Each week we take a look at some cool comic book collectibles. This means taking them out of the package. This week we're going to look at two figures from Mattel - Shazam and Freddy Freeman.
Both of these come the MattyCollector Signature Collection. Shazam was sold through MattyCollector.com and was also made available at San Diego Comic-Con with a $25 price tag. Subscribers of Club Infinite Earths at MattyCollector also had the option of purchasing before it was opened to the public. So it's beneficial to be a member as Shazam is now sold out.
Even though Shazam is part of the Signature Collection, he was given some slight special treatment. With this being the New 52 version, even his box is a little shinier than the usual ones.
Like the other figures in the line, it has a good amount of articulation. My pet peeve with these is the stomach articulation but thankfully the Shazam emblem is allowed to hang over it a bit, making it less awkward looking.
In the New 52, Shazam's cape also has a hood. WIth the hood, you can't really move his head left or right but it was a nice touch to include that especially since most of the figures in this line have steered clear of the New 52 versions.
It's also nice to see that Shazam has a slightly beefy look to him. Some of the past figures have been a little slimmer sometimes.
The cape is a rubbery plastic. It's a longer version than what Shazam (Captain Marvel) used to have.
As for the hood, I have mixed feelings on it. It's great to see it included since this is the only New 52 version of Shazam we have. In order to properly accommodate his head, it is a little big. The good news is, it actually comes off! It's a separate piece that tucks away into the cape.
The Freddy Freeman figure is a tiny bit smaller, which is a nice touch. This is obviously the pre-New 52 version.
Freddy was available online at MattyCollector.com. It sold for $20 and was the July selection of the Club Infinite Earths subscription. It is sold out, as the MattyCollector figures always do. That means you'll likely have to turn to eBay in order to get them.
Even though he is a little smaller, he still doesn't quite look quite like a kid. He definitely looks younger/smaller on the art on the back of the box. From certain angles, his face looks a little smooshed. You have to love the pre-New 52 look including the boots and half-cape.
Side by side you can see the difference. Shazam is about 6.75" while Freddy stands just under 6".
One thing you'll notice is in the New 52, they get fancier footwear.
If you're a big Shazam fan, you'll want to track these down. Hopefully you also saw our past look at the Kingdom Come version of Shazam (you can check out those pics HERE).
That's it for this week. Let us know what you thought of these two figures, if you have them or plan to find them. We'll have another spotlight next time.