The Good: Cool sculpt, Good articulation, Generally good balance, Collectible value
The Bad: Odd coloring problem, Weird articulation issue
The Basics: Professor Zoom is a worthwhile excluvies villain action figure that easily transcends Flashpoint!
As my Flash Year nears its end, there have been surprisingly few DC Direct figures that I have looked to collect from my year’s worth of study. I wish there was a decent Wally West action figure, but how exactly DC Direct would differentiate it remains something of a mystery to me (though darker maroon or metallic like the Blackest Night figures would do it for me!). But, I quickly realized that I really like Eobard Thawne as a villain. He was intriguing and very cool. He quickly became a character I would like standing beside my other DC Universe character (all, ironically, from DC Direct!). The San Diego Comic Con Flashpoint Zoom is the only Professor Zoom figure (that I know of) from DC Direct. Fortunately, Professor Zoom has the same costume in the alternate-reality story Flashpoint as in the normal universe.
For those unfamiliar with him, Eobard Thawne is Professor Zoom and in Flashpoint (reviewed here!), he is a villain who torments Barry Allen as the Flash. Always out to kill those the Flash loves, Zoom never has the opportunity to kill the Flash until he becomes a living paradox in Flashpoint!
It is the yellow-suited Reverse Flash with a maniacal face that is the subject of the DC Direct figure!
Basics
The Professor Zoom figure is well-detailed, which is pretty easy given that it is essentially a recolored version of the Flash figure with a different head and slightly different painted-on symbols. The time-travelling speedster stands 6 5/8" tall to the top of the figure's cowled head. His skin is sculpted to look fresh and young, so the little bit of flesh that is showing beneath the mask is clean and smooth. The Professor Zoom figure is available only from DC Direct and it was an exclusive to the San Diego Comic Con in 2011.
This toy is a very good sculpt, especially for a character that has only had two-dimensional references, Professor Zoom looks good in all three dimensions. DC Direct gave the figure great muscle definition throughout. The character’s hands are molded one open and the other in a fist and they are molded smooth. The sculpting highlight has to be in the mouth area, though as the Professor Zoom has a very wicked grin on his face!
Professor Zoom's costume features strong monotone colors: this is a very sharp yellow and red contrasting figure. The usual inverted Flash emblem appears on a yellow body, accented by red lightning bolts around the body. DC Direct did something not quite right with the Zoom figure. The arms and yellow on the cowl are a slightly different shade than the yellow of the costume on the main body and legs. The red of the boots is a very cool glossy red that is a distinct contrast and makes them look like they are made of a different material!
Accessories
Professor Zoom, badass time traveling villain, comes with only one accessory, his stand. The stand is a ridiculously simple black disc. It is 2 1/2" in diameter and it has a single peg which plugs into the hole in Professor Zoom's right foot. He is very stable on his base, though not in extravagant poses.
Playability
The DC Direct figures were designed more for display than play. Professor Zoom cool for both. First, he has decent balance, though it is certainly better on his stand. Because he lacks a hinge joint on the ankle, when off the stand, Professor Zoom must be posed flatfooted or he is likely to fall over.
Professor Zoom comes with thirteen points of articulation, which is very good, even by today's standards. Professor Zoom has joints at the shins, knees, groin socket, shoulders, elbows, wrists and head. The shoulders are proper ball and socket joints, while the elbows and knees are both hinge joints. The head is on a ball joint, which allows the villain to nod up and down as well as look left to right, though not with a terribly significant range of motion! The wrists, nicely articulated on simple swivel joints, look ridiculous when turned too far because of the sides of them and how wide they are!
Collectibility
The Professor Zoom is part of the DC Direct Flashpoint line which was fairly common and not at all popular. Zoom, however, was limited to 4000 pieces and was a San Diego Comic Con exclusive figure. The figure peaked in value around $50, but has been coming down in value the last few weeks. Even so, it remains more expensive than all of the other Flashpoint figures.
Overview
Professor Zoom could use better ankle articulation and it would have been nice if his arms had been cast in the same color plastic as the body to avoid the paint issue on them, but otherwise, this is a worthwhile figure that is well worth the expense.
For other Flash-related figures, please check out my reviews of:
Blackest Night Wave 6 Blue Lantern The Flash
Blackest Night Wave 8 Black Lantern Reverse Flash
Classic Icons Wonder Woman
8.5/10
For other toy reviews, please check out my Toy Review Index Page!
© 2012 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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