Power Action Wonder Woman Doll Review: Light Up The Fun

The Power Action Wonder Woman Action Doll from DC Super Hero Girls puts her superhero training to use by deflecting enemy projectiles and leading her teammates to victory.

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Mattel provided a Power Action Wonder Woman action doll, based off the version of the DC Comics character from the DC Super Hero Girls animated series and line of graphic novels. The timing could not be more perfect for tie-in products for the character as this year is Wonder Woman’s 75th Anniversary.

The DC Super Hero Girls tie-in products, and the Power Action Wonder Woman in particular, are well-suited for the 6 and up crowd as they depict these iconic characters as teenagers at Super Hero High School. There, they learn not only how to use their super powers, but how to serve the greater good and work well with others.

Action Dolls Are Coming in Fierce

Action dolls are a new trend in toys, aimed to attract the often neglected young girls market for action toys. They are a combination of action figures and traditional 12-inch dolls (such as Barbie). For instance, Power Action Wonder Woman stands nearly 13-inches tall. Emphasis on “stands” because, yes, this action doll can stand on her own two feet. This is uncommon among traditional 12-inch dolls.

Other common features for action dolls include rooted hair and limited articulation. This doll includes joints at the knees, hips, limited articulation of the shoulders and a ball joint at the neck.

Unlike some action dolls, however, Power Action Wonder Woman has a molded plastic costume, which is non-removable. Her tiara is the lone exception. Assuming, of course, one opts to remove the temporary placeholders. The arms of the tiara do reach a fair bit around either side of the doll’s head, so it will stay in place to some degree of play. Loosening the hair from the temporary bands will likely reduce that degree a bit further, but still more than the average doll’s headpiece.

The Action Features Embody the Amazon Princess

Protection and inspiration are two of the most cited qualities of Diana of Themyscira. The Power Action Wonder Woman’s action feature captures both. With the press of the lever on the doll’s back, Wonder Woman’s arms raise up to deflect incoming projectiles. Both of her iconic bracelets flash red to show she successfully protected innocent lives.

At the same time, the doll will alternate between playing deflecting sound effects and one of four inspirational sayings to her teammates. Sayings include “Awesome heroing, Supers!” and “Let’s super-speed this!” All of which demonstrate that this young Wonder Woman will make an excellent future leader of the Justice League.

The teenage Amazon Princess comes with one accessory to aid in her super hero training. A gold shield emblazoned with the Wonder Woman symbol snaps easily onto the doll’s arm. The center of it is translucent so that the lights from the bracelets shine through.

The action feature operates smoothly. The lever is small enough and the figure’s torso slender enough for smaller hands to easily grip the figure and pull down the lever with their thumb at the same time.

The Bad with the Good

The action doll does have a couple of limitations, however, predominantly due to the action feature. There is no wrist or elbow articulation due to the light-up function. The shoulders can only be moved in or out, and not up or down, due to the latter being connected to the arm swinging feature.

Neither of these limits are that uncommon among figures of this scale, even without the added action feature. Additionally, while Wonder Woman’s Lasso of Truth is present, it cannot be removed from the doll’s belt. Not that she would be able to hold it in her permanently closed fists.

Next: Become the Goddess of Truth with her shield

Mattel’s Power Action Wonder Woman action doll based on DC Super Hero Girls is available now and makes a great holiday gift idea for children ages six and above. To learn more about the DC Super Hero Girls, visit their website.

Disclosure: Bam Smack Pow was provided with a free sample from Mattel for the purposes of this review.