The Outer Space Men, LLC Outer Space Men Bluestar Maximilian Gravity Action Figure The Outer Space Men, LLC, 2022
Day #2,619: August 18, 2023
Bluestar Maximilian Gravity The Man from the Dark Side of the Moon
Outer Space Men Bluestar Figures
Item No.: n/a Manufacturer:The Outer Space Men Includes:3-part helmet, backpack, flag pole, Levity gun, alternate arms Action Feature:Glows blue in the dark, pops apart Retail:$15.00 Availability: December 2022 Other: That's at least 4 production Maximilian Gravity figures
Having launched at a surprisingly fair (if not cheap) $15, Bluestar Maximilian Gravity is kind of a fascinating figure. (The Cosmic Radiation Zero Gravity [FOTD #2,310] was $25!) As of my writing this there have been four versions of this mold - or rather, this head - and three of them glow in the dark. It's a little silly, but I'll allow it. The first ones were called "Zero Gravity" and now they're being sold as Maximilian Gravity.
The 3 3/4-inch scale figure is a mold you've seen - a lot. The body started life as Metamorpho in 2010, and had been tweaked and used for Jack Asteroid and other versions of Mr. Gravity. That means at least 19 figures use the same tooling for the figure from the neck down - and even more if you consider how many share limbs or other parts. If you're a completist, and in this line I assume there are sliding scales on the definition of completism, you have too many toys.
I like this figure a lot and I'd say it's a B- execution of the "let's do an entire team in matching colors" concept. There are a whopping 19 Bluestar figures and that adds up - but there can be wiggle room in keeping the team look while adding some distinctiveness to each figure. For example, Bluestar Xodiac [FOTD #2,225] has a Saturn symbol on his chest. Zero Gravity (Infinity Edition) [FOTD #2,041] has a crescent moon on his chest - but Cosmic Radiation didn't. A little detail like that would really help Bluestar Maximilian Gravity appear as a more distinctive figure with more character in his costume, because as it is he's pretty much the same as Jack Asteroid (except for the head) or Metamorpho (less the helmet and a few changed paint applications on the chest, torso, and boots.) In toys, faction symbols are a big deal when it comes to giving a figure a little more personality - take Cobra, or Decepticons, or Spider-Man.
It's generally not entirely fair to judge a figure for what it isn't, and what he is should be good enough to consider a purchase. (Especially at $15.) His head is largely unpainted, except for the eyes. I think it was probably a good decision to not paint his teeth, but depending on the lighting conditions an open mouth is a little eerie. As it is, the one-color eyes are delightfully alien in appearance. The joints, boots, belt, and a few other parts are painted as well as the tips and a couple of orbs on his Levity accessory. A couple of elements on his backpack are as well, which helps it pop a bit. This figure also features a hard-plastic 3-piece helmet that has a slide-up visor, and there's a stick. It's a flagpole, but there's no flag. So it's a stick.
Adjusted for inflation, this is a good figure at a fair price. With swappable bent arms, $15 is in between Hasbro's retro Kenner figures of the same size ($10-$12) and Super7's ReAction Figures ($18-$20). The Outer Space Men have more gear and articulation, but less fancy packaging and vastly smaller runs. I'd encourage you to check them out at the lower prices just because the blue glowing plastic is novel and shines like the dickens after a few minutes in sunlight. He fits in nicely with old Kenner Star Wars figures, but comes up short when compared to the articulation of similarly sized Hasbro G.I. Joe figures. I know I've written an obscene number of reviews of these guys and I probably can't convince you if you're not already on board, but at $15 I can't knock this figure for being a nifty purchase. (Jack Asteroid is the same price, get either.)
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