I was really excited when it was revealed that Hasbro was releasing The X-Cutioner in the Marvel Legends X-Men '97 series. He's a cool character straight out of the 1990s who definitely seems like a perfect fit for an X-Men cartoon set in 1997. I've now watched the first three episodes of X-Men '97 so far and let me say that, in the parlance of our times, that the show is bussin. Honestly, I'd go so far as to say that it's mega bussin. Episode 1 was good, but episodes 2 and 3 were incredible. I'm loving it and X-Cutioner's appearance at Magneto's trial before the United Nations just poured fuel onto a fire. He's a pretty menacing character and I like how the animated series has used Carl Denti. Toy Biz released an X-Cutioner figure in 1995 and I'm pretty confident that's the last time he graced toy shelves. I didn't own him as a kid, but I did think he was a pretty cool fellow. I read the X-Cutioner's Song storyline a year or two ago so I've been hoping Hasbro would visit this guy. let's check out this menace to mutantkind after the break...
The Facts:
Height: 6 3/8ths inches
Articulation: Swivel/hinge ankles, double hinged knees, swivel thighs, ball-jointed hips, balljointed waist, swivel/hinge shoulders, bicep swivels, double hinged elbows, swivel/hinge wrists, hinged neck, and a ball jointed head.
Accessories: 2 staffs, rifle, rifle tip, and Sentinel blaster.
Non-Scalper Price: $25 dollars
The Positives:
* It's tough to see in most pictures and even in person a bit, but the X-Cutioner is clad in a black robe underneath a greenish-grey sleeveless duster. His arms are covered in armor that reminds me of a more modern take on chain mail or something, and he's wearing leather bracers, too. It's a cool mixture of modern gear that still adheres to the intimidating aesthetic of a classic medieval executioner (or at least the pop culture depiction of one). There's no purple, green or orange like the original character designs from the comics, but he does have a blood red small cape on his right shoulder and a couple different shades of brown on his belt and shoulder pad to break up all of the black. While his jacket and robe are quite smooth, matching a more animated aesthetic, most of his other gear has plenty of detail and texture. I don't think he'd stick out in a comic focused collection at all.
* Here's a closeup of Carl Denti's harness and arms. He's got lots of pouches, some ammunition in a small bandolier on his biceps, and a "FOH" beltbuckle. Yup. The Friends of Humanity are back and causing trouble for peace-loving mutants everywhere.
* His boots are pretty sweet, too. Check out that armor. They almost have a scale mail look to them.
* While the X-Cutioner has lots of stuff that hangs down like his trench coat and the cape on his right shoulder, he still moves pretty well thanks to a high cut in the back of the trench coat. The coat is also made of two separate pieces and is separated at the belt. He's built a little different than some modern Marvel Legends figures as he has a balljointed waist and boot cuts or pectoral hinges. Still, for a character wearing so much stuff, I think his articulation is pretty good. He's also got cool accessories, so he's fun to mess around with. He's also darn sturdy.
* The X-Cutioner comes with quite a nice complement of weaponry to help him do his dirty deeds. First up is one of the Sentinel Blasters, weapons derived from Sentinel technology and used by the Friends of Humanity. It's a hollow piece that fits over his arm, so you could always have other characters use it too. It looks pretty cool, is very character and episode specific, and has some paint applications to bring out the details on the circuitry and such wrapped around the weapon.
* Next up are two melee weapons for close encounters. One looks more like a baton or club while the other is a spear of some sort. They've got grips on the shafts as well, so the X-Cutioner can hold them a couple different ways.
* Last up is the Neutralizer rifle, a gun that uses the technology from the Inhibitor collar that is used to neutralize mutant powers. It's a cool looking rifle with an aesthetic that makes me think both steampunk and retro-science fiction. It's a great sculpt with some paint apps to ring out the detail and an interesting barrel. It's also capable of permanently removing a mutant's powers. That out to cause a storm of rage in the mutant community.
IYKYK.
* The barrel tip is a clear, removable piece of plastic, and I'm not really sure if it's intended to be an actual part of the Neutralizer rifle or if it was put on the rifle to protect the barrel for shipping (it doesn't show up in advertising shots of the figure). I think it gives the gun a different look and, since I can't recall Hasbro ever including a piece just to protect another piece (if it's happened previously, let me know), I'm going with it being an intended part of the rifle,
* The X-Cutioner can carry his weapons on his back. There's a hole which can be used for holding the rifle or either staff. Place the rifle in and then plug the staffs into the side of the rifle an you can have him tote everything together. Efficient!
* I like the X-Cutioner's look and his face mask. It's very intimidating and quite accurate to the show. I do have a couple issues with it, though....
The Negatives:
* First, I think his head is a bit undersized. It just looks too small. Second, the base of the head looks odd without a drape like an actual hood. yeah, I don't think that's quite how it's supposed to work in the show, but it still looks off.
* The color of the X-Cutioner's duster/trench coat is too gray/. On the show it's more of an OD green, and I think the brighter color would have just looked better overall on the figure.
I really like this figure but that's also why some of the little things like the trench coat/ duster being too gray and less green and the head being undersized bother me so much: This guy was so close to being the standout figure in series 2! He's still quite good, though, and he works nicely in both an animated collection and a comic collection. Think there's any hope of a comic styled X-Cutioner? Probably not, unless Carl Denti continues to be a major player. This is a Great figure, though, and I'm quite pleased with it, especially that Neutralizer rifle. This guy is a hateful piece of scum in the comics and show, but he's got some cool gear.
This is the first figure of Carl Denti/The X-Cutioner that I've reviewed on the site. For more Marvel Legends Series reviews check out the following:
CyclopsGoblin QueenJean GreyMagneto (Series 2)Storm
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