Action Figure Barbecue: Action Figure Review: Dracula from Marvel Legends Series: Strange Tales by Hasbro

Ready for another Dracula review? Because that's what I've got planned for today! Today's review is Count Dracula, yes, but based on the Marvel Comics take on the character. Dracula has been part of Marvel since 1950, but I'm not sure I've ever read any Marvel books with Dracula in them. The only reason I knew Dracula was part of Marvel was because of the Toy Biz Marvel Legends Monsters set (which also included Zombie, Frankenstein, and Werewolf by Night) and because Dracula shows up in Blade: Trinity, though that's a pretty different take on the character. his is too, though. Why'd I grab this guy? Honestly, it's because of the cool red and black armor. I love the movie Bram Stoker's Dracula and the red armor that Gary Oldman's Prince Vlad wears is just so darn cool. This definitely reminds me of it. The Strange Tales series definitely has some deep cuts in it, though the only other figures I picked up from it were the Wolverine variant "Weapon of Vengeance" and the Storm variant "Bloodstorm" due to their unique takes on some X-Men. Ready to check out Vlad Tepes Dracula, the Dracula of the 616? Then join me after the break...

The Facts:

Height: 6 5/8ths inches

Articulation: Double swivel/ hinge ankles, double hinged knees, swivel thighs, ball jointed hips, balljointed mid-torso, swivel/hinge shoulders, swivel biceps, swivel/ hinge elbows, swivel/hinge wrists, a barbell-jointed head, and a swivel ponytail.

Accessories: 2 swappable portraits, 4 swappable hands, sword, and left arm and 2 hands for Blackheart build-a-figure.

Non-Scalper Price: $25 dollars

The Positives:

* I really like this take on Dracula. While it uses a red and black color scheme and a cape, it's pretty different from most classic depictions of Dracula. This definitely isn't just a guy with dark hair in a tuxedo and a cape. He has milk-white skin with white hair, a more unhuman appearance, and red and black armor. Marvel's Dracula definitely looks like he's more ready to take on some superheroes than sneak into the bedroom of some sexually repressed Victorian lady. The armor is fantastic, covering Vlad's upper torso, forearms and hands, and his knees to his feet. His sleeves are puffy, kind of like a fancy, old-timey shirt, but his lower torso and thighs are skin-tight with a red and charcoal grey pattern painted on. His armor is a darker red with somewhat of a shiny, wet-look to it that makes it stand out.

* Dracula comes with two portraits, the first being a bit more chill and neutral. He doesn't look happy here, sure, but he's not in active feeding mode. I like the dark circles around his pupilless; it adds to the feeling of him being quite old and one who might slumber in his coffin but who never truly can rest. His hair is pulled back, allowing us to see his massive earrings. They're pretty large discs that look like they're made of bronze or gold.

* Here's a shot of Dracula's pulled back ponytail Not only is it pretty large but it's also articulated. You can swivel it around at the base of the ponytail, so it doesn't always have to be perfectly in place.

* The cooler portrait shows Dracula baring his fangs. His mouth is pretty well done as it's hollow, so the fangs and teeth really do stand out. The sculpting and paint on such little elements just look fantastic.

* This portrait has swivel hair as well, though it's much more wild here, showing some movement. There's a little bit of a wash on the hair to give it some texture, so it's not all just one color and plasticky looking.

* Drac's boots are incredible. They look like something from Mythic Legions rather than Marvel Legends, giving Dracula that awesome gothic warrior vibe. Those spiky kneepads are legitimately a bit sharp, too.

* Dracula's cape looks great. It's not soft goods or anything but the design is cool. It billows a bit more than a typical vampire cape, and it's way more worn and tattered on the sides. It's not posh or something you'd wear with a tuxedo or anything; it looks like something worn into battle.

* Two sets of swappable hands are included, all of wish are covered with the two segmented gauntlets Dracula is wearing. You've got a pair of fists, a gripping right hand, and a grasping left hand.

* While I'm sure there is a bit of reuse here and there, overall I think Dracula is a mostly new figure. I don't recognize the reuse for his armor and cape an such if it is there. He's quite a fun figure to pose and mess around with, especially with his cool sword for battle and the alternate heads giving him two very different feels. Everything moves just fine and he has a pretty good range of motion in most of his joints.

* Dracula's sword is way cool. I love the long, thin blade with the ridges in the middle and the weird, round hilt with two little spikes. It's definitely a nasty looking piece of gear.

* I didn't take a picture because I sold them off but this series comes with pieces for the build-a-figure of Blackheart. Dracula comes with Blackheart's left arm and two swappable hands.

The Negatives:

* I love Dracula's cape but the way it sits out over his shoulders definitely inhibits shoulder movement. It's pretty tough to get his shoulder up too high. Just a weird little design quirk/ flaw.

While he's no Bela Lugosi, Gary Oldman, Christopher Lee, or Leslie Nielsen, the Marvel Legends take on Count Dracula is really quite good and is a pretty exciting figure on its own. It's been years since an official Marvel Dracula was last made, so longtime collectors ought to be pretty excited. I grabbed this guy because he's Dracula more than because of him being a Marvel character, but I'm thrilled. He's a Great and a 1/2 figure and quite possibly the strongest figure in the Strange Tales series. Until NECA decides to make figures from Bram Stoker's Dracula, this guy will be my red armored master of the undead.

Looking for more of Count Dracula? For more reviews check out the NECA Universal Monsters Dracula (Transylvania) and the Hammer Count Dracula (Horror of Dracula) the Funko ReAction Dracula, Super7's ReAction Bela Lugosi as Dracula, Count Dracula from Operation: Monster Force, the McFarlane's Monsters Dracula Playset, Jada Toys' Bela Lugosi as Dracula, the Playmobil Take Along Haunted House 9312, the Big Bucket of Monsters Dracula, Mezco's Tower of Fear, the Wendy's Frosty Bite, and Dracula from the original Playmates Monster Force line.

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