Superhero Times: a service of Action Online
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I LOVE the Fantastic Four. It’s the only comic I can say I’ve read every issue ever printed. So, as lackluster as I’ve felt about Hasbro’s Marvel Legends offerings, I was genuinely excited to pick up this latest wave.
I know a lot of fans (myself included) had hoped we’d get Jack Kirby style versions of the team since Toy Biz gave us decent versions of Mike Wieringo and John Byrne’s art. This set seems to fall into the late 90’s Paul Ryan look. Not a great era for the book, but at least they all match.
Mr. Fantastic is easily the tallest single carded Legend we’ve ever seen. He’s so big he’s his own build-a-figure, with his waist and torso detached in the package. Some might balk at the pre-stretched sculpt, but I love it. Toy Biz did a fine human Reed so why not have one at the peak of his powers?
Both the arms and the torso are bendy but made from a stiffer plastic that holds their shape well. I like the head sculpt too, intellectual with just a hint of mischief. That’s Reed to me.
Compared to the previous Invisible Women we’ve gotten, this one is good. The only other Invisible Woman was exclusive to the Toy Biz box set, used the clunky Elektra body and wore an inaccurate costume to the style. I did like the Mike Wieringo head sculpt on that one but this is more neutral and more classic.
She’s wearing her “Reed’s dead so I’m a slut outfit” from the late 90’s comics. Actually, this was the second version as the first caused fans to protest, “Knock it off! You have a kid at home!” This one has the best female body I’ve seen in the line. She’s well proportioned, well articulated and avoids the awkwardness of Emma Frost. If she was in her standard uniform, she’d be perfect and a force field accessory would be nice, but she’ll still be the one I display.
The Human Torch is a huge disappointment. The pictures led me to believe we’d be getting a fairly normal Johnny. But the Don King "flame fro" really throws this figure to the back of the pile. The flame pieces are even more frustrating since they’re glued ontop the figure. The recent movie Torch had removeable pieces, why not now? The result is a figure that’s neither here nor there. Not Human Torch, not quite Johnny. Articulation is good, but who cares?
Thing looks off. He’s a decent sculpt with new touches like the drooping head and the rock imprint in the shorts. But he offers nothing else you’d want from a Thing figure. He’s too small, too orange and not poseable enough to be really great. He has individual fingers but loses an ab hinge and swivel wrists. Not a good trade. He also has an orange wash that makes him look less realistic when washes should bring a figure closer to reality. I’d rather display the FF Classics 2 version, which is less poseable but looks exactly like Mike Wieringo’s artwork.
Dr. Doom swings the pendulum back to awesome. He’s not just a scaled down Icons sculpt. While the recent Dooms have all resembled the Jim Lee style, this Victor’s all Byrne, from the flared hood to the riveted mask that’s neither bland nor overstated. This is the Doom I’ve been waiting for since the old Toy Biz animated series. The face underneath is not as interesting as the Toy Biz likeness, but the mask stays on so well you’ll never need to show it. A black wash over the armor would have made this figure a classic, but as he is, he’s the best in the set.
I’ve been waiting for a new Mole Man since the animated series and this one does not disappoint. He’s the most detailed, seeming to borrow from both the Jim Lee and the Kubert Ultimate versions. There’s lots of dirt and pinhole tears which you’d expect from years of living in underground caverns.
He’s as articulated as the others, but for once Hasbro has hidden the joints very well. You can’t tell from the picture and I couldn’t tell until I got him out of the package, but he can hold as many poses as Doom. Like the old version, he’s a little large for the scale but not enough that he looks off next to the team.
A lot of fans have been waiting a long time for a classic Sub-Mariner sculpt. They’re going to be slightly disappointed. A naked body seems hard to screw up, but Hasbro manages to miss the mark here. Namor’s face is pinched and I’m never going to stop noticing it. His articulation is like the 5 inch Rise of the Silver Surfer figures, which means it’s simpler and inelegant. I’ll accept him as the version he is, but he’ll still take a back seat to the black vest Toy Biz edition.
The Silver Surfer is a worthy second edition. Where the original Marvel Legends Surfer was Kirby styled with wide alien eyes, this one feels very John Buscema; lean, angular and more human. The articulation is better hidden and the board is longer and shiner. Nice, but I really miss the magnet and the flying stand. Those features put the earlier version over the top, but this one still has a place in my collection.
Finally, the build-a-figure. Ronan the Accuser is great, solid and well articulated. I wish he had th original Jack Kirby look, but this "Annihilation" version is also strong, if simpler. His hammer is the standout of the sculpt, with a nice dark wash across the cracks and seams in the stone. Ronan’s hood is removeable which is another nice surprise sine I can’t remember ever seeing him without it. Yes, 8 figures for a BAF that’s only 7 inches tall feels like a rip, but at least this time I’m not forced to buy movie figures I don’t want.
This set may not be perfect but it’s the best we’ve gotten yet since Hasbro took over. I was pleased enough I had to pick up the SDCC exclusive She Hulk as the unofficial 10th figure. If you’re only looking to build Ronan, you’ll end up with some great figures and a few subpar ones. But if you’re as big a Fantastic Four fan like I am, you’ll find plenty to like. None of them are definitive, but all of them are worthy figures.
Review and Photos by Jon Clarke
