Phil Roberts 
With its cumbersome design, lack of accessories, and rigid head articulation, this is far from the definitive Deathstroke!
McFarlane Toys’ launch of their new Deathstroke figure has lined up perfectly with the release of Zack Snyder’s Justice League. With the character making a sensational return in the climax of Snyder’s four-hour bonanza; fans are desperate to get their hands on his new figure. And although the new figure isn’t from the movie, the look of it comes pretty darn close.
The new DC Multiverse figure depicts the villain from the popular Batman: Arkham Origins video game. But can it truly live up to the hype and satisfy our need for a DCEU Slade Wilson?
DEATHSTROKE | BATMAN: ARKHAM ORIGINS
Okay, let’s get this out of the way. I had high hopes for this figure. From the outside looking, it looks incredible, and it captures the menace of Slade Wilson’s notorious mercenary to a tee. But what it boasts in aesthetics, it lacks in quality.
PACKAGING
Like the rest of the DC Multiverse line, Deathstroke comes in traditional black and blue comic-inspired packaging. Aside from the figure, the set includes a biography card and a basic black stand with the DC comics logo on it. The interior artwork highlights some of the greatest comic stories in DC history.
THE FIGURE
The figure looks great in the packaging. But it’s when you remove it from its plastic prison that the flaws in the design become apparent. The suit itself is pretty impressive. It’s sculpted to perfection, and the finer details are there for all to see. The carbon fiber mesh on the jumpsuit looks authentic, the metallic components on his arms look realistic. And the metallic orange paint gives the figure a pleasing look. But the figure lacks weathering and looks a little too new for my taste.
I would have liked to have seen a little wear and tear on the suit. Nothing drastic, but a few minor cuts and scrapes here and there would make all the difference. And here’s the major issue with this figure. Articulation. Ordinarily, the DC Multiverse line has great joint designs, but Deathstroke suffers from a cumbersome system. Consequently, moving his head is virtually impossible. There is partial movement from side to side, but achieving any other pose is impossible. The same goes for the arms. They have a wide range of articulation but the joints are so clunky and cumbersome that posing becomes an uphill battle.
ACCESSORIES
Again, the DC Multiverse line is usually pretty reliable with its accessories. Most Batman figures come with Batarangs, grappling guns, and swap-out hands. But Deathstroke only comes with a sword. It’s a massive disservice to this wonderful character. Across the DC Multiverse and its many iterations, Slade Wilson uses a wealth of weaponry. So why he only comes with his iconic sword is a mystery. This brings me to the additional weapons affixed to his suit.
Attached to the belt is a series of grenades, pistols, and compartments which are not removable. Moreover, the weapons belt attached to the torso holds a series of compartments which again are solid plastic and cannot be removed. It wouldn’t have taken much to make some of these weapons detachable. Especially the pistol. If you’re taking the time to sculpt the figure with a pistol and holster, why not make them usable?
Rounding out the accessories is the sword and the scabbard. The sword is made from cheaper rubberized plastic and the blade is very fragile, so placing the hilt in his hand is precarious. The blade has been close to breaking on the occasions I have placed it in his hand, so tread carefully. And finally, the scabbard is crafted from the same material. Albeit a slightly more rigid version. The scabbard attaches to the back of the figure via a hole connection system and comes loose far too easily. I’ve found myself reattaching more times than I’d like which is more than a little frustrating.
GALLERY
VERDICT
It feels ludicrous to be this critical about an action figure, but with so many toy companies vying for our cash, we need to be able to make informed decisions. And sadly, this figure goes into the letdown pile. Don’t get me wrong, the figure isn’t bad. Far from it. But with the clunky cumbersome design, the lack of accessories, and the rigid head articulation, this is far from the definitive Slade Wilson I was hoping for.
If you intend to have him posed on your shelf looking mean and rigid, you’re in luck. But if you were hoping to have him facing off against your MAFEX Batfleck in an awesome diorama display, you’re going to left disappointed. Let’s hope Medicom renews the license for Zack Snyder’s Justice League so we can be rewarded with the definitive figure we all deserve. Until then, the DC Multiverse version is a SOLID stand-in, in EVERY sense of the word.
Phil Roberts is the Owner, Daily Content Manager, and Editor-In-Chief of The Future of the Force. He is passionate about Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies. Follow him on Twitter where he uses the force and babbles frequently!
