I just opened Vision last night. It's a major improvement over every other Vision figure, but this is a ridiculously stiff cape. It's like a DCUC plank cape. Definitely going to be replacing that with something better. Otherwise the physique/presence is much closer to how he should be.
Waist swivels can sometimes be hidden by a wide enough belt, but those instances are not frequent. I do like the rounded waists that Classified figures have. They've got a lot in their system that ML would benefit from. Still, while current waist swivels are unsavory, they're not the worst offender in my book. I'm still looking for more range of forward bend in the ankles.
I just opened Vision last night. It's a major improvement over every other Vision figure, but this is a ridiculously stiff cape. It's like a DCUC plank cape. Definitely going to be replacing that with something better.
They made a few really thin, highly flexible capes in the Love and Thunder wave for Jane Foster and Valkyrie, and then they never made another one. They really, really need to bring those back.
At the time I just assumed we'd be seeing capes like that from then on. Very odd that they abandoned them so quickly.
I received the full wave from Pulse. I already got Viz, BP, and Justice from Amazon, so I’ll share my thoughts on the remainder of the wave and the BAF.
Overall, this is a really strong wave. So much new goodness but just as much phoned in. First, Crystar. I appreciate the work that went into a 100% new sculpt but who the hell is this guy? Was he even in Marvel Comics? I probably won’t even display him.
Namor is a sleeper hit for me. I’ve never seen this design before, but it looks so great as a figure. I still don’t love the contrast between what seems like black leggings and his scaled trunks. But the limb armor is excellent, as is his head sculpt. My favorite thing about him might actually be the included fists that will get donated to an extra classic Namor!
Namorita is fine. I like the sculpted fingerless gloves, but don’t like the lack of wrist hinges. Are these things actually reused from the first MCU Black Widow?? How cheap. I’d rather they just paint the fingerless gloves on hands with wrist hinges. I’m already seeing stress marks at her knees when I bend them.
Power Princess LOOKS amazing, but feels far below amazing. This one-off sculpt is outstanding, but I can’t think of another character that would benefit from it (that isn’t from the distinguished competition). Her joints all feel too rubbery, worst offenders are the shoulders pegging into the biceps and the hips into the thighs. But all of her joints kinda suck. Too bad, she looks so good. I mean really good, maybe the best female sculpt ML has ever made.
Void is fun but excessive. Those crab arms on his back are huge and will cause balance issues. He’s tough to even handle because of them. I have a hard time holding him in order to pose his arms or legs. But he looks so good too. Love the translucent plastic.
Seeing the effort put into so many of these figures makes me frustrated to see the lack of effort on Vision. I was fine with him, but he really deserves more unique parts. Justice is fine, Black Panther is nice. It’s a mixed wave, and the strengths outweigh the weaknesses.
I’ve grown to love Namorita in spite of her flaws, especially after I got a second one with much better paint apps around the arms of the torso. While this is one of the last versions of the character I would have chosen to go with, I have to admit that Hasbro made a good call. I still want the classic version, but I’m very happy to have this one.
Yeah, a lot of these flaws are negligible. Nitpicks. It’s easy to overlook when so many other aspects are executed so strongly. The head sculpts and face prints in particular are stellar. In good daylight, I started getting closer looks at Justice and Namorita’s faces, and man, they are gorgeous. I think Namorita was sculpted by the same person who did Black Widow. I like Power Princess’ face too, but she looks a bit cheeky. Would like to have seen her cheeks sunken in just a bit more. I dug out her teammates and she blows the rest of the Squadron away though. Only Hyperion, maybe Night Hawk, come close. All of their reuse can’t hold a candle to her brand new sculpt, so she goes front and center.
Namor still looks like a hodgepodge of parts, but he certainly fits the “Savage” description.
Void fell over in the night. He’s too heavy for sure. He really looks great, but very impractical.
