Marvel Legends Infinity Saga Reveals 5/21

[leokearon]

6 hours ago, McHogan said:

Imagine a Amazon box set ‘ala the Children of Thanos set of the original Avengers team with updated articulation ( looking at you Cap) to go with their first appearances. 

Now that would be a worthy 10 year anniversary set

That wouldn't be a bad idea.

[JayC]

Since the new Marvel Legends Infinity Saga Iron Man Movie Iron Monger And Obadiah Stane 2-Pack was revealed this past Friday, some have been asking how tall is the actual Iron Monger figure in the set. Well according to Hasbro's Dan Yun, Iron Monger will stand almost 9" tall.

 

[RyanDaly]

Do we know if a new product is going on sale tomorrow of if it's just being revealed?

[Atlantis]

On 5/22/2021 at 10:07 AM, LandoTucker said:

"...At the risk of being blunt, pretty much all of these MCUA figs suck and are brutally overpriced....I don't begrudge MCU fans these at all though...With this thing too, why didn't they do something different? I was thinking this could be a guy fits in armour suit deal because of the large size of the 'Monger, or if that were too complex, follow the ancient (but still totally kick-ass) Toy Biz Hulkbuster Iron Man, with the flip-up helmet and a properly sculpted, posable, Stark head inside...."

Yeah I thought, due to the higher price, they were going to do something new like having Obie fit inside the 'Monger cockpit. Its still a cool 2 pack though. The MCU or Fox figures don't generally move me that much, but I'm glad they're out there. I'm especially glad they're re-doing the MCU Iron Man 'cause those initial figures way back when left much to be desired. If they re-do Butterscotch Iron Man with a better paint job (the gold on the upcoming AIM scientist supreme is a good example) I'd pick that one up. 

[JayC]

Hasbro's Dwight Stall has posted a new image showing off the recently announce Marvel Legends Infinity Saga Iron Man Movie Iron Monger vs the Mark III Iron Man. Both these are available for pre-order at places like our sponsor BigBadToyStore.com.

[Ironspider428]

Just rewatched Iron Man. I'm actually pretty impressed by the texture they put on the new Iron Monger, that sort of grainy, rough metal feel. You can see it in a few of the promo shots. The size also seems pretty accurate, Obadiah comes up just below the arc reactor, which looks spot on to a few frames from the movie. I can't wait to have both of these guys, they'll look great together. I'm actually ok with just a straight-up figure, I think an opening cockpit or the ability to stick Obi inside would have felt too gimmicky to me, though I can understand why people might think of it as more bang for your buck. 

[ADour]

Neat detail with the painted screw in the back. Though this picture makes me wish even more that the red was maroon instead.

[mako]

On 5/22/2021 at 7:46 PM, McHogan said:

Of course a movie to help move action figures always helps, though I think Shang Chi and Eternals will put that theory to the test haha..

Yeah, I think those particular movies will go down in history as the MCU's baptism of fire.

[monron999]

Iron Monger is definitely the best of this batch, so it's no surprise they saved him for the show closer. After over a decade R&D to get this thing done it is disheartening that they didn't find a way to give us a way to put the Obie head sculpt on the IM figure, but as we learned and keep learning constantly as ML fans, never get your hopes to high. This pricey little gem and the Insulin Resistant Thor figure and possibly Quicksilver are about the only characters that are must-haves in this "wave". There should be enough this year to keep the MCU collectors happy this year, just looking forward to a little comic collectors love. Come on Excalibur, Daddy's got a wad of cash burning a hole in his pocket.

[monron999]

On 5/22/2021 at 7:46 PM, McHogan said:

Ok gotcha. I get where you are coming from.

My only real point was that Star Wars maintained a “Saga” ( don’t recall the actual name but it covered every movie in the franchise including nameless background aliens) without a movie at the time. No reason it couldn’t be done for the MCU. 

And wasn’t no movie the reason many claimed a GI Joe line wouldn’t work today ? You can’t find those figures in stores.

