I was kinda surprised Iron Monger got a ML figure. I'd be even more surprised by an MS one. Certainly, he had a memorable moment in the MU, even if it was only because he killed himself. It's not like he had a lot of appearances, so it's odd he even has gotten any figures.
@panthercult I think an Iron Man villain is probably more desirable to a lot of folks than a Black Panther one. Also, comic M'Baku is potentially problematic as an action figure. I'm sure many of us would love a comic based figure of him, but I can see toy companies not wanting to dip their toe into any potential figure of him. I think his best bet may be ML where the figure can be broken into pieces to somewhat hid his appearance, but then again that would have to get Disney's approval and I'm sure they'll steer clear of him. I'd love to be wrong and get MS and ML figures of him, but I'm not holding my breath.
Attuma would make a great figure, ML or MS. For as long as he's been around in comics, he's also not made much of an impact. I don't think there's really a defining story for him. If Namor ends up getting more MCU and media exposure, maybe his villains could as well. But I feel like Attuma's MCU presence was basically just as a henchman so I doubt it raised his chances. Again, I'd like an Attuma figure, but I don't see him happening soon.
I wonder if someone like Black Knight counts as an armored character. It would be odd to get him before someone like Scarlet Witch.
I wonder if someone like Black Knight counts as an armored character. It would be odd to get him before someone like Scarlet Witch.
Of course, now that you say that, all I want is a classic Black Knight from MS. They could really nail it.
@panthercult I think an Iron Man villain is probably more desirable to a lot of folks than a Black Panther one.
Based on what? Black Panther is one of the most popular and successful characters in modern marvel and I guarantee M'Baku is now more widely known in our culture than Titanium Man. And if we're talking "comic book fans" by saying 'a lot of folks' at best that assertion is based on anecdotal evidence and at worst simply made up based on your own bias and assumption.
Also, comic M'Baku is potentially problematic as an action figure. I'm sure many of us would love a comic based figure of him, but I can see toy companies not wanting to dip their toe into any potential figure of him. I think his best bet may be ML where the figure can be broken into pieces to somewhat hid his appearance, but then again that would have to get Disney's approval and I'm sure they'll steer clear of him.
I see this argument trotted out and I almost start to accept it but then I remember the character was included in the Lego Marvel Super Heroes games, was featured in the last two iterations of Avengers cartoons that aired and even showed up in Super Hero Squad. If Man Ape was as "off limits" as some people like to claim there is a zero percent chance he would appear in all of that media aimed at kids. All of that also had to be approved by Disney. I just don't believe it is forbidden or off limits. And even if there was some trepidation to include him in a toy line by Hasbro... Marvel Select is in specialty shops only and clearly aimed at adults who can understand the nuance. I'm sure they could make him if they wanted to... hopefully someday they'll want to.
Other armored options -
Captain America 90s- lost his powers and got armored Why Captain America Wore Armor in the 1990s (cbr.com)
Iron Patriot - correctly Colored for Thunderbolts with Norman head (I got a great 'bootleg' from Italy on ebay years ago)
Thor - Simonson armor! with Throg!
Executioner/Skurge
Mainframe - from the Spider-girl universe!
Skurge would be a good one for them to choose to entice those of us Legends collectors that desperately want him... since Hasbro doesn't seem in a hurry.
Also, comic M'Baku is potentially problematic as an action figure. I'm sure many of us would love a comic based figure of him, but I can see toy companies not wanting to dip their toe into any potential figure of him. I think his best bet may be ML where the figure can be broken into pieces to somewhat hid his appearance, but then again that would have to get Disney's approval and I'm sure they'll steer clear of him.
I see this argument trotted out and I almost start to accept it but then I remember the character was included in the Lego Marvel Super Heroes games, was featured in the last two iterations of Avengers cartoons that aired and even showed up in Super Hero Squad. If Man Ape was as "off limits" as some people like to claim there is a zero percent chance he would appear in all of that media aimed at kids. All of that also had to be approved by Disney. I just don't believe it is forbidden or off limits. And even if there was some trepidation to include him in a toy line by Hasbro... Marvel Select is in specialty shops only and clearly aimed at adults who can understand the nuance. I'm sure they could make him if they wanted to... hopefully someday they'll want to.
We, as a toy community, overthink what's offensive/off-limits. Winston Duke became a household name in some circles because of his portrayal of... Man-Ape. In a billion-dollar movie.
Hasbro has outwardly said they won't make a figure of a character with a pentagram on his chest. I don't agree with it, but that makes some sense. Red Skull with a swastika armband? Not going to happen. Most other things? Probably fair game.
Slasher/Razorblade is wearing "armor" and would be cool to see. 😀 😆
Based on what? Black Panther is one of the most popular and successful characters in modern marvel and I guarantee M'Baku is now more widely known in our culture than Titanium Man.
M'Baku the funny big guy from the movies, not a guy wearing a white gorilla halloween costume. The comic version seems to be about as obscure as TM.
I still say Select needs a new Doom. There can't be a more perfect time than now when the FF is finished.
Also, comic M'Baku is potentially problematic as an action figure. I'm sure many of us would love a comic based figure of him, but I can see toy companies not wanting to dip their toe into any potential figure of him. I think his best bet may be ML where the figure can be broken into pieces to somewhat hid his appearance, but then again that would have to get Disney's approval and I'm sure they'll steer clear of him.
