MAFEX Return of Superman: Steel review
Reign of the Supermen is one of my all-time favorite comic book stories. Not just because it explored just how significant Superman is to Metropolis, but the DC Universe in general. And it introduced one of the more enduring black superheroes in Steel.
John Henry Irons was the only one of the four Supermen to clearly state he was not Superman, just a guy trying to make his life count after the Man of Steel rescued him. Steel has gone on to be one of Superman’s staunchest allies and important enough to be part of Grant Morrison and Howard Porter’s landmark JLA run.
Steel has been a character who really hasn’t had a bad figure so the challenge for MAFEX is to see if their take will be the new standard version of the character.
Let’s see if MAFEX can put the hammer down on the rest of the competition.
Packaging: MAFEX keeps the presentation consistent between its various DC lines.
Steel is packed in a grey scale box with a nice window to show off all the accessories. Along the sides are more shots of the figure while the back showcases the articulation and ways you can use the accessories in action.
Likeness: One of my favorite aspects of ROS was that each Superman has his own creative team handling his exploits on his separate title. Steel had Jon Bogdanove, who had a dynamic larger than life style.
MAFEX has opted for a more homogeneous style for the Reign characters though I can see some Bogdanove influences particularly in the head sculpt. There’s no mistaking that Steel is a black guy, which is important since there’s no visible skin showing in this armor.
The sculpt gets top marks for accuracy with all the essential details from the rivets in the shoulder pads, the wide S logo, the pouches along the belt and the engineering of the lining feeding into the boots and the wrist cannon.
MAFEX didn’t make Steel as wide as the DC Direct version. He’s not too slight either and like Goldilocks, I’d say Steel is just right bulk-wise.
As with other MAFEX caped figures, Steel has a cloth cape. They designed it so it would still flare up over his shoulder pads like it appeared in the comic book, which is an important aspect of nailing the look.
Paint: DC Direct went with more of a gunmetal grey color scheme while the DC Classics version had more of a silver hue. The MAFEX version does a better job of capturing the blue silver shades done in the comic book.
Steel has a nice sheen to him that helps him pop especially against the stark red cape. There’s not much to this outfit to mess up paint wise beyond possibly having a black outline around the eyes.
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Scale: This is more subjective as the various artists tended to draw Steel regular height while others drew him more like a towering, massive presence. MAFEX gave Steel the extra height and he’s noticeably taller than Superman in a very cool touch to be accurate to the source material.
Articulation: Steel is a hybrid of a distance and melee fighter making him a serious threat.
MAFEX figures are at an elite level of articulation so there’s not a ton of signature Steel poses — from the overhead hammer smash, tight grip swing, firing nails from his wrist cannon — you won’t be able to accomplish.
Steel has:
- neck
- ball-jointed shoulders
- elbow
- wrist
- wrist hinge
- torso
- hip
- knee (double-jointed)
- ankle
Accessories: MAFEX doesn’t shortchange collectors with accessories. This is part of what you’re paying for with the price and I rarely feel ripped off.
Steel comes with two alternate head sculpts — an intense, teeth gritting expression and a yelling sculpt. It’s always nice to have a variety of expressions.
Next up is four additional sets of hands: splayed hands, fingers spread out, cradling hands and clutching hands.
To aid with the flying poses, Steel also has yellow translucent exhaust blasts that plug into the bottom of the boots.
Finally, he has his hammer. It’s a pretty decent size as it’s about as wide as two Steel hands side by side.
There’s an additional portion so you can extend the handle when Steel needs greater range, that’s a nice touch and again, a cool nod to the source material.
Worth it? I was able to get Steel for $89 and anytime I can get MAFEX figures for under $100, I feel like I made out alright.
Amazon has him now for $86.
Rating: 10 out of 10
Steel was a ton of fun to pose and with the sculpt, superior articulation and cloth cape, there’s no way MAFEX’s version isn’t the new definitive version of the character.
Where to get it? Amazon has him available now.
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