The wait for the movie is almost over, but the street date for the toys is finally here! There's been much speculation about these figures, and they're going to please a lot of die hard Marvel collectors. These 6" scale figures (the first 7 of 16 total) feature metallic paint, traditional Toy Biz-style articulation, and very few action features. You might say they are almost exactly like their former Toy Biz counterparts, and it makes one wonder if the rumored addition of Jesse Falcon to the Hasbro design team has made a sudden impact. Be warned, though. Pick through your toys carefully! I get the sense that these may have been a bit rushed to hit the street date, and there is some evidence of paint slop and loose joints here & there. Actually, come to think of it, they're EXACTLY like Toy Biz figures then! Overall, these represent Hasbro's best efforts to date, although not perfect, they are a quantum leap forward. If the movie is as good as the trailers look, it won't matter if they're good toys or not, the kids will snap them up. Note: Lighting effects are added, well, because they look cool. Sadly, none of the current 6" figures have light up action, which would have put these through the roof for me.
Mark 01
My favorite of the bunch. Very detailed and fun toy, the flame launcher feature does not get in the way at all. There is a great rusty looking paint wash that this sculpt demanded. Currently packed at one per case.
The good: Great paint wash, detailing, accuracy.
The bad: Sculpt limits some articulation and movement. Head could've used ball & socket articulation.
The ugly: None, he's the best of series one.
Articulation:
head, ball & socket shoulders, ball & socket elbows, waist, ball & socket hips, ball & socket knees, limited ball & socket ankles.
Score: 8 out of 10
Mark 02
I was excited for this figure, but I must admit he's a bit of a let down. Not because it's a bad toy (it's a straight repaint of the Mark 03), but because the trailer shows him to be high polished metal, almost chrome. Although the figure itself looks good, Hasbro took lots of liberties (as far as I can tell) making sections of him dark grey. It comes across as a very different costume than what is seen. It would be cool to get one all chromed, but highly articulated figures can't really be chromed. One thing to mention that all figures that share this sculpt feature: The shoulder pads are held on by tiny nubs which rest in indentations on the shoulder ball & socket. These can be popped off VERY easily, and I expect many kids will lose theirs inside of a day. Currently packed at one per case.
The good: Great paint wash, detailing, accuracy. Mid torso joint allows for a wide range of motion.
The bad: Paint scheme does not refelct the movie costume.
The ugly: some loose joints & paint slop on my sample, shoulder pads could be easily lost.
Articulation:
ball & socket head, ball & socket shoulders, double elbows, ball & socket wrists, ball & socket mid-torso, ball & socket hips with thigh ball swivel, double knees, limited ball & socket ankles.
Score: 6 out of 10
Mark 03
This is the main dude of the bunch! He's the same sculpt, but the paint work here is much better than the Mark 2. The joints are my sample are fairly tight, but there is a bit of paint slop, so pick through them & get a good one! He's more heavily packed in the case, so you won't have trouble finding one. Should pad problem is apparent, it's a bad design, but it's not a deal breaker. There's a nice dark paint wash in the deep red sections of the armor that is very nice and subtle.
The good: Great paint wash, detailing, accuracy. Mid torso joint allows for a wide range of motion. It's just a pretty figure.
The bad: Head can be popped off the ball with some effort.
The ugly: Paint slop on my sample (minimal), shoulder pads could be easily lost.
Articulation:
ball & socket head, ball & socket shoulders, double elbows, ball & socket wrists, ball & socket mid-torso, ball & socket hips with thigh ball swivel, double knees, limited ball & socket ankles.
Score: 9 out of 10
Prototype Iron Man
Allright, let's be frank here for a second. I like figures with snap on armor, and he looks decent with it all on him, but otherwise, pass on this one. Trust me. It's got acceptable articulation and interchageable repulsor parts and arms & removeable helmet. The worst figure of the bunch, maybe we'll get another shot at this type of figure later one again. Packed at 2 per case.
The good: Some removeable armor.
The bad: The rest.
The ugly: Paint slop on my sample the Robert Downey Jr. Likeness.
Articulation:
Head, ball & socket shoulders, double elbows, forearm, ball & socket hips with thigh ball swivel, double knees, limited ball & socket ankles.
Score: 4 out of 10
Iron Monger
He's big & bad, and he looks good, but he's lacking a few things that would have really put him over the top. There is another version of this figure coming with removeable armor that looks fantastic, tho! His chest repulsor is a piece of clear red plastic, and he's got a power-punch type action when you squeeze his legs. This however kills the right hip joint, while retaining the knee & ankle joints. Of course, without the hip, these joints become useless. He's the big guy of the bunch, standing around 8 inches tall. Very minimal paint on this toy. Packed at one per case.
The good: Huge figure with a good, accurate sculpt, metallic grey plastic.
The bad: Almost no paint.
The ugly: he needs hip-replacement surgery.
Articulation:
Head, ball & socket shoulders, swivel bicep, elbows, ball & socket wrists, ball & socket, knees, ankles.
Score: 7 out of 10
Target Exclusive Red Repulsor Iron Man
Now this is a pretty figure! Identical to the Mark 03, this figure sports a beatiful paint job reminiscent of his silver & red suit from the comics. Available in solid case packs at your local target. Go get one.
The good: He's pretty! Candy-apple metallics red paint.
The bad: Only at Target.
The ugly: The same problem with the shoulder pads.
Articulation:
Same as Mark 03
Score: 9 out of 10
Walmart Exclusive Stealth Operations Iron Man (War Machine)
I must admit I was excited about this War Machine version, but he's a bit of a let down. He's retooled, allowing for the guns on his back to swivel up to his shoulders. The guns pop off VERY easily, and the wrist guns stay on OK, but they were clearly designed as an afterthought, and require some fiddling to get just right. The metal flake in the grey plastic is nice, but the over-used black wash makes him look a bit too sloppy. Pick through the solid case packs for a good one.
The good: Nice to get a War Machine, added guns are a nice touch.
The bad: Only at Walmart, guns pop off too easily.
The ugly: The same problem with the shoulder pads, black wash looks sloppy
Articulation:
Same as Mark 03
Score: 6 out of 10
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