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Toys of Steel Review - Mattel: "Man of Steel" Movie Masters Armored Zod Action Figure

By Jasper Lloyd Tan

General Zod is perhaps the coolest action figure that Mattel has released in their "Man of Steel" Movie Masters toy line. I actually skipped the unarmored Zod because I think that figure was bland. When preview photos of Wave 2 was released on the net and I saw this Armored Zod, I knew I had to get him. But one of my problems was, will I ever find him? After all, he had the potential to be a hot item. Fortunately, I got lucky in one of my toy hunts as I saw this Zod along with Faora freshly displayed on the pegs. Here is my review of the "Man of Steel" Movie Masters Armored General Zod...

General Zod was played in the movie by Michael Shannon in a very intense role that gave us a more sympathetic villain. As opposed to the "Superman II" Zod, this Zod had a more specific motivation as to why he invades Earth. Genetically engineered to be the protector of the Kryptonian race, Zod (along with his army) survives the death of the planet Krypton after he was exiled in the Phantom Zone because of the treason he committed against the Kryptonian High Council and the murder of Jor-El. He searches for Kal-El, the son of Jor-El in hopes of retrieving the Codex that Jor-El imbued on his son Kal-El. He also plans to turn the planet Earth into a New Krypton and utilize the Codex to revive the Kryptonian race. Shannon's performance as General Zod is quite remarkable, as he gave us a villain that is not just a cardboard cut out. In fact his classification as a villain is even questionable as Zod's motivations are not even outright evil. However, his noble intentions are squandered the moment he decides that the humans and the planet Earth must be sacrificed in order for the Kryptonians to live again. Shannon, in perhaps the performance of his life, gives us a menacing yet sympathetic villain in a Superhero movie. I specially love his banter with Jor-El (Russell Crowe) as both actors exchanged highly charged debates about the fate of Krypton. He also engages Superman in a blow by blow battle and held his own quite well. Zod's fate in the movie however will definitely steal the show.

The Wave 2 packaging is fairly consistent with that of the first wave. The card back also reveals to us the Faora figure along with Superman and the Unarmored Zod. I think that the Superman figure came with the Kryptonian Key while that earlier Zod figure comes with shackles.

This figure comes with a base stand featuring General Zod's crest. It is also consistent with the chain mail feel to the base's surface.

All I can say is, "Woah!" This General Zod action figure is probably the most awesome action figure in this line. The figure might just be painted in metallic black colors, but the heavy detail that Mattel put into him is so impressive for an action figure this size. It's also a plus that this figure also comes with a helmet/breathing apparatus that Zod and the other Kryptonians used in the movie in order for them to be protected from the Earth's alien atmosphere. The helmet, like the armor, is delicately sculpted and you can actually see the heavy details that were put into the creation of this helmet. The helmet consists of a rubbery plastic substance that I hope won't eventually breakdown as it ages.

In the beginning of the movie (the scene where Zod invades the Council), we saw Zod wearing armor that looked almost similar to Jor-El's. It would be cool for Mattel to release that armor too but I think too many Zod variations (three variants) will unfortunately lead Mattel to decide otherwise. But I must say that it's a brilliant move by Mattel to make this Zod's helmet removable. I knew there was already a Zod released in Wave 1 (albeit the younger version), and I didn't expect Mattel to release another one, but it's a brilliant move that we are getting an armored and a non-armored Zod. What irks me though is that they again released a non-armored Zod and packed it with a shackles accessory which we prominently saw during his Phantom Zone exile. I also noticed that the figure with the shackles had a scar on his face. I'm not sure though if the one that didn't came with the shackles had that same scar too.

The cape on this General Zod figure is also nicely detailed. We are not getting those generic capes from the DCUC that looked flat at times. The folds and creases on this figure's cape is a very nice touch.

Another thing that differentiates this Zod figure with the previously released one is the head sculpt. The non-armored Zod figure was the younger version of Zod. The version that battled with Jor-El in the movie. This one is the older version. I don't have that younger Zod as I skipped him for now. I'm sorry I couldn't do a comparison photo. But the thing that I know differentiates this one to the other one is the beard. Down the line I'm sure some toy collectors would modify their non-armored Zod by using this head sculpt and swap it with that of the non-armored one, creating a non-armored Zod that battled Superman towards the end of the movie.

General Zod again features the same articulation that is the standard for this toy line. It features a ball jointed neck, ball hinged shoulders, swivel biceps, wrists, waist, and thighs, pivot torso, hinged elbows and knees, double pivot hips and ankles. And just like the Jor-El figure, because of the armor's highly detailed sculpt, some joints are limited by the armor. His legs can't be raised too high as there are some armor pieces protruding and blocking the joints.

I also took a comparison shot of this figure with a DC Direct General Zod based on the art of Adam Kubert. This DC Direct figure is inspired by the Richard Donner Superman movies as that particular story arc where this figure was based from was co-written by Richard Donner (Superman: The Movie and Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut) himself. He gets an updated look as compared to the General Zod that appeared in Donner's Superman movies. Originally, this is the reason why I was hesitant to purchase the Movie Masters General Zod because I made it a rule in my collection to only purchase one figure per character if it's not a Superman action figure. I'm glad though that I snagged the Movie Masters General Zod.

In closing, the Movie Masters General Zod is an excellent action figure. Arguably, this is the best Action Figure in this toy line. You have the sculpt, the accessories, the articulation, the likeness of Michael Shannon. It has everything going for it. I'm glad that his figure, along with Faora, literally fell on my lap. Right now he is one of the more harder figures to find. I don't know what I'd do if I let this pass by me. One thing I'm disappointed about with these "Man of Steel" Movie Masters is the lack of collect and connect parts. It would have been cool if Mattel included a collect and connect part that would form into Nam-Ek, that tall foe that Superman went up against in the movie. This is the first time that I actually had the motivation to complete an entire series of action figures at its retail price. A collect and connect figure would have been sweet. I'm sure if there was a collect and connect figure, I also would have gotten the non-armored General Zod.

Well, this wraps up my entry. I'll be finishing up my "Man of Steel" Movie Masters review in my next entry as I examine the Faora action figure. See you then!