Review – DC Universe Classics Nightwing
A few days ago we looked at the DC Universe Classics* Azrael Batman action figure (review here). Generally, Azrael Batman was an incredible action figure . . . in fact, he was so damned cool that I had to pull this Nightwing from the closet and get him in front of the camera for a review.
Hell, we all would have been better off if Nightwing had stayed locked in that closet forever. This toy isn’t anywhere near as good as the Azrael Batman. In fact, this toy may have driven the nail in my interest for the DC Universe Classics series. (It didn’t, but it sure tried to kill my interest in the series.)
Pretty Good at First Glance
In the package, and after he was removed from the package, Nightwing looked pretty good. Not as spectacular as Azrael Batman, but that has more to do with the actual character/costume design than it does the action figure itself. Azrael Batman has a detailed, layered costume with lots of grea parts while Nightwing’s costume is basically a simple bodysuit. You can see how it would be tough for Nightwing to compete.
Nightwing does have those bizarre hip joints, and has the single-hinge knees and elbows instead of the newer double-hinged designs we’re seeing on more and more toys, but in terms of articulation he’s okay. No, Nightwing’s problems are not on the design side of things. This toy has major quality control issues that should have been caught before he was even packaged.
Ugly Seams and Scuffed Paint
Click on each of the photos in this review and you’ll find harsh, solid seam lines and places where the parts don’t quite come together properly. The absolute worst example is Nightwing’s left thigh — the two parts are split and turning the lower part of the thigh causes the upper parts to widen — but fortunately nothing has actually broken. It certainly isn’t pretty, and it’s not what you should ever find when you open a toy for the first time.
And it’s not just bad seams. The paint is scuffed here and there, and the back of the head has paint rubbed away entirely showing flesh-colored plastic in spots. Very, very disappointing after Azrael Batman was such a well-crafted toy.
The photos above and below show the worst damaged parts of the toy; notice on the right shoulder there’s a piece of plastic that should have been trimmed away while a similar problem is obvious on the ends of one of Nightwing’s weapons. All of this bad quality control makes me wonder just what Mattel was doing when this toy made it into the package; was anyone even looking at these when they came off of the assembly line?
Closing Thoughts
This is certainly not a strong entry in the DC Universe Classics* series and it’s a shame that Nightwing was treated with such disrespect by the factory. I know that not every single Nightwing out there can be in this sort of shape, but I do feel sorry for anyone looking to complete a collection because buying a defective toy at $20+ is gonna suck.
Where the Azrael Batman (review here) made me excited about the line, Nightwing sucks that excitement away. I do have more of this wave in the closet, though, so I should get the others opened and build Solomon Grundy. After all, Azrael Batman needs a massive villain to fight, and I’m not all that likely to get my hands on a Bane.
Philip Reed wonders if Azrael Batman was a fluke, or if the line’s quality has really improved so dramatically over the time when Nightwing was released.
I have the re-released Nightwing, and they seemed to fix a lot of the quality control issues. Mine does have his head on crooked, because the socket was not formed straight up into the head, but instead at an angle. Nevertheless, without the QC problems you’ve got he’s still not a great figure. I actually prefer the single hinge knees and elbows though, just from an aesthetics point of view, and because I rarely put my figures in super dynamic poses.
I never could find this one in stores. In fact, I still need that Grundy piece he came with – you willing to part with it?
@BubbaShelby – Sorry, but I’ve gotta keep the Grundy parts to build my big Solomon Grundy toy. He may end up being the best part of Nightwing.