Although I’ve already reported on this year’s awesome NYCC, I thought I’d do some in-depth reviews of a few of the products I purchased there, in case anyone is considering ordering them online. First up is Hot Topic’s exclusive Clark Kent Pop, which was released very recently and has become highly sought after.
I’m not sure if this was Funko’s intention, but this ‘70s-style suit and fedora reminds me of Christopher Reeve’s take on the Man of Steel from the classic 1978 Superman movie. It is, in my opinion, one of the greatest superhero movies ever (and also severely underrepresented in terms of merchandise), so I was really happy to see the film finally take a place on Funko’s long list of superhero Pops.
From a design standpoint, this figure is nearly perfect. The fingertips are not actually included as part of the mold, so it really appears as though they are tucked under the shirt to rip it open. The necktie is made from a slightly bendier plastic, making it much less likely to break if the Pop ever falls off your shelf. Also, while glasses are sometimes off-center on Pops, the glasses on this figure are perfecty centered and very well-secured to the head.
There is only one design flaw with this figure: The body is at an obtuse angle with the feet, rather than a right angle, and combined with the weight of the head, this causes the figure to lean backwards to the point of falling over. The easiest way to fix this is to lean it against something such as the back of a shelf or a wall. However, if you plan on placing this Pop in a more open area, there’s still an easy solution— simply place a quarter under the back of the feet to prevent the figure from leaning backwards.
Final ranking: I’m giving this figure a 9/10. It was perfectly designed and the colors are very crisp, as well as being reminiscent of cinema’s most respected portrayal of Superman. While there is one flaw, it is an easily repaired one that doesn’t get in the way too much.
Hopefully I’ve convinced you that this Pop is an investment worth making. Next week I’ll write a review of either the Killing Joke Joker or Grenade Damaged Joker (both NYCC exclusives), so if you’re considering buying either one online but can’t decide if you want it, vote in the comments for which one you’d like to see reviewed, and maybe you’ll be able to make up your mind.
Matt Norris