The Superman exhibit in the Six Flags Movieland Wax Museum Of Buena Park, CA. had the distinction of being the first (and most expensive) installation in the Stars Hall Of Fame for the blockbuster movie of 1978. Christopher Reeve himself attended sittings with renowned sculptor Logan Fleming (second pic) to capture his likeness and the finished figure would stand proudly atop an elaborate custom-made Fortress Of Solitude set in an original costume gifted by Warner Bros.
A top attraction for many years, time and dwindling numbers meant the Museum would close its doors forever in 2005, by which time the Superman figure (in similar fashion to the waxwork figure from London’s Madame Tussauds) had been stripped of its original costume (Bottom pic) before being sold in auction for $16,000 just days after the untimely death of Dana Reeve…
Second in a series of Movie-faithful replicas in 1/6 scale beginning with General Zod and concluding with Lex Luthor – Pictured above is the landmark first-ever officially licensed action figure bearing the likeness of Christopher Reeve.
Though specially produced for the adult collector, for $60, these figures are somewhat basic and doll-like in their execution. While the headsculpt is passable, the paintwork is sub-standard and the body (revised by Mattel after disastrous reception of the prototype revealed at SDCC ’09) is still disproportionately top-heavy. As stated with Zod, these are not figures for cynics and if nothing else, fill a 30-year void.
Nonetheless it is beautifully presented, the graphics of the box suitably retro and the accessories stellar (there’s something very exiting about a 1/6 Green Crystal!) with the exception of the boots (which should’ve be made from vinyl).
The costume is also an arguably reasonable representation of the screen-worn version, with nice bold chest shield replicated in yellow on the cape. Just pulled from sale by mattycollector.com, expect both this and Zod to re-appear on the site for the release of Lex Luthor in the coming months. With Hot Toys release (hopefully) fast approaching, this line will probably be notable for producing the first rather than definitive versions of these iconic characters.
My sincere thanks to Jim Bowers of Capedwonder.com who ensured this figure made a safe flight across the pond for the SUPERMANIA collection..!
With the licence for Christopher Reeve’s likeness finally available to toy companies and in great anticipation of Hot Toys reveal of the long-awaited tribute to the classic Superman Movies, shown above is the best action figure representation to date. 100% handmade using cast parts from various 1/6 figure bodies topped with an all-original headsculpt, US artist Kristopher Meadows first submitted his prototype (pictured top) for a custom figure competition in the pages of Tomart’s Action Figure Digest in the mid-nineties. Based on euphoric fan reaction Kris then produced a VERY limited run for a few lucky collectors. From the screen-accurate costume fabric to the real leather boots, this custom has a quality unsurpassed by many of today’s offerings having been produced by a passionate fan with considerable care and attention. Christopher Reeve himself would endorse the artist in the years before his passing by having one of Meadows portraits hanging from the wall of his office…
The first exclusive images of the third figure from the Superman: The Movie Movie Masters Collection reveal Gene Hackman’s incarnation of Lex Luthor appeared in Toyfare magazine this week –
While I fully support the line I think this looks the weakest offering so far but then I thought the same of the Superman before it was revised so changes may still occur. As I mentioned in my review of the General Zod figure, these would be outstanding figures for the time if it was 1980.
Adorned in his iconic bad-taste suit, the headsculpt is a passable Hackman and the hairpieces are reasonable sculpts also. The Kryptonite chain is a great touch, however, and will be a fine addition to the Superman figure when that is offered by mattycollector.com on Dec 15th…
One of the many choice exhibits in a waxwork museum which, to the best of my recollection, I discovered in Kissimmee’s Old Town, Orlando, Fl in the late nineties.
While its usually always a pleasure to see Christopher Reeve’s Superman represented in any form – this particular piece is more notable for its comedy value but given the resources its a pretty valiant attempt…
