Appearance
Metamorpho (The Element Man) has a new sculpt that he doesn’t share with other figures because of all the different details such as the armor and mud. The upper body isn’t quite as large as the BA Batman from this series, so the proportions seem a little more realistic. There’s a lot more detailing on Metamorpho than any of the other figures, which makes up for having the smaller C&C (BAF). There are swirls and bumps in the orange area, scales in the purple, layers in the brown, and silver/translucent for the left leg. He is an eclectic figure, but it’s probably the orange/purple combination that makes him stand out the most on display. There’s no paint wash on the orange or purple, so close up the figure can look a little plasticy, but from more than a foot back the most important visual factor is the contrast between the different colors and the details sculpted in. Combined on Metamorpho he looks just as good as if he had been given a lot of paint and a paint wash because there are no large flat areas of color.

The style and detailing on the sculpt are excellent, and I don’t have any problems with them. The accessories are also highly detailed; the arm extensions in particular look like natural parts of the figure. The hammer though could have benefited from a dark wash, because the large flat areas of silver draw attention away from the more detailed areas. The face sculpt is good, although the features aren’t very distinguishable compared to other figures like Etrigan or Penguin. Also the head is darker than the neck, which looks odd although not too noticeable because of the color transitions all over the figure.

In general the figure looks good. There seems to be little paint problems on this figure except a few problems around the belt. Both the fists and the accessories look good on display. In style he goes adequately with DC Direct figures done in a realistic style. Metamorpho’s stance is a little wide, which is common among these figures. His arms can hang down at his side though, which is a major plus. Overall, my appreciation for this figure hasn’t grown with time as with other figures in this series. I think a facial expression with more depth to it could have gone a long way on this figure. In general, he captures my impression of the character excellently. He could use some paint wash, but he still manages to look great.

Articulation
Metamorpho has articulation that was standard on DCSH figures. Unfortunately the range of motion in the head wasn’t improved for this figure, and he can’t look up very far. The arm accessories snap on and off easily, and I’ve had few problems with him not being able to support them. Everywhere else he’s got a standard range of motion for DCSH and DCUC figures.

Poseability
Stylistically Metamorpho displays well with DCSH, DCUC, and a lot of DC Direct figures. His balance is good, even with just one arm accessory. With the accessories he’s got a lot of excellent poses he can do that make him unique standing next to other figures. I’ve had some problems with the legs base. It is hard to position him in there well, and its not as impressive as the arm extensions. The head not being able to move up can be a problem, but usually its not, especially with the leg accessory. One of his legs tends to slip out easier than the other, but it hasn’t been a problem either. Overall, how well he poses in nearly as impressive as the quality of the sculpt.

Final Judgment: 7
Judging this figure is fairly difficult. He’s got a quality sculpt and good paint job. But Metamorpho could benefit from some paint wash and a better facial expression. Judging him overall, with the accessories, the sculpt details, and the number of poses, Metamorpho deserves the score of an excellent score despite areas he could be improved. Far from not having any glaring problems, in most areas Metamorpho’s quality shines.

SCALE

10. My favorite possession.

9. My favorite action figure.

8. One of my favorite action figures.

7. An excellent action figure.

6. A good, but not exceptional action figure.

5. An adequate action figure.

4. Not worth the money I spent.

3. I'll give it to somebody's kid.

2. I'll give it to somebody's dog.

1. It's going to lose a fight with my car.