Marvel Legends(Toybiz): Phoenix Series VI

Toybiz your legacy still lives on! A lot of collectors of this genre still vehemently believes that Toybiz WAS the pinnacle of Marvel BAFs and Marvel toys in general. Some would say that there will never be another that can rise up from the ashes that happened when Toybiz "stepped down" from the throne. Well, I won't entirely try and refute those claims but I won't be 100% on board with it since Hasbro still puts out a quite a bit of good stuff. But I still try and reel in some of these classics and my latest haul is none other than Jean Grey as the host of the Phoenix Force. Have to say I'm pretty elated to have this one! So let's see how she fares after some time passed!

One of the greatest thing about Toybiz packaging is nostalgia and the fact that shoplifters on the action figure genre had a harder time doing swaps! Though taking the figure home and being one to open toys, it's pretty inconvenient at times. Honestly, Toybiz makes it seem like keeping them inside their case was the better route. Still, Phoenix didn't have as much annoying wires binding her to her case as other Toybiz toys did. The back shows the figures in this series(I have the Gaijin/Fall Wolverine!) as well as a short bio on Ms. Grey.

This is where I'll have to say that age shows in Toybiz's sculpt on a toy. While to me this doesn't look that bad, it's definitely not as refined as Toybiz's later toys and aesthetically, Hasbro is taking the cake right now. Let's start with the face! It's not terrible like a couple of figures I have seen from both Hasbro and Toybiz but for someone imbued with the power of the Phoenix Force, she should look more 'attracting' than that. At have more of a 'wow' factor rather than a 'meh'. A bit more fiery details on the hair would've made her better, but again, there's been worse. Body wise, one can truly tell that it's an aged anatomy. While the articulation is superb(we'll get into it), the joints and the articulation points are what hinders the overall body look. This is where Toybiz faltered at times with their exuberance in making the character be as pose-able. Proportions seems a bit off as well with her arms being long, probably from the fact that her hand hangs too low with the articulation point. Again she's a bit on the 'funny' side here and there, but the overall look isn't bad.

Now since this is from a series and not from a BAF series, it comes with an accessory and no piece of course. Now the accessory on its own is no other than Jean Grey's Phoenix force signature and aesthetically it's not bad. It's not great and perhaps we have seen things from the most(and the only) fire affect accessory from Hasbro which is Ultimate Goblin's, but despite that, it still looks its part. The one thing about this accessory is that it's a stand! Something that Hasbro has yet to truly give us(I don't count those dumb grey things as 'stands'). And this stand has three things going for it: aesthetics,  to help Jean Grey stand, AND:

To help her fly!

There is a thumb tack hole on the back of the accessory AND the bottom piece folds back and adds another support so that it will be able to hold Jean Grey with ease. The prong on the Phoenix is also strong enough so Ms. Grey an have the floating affect with ease as well! Again, Toybiz grace from way back when still reverberates now!

There are a lot of points of articulation when it comes to this figure. Some even unnecessary but I suppose for what Toybiz was aiming for back then, it made sense why they put them in. I've already talked about how much I didn't like the hands and how the wrist articulation might've been a factor why her hands are 'too big' (same case with Spider-Woman). The 'y-joints' on her legs makes things awkward at times and the toe articulation is a bit odd as well. Her head is hindered by that hair as expected, and the ab crunch lacks any real strength to make the 'feel' of flight prominent. Okay with all that said, I'm still thoroughly appreciative of what this figure can do. I'll say it's still above the standard expectation of what Hasbro's articulation can do, just joint wise and aesthetically it's not as refined.

All in all, I do love this figure. I got it for a good price and for what its worth, it's a must in my gallery of Marvel Legends. It has a lot going for it still and I know I was harsh on it because it's one of my favorite characters. Though aged as it might be, it's still fending off some of the factors going against it with some of the things that makes Toybiz TRULY legendary. Good accessory, great character, and effort put into the product, Toybiz, you still rock! Phoenix will rise again and her mark in the Toybiz realm truly is worthy dying for(okay that's a bit dramatic but I think I got my point across!).

