Marvel Legends 85th Anniversary Hulkbuster

Man, are we getting a lot of plus-sized Marvel Legends figures coming in! I got ten bucks off this big buy recently, which certainly helped me to pull the trigger. This Hulkbuster is about 9.25" tall and 2.350 lbs. -it feels substantial. The outer chest armor can be removed, and the helmet exchanged for a Tony Stark head. His joints are pretty tight, and while his girth limits his articulation to the expected degree, he can do quite a bit for such a bulky figure.

But what we came for here today was a rumble with 

my Marvel Legends 80th Anniversary Hulk ...

Below, Hulkbuster with my Marvel Legends Invincible Iron Man, which also came with an alternate Tony Stark head. This Hulkbuster looks a lot like what is referred to as part of the Model 13 Modular Iron Man suit with a style/details update to the overall aesthetic, but has also been directly referred to as its own Model 14 armor.

And now for some more comparisons:

with my Marvel Legends 80th Anniversary Hulk and Spider-Man Retro Card Series Rhino...

                                        ...with my Marvel Legends Ulik and Thing...

...with my Marvel Legends Venompool and Mister Hyde...

 ...with my 60th Anniversary Iron Spider and Modular Iron Man...

...can you imagine Mark 1 Iron Man bumping into Hulkbuster at the arcade ...?

And finally, Hulkbuster with my Marvel Legends Iron Man 3 Wave BAF Iron Monger, absolutely dwarfed by the former. The Marvel Legends has come a long way since it's relaunch in 2012- the figures are better than ever and there are more of them- well over 1,300 and counting. The character lineup is astounding, and they are bordering on import-level quality, with more accessories and extra hands/heads. I've written 158 posts about them here on the Super-DuperToybox in the last 14 years, and this won't likely be my last! Excelsior! 

More Later- Make It FUN!

Super 7 Thundercats Deluxe Lion-O, Ultimate Mumm-Ra & Cheetara (Toy Versions)

 The animated Rankin/Bass show that ran from '85-'89 was just a little past my childhood as I moved into my teens, but I did catch a few episodes, or at least portions thereof. Regardless, I stumbled upon the new DX Deluxe Lion-O at Target recently and had hunted down a couple other Super 7 Thundercats figures, an Ultimates Series Mumm-Ra and Cheetara, both the "Toy Versions" styled after the original LJN figures. I never had any Thundercats toys in the late '80s, but did have some Dungeons and Dragons figures from a few years before. 

The new DX Deluxe Lion-O doesn't have all the extra accessories the Ultimates version did, but the $35.00 price tag, though inflated, was like $20.00 less. This version looks more like the Rankin/Bass cartoon, which I actually like. Fans say this figure is too light, but I have little to no nostalgia for the character, so I wasn't bothered.

Lion-O with McFarlane Witcher and Mattel Masterverse 40th Anniversary He-Man...

This super-saturated Cheetara was the "Toy Version" of the Ultimates Cheetara, so she came with several sets of hands and an extra head with an angry face. I picked up this figure and the Mumm-Ra from an online seller at a 20% discount- still overpriced, but I love the toy-etic aesthetic of this figure. Her articulation doesn't possess great range like Mattel or Hasbro figures, but she looks fun! 

Below, Cheetara with my Marvel Legends Tigra and Catra ...

You can get a big Super 7 Ultimates Mumm-Ra now at a discount, and I loved this "Toy Version"- so much so that I've contemplated picking up the regular version with the cape and pet bulldog! Mumm-Ra has a little better range of articulation the Cheetara and is a whoppin' big figure! He came with two head sculpts, several sets of hands, and two great weapons, and really reminds me of the '80s LJN Dungeons and Dragons figures.

And finally, Mumm-Rah with my NECA Warduke and Mattel Masterverse Battle Armor Skeletor...

