Blokees Champion Class 14 Daredevil Review: Refining the 1/12 Scale
This premium model kit delivers incredibly natural proportions and an elite matte finish, making it an absolute dream for toy photographers.
If you collect Blokees, you probably know them best for their highly stylized kits. Collectors who pay close attention, however, know that their Champion Class is where the brand flexes its standard 1/12 scale engineering. Following the massive success of Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 earlier this year, the new Blokees Champion Class 14 Daredevil (Born Again S2) attempts to push their standard scale even further into premium territory.
I will be entirely honest right out of the gate. I am not the biggest Daredevil fanatic in the collector community. But despite not being a die hard fan of the character, and despite a couple of noticeable flaws in the engineering, this might honestly be my favorite build I have done to date. Let us break down exactly why this kit works so well on the display shelf and behind the camera lens.
Proportions and Heroic Scaling
The most immediate triumph of this kit is the body proportioning. While kits like the Champion Class Spider-Man established a great standard for their Marvel line, this Daredevil kit refines the anatomy significantly. The ratio of the chest to the hips and the overall length of the legs look incredibly natural.
It completely sheds any lingering novelty toy aesthetic. This allows the figure to stand seamlessly next to standard domestic 1/12 scale action figures like Marvel Legends, or premium imports like S.H. Figuarts and MAFEX. Achieving this level of natural, heroic scaling for a model kit in this price bracket is a massive victory for the brand.
Logical Instructions and Tedious Joints
The instruction manual maps out the runner layouts and step by step assembly very clearly. The overall order of operations feels logical and smooth, making it one of the more entertaining building experiences I have had all year. You just need to be prepared for one specific hurdle.
Unlike some modern model kits that offer a pre-assembled inner frame, Blokees requires you to build the joints entirely from scratch. The good news is that the parts are designed to be removed and assembled fairly easily. However, assembling the tiny ankle joints specifically requires immense patience. If you have larger hands or lack experience with micro scale model engineering, you are going to feel some frustration on that step. Fortunately, the snap fit tolerances are precise, and once you get past that tiny ankle assembly, the rest of the construction is deeply satisfying.
Articulation, Accessories, and Flaws
The ultimate reward for suffering through the micro joint assembly is the resulting articulation. The range of motion is fantastic. The inclusion of toe joints, a feature often omitted in this price bracket, allows for the deep, acrobatic crouching poses essential for a rooftop dwelling ninja like Matt Murdock.
The kit comes packed with interchangeable hands, two portraits, and his signature billy clubs. I do have a minor complaint regarding the weapons. The billy clubs feel just a fraction too long when separated, although they look phenomenal when combined.
Regarding the portraits, the paint application on the primary head is technically brilliant. They managed to print highly realistic stubble along his jawline. Sadly, this brings us to the biggest flaw of the sculpt. The alternate frowning face plate with gritting teeth looks entirely unnatural. The expression feels awkward and completely ruins the intimidating vibe of the figure. I highly recommend keeping the alternate head safely tucked away in the box.
Cinematic Toy Photography Setup
This figure truly ascends to a new level when placed in front of a camera. Blokees molded the outer armor in a premium matte plastic. I placed him into our standard alleyway diorama setup and flooded the scene with harsh red gel lights.
Thanks to the matte finish, the plastic absorbs the red light beautifully. It completely eliminates the cheap, glossy reflection and bright white hotspots you usually battle when photographing budget kits. The elite articulation also opened the door for some spectacular forced perspective shots, allowing me to pose him dynamically throwing his billy clubs directly at the lens.
Final Verdict
The Champion Class 14 Daredevil represents a major leap forward for Blokees. The micro joints will test your patience. The billy clubs run a bit long, and the alternate face plate leaves a lot to be desired. However, the natural proportions, the premium matte finish, and the dynamic poseability make this an incredibly rewarding kit. Whether you are building an MCU shelf or setting up an epic ACBA shot, this figure delivers the goods.
Have you tackled a Champion Class Blokees kit yet? Let me know your thoughts on the build process in the comments below.
