MUReview Holiday Bundle winner announcement!!

Happy Holidays from everyone here at MUReview.net.  Thank you for making this time of year even more special for us!

Congratulations and a merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, and celebratory awesomeness to whatever other holiday that you may celebrate.  Thank you again for everyone that participated in this giveaway.  Please, look forward to more giveaways like this in the future!

To keep things fair, the winner of this contest CANNOT win the next.

Congratulations to MUReview Forum member Gio Oliva

I will be in contact with you shortly to obtain address information.

Thank you all again for participating and stay tuned for more in the future!

Marvel Universe Wave 17

Marvel Universe Wave 17

It is that time again true believers.  We find ourselves in the midst of another wave of Marvel Universe figures.  To give you the short of it we have mostly repaints with two new figures added to the mix.  Kudos on the new, shame on Hasbro for the repaints.  With that said, let’s get this review started.

Storm

Packaging

We get a great up close shot of Storm on the front. New to this wave we now get collectible comic shots with each figure.  These are slotted in the same place we used to get the H.A.M.M.E.R. and S.H.I.E.L.D. logos in previous waves.  A nice touch, but not sure it is needed.  On the back we have shots of Daredevil, Psylocke and Iron Fist.  Also, Deadpool tells us to collect them all and I don’t know about you, but I feel like we should listen to that guy.  Ohh, and he would also like you to fetch him a churro.  I mean really, who doesn’t like churros?  Some nice new touches and we approve.  However…no stands, and no character folio…dislike.

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Paint

This is where my issues start with this figure.  By no means is the paint job impressive.  In all honestly I’m not sure why we have yet another Storm.  If anything the paint job on this storm is the worst of the bunch.  They have taken away what were once molded bangles and have replaced them with just paint.  The only place I give this figure a leg up on its competition is the cape.  This has to be my favorite cape of all the Storm figures we have had to date.  Otherwise, I consider the paint job on this figure just plain lazy.  Also, could her neck be any longer?!

Articulation

So the cape doesn’t limit much unlike the previous versions.  The head will also turn just fine.  She can raise her arms, twist at the shoulders, bend at the elbows and spin at the wrists.  She can spin at the waist.  Her legs will move back and forth as well. Double jointed knees, but her ankles do NOTHING!

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Character Likeness

By all accounts this is Storm….again.  I really can’t say much more than that because the head is EXACTLY like previous versions.

Accessories

Storm comes with mini lightning bolts which I think are a nice touch.

Overall

Yawn.  I think at this point the only way you will get me to jump for joy at another Storm figure is if you give me the Jim Lee version.  I have a soft spot in my heart for all Jim Lee’s X-men costumes.  However,  I believe we have a better shot of our friend Alan making a custom version before MU comes out with one.

Grade

Stored* – It’s really not worth displaying. (1 out of 5)

Thor – Ages of Thunder

Packaging

Thor’s front card gives a nice shot of him, but can someone tell me why his eyes are just white? The back of card features Patriot, Iron Fist and Psylocke.  Deadpool is back and this time he still wants you to collect them all, but he also says, “I call this pose museum worthy.”  Deadpool is becoming the highlight of all packaging.

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Paint

Ok, so yes this is another repaint, but I’m not going to kill Hasbro on this one quite as much.  The reason is because I think they got a few things right with this figure that they have messed up in previous versions.  There is a certain level of grit to this version that speaks to me.  It says, “I’m Thor and I’m a bad bad God.”  We have a new head on the figure and as my brother put it, “This one doesn’t look like a goon.”  I agree completely.  For that reason it is the small things that set this figure apart from previous versions.  The cape is longer and a bit darker and it may just be me, but I feel like the gloves are bit more full.  Let me touch on the head again because I like that they removed the helmet .  We get a full on shot of Thor and I think it is a nice change.

img_6987

Articulation

This is a remake word for word of the 2010 SDCC Exclusive articulation wise.  We have spinning wrists, elbow bends, spinning biceps, ball joint shoulders.  The torso spins, old mold legs with fairly limited motion.  The head has pretty good movement considering the height of the cape and the length of the hair.

Character Likeness

Yup, this is definitely Thor and I think it is the Thor we have all been waiting for.

Accessories

Thor comes with the only accessory a Norse God should have and that is of course Mjolnir.  Here is another improvement as this hammer is MEATY.  You can easily see the difference in the side by side shot above.

Overall

This Thor will easily replace all my other Thor’s.  I feel like this figure is a real man’s version of Thor and for that I’m happy to display it.  Maybe this version will stop my wife from calling all of my figures dolls….or not.

