With one wave of X-Men figures a certainty and a brand new Wolverine figure awkwardly leaping at us in a way nobody has ever leaped before, you all knew it wouldn’t be long before rumors of another wave popped up. Well, it took even less time than anybody could imagine because that rumored second wave has already managed a multi-page thread. Now, it must be stressed that absolutely nothing has been officially verified, so this is as unofficial as it gets. But I’m as unofficial as it gets also — I’m not even wearing a tie right now — so it all evens out. What I’m going to do is go over the prospective rumored characters and pick what I want them to be wearing. Because toy collecting is about 75 percent fashion policing.
Colossus
There are several good Colossus uniforms that ToyBiz took a whack at that need better figures. By several, I mean two, but those pretty much hit the highlights. While the ToyBiz figures were good for their time, hindsight has turned them into bloated and gangly things. Marvel Select made a good Giant-Size-era Colossus, but that’s oversized for Marvel Legends. Don’t argue because it is. Yes, I have it. Yes, it’s really good. But it’s too big. Therefore, my personal choice would be a good updated Giant-Size-era version. I’d be happy enough with Astonishing. Anything featuring Colossus with a beard, Juggernaut powers, or a costume with more segments than a Rubik’s Cube can jump in a lake. Which means rust.
Polaris
You know, Polaris is one of those characters that has made the top ten so many times it’ll be weird to see her go. And she’s also a character that I don’t have a definite “gottahave” costume choice for her. I kind of want a full early ’90s X-Factor team with the matching uniforms because I really liked that run, but getting that version of Polaris would no doubt cause the seas to run red with the blood of the innocent. Which reminds me that I want a good Strong Guy figure. I really liked his 5-inch figure and have always dug his oddly proportioned look. I’m not too fussy on what version of him I want either. What were we talking about? Oh, right, Polaris. Yeah, we never got either version of him in DCUC. Wait, that was Dr. Polaris. Okay, the chick that’s supposed to be Magneto’s daughter, because magnetism is a genetic trait, which makes total sense.
Cyclops
I know Jim Lee’s version is the popular choice here, but if there are six letters I’m tired of hearing in a row it’s “Jim Lee.” I don’t have anything against him or his designs since I think the vast majority of toy collector costume criticism is ridiculous (mine included, but sometimes you just can’t help it), but I want the classic skullcap and Jim Lee can bite it. Of course, this means we’ll probably get the Jim Lee version, but he can still bite it for putting all those V-necks on the DC characters.
Sunfire
If any version of Sunfire that isn’t the classic version is made, I will probably have a damn stroke. I’m serious, I will pop a vessel and blow blood from my nose if we don’t get a good classic Sunfire on the Pizza Spidey body. I will lose it, Jerry!
Dazzler
I like her the outback look, but come on — does it really get any more iconic than the disco look? She even went back to it a couple time through the years. I know which is the likelier version — and if we’re getting a good Juggernaut, then the blue leotard would go good with this cover, but there’s just something so spiffy about the disco look with the rollerskates and the flared bell bottoms and the blue stick-on mask. Have you ever noticed how odd it is that certain shorthands grab hold? Disco Dazzler. I’m pretty sure that’s not how she answers the phone. “Hi, this is Disco Dazzler. I’m currently generating my own light, so watt’s up?” There has to be another female with bell-bottoms that can use the tooling necessary for her. And even if there isn’t . . . come oooooooooonnnnnnn, just do it and get nuts. But if not, then outback-era is fine. But disco is better, so do that version.
Shatterstar
I always preferred the costume that had some red in it. I think it was his second costume? I know the X-Force people wore purple at one point, but that might have been the third. First appearance Shatterstar would have to be the one to go with. I liked the recent one he wore as part of X-Factor, but that’s a “like” in a vague term as there wasn’t much about it to dislike. Meaning it didn’t have much of a personality. His first appearance has . . . personality. Much of that has to do with watching Liefeld try to work all of his fetishes into the designs of Shatterstar, Deadpool, and Cable all at once. I’m pretty sure at the time he had a checklist. Shoulderpads: check. Glowing eye: check. Pouches: check. One metal arm: oh noes, where’s the one metal arm!! Oh, Kane had two, so I guess that meant Shatterstar couldn’t have one. Suck it, littlefoot!
Wolverine
With the brown costume just recently made officially official, the safest bet would be the tiger stripe since it’s a sideways walk from the brown one to that one. And while this looks like it will be the best Wolverine figure EVERRRRRR, I can think of a costume I want even more than the tiger stripe.
That’s right, Patch-era. I don’t know what else to call it other than “Patch-era.” Because at the time when he was Logan he wore an eye patch and people called him “Patch” because Wolverine, and by extension Logan, was supposed to be dead. Even though an eye patch didn’t cover up the hair, the shortness, and the fact that he looked exactly like Logan. Of course, absolutely nobody was fooled, which made for a funny moment in the comic when everybody was all “Um, duh, we know you’re Wolverine.”
Anyway, tiger stripe is probably what will be made because the work is already there, but for me, I want the Patch-era costume. It’s dark, stealthy, looks badass, and has fishnet over the eyes.