After a particularly hectic September and a promotion in October, my ability to keep up with the latest toy news is a bit compromised. I had no idea that the 6” movie-related Cap & Thor figures had reached stores when I found Loki sneering at me from the pegs last night.
Yesterday, I found myself staring at my (relatively) small pile of unopened toys, trying to choose what to review. After some facepalm-inducing logic in the Ask Matty forums, I wasn’t in the mood for anything Mattel. I have some Glyos I really want to get to, but I need a day off for that (and to let my wife have at them for some crazy builds too). I had some MUs, the Glyos Xodiac, TVC Logray… Anyway, I wasn’t sure, so I did what comes naturally. I went out for a toy run.
Well, to be honest, I was just making a trip out for some groceries and such; I wasn’t aware there was anything I needed to be looking for on Wal-Mart pegs at the moment. Little did I know that 6″ Thor and Cap movie figures had started showing up early this week, and that Missouri was one of the first states where they turned up. There I was, minding my own business, being mocked by the GA Batman (san a much wanted Bat-Mite) sitting on the pegs when just a few steps later, Loki was hanging out with a couple of his friends.
As I write this, I’m not sure of the case pack out. There were 2 Lokis, 2 Movie Thors, and 1 Asgard Thor repaint, but I thought that the Thor & Captain America figures shipped together – and there were no Cap figures to be found. If anyone knows the skinny on that, let me know.
The Lord of Asgard Thor appears to be better painted than the original (far right), but I don’t really need them both. Movie Thor was pretty cool, but I just don’t like the helmeted head. It’s funny because in the 4″ line, I once lamented that I wanted a helmeted Thor and… I was wrong. I’d rather have movie Thor sans helmet. Either way, it was just Loki that came home with me and my groceries. And unless one of those Cap figures impresses when I see them, I think he’ll be it for this little sextet.
I’ve wanted this Loki since it was announced. I wasn’t terribly familiar with this particular version. The packaging insists that he is the “Ultimate Asgardian villain” which might lead one to believe he’s the Ultimates version, but it turns out this is simply one of his more recent costumes. I’m not sure exactly when he used it, but definitely during the Siege crossover.
The reason I wanted it is because I’ve never been terribly fond of the Marvel Legends Loki from the Onslaught Wave. It’s a good figure, but I long for a “Classic” Loki (like the Marvel Universe 4″ one). And, yes, clearly, since this figure sports an even more recent costume, he’s not classic either, but I think he invokes it more for me. I just find him a visually stunning figure. His sculpt is easily his main selling point.
While I enjoy Loki’s sculpt, the first thing I wanted to figure out was where the parts were reused from. I’m not as well versed in Marvel Legends pieces as I am with DC or MOTU, so I hit up OAFE’s extensive review index and found what I was looking for pretty easily: Doc Samson. It’s the molded collar that gives him away. The reuse is actually pretty extensive – Loki appears to get by with add-on fur over the boots and shoulders, a leg strap, the new belt, all-new arms (I’m pretty sure they’re new, but, again, if you know better, let me know), and a new head. Despite being somewhat cobbled together, the figure looks great. In the SDCC pics, and even in the package, I couldn’t wait to get him home.
Once I learned more about the costume, I saw that a few tiny liberties were taken to keep costs down, but not many. It’s mostly that Loki tends to wear looser clothes and isn’t renowned for being all that buff. I don’t mind his stature, but it does bug me a teensy bit that his tunic is stretched tightly over this chest while fitting more loosely over his arms. I’ve gotten used to it though because the add-on pieces like the fur, straps, and belt give the figure some layering and depth. I always appreciate that about Marvel Legends. What really sold me though is his amazing head sculpt. I love my smiling/maniacal MU Loki, but I love this one too. He’s evil, sneering, and ready to crush you like a bug. It’s a terrific sculpt. Continue to Page 2…
Aw man, I wanted to get Loki. But those Samson hips…ARRGH. Who thought reusing the most poorly-designed buck in ML history was a GOOD idea?
Hahahahaha!!!!!!! What a terrific last picture!
I would like to get the movie thor and Captain America figures. I really liked them when I saw the pics of them in SDCC.
I see some improvements in the future for Hasbro, but still not enough to make me return to ML…
Looks like when I end up buying this figure from eBay (thanks all the crappy walmarts in my area) ((I do happen to work at one too)) I shall be finding him some new upper legs…or trying to add thigh swivels…On another note, the new Marvel Select Classic Thor (Disney Store Exclusive) has the same leg articulation, so they are compliments to each other!
Man where do you get the ideas for your pics! That last one is spot on. If this is a sign of things to come for Marvel Legends, it might be a good year for them to comeback! With the decline and mess that is DCUC right now, I look forward to spending my money elsewhere soon.
