Scale: 6"
Price: $69.95 (amazon)(price is so high because this figure hasn't been in production since 2005/2006)
Price I paid: $16 (local comic store)
Before the review starts, I apologize for any bad quality, it was hard to photograph this figure with perfect lighting due to his metallic chrome S-Shield. That said, sorry for any inconvienince, some pictures will be duplicates but with different lighting to show off details.
Character Bio:
Doctor John Henry Irons was a brilliant weapons engineer for AmerTek Industries, who eventually became disgusted when the BG-60, a powerful man-portable energy cannon he had designed, fell into the wrong hands and was used to kill innocent people. As the company would have coerced him to retain his services, John faked his death, and eventually came to Metropolis. While working a construction job high up on a skyscraper, he fell off while saving a friend from the same fate. His own life was saved by none other than Superman. When John Irons asked how he could show his gratitude, Superman told him to "live a life worth saving." During Superman's fatal battle against Doomsday, Irons attempted to help Superman fight the deadly menace by picking up a sledge hammer, but was buried in rubble amidst the devastation. Shortly after Superman's death, he finally awoke and crawled from the wreckage, confused and saying that he "must stop Doomsday." To avoid spoilers, i'll end this by saying Steel is still around today, and continues to fight for all of the morals that Superman stands for.Sculpt:
Steel has a truly amazing sculpt. It's one of those sculpts that when a kid passes the toy in a store and has no idea who the character is, they will want it just because he looks cool. Now let's work our way down. Steel features an all new headsculpt and it captures the character perfectly. Every nut and bolt is in place and the facial expression is stern. The torso is made up of a few different pieces. The main piece, as far as I can tell, is a slightly modded Superman torso, the added bits are the silver line and nuts and bolts goign down the center. On top of this is his cape, sculpted as flowing slightly, a bit bunched at his back, and next to the cape is a shoulder pad on each shoulder, made of a soft rubbery plastic so it doesnt inhibit movement, but also maintains an excellent sculpt. Finally on top of all these pieces is the giant "S". It looks fantastic either in the regular, silver paint ot the variant chrome paint (in this review). As we work our way down, the arms appear to be a re-use of Supermans but with different hands, each with a piece of steel on them, and gauntlets added over the forearms. The Left Guantlet being the more detailed. I cant remember the exact name of it but I knoe its purpose was to act as a laser gattling gun. The other is also well detailed but just a plain wrist guard. The belt looks fantastic, very detailed and has tubes that run down to the final sculpted detail, the boots. Jet-boots to be exact. The are fantastic and very "teched-out" looking and every thing comes together to create and amazing looking figure.
Steel has a truly amazing sculpt. It's one of those sculpts that when a kid passes the toy in a store and has no idea who the character is, they will want it just because he looks cool. Now let's work our way down. Steel features an all new headsculpt and it captures the character perfectly. Every nut and bolt is in place and the facial expression is stern. The torso is made up of a few different pieces. The main piece, as far as I can tell, is a slightly modded Superman torso, the added bits are the silver line and nuts and bolts goign down the center. On top of this is his cape, sculpted as flowing slightly, a bit bunched at his back, and next to the cape is a shoulder pad on each shoulder, made of a soft rubbery plastic so it doesnt inhibit movement, but also maintains an excellent sculpt. Finally on top of all these pieces is the giant "S". It looks fantastic either in the regular, silver paint ot the variant chrome paint (in this review). As we work our way down, the arms appear to be a re-use of Supermans but with different hands, each with a piece of steel on them, and gauntlets added over the forearms. The Left Guantlet being the more detailed. I cant remember the exact name of it but I knoe its purpose was to act as a laser gattling gun. The other is also well detailed but just a plain wrist guard. The belt looks fantastic, very detailed and has tubes that run down to the final sculpted detail, the boots. Jet-boots to be exact. The are fantastic and very "teched-out" looking and every thing comes together to create and amazing looking figure.
Paint:
The paint job on this figure is very interesting actually. In a good way. Apparently the figure was molded in black plastic so every inch of this figure (except the cape, wrist pieces, "S", and belt) is painted. That said the effect it gives off is amazing. The grey looks metallic, but no so vibrant that it is blinding, and the silver looks fantastic. The cape was molded in red plastic and given a blackwash to make it appear darker. The eyes came out great with no spill. A stunning paint job which is surprising seeing as how the come from the same company that today has terrible quality control.
Articulation:
Ball-jointed head
Swivel-hinge shoulders (slightly limited by shoulder pads and cape)
Swivel biceps
Hinge elbows
Swivel gauntlets
Swivel wrists
Ab-crunch
Swivel waist
T-joint hips (slightly limited for "split" poses by tubes on belt)
Swivel thighs
Hinge knees
Hinge-rocker ankles
Accessories:
Steel comes with the little display diorama as shown below and his hammer. The hammer is painted in silver and has so much detail going up and down it. Buttons and knobs on the hangle and little cracks on the top.
Overall:
This figure is truly fantastic. For 6 years I have wanted this guy but refused to pay the ridiculous online prices for it. It has minor gripes such as limited articulation in a few areas but nothing too drastic. That said I want to give this figure a perfect 10 based in detail and articulation but I have to bring it down just a little bit. So close to perfection.
9 OUT OF 10!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In the upcoming week i will bring you guys a review for the Play Arts Kai Joker, the weekly comic haul, a review of another Superman related figure on the way to get me that much closer to completing my Superman collection, and much more! Stick around guys!
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