It certainly feels like a lot of companies have upped the ante this year. Suddenly, the high-value collector is almost everyone’s favorite target, and no wallet is safe. And nowhere was that more evident than at Mezco’s pre-Toy Fair event earlier this month.
Mezco’s One:12 Collective line is obviously very near and dear to my heart, as it seems to be on a warpath to bring down my favorite characters in a style and quality that I can’t get enough of. And it seems Mezco is going to put that desire to the test with the explosive announcement of their newly acquired Marvel license. Punisher, Daredevil, and Captain America — the Marvel titans of the urban genre. All three are street-level, skilled combatants that fight their wars on crime with little “super” power. These guys rely on their gear, fists, and grim determination.
Now, maybe it’s just honeymoon talk here, but I think this is an excellent choice for a toehold into the Marvel universe. And naturally, I can’t help but cruise the roster and think of who else I’d like to see join these three Urban Legends, or Marvel Knights, if you were a kid of the ’90s (Cap notwithstanding.) Obviously, we’re short one web-head, but I am none too worried about his inclusion and all the awesomeness that could bring. But let’s face it, he’s literally a list all his own. The other first name on that list is thankfully covered, as Mezco answered fellow Fwoosher FuzzyBlueDemon’s question about a certain Merc-with-a-Mouth with word that he’ll be “breaking the 4th wall in 2017.” So here’s the rest that immediately came to mind:
Nick Fury
With connections that run the entire universe over, Nick is a cornerstone of Marvel history. With a look that can range from 1990s excess to 1960s sleek to urban warrior casual, Nick is in a unique position to take advantage of Mezco’s style and variant formula.
If I could call the two-three variants, I would say Fury would benefit most from these two, and with some clever accessories, you could actually get four:
His classic SHIELD uniform is hard to contest. The beauty of a Mezco figure is that with the removable belts and gear, you could load him up Jim Lee-style, or keep him Steranko-light whenever the mood hits you.
And to take full advantage of small-tailored clothing, Nick’s casual look, demonstrated here by his classic Capcom video game look, would be cool as hell. Now, as you’ve probably figured out by now, an extra neck, head, and hands would make it very easy to make either version a Sam Jackson-style one, but especially a turtleneck and BDU trousers version.
Blade
Man, I can honestly think of few Marvel characters that really need a good figure as badly as Daywalker. The ToyBiz version was good for its day, but the Hasbro one came from the awkward growing period of Legends, and that tired old Punisher body should never be seen again. Blade could easily be a one-and-done: a combination of his movie and comic looks would definitely fit their style and hit all the right notes.
But, like Punisher, it would be fun to see them incorporate some of that into a “classic” look as well. How much of that super cool classic colors I would gladly leave in the hands of the experts.
Deathlok
Another round in what feels a little like “six degrees of Spider-Man,” Deathlok is another grim and gritty icon of the ’70s who rarely gets his due in plastic. Like Blade, not a lot of variance would be needed, but it might be interesting to see what they could do with a modern, more textured version and the original, smoother design. Just please, God, not a TV version.
Moon Knight
I have to be honest, I never have really liked Moon Knight. I’m a Batman fan. So Marc Spector always felt like a bargain basement alternative. But there have been times Moon Knight has risen to the occasion and forged a character worthy of its own following. And if that’s not good enough for you, at least he’s always been cool-looking. Armored and non-armored versions would work well here, but I’d-prefer a classic and a Warren Ellis run-inspired version.
Black Widow
And lastly, there is the femme fatale who done good: the very sexy and dangerous Black Widow. Arguably the best logical choice for first Marvel female, with two distinct characters, and lots of room to homage various looks. Yelena or Natasha could be as easy as swapping heads, or as disparate as two completely different versions. And I’d take ’em all.
And I’d take lots of others, too, all in good time. Any of your favorites I missed? Line ’em up below. Sadly, we’ll need to leave the mutants off the list for now, but there’s still plenty to go around.