Grade

Displayed but more to the side ( 4 out of 5)

Patriot

Packaging

Finally, I get to talk about a NEW figure.  The front card gives us a nice lunging action shot of Patriot.  Again, I like the collectible comic shot here.  Let’s get to the back to see what Deadpool said this time.  Apparently, “4 out of 5 Deadpools recommend Deadpool for patients who use Deadpool.”  I would not want to be that lone Deadpool.  We also have Storm, Daredevil and Thor on the back.

img_6938

Paint

We got red, white and of course blue.  Hasbro does a great job of capturing Patriot here.  The paint is smooth and the small details like the star on his chest really pop.  I like the shield a lot, but I’ll get to that more in the accessories section.  I do prefer the newer costume in the current comics, but this version will do just fine.

Articulation

I’m sure it’s a per figure basis, but Patriot is really very loose.  He’s got a ton of joints and most of em fly freely.  You can’t see it but his arm had to be propped to hold the shield properly.  He has bending knees, spinning feet and calves, ball joint hips.  The hands spin at the gloves, arms bend at the elbow and the head has a reasonable range of motion.

img_6967

Character Likeness

Stars and stripes? Check.  Yea this is definitely Patriot.  Again, I prefer the version of young Eli without the full hood, but this is a nice figure either way.

Accessories

Any Marvel character that has anything to do with any kind of patriotism must have a shield.  Sure enough Patriot does.  Oddly enough, my favorite part of the shield has to be the back.  The red paint really pops here.

Overall

In a wave of mainly repaints Patriot is a shining star.  (Sorry for the pun.)  Is it the nicest figure I have ever seen, no, but it is a NEW figure so for that reason I like it.  Isn’t it odd I’m killing the repaints, but here I am hoping they do just that for Patriot?  Ohh well, moving on.

Grade

Displayed somewhere I might see it (3 out of 5)

Iron Fist

Packaging

I’m not sure if you know this, but Iron Fist has the glow.  You can tell so by looking at his fist on the front of the card.  I am not as crazy about this figures collectible comic shot.  On the back you have a great action shot of the figure and I have to say they did some great photoshopping here.  Deadpool is still telling us to collect them all, “but none could possibly  look this good.”  We also have Thor, Daredevil and Psylocke on the back.

img_6941

Paint

Yes, again we have another repaint.  However, I LOVE Mr. Rands white costume.  They do a great job with the shadowing here.  The gold paint really pops.  The logo on the chest doesn’t sit quite well on his chest.  It just kind of ends towards the waist.  Also, in my opinion this is the best head we have had to date.  There is some nice detailing on the mask that sets it apart from previous versions.

Articulation

Articulation on Iron Fist is easy to see.  You’ve got a good range of motion all around, but he’s limited by the older ‘buck’.  Being that this is the modern Iron Fist, I was hoping for some of the features found on, ex: Cyclops.  Because he doesn’t display this, articulation is kind of a let down.  You can however get him into some neat positions…if you can manage to keep his leg on, which in fact did pop off coming out of the package.  I know the tricks to fix it but really…really?

img_6973

Character Likeness

By all means this is Iron Fist.  No, not the Iron Fist of Iron Fist and Power Man days, but the current one I know and love.  Iron Fist is a character in the New Avengers who doesn’t get nearly enough face time, but at least they have done him justice here.

Accessories

Danny comes with a flame accessory.  I like to consider it just more of his glow.

Overall

I like this version better than all that came before him.  Again, this is the modern day Iron Fist.  I’ll have to imagine at some point they are going to do all the heroes in their Fear Itself versions, but I’m pretty sure not even that will top this Iron Fist.

Grade

Displayed but more to the side (4 out of 5)

Shadowland Daredevil

Packaging

Guess what?  Another repaint.  The front card gives us a nice shot of Daredevil in all his glory.  Again, we are given a collectible comic shot.  The back of the card shows us Thor, Storm and Patriot.  Once again it is time for the Deadpool quote of the day, “Enjoy tacos! They’re delicious!” You gotta love this guy.

img_6947

Paint

It is Daredevil in black.  That is pretty much it.  In all honestly this figure doesn’t even come close to the detail they just gave us in the latest two pack.

Articulation

This Daredevil is a complete and utter let down articulation wise after the Bullseye / Daredevil 2-pack release.  

Character Likeness

By all means this is Shadowland Daredevil in all his glory.  Dark and dangerous, but utterly lacking.

Accessories

Daredevil comes with his classic nun-chucks, which don’t necessarily fit in his hand (they just fall through).s

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Overall

This is another repaint I could have done without.  I wasn’t a big fan of the Shadowland storyline and I’m not a big fan of this figure.  You can’t give us greatness in the two pack and then feed us a scrap like this.