I only bought Power Princess from the wave and she's fantastic. The QC on mine is really nice, aside from one scratch on her gold painted hip-design she has no issues. Her flat plastic looks gorgeous, allowing the gold paint to pop nicely. Even her plastic seams are quite neat, I was planning on cleaning them up but it's not needed. My only issues is that her open hands could be closed a bit more, it's hard to get her to hold any of my "female" ML sword handles, hers especially. Also hate the clip on the shield, would prefer a strap+grip combo (esp since she has a second gripping hand!) although it's neat how perfectly it fits around her gold gauntlet and doesn't damage it at all. Would have appreciated a second head, maybe a yelling/action expression, especially at this price point since I won't be building Void, but aside from that I'm happy with her.
The only strong dislike I have towards anything on her are just how Legends does high heel feet articulation. I don't know how to do it better but it's always janky for posing. Has anyone seen or swapped her some flats? I might give it a shot today.
Yeah, her feet are annoying me too. That, and the detents for the ankles are pushing them in ways that won't keep her balanced upright. I said previously that a bunch of her joints suck, but it's really those in particular that are taking away from her.
Her ankles and knees are super soft on mine. She was banished to a proper clipping stand on my shelves. If they use that body for classic Valkyrie they better just put her in flats. Seems reasonable since she'll probably need new shin pieces all together for her sandal straps. Plus there's no real reason for her to be that tall anyway. Taller than the average woman sure; but not that tall.
Finished the wave by getting Crystar and Power Power Princess. I love this wave!
Crystar looks amazing. Such a cool sculpt and aesthetic. I love translucent figures. I had to look him up because I don’t think I have heard of him before. But what a great figure.
Power Princess is beautiful. Fantastic head sculpt and athletic proportions. I like the articulation as well. She’s very dynamic. She’s definitely the best Wonder Woman figure yet, and she is such a nice addition to the Squadron Supreme. With the whole team together now, I wish Doctor Spectrum was on the Vulcan base body.
Void is such fun! I’ve mentioned before that I love Sentry, Dark Reign, and Siege. Void looks the part perfectly. I love the articulation and alien proportions of the movie Venom figure. Combined with translucent dark red plastic, it all makes Void such a striking figure. He’s my favorite BAF in a while.
Overall, this is one of my favorite waves. Really nice character selection for me.
Power Princess is beautiful. Fantastic head sculpt and athletic proportions. I like the articulation as well. She’s very dynamic. She’s definitely the best Wonder Woman figure yet, and she is such a nice addition to the Squadron Supreme.
Agreed.
To take it a step further, if Marvel Studios ever made a Squadron Supreme movie, it would be the best Justice League film ever made. It's unlikely the lawyers and suits would ever let it happen, but it would be a great movie.
Get it together, DC.
This discussion (of Princess Power as "the best" Wonder Woman) calls to mind that The Incredibles is the best Fantastic Four film that's been produced.
Crystar looks amazing. Such a cool sculpt and aesthetic. I love translucent figures. I had to look him up because I don’t think I have heard of him before. But what a great figure.
Just have to echo the praise for Crystar. Such a left field choice for the line but I love it. I remember picking up the comic when it came out - partly because it had a couple of cool guest stars (Nightcrawler!) but didn't ever get the toys.
I remember - probably 10 years ago now - a guy in Seattle made a MOTU Classics adjacent Crystar that he sold and I was always so bummed I wasn't one of the handful of people able to buy one. He also did a green Crystal Dragon Rider variant that he sold at Emerald City Comic Con - but I couldn't get that one either...
Anyway that renewed my desire to have an updated Crystar figure in my collection so I was stoked when Hasbro teased this one. In hand I couldn't be happier - he turned out great and it's surprising how many new parts they devoted to him. One of my favorite figures in a while.
Now they could really impress me if they decide to drop a Zardeth, Feldspar and Moltar - then we'd really have something
Just got Crystar the other day and he’s awesome. So many memories triggered by that figure. I’m hoping we can get more of his cast as time permits, as well as large parts of his body reused for a proper classic GotG Martinex.
And with him, my Void BaF is only missing the arms. So I caved and ordered Namor, which I don’t actually need. And since I’ll now have a complete Void, I had to go back and buy the Walgreens Sentry to go with him.
It’s a vicious circle.
Crystar arrived at my house today and I have to echo what everyone is saying. The obscure 80's hero grabbed my attention and the clear plastic makes it pop among the sea of 6" plastic that is the figure shelf. This is the approach they should have went with for Iceman. A pretty good figure.
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