The Review
Originally published August 4, 2017. This article preserves One Sixth Society’s original reporting and images; product availability, pricing, and opinions reflect the original publication period.
I was not a huge fan of Suicide Squad, but I liked several of its character designs. Batman’s rogues gallery has no shortage of villains, and it was nice to see some of them with some truly unique designs. Among them was Will Smith as Deadshot, and boy did his design translate well to one-sixth-scale. Here is our Hot Toys Deadshot Review.
The Packaging
I am not much of a box collector; when you have a significant number of figures the space becomes a real issue, and I have hit that wall myself. However, I am making an exception for Deadshot’s striking packaging. While this is my first Suicide Squad figure, I certainly appreciate the consistent ‘carnival’ theme that the packaging is carrying. The outer box is bright red, while the interior consists of a centerfold that opens at the top and bottom. For collectors who save or display their art boxes, Deadshot’s packaging is a welcome addition.
The Sculpt
Like I said above, as a person who was not enchanted with the performances in the film I was looking forward to displaying the masked head sculpt on Deadshot. Since I was a kid I have had a major soft spot for badass characters in masks; Snake-Eyes, Rorschach, Boba Fett, etc. However, upon opening the figure the Will Smith likeness is next level. It was genuinely striking.
While I have not had the pleasure of having Doctor Strange in hand yet, this is the best head sculpt from Hot Toys I have seen in a long time. You also have the masked head sculpt as an option which does look really awesome. The contrasting colors work well, but it feels wasteful to not display the Will Smith sculpt. This is also why I personally do not have the little eye-scope attached to the figure, but the option is there.
The Outfit
I grew up on G.I. Joe figures, and I have to say I would be lying if I did not feel like I was posing a modern take on the goofy G.I. Joe figures from the 80s and 90s. The tactical gear is paired with bold colors and character-specific symbols. I mean that as a compliment. Deadshot is equal parts comic book cool and realistic in its tactical details. Faint nods to the character are of course present, from the crosshair on his chest to the lettering on his neck. The weapons complete the look.
The Accessories
Deadshot comes with an arsenal. His custom AR15 is captured perfectly, featuring personal engravings and movable parts. His custom Glock 17 is present, featuring slightly modified engravings. These two custom weapons are adorned in red and gold, and he also comes with his two plain Glock 18s. My favorite part, however, is that the guns and all of their magazines fit on the figure, allowing a display showing off everything.
His wrist guns are also captured, featuring engravings. I did note that the barrels of the wrist guns are flexible and feel fragile, so handle them carefully. In addition to his guns, Deadshot comes with a few extras. He also has a decorated Suicide Squad stand and a variety of hands. Interestingly enough, he comes with two things that I am not 100% sure what their purpose is. One is a stop sign cast in metal which I am assuming is a stand decoration. The other is a red carabiner, which I ended up clipping to his rifle strap.
Additionally, if you got the Sideshow exclusive version you will get Batman’s rebreather he wears in the film, as well as a pair of handcuffs to allow some posing options with the caped crusader. For this Hot Toys Deadshot review, I also did something that I would not normally do; I pulled out the display backdrop. I am not a fan of these personally, but Deadshot comes with a cardboard backdrop featuring iconography from the film. A neat little addition, but it takes up a lot of space.
Closing Thoughts
I normally try to come up with a few nitpicks when I look at figures, but I really am struggling here. Obviously Hot Toys are getting more expensive (Deadshot was $244.99 at release) but I have to say that this is the first time in a while where I feel like I am getting my money’s worth. Two excellent head sculpts and a wide range of accessories make a convincing package. Even if you did not love the movie, if you have a passing interest in the character I cannot recommend Deadshot enough. I hope you enjoyed my Hot Toys Deadshot Review, and let us know what you think of the figure below!