Of course a movie to help move action figures always helps, though I think Shang Chi and Eternals will put that theory to the test haha..

I free a movie tie-in is always, at least, assumed to be a sure fire driver to push product, but there have been far more cases where that's failed rather than worked.

Star wars was something that had never been seen up to that time. Just the sheer amount of colorful characters and unique designs drove all of us as children to want all those characters and Kenner was smart enough, at the time, to capitalize on that gamble.

G.I. Joe, though thriving now, is striking at the nostalgia chord. The toys, or memories of the toys, are powering the franchise right now. Somehow I don't think it would do so well without a fair amount of childhood reminiscing fueling its popularity. Hasbro knew what they were sitting on and knew the had to strike now.

As far as Shang-Chi and Eternals, for the first time I'm not really sure what to even begin yo expect for either of these.

It helps to understand that Shang-Chi is mostly a replacement for what was probably supposed to be an Iron Fist movie, had it not been for that lukewarm Netflix series. Actually I'm glad it happened that way, as I'm sure it would a suffered the same fate as the Snake Eyes movie where the SJW mob, who probably won't even see the movie, forced the race swap, effectively eliminating the concept of an out of place character overcoming his differences for a victorious outcome. Even at that, the movie does look to be pretty action packed and could fair well.

The Eternals, on the other hand, especially based on the new trailer. It is very pleasing to the eyes, but looks to be anotgher case of a well polished, high dollar, shiny porcelain bomb in the vein of Gods of Egypt. Of course, just as they did Captain Golden Goddess, they're gonna push it as required reading for the big "what's next" in the MCU, so I expect it to do fairly well. I doubt it'll be GOTG caliber cuz it doesn't have someone as likeable and energetic as Chris Pratt or an unexpected break out performer like Dave Bautista driving it, but there's some serious star power behind it. I will see it, and most likely enjoy it as it compares to most of the tripe that's being billed as a movie today, but that will be set against a very low bar. So.....yeah.

[RyanDaly]

On 5/21/2021 at 1:38 PM, JayC said:

More reveals for you comic fans next week.

Any idea what time? 1 PM?

[RyanDaly]

Okay, nothing today apparently. Does anybody know which day this week we will get the promised non-MCU comic-based Marvel Legends reveal? 

[McHogan]

3 hours ago, monron999 said:

I free a movie tie-in is always, at least, assumed to be a sure fire driver to push product, but there have been far more cases where that's failed rather than worked.

Star wars was something that had never been seen up to that time. Just the sheer amount of colorful characters and unique designs drove all of us as children to want all those characters and Kenner was smart enough, at the time, to capitalize on that gamble.

G.I. Joe, though thriving now, is striking at the nostalgia chord. The toys, or memories of the toys, are powering the franchise right now. Somehow I don't think it would do so well without a fair amount of childhood reminiscing fueling its popularity. Hasbro knew what they were sitting on and knew the had to strike now.

As far as Shang-Chi and Eternals, for the first time I'm not really sure what to even begin yo expect for either of these.

It helps to understand that Shang-Chi is mostly a replacement for what was probably supposed to be an Iron Fist movie, had it not been for that lukewarm Netflix series. Actually I'm glad it happened that way, as I'm sure it would a suffered the same fate as the Snake Eyes movie where the SJW mob, who probably won't even see the movie, forced the race swap, effectively eliminating the concept of an out of place character overcoming his differences for a victorious outcome. Even at that, the movie does look to be pretty action packed and could fair well.

The Eternals, on the other hand, especially based on the new trailer. It is very pleasing to the eyes, but looks to be anotgher case of a well polished, high dollar, shiny porcelain bomb in the vein of Gods of Egypt. Of course, just as they did Captain Golden Goddess, they're gonna push it as required reading for the big "what's next" in the MCU, so I expect it to do fairly well. I doubt it'll be GOTG caliber cuz it doesn't have someone as likeable and energetic as Chris Pratt or an unexpected break out performer like Dave Bautista driving it, but there's some serious star power behind it. I will see it, and most likely enjoy it as it compares to most of the tripe that's being billed as a movie today, but that will be set against a very low bar. So.....yeah.

