Action Figure Review: Avalanche from Marvel Legends Retro Collection: X-Men by Hasbro

 

    Today I'm looking at another X-Men figure from the Marvel Legends Retro Collection and this time it's Avalanche, the mutant master of seismokinesis. Avalanche was a figure I was really looking forward to as the last version of him released is over 15 years old and wasn't even in Marvel Legends (it was the Toy Biz X-Men Classics version) but when he first showed up I wasn't that impressed with him. I really wanted him to have the character for my Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, but as a figure I thought he seemed dull and so I waited until he was on sale. Well, I found him on sale so now I have Avalanche. I remember wanting Toy Biz to make him as a kid but he didn't appear in the line until after I was mostly through collecting the Toy Biz X-Men line. How do I feel about this figure now that I have him in hand? Well, he's kind of dull. That doesn't really sell the review much, does it? Let's still check him out after the break...

The Facts:

The Height: 6 3/4ths inches

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

Accessories: 4 swappable hands.

Non-Scalper Price: $25 dollars

The Positives:

* Avalanche has had a few different costume and as best as I can tell this one seems to mostly be based on his first appearance look. I personally would have liked to have seen one of his later costumes with the big A on it. Nick started wearing that when he was part of Freedom Force and he's gone back to similar looks many times. The big "A" just helps to make him Avalanche stand out whether it's on his chest, belt, or his helmet. He's a guy who's really in this game for the money, so he's not above branding himself. I like the blue color chosen here and the silver for his armored chest plate and accessories is nice color-wise, but it is that weird, swirly plastic Hasbro uses for metal on the Legends figures sometimes.

* Avalanche's articulation is perfectly fine. The body is definitely one that's been around a bit, so no lateral pecs or pinless joints or anything, but Avalanche moves just fine and can take most poses that you would want him to. 

* He comes with two sets of swappable hands: A pair of fists and a pair with open hands and fingers splayed, like he's using his powers. 

* Avalanche has changed the look of his helmet from time to time and this one shows off his full face, including his eyes and nose. It doesn't cover much of his head, does it. I like the squinty look he's got going on. The helmet is a separate piece placed over the portrait.

The Negatives:

* Avalanche's expression looks a bit serene, doesn't it? His lips are also really dark. I don't know. They kind of stand out in a weird way. 

* Here's a shot to show off the back of the figure where you can see the weird, swirly plastic. What is up with that? I find that it always just looks so awkward to me. I'm not a fan of that swirly plastic, especially when used over a larger surface like this. 

   Avalanche is just really terrible. He's dull, he has that weird, swirly plastic, his portrait is bizarre and off character, the costume is bland, and he doesn't come with any cool effects to even try to show his powers. Considering he's part of the Retro Collection, you don't even get a Build-a-Figure piece. I kind of held my nose and bought him, something I rarely do, and I can only say I'm glad to have him because he helps complete the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. This guy honestly gets a Crap and a 1/2 from me. I don't give out many bad reviews but this guy feels like Hasbro really just slapped something together. Weak.



This is the first figure of Avalanche I've reviewed. For more Marvel Legends Retro Collection reviews check out the following:

Marvel Legends Retro Collection by Hasbro

Loki

Scarlet Witch

The Vision (West Coast Avengers)

Marvel Legends Retro Collection: Fantastic Four by Hasbro

Psycho-Man

 

Marvel Legends Retro Collection: Spider-Man by Hasbro

Hobgoblin
Lizard
Rhino

Shocker

Symbiote Spider-Man

Marvel Legends Retro Collection: X-Men by Hasbro
Apocalypse
Dark Phoenix
Gambit
Longshot
Spiral