I didn’t really know how excited I was about this figure until I got him in-hand. I mean, I was really excited, but getting him in my dirty mitts was a done deal. Favorite of the wave. And I don’t have any other characters from this series yet.
I always had a thing for Kraven. He wasn’t my favorite villain, but he was the crazy guy that would show up just for the hunt and not for the money or world domination. He just wanted the thrill of defeating Spider-Man. And he did it in animal skins and a wacky lion-head vest. I never had much use for the first ToyBiz Marvel Legends Kraven, so when this version was shown looking like it did in prototype form at Toy Fair this year I got antsy. It couldn’t come out fast enough. And when I nabbed Grim Reaper and learned what a great new body this is, I couldn’t take it any more. I had to have Kraven.
The new body is prefect for Kraven. And I’m calling it now — it’s going to be great for a lot of other characters too, once we get a clean version with straight-up spandex. But this figure is how reuse should be done. There are enough sculpted add-on parts to make the base figure disappear into the character. While it uses the torso, upper arms, crotch, and upper legs of Reaper, the rest of the pieces are new, making Kraven a figure all to its own. To top it off, the newly sculpted parts are fantastically rendered.
The belt pouches and knee skulls are the highlight for me, but even the head is just soooo Kraven. Sure, the paint isn’t up to the standards set by the prototype, but what final factory figure is when it comes to Marvel Legends? The skin tones took the biggest hit in this department, but at least shading was added to the skulls and leg-wrap fur things. Not so much on the lion mane, though, and it looks like the lion nostrils being painted below the actual sculpt of the nostrils is going to be a common thing. The hair is a straight black and the mustache and goatee are a little basic, but the odd, gold eyes make me forget about those. Yeah, gold — mesmerizing. But at least his only accessory, a spear, does get some added paint apps.
The red beads and gray feathers with a wash makes the spear pop when it could have been just a blade and stick. The spearhead is a steel color over a plain-looking sculpt. I feel like it would have been cooler with a stone texture, but what can a guy do?
For articulation, you can check out my video review. I also sneak a peek at the Reaper body with Captain America parts. It looks awesome.
The new body is taller and broader than the Bucky Cap body, and that is a sight to behold. For too long we have been asking for this and Hasbro (and Gentle Giant) completely delivered. I could go on and on for days about my love for this new body, and I probably will when we get more characters using this base. Love. It. Want. More.
Where Kraven really shines is facing off with ol’ Webhead, though. We just got a great Spidey, and now there is an awesome Kraven to pit him against. It makes me want redos of so many other Spider-Man rogues.
Do yourself a favor and get Kraven. I want another one, just to have a Kraven with me at all times. I can’t explain it, I just feel it, you know?