I'd be interested in more DX Deluxe Series figures, particularly a Tygra and Panthro! While Super 7 makes beautiful Ultimates figures, the competitors are releasing $25.00 figures with better articulation and often times as many accessories. NECA has been giving Super 7 a run for their money in this regard. I think this is an attempt to cut into a lower price point, and they have my attention. I was delighted with my Mumm-Ra and Cheetara, but they were kind of expensive, even at a discount. Regardless, I love these figures and am having fun with them! 

More Later- Make It FUN!

McFarlane DC Multiverse Our World at War Superman & Dark Knight Returns Batman

I picked these figures up in early October and opened them immediately but got busy posting Halloween/Horror figures. The Batman is a Collector Edition, while this Our World at War Superman is a McFarlane Digital Edition- I'm not particularly interested in signing up for more ways McFarlane Toys can market to me, nor do I hold much faith in digital assets/collectibles. A character card is included, as well as a figure base and eagle.

I'm a big fan of the red/black chest insignia and black shorts on this depiction of the Man of Steel. Like the Dark Knight Returns Batman, this figure is largely a repaint, appropriately of the Dark Knight Returns Superman. It would have been great to have a wired cloth cape like we are seeing with DC Multiverse figures lately, but at least there was an S printed on back.

I was able to balance the eagle on Superman's fist, but the accessory seems like a random thing tossed in to fill out the package with no real thought as to how it should be displayed with the figure. Still, I did get a photo or two with it...

Below, Our World at War Superman with Jon Kent, Hush Superman, and Kon-El ...

Having this unmasked portrait for the Dark Knight Returns Batman really makes it special. We get a hand with shuriken tucked between knuckles, fists, and gripping hands, a rope with a bat-grapple, and a lamp post. Quite the package. Figures with painted "battle damage" would not usually appeal to me, but it seems fitting on this Frank Miller styled Batman, I don't care about the digital redemption code on back because I don't care to download whatever third-party marketing scheme McFarlane Toys is trying to sell. Had a ball playing with this figure!

Below, Dark Knight Returns Batman battles my Mattel DC Multiverse Croc ...!

Below, Dark Knight Returns Batman with my McFarlane DC Multiverse

  Future State Batman and Flashpoint Batman...

Though this Superman is from Ed McGuiness' Our Worlds at War, he fills in just fine for this scene with Frank Miller's Batman. The lamp post really finishes off the Crime Alley scene from Dark Knight Returns ...!

I'm really happy with these DC Multiverse figures- though different artist interpretations in action figure form, Ed McGuiness' thick-figured characters do evoke the art of Frank Miller in this way. I'm a fan of both these unique artist's contributions to DC and Marvel Comics. I love when I get a couple random figures that pair well, and these two do just that.

More Later- Make It FUN!

NECA Ultimate Count Dracula (Carfax Abbey)

I picked this Ultimate Count Dracula up at a small discount in February, having long mulled over the decision to buy this black and white "Carfax Abby" edition, or the colored version. The top hat and cane accessories won me over, but I was also interested in photographing it in black and white. My box is a little beat up, but I love the old movie poster art on the front.

All three portraits are dead-on Bela Lugosi- a top shelf likeness...

Below, NECA Dracula with my Mego Bela Lugosi Dracula, also a variant with its own cape lined in gray. There have been other fantastic actors that have portrayed The Count, but Bela brought a seductive quality that was unique.

Below, Carfax Abbey Dracula with my NECA Retro Card Glow-in-the-Dark Dracula- just like the 3.75" Remco Dracula I had as a kid in 1980! Getting this Retro Dracula and the NECA Monsterizer this year has been so much fun!

My only two complaints are the collar holding the cape around the figure's neck no clipping more securely, and lack of variety in the extra hands- we should have got an alternative gloved gripping left hand for the cane instead of two pairs of nearly identical "clawed" hands. That said, the figure did not disappoint overall and was fun to photograph in black and white.

Happy Halloween! Make It FUN!