Dear Hasbro, retire XMO Wolverine molds plz
 

Dear Hasbro,

I the mighty Shin Densetsu, request that you retire the X-Men Origins: Wolverine molds. You went out on a good note with the ASX and X-Force Wolverines. Now you can retire those molds and make an all-new Marvel Universe Wolverine buck. The one in the upcoming 3 pack with Rogue is yet another XMO repaint. The molds are outdated and I prefer Marvel Universe style. Thigh swivels, rocker ankles, different plastic, et al. If we are going to get a Wolverine figure I think Wolverine deserves better. I mean...hell..
YOU ARE GOING TO GIVE US WOLVERINE FIGURES ANYWAYS,
but I want different ones. Better ones. Marvel Universe style. For the win.

PS- The best figures from the XMO Wolverine line weren't even OF Wolverine! Sabertooth was the best figure from the line.

I do want a new mold but the XMO one was much better in scale than the early Wolverines.

We know they are going to give us more Wolverine, he sells. Would you rather have the same costume(s) we've already gotten in a new mold or new versions of Wolverine like AoA or Ultimate with one of the current molds?

Shin is on a roll. It took them long enough to get rid of the barrel torso (blade, vision, punisher, etc..)

Honestly? If I could only go with either option I would opt for same costumes/new mold, because ultimately they would be used for AoA/Ultimate and others later on down the line, and I can wait...and we all know them Wolverines are going to keep on coming..

Thanks haha and I agree, what the hell that barrel torso was bad! I am surprised it took them that long to retire!

I agree. I just meant if they saw it as an either or kind of thing. Thinking how execs think.

"I can risk putting out a less known version that might not sell as well because I am saving money on not making a new mold."

And maybe they think the other way too where if they put out a new mold they want it to be of a character and version that will be likely to sell well. That seems to be the case, at least when we first get the mold (Wave 1, Jim Lee Cyclops, WWH/New Hulk, Juggernaut) and then they reuse or retool is to make new characters (Sinister, Thanos, Skaar) and repaints. Getting both would be ideal but what if the line doesn't go that long? I would prefer new characters most of the time to new molds but with Wolverine I think I already have too many as it is lol.

Wish we could get into their heads or at least their product development meetings.

I do not agree.

The lil XMO Wolverines they mostly use (1st App, AvX CP, Sentinel pack-in, GSXM set, Silver Samurai CP, etc) are still superior to most MU figs. They're well sculpted (except a few heads) solid, don't fall apart, and best of all- in scale. Wolvie is 5'3" and I like how that shows in team shots as opposed to Cable standing taller than Warpath, and Spidey being taller and out-weighing IM and Cap. As far as artic is concerned, they have swivel thighs that again- don't keep falling apart, and this whole rocker-ankle craze is the most useless figure innovation ever.

They keep using the XMO Wolverines because they work. No point changing a good thing.

I kind of agree with Colder. I hate that the new hips pop off a lot on the newer, heavily articulated molds. I'll take the older, "good enough" articulated Wolvie with solid hip movement any day. I can also live with swivel hinge ankles on my figures.

I agree I like xmo wolvie molds perfect Logans

I prefer them too. Perfect size in my display.

Personally I don't think rocker ankles are useless, I like them. They give more options for posing.

I can see your points about the legs not falling off and I agree with both of you. In fact I loathe how my FF Spidey's right leg was not attached in packaging. I popped it onto the hip ball joint but since it spent time unattached, it doesn't stay on too well. It's annoying to see the legs fall off.

What I do prefer is the Avengers/GI Joe Renegades Amazon 4 pack style of hip construction. However, if stuck, the joints can rip.

Aye, the new Avengers style hips are pretty solid and I like that you don't have to roll them a certain way to get the hinge to move in the desired direction.

