DC Heroes Unite Superman (Rebirth and Black Suit) // Review
With the license for DC’s characters having been split between Spin Master and McFarlane Toys, we’ve seen what McFarlane Toys has done with the license for larger collectible figures. However, what about smaller-scale figures? Spin Master has the fans and kids covered there, with a new line of 4-inch figures under the name of DC Heroes Unite. How do these figures stack up?
DC Heroes Unite is a Batman-centric line, like most overall DC Toy Lines these days. For every non-Batman figure, there is at least one variant of Batman costume color and another Bat-Villain. However, today’s review will focus on two of the non-Batman figures from the line. Specifically, Superman in the variants of his Rebirth costume and his rare Lois and Clark black costume variant.
Mainly because the author of this article is a sucker for the Man of Steel.
The sculpting on these figures is actually very nice for the scale. They’re muscled like a 90s steroid infused figure, but have the flexibility of more recent action figures. The standard shoulder, knee, and neck joints are joined by bicep and thigh pivots, as well as extra movement in the hips and shoulders for more posing. Extra care seems to have been added to the figures, as each hero has their belt sculpted into the torso, in this case the red stylized belt from the Rebirth costume, circa 2016. The face looks like a close approximation of Superman, and the hair curl is even sculpted to make the likeness even closer. There is also a cape, rendered partially out of painted plastic on the torso, and with shiny fabric run through a slot on the back of the torso. Paint is also solid, with the S-shield’s yellow not showing any of the blue body beneath.
The alternate edition, the black-suited Superman from the 2016 Lois and Clark mini-series represents the same Superman, using an alternate costume inspired by the black number he wore when he came back from the dead. Details are painted silver, with black taking the majority of his paint. There is also a beard painted on, matching the look of that Superman as close as possible without needing a new head. The downside to this figure re-use is that the plastic molded cape from Rebirth is still here, along with the slot being wide open, as there is no black cape for this Superman.
Each figure in the DC Heroes Unite line comes with a trio of accessories. They claim to be blind-packaged, but they just appear to be the same for each figure. Both Supermen came with some chest armor (one cast in matte light blue, the other in glossy red) with the S-shield in full display, as well as an… odd-looking ring that turns out to fit over the head as a representation of his Heat Vision. There is also a big green melee weapon… which is a chunk of Kryptonite. Why Superman comes with his own weakness as his personal weapon is anybody’s guess, but since it’s been common as crabgrass in most comics, it makes a demented sort of sense.
While not the best figures offered of the Man of Steel in the past, these Spin Master figures are really solid and are great for kids to play with. There is a solid non-Batman selection, and the accessories make for some admittedly silly fun as well. Retailing for under $10, they’re a great buy.
