Well X-Fans, it has finally happened. The journey to the X-Men Blue and Gold team rosters is now complete. It has taken years and a few re-dos here and there, but with the release of the new “Love Triangle” three-pack, a Jean Grey worthy of modern Marvel Legends is finally on our shelves, and all can be right in the world of the 90s.
Say what you want about personal preferences towards various teams and looks, the fact that we now have that full X-Men #1/Jim Lee/90s team in ML is a pretty major accomplishment. Yeah, there is always still more work to do when it comes to toy releases, but the completion of this roster sets a pretty high bar for getting teams done in this line for the future. As I have said before, even though I gravitate more towards those Giant-Size X-Men looks, this run of Blue and Gold in ML has made me a fan of those looks (crazy, right?), and has turn a look I have reviled since its debut into a Jean Grey figure that is absolutely stunning. This is toy making done right, and even if this set had no other merits with it, she would make it totally worth the entry fee for many 90s fans. The good news for us is that there are a lot more great things going on here, so all of the figures offer changes or improvements.
Aside from completing that iconic team, this “Love Triangle” set celebrate the ongoing and memorable spat between Wolverine and Cyclops for the affection of Jean Grey. Much of this came to the fore during the 90s run, and most certainly stood out on the popular X-Men animated series as well. This was mostly done for thematic purposes for the set, but covering off Jean is really just the start because Cyclops and Wolverine offer several new and needed accessories and looks that a lot of people have been waiting for. The rarity of the previous “Jim Lee” Cyclops figure is enough to get him back that alone, but for those of us that have that older figure, a new deco and options are keeping it fresh for us as well.
CYCLOPS
So, getting into Cyclops first, this is obviously another Blue team leader version release, but very different from what we got before. The dark blue and very bright yellow are likely palette choices that represent what a lot of people see when they picture Cyclops in their mind’s eye. We will talk about how this gets him to match the included Wolverine as well, but the change is plenty to give options to those of us who also have the Warlock wave figure. That said, I have to expect that most reasonable people who do not have that original figure will be fine with the different shades because they are most certainly valid, but are also not such a crazy departure from the other colors to feel too bad about missing the particular lighter blue or darker yellow from the first figure.
Aside from the simple color change to a darker blue and brighter yellow (that many will certainly appreciate it), the bomber jacket is finally here and that alone is enough to get this guy completely over, and likely considered an improvement over the previous release. I have to admit, I have never really understood the purpose of the jacket, but it is so iconic and this version of Cyke has never gotten it in a formal ML release, so this is a big win. It absolutely does look sharp and his harness and belt actually work just fine with it so, so I am actually struggling here when it comes to which version I want to put in my main display. I really thought I would stick to the original release due to the colors and lack of jacket, but now I am thinking about it
Cyclops also comes with two fists as well as his “optic blast” hand. Honestly, including the extra fist is a nice touch that really didn’t have to be included due to all the rest of the stuff we are getting, but it is appreciated. The big inclusions are the TWO new “unmasked” heads featured in this set, and these will span generation and era preferences in terms of appreciation. Both of these heads feature Scott without his visor and just with the glasses he must wear to keep his concussive blasts at bay, but the changes in the glasses from head to head are important for sure. One set of shades most certainly looks like those that Cyclops wore in the animated series, so those should be the default for a lot of people. However, I would argue the other head looks more like John Byrne art (mine has some paint imperfections on the glasses, unfortunately), so I would use this head with the Cyclops that was included in the previous Dark Phoenix set. So, GSX fans, don’t think you are off the hook here!
WOLVERINE
Yes, we get another Wolverine in Marvel Legends, BUT, and hear me out here, this is likely to be the favorite Wolvie thus far for a lot of people, and there is plenty to appreciate as being new and unique to this particular figure. I mean, I will admit to being an easy mark here because so long as there is something new in terms of additions or costume updates, I am always happy to take them because I think this Wolverine base is just great. So, while you can build this at its foundation as a color swap to match Cyclops, there is a lot of other stuff going on. For some, that is enough though, because the bright yellow on this Wolverine POPS. One of my bigger complaints about modern toy lines overall is the tendency to mute colors because I am much more of a fan of the bright and dynamic colors for my superheroes.
The color swap means that we get the standard Wolverine portrait, unmasked head, and folded down mask we have seen previously. That is perfectly fine and acceptable here, and getting the folded down mask ensures you get that option in the future, too, even as newer Logan heads are introduced. The big new win comes in the form of a the “battle damaged” head, and honestly, I cannot believe it took this long to get this. In some way, the way this looks was very predictable, but I mean that in a positive light because that just means they nailed the expression and how the mask should look dinged up. I am not one to ever display a battle damaged head as my default look the shelf, but as always, this will be most welcome for pictures and the like, so it is a great inclusion.
The other great additions to the set are the bone claw hands that are making their debut in the line. These are pretty pointed (pun intended) in terms of their actual comic application, but they are most certainly important to the history of Wolverine, especially in explaining just how those badass claws really work. These are very sturdy and instantly display more straight without having to be manipulated like the standard “version 1” claws. Now, these claws ARE removable, but not in the same fashion as most of the other Wolvie claws, so a simple switch is not going to be straightforward for customizing.
JEAN GREY
Okay kids, this is THE reason to get this set – I know it, and you know it, too. There is an entire generation of X-Fans who have been waiting for this figure their entire lives, and no, I do not believe that to be hyperbole. This 90s Jean is as pretty damned perfect as you can get, and it takes a LOT to get me to say that. I am not shy about calling out when I think a figure is good, but very rarely does a figure operate with such success from just about every standpoint. This is coming from someone who has traditionally abhorred this costume in the past, but look at where we are now. I have heard that you need to be on the lookout for some paint imperfections from set to set, but if all things are hitting, this figure is just wonderful.
Now, some of you guys might try to mention that we have previously gotten this version of Jean before in ML. I would promptly ask you to look at the comparison picture and then kindly shut up. No really, that previous figure no longer exists as far as I am concerned and is the perfect example of why a line like ML needs to continue to evolve and revisit characters as needed, and as the line gets better. The progress made in just a few years is pretty astounding. Jean has suddenly had a heck of a recent run in ML after being one of the figures you put at the back of the shelf for too long.
The better base body not even considered, the two portraits included with this figure might be the best female faces done in the line thus far. As in ever. Like, since that first Toy Biz ML series until today. If you find a set with good paint applications on both faces, they are just fantastic. I am calling one head the “comic” version, and the other the “cartoon” version due to the hairstyles, but no matter which way you skew in terms of preference, you cannot go wrong. The hair sculpts are long and flowy, but they surprisingly don’t weigh the heads down much or interfere with movement all that much. I was pretty surprised by this, but in a good way. The faces on both of these are wonderful though, and with the comic head you get a more focused and determined look, and the cartoon brings a genuine smile. Both are feminine and strong of features, but also look very much like Jean to me. If this is the new bar in terms of female portraits in ML, we are some very, very fortunate collectors.
This is a great set, and probably one of my favorite releases of the entire year. We finally get a 90s Jean Grey worth displaying, and she is that magic addition that finishes off the Blue and Gold teams, so there is a lot to celebrate. But don’t forget about Cyclops and Wolverine, their new decos and accessories make them extremely valuable versions that will be appreciated by a lot of collectors. DO NOT SLEEP ON THIS SET – go lock it up at Dorkside now!
