If you ask me in private, I'll tell you this is the ugliest toy of last year. Everything about this figure rubs me the wrong way, but I've put aside that pure hatred for the sake of the review, resulting in a more fairly scored figure. That doesn't necessarily means things are going to go swimmingly for Shark.
Name: Shark
Line: DC Universe Classics Wave 11, Figure 2
Manufacturer: Mattel
Released: November 2009
Price: Retail: $15.00-$18.00, Online: $16.00-$24.00
Scale: 6.00 in.
Collect & Connect Piece: Kilowog's right leg
Accessories: None
Sponsor Listings: Dino Toy Vault-$15.98, Ka-Razy Kings of Toys-$18.89(sale price), Mike's Comics N' Stuff-$16.99, Past Generation Toys-$19.95
Shark looks as generic as possible from the front, but when you turn him around you'll notice that Mattel actually created some new pieces specifically for him. Both his forearms and calves feature fins worked right into the sculpt, not attached like the big ugly fin on his back. That big ugly fin doesn't fit well onto his back, sits crooked, has rough edges, and a much too angular shape. It's a total disappointment and makes Shark look like a terrible custom. I also hate the way his head is attached at the neck, with a severe overhang of his neck fat. I'm sure this was done to preserve the neck articulation (go figure), but it looks so silly. The head itself is pretty well done, lots of details worked into his skin, multiple rows of teeth visible, and a big wide-open mouth. Once again, the head fin is too blunt and angular for my tastes, but it's not a major issue. I think I'm as hung up on the design as much as anything, because I don't understand who puts a shark head on an otherwise typical human body; it looks absurd. That said, it's not the figure's fault, but he's still boring and has too many problems to score well.
Sculpt Score: 6 / 10
I think this color scheme is absolutely hideous, but not necessarily bad if that makes any sense. The purples might be too similar to really make the costume defined like it should be, and in anything but optimal lighting, it can be difficult to see the painted details. He is definite shiny, something I don't like, though I guess it does make him look wet. The cut lines between dark and light purple aren't very sharp, especially on his chest and forearms. It's a little better in other spots. The paint on his calves isn't symmetrical from leg to leg, and his hands are a subtly different color than his forearms. I didn't know sharks were yellow, but his head is, also including a dark airbrush effect to add some flair. His teeth and eyes are beautifully painted; the black inside his mouth isn't quite so nice. And while I'm usually a fan of gaudy costumes like this one, the design and actual execution don't come together well, resulting in a disappointing looking toy.
Paint Score: 5 / 10
The articulation is definitely Shark's strong point. He's got the standard for DCUC, including a functioning ball neck that actually allow him to look up, down, and all around. His joints are all tight enough, have great ranges of motion, and allow him to find some pretty nifty poses. For some reason his hips are really gummy feeling, sticking whenever they're moved forward. It's kind of reminiscent of the fused hips of old, but these are fully functioning, just sticky when moved, which is a little frightening but so far uneventful. The only real improvements that could be mad here are adding a few extra joints, which isn't necessary but never hurts.
Articulation Score: 9 / 10
This is a no-name character (he's literally just named after an animal, not even "Shark-Man" or some equivalent), comes with an ugly costume, and doesn't include a single accessory. That's not an equation that adds up to fun. A more modern interpretation of Shark as a giant mutant fish with claws and fins galore would have been tons of fun, but this guy will only appeal to a very small percentage of long-time DC Comics fans. He is playable and poseable thanks to his articulation, I just don't know too many people who will want to participate in either act with him. The Kilowog Collect & Connect piece is another advantage that makes him a little more enjoyable in the long run. .
Fun Score: 5 / 10
Things just aren't going well for Shark, and this category only makes them worse. Although he features a few examples of new tooling, they're minor adjustments to old pieces that frankly seem a little wasted here. Although there aren't any problems with durability, $15 or more for a standard 6 inch figure without any accessories is way too expensive. He doesn't even have a big name or guaranteed fun to carry him like Batman might, so the money won't go far. And thanks to his questionable looks, he's not even much fun to display or pose alongside other figures.
Value Score: 4 / 10
58 / 100 - This is a Fair Toy
Shark should really remain reserved for huge fans of the character or die-hard completists of the line. He doesn't offer anything new or exciting to the line, and thanks to his obscurity and weak design, there's no reason to hunt him down. If you take the chance on Shark with any doubts, there's a good chance you'll be disappointed.
-The Articulated One
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