The Toy Biz Snapping Part II. The “Snappening,” maybe? Whatever, it is still inevitable, and here are the other five figures (plus a BaF) that I want to see get Hasbro upgrades. Move over, Thanos, it’s Tony’s turn!
These lists aren’t really in any order, so if you went bananas about some of these guys not being in the first installment, well, you have waited long enough. As I said before, some of these are personal preferences, but some are just so painfully overdue for upgrades, or even simple representation in Hasbro’s line, it is crazy they have not happened yet. I will give my Tony Soprano “all due respect” line again here because collecting the TB run of ML was one of the most fun times in the life of this hobby of mine, but things have evolved, and these characters should NOT be left out.
LONGSHOT
So, we got Longshot back in the Toy Biz days, but no Dazzler. Now, we have Dazzler in the Hasbro line (with another on the way this year), and no Longshot. These are the action figure demons toying with without a doubt. But, while he might have seemed like a, ahem, long shot a year or so ago, I am going to go out on a limb and say we get this guy in the line in the next year or so. That mullet is desperately demanding to be back on our shelves pronto, and with that aforementioned (Outback/80s) Dazzler coming in a few months, we need a crack at Longshot.
CAPTAIN MARVEL (MAR-VELL)
Captain Marvel is pretty big right now thanks to the blockbuster MCU film from earlier this year. I loves me some Carol Danvers, and I think she is great as the Captain in both comics and film. However, the era of Avengers that I am most drawn to features Carol as Warbird, and the OG Mar-Vell as Captain Marvel. We got a pretty good Genis in the CM movie line, so it makes this omission seem even more apparent. I am torn on wether or not this is the perfect time for this figure with the Captain Marvel name so apparent at the moment: on one hand, that name recognition is a good push for a figure, but on the other hand, I could see Marvel/Disney not wanting to cause any character confusion. If the latter side is being taken, call him Mar-Vell on the package and get this figure done.
LADY DEATHSTRIKE
Again, this is someone who would have seemed unlikely until recents times, but since we just got Skullbuster (and essentially, Reese), we most certainly need a new crack at the most well-known Reaver. Lady Deathstrike has connections to a lot of characters we already have in the line, and Toy Biz Marvel Legends series 13 was so very long ago. She obviously has an interesting design, and with X-Men being on such a tear in ML right now, more Mutant-related characters are needed. Wouldn’t it be INSANE if we got the core Reavers team in the line? It is not something I was looking for in Legends, but I would certainly take it.
PYRO
If the leaked lists are true, and that Fan Channel X-Men three-pack is coming at the end of the year, AND the Jean Grey in the set is the Jim Lee version (it only makes sense) X-Men Blue and Gold will donezo, and I will call that an insane accomplishment. However, until the announcement of the “Family Matters” Amazon exclusive with Magneto, Scarlet Witch, and Quicksilver (not Steve Urkel), the Brotherhood has been getting outpaced. I actually think that the TB Pyro is an okay figure, but I want a new one with the modern sensibilities that can blend more stylistically with Hasbro’s offerings. I mentioned Toad in the last list, so Pyro would be next, but I would welcome Avalanche as well.
DR. STRANGE (CLASSIC)
We have gotten lots of Stephen Strange figures in Hasbro ML. We have gotten comic and movie figures, both in regular and astral form, and even a Dr. Strange themed box set at SDCC a few years ago. That said, it is CRAZY that we do not have a classic/iconic Dr. Strange from Hasbro yet. I mean, I think my brain just sometimes shifts into being convinced that we HAVE had one, but then sad reality sets in and I know we don’t. Even his TB Galactus series comrade Chuck Xavier got an upgrade this year, so the rest of the Illuminati as pretty much scoffing at Steve at this point. I get it, he will require some new tooling, but with so many iconic comic versions of his MCU friends already dusted, I think it is most certainly Dr. Strange’s turn.
BUILD A FIGURE: DRAGON MAN
Please do not jump down to the comment section just to tell me that the Toy Biz Dragon Man was not a BaF. I know that. I have the figure. I really like that figure. However, if Dragon Man was going to creep back into ML these days, he would most certainly need to be featured as a build character. I don’t think I need to convince anyone that this figure is so badly needed at this point. The TB figure goes for INSANE amounts of money on secondary market because so many people missed out on that semi-elusive Fantastic Four Classics, and in saying that, I guess TECHNICALLY Dragon Man has never actually been in ML proper. Huh. At any rate, as someone who does have the original figure, I appreciate it for what it is, but I want a more iconic take on the one time Richards kid’s nanny. If the gates are open to F4 characters now, this dude needs to be the BaF of the first First Family Hasbro ML series.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
C’mon, now. You knew this was coming.
MAN WOLF
After Vulture, I think this is the most apparent TB Spider-Man Rogue missing from Hasbro. He could/would be a neat-o figure.
MANDARIN
Yeah, I know, robes are hard to do in a super-articulated line without resorting to my hated cloth, but like Hulk, Iron Man needs some more classic villain to fight.
BARON VON STRUCKER
I have so many Hydra goons at this point I am losing control of the situation. They need a monocled miscreant to boss them around.
Thanks for reading! Hasbro ML is on such a tear and I welcome all of the releases we get, but I don’t want these dudes to miss out!
