Sunday, October 8, 2023

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

 

   As my Marvel Legends collecting has moved to mostly X-Men based characters, I was somewhat interested in this year's Ch'od build-a-figure series as there were quite a few characters in the set I wanted. Typically my X-Men interest lies with the animated series and the comics up until the mid to late 1990s, so there were a few characters in the set I wasn't 100% sold on or just didn't know. There are plenty, though, I did and even more who had vintage Toy Biz figures, so I ended up buying most of the series to build Ch'od. I'm going to be slowly making my way through this series and today I'm starting with Chamber, the British mutant whose head is consumed with psionic flames. He was a huge part of Generation X which is one of the last things I actively remember from the late 1990s. I never had the vintage Toy Biz figure but it definitely looked pretty bizarre. This is his first Marvel Legends release, so let's see how Hasbro has handled Jonothon Starsmore after the break...






The Facts:

Height: 6 1/4ths inches

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

Accessories: 4 interchangeable hands and left arm of Ch'od build-a-figure

Non-Scalper Price: $25 dollars







The Positives:

* OK, on three we're both going to say who this figure reminds us of. Ready? 1...2...3...

"Nicholas Cage in Ghost Rider!"

Did we just become best friends? Awesome! I mean, sporting all black, a slick leather jacket, and a head consumed in fire, doesn't he look like Nick Cage's Ghost Rider? I think so, too. He's pretty accurate to his early appearances with a pretty cool leather jacket and a shirt that looks like it's woven or something. Like strips of fabric. I think his limbs and such are the suited body we've seen so frequently, but it works. 


* The headsculpt is awesome. Most of Chamber's lower face and chest are covered by or made up of some sort of psionic flame, so you don't get to see much of him. The headscupt is good, though, and kind of creepy. He's got whited out eyes and some intense veins and red skin near where the flames begin. This is pretty gnarly, really. An alternate head with his missing mouth (you know, covered by a scarf or whatever he wears) would have been nice, but this sculpt rocks. 




* The psionic flame surrounds Chamber's head and is a separate (but non-removable) plastic flame effect. It's quite large and really gives this guy some serious shelf presence. It's a pretty cool look.




* Chamber is using legs limbs but overall he still moves fine. Having that large flame effect does inhibit his head movement but it's not terrible or anything. He's kind of fun to mess around with as he's just a neat looking figure.



* Chamber comes with two sets of swappable hands that you can change at will. He's got some expressive, open hands and a pair of fist. Nothing too crazy but it gives you a few options.



* Ch'od, one of the Starjammers, is the build-a-figure for this series. He's based on the Abomination build-a-figure from 2015, so he's a pretty big guy. Chamber comes with his left arm which is pretty cool with some large, reptilian fins.
The Negatives:


* These legs have been used many times and the feet are just frustrating. They stick out kind of weird and the soles are uneven, so you really have to work to keep Chamber standing properly. The holes for a stand are just too shallow here and useless. 

Chamber isn't the most exciting release from Marvel Legends this year but he's still kind of fun to have. If you're a Generation-X fan or nostalgic for the vintage Toy Biz line, you'll probably really like this moody guy. There really is a lot new here, though if Hasbro had included a non-flaming head as well as newer shoes for him I think he could have been a real knockout. He's a Good figure, which is kind of how I feel about this whole series of releases: They're all pretty average figures. Nothing horrible, nothing that really wowed me. I waited until I found the full series on sale and you should too.





This is the first figure of Chamber I've reviewed. For more Marvel Legend Series figures 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: 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: The Unbelievable Gwenpool by Hasbro (2018)
Gwenpool

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

  1. Chelsea C.October 9, 2023 at 4:32 PM

    Ohh, I'm not familiar with Chambers! What an interesting character and figure.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Barbecue17October 13, 2023 at 12:52 PM

      He's a weird one for sure! He reminds me of the guy in the older Burger King commercials who bit into the Flamethrower Whopper!

      Delete

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