“I ain’t that guy anymore.” –Logan
Way back in 2008, Mark Millar and Steve McNiven put out a book depicting a dark and bleak side to the Marvel Universe. This What If? style story shows us just how depressing it can be to be Wolverine. I’m not always the biggest Millar fan, but this story grabbed me nearly a decade ago and still hasn’t let go. Released as part of the X-Men Legends Warlock wave, Old Man Logan is hitting stores now. Let’s see if this geriatric runt still has what it takes to rule the toy aisle!
Packaging
Nothing new to see here. It’s standard but attractive Legends packaging that keeps everything safe and secure.
Sculpt
I don’t know what they’ve been putting in the water over at Hasbro, but the quality of their sculpts has skyrocketed in recent years. If you need evidence, look no further than Logan. It wasn’t that long ago that every Wolverine on the shelf was a lean 6-foot-tall (if not taller) stud. Now we’re finally getting the shorter stocky version. And they’ve killed it here. Logan is short and powerful. To be totally honest, it’s actually taking a little getting used to as a lifetime of Wolverine figures has always shown me otherwise. Logan is fully clothed, so he doesn’t fall into the overly ripped shredded category, and they have done a great job with the tiniest details. From the jacket zipper and wool collar to the stitching on the pants and boots, they’ve really put in the effort on this character — despite the fact that his appeal may be limited. Even the wrinkles on his Henley are sculpted. The face is a stern no-nonsense Wolverine (the best kind, really), and there are even a few wrinkles sculpted to show his age. He’s not quite as grizzled and miserable looking as he is in the books, but I’d attribute that more to the paint.
Paint
This is pretty typical Hasbro Legends paint. The lines are clean, the eyes are straight, and the colors blend well with all of the other modern Legends figures. We have some very modest shading on the face and jacket, but for the most part, Logan is clean as a whistle. I’d much prefer a grittier looks with lots of washes, but the paintwork is in keeping with the rest of the line, so I can’t really complain.
Articulation
Just like the paintwork, the articulation scheme is no surprise to anyone. They’ve found a formula and are sticking with it for the most part. We are missing that cool shoulder joint that lets him do his classic crossed claws look (like what we got with the recent brown costume Wolvie), but it wouldn’t have worked well with the jacket. Everything is executed perfectly and I have no factory flaws of any kind. I can’t even remember the last time I had a loose or stuck joint on a Hasbro figure.
Accessories
Nada. Logan is part of the Warlock wave but he contains no BAF piece, which is nice for collectors who don’t see this version as official canon. The claws are removable from his fists, so maybe you could consider them an accessory — but I don’t. I guess I’ve been spoiled by some of the recent Legends releases, so having him come with nothing at all was a bit of a bummer. I really would have loved an alternate set of non-clawed hands.
Overall
Marvel Legends, time and time again, show why they’ve been so popular for all these years. With fantastic sculpts, rock solid articulation, and durable playability, there isn’t much that can compete with them in mass market retail. Old Man Logan is a perfect example of that. He’s a niche version of a popular character (notably with a sort-of movie tie-in coming), but Hasbro tackled him anyway. And they did a terrific job.
Thanks for reading!
