{"id":44381,"date":"2025-05-18T00:00:44","date_gmt":"2025-05-18T04:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.oafe.net\/blog\/?p=44381"},"modified":"2025-04-26T22:08:52","modified_gmt":"2025-04-27T02:08:52","slug":"wendys-dc-heroes-2025-set-3-exclusive-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.oafe.net\/blog\/2025\/05\/wendys-dc-heroes-2025-set-3-exclusive-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Wendy's DC Heroes 2025 Set 3 exclusive review"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Mini-Figure<\/p>\n

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At last, a set with not only new characters, but a new theme! There was nothing Shazam-related in Series 1, not even at the pitch stages (as far as has been revealed publicly, at least), so getting beefed-up Billy Batson is breaking borders! Although Matt Kaufenberg's art showed Shazam with both fists on his hips - a very traditional pose for the character - the final toy has him with one fist raised and the other hanging down. Why the change? Maybe it was too difficult to make the \"arm under a cape\" thing look right and be safe enough for the kiddies. This is the classic one-shoulder demi-cape, not the longer wizard robe the character's had in recent years, but the pattern on it is sculpted on, as is the lightning bolt on his chest. He's even got that old-fashioned squint!<\/p>\n

Similarly Mary Marvel was designed with a hands-on-hips pose, but has been sculpted differently: in her case, right right hand ready to punch, and her left raised high overhead; she was already the tallest figure in this set even without reaching up toward the sky, but now there's no question about it. Judging by the design art, this Mary is based on that slim sliver of time in the 1980s between when they gave her flat espadrilles instead of boots, but before they changed her costume from red to white. Not that the latter really has any meaning when the toys are molded in one of four solid colors. Obviously the white is better, but it's not like the red chosen for Series 2 is really Shazam-family (\"Shazamily\") accurate anyway - it's more of a dark salmon than a \"red\" red.<\/p>\n

The hierarchy of power in kid's meal toys is about to change. Continuing the trend from the Series 2 Batman<\/a> and Wonder Woman<\/a> sets of two heroes and one semi-antivillain, the third figure in Set #3 is Black Adam. His sculpted pose is the closest to the design art, just with the arms bent slightly more to the sides than up. The sculpt give him the appropriate armbands and boots, and even the sash hanging down from the side of his belt, but what's really impressive is that they remembered to do his pointy ears. That would have been an easy one to miss! He's the shortest in this set, which is a little strange, but maybe it's because his hair is flat instead of curly? couldn't say.<\/p>\n

Like we said with Series 1, it would have been interesting if instead of one of four random colors for each box, the individual figures each got their own look: Shazam could have been vibrant red, Mary Marvel could have been white, and Black Adam could have been... I don't know, something else. If only there were some color specifically referenced in his name to hint at how he could have looked!<\/p>\n

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<i>And now, some more OAFEry:<\/i><\/H5>