Marvel Universe Discussion

I think it is because the styles for the X-Men: Origins Wolverine figures and the Marvel Universe figures aren't the same. MU was all sculpted by Gentle Giant, and looks to have designs by Frank Cho, who also drew the box art. With the Origins figures, it's different. The Origins figures take on a more classic look. I think Hasbro is going for consistency, MU for Frank Cho derived designs, Origins for classical X-Men designs.

Had no idea this was going to happen, but Origins Tiger Stripe Wolverine and Brown Costume Wolverine are actually all new molds, no mold reuse whatsoever. Not even the boots or swords! Wasn't expecting that at all, I thought they would just be repaints of each other.

Also, the Secret Wars 2 pack with Wolverine is actually not a repack of Origins Brown Costume Wolverine, but the MU wave 1 Wolverine painted in brown/orange.

This may actually be for the better; MU Wolverine has split claws, harder plastic, and way better range of neck/head motion.

Hmm...tell me is the Origins Wolverine better then the MU Wolverine? I'm not planning on buying many of the Marvel Line (Maybe Spidey, GG, and a Dr. Doom if he comes out) though I might get a nice number of the Origin Line (Sabretooth, Cyclops, Deadpool) and I want a Wolverine. I think Origins looks better, but I want an opinion.

Hmm that is hard to say. I'll break both of them down. I'm comparing the brown costume Origins figure to the MU one(since the MU one is the figure that will be repainted into the brown costume for the Secret Wars comic pack).

Origins Wolverine comes with the Muramasa sword, a shorter, thicker version. This figure is shorter than the MU version(those of you who wanted a shorter Wolverine to be in-scale with other figures, the Origins line is the way to go, now as for Deadpool and others, I haven't got those yet so I don't know if say, Sabretooth is huge next to Duke or Cobra Commander). Plastic is softer(still durable but it is noticeably softer), and the sculpt is influenced more by the classic appearance in the comics. This is evidenced by the angles of the boot "ears" as well as the mask. Seems like the figure has a gloss finish to it. Articulation is the same except for having a thigh swivel and elbrows, as opposed to the bicep swivel + hinge elbow. The elbrow serves to not break the sculpt of the arm. Paint apps seem less refined on this figure. Head is on a ball joint but it is so close to the body that it functions primarily as a swivel joint.

The MU X-Force figure is noticeably taller. It won't appear too much shorter than your average G.I. Joe figure, so this might disappoint some of you. The Muramasa sword with this is longer and with more curvature. He comes with a gun which I quickly have to my modern era Shockwave figure. Plastic is noticeably harder and paint apps are more refined. Seems like there is a matte finish to it. The sculpt is takes on a more modern influence, basically if you've seen Frank Cho draw Wolverine, this is what the figure looks like. The mask sculpt can double for a classic look as well, as evidenced by the upcoming Secret Wars comic pack repaint(though at this point, that head may actually be new, I'm not sure). Range of motion in the abs is better, in fact, ab range of motion so far on MU is excellent. While this figure has the bicep swivel + hinge, it lacks the thigh swivel. If you are a joe fan you are used to this. Head is on a ball joint with excellent range of motion. I wasn't expecting this at all. Bear in mind that this mold was probably made with the intention to eventually repaint this figure in the brown costume, as the X-Force costume is pretty much the exact same as the brown costume but in different colors(black/silver with red eyes). A repaint was pretty much inevitable and it is coming in the Secret Wars comic packs.

Basically, whether you should purchase this figure or not depends on which sculpt you like most. If you want a more classical look(as in you prefer, or are used to the way that the brown costume is usually portrayed), you will probably like the Origins figure better. It has the wide ears that were typical of the brown costume, like if you were to see Jim Lee's drawings of it. The way that the boots were sculpted instantly reminded me of the classic comics. If you want slightly higher quality, you'll like the MU figure, but it is taller, so keep that in mind.

I am glad that we had 2 different sculpts to choose from, as I wasn't expecting this. The easiest, and cheapest route would have been to use the MU mold for the Origins version, and the Secret Wars comic pack. However we have 2 different molds, and that is cool by me, as there is a choice.

If you are undecided, wait until the Secret Wars comic is out, since the Origins figure should still be on shelves then. Then you can compare the 2 at the store.

Thanks for the comparison. I'm trying to go out today to look at them both in packaging. That's probably the best way to compare the two anyway.

I found these today @ TRU...but I passed since they didn't have a red/yellow Iron Man or Captain America. Punisher was tempting, but my funds are limited so I better stick w/ the core Avengers characters for starters.

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Saw these for the first time at Meijer today. I'm not a big Marvel fan, so I wasn't planning on picking any up.

They just looked too good, though. (Probably largely because they were hanging next to the DCIHs.) I couldn't pass up a Surfer. They managed to get such a cool opalescent color on him, and the sculpt is just alien enough.

Once I got him out of the package, though, I discovered a QC flaw. The left lower knee pin hadn't gone through the hole in the outer part of his calf. This meant that his lower leg was hanging half-off. After fiddling with a tiny screwdriver, however, I got the pin pushed through, and now he's perfect.

I wish DCUC joint repairs were that easy.

EDIT: I can't find where I'm supposed to enter the code on furyfiles.com. Anyone know?

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Found them today at my local Toys R Us. Passed on them because of the price -- too expensive for the size.

well if everyone keep passing on them.... then they'll be peg warmers!!!

waiting to find some still

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Everyone who says that these figures are a "ripoff", answer me something.

Consider Star Wars. They're $7.46 for figures who are smaller, and have an equal amount of accessories. Granted I haven't seen any Marvel Universe figures with cloth/soft goods, but it could still happen. They do have the pack in Build a Droid pieces, but when you pick and choose which figures to buy, you end up with stupid things like four legs, or seven torsos at the same time, depending. These figures have a great suite of articulation, the only downside is that they're small compared to GI Joes and MU figures, and they have the dreaded T CROTCH. :{ Plus, these are licensed.

Consider DC Infinite Heroes. I really don't have to say much here. Swivel heads, hinge elbows, no wrist articulation, T-crotch, no ankles, and absolutely no accessories. And that's just the MALE figures. The females are even worse! All of these figures are also about SW size, making them again, small compared to GI Joes and MU. And, also licensed. For $6.97 - $6.99 at WM, Meijer and TRU, these are the figures that people SHOULD be pointing their fingers at and yelling RIPOFF, IMO. (I still buy them though... what does that say about me? hah.) What is really odd to me, by the way, is that Target has these at the very reasonable $4.99. Why only Target though?

Consider GI Joe. A ridiculous amount of well done articulation, and a fantastic amount of accessories with every figure. They're also only $6.84. A lot of the quality and fact that GI Joes are the cheapest of the four 1/18 scale lines that I am covering here, I believe, is due to the fact that Hasbro outright owns GI Joe. So, they don't have to pay licensing fees. GI Joes don't suffer from T-crotch, and the female figures have mostly the same articulation as the male figures.

Consider Marvel Universe. Featuring largely the same articulation as GI Joes, though for some reason instead of having the "molded" elbows that GI Joes and a lot of modern Star Wars figures sport, they have hinges, and bicep cuts on a lot of the figures, for some bizarre reason. What is even stranger, is that on the Wolverine: Origins figures, they have ball-jointed hips. What? o.O Just do GI Joe hips! Anyway. The amount of accessories, while everyone DOES have them (aside from like, Hulk, but he's HUGE so), they're not nearly as plentiful as GI Joes. I'd say they're equal to Star Wars, but they don't feature Build a(n) Anything either, so. They are as tall as GI Joes, though, so that's a point in their favor. Their price point has only been established by Meijers and TRUs, but they are at the MSRP of $7.99 there, making them the most expensive line. However, they once again have that important caveat of being "licensed".

So, how is it that MU are a "ripoff"? I, personally, do not understand it, being that they feature more plastic, and better articulation than SW figures, and are heads and tails better than DC Infinite Heroes, their closest competitor in spirit.