Marvel Universe figure Review
 

I was at my local Wal-Mart in Miami, FL on Friday, Feb. 20th and found almost the entire first and second waves of Marvel Universe figures (everyone except Bullseye and Stealth Iron Man). I quickly grabbed every single one of them.

Excited, I drove down the street to Toys R Us. No Marvel Universe, but they had all the X-Men Origins Wolverine figures. I grabbed almost all of those, too (all except Weapon-X and Strike Mission Wolverine).

Just got around to actually opening them because I'm dying to get that mail-away Nick Fury, but no info was included. Only the codes that you enter at furyfiles.com (all of which worked except for Green Goblin. Anyone else have this problem. I quadruple-checked the code, but nothing).

Anyway, very pleased with the figures overall. Here is a quick review with some pics I took.

Marvel Universe Wolverine
First figure I opened, due to the fact that I got three other Wolverine figures that day. Love the sculpt and paint. Love this outfit on him. Much better than the recent Marvel Legends Wolverine chase. I like that he actually comes with a gun, reminds me of the old comic book covers where he's holding a couple machine guns with a cigar in his mouth, and a samurai sword, Muramasa blade perhaps? Paint made some of the joints stiff at first. But once loosened up they're fine.

X-Men Origins Wolverine Gambit
Very excited to already be getting a comic-style Gambit figure in the line. The Wolverine line is different in articulation from Marvel Universe. Not nearly as many joints in the arms and legs. Gambits hands don't even turn at the wrist, only ball joints at the shoulder and elbow. Feet don't have any articulation either. Also, the joints where his legs meet the hip are pretty lose. While I am happy to have a Gambit in this scale it ultimately is subpar when compared to the Marvel Universe. Remy deserves a better figure than this. Hopefully in the future there will be an actual Marvel Universe Gambit.

X-Men Origins Wolverine Deadpool
I cannot believe I found this guy. I thought he was going to be a pain in the ass to get. Awesome looking figure. Great sculpt and paint detail. Love the buckle on the strap. He comes with lots of accessories, the most of any figure out of these two lines. And between his holsters and his hands he can hold every single one of them. Only problem with him is the joint at the hip, just like Gambit, only here it is worse. I wonder if this is a problem across the board with the Wolverine Origins figures. Nevertheless, I still absolutely love how he looks and he is badass next to Snake Eyes. Without a doubt a million times better than the fake Baraka version of Deadpool from the movie.


Overall, I think the Marvel Universe line is going to be great. I agree that the plastic T-bar is no good and this needs to be changed to a metal one. And they should also come with stands, just like the Joes.

I'll put up some more pics when I get the chance.

Hasbro will probably reveal all the details for the Nick Fury mail-away at SDCC.

So far I am voting for Wolverine: Origin toys as they are made a bit better I feel. Love the MU figures to come but W.1 was a bit bland for me. I cant WAIT for the Secret Wars comic packs!!!!!!! Also the Giant Battles is going to be incredible. The new scale will allow for so much more in this line compared to say Legends.

Hasbro just needs to make the leg connection stronger like GI Joes on the MU figures. Deadpool is SICK and I am not even close to a die hard fan of his but Hasbro NAILED that figure on the first try!

Hasbro is our friend! This was confirmed when I called customer service about extremely loose legs on a figure, and they are mailing me a prepaid envelope to mail all parts of the figure and package back to them. This is so they can send me one that is perfect. Hasbro does have the consumer in mind, just call the customer service line! They were very nice also, a women named Cindy was very helpful and nice in every way.

The X-Men Origins figures actually have more leg articulation than the Marvel Universe figures. The Origins figures have thigh swivels while the MU figures don't, however on Gambit, he lacks ankle articulation when the rest of the Origins figures have them. Weird.

At first, I was surprised, and happy that Origins figures would have the thigh swivel, but having both Universe and Origins figures in-hand now, the Universe figures are definitely easier to move, and I can see why people prefer the hips on them. The quickest comparison would be to compare any Origins Wolverine figure to Wolverine from MU, and the MU version has better range of motion all around. I prefer the bicep swivel + hinge to the ball elbow as well.

Universe tends to have a harder plastic as well, and the toys feel more sturdy(Origins figures are by all means not fragile, however the plastic used is softer and there is a definite difference in feel).

Loving this line so far, though yes, they need to come with stands. That's my only issue.