Some good points here. I’m also thinking Eternals will have some hook ( the FF or Xmen reveal ) behind it to make a must see but despite all the inevitable push, forced connection to the next ( few) franchises its still a movie with mostly unknown characters with a questionable impact on the overall MCU. albeit played by well known actors. I too will see it but as a MCU Legends completist I’m not looking forward to spending the cash on “actors at home! In their bath robes!” inaction figures.. and by some cruel joke, this turkey has the best Legends output than even ENDGAME!!

As far as Hasbro’s other franchises like Power Rangers, Transformers, G.I. Joe, and Star Wars..they all seem to be doing well according to toy aisles, all with no current movie to support them, except Snake Eyes But this appears to be a sub line with the main just for the movie correct? I agree nostalgia for our favorite childhood lines is strong and this is the main factor in all these lines strong presence. This is what I think will ( is?) happening with both MCU and comic Legends. The first Iron Man is already over a decade old and is being well represented today. As I think will any set that revisits those first movies. How long can they maintain that? Who knows but with the character selection that Hasbro has given us this could be our “Saga” line that eventually gets us all the characters.. could be fun.

That Snake Eyes point about the race swap, I was never huge on his back story, but he was a white guy with blond hair right? Until you wrote that it had been completely lost on me that they made him Asian. It doesn’t make any difference to me, just like it does not bother me that MCU Fury is black or that the Ancient One is white and a woman. But shouldn’t it work both ways? Seems odd that anyone could be upset over a character being portrayed on screen as he was created in his/hers original medium.  

 

[tarot]

 

[McHogan]

21 minutes ago, tarot said:

 

Thursday?!? Well ok...

anyone have speculation as to where they may go with these reveals? Feels like most of what we know is coming has been touched on 

[Atlantis]

57 minutes ago, McHogan said:

"...That Snake Eyes point about the race swap, I was never huge on his back story, but he was a white guy with blond hair right? Until you wrote that it had been completely lost on me that they made him Asian. It doesn’t make any difference to me, just like it does not bother me that MCU Fury is black or that the Ancient One is white and a woman. But shouldn’t it work both ways? Seems odd that anyone could be upset over a character being portrayed on screen as he was created in his/hers original medium.." 

Larry Hama, Snake Eyes' creator, has said in previous interviews he intended for the silent, masked ninja to be "ambiguous", but that Hasbro introduced Storm Shadow as the only Asian character and made him a bad guy. I guess the counter to that was to make Snake Eyes white, or maybe they didn't want to play into the notion that all the martial artists in Joe were Asian. But I'm sure the fans of GI Joe wont be happy that in this movie, he also talks, which he didn't do in the books.

MCU Fury I can see, 'cause they based that off Ultimates, and Fury was black there. Ancient One, I just think they dropped the ball. They claimed they didn't want to fall into the stereotype of the "wise, old, Asian man" but for frack's sake, the dude lives in the Himalayas and is very old. He's, you know, Ancient. 

Really though, Marvel just didn't want to piss off China by  making an important character from Tibet, and didn't want to piss off the rest of the world by making him Chinese, which could be seen as an endorsement for their harsh treatment of nations like Tibet. So their solution was to go for a European, Celtic bald woman. BWAHAHAHA! 

[Jmacq1]

22 hours ago, monron999 said:

I free a movie tie-in is always, at least, assumed to be a sure fire driver to push product, but there have been far more cases where that's failed rather than worked.

Star wars was something that had never been seen up to that time. Just the sheer amount of colorful characters and unique designs drove all of us as children to want all those characters and Kenner was smart enough, at the time, to capitalize on that gamble.

