Friday, April 12, 2024

Action Figure review: Cyclops from Marvel Legends Series: X-Men '97 by Hasbro

 

   I haven't started watching X-Men '97 yet, so don't expect any spoilers here! I actually decided to watch through all of the original series before diving into X-Men '97 and I'm currently in the middle of season 4 (which might be the best season yet). I'm really anticipating the show and I'm loving the tie in action figures. Thus far I've purchased all of the X-Men '97 Marvel Legends Series figures except for Wolverine (who I stupidly passed up previously but now have a preorder for from the second run), which adheres to my current Marvel Legends focus of just X-Men related characters. I actually stumbled across everyone except X-Cutioner in a GameStop one in February, so I got the chance to use my discount plus some points I had accumulated. Hasbro went with a stylized appearance on these that I really like. The style is subtler than the figures from the What If? and Spider-Man: Spider-Verse lines, and they don't have any cel-shading like the Pulse exclusive X-Men VHS figures. They do a nice job of matching the animation while also fitting fairly seamlessly into a comic based collection. I'm really hoping these continue as I'd love to build a full roster of the animated team in this style. I'm starting things off with Cyclops. I have a few Cyclops figures in my collection already, but this one is pretty much my ideal Cyclops and he's an improvement over the 2017 Warlock BAF series version of Scott. Ready to check out Cyclops? Then open your eyes and read on...





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 w/ pec hinges, bicep swivels, double hinged elbows, swivel/hinge wrists, hinged neck, and a ball jointed head.

Accessories: 4 swappable hands, 2 portraits, and an optic blast.

Non-Scalper Price: $25 dollars







The Positives:


* Cyclops looks excellent. Again, the style is just slightly animated, but not exaggerated or anything. This could pretty much just as easily be a comic take on Cyke as it is an X-Men '97/ X-Men animated series figure. The body reminds me a lot of the Strike Force figures from last year, but Cyclops' torso is unique as his harness is permanently attached and stays in place beautifully. The colors are excellent, too, with a nice bold blue and a brighter yellow that just catches the eye. The thigh straps, boot cuffs, and glove cuffs are also all sculpted pieces that don't move; they're permanently attached, so no worrying about them falling off like on the Warlock series Cyclops.



* The portrait is definitely where you can see the stylized take on the figure, but I like it. I think it's excellent and nicely captures Scott's attitude. It's just the right bit of smug. Since I haven't stared '97 yet I haven't head Cyclops' new voice (original voice actor Norm Spencer passed away in 2020, so also accomplished voice actor Ray Chase has taken over the role), but I definitely can hear the original Cyclops voice when I look at this portrait. Both the hair and the visor are separate, non-removable parts, which gives the head a more detailed look. It just adds to the realism. He might look a bit younger here, but I'm not bothered by it.



* The second portrait features Cyke in the middle of battle. His teeth are gritted and bared and his visor has an opening for the included optic blast. Actually, a small insert piece here would have been nice to more easily use the head without the optic blast attached, but I still really like this one. It looks great on display. 




* We've seen this optic blast before I believe, but it's still a cool effect. Much cooler than just a light up visor (though that was cool at the time). It stays upright nicely and you can definitely get Cyclops to stand while using it with a little bit of posing magic. 




* Cyclops' belt and harness are rally well done. Besides just looking impressive with some great paintwork and sculpting, they also stay in place, even when you move the mid-torso hinge. the lower belt of the harness runs all the way up the front and back of the mid-torso hinge, so when you tilt Cyclops forward or backward, everything looks perfect. It's very nicely designed. 



* Like most newer Marvel Legends figures, there's not a thing wrong with the articulation here and there's not a whole lot that needs to be said; it's very solid. Scott's got the pinless arms and legs and smooth articulation, so posing him is a real pleasure.




* Cyclops has five swappable hands: A pair of open, gesturing hands, a pair of fists, and a left hand with the fingers posed as if he's pressing the buttons on his visor. They swap out easily and give you a few more options when posing. 

   The X-Men '97 line is really quite nice and Cyclops is a Great figure. Hasbro definitely has been trying to move away from doing Build-a-Figure waves it would seem, as we're really only seeing those on certain modern comic based sets, so that definitely stings a bit with these still at the $25 dollar price tag. Still, you do get two portraits here, five hands, and the optic blast. This is definitely my favorite 1/12th scaled Cyclops and probably the best Marvel Legends version of he character yet. He looks darn fine with the rest of the team. 





Looking for more of Cyclops/ Scott "Slim" Summer? I've also reviewed the Marvel Legends Series: X-Men Cyclops from the Warlock series. 

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)
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Marvel Legends Series: Gamerverse
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Groot Evolution
Yondu

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Gamora (Daughters of Thanos)
Nebula (Daughters of Thanos)
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Star-Lord 
Yondu 

Marvel Legends Series: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 by Hasbro (2023)
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Marvel Legends Series: The Infinity Gauntlet by Hasbro (2021)
 
Marvel Legends Series: The Infninity Saga by Hasbro
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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
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Marvel Legends Series: Silver Surfer by Hasbro (2018)
Silver Surfer

Marvel Legends Series: Spider-Man by Hasbro
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Marvel Legends Series: Super Villains by Hasbro (2021)
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Gwenpool

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

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














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4 comments:

  1. TetsApril 13, 2024 at 2:28 AM

    That Cyclops looks really good. I got the Mafex version as it seemed the best, but at a fraction of the cost, this one seems very well done.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Barbecue17April 15, 2024 at 12:30 PM

      The X-Men '97 figures have all been very well done so far. The removable visor is really cool on that Mafex one, though.

      Delete
  2. GIJigsawApril 23, 2024 at 3:54 PM

    Nice Cyclops. I have enough of him. Funny I say that when I have about 50 Rogues and Jean Greys.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Barbecue17April 24, 2024 at 11:17 AM

      I do tend to buy most X-Men characters when they get new editions. I'm currently purging a lot of my non X-Men Legends collection, so I don't feel as bad about updating as much.

      Delete

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