In my opinion the only good XMO Wolverine is the Astonishing version. Which is actually a different mold then the other XMO Wolverine mold. It's taller and more detailed. That being said, all the XMO Wolverine molds are in my opinion too small and out of scale with the MU line. I know many disagree and think the hight is more in scale but not only is it too small but it looks puny when compared to other figures. It's not wide enough. I know the MU Wolverine is too tale but for the most part it looks more in scale. Also the style and paint of the MU version looks better with the other figures in the line.

Not sure why anyone would be against a new MU sculpt. We all know that so long as there's a MU line and XMO titles in the works, that there will be a bunch of Wolverine releases. Why not invest in a new sculpt when we all know it's going to get some serious milage, and just maybe they can get it somewhere in the goldilocks scale zone.

And as far as rocker ankles are concerned, they not only seem to be more sturdy than the lone peg joints, but they allow for a much wider range of movement and far more poses. And I'm sorry but who doesn't hate the single claw crap wit the XMO mold. I have to carve those out and it's easy to mess up. I would also say the paint apps on the XMO figures are poorly executed.

In the end I would say that to each their own, but why not support a new mold. It could turn out really sweet.

Wolverine is always described as the runt and drawn shorter than more everyone else. I think that is a huge appeal of the character because he is an underdog when it comes to his size and not some 6'4" adonis. I guess if they are going to have Hugh Jackman play him in the movies then it's all fair game. I just prefer him the way he's always been drawn I guess.

I'm never against a new mold and hope they do give us one but I also don't want the same Wolverine costumes we've already gotten. I hope we can get both but if a new mold is too big again that it just as bad.

True- to each their own. Still, I would like to defend this Wolverine buck by offering counterpoints to some of your cons against it.

We should all be in agreement that the height of the figure is perfect for the character. But now he seems "puny". Wolvie isnt the Hulk. He would look very strange (and most dwarf-like) if they made him look both 5' tall and 5' wide. His weight looks perfectly proportionate when you really compare him with MU figures. Really. Go ahead. Break out an XMO Wolvie and compare him to- let's say- the new super-artic bucks everyone loves. Not only should you notice his arms, but also his waist is just as thick as the men supposedly near a foot taller. This fireplug is far from puny.

Even though we keep referring to them as XMO Wolverines, that line ended 3 years ago and most of the XMO bucks have now been released under the Marvel Universe banner. Thus for, the same figures we're discussing have MU paintjobs. I doubt paint would stick any better or go on any neater regardless of whether it's a new sculpt or not.

Sorry, I like the uni-claw as well. Much like with the rocker-ankle, a milimeter or two hardly seems worth the effort to afford such detail. Seeing that he actually has 3 seperate claws is okay I guess, but I'd rather see his claws (or claw) always straight and sturdy during play as opposed to every MU sculpt that's tried to give him flimsy seperated claws.

I give the nay-no to new Wolvie sculpts being the current "XMO" ones are nearly (dare I say) perfect. I'd rather see new tooling go to something we don't have. Like plain jumpsuits (Red Skull) which could double as many things including street clothes and prison gear. Business suits (Tony Stark)- the possibilities there are endless. And furry women (Wolfsbane, Feral).

I agree about him being short, I just think the XMO figure is too short. Also like I said, he seems to puny. Wolverine should be stout. If they just redid the legs of the MU sculpt to be shorter and have rocker ankles it would be a win. I would also like to see wrist swivel like Dr. strange on him so you could pose his hands and claws more.

I can give you that. Some artists do draw him that way though I don't prefer it. Wolverine and the X-Men has him a little wider than normal.

I think we can all agree that many MU figures have legs that are too thin.

Originally Wolverine was 4 1/2 feet tall. A bit short. He was originally meant to be a wolverine human hybrid or a mutated wolverine cub. As he gained popularity, they quickly tweaked his image to include an extra foot of man and to attribute his powers to the mutant gene. At that point his history and adimantium skeleton were still under raps. His mask changed from the original short eared tiger striped version to the one we all know and love due to an artists mistake.

