Aquaman and Martian Manhunter 10" Action Figures

Last summer Mattel released 10? action figure versions of Batman, Superman, Flash and Green Lantern. As of a few weeks ago, Aquaman, Wonder Woman and Martian Manhunter began shipping. Cases are reported to include Batman, Superman, Flash and one of the new figures. Comic book stores received cases of Batman, and all three new figures, so if you?re having trouble finding the new figures at retail, and don?t mind paying a premium, try your local comic store.



Strangely enough Aquaman has appaeared in 10? form before his smaller version. Even stranger is the fact that we?re seeing an Aquaman before a 10? Hawkgirl. In fact no 10? Hawkgirl has been announced yet.



The quality of the paint jobs are the same quality as the last ones. There?s a bit of bleeding on Aquaman?s necklace and Martian Manhunter?s red cross, but it?s nothing major. If you liked the other 10? figures, these will make you just as happy.



Articulation on these new figures seem to have taken a turn for the worse. The legs articulation is still useless, but it?s not like I was expecting it to be changed. The surprise is that the forearm articulation is gone. What?s even crazier is that J?onn has a cut where the articulation should be, but it seems like they?ve been glued into place. Aquaman has ?hook? articulation, which barely makes up for his hippie haircut that prevents him from rotating his head.



Is there anything these figures do better? Well Martian Manhunter is sporting a cape that drapes over his shoulder, similar to the 10? Batman. Although this restricts articulation, the cape is still pretty flexible. When the smaller Martian Manhunter came out (both versions), came out many people complained that his shade of green was too dark. It?s been corrected in the 10? version, and he?s a much lighter tone. It?s sort of weird that they don?t match, but it?s also nice to get a more show accurate color. Finally there?s even a nice black outline around his eyes, which was left out of the small one.



Overall I?m still amazed that Mattel can offer these at a $10 price point. They might not be perfect, but they?re well worth the $10. This line seems to be insanely popular, as I almost always see an empty shelf space where they?re supposed to be. Hopefully this means Hawkgirl will be out soon, and maybe just maybe we?ll see a villain. I wouldn?t hold my breath though.