If you’d have told me thirty years ago Ant-Man would someday have his own line of action figures I wouldn’t have believed you. Hell, if you’d told me last year I wouldn’t have believed you. While his fellow Avengers have each taken their turn in the spotlight, Ant-Man has remained a benchwarmer. But getting your own movie changes things (ask the Guardians of the Galaxy) and it was just announced that Ant-Man is headlining his own series of Marvel Legends. So how does Fwoosh’s resident “Pym guy” feel about it? Like ol’ Hank, I am of two minds.
With so much product news dropping at once, you may have missed the particulars. The new series consists of Ant Man (movie version), “Avengers Academy” Giant Man, the Wasp, the Grim Reaper, and the previously-revealed Tigershark and Bulldozer. The Build-a-Figure is Avengers: Age of Ultron Ultron, who seems to have gotten lost on the way to his own movie. The series is, at a glance, a modest affair, made up of the mandatory movie figures, comic versions of characters that can be done with easy re-use, and already-tooled product that couldn’t find a home at retail without the umbrella of a Marvel movie. Hasbro has this approach down to a science now, but it’s starting to feel a little empty.
That said, lets look at what we do get. For a start, fan-demanded favorite Grim Reaper is all smiles, and sports a new larger body. He also has his trademark scythe, along with a new head and cape. Get some hot water ready, as the “child-safe” plastic of Reaper’s blade will undoubtedly be warped.
Unlike the recent Spider-Man who came packed with an embarrassment of riches (extra hands, an additional head and a slice of pizza) Modern Giant-Man is bare bones — even his belt is painted on. At least his partner the Wasp gets a new head and some wings. Jan has had hundreds of looks over the years, so why Hasbro chose the same costume ToyBiz used is puzzling. Granted, the new version is an improvement in sculpt and paint, but it would have been nice to see a different look.
Tiger Shark has been on my want list for a long time. What can I say, I’m a sucker for head-fins. TS is the perfect foil for Namor (now we just need a perfect Namor!) and the vibrant paint really makes the figure pop. He’s an early favorite.
Bulldozer’s inclusion should be a balm to everyone who has an incomplete Wrecking Crew, but I can’t help but feel like he’s the odd one out here. He would have worked just as well in the Spider-Man Infinite line, which could benefit from having bigger figures in its ranks.
I would have preferred to see Bill Foster Goliath instead. I can’t help but feel he’d look good on that Hyperion body. He wouldn’t be a giant, but he’d be big enough to look cool with the other size-changing heroes.
The money in this series went to the movie incarnation of Ant-Man. He appears to come with a mini-figure of himself and an ant for it to ride one. The figure reminds me of the old Toy Biz movie Daredevil: they seem to share the same “boxy” leather costume aesthetic and stance. He’ll end up in a lot of MU displays. The Ultron BaF is just goofy to me, but that’s more the design than the actual figure. He looks like a toothless old man.
“You kids get off my lawn!”
In the end we have some classic villains, a few movie figures and a modern version of the Pyms. As a series it seems solid, if underwhelming. Its possible Hasbro may have been planning the movie Ant-Man figure as a retail exclusive or as part of the Avengers line, then at the 11th hour decided to gamble on an entire series. Its a bold move, but the company seems more than confident in Marvel Legends right now. Still, I can’t help but feel there should be a little more T and A up front. Safari-jacket Wonder Man, anybody?
What do you think of the Hasbro reveals? Discuss it on the Fwoosh forums!