Review: 76068 Mighty Micros: Superman vs. Bizarro
Posted by CapnRex101,
76068 Mighty Micros: Superman vs. Bizarro is an unusual set, as one might expect given the presence of the villainous Bizarro! The two vehicles are an almost exact mirror image of each other, reflecting the diametrical opposition of the characters included.
The similarity of the models will not appeal to everyone but I appreciate this unique design choice and they are sufficiently distinct in my opinion, due in no small part to their differing colour schemes which match those of the drivers. Furthermore, Bizarro has only previously appeared as a San Diego Comic-Con exclusive and this set should therefore appeal to fans of the character.
Minifigures
I was quite surprised when Superman was left out of the first wave of Mighty Micros sets but this minifigure has been worth the wait, capturing many features of the character in a delightfully comic style. The black hair piece was designed specifically for the Man of Steel and includes the iconic kiss curl as well as some textured detail while the head is printed with a confident smile and a strongly defined chin.
The red cape is made from a spongy material but is a little too long in relation to Superman's short legs, an issue which is shared by Bizarro. A shorter cape would have been preferable but I am glad that a soft fabric has been used as this will not show creases when folded. He wears a yellow belt which runs across the front and back of the torso with his famed insignia in the centre of the chest above. Superman comes with a blue Kryptonite crystal which has an adverse effect on all Kryptonians but is particularly devastating when used against Bizarro.
Bizarro is armed with a piece of green Kryptonite which strips Superman of his powers and can be fatal following prolonged exposure. The torso printing is very similar to that of Superman, albeit with the emblem reversed, so combines features of both the Silver Age and modern designs. Bizarro's costume was originally almost identical to that of Superman, featuring the same colour scheme and insignia, but recent years have yielded a purple uniform and the Superman shield on his chest has been reversed.
However, Bizarro's chalky skin has remained an integral aspect of the character since he made his first appearance in 1958 and it has been rendered very effectively here, with subtle lines printed on the head along with sunken eyes and an angry expression. I am also glad to see thick eyebrows and a mop of tousled hair which recall the original design. The minifigure is certainly suited to the Mighty Micros range but I think it could serve as a standard version if the short legs were swapped for longer ones.
The Completed Model
Modeling a vehicle for Superman is almost impossible as he very rarely uses a vehicle in any form of media, as anticipated given his ability to fly at extraordinary speed. Nevertheless, the designer of this set has created a car based on the Supermobile which made its debut in 1978 but has hardly been seen since. The craft is equipped with mechanical arms on the front and a vertical stabiliser towards the rear, both of which appear on this model alongside Superman's insignia and a small windscreen.
The model is otherwise original and features a control yoke for the driver as well as four wheels and air intakes on either side. Superman can stand in the cockpit with his cape billowing behind as he rushes into battle and I think the car suits him very well thanks to its wide stance. The pearl silver fists are perfectly placed to crush any opposition, although Bizarro presents an unusual challenge.
The villain's vehicle is almost identical but for the reversed direction of travel! The vertical stabiliser forms the front of this model and is flanked by a couple of headlights and a radiator so differs from Superman's car which includes trans-orange engines below the fin. There is space for a minifigure to stand inside and this vehicle features a purple colour scheme to match its driver's cape so contrasts with the blue car driven by Superman.
A pair of fists are facing backwards on Bizarro's vehicle but it looks quite formidable from the front even without them as the vertical stabiliser could easily serve as a battering ram. It inhibits the driver's view to some extent but I suspect Bizarro has little interest in looking where he is going, instead favouring random destruction wherever possible.
Overall
Superman and Bizarro are not suited to vehicles and designing a Mighty Micros set based on these characters must have been very challenging. However, I love the idea of including one car which is constructed in reverse of the other and the concept has been executed very well, reflecting the dichotomy of their drivers.
I expect this set will prove very popular with fans of Bizarro, particularly given the ease with which this stylised minifigure could be adapted to match the standard Super Heroes range. The exclusive Superman minifigure is excellent too so I would certainly recommend this set to DC collectors.
I hope you have found this review informative. Let us know by liking this article and share your thoughts on the set in the comments below.
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18 comments on this article
Nice review! Btw I now want mighty micros for TLBM!
I really love this set. I remember seeing toys of the 'Supermobile' in the late 70s but I didn't realise it ever featured in the comics; I just thought it was made-up so that the toy-car company had some Superman merchandise to sell. Although come to think of it, it's quite likely that it genuinely was introduced in the comics simply to add to the merchandise, since Superman doesn't really have much in the way of gadgets and vehicles - not like Batman. (And let's not even get started on the 'Spider-Copter'...)
It was great to see it again though, and Bizarro's version of it is delightful; mostly reversed but with just enough parts the right way round to make it look like the other cars.
My favorite thing about the Mighty Micros sets is their sense of humor, and this set really exemplifies that. Not only does it include a rendition of the Supermobile, one of the most notoriously silly vehicles in DC Comics history, but it also plays up Bizarro's "reverse Superman" concept by making his vehicle basically "Superman's, but backwards." Genius!
I know some people will be disappointed that the only non-micro version of Bizarro is still the one from one of the Comic-Cons, but nevertheless I appreciate seeing both characters in the cutesy Mighty Micros style. I actually don't mind the long capes because it adds to their silliness, making them look almost like when a little kid ties a towel or blanket around their neck to pretend to be a superhero. They'd both better be careful not to trip!
Nice way to get a Bizarro minifig. Great photos!
I hate these sets in a Bizzarro way.
Just bought this today. First mighty micro set. Could not resist it.
@JoeFish:
You're almost spot-on: they made the toy first, then incorporated it into a few issues of the comic to make it "official". There's an article about it in one of TwoMorrows' "Back Issue" magazines.
If they still make Harry Potter's hairpiece, why did he have the skater's mop in Dimensions?
I like the faces. But isn't Bizaro supposed to have a tag around his neck?
@J0rgen Probably to try and make it more accurate to Harry, even though it's really not much more accurate- they should've used the Anakin hair or TFA Han Solo hair in black.
@J0rgen: I think they chose the skater hair because it better resembles his hair in some of the later films. After the first few movies, Harry's hairstyle in the movies didn't stay as true to how Harry's hair was described in the books, in part because they had to make Daniel Radcliffe look younger than he actually was.
Neat set, and lets those needing a Bizarro for their collection get one without putting a car payment down to get one from Comicon
I loved the first wave of Mighty Micros, and like @Aanchir said above, the humour in these sets is what makes them great - to me anyway. Similar to the Mixels IMHO.
I'll be grabbing all of these when they arrive in Aus.
Ooh. The Wonder Woman Vs Doomsday set review is here too. More reading, more wanting :).
The reverse concept is absolutely genius. Is Superman's cape forced up by the tailfin? Because that would be even more genius.
@Faefrost:
The 1 amulet was a staple of Bizarro's 1950s-70s and 2000s, comic incarnations, but it's been retired for a while. And it's never really been seen in the animated cartoons, and on only a one or two toys.
I love how they referenced the Corgi Supermobile toy from the 1980's! Brilliant!!
Definitely a buy from me.
Finally the one i have been wating for.
May be wished for another foe.