Now we all know that different artists imagine our heroes in different ways. I know it's subjective as to who likes or dislikes any given version or artistic style of a character, but I tend to like the ones that just look cool and suit the character. Jim Lee's Wolverine is the one thats stuck. And the one I like best. It has him at around 5 foot 4" - 5 foot 6". Wolverine is also very stout. The reason for this is because of the extra muscle mass that has developed to support the extra weight of his adimantium skeleton, that ads an extra 100 pounds to his over all weight. So a wide Wolverine just makes since. I'm not a big fan of the Hue Jackman Wolverine. He's just not the right body type at all. But he has done a good job for the most part. But I wouldn't buy any figures based off of him.

One point I would like to make is that if we based all the toys on their first incarnation than we would see a Hulk that is smaller, a Juggernaut without pants and a Goblin glider that was just a wingless rocket. So I'm all for on going character development.

Not all the choices made are going to be ones fans like or agree with, but I would say Marvel does a pretty good job overall considering our love and devotion to the MU.

The way a particular comic artist draws has nothing to do with these action figures. The true artists of this line are the sculptors. They have to use the most commonly referred specs for each character to be most true to them. Most spec sheets including character encyclpedias and trading cards put Wolverine at 5'3, 195 lbs. Much shorter than the common superhero. The problem here is most have never truly realized how small "the runt" really is until seeing him in very accurate 3D form.

195 lbs is quite a lot for a 5'3 man to weigh. Even a heavily muscled one. That's chalked up to his metal-laced skeleton. Regardless, the "XMO" figure buck is not puny and has the perfect amount of muscle. Like I pointed out in my last post, it's arms and core are the exact same proportionately as figures over a foot taller than him (Commander Rogers, Daredevil, Adam Warlock, etc). If he were any beefier, he would truly look like a dwarf or a super-deformed Hulk. His articulation would be nil if that much more bulk was added.

Lastly, no one ever said these figures should be based on their very first appearances. Much less the writers concept ideas or artists concept sketches. I'm thinking this is where some of your statements must of been gathered. In the first true appearance of Wolverine*, it's clearly stated on page 3 that Wolverine is 5'5", not 4'6". He also clearly seems to be man in costume and not some sort of animal/human hybrid. Please state where you got your facts.

*Hulk #181 (included in an awesome CP on sale now!)
Hulk #180 was Wolvie's 1st cameo and introduction
to the world. - Anal-retentive Anthony!

yeah if you read the Origin portion on Wikipedia you know that the mutated wolverine thing was never intended as anything other than maybe revisionism at its best. he was always a mutant like CS said

I may one of the few people that doesn't mind the "smaller" size of the new MU Hulk. Maybe he should be bigger but for a character that changes sizes just to become the Hulk I am okay with his size. I'd also be okay if we got a jacked up a little too big Hulk.

I heard different things about that but it seems to depend on who they ask. I'm just glad that mask didn't stick around long.

Dear Hasbro, please don't retire these molds until you release the Hugh Jackman Jacketed wolverine somehow again. While at it, go ahead and retool the Comic Sabertooths into omega red or make the spider-man line venom better with.

K Thx!

well, if there is a toyline coming out for the next wolverine movie, you know they will still use the old molds. Look at the exclusive she hulk pack. Old wolverine figure with new colors.

First off I wont try and defend what is speculation and continuity based changes that have occurred over decades. The guy who created Wolverine has denied the wolverine cub theory but it has been referenced to in issues. I too would deny something that lame. But we cannot be sure due to the ambiguous nature of Logan's past. But he was originally 4 foot 5". And he weighs 295 ponds without his adimantium, which adds an extra 105 ponds for a total of 300 ponds.

I wont argue opinions here. I've simple presented my opinion and why I think the MU mold is the better mold. I respect that many like the XMO version. That's great because there are more XMO versions than MU. So you guys should be happy. No doubt you'll continue to get more.

