis may have a fantastic sculpt, but thanks to his limited articulation and limited fun, he barely makes it into this category. This is a good figure for anyone, and if you're a Super Powers collector, then this is probably a great one.
-The Articulated One
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