Hey figure fans! Welcome to another Dan's ToyBox review. Today, we're looking at the Target Exclusive Hasbro Marvel Legends: Marvel's Warbird action figure. I wasn't able to get her when she was initially released, but my buddy Mike did me a solid and now, Warbird flies alongside my Avengers Display.
Carol Danvers, also known as Warbird, is a prominent character in Marvel Comics with a rich history spanning several decades. Here's a brief background on the Warbird character:
Carol Danvers first appeared in Marvel Super-Heroes #13 in March 1968, created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Gene Colan. Initially, she was introduced as an officer in the United States Air Force and a colleague of the Kree superhero Mar-Vell. Danvers gained her superpowers after her DNA was fused with Mar-Vell's during an explosion involving Kree technology. This incident gave her superhuman abilities, including flight, super strength, and energy projection. She first took on the superhero identity of Ms. Marvel in 1977.
The Warbird persona came later in Carol's superhero career. After a series of events, including the loss of her cosmic powers and memories (thanks to Rogue), Carol adopted the Warbird identity. This change occurred when she rejoined the Avengers, as depicted by writer Kurt Busiek and artist George Pérez. As Warbird, Carol struggled with personal issues, including alcoholism, which Busiek explored in his storylines. This period of her character development added depth and complexity to her portrayal. The Warbird identity represents a significant phase in Carol Danvers' evolution as a character, bridging her earlier Ms. Marvel persona and her later, more well-known role as Captain Marvel. Throughout her various identities, Carol Danvers has remained a key figure in the Marvel Universe, participating in numerous major storylines and serving as a member of teams like the Avengers and X-Men.
Accessories: 8/10
The Warbird figure comes with a respectable array of accessories that enhance its play value and display options. It includes interchangeable hands (fists and finger splayed), allowing for various dynamic poses and action scenes. The figure also comes with two energy effect pieces, which we've seen many times before, that can be attached to simulate her powers in action. The Hasbro Marvel Legends: Marvel's Warbird Action Figure also includes two distinct head sculpts, each offering a unique portrayal of Carol Danvers as Warbird. These head sculpts are a significant aspect of the figure's accessories, enhancing its versatility and appeal. While not overwhelmingly abundant, the included accessories are well-chosen and add significant value to the overall package.
Default Head Sculpt: This head sculpt features a smaller mask that aligns well with Carol Danvers' appearance during her New Avengers stint. The expression is focused and determined, capturing the essence of Warbird's readiness for action. The sculpt is complemented by long, flowing hair, which is meticulously painted with a brown wash to add depth and realism to the blonde color.
Alternate Head Sculpt: The second head sculpt presents a wider mask and a fuller, higher hairstyle. This version is reminiscent of John Byrne's artwork, providing a more classic comic book aesthetic. The alternate head is praised for its impressive likeness and has been noted as the preferred choice for many collectors due to its striking resemblance to iconic comic illustrations.
These two head sculpts provide collectors with the flexibility to display the figure in different styles, reflecting various eras of Carol Danvers' character development within the Marvel Universe. The attention to detail in both sculpts enhances the overall quality and collectability of the figure.
Appearance: 8/10
Hasbro has done an excellent job capturing the essence of Carol Danvers in her Warbird costume. The sculpting is top-notch, with intricate details in the suit's texture and musculature. The paint application is crisp and vibrant, accurately representing the character's iconic black and gold color scheme. Really, my only complaints with the paint are a couple of small scuffs and paint rubs on her back and the top of her left leg and the visibility of the seams at her hips and shoulder joints. The flesh paint over black at the top of her trapezius muscles needs another layer or two. It's just not applied well enough to cover the black underneath. The face sculpt is particularly noteworthy, capturing Carol's determined expression and signature hairstyle with impressive accuracy.
The Warbird figure's appearance is a testament to Hasbro's commitment to detail and accuracy in their Marvel Legends line. The figure's overall sculpt captures Carol Danvers' powerful physique and iconic Warbird costume with impressive precision. I was pleased to note that the tops of her boots are sculpted and not just painted on. This helps give depth to the figure and eliminates the horrible fuzzy paint edges that typically plague Legends. Both head sculpts feature meticulously crafted hair that significantly enhances the figure's overall appearance:
The default head sculpt showcases long, flowing blonde hair that frames Carol's face beautifully. The hair is sculpted with natural-looking waves and strands, giving it a sense of movement and realism. The alternate head sculpt, inspired by John Byrne's artwork, features a fuller, more voluminous hairstyle. This version has more defined, chunky locks that capture the bold, dynamic style often seen in comic book illustrations.
One of the standout features of this figure is the brown wash applied to the hair on both head sculpts. This painting technique adds significant depth and realism to the blonde hair, elevating it beyond a simple, flat color application. The wash serves several purposes:
It creates shadow and depth, giving the illusion of individual strands and layers within the hair. It breaks up the monotony of a single blonde shade, adding visual interest and a more natural appearance. It helps to define the sculpted details of the hair, making the waves and strands more pronounced and visible. This attention to detail in the hair painting significantly contributes to the figure's overall quality and collectability. The wash technique effectively bridges the gap between toy and high-end collectible, providing a level of realism that collectors and fans appreciate. The combination of well-sculpted hair and the expertly applied wash results in a figure that looks impressive from all angles, whether displayed on a shelf or posed for photography. This level of detail in the hair, along with the accurate costume and facial features, makes the Warbird figure a standout piece in the Marvel Legends line, capturing the essence of Carol Danvers in her Warbird persona with remarkable fidelity.
Articulation: 7.5/10
The Hasbro Marvel Legends: Marvel's Warbird Action Figure boasts an impressive range of articulation, typical of the high standards set by the Marvel Legends line. However, it's not without its limitations.
Range of Motion:
Ball hinge for head movement
Double-jointed knees and elbows
Ball-jointed hips
Swivels at the torso, thighs, and biceps.
Ab crunch for dynamic poses, although this precludes a waist swivel.
Butterfly joint shoulders for extended arm movement
Ankle rocker for hinge and pivot
Wrist hