Marvel Legends Wakanda Forever Namor

I won't go to great lengths regarding the depiction of Namor, the Sub-Mariner, in the recent Black Panther: Wakanda Forever movie, because I have yet to see it. I purchased this figure on sale for $17.50, with an additional 5% off that using my Target Red Card, bringing it to a very affordable $16.63 + tax. With standard issue Marvel Legends like this going for $24.99 or more now, I prefer to pick them up on sale whenever I can. I've said before that Hasbro has really upped their game on action figures the last few years, hitting a level of quality that rivals a lot of imports in my opinion. I'm always a little nervous buying these window-less boxes at retail due to scalper's tendency to swap figures or steal parts, but the tape looked undisturbed on Namor, so I got a good sample.

Namor's quasi-Mesoamerican jewelry is an interesting twist on the character- I'm interested to see if there is any backstory about his geographic heritage, how/if that ties into theories about a lost Atlantean culture that Plato described 2,400 years ago. The detail on this figure is outstanding, he's a beauty. I would have preferred two gripping hands to wield the spear as opposed to a closed left fist, but he's a great little action figure that I'm thrilled I got such a deep discount on. 

I have two other Marvel Legends Sub-Mariner figures that I absolutely love- this Wakanda Forever Namor is modeled mostly on the traditional Namor in green trunks that came in the first Black Panther wave from 2018, but I also like the 2016 Walgreens exclusive Namor in the collared jumpsuit.... Imperious Rex!

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Marvel Legends Namor (Walgreens 2016)

I'd admired this 2016 Walgreen's exclusive Namor for awhile prior to getting him at a deep discount back in January, spurred by my enthusiasm for the 2018 Black Panther Wave Sub-Mariner. That figure somewhat overshadowed by the rest of his wave, I opted to give him a more thorough presentation in the video below: 

I can't say which of these I love more, though Sub-Mariner came with an extra "classic" head in addition to a second set of hands, and the sculpted scales on his trunks are fantastic. That said, the printed scales on Namor's outfit are neatly applied, and his collar adds a lot of attitude to his entire presentation. Both of these are just great- Imperious Rex!

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Marvel Legends Black Panther Wave

I'd preordered the Invincible Iron Man from this wave in December, convinced I could resist buying the entire Marvel Legends Black Panther Series, but the Nakia and Okoye BAF were just to beautiful to ignore. I didn't mind getting a classic Sub-Mariner, and the Black Panther and Erik Killmonger turned out to be a pleasant surprise- check out the video:

2017 was definitely a return to Marvel Legends for myself, and there are some gems in this wave- all the extra heads, hands and accessories really made it great! Black Bolt doesn't do much for me, but Inhumans enthusiasts can couple him with the Walgreens Exclusive Medusa now. I'd have a hard time picking a favorite, but the Nakia and Okoye BAF ended up on top for myself- all the details in sculpt are outstanding...

Pictured below, T'Challa with Okoye & Nakia...

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More of the Marvel Universe Avengers Box Set!

Just a little more fun playing with my Marvel Universe Classic Avengers Box Set- too good for only one post! Below, my reenactment of the classic Avengers #1 cover with Loki:

In the early Avengers stories, Wasp has a crush on Thor, and is always trying to get her brainy husband Dr. Heny Pym's attention by flirting with him or any hunky superhero within close proximity! Pretty hilarious  :D

My favorite from this set, the Hulk, was what intersed me most in this box set- his early 60's look, with the bowl-cut & Cro-Magnon looking brow. I like the purple Underoos that Hasbro put him in, predating the torn pants that came to be part of his look.

Iron Man in his short-lived Golden Avenger armor used to defeat Gargantus! At the suggestion of girlfriend Marion, who tells Tony that Iron Man look more like a "knight in shining armor" if The hero wore gold armor. "Then, when people see his golden armor, they won't panic! They'll know he has a heart of gold and an appearance to match his golden deeds!" "You know Marion, I wouldn't be surprised if Iron Man himself were to get the same idea!" replies Tony.

And I just had to throw in a shot with My Iron Man 2 Classic Proto-Armor Iron Man, seen more often in the first Avengers stories- I love the horned mask on this guy!

In Avengers issue #3, Sub-Mariner convinces a disillusioned Hulk to battle the team he was part of just one issue ago! Their mutual hatred for mankind unite these outsiders, who both battle the Avengers again a decade later as members of the anti-team, the Defenders, in the Avengers-Defenders War (Marvel, 1973).

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Marvel Universe: Ultron & Sub-Mariner

I was pretty excited to find two Wave 15 releases from Hasbro's 3 3/4" Marvel Universe line- there is a Wal-Mart across the street where I find cool stuff on a regular basis. Take note of Sub-Mariner's base- it says "Imperius Rex", a battle cry uttered by Atlantean King Namor, the Sub-Mariner (imperious: power, empire.  rex: king). One great thing about buying the single carded versions of these figures is that you almost alway get a base for them, which you need  :D

 Ultron was released in a Secret Wars 2-pack with Mr. Fantastic, but didn't have the green highlights this single carded version has, making him appear "lit up" like a robot- very cool! His shoulder articulation is limited by the cresent shoulder guards attached to his deltoids, and rotation below the hips is limited to the cut ankles, but he has a cut joint at the waist and an upper abdominal joint. He has the same arms/legs as Doom, basically. Created by Dr. Henry Pym (Ant Man/Giant Man), the robot quickly developed its own intelligence and rebelled, constantly upgrading it's own body to an almost indestructable grade of construction.

I never thought I'd find this Namor- too beloved of a character to sit on a peg for long- he'll go great with that Avengers box set I found awhile back- Silver Age goodness!  But Sub-Mariner is one of the oldest superheroes, having debuted during the Golden Age of comics in Marvel Comics #1 along with the original android superhero Human Torch (Timely Comics, 1939). Son of a sea captain & princess of Atlantis, Namor is an anti-hero of unpredictable demeanor, at odds with humanity for it's abuse & disregard for the inhabitants of the world's oceans. He has fought with and against superhero groups the Avengers, the Invaders, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, & the Defenders.

There was another speedo-sporting Namor in the 2009 SDCC 70th Anniversary Invaders Exclusive Set, but this one is beefed up & has more articulation. There was also a modern Namor released in late 2009, but having caught the fever for these so late, I'm lucky a third was released. Namor has the "improved" articulation my 90's Cyclops had, and while his leg didn't pop off, the ball & socket joint somewhat limits the figure's lateral leg movement at the hip. And the cut joints at the upper thigh & below the knee be visually distracting, especially on a nude figure such as this. As I've said before, I prefer the nicer looking, more dependable ball-hinge combination. The rocker joints at the ankles are really great however, and add a lot to this figure.

And now something fun from my old comics: Ultron's page from the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe series I had from childhood. Click on the image to read all about Ultron circa 1983...

And from the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Book of The Dead & Inactive 1 (1982), defunct superhero team The Invaders, who employed the service of one Sub-Mariner!

*See the Marvel Universe visual checklist at ItsAllTrue.Net

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