Grade

Stored – It’s really not worth displaying (1 out of 5)

Psylocke

Packaging

The front of card has a quality close up of Psylocke and I also really like the collectible comic shot here.  The back of the card shows Iron Fist, Storm and Patriot.  As for Deadpool, “What am I leftovers?” 

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Paint

The paint on Psylocke really has a nice sheen to it.  This the classic Psylocke costume we all know and love.  I’m not crazy over the coloring of the hair or really even the overall presentation of the head.  The face looks more like demonic Barbie than anything else. 

Articulation

Here we have a really nicely painted, but not so mobile Psylocke.  Spinning tilting ankles, double jointed knees and ball hips.  Spinning at the torso, wrists, bend at the elbows and ball joint shoulders.  The head motion is limited by the hair.

Character Likeness

Mmm, Psylocke.  Yea it’s definitely her. 

Accessories

Psylocke comes with both a psionic blast and sword.

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Overall

The figure is a nice addition to the line and one that was definitely missing.  I can’t say I’m blown away, but she will definitely be added to my X-Men section of figures.   I wish they would have done her hair differently as it just makes the figure look cheap. 

Grade

Displayed but buried in the back (2 out of 5)

Wave 17 Summary

Wave 17 is a bit disappointing.  There are so many great characters in the Marvel Universe, to give us the same character with new repaints over and over is just lazy.  In my mind MU is a line that should give us the entire Universe like we have never had before.  Maybe I’m asking for too much, but do you really need four characters we have had before all in one wave?  Also, a big issue is the fact not a single figure came with a stand.  Let’s hope Wave 18 brings back what is great about this line.

 

 

 

 

 

Rating SystemEach figure will be reviewed under the following categories:
Packaging
Paint
Articulation
Accessories
Character Likeness
OverallEach figure will then be given an overall grade out of 5 levels:
Displayed front and center – Perfect score
Displayed but more to the side – Second best, nothing wrong with that
Displayed somewhere I might see it – Displayed, it’s good, I like it, not as much as others.
Displayed but buried in the back – Not all that great, but no other options for this figure
Stored* – It’s really not worth displaying. 
*This will be caveat-ed, if the figure is excellent but is being moved out in favor of a better version of the same character, this will be explained.

Custom Cosmic Captain Marvel

Custom Cosmic Captain Marvel

Custom Cosmic Captain Marvel

I have to be honest, I did a review on Alan’s Fantomex, and it’s incredible, but it’s not really fair.  What he produces are one of a kind models of never before seen characters at the Marvel Universe scale.  I’m in awe of what he’s able to pull off, and any review I do is going to be remarkably biased.  That said….

Grade

Displayed front and center (1000 out of 5)

Check out these up close images of the boxed, and un-boxed Cosmic Captain Marvel!  Stay tuned to MUReview for news on the latest Onlinebuyer21 (eBay), Alan custom giveaway (coming soon….patent pending)

Also, don’t forget to check out the latest from Alan on eBay HERE…probably best to check later, looks like he’s got nothing up..but you can look at what he’s working on HERE.

 

 

Rating System: Each figure will be reviewed under the following categories:
Packaging
Paint
Articulation
Accessories
Character Likeness
OverallEach figure will then be given an overall grade out of 5 levels:
Displayed front and center – Perfect score
Displayed but more to the side – Second best, nothing wrong with that
Displayed somewhere I might see it – Displayed, it’s good, I like it, not as much as others.
Displayed but buried in the back – Not all that great, but no other options for this figure
Stored* – It’s really not worth displaying. 
*This will be caveat-ed, if the figure is excellent but is being moved out in favor of a better version of the same character, this will be explained.

 

Marvel Universe Ultimate Gift Set

Marvel Universe Ultimate Gift Set

At MUReview.net, we like to review things…new things if possible, or old things.  Things we haven’t reviewed before.  We however, follow a toy line that has a fair amount of re-release things.  Enter the Ultimate Gift Set (Box).

We have included:

Spider-Man with web bag and web shot

Iron Man with energy blast

Captain America with clear shield (yes!!!)

Thor with Hammer

and Wolverine with katana

 

Now, I could go on about some of the details of each, but we’ve all got all of these figures.  Really the only unique parts:

Cap’s shield is clear (I’m putting that on Commander Steve)

Thor doesn’t have anything covering his underarms

Cap is a nice rich blue color.

There are probably more subtle differences.  Feel free to pick them out on your own in the gallery below.  We aren’t going to rate this set.  If you don’t have these guys, it’s a great cheap way to grab them for 29.99 (Walmart.com).