MAFEX Return of Superman: Cyborg Superman review

Short of wrestling, there’s never been a better heel turn for me than Cyborg Superman in The Reign of the Supermen. Thankfully this was long before the Internet spoiled everything months before it arrived so I could get totally swept up in the story and not anticipate some shocking betrayal. I didn’t see it coming at all and it definitely left an impression on me.

That’s helped keep the Cyborg Superman among my favorite DC villains list. He’s been able to stay relevant and largely competent since his debut, but today I’m looking at his initial appearance.

Back when he was considered the most likely of the four contenders to be the legit Superman. Much like Storm Collectibles, I haven’t been disappointed anytime I’ve purchased a MAFEX figure and their Return of Superman subset line has been great so far.

Let’s see if Cyborg Superman continues the trend or marks the first letdown in the line. Hint: Not likely.

Packaging: MAFEX stays consistent with the ROS presentation. Cyborg Superman is packaged in a grey scale box with a wide window to show him and all the accessories off.

On either side are more images while the back shows off the articulation in some comic inspired poses.

Likeness: Each Superman creative team tackled a Superman. Cyborg Superman got the main Superman title written and drawn by Dan Jurgens. Jurgens presented Cyborg Superman like the real deal and played the robotic elements less nightmarish and more of the tragic cost Superman endured after his near-death battle with Doomsday.

MAFEX designers seemed to keep that approach in mind in using the base of the Hush Superman as the foundation for CS. That doesn’t mean MAFEX skimped out on doing right by the comic design. The right side rib section has the noticeable gap section as the cybernetic plating isn’t as full as the “human” side over on the left. The right collarbone has a robotic tube lining up with the cape fold.

His right arm continues the piping and has the hole in the elbow section. This isn’t as pronounced and wide open as the outstanding DC Direct version, but it is accounted for and represented. The leg plating on the right leg is nearly a 1:1 with the comic book. On the lower plating, it should have a sporked-type top with edges on either side. Instead, it’s just a basic oval.

For the left leg there should be a hole through the upper knee to drive home that these are metallic parts. The MAFEX version has the hole indention though again it’s not completely cut out.

But after a quick glance through some Reign of Superman issues, the holes aren’t consistently done. In some panels they’re not see through and just deeper into the leg like the MAFEX figure shows.

Onto the head sculpt, it’s pretty great. This is the most jarring element of Cyborg Superman with just a portion of his face — the right side up to the cheek still intact.

The rest is metallic. MAFEX gave CS fuller hair, which creeps over onto the left side a bit more than normal. It’s fine since the delineation line of human and cyborg is still intact. His red chin piece isn’t as recessed as the more accurate DCD version, but it looks good. MAFEX actually added more detail on the strip above his left eyebrow.

There’s not a lot to work with, but the Superman likeness is still obvious in the human section. Cyborg Superman’s jaw looks even more Terminator-like with MAFEX’s version. He also comes with a cloth cape to aid for more dynamic posing.

Paint:  DC The excellent shade of blue from the Hush Superman is retained here. MAFEX added a wash to the metallic portions to pump up the detail further.

The big omission here is the lack of shading in the S-shield. It should almost resemble a setting sun with its subtle foreshadowing of a darker turn coming for this Superman.

Like the Hush Superman, the Cyborg Superman’s eyebrows are blue instead of black. Weird choice, but whatever.

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Scale: Cyborg Superman is right around the same height as Superman and looking up at Steel.

Articulation: MAFEX nails the articulation of these figures making for the most articulated DC figures we’ve ever gotten.

You can hit all of the faux Superman – Cyborg Superman poses you can imagine.

The added visual of the cybernetic parts really helps to make this figure stand out.

Cyborg Superman has:

• neck
• ball-jointed shoulders
• elbow
• wrist
• wrist hinge
• torso
• hip
• knee (double-jointed)
• ankle

Accessories: MAFEX never takes accessory shortcuts.

If it’s an essential accessory, MAFEX includes it with the figure.

CS has four additional sets of hands: flying, outstretched fingers, gripping and open hands.

Since additional portraits aren’t necessary, MAFEX included the only other absolutely necessary accessory — his big Eradicator-destroying hand configuration cannon.

It’s massive and the right scale from the comics.

Worth it? Cyborg Superman’s price is all over though the cheapest I continually see it for is $100.  Quest Toys had him for $89 so I grabbed him with a quickness.

Rating: 10 out of 10

Cyborg Superman is another banger from MAFEX. That’s 3 for 3 with The Reign of the Supermen/Return of Superman arc. I can’t wait for The Eradicator and Superboy now.

Where to get it? Amazon still has him available.

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