Last Thursday, the Fwoosh’s own Hagop reported from Hasbro’s annual New York Comic Con Preview Night about the Hasbro Marvel Legends Red Skull Onslaught reveals. Now that the news has sunk in, let’s take a closer look at the upcoming series (plus one!).
The figure everyone is talking about is Rogue, and there’s a good reason for it. The southern belle made the transition from paper to plastic with all of her curves intact, and she looks dynamite. More importantly, her inclusion in an upcoming series (not the Onslaught series) shows that the X-Men are still on Hasbro’s radar, especially the fan-favorite Jim Lee-era. This is great news for X-Men fans and Marvel Legends collectors alike.
Captain America
When this figure was first announced, chances are you sighed and said, “Do I really need another Captain America figure?” Well, Hasbro knew you were going to say that and made sure to bait the hook by including an alternate Cap-Wolf head! If you missed this unlikely detour into super-lycanthropy, it happened back in Captain America #405 – 407. And while more than just the head is needed to convincingly pull off the comic look, Hasbro is betting most collectors are still going to take the bait. The fact that this Cap is being issued on the new Grim Reaper body should push any naysayers over the line. CAP-WOLF!
Agent Carter
Speaking of Cap, the old codger has had a few girlfriends over the years, and none more memorable than Bernie Rosenthal Sharon Carter. Cap and Sharon have had their ups and downs — she even fired the bullet that killed Cap at the end of Civil War! And while some MCU fans may lament the fact that this is not the TV series Sharon, collectors who go for classic looks will be well-pleased by this figure’s comic-specific, all-white jumpsuit. Just don’t display her after Labor Day.
Mockingbird
For many of us, our first exposure to Mockingbird was in the pages of The West Coast Avengers. She seemed a good match for her hotheaded hubby Hawkeye, and the couple were the heart and soul of the group during those long-ago days. Longtime fans may be a bit biased when it comes to wanting Mocky in her classic duds, but that’s not going to stop them from adding this figure to their shelves. Might have to do something about that head, though. The giant cat eye-glasses remind me of someone…
Yep, that’s it. Come home, Nanna. All is forgiven.
Whirlwind
When it comes to classic villains, Whirlwind is often at the top of many collector’s wish lists. He’s been stirring things up for the Avengers since the Silver Age, but he’s never had a 6-inch figure until now. Hasbro went with the character’s classic look and it made the transition nicely. I’m sure I don’t have to point out that those wrist-blades on his forearms would be perfect for a Melvin Potter Gladiator. Come on, Hasbro, that spiffy new Daredevil you gave us needs someone to tussle with!
Taskmaster
I’ll admit it. Before I wrote this article I had no idea what the heck “UDON” Taskmaster was. Turns out it’s the same guy with a new look, so fair enough. It’s sleeker and more “real world” than the original, so if you’re looking to upgrade your old ToybBz version, you’re out of luck. While it’s hard to tell in the pic, the hips seem to jut out past the waist like one of those Marvel Mashers figures. Hopefully this is fixed by the time the Taskmaster is released.
Cottonmouth
While the team was played for laughs by Marvel Studios back in October of 2014, the Serpent Society are no joke to fans. The snake-themed villains have carved out their own niche in the Marvel villains hierarchy, and collectors have long demanded they get their plastic due. Produced on the Hyperion body, Cottonmouth is the first member of the Society to receive a Legends figure. Well, unless you include Viper, but the less said about that figure, the better. Hopefully this is a signal we’ll being seeing other Serpents like the Eel and Deathadder in the near future.
Scourge
Another updated design but one I’m actually familiar with thanks to recently reading a trade paperback. The simplicity of Scourge’s original all-white design is long gone; what we get instead is something that looks like futuristic SWAT gear. It’s not bad, but I have to say after reading his origin story I’m actually not all that stoked to buy this guy. The original Scourge was actually a compelling villain; however, this one is a bit of a retread created primarily for shock value. Still, if you don’t know anything about him, he works well enough to be filler at the back of the villain’s shelf.
Build-a-Figure Red Skull Onslaught.
When Red Skull Onslaught was first announced, fandom s#!t a brick when told he wasn’t coming with an alternate Magneto head. And who could blame them? Being an X-Men fan over the past few years has been harsh and unrewarding. In fact, it’s kind of like how being a mutant is often portrayed. The idea that one of the most significant villains in X-history was being produced with the head of Red Skull was a slap in the face. Happily, Hasbro has opted to include the proper Onslaught head … eventually. While it was shown with Rogue, that isn’t necessarily the figure it comes with. Collectors will simply have to stay tuned for the news, but there’s a good chance we won’t hear more until February’s Toy Fair.
With Hagop’s report that there will “be more 6-inch Marvel stuff in 2016 than ever before,” it’s a good time to be a Marvel Legends collector!
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