I see this argument trotted out and I almost start to accept it but then I remember the character was included in the Lego Marvel Super Heroes games, was featured in the last two iterations of Avengers cartoons that aired and even showed up in Super Hero Squad. If Man Ape was as "off limits" as some people like to claim there is a zero percent chance he would appear in all of that media aimed at kids. All of that also had to be approved by Disney. I just don't believe it is forbidden or off limits. And even if there was some trepidation to include him in a toy line by Hasbro... Marvel Select is in specialty shops only and clearly aimed at adults who can understand the nuance. I'm sure they could make him if they wanted to... hopefully someday they'll want to.
We, as a toy community, overthink what's offensive/off-limits. Winston Duke became a household name in some circles because of his portrayal of... Man-Ape. In a billion-dollar movie.
Hasbro has outwardly said they won't make a figure of a character with a pentagram on his chest. I don't agree with it, but that makes some sense. Red Skull with a swastika armband? Not going to happen. Most other things? Probably fair game.
I agree with this. I understand how someone might be worried the costume would come across as offensive, and where that concern comes from, but comics are full of outlandish designs and I think most people would recognize it as just that.
And I don't think you can completely distinguish the character's appearances and say only the movie version gets the street cred. M'Baku the Man-Ape has appeared in several billion-dollar movies. Titanium Man has been in none. M'Baku definitely has a higher profile, even if he is still fairly obscure.
I've seen quite a bit of online discourse surrounding Man-Ape. Whether or not the character is actually offensive, there are a lot of people that are convinced he is. I don't think it's a stretch to say toy companies are either avoiding the character or have been directed not to use him. I'm not saying that's the case with Marvel Select—maybe they've genuinely never considered the character before—but I can definitely imagine it being true for Hasbro.
Also, yes, I know M'Baku is in multiple, massive box office hits. Counter point: it's essentially a whole new character. The only thing remaining from the comics is the name M'Baku.
I really don't think we're overthinking things this time.
You can't call that character Man-Ape anymore, and Marvel has demonstrated that they realize it by ditching the name in the comics and never using it in the movies so they'd never let Diamond use the name even if they asked. M'Baku, yes, but no Man-Ape, and probably no ape costume or origin tied to apes. Associating Africans with primates has a long, racist history, and continuing that even in an explicitly respectful way is a terrible idea, FAR worse than blackface, or the word "Oriental." Not as bad as the swastika, but it's closer to that than many other artistic ideas that are too closely associated with widespread racist ideas.
I've certainly seen nothing at all in the character to think there was anything racist in its creation. Apes are native to central Africa, so having an African tribe associate themselves with one of the most powerful animals on the continent makes sense. But the international history of the primate association is too dark to continue it.
It's just never going to happen. In all likelihood it would fly under the national radar just as most toys do, but if the media noticed a Man-Ape figure then Diamond would get crucified.
You can't call that character Man-Ape anymore, and Marvel has demonstrated that they realize it by ditching the name in the comics and never using it in the movies so they'd never let Diamond use the name even if they asked. M'Baku, yes, but no Man-Ape, and probably no ape costume or origin tied to apes. Associating Africans with primates has a long, racist history, and continuing that even in an explicitly respectful way is a terrible idea, FAR worse than blackface, or the word "Oriental." Not as bad as the swastika, but it's closer to that than many other artistic ideas that are too closely associated with widespread racist ideas.
I've certainly seen nothing at all in the character to think there was anything racist in its creation. Apes are native to central Africa, so having an African tribe associate themselves with one of the most powerful animals on the continent makes sense. But the international history of the primate association is too dark to continue it.
It's just never going to happen. In all likelihood it would fly under the national radar just as most toys do, but if the media noticed a Man-Ape figure then Diamond would get crucified.
I think most of us here understand the ugly history and (potential) racist connotations of the character, which is why it's being discussed. But the movies DO make the association to the ape theme in a very explicit way - they are known as the gorilla tribe, they wear gorilla furs/skins, and they grunt and make ape noises. They obviously had confidence in adapting the character to the screen and keeping these explicit associations, and it worked! People loved it, and as TSI notes Winston Duke has become a household name (in part) because of the role.
I do agree that a figure on store shelves presents itself with no context and is a different beast than an on-screen depiction. But as PC points out, M'Baku/Man-Ape has appeared in costume in other recent media, suggesting there is no outright prohibition on that depiction from the license holder. I wouldn't blame decision-makers at Diamond or Hasbro for being aware or wary of the optics of it (as well they should) but I don't think the door is totally shut on getting a figure sooner or later.
I remember the character was included in the Lego Marvel Super Heroes games, was featured in the last two iterations of Avengers cartoons that aired and even showed up in Super Hero Squad.
Those were all a decade or more ago when Ike Perlmutter was the head of everything, but now it's Feige. There is no way any of that gets made today, or even five years ago.
I remember the character was included in the Lego Marvel Super Heroes games, was featured in the last two iterations of Avengers cartoons that aired and even showed up in Super Hero Squad.
Those were all a decade or more ago when Ike Perlmutter was the head of everything, but now it's Feige. There is no way any of that gets made today, or even five years ago.
Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 features Man-Ape, and was released in 2017. The four episodes of Avengers Assemble he appeared in originally aired between October 2018 - February 2019.
I almost posted those dates but then just accepted the fact that EC is always right and that its pointless to argue...
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