"What Ifs: Ties that Bind Them"

So my last posts in regards to these poor damsels in distress("Bonding Time") was very terse and a bit more on the jovial side considering what was going on at that time(moving). This time around there will be a bit more into this post and it won't just be me show casing some rather intricate 'rope work' through black rubber bands or what not. With the addition of new 'faces', it's only natural that there would be a bit more 'explanation' to why and how. Now, take it for granted that these said stories are all off the whim and the chasms for a coherent plot hole will probably big and noticeable, but bear with me.

'The Multiverse'

Psylocke was once trapped within the confines of time traveling. Once thought 'dead' after the House of M debacle, she travelled the multiverse of Marvel as part of the out of this world team of pariahs and forgotten aberrations of familiar characters. The team was once called 'Exiles'. So amidst all of that, what happens if a particular mission with the said team got Psylocke to cross paths with one of her more dangerous rival who happens to have the House of M Hulk under her control? Spiral is well known for many talents and with Mojo as her master, anyone can be at her disposal. Having best the telepathic ninja with her resources and her own skills, Pyslocke is now defeated and under her mercy. What would this 'shiva' of the Mojoworld do with such a femme fatale at her hands(literally, HANDS)?

If she does escape her binds, can she best A Hulk and Spiral?

  

 'Alpha and Omega'

Alpha Flight is dead so Omega Flight took over, right? 'Arachne' or formerly called 'Spider-Woman' with the apparel of Julia Carpenter was supposed to be one of the femme fatale of that post Civil War Canadian Team. So what of the 'real' Spider-Woman (who at that time of the comic book story line is a skrull)? Well, Sasquatch was well aware of the switch move done by the Skrulls so when he indeed discovered the whereabouts of Jessica Drew (tightly restrained, no less; DUH), well he is stuck at a conundrum.  Should he unveil the secret plot of the Skrulls to the rest of the Marvel Universe, or should he, for the sake of having glory to their rather diluted team-on-its-way-to-stardom, keep the real Spider-Woman in her distressing situation?

'The Invasion'

The Invasion began already. The Spider-Woman of the New Avengers was not who she said she was. In fact, she was actually the Queen of the Skrulls, Veranke! So with that said, the Queen wasted no time picking on who should be replaced, when, why, and how. The Skrulls' nefarious but somewhat 'worthy' cause was efficient and adhering to the concept of a clandestine few of them who would infiltrate teams or what not so when the invasion was ready, everyone will be side swiped. Well, replace a very powerful telepath of the future and we have ourselves a more secured place for victory. That was the plan when Rachel Grey, Scott's and Jean's daughter of another universe was kidnapped personally by the Queen herself. Her special bindings deters her ability to probe and discombobulate foes with her mind. Suffice to say, her struggles are in vain and it would be asinine to think that once she is in the Skrull 'holding cells' that she would be able to escape her grim fate!

Well, that's all she wrote. Again these stories are off the whim and probably a bit cliche if not, less than creative. Though I would think that a few words to delve into such stories would be fun in its own right. That is if I EVER have the time to write other fanfics these days. 

Previously On X-Men....

I remember this 90's Cartoon and these two were the main pair Love Birds! I'm sure some of you would find this rather nostalgic, eh? 

 

Anyways... Blast in the past moment I suppose! Don't have much intricate post for tonight... Rather depleted to say the least!

Although I have yet to bring myself to really finish these first two DVDs. Perhaps I will one of these days. Though, I DO have a lot to catch up on.

From The Ashes....

  

Sometimes there are events in life that transpires that are indescribable with how 'discouraging' or perhaps even how abhorrent they are. They come with a certain amount of strife that one can't even see through the light at the end of the tunnel... an egregious wave of destruction that smites all stability with an unforgiving hand of fire. A juggernaut that collides with every sense of sanity, breaking down virtues and eliciting a far less than hopeful fate...

But like the legend of the Pheonix; in all corners of lore and mythology is the will to rise from the ashes... to live again after one's apparent fall or death...

A year ago 'tragedy' struck... a year later, here we are now. They say Fire is the Devil's only friend... but it is also said that fire is a sense of catharsis... sweeping through the land and eradicates the unwanted, the unwilling, and the things that hold one back from ascending to far better days...

I am thankful for everything that happened this year. I have come a long way.....