 

The key thing about the breakouts like Star Wars and its' ilk is that when lightning strikes, it's usually worth SO MUCH to the toy companies and retailers that it more than makes up for all the failed attempts in-between, coupled with the fact that it would be absolutely devastating for a toy company that holds a license (or owns a property with a movie) to NOT take the risk pushing movie product and then suddenly have a mammoth hit on their hands with no toys to show for it (there's a reason they massively upended their own production schedules for virtually all their other lines to crank out more Transformers live-action movie product with a quickness).  A mistake like that could easily cost a CEO (among others) their job(s).  So generally...they keep cranking out the movie stuff, because ultimately it's a safer risk than NOT pushing movie product.

 

[monron999]

17 hours ago, McHogan said:

Thursday?!? Well ok...

anyone have speculation as to where they may go with these reveals? Feels like most of what we know is coming has been touched on 

Well, I suppose the guess (and emotional favorite) du jour is Excalibur figures or a boxed set. I prefer an X-Men wave based mostly on those characters, but a set would not upset me in the bit.

[Jmacq1]

17 hours ago, Atlantis said:

Larry Hama, Snake Eyes' creator, has said in previous interviews he intended for the silent, masked ninja to be "ambiguous", but that Hasbro introduced Storm Shadow as the only Asian character and made him a bad guy. I guess the counter to that was to make Snake Eyes white, or maybe they didn't want to play into the notion that all the martial artists in Joe were Asian. But I'm sure the fans of GI Joe wont be happy that in this movie, he also talks, which he didn't do in the books.

 

The Snake-Eyes thing is just ridiculous from a dozen different directions:

1.  There were at least three different continuities for GI Joe even in its' heyday (Comics, Cartoons, and Filecards), and they were, in many cases, mutually exclusive to the point where you couldn't say they were all the same without serious brain-twisting (though you could get close with the Filecards and Comics...but not QUITE fully there because Hama didn't write ALL of the filecards).  Heck, the cartoons basically had two separate continuities too (Sunbow and DIC). Only one of these (the comics) delved heavily into Snake-Eyes origins.

2.  Yes, the idea of the blonde-haired, blue-eyed white American guy going over to Japan and learning to be just as good a ninja in a few years as his Japanese buddy who's been doing it his whole life is loaded with some pretty ugly tropes that may have been acceptable in the early 80's but would get some serious side-eye today.

3.  It's an origin story.  Even in the old Hama comics it was made explicitly clear that Snake-Eyes was not born a disfigured mute.  We may have rarely "heard" that voice in the original Hama run, but it was clearly there prior to the accident that damaged his vocal cords and messed up his face.  So yeah...I'd expect to see his face and hear his voice...in an origin story.

 

 

[LandoTucker]

On 5/23/2021 at 11:26 PM, Atlantis said:

Yeah I thought, due to the higher price, they were going to do something new like having Obie fit inside the 'Monger cockpit. Its still a cool 2 pack though. The MCU or Fox figures don't generally move me that much, but I'm glad they're out there. I'm especially glad they're re-doing the MCU Iron Man 'cause those initial figures way back when left much to be desired. If they re-do Butterscotch Iron Man with a better paint job (the gold on the upcoming AIM scientist supreme is a good example) I'd pick that one up. 

That's a fair enough point - the older MCU figures seriously need a refresh - there should at least be parity between the comic and movie versions of do-over Legends. Pretty much the only MCU mainstay with 2020/21 quality is Black Widow, and older versions of Cap, Iron Man, Hulk etc. really show their age. And, I honestly don't resent these figures: I'm glad they're making the MCU buyers happy.

I did buy the Fox figs (Cable, Mystique, Domino, Deadpool & Warhead) but I'm still scratching my head as to why. Box art was great, and the figures were/are not bad at all, but...I don't know, just don't care about them, really. So, with new MCUA, it's 2 figures and two figures only. Collector self-discipline, there....

[JayC]

Hasbro's Dwight Stall has posted another image showing off the recently announce Marvel Legends Infinity Saga Iron Man Movie Iron Monger vs the Mark III Iron Man figures. Both of these are available for pre-order at places like our sponsor BigBadToyStore.com.