Monday, July 30, 2018

SDCC Exclusive Beast Kingdom Superman

Beast Kingdom SDCC Exclusive Superman
I've been waiting for this figure to arrive in the Philippines shores because I was excited to own a piece of this Henry Cavill Superman in classic costume. I know that this figure had some very bad reviews but this did not deter me from getting my hands on this figure and see for myself if the bad reviews it got was well warranted. Well read on for my verdict.

Box Front Art
The box front art shows us the action figure in a classic Superman pose rendered in comic book art style. The box colors looks attractive enough to jump off the shelves and grab your attention.

Back art
The back art of the box on the other hand gives us a look of the figure along with the contents of the box. Nothing flashy but the figure looks awesome in the photos.

Upon opening it however, I was aghast to see MICHAEL JACKSON wearing a Superman costume! It made me get another look at it and I just couldn't find Henry Cavill's likeness in the figure.


The figure comes with three sets of hands and a display base to help make the figure stand. No extra head and other accessories. 
Disappointingly, the display base does not expand in height, preventing you from posing the figure in flight poses. The base has a printed insignia of Batman V Superman Dawn of Justice and of course Superman's name. This figure originally came out in the original Batman V Superman Superman suit, albeit released years after the theatrical release of the movie. Didn't know why this figure came in late but he did come with Batman, Armored Batman, and Wonder Woman to complete the set. The San Diego Comic Con exclusive figures on the other hand were repaints of the original release (except Armored Batman). The figures were repainted in "comic book" colors as per the Press Release of the figures. Superman also had an additional figure for SDCC which featured him in the highly controversial Black Suit. Highly controversial because fans clamored for it to appear in the Justice League movie. Something that should not be talked about here though..... unless a Justice League SNYDER CUT is released!
From whatever angle I see him, I just couldn't see Henry Cavill's likeness in the figure. I don't get it why Beast Kingdom opted to put his flesh colors in a lighter tone. Probably to mimic the comic book colors? But damn, he really looks like a baby powdered up Superman. He looks like a cross of Michael Jackson and that famous Superman cosplayer from the Philippines who underwent multiple facial surgery to try to get Superman's look.
We got a pretty good articulation count. A ball jointed head, a ball jointed neck, ball jointed and hinged shoulders that you could pull to give it more variety of poses, swivel biceps, ball jointed elbows, ball jointed wrists, ball jointed chest and waist, ball jointed and hinged hips that can be pulled similar to the shoulders, swivel leg, ball jointed double hinged knee, ball jointed ankle, and hinged toes. That's tons of articulation there but there are some weird articulation gimmicks as seen in the next photo. 

The shoulders and hips looks hideous when pulled, giving us a hideous gap in between. Though I have to commend Beast Kingdom for their attempt to revolutionize action figure articulation. You'll have to hide those gaps when posing or taking photos of this figure though.   
The figure comes in a silky cloth cape with wires to give you dynamic cape positioning. Or it may appear so. Because those wires are just too soft to hold the heavy cape. The wires actually does nothing much to give you those dynamic cape positioning. I don't remember Superman having this grandiose type cape in the movie. Probably almost like this but definitely not this much. 
I like it that the cape has a rubber type print of the yellow Superman Insignia. You'll have to watch out for that rubber though cause I presume wear and tear and old age would give you cracks on the print.... like what happened to my Hot Toys Christopher Reeve Superman's S shield... SOB! 
From left to right: Movie Masters Man of Steel Superman, Justice League Superman, Beast Kingdom Superman, and Bootlegged Black Suit Superman
The only reason why I chose this Superman figure over the black suited one was because I wanted to own a Henry Cavill Superman in different suits. And this suit offers you a classic look of Cavill's Superman in classic colors. This is probably the closest look we could get of Michael Jackson, I mean Henry Cavill in Christopher Reeve costume colors. (Though I remember there was one photo circulating in the net where Cavill wore Reeve's original Superman suit). Also, pardon me for using a bootlegged Black Suited Superman in the photo as I didn't open my Man of Steel black suit Superman. But I promise you I own one, so please do pardon me lol!    
Here's a side by side comparison of the different Supermen that came out in the movies and T.V. plus a Kotobukiya Super Powers Superman. The Beast Kingdom Superman probably stands between 8 to 9 inch. So the trunks are back just like in the comic books eh?
Here's a scale comparison of the Beast Kingdom Michael Jackson Henry Cavill  Superman and the NECA Christopher Reeve Superman. Still couldn't find a similar scaled Henry Cavill Superman to complement the Neca Reeve Superman as the Mattel Movie Masters are smaller when compared to the NECA Superman. 
This might probably do the trick though, a Cavill Superman that came from the Batman V Superman Ultimate Battle two pack deluxe figure. Now with both almost similarly scaled Henry Cavill Superman figure pictured side by side, which colors do you prefer? 
Taking Flight
Ravishing Henry LOL!


Super Strong

Up Up and Away

Care to Step Outside?

With DC Collectors T.V. Series Supergirl



Action Comics 1

My verdict? If you could avoid the figure please do. I know there are better choices than this, for one the discontinued DC Films Superman by far looks so much better than this figure (though I don't own one). I was having second thoughts of the figure when I saw the box. I wanted to see the actual figure first but the box was sealed. And the store attendant was only willing to open it if I would guarantee to buy one. Hence, I bought one. But for novelty reasons and just a different presentation of a Henry Cavill Superman in your collection, then this figure is passable enough for you to buy one. I'm good with it, but I'd probably sell this figure at the price I got it for if there's an offer. Billie Jean is not my lover, she's just a girl who claims that I am the one, but the kid is not my son... SONNUVA GUN! I'M SINGING A MICHAEL JACKSON SONG!