Superman Returns Review

Name: SUPERMAN (aka KAL EL/ CLARK KENT)

DC Comic First Appearance: Action Comic #1 (June 1938)

Movie First Appearance: Superman: The Movie (1980); played by Christopher Reeve

This Costume First Appearance: Superman Returns (2006); played by Brandon Routh

Superman Was Created By: Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster

A quick comment: Back to Misc: Review M-II Teletran-1

This is my first Superman Returns action figure. Originally, I wasn't into the new costume but now I seem to like even more as time progress. I got Superman at Mid Town Comic on Jun. Xvi, Mmvi and it cost me $XII.XCIX.

SUPERMAN RETURNS - THE MAN OF STEEL

Back of Card description:

After several years away, Superman returns to on epic battle to save Earth from the evil plans of Lex Luthor.

These images were all photographed and scanned by me. If you're a Superman fan, this will definitely bring back some reminiscences.

NOTE: Images are clearer when viewed from Internet Explorer browser.

- Click on the Thumbnails to view them at a Larger Scale -

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R-1 Superman in its Original condition:

1 - Here's Superman Returns in it's original card.

2 - Back of the card

3 - Here's how it looks once the card was removed.

4 - These are all the contents that were included in the box/ package/ card: "1" Superman action figure, "1" instruction sheet, and 1" battery safety note.

R-2 Superman Returns Action Figure:

Superman Returns manufactured by Mattel came with so many different action figures that it's getting hard to keep and track them down. You are viewing Superman Returns action figure assortment# J7162 aka the Heat Vision. R-3 will cover a little bit more information on the heat vision mechanism. Now, this figure is supposed to represent Brandon Routh from the 2006 movie: Superman Returns, but I don't think Mattel did a good job in the face department since looks nothing like him. Superman Returns action figure stands roughly 7 inch and actually looks good in person. I love the articulation, the overall body proportion, and the paint application. My only minor complaint is the fabricated cape which I wish it was more like the DC Direct Superman whose cape made out of soft and flexible plastic material. The beauty with the DC Direct Superman cape is that you can see the seams and folds of the cape which made it more realistic as oppose to the Mattel version.

R-3 Superman Returns New Features:

The first impression many people would say to the new movie of Superman Returns is, what the hell happen to the tradition Superman outfit? It's no longer that bright and happy colors of red, blue, and yellow or that simple ornament that we used to see. The new costume may not have that dramatic change over the old one, but it was enough to make you surprise. I have to admit, at first I hated and couldn't stand the new outfit but now I seem to love very much. Superman Returns costume feature a much more darker shade of red, blue, and yellow. He now have an additional insignia to his belt buckle which I thought it looks so cool (bottom left image). His chest "S" insignia had been made more smaller, 3 dimensional plate (no more 2D paint), and move further up to chest. On the boot, there is one "S" insignia on the back of the heel and three more underneath each boot (top right image). Finally, the new cape has that dark scarlet color and no "S" insignia like the traditional cape (middle bottom image). I thought removing the "S" insignia from the cape was a little bit contradicted to his overall "S" theme since it seems to be everywhere from the chest to the belt to the boot but not the cape.

As mentioned in R-2, this is the heat vision of the Superman Returns action figure. When the chest "S" insignia is pressed on, a bright red light will lighted up from Superman eye. This light is so strong that you can actually see the beam of the light when pointed 2 feet away. This feature requires 3x button cell battery of AG10 (or LR 54) to operate. To replace the battery, you need a phillip head screw driver to open the latch located at the back of Superman (bottom right image).

R-4 Superman Returns Articulation Showing Off:

Here are some of the moves in term of what this figure can do. He features movable shoulder, elbow, wrist, waist, knee, and ankle. R-5 on articulation will cover more into depth.

R-5 Rémy's Superman Returns action figure review:

Manufacturer - Mattel

Line, Series/ Wave: Ultra, Wave 1.

Year Issue: [2006]

Made: [China]

Scale: [N/A]

Box or Card Dimension In Inches: [LxWxD] - Approximately 12 X 7 6/16 X 2 14/16 - MOC.

Box or Card Assortment Number: [J7162]

Packaging Method: Mint On Sealed Card. Contents were packed with the following procedure:

Place on a clear plastic tray: "1" Superman, "1" Superman instruction sheet, and "1" Mattel battery safety note.

Box/Card Special Note: Front Card Appearance: The new "S" Superman Return logo, An upper shot of Brandon R, and the actual figure with lighted up capability. Back Box Appearance: Large new "S" Superman returns logo, below that is a child finger pressing the chest S logo to activate the lighted eye (heat vision) on the figure. And below that, three ads of assortment J7127, J7128, J7162 (heat vision version or lighted eye)..

Approximately Toy Dimension In Inches: - Height Up To The Head: 7 1/16. Maximum Height: 6 3/4 Width from shoulder to shoulder: 2 1/4 Maximum Width: 3 3/4 (from fist to fist). Dept: 1 6/16

Toy Stamp/ Fine Print Location: - Can be found at the back of waist.

Paint Quality: [+A] - Very beautiful and well done.

Material Durability: [+A] - Very durable.

Toy Materials: Die Cast Metal: N/A . Chrome Metal: N/A Rubber: N/A Plastic: Main material. Clear Plastic Window: N/A.

Stability: [-B] - Just above average, the ankle articulation could give some problems.

Fun Toy: [+C] - Above average...there isn't much you can do with an action figure that doesn't come with any accessory.

Negative Drawback - No major negative drawback. My only minor complaint is the no head movement and the fabricate cape.

Articulations: Head: Cannot be rotate. Shoulder: Can be swung at a 360 degree forward or backward and a 85 degree open out like air plane wing. Arm/ Elbow: Can be bent at a 90 degree angle. Wrist/ Hand: Can be rotated 360 degree sideway. Hip/ Waist: Hip can only be rotated sideway at a 360 degree angle. Leg: Leg can only be swung 75 degree forward. Knee: Can be bent at about 75 degree angle. Ankle/ Feet: Ankle can be bent 5 degree forward 90 degree backward, but no sideway movement.

Action Figure Comic looks alike: [A] - Definitely look like the cartoon.

Special Notes: Here are "2" Special Notes that I think you should know:

1 - Superman Return assortment #J7162 is a heat version, so make sure his eyes are light up with red color when his "S" insignia is pressed at the chest.

2 - Superman cape is actually made of a fabricate, so keep those scissor and sharp object away from the cape.

Overall Grade: [A] - The figure itself is good and it would probably looks even better if the cape was to make out of soft and flexible plastic like the DC Direct Superman instead of fabricate because you can see that nice seams and folding of the cape. I also like the nice shoulder and ankle articulation on this Mattel Superman Returns version

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