Finally, a reason to go out this week! LOL (waiting for disability SUCKS!)
I scored the Warriors 3 and Destroyer last week over at Washington Target, but there was no sign either Wash or Onion WM were making any room for new product. It’ll probably be the Manchester/141, Kirkwood, Fenton trifecta that get these, unfortunately.
That looks like the new/JMS/Seige/whatever recent event Thor holding Loki’s hand in the one pic. Is that the Marvel Select version or was he included in this wave? (or is he in the to-be-released ML w1?? I lost track?)
I’m hoping to find some/ANY of these. I wanted to do a couple customs with the Fury/Cap set, but barely found any. This Loki looks like it could be a decent custom base, too. btw, this costume is from the “Blood Brothers” mini and recent animated movie dvd, I believe.
(ok, seriously, how’s the housing sitch down there? I almost decided not to move because of the tornado displacing thousands, but…keeping my options open. (read: cheap places up here SUCK!))
D’OH! just realized after commenting on the Laserbeak review I didn’t change my name bak after being stupid on the Matty Qs the other day. @_@
The really sad thing is that Loki didn’t knock the Ghostbusters down, they’re just still upset about what Mattel did.
Success for the reborn ML line would be a simple recipe…utterly out-of-the-question, of course:
1) Silver Age, Comic versions
2) In the same scale (6″)
3) With DCUC (or even DCD) level articulation
4) Decent plastic & paint
dude, yer nuts. silver age only? nobody would go for that. i don’t think any serious fan would turn down silver age versions, but nobody would buy in if that was all that was offered.
decent paint and plastic, i think that and the scale are likely to actually happen. as for dcuc level articulation… this is marvel legends. if we settled for that crap, we’d be DC fans. 😉 legends can do way, way better. the samson buck sucks, and hopefully, that’s the last time we’ll see it. but even w/ that, they improved on that dud of a buck by using better arms. the extra in the legs is a waist, they need a swivel just below the hinge when the hips sockets in. that would at least help.
and of course, it’s worth mentioning again that they said at SDCC that this loki would be the last fig w/ the angled hip sockets, after him they’re going back to the 90 degree hips only. that alone will be a huge improvement because it doesn’t create that odd “rotate the hip ball first, then move the thigh” thing that became a hasbro hallmark near the end of the previous six inch era.
Articulation was allways ML’s strong suit for sure and I expect it to be that way with the new ones and from what I have seen so far the Sculpts are (in my mind) leagues ahead of what has come before
I have to disagree in a few points:
Point #1: We kinda already had a bunch of those between ToyBiz and Hasbro… Completing rosters should be a first Priority… (Though I’d love a First Appearance X-Men multi pack, or the FA X-men split through some waves.)
Point #2: You want ALL characters to be 6″ or for them to be in the 1:12 scale (Like Wolverine being 5″ while Hulk is 7-8″) cause I want the second option…
Point #3: HELL NO! One thing I hate is the lack of Articulation that the DCUC have… ML made me an articulation whore… I even LOVE the useless individual Finger Articulation (Having Cap flipping the bird at Ironman: Priceless)
Point #4: Agreed 100%
^all of this makes so much sense
agreed on the completed rosters… that first official wave back features terrax as the BAF, and that kind of completes the roster of galactus’ heralds that the average person cares about. 🙂 that said, i’d like to see at least firelord and morg made too. but yeah, they haven’t shown us yet any figs that complete rosters. i will say, they need to START and FINISH the wrecking crew well and this running change shiz they’re talking about for wave 2 scares the shiz out of me. there’s no way that will end well.
The opening of this review is incredible!
I too would have preferred that the Hemsworth 6″ Thor figure be helmetless – he only spent a couple seconds under the helmet in the movie. Of course, if that version is a mass release, non-stupid-f@ck!ng-Walmart exclusive, I’m all for it. I don’t remember specifically whether the teased figure that Hemsworth himself examined at Toy Fair was helmetless or not.
The headless shot is interesting – I don’t know if it was intended, but Loki actually was “beheaded” at least once in the comics. I don’t think your foray into Marvel’s Asgard has gotten that far yet.
Also wasn’t Thor’s helmet *shiny*? This one isn’t. And I don’t think the facial expression is all that good on this figure either.
To NoisyDvL5
I noticed you mention not being able to locate a GA Batman with Batmite, well I can get a hold of one if you would like, maybe we could work out a trade or something let me know. I apologize to the owners of the site if this is an inappropriate place to leave this message, I looked for a way to email the author directly but didn’t find any. Feel free to pass this along and you don’t have to post this to the site.
WHy couldn’t they do this and Asgaurd thor for the 4 Inch line, it would have made that line 100 times better to have comic line in it. Of course it would have helped the Cap line to have some movie figs so what am I thinking LOL.