It is fitting that we’re talking about Thor , because I feel like I’ve died and gone to Valhalla. This is the Thor I’ve been waiting for.
As anybody who has collected these Marvel Legends figures from the beginning knows, toynology has shifted in incredible leaps from the earliest days of the line. Everything has become more and more streamlined. While we might not be in an era where every toy is the end-all and be-all representation—improvements happen all the time—The 80th anniversary figures look to be a culmination of everything toy designers have learned about toys.
Long story short: Thor is fun. This is a fun figure. I have waited for a legitimately fun Thor figure for..well, for Thorever. That was about as painful a pun as I could muster, in keeping with the situation. Go back and reread it. You could get dizzy from that level of terribleness.
Hasbro signaled their return to the 6 inch form with an SDCC Thor was was modern and way too big. They went on to release several comic Thors that were way too big. People would say that he was a God and should be big, and I would scoff. Sometimes externally, sometimes internally, but there was scoffing happening. I really liked the modern thor figure that popped up in the small Marvel Universe line, but as far as the 6 inch scale that is my one true love, I waited. I waited and waited and waited.
And now, finally, we have arrived at a really really good Thor. It is the Thor figure I dreamed of owning when I was a wee tyke and used my mom’s meat tenderizing hammer as Mjolnir, smiting things that were not meat until she took it away from me because steak was for dinner.
It is a Thor worthy of a God. It is a mighty toy.
I am gushing.
Thor is an all new sculpt that features all the articulation that we have come to expect, and it all works extremely well. His double jointed elbows and knees do the job well, he has a ball-jointed torso that allows him to do a lot of godly posturing, and he even has the up-down wrist hinge for hammertime. Can’t touch this.
The face is very Thorish. He’s classically handsome with a stern expression, he looks as if he’s ready to hit someone. Thor is always about two seconds away from hitting someone. If you carry around a big hammer, you are bound to hit someone every once in a while. What did you think he does with that thing, tenderize meat?
Thor’s hair means that his neck articulation is fairly restricted, like most long-haired people. It has a little bit of up and down, but the side to side is really cut down.
Thor’s torso circles are a distinctive part of his look. There was talk about painted on circles before Thor debuted, but this torso setup allows those circles to be fully sculpted. Thor wouldn’t have it any other way. Gods, I love this Thor. Am I being too unbiased? I don’t care.
Even the cape is done well. It’s not one of those barely-connected things that only attach by a shallow peg that ends up being more infuriating than not. I’ve been contemplating replacing every plastic cape I own with fabric, and I was assuming that would be the case with Thor as well, but I almost don’t mind it. It stays up and retains that distinctive flare, remains attached regardless of hat I do with him, and somehow manages to not be an unforgiving shell. I can actually play with the damn thing and the cape not annoy the crap out of me.
Thor comes with Mjolnir and two left hands. One is a fist—love it—and one is a gesturing hand. Or, if you’re Loki, a choking hand.
I think this is the first time I’ve liked a Mjolnir. Others have been too craggy or too oversized or whatever, but this one looks just about right. I’ve read complaints that the handle is too short, and I can kind of see where they’re coming from. I think it could stand to be a little longer, but then I’m not completely turned off by the length. I think if anything the strap is a little too long. It usually seems like it’s a shorter, tighter loop, and this one has a lot of excess. Neither one is a dealbreaker. I would have loved to get one of those spinny effect things like the Diamond Select Thor came with. Also, a second bearded head. But this Thor, like the Captain America, will no doubt show up again, so maybe that’s where it can show up.
Like Cap and Iron man, this Thor is based on Alex Ross take on Thor. But that just means it’s as classical an interpretation as can be. He looks great as a standalone piece, and he fits in seamlessly with the rest of the figures. My 80th Anniversary Iron man figure will be here very soon. I can’t wait to have excellent, dynamic interpretations of the three main Avengers dudes all together.