As far as the artist style and interpretation having nothing to do with it. I couldn't disagree more. Where do you think the trading card and bio specs you speak of come from. Years of tweaking and stylistic changes have lead to a norm. Most long time characters have taken on specific traits that were favored over the years. Like evolution in a way. And Wolverine has consistently been drawn taller than his bio says.

The way I see it, the MU Wolverine next to the new DD mold looks mostly in scale. But then they take a body type like DD and Cyclopes that is a kind of average for the MU comics and use it for Commander Rogers (who I know came first) who should be taller and wider himself. Looking at the figures as a whole I would say scale is increasing making the MU Wolverine fit more than when he was released in wave 1.

I know the MU version is too tall, but he's not as tall as the XMO version is short. When I look at the XMO version alongside other MU X-Men he looks way out of place. Now I would say that's not just an opinion, but a fact. However, if someone disagrees and likes it, thats fine. But I still believe otherwise.

I've mentioned in other posts what I would do to the MU mold to make it more accurate. But Hasbro does not listen to me.

In addition to the XMO version being too short, he has the lame single claw, less rang of motion, is made from a poorer quality of plastic and has inferior paint apps.

http://s19.postimage.org/4uq7rpl7l/Wolverine_scale.jpg

I think there IS an editorial height range they want to keep him but very comic shots offer much size comparison. Just for kicks I went digging for some that I could find, mostly in recent comics. It varies but here is what I came up with. The pics with Wolverine and Cyclops next to each other probably work best for our purposes.

http://i1253.photobucket.com/albums/...T01-Copy-1.jpg
http://i1253.photobucket.com/albums/...Men01DC_21.jpg
http://i1253.photobucket.com/albums/...rce_2_0010.jpg
http://i1253.photobucket.com/albums/...Stuff/u-21.jpghttp://i1253.photobucket.com/albums/...juggernaut.jpg
http://i1253.photobucket.com/albums/...ps_dcp_014.jpg
http://i1253.photobucket.com/albums/...XMen08-005.jpg
http://i1253.photobucket.com/albums/...e-Zone-004.jpg


Several different artists and Wolverine's head comes up to just above Scott's shoulder. The image you posted shows the head of the first MU mold coming up to just above the visor. I tried to find some side-by-sides that showed Wolverine next to Cyke and being taller because I am pretty sure there are some but I didn't see any in my quick run through. The last picture with X-Force he does look taller than Deadpool but shorter than Psylocke (whom I thought was shorter than Deadpool). Take from it what you will.

Personally I get why people do and don't like the XMO mold and size. There are issues with it but the scale is much more preferable for most I think. A little bulkier, better claws, wrist hinge, and maybe a little taller would probably be perfect.

Damn, I have too much free time on my hands since I was laid off early.

*edit* Just checked and the Marvel.com lists Psylocke as 5'11" but Deadpool at 6'4" so that last picture makes no sense. Probably the artist just messed up with the depth perception of the image.

As far as the Deadpool image I think he's just further in the background so he appears smaller. But 6 4"??? I always thought Deadpool was around 6 foot. That seems massive for DP. Those are good representations of Wolverine's actual hight. I tried to find some images but couldn't really find anything that worked. But still, in many cases he's drawn taller. But all these images do show him thicker then what the XMO version has him at. I just don't like the figure. In the images I have of them the Cyclops and XMO Wolverine look very strange together. I own I think 5 of the XMO Wolverine figures and just can't stand them. If you swap out MU Wolverine's head with Daken's head he looks much better.

I just think all the little things ad up against the XMO version. I would love to see a new sculpt that gets it somewhere in-between and ads some rocker ankles and its good to go.

I like the XMO Astonishing Wolverine next to the DP from the two pack and the XMO Sabretooth. But outside of that grouping he just looks wrong to me.

I guess in the end it's just up to the individual. But new molds are always cool.