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Blinded in a childhood accident, Matt Murdock’s other senses were heightened to extraordinary levels.  Gaining also a radar sense, Murdock became skilled in acrobatics and martial arts and thus was born, DAREDEVIL: The Man Without Fear!

One day, in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Hasbro, Mr. Hasbro was hard at work in his secret laboratory.  An experiment had gone terribly wrong and Mr. Hasbro exclaimed, “Honey, I shrunk the Marvel Legends!”  All was not lost, as this accident gave birth to the action figure line known as Marvel Universe!

Product Line: Marvel Universe (Series 1, Wave 1, #008)
Company: Hasbro
Released: March 2009
Packaging: Blister Card Packaging
Where to Buy: Pretty much any retail store with a toy department.
Price: US $ 8.49 (Target)
Points of Articulation: 22
Height: 3 3/4″

Paint Job: Very nice, with sort of a flat finish.  Not too glossy.  It’s a good combination of light and medium reds with very detailed muscle contour.  The chest logo is outlined in black for good visibility.  The skin tone is great, although on this particular figure, the exposed face has a few nicks in the paint giving it a “battle damaged” look of a bloody nose and bloody lip.  At first I thought this was a bad thing, but after I started examining it closely I decided that it looked very badass and fitting.  Daredevil gets punched every now and then, too.
Durability: Daredevil is built solid with no hollow pieces.  There is a peg hole in each of his boot heels.  The joints were stiff at first, from the paint job, but I never once worried about breaking him while popping the joints loose.  Once loose, all 22 points of articulation are very flexible.
Poseability: Daredevil has good balance and is capable of standing up straight.  However, his left arm can’t be put down to his side all the way.  He is too muscular at the underarm.  He is capable of many badass poses.  He can only hold his weapon in his right hand, as his left hand has been sculpted open.

Accessories: Daredevil comes with nunchucks.  They appear to be braided or chain linked and are not the cabled billy club that is pictured on the front box art.  Nor does he come with the two batons that he is seen with in the prototype photo on the back of the box.  The nunchucks come straight, but if you work at it they’re flexible enough to pose as well.

Daredevil also comes with a “Top Secret” envelope.  Inside the envelope is a letter to Tony Stark from Hank Pym.  The letter discusses the radioactive isotope found in the samples of Daredevil’s blood.  Pym has created a synthetic compound and wonders if it will react with other test subjects the way it effects Daredevil.

Also in the envelope is a card featuring the full box art from the front of the package.  The back of the card has Daredevil’s Superhuman Registration Act information listed on it.  Information such as his name, codename, and vitals.  It also makes note of Daredevil’s powers and mentions him being a lawyer.

What’s Awesome: Daredevil is awesome!  When it comes to comics, Daredevil is my one true love.  Putting my feelings aside and becoming an unbiased action figure reviewer, this is an incredible piece!  This Daredevil looks mean and intimidating.  If you can find this action figure, buy it; bust him out of his plastic prison and pose him up awesome.  He makes a great decoration for your dresser, shelf, desk, or wherever else you wish to display your geekiness!  Hell, even have him square off against another of your action figures!  Display or play, with this one, you can’t go wrong.

What Sucks: Nunchucks?  Really?  Besides Ben Affleck, I can’t remember the last time I saw Daredevil open a can of Whoop Ass on somebody with nunchucks.  Nunchucks seem to be the weapon of choice when producing a Daredevil action figure, however.  Either that, or a bo staff.  I do not doubt that Daredevil has sweet skills with nunchucks and bo staffs, but give me his trademark billy club with an elaborate cable just like what is seen in the comics!

Overall: 4.5 out of 5.  I give this plastic do-gooder four and a half thumbs up.  Totally.  The only thing keeping him from getting a 5 is the exclusion of the aforementioned billy club.  Marvel Universe: Daredevil.  Gotta have it? Yep. You sure do!

Aron White
aron@comicattack.net