January 30, 2013

‘Man of Steel’ first look: Russell Crowe gets Jor-El action figure

Mattel's Movie Masters Jor-El figure, featuring the character from the upcoming Superman film "Man of Steel." (Mattel / Warner Bros. Consumer Products)

Mattel's "Man of Steel" Superman figure. (Mattel / Warner Bros. Consumer Products)

Mattel's DC Unlimited Vampire Batman figure, featuring the character from the Elsewords Batman vampire trilogy. (Mattel / Warner Bros. Consumer Products)

Mattel's DC Unlimited Darkseid figure -- based on the Superman villain. (Michael Microulis / Mattel / Warner Bros. Consumer Products)

Russell Crowe will be sporting some heavy-duty armor in Zack Snyder’s highly anticipated “Man of Steel” — that is, if a new Jor-El action figure is any indication.

The Mattel figure features Superman’s Kryptonian father, but he’s not wearing the ethereal white robes of Marlon Brando’s 1978 portrayal. The toy adopts Crowe’s likeness and appears to be clad in the same alien-meets-steam-punk style shoulder armor we’ve seen in photos from the set. The figure also wears metal boots, leg armor and gauntlets over a blue undersuit.

In addition to the Jor-El figure, the photo gallery above also gives Hero Complex readers a first look at figures for Superman, his nemesis Darkseid and another DC character, Vampire Batman.

The Vampire Batman figure is based on the Batman vampire trilogy (1991′s “Batman and Dracula: Red Rain,” 1994′s “Batman: Bloodstorm” and 1998′s “Batman: Crimson Mist”) from the DC Comics imprint Elseworlds. In the trilogy, by Doug Moench and Kelley Jones, Batman becomes a vampire in order to face Dracula.

All four figures are priced at $14.99 and slated to hit shelves this spring for toy fair season, including the Nuremberg Toy Fair, which runs Jan. 30 through Feb. 4, and the New York Toy Fair, which runs Feb. 10-13.

“Man of Steel” is due in theaters June 14 and features the talent of Crowe, Henry Cavill as Superman, Amy Adams as Lois Lane and Michael Shannon as General Zod, among others.

– Noelene Clark
Twitter.com/@NoeleneClark

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