Tuesday, April 30, 2024

Action Figure Review: Angel from Marvel Legends Series: X-Men by Hasbro

 

  Over the past couple years I've largely focused my Marvel Legends collecting on just the X-Men and I tend to grab them as quickly as I can. While most of Hasbro's product has been easier to come by in recent years with reliable online retailers and Hasbro Pulse itself, I still try not to snooze on X-Men releases. You never know what's going to disappear quickly and skyrocket in price when it comes to mutants. Today I'm looking at the new "deluxe" Angel figure, who is priced about $10 dollars higher than your average Marvel Legends figure because of his wings. I managed to bundle a GameStop sale with my Pro discount and some reward points, so I decided to go ahead and snag him. It's been a long time since this costume was made in Marvel Legends (all the way back in series 10 of the Toy Biz era!), so it's definitely time for it to be revisited. This is the costume Warren wore during his time with The Defenders/ The New Defenders in the early to mid 1980s, before his return alongside the original five X-Men in X-factor. Hasbro could easily turn this into the blue costume Magneto gave him after Angel was attacked by Sauron's minions (which this costume is inspired by) or his X-Factor costume, though the question remains if we need multiple variants of a deluxe figure. If X-Men '97 continues to be as well received as it is now and the Marvel Cinematic Universe starts to lean fully in to the mutant side of Marvel, odds are we'll see many more versions of one of the X-Men's original team. Let's check out this version of Warren Worthington III, better know a the highflying Angel, after the break...





The Facts:

Height: 6 3/8ths inches

Articulation: Swivel/hinge ankles, boot swivels, double hinged knees, swivel thighs, ball-jointed hips, swivel waist, hinged torso, swivel/hinge shoulders, bicep swivels, double hinged elbows, swivel/hinge wrists, swivel/ hinge wing base, swivel wing "drums," hinged neck, and a ball jointed head.

Accessories: 4 swappable hands and 2 portraits.

Non-Scalper Price: $35 dollars







The Positives:



* Angel's red and white costume is a very classic looking superhero suit. It's a basic looking jumpsuit with two bright colors (red and white), boots and gloves that offset the main color of the suit, and a logo design in the center. For Angel, it's a simple rendering of a halo. It's nothing too complex but it works. The colors look really nice here and the paintwork for most of the body is neat, clean, bright, and eye-catching.


* Warren comes with two portraits which you can swap out. First up is a standard, neutral portrait. He looks focused and determined here, but he's not in the middle of battle or anything. He's wearing a red hood (presumably part of the jumpsuit) that covers most of his head but allows his hair the freedom to blow in the wind. 



* The second portrait shows Warren with a big grin on his face. Perhaps he's got a hot date tonight with Candy Southern or he's taking some publicity photos for the New Defenders. Or maybe he just found out that Jean has returned and Cyke is too interested in Madelyne Pryor to pay her any attention. Yup! Things are sure to work out for this guy! 



* Why is Angel released as a deluxe figure? Well, one, because Hasbro can. Secondly, his wings are pretty darn huge. Fully extended they have a wingspan of a little over 16 inches. That's crazy huge! I was initially a bit skeptical of Warren being a deluxe release, but the huge wingspan certainly does make him quite impressive. 








* The wings are really nicely sculpted with lots of detail on each individual feather. Further, there's a paint effect that really brings out the detail. It looks like the wings have been given a dry brushing effect. 



* Angel's wings are divided into three segments and they look excellent from both the front and the rear. You can pose them in a neutral pose behind his back, flared up above his head and shoulders, or soaring straight out. They move well and balance quite nicely. I'm not always a fan of massive wings on action figures as they're often clunky and unwieldy, but Angel's are quite good.


* The articulation (besides the wings) is pretty much what you'd expect. It's pretty good and it uses a newer pinless body. It's solid, durable, and Angel looks good posed both standing on the ground and flying around. A flight stand would have been nice but you'll have to find something on your own. The head has a great degree of motion, allowing you to easily pose Warren looking forward as he flies. 




* Two pair of swappable hands are included and there aren't any surprises here: A pair of open, grasping hands and a pair of fists. 

The Negatives:



* The only complaint about the figure I have is that the white on the gloves and boots is inconsistent. While the feet and lower boots are molded in white, the upper calve is molded in red with the boot flair painted white, giving it a grayish look. The same goes for the gloves. The hands and forearm are molded in white  but the other arm is molded in red and painted, again giving a mismatched look. 

