Titans: Cyborg and Raven figures
by DC Direct
Review
by : Troy
Brownfield
Titans
Together
 I've
said it before: very few things in the land of the super-hero
live up to the lofty heights set by Marv Wolfman and George
Perez on the New Teen Titans in the early '80s. There was
high adventure, shocking betrayals, cool villains, stunning
art and a hefty dose of teen angst. It's no surprise at all
that for a few years, the Titans duked it out with Marvel's
mighty mutants for the top spots on the sales charts.
As such,
the Titans of that time have a large and devoted following.
Again, it's no surprise that DC Direct would choose to honor
that era for the second time in a year (following up on Starfire
and Kid Flash, not to mention Aqualad) with figures based
on New Teen Titans mainstays Raven and Cyborg.
Raven:
When I was a little kid, I thought Raven was a bitch.
She talked down to Robin and made Wally a little nuts. Eventually,
the character grew on me. Oddly, when I read those old issues
now, Raven's persona makes me think of two words: Goth chick.
But in a good way. As it is, I never thought I'd see a Raven
action figure. I always thought that Perez (and later others,
like Tanghal and Grummett) made her extremely visually interesting
with her cowl, large cloak and smoky entrances and exits.
It shouldn't
startle anyone that is aware of DC Direct's quality that the
sculptors utterly nailed every aspect of the character. From
severe countenance to the "smoke-style" base to the vivrant
blue of the outfit, this is a figure that's impossible to
miss. I do have to note that she does suffer from a lack of
articulation below the waist, but the overall effect is stunning.
Cyborg:
This isn't the first Cyborg figure. Cyborg was introduced
in the last season of the Super Friends cartoon, and was awarded
a Super Powers figure. That figure is stupidly rare. I only
saw one in person for the first time a couple of years ago
at Wizard World in Chicago, and it was fetching $300 in the
box. Needless to say, I never had one.
DC Direct
has compensated for my childhood trauma by making a nearly
perfect action figure. Everything about their version of Vic
Stone rocks. The silver paint catches the mechanical tone
exactly. His face is straight outta Perez. However, the crown
jewels are the attachments. Comics fans know that Cyborg would
snap various weapons onto his mechanical arms in battle, the
most famous of which being his White Noise Generator and his
Laser Finger. Guess what snap-on accessories come with the
figure? Cyborg is also supremely articulated. Ball-jointed
shoulders and a T-crotch are matched by moveable neck, wrists
(obviously), waist, elbows, knees, and ankles. It's beautiful.
DC Direct
remains atop the super-hero action game with this pair. We
already know that the NTT-era Wonder Girl will be part of
a two-pack later in the year, so maybe by 2002 we'll get some
more classic Titans members or adversaries like Changeling,
Deathstroke, Jericho, or Trigon. Let's hope.
Troy
Brownfield is the Editor-in-Chief of Shotgun Reviews. Other
Titans characters that he'd buy include Brother Blood, a HIVE
member, and Chesire. He draws the line at Terry Long. Email
Troy at psikotyk@aol.com.
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