VanillaBlue Reviews Captain America vs. Red Skull Two-Pack

In the first of what we hope are a number of reviews, guest reviewer VanillaBlue gives us a look at one of the new Marvel Legends Face-Off Two-Packs: Captain America vs. Red Skull.

Well, here is the first of many reviews I will be submitting for you to peruse. This is tiring work. I need a drink after taking so many photos. For this first review, thing are gonna go a little fast, it is Friday night after all. I will try to get a few more done tomorrow with better pictures. Anyway, first up is the Captain America/Red Skull two pack.

This is a great set, it really is. Not perfect, but great. The Cap from this set will finally replace the old ML1 Cap on my signature shelf. Red Skull has an interesting costume choice but he is quite nice for what he is. I’ll break them down separately, based on a four star rating system.

CAPTAIN AMERICA

Perfect, simply perfect. This is the best part of Cap. The best way I can describe it is an update of the ML1 Cap. More detail in everything, better face (IMO), wrinkles and creases in his pants, boots and gloves, and the scales, oh my, the scales. Exactly how I have always imagined them to be. I know that sounds small but I think it is an important detail, not being painted on but fully sculpted. His belt is nice and detailed with pouches and a canteen. Simply amazing sculpt, I cannot say that enough. I am not quite sure who sculpted Cap but they knocked him out of the park.

Paint: ***1/2

Not a whole lot to say about it, hopefully you can kinda tell from the pictures, but it is very nice. There are no problems that I can see aside from a slight nitpick about some bleed on his chest star and the “A” on his head is a little translucent. Otherwise, perfect.

Articulation: ****

C’mon this is ML we are talking about, he has tons. Some highlights include: separate fingers, lats, ball hips (with 90 degree pins), hinged abs, and all the other requisite ML articulation. Nothing new here that I can tell but a nice use of standard ML articulation. His shield is the same a the ML8 Cap, I think. Oh, and nice even detents, not too strong but not loosey-goosey. The one thing that I am sad about is that he cannot look up very well, much like ML10 Cyclops but not QUITE as bad. No exact point count is on the package and I am too lazy to count ’em all but you get the point.

Overall: ****

Best Captain America ever? Yes, you can believe that he is. Everything about him is perfect or oh so close. Right down to the great quality (maybe better than ML12). I personally could not be happier with him.

RED SKULL

He’s good, but not great. A lot of nice detail for what he is but not really the costume I would choose, but I cannot complain. He has good lines sculpted into his costume and cool spikey gaurds on his hands and elbows. He is a little skinny for my liking but again nothing to cry about. His head sculpt is what is really great though. Nice detail and a maniacal expression. Oh, and he comes with a sword, not required but a nice bonus.

Paint: ***1/2

It is simple but very good. No slop, no bleed (which is important with red on dark blue). Again, a little more detail could come out with a wash or something but I won’t complain.

Articulation: ***

He has all the articulation you would expect from an average ML figure. Not a ton but certainly in the 30-35 point range and not lacking at any important place.

Overall: ***

I like this Skull but I am not blown away by him. Perhaps that is just a personal preference but those that missed the ML5 chase should be pretty happy. However, the ML5 version, despite his short comings, will still have a place on my shelf. For a figure in a 2 pack he is great and certainly Legends worthy.

Finally, the stand set-up. It is kinda neat but I doubt I will keep it out. I VERY QUICKLY posed both figures on it and there are some possibilities there, but I am a fairly vanilla poser. The back drop is cool, I think those are some Hydra agents back there, but again, nothing to center a display around.

OVERALL: ****

This set is worth it for Cap alone, everything else in my mind is just gravy. I think it is fair to say that this is the SECOND best of the three 2-packs, but I will get to that soon. I hope you enjoy and I will take better pictures later, I just wanted to get this out before I go out tonight. More later!