McFarlane Super Powers Eradicator Figure: A Kryptonian Return

A sharp-edged Superman successor

Eradicator has a strong visual identity for a character whose story often put him in Superman’s shadow. McFarlane’s figure leans into that appeal: the familiar Superman silhouette is still there, but the goggles and angry expression give this version a harder edge. In the Super Powers line, that makes him an appealing change of pace, even among a wave with more immediately flashy figures.

The character is described as an ancient Kryptonian artifact with a sentient personality, and his history has placed him on both sides of Superman. In the “Reign of the Supermen” storyline, four potential successors emerged after Superman’s death. Eradicator filled the role of the more severe, lethal-minded figure. He wasn’t the one who ultimately proved evil; his shortcoming was a lack of the human empathy that defines Superman. That distinction gives the character more nuance than his imposing name and stern appearance might suggest.

Unlike the other new Supermen, Eradicator didn’t remain a regular presence for as long. He has returned in later stories when the narrative called for him, but his place in many collectors’ memories may be tied as much to his toys as to his comic appearances. His first figure was intended for Kenner’s Man of Steel line, then was cancelled and redirected to a mail-away release through ToyFare magazine. McFarlane’s new release gives him another turn in a Kenner-inspired format.

Figure details and sculpt

Eradicator is the fourth figure in Wave 13 of McFarlane’s Super Powers continuation line, where he carries overall line number 64. He’s the final figure in this set to reuse a number from an earlier release: the number previously belonged to Cyborg from Wave 11. The figure stands just over 4 1/2 inches tall and has 7 points of articulation.

The comic character’s body incorporated some of Clark’s DNA, so a strong resemblance to Superman makes sense. McFarlane builds on that connection with a variation of the updated Superman body from Wave 9, specifically the more streamlined version used for black suit Superman in Wave 10. Reusing that foundation gives Eradicator the expected heroic proportions while keeping the figure visually consistent with the line.

There are a couple of small compromises in the reused parts. The right hand is sculpted to grip, a feature that feels redundant here, and the belt interrupts the otherwise clean look. Neither issue changes the overall impression much. The newly sculpted head does more of the character-specific work: its familiar Superman-like structure is altered with Eradicator’s signature goggles and a much angrier expression. That expression suits a character whose approach to fighting crime was more severe than Superman’s.

The cloth cape is another adaptation to the figure format. Eradicator’s usual cape flares more dramatically at the shoulders and passes behind his logo. That arrangement would be difficult to reproduce while retaining the Super Powers line’s aesthetic, so this version settles for a simpler silhouette. The cape also lacks the “S” on its back. For a long-running assortment, that omission may be familiar to collectors, though it remains a visible departure from the character’s usual presentation.

Color and shelf presence

The paint application is clean, and the colors make the figure stand out. The main quibble is the goggles: they’re painted gold, while yellow would better match the vintage style. It’s a small distinction, and the bright overall palette still gives Eradicator the vivid presence expected from this line.

On the shelf, the design’s appeal comes from the balance between recognition and attitude. The shared body parts connect him to Superman, while the head and cape carry the details that make him read as a separate character. That approach also suits a line built around compact figures with a consistent visual language: the changes are concentrated where they matter most, rather than asking the whole sculpt to depart from the established format.

A welcome addition to the assortment

For collectors who encountered Eradicator through the earlier Kenner figure, this release has a particular pull. The character wasn’t a lasting fixture in the comics during the reviewer’s reading years, so the toy became the more immediate introduction. That personal connection helps explain why the design’s toy appeal holds up even when the character isn’t the most prominent name in the wave.

Eradicator could be easy to overlook beside flashier releases, but the finished figure has a clear point of view. The reused Superman body provides a sound base, and the new head gives it the stern character the design needs. A more accurate goggle color and cape treatment would have tightened the likeness, yet the compromises are modest. For collectors following McFarlane’s Super Powers continuation, this is a distinctive return for a character whose toy history has often been more memorable than his time among Superman’s successors.