I love the black chrome on this Infamous Neon Superior Iron Man, and the bright green LEDs look freaking awesome against it. One USB-C cable powers the whole suit, so you don’t have to mess around with all those tiny battery compartments that we have all grown to hate. Just plug him into a USB-C power source and pop him into your display case, and I’m confident you’ll be one happy collector!
Hot Toys gave this guy a new chest plate and changed the armor around the waistline, so there’s more going on here than just a different color. I’m happy they put some work into changing the figure itself instead of giving me the same exact suit again.
The Black Chrome Looks Amazing
Those thin silver lines around the armor panels look incredible against the black chrome. They make all the little sections around the helmet and waist pop, even with the lights turned off.
The helmet is the same sculpt as the regular Superior Iron Man, but the finish makes him look so different. The green eyes stand out against the dark faceplate, and the silver around the brow and mouth shows off the shape of the helmet. I really like how the hands match the armor, too. The regular version has flatter silver hands that stand out against its chrome, while the black hands on this guy blend in much better.
I get a Doctor Doom feel from the black and green, but this is still Tony’s Superior Iron Man armor. It isn’t a comic-accurate Infamous Iron Man, and you don’t get a Doom head sculpt or cloak with it. I’m happy to have a different look for this suit, especially when the colors work this well together.
Hot Toys Put Some Work Into This Chest
The chest plate has more detail than the smooth front on the regular version, and there are extra LEDs underneath it. Take the plate off and you have the arc reactor and mechanical detail right there in the chest. I’d keep the plate on for my display because you can still see the reactor through the front, but I like that Hot Toys bothered to sculpt what’s underneath.
Some of those green lines on the chest are actually painted on, so they don’t light up with the rest of the armor. I wish Hot Toys had found a way to light those up too, because you can tell the difference.
I Want This Guy Lit Up in My Display Case
The lighting runs through the shoulders, arms and legs as well as the helmet and chest. The back of the armor has light-up sections, too. I love seeing that much of the suit light up instead of just getting the eyes and arc reactor.
The green lighting looks fantastic, but I’m not a fan of seeing the individual LED dots through parts of the suit. I’d much rather have an even glow than be able to pick out each little light underneath the armor.
The USB-C port is on his back, so you’ll need to plan where the cable goes in your display case. I’d want it running down behind him instead of hanging out to the side of the figure. There’s also a separate back plate to cover the port if you decide to display him with the lights off.
Take Your Time With the Smart-Metal Effects
The liquid smart-metal effects wrap around the forearms and make the armor look like it’s changing shape around his hands. They’re black soft-PVC pieces, and you need to be super careful because they do slide around and could scratch the chrome. Just take your time positioning them and do not rush.
I like these as an extra display option, but I’d get the arms into the pose I want before putting the effects on. That way, I’m not trying to move the arms and adjust loose parts at the same time. I’d also check that they’re sitting properly before leaving the figure in my display case.
You get three pairs of hands: fists, repulsor hands and hands with articulated fingers. Both the repulsor pair and the articulated pair light up, so you can change the hands without losing that green lighting.
I love getting articulated fingers with an Iron Man because I can adjust the hands to any pose I want. He doesn’t always need to be standing there with both palms pointed forward, ready to blast something.
The base lights up underneath him, which looks awesome, but it needs a separate USB-C cable from the figure. That’s two cables you’ll need, and Hot Toys didn’t put either one in the box. Come on, Hot Toys, include the cables so I can actually use the lights without having to find something else first.
If you’re keeping track of which parts come with CMS036D83, the complete list is in my Infamous Neon preorder guide.
A Tony Stark Head Sculpt Would Have Been Nice
I don’t understand why Hot Toys didn’t include a Tony Stark head sculpt, especially when the regular Superior Iron Man comes with one. Regardless, I’ll probably display him with his helmet on most of the time, but it would have been nice to have a second option.
An unmasked head sculpt changes the whole look of an Iron Man display, and it’s something I like having even if I don’t use it every day. If showing Tony’s face is important to you, keep that difference between the two versions in mind.
He Doesn’t Need a Crazy Pose
The shoulder pads extend to give the arms more room, and the elbows bend past 90 degrees. The torso extends and the legs drop down at the hips to help you work around the armor. You can also tilt the helmet back for a flying pose, although the high collar limits how far he can look down.
The armor around the ankles limits how much you can pivot the feet, so a wide stance is going to be more difficult to get right. I’d bring his feet closer together rather than have him standing in my display case with one foot barely touching the base.
I’d display him with one repulsor raised and the other arm down, because I want to see that new chest plate and the green lights running through the suit. There’s enough going on with this armor that I don’t feel the need to put him in some crazy pose.
The articulated hands would also work for a museum pose with the fingers relaxed. I’d keep the arms slightly away from the body so they don’t cover the lighting down the sides of the suit. If you’re deciding which figure to display beside him, you can find more of my reviews in Hot Toys Reviews.
I’d Choose Infamous Neon Over the Regular Suit
I love the black chrome and green lighting, and I’m glad Hot Toys changed the armor instead of stopping at a new finish. I wish the lighting were more even, the effects fit better and there were a Tony Stark head sculpt in the box, but I’d still choose this guy over the silver-and-blue version.
For my display case, I’d keep the helmet on, raise one repulsor and light up the suit and base. This is a really cool-looking Iron Man, and I give the Infamous Neon version an 8.5 out of 10.
I love the black chrome and green lights. I’d choose Infamous Neon over the regular suit, but I wish Tony’s head sculpt were included.
