Well look at this – two days in a row of Marvel Legends Beast goodness! Due to some convenient timing, the new X-Men Retro Series Beast landed on my doorstep just as I was putting the finishing touches on my look at Dark Beast. Have a day (or two), Hank McCoy fans, because this new NEW version might just outdo the one from yesterday.
I am not shy about saying that the Retro releases are my favorite thing about Marvel Legends right now. I am a fan of classic iconography with my comic action figures, and the versions of characters that we (mostly) get via the Retro banner are right up my alley. Additionally, the packaging and presentation is so beyond top notch with these that it makes it REALLY hard not to get two of every figure to keep on one the gorgeous card, and I am a tried and true “opener” when it comes to my figures. Sure, there is no Build-a-Figure incentive with these releases, but I am mostly okay with that due to the fact that everything else is done so well. The X-Men have been enjoying their day in the ML sun as of late, and that extends to the Retro line, but Beast might be the best of the those X-offerings yet.
I really like both the blue “Jim Lee” Beast and the AoA Dark Beast figures we have already gotten, but there are several things happening with this Retro figure that are so inherently Hank McCoy, I am practically giddy. First and foremost, we all know Hank is an mutant and X-Person, but he also has a long and storied history are a member of the Avengers, and this figure definitely adds some of the look and feel of that era to the old ML shelf. Trust me, I really love this grey version of this look, but if I am being completely honest, I am already jonesing for a blue fur version of this figure, even as a straight up repaint, because I am at least going to need this new head in that color, too, but more on that in a minute.
Like the other two Beast figures, this guy is built on the excellent Beast base that originated in the Caliban BAF series. Hasbro is getting their money’s worth out of it at this point, but that is a-okay by me because the enhanced articulation (particularly in the butterfly shoulder joints and foot hinges) shows that they have gone the extra mile in ensuring Hank can move like he should. The four swappable hands are also carried over in the fist, grip, flat palm and book-holding hand, but the AWESOME news is that we actually get a book with this release! Oh, and guess what? He can hold it perfectly, even while hanging upside down. I knew way back last year that that somewhat odd hand pose would be perfect for a book, and now that we have it, it is like we have come full circle.
You also get a carry over of the “enraged” Beast head from the first release, so it is nice to have that option even though I will admit that I put that head on the body to take a couple of pictures, and it will likely never return due to the NEW head that is included. To me, this new head is the quintessential take on a 1980s Beast, and everything from the hairdo to the smile has it working in a fantastic way. It does, of course, have strong call outs to the great George Perez, and even though some could argue that the bast body is a bit too buff for his style (I get it), this head makes everything else work so well, I am pretty much over it at this point.
PLUS, the ML team decided it was a good idea to toss in a pair of glasses that fit right on, and it makes it pretty amazing. This is the Beast for the lab or the library, and while that sounds a bit mundane on the surface for an action figure, that part of Hank is such an important contributor to his personality, I think this figure “gets” Beast better than any previous releases. I feel like there is still some room for that aforementioned blue repaint because they could toss in a lab coat, or maybe a couple of beakers and I would buy the figure all over again. Like I said, I really love Hank, and this new head captures him so well, I want to see it be given another chance in a way that makes sense for the character.
Don’t skip this figure, you will regret it. No matter if you are wanting to keep it MOC, or pose it right up with the rest of your X-Men collection (or both), you cannot go wrong. The new head just the tops, and I think I will be keeping this one on my desk with glasses on and book in two, all while hanging upside down in a very “Beast” way. Dorkside toys can help you out, so go get him.
