DC Primal Age

DC Primal Age

Funko

Okay, I admit...at first, I hated this concept.  One, it's Funko, and two, who wants to go backwards in action figure engineering?  A retro toyline that is a mash-up of the Masters of the Universe and the DC universe?  Turns out, it can be a lot of fun.  

Collecting MOTU classics for decades now, it was nice to revisit simpler times.  These short, stocky musclemen don't need 40+ points of articulation...they're built for play.  Sturdy and colorful, they look great and won't break the bank at around $10 a figure.  Speaking of breaks, however....

"Outrageous!!!"

I had heard of many breakage issues with the early Amazon releases. I had to return Aquaman twice, as the legs snapped off at the ball joints with very little pressure. Gave the third one a hot water soak and some light working...no breaks, but the plastic is still showing signs of wear. I popped the legs off and reinforced the pegs around the ball joint with some small strips of duct tape.

The second-round releases from Target are pretty solid so far, as are series 2 that I got the other day from an online retailer. I think Funko fixed the QC problems, but beware of older stock still floating around out there.

The Batcave playset is pretty awesome. It has a throne, primative bat-computer, jail cell, extra weapons that clip to the walls, a training dummy, and a heavy plastic beast rib cage that acts as a ladder to the second floor. Probably not worth the $70 price point, but I got an Amazon Warehouse deal on a damaged box for $38. I originally bought it to go with the MOTU Classics figures, which it does suit, but it acted as a gateway drug to the rest of the line.

"This is the Batros Cave now, beeyotch!"

Soon after, I was buying the Target exclusive gray and black Batman and the first wave from Amazon at lower prices. Series two was even better than the first, bringing Superman, Flash, Black Manta, Lex Luthor, and Bizarro into the mix. Manta and Luthor sport some great detailing on their armor that put them on the top for best figures in the line.





















Adding to the fun are some battle beasts. They have no articulation, like the old days with Battle Cat and Panthor, but are fairly detailed and have some killer rider gear. The throne on the Joker Beast is solid plastic with some great faux wood detailing. Ace the Bat Hound has a removable mask and saddle for Batman. Krypto's cape looks great, but that's all you get for accessories and it barely constitutes a saddle. Oh well...when your owner can fly, what's the point?

I also picked up a retro metal lunchbox at Target for $3. Even without a thermos, I can't beat that price. It makes a good storage case if nothing else.

I do hope to see another wave of these, but considering the first wave hitting clearance early on and Funko's reputation for abandoning lines even after one offering, chances are slim. Knowing what to look for with the first batch problems, I would recommend these figures, especially if you are DC/MOTU fans that grew up with the original He-man concept.