[Boy Blunder]

All right, now that I'm back in front of a keyboard (long posts on mobile are balls), thoughts on the X-Wave in-hand.

Beast - As I said before, the only figure that's a little of a letdown, but ONLY because of the head. The sculpting and engineering on him are amazing, bringing back a certain level of Toy Biz-era articulation with Modern Hasbro design sense. I know a lot of people love the old Beast over this one, and I wish them the best, but this Beast looks fantastic and works so much better with the rest of the 90s-style X-Men. My lament about the head is just that, sure, Beast can be snarling and threatening, but he's more often than not a quiet, mildly amused character, with a spark of both intellect and wit in his expressions. I would have really preferred to have two heads on this figure. But, entirely new sculpt and all. Can't have everything.

Blink - I have been waiting for a new Blink figure for over twenty years, and Hasbro delivers. This is definitely Exiles-style Blink (rather than Age of Apocalypse), based on the hairstyle and the smaller costume details (almost directly based off of this image). She's a very solid representation of the character, and other than the weird twist they added to her loincloth, I have no large qualms with her. There are things I would have done differently (brighter colors, a removable Tallus bracelet, and/or an alternate AoA head come to mind), but those aren't things that keep me from enjoying the figure to its fullest.

Forge - It actually took me a minute to realize he was on the Bucky Cap body! That's the power of additional pieces and the right kind of paint. I dig Forge's headsculpt, stoic but not too bland. Had a little paint chipping on one arm, but hardly a dealbreaker. I would have liked to have seen him come with the 'mutant power nullifying' gun that he made in the comics, the one that was central to his earlier character arc. Still, solid and looks great with the rest of the figures. Can't wait to see if the X-Factor Havok and Polaris two-pack becomes a reality, because them and Multiple Man'll be a solid foundation to build the rest of X-Factor around (Strong Guy, anyone?)

Gambit - I hated the hair at first. I still wish it were different. BUT. This is a fantastic Gambit all around. The deco used, the articulation, the accessories... I really can't complain. Maybe about the coat, but Hasbro's gonna make the most out of that coat mold until is crumbles. His hair even looks all right if you angle his head right.
And with that single card accessory, you can recreate the "Ace of Spades" moment from the end of 'The Final Decision.'

Jubilee - You know, for as long as it's been for a new Blink figure, it's been even longer for a 'classic' Jubilee. She's gotten her Generation X costume, her vampire-era design, the standard X-Uniform, and even a weird 'Robot Fighters' figure, but never a proper action figure of the classic outfit. Not only does this figure change that finally, but it does so amazingly. The only reused parts (that I recognize) are her hands and her legs (from the thigh-cut to the mid-calf) - the rest is perfectly sculpted brand-new pieces that bring this design to life. Sure, she could have removable glasses for her standard head (which you can do with some modding anyway), and she could have fireworks effects (which are easy enough to make/co-opt depending on your existing collection), but she's fantastic enough on her own that it's hardly an issue. Probably my favorite single figure of the wave.

Skullbuster - I don't have a lot to say about Skullbuster, mostly because he's... well, he's a goon. A named goon with history, but a goon nonetheless. He's a great re-use of the Deathlok mold, with the added jacket and bandolier helping make him visually distinct. The new heads are really nicely done, with great paint on the Skullbuster head, and a surprisingly fantastic sculpt on the Macon head. That head is the only reason I've considered tracking down a second-hand Nuke.

Weapon X - I expected to hate this figure just for being another Wolverine. But the level of detail gone into his paint and the sculpting of the additional pieces really dulls that. I don't really care for the screaming head, but that's easily just put in a baggie and forgotten about. The tech pieces hanging off of him, the painted-on hair... something about it all works to make the figure more worthwhile than you'd expect. Only problem is that he sticks out in a collection, not really fitting with any other groups due to the era the story takes place in. But if you have a Wolverine shelf, he'll feel right at home.

Caliban - Undoubtedly my favorite figure from the wave. I have a longtime love for Caliban, and the 5" Toy Biz figure was one of my favorites when I was younger. This big boy just takes everything I loved about that figure and the character's design, and modernizes it. He's a nice, big chunk of a figure, with a great pearlescent white used throughout, and a high-contrast dark red to go with it. My only complaint is that now I need more Morlocks to go with the big guy.