   Angel turned out to be a rather nice figure and I like him quite a bit. His wings are very well done and it's nice to have another take on the character (or at least one that hasn't been released in about 20 years). Nice portrait, too. Still, I can't help but feel like Angel is a pretty basic feeling figure other than his wings. For $30, I could have been quite content, but for $35 dollars Angel really could have used an extra head, a flight stand, or perhaps even a few more alternate hands (flat, soaring palms would have been nice). He's really pushing the limits of what I think of as a deluxe figure. He's a Good and a 1/2 figure, still, but if you can wait for a sale or a deal you'll be more satisfied. 



   This is the first figure of Angel/ Archangel/ Warren Worthington III that I've reviewed on the site. For more Marvel Legends Series reviews check out the following:
Marvel Legends Series by Hasbro (2016)

Marvel Legends Series: Avengers by Hasbro
Taskmaster
Yelena Belova

Marvel Legends Series: Black Panther by Hasbro (2017)
Black Panther 

Marvel Legends Series: Black Widow by Hasbro (2020)
Black Widow: Deadly Origin
 
Marvel Legends Series: Captain America by Hasbro (2016)
Black Panther
Demolition Man (Mercenaries of Mayhem)
Nick Fury 
Nuke 

Marvel Legends Series: Captain Marvel by Hasbro (2019)
Captain Marvel

Marvel Legends Series: Deadpool by Hasbro (2018)
Cable
Deadpool (Boxers)
Deadpool (X-Force)
Deathlok
Domino
Lady Deadpool 
X-23 (X-Force)
 
Marvel Legends Series: Doctor Strange

Marvel Legends Series: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) 
 
Marvel Legends Series: The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021)
Baron Zemo

Marvel Legends Series: Fantastic Four (2017)
Mr. Fantastic
Thing  
 
Marvel Legends Series: Gamerverse
Civil Warrior

Marvel Legends Series: Guardians of the Galaxy by Hasbro (2017)
Angela
Groot Evolution
Yondu

Marvel Legends Series: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 by Hasbro (2017)
Drax
Gamora (Daughters of Thanos)
Nebula (Daughters of Thanos)
Rocket Raccoon & Groot
Star-Lord 
Yondu 

Marvel Legends Series: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 by Hasbro (2023)
Mantis
 
Marvel Legends Series: The Infinity Gauntlet by Hasbro (2021)
 
Marvel Legends Series: The Infninity Saga by Hasbro
Captain Marvel & Rescue Armor

Marvel Legends Series: Inhumans by Hasbro (2017)
 
Marvel Legends Series: Ironheart by Hasbro (2021)
 
Marvel Legends Series: Iron Man by Hasbro  
Vault Guardsman

Marvel Legends Series: Marvel Knights (2023)
Blade

Marvel Legends Series: The Punisher by Hasbro (2019)
The Punisher (Walgreens Exclusive)
 
Marvel Legends Series: She-Hulk by Hasbro
She-Hulk 

Marvel Legends Series: Silk by Hasbro
Silk and Doc Ock

Marvel Legends Series: Silver Surfer by Hasbro (2018)
Silver Surfer

Marvel Legends Series: Spider-Man by Hasbro
King in Black: Knull and Venom

Marvel Legends Series: Super Villains by Hasbro (2021)
Xemnu

Marvel Legends Series: Thor by Hasbro
Gorr
Ragnarok

Marvel Legends Series: Thor: Love and Thunder by Hasbro (2022)
Mighty Thor

Marvel Legends Series: Typhoid Mary by Hasbro (2018)
Typhoid Mary

Marvel Legends Series: The Unbelievable Gwenpool by Hasbro (2018)
Gwenpool

Marvel Legends Series: Venom by Hasbro (2018)
Carnage  
 
Marvel Legends Series: WandaVision by Hasbro (2021)
 
Marvel Legends Series: What If? by Hasbro (2021)

Marvel Legends Series: Wolverine by Hasbro
Wolverine & Lilandra Neramani

Marvel Legends Series: X-Men by Hasbro (2016)









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2 comments:

  1. GIJigsawMay 3, 2024 at 8:23 AM

    Awesome that they finally made this guy. Still have the original one from the early Marvel Legends Sentinel BAF series.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Barbecue17May 10, 2024 at 3:03 PM

      I only ever had a handful of Toy Biz Legends. I had Sabretooth, Beast, the Punisher, Elektra, Gambit, The Hulk, Nick Fury, and Warbird. I still have the first Punisher, but I think that's the only one I've kept from the Toy Biz era.

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