Pulp Arcana Studios: Mighty Marvel March- I Am Iron Man

Marvel Legends Marvel Studios Iron Man Mark III

Mighty Marvel March comes to a close in style.

As our month of dedicated Marvel Legends coverage winds down, a number of people have reached out to me and asked where to start with Marvel Legends. Now, my default answer is to follow your heart and find a figure of a character that you love. Check out Nerdzoic or Big Bad Toy Store and see what strikes your fancy.

However, I also understand that that might be a bit daunting for some people. So, in honor of Mighty Marvel March, I wanted to give people a good, easy entry-point to get your proverbial feet wet with Marvel Legends. For this, I chose a figure readily available at the big box stores like Target and Walmart: the MCU Iron Man Mark III.

This is the Iron Man suit from the original Iron Man movie. It captures a classic movie look for the character. Further, Hasbro classifies this as an “A-List” figure, meaning it’s designed to stay readily available on store shelves and serve as an easy entry point for new collectors.

I don’t usually talk about price in these reviews, but since this figure is a great entry point for new collectors, it’s worth mentioning. I picked up this Iron Man at Target. It’s typically priced at $27.99, but if you buy it online or show the online price at checkout, you can grab it for $17.99.

So if you are ready to dive into some super hero fun, come with me as we take a look at Marvel Legends Iron Man mark III.

A PULP ARCANA FIGURE FIELD REPORT Mission Brief:

Artifact Identified:

Iron Man Mark III

Marvel Legends Marvel Studios Series A List

Hasbro

OUT OF THE CRATE:

The box for this Iron Man moves away from the regular black packaging of the usual Marvel Legends line, and instead goes with a greyish-blue and yellow color scheme for the box. The Marvel Legends logo is on the upper left front, and below the window, there is a logo for Marvel Studios, showing that this is a design from the Marvel Cinematic Universe rather than the comic designs.

The clear plastic window shows off the figure. Before you take your figure to the register, look carefully through the window and inspect the figure for any defects. Now, truth be told, I have had very few issues with my Marvel Legends figures, but still, this is a good habit to get into. Also, this Iron Man looks great in the package, so you might as well take a gander and get excited before you buy him. On the back, there is a small bio for this Iron Man, a nice bit of art, and some legal information.

Now, I am not about to dictate to you how you want to enjoy your new figure. If you want to keep it pristine in the box, that is entirely up to you. However, I am going to proceed with this review using the assumption that you are going to free your Iron Man from his packaging as soon as you are out of the store.

THE DEVIL’S IN THE DETAILS:

Out of the box and in-hand, Iron Man looks really good. The design of this suit is actually one of my favorites. It is sleek enough to give that high tech armor look that is so key to the movie designs, while still being just a tiny bit…chunky. The Iron Man suits from the later films tend to go more and more sleek as they push a more “non-technology” vibe. This Mark III suit is iconic and striking, and the sculpt really captures it well.

The colors are solid, with the red being a nice, deep crimson, and the gold looking surprisingly decent. There are some minor quibbles I have with the paint, however. While I like the red, it can look a little toy-like under certain lighting. Also, the armor has some really great panel lines, but there is no wash or lining in those recesses. It would really make this figure pop, and I may actually take a fine line marker and see what I can do with those. Overall though, these are really minor issues, and does not really detract from the figure as a whole.

Accessory-wise, this figure is a little lean. I don’t mind that at all for a figure designed to be an entry point for people. Iron Man comes with two closed fists, two open hands, and two blast effects. Disappointingly, there is no port for the blast effects on the palms of the open hands for a repulsor effect. Instead, they can only fit into the holes in the feet. Have to admit, I am a little sad and confused to see this, as ports in the hands are pretty standard for Marvel Legends Iron Man figures, so the lack of it here does stand out. And while this is meant to be an entry point figure, its retail price is the same as a typical Marvel Legend.

MOBILITY AND MANEUVERS:

Articulation-wise, this Iron Man moves fairly well. There is good movement at the head, though I would have liked to have had a hinge so that the head could look up fully. This would have added a lot for flying poses, but without it, the neck poses pretty well. It also allows good downward looks.

Double jointed, pinless elbows and knees are definitely a welcome sight here. They look great, especially with the armor, and allow a solid amount of movement. Bicep swivel and thigh swivel take it further. With the addition of the different hands, you can get some nice poses with the arms and legs.

One area I was a little sad to see was that, while there is a joint at the upper abdomen, there is nothing at the waist at all. This does limit the posing in a way that is definitely noticeable. While it does maintain the sleek lines of the armor, this lack of movement at the waist is going to hinder what we can do a bit.

RECOVERED EVIDENCE:

FINAL RECKONING:

When we tally up the good versus the bad, this is still a great figure. Easily available, frequently on sale for a reduced price, and great looking. As a Marvel Legend, I will say there are better figures out there for sure. But as a starting point, it is a good start. Looks good, fun to pose, and a great first step into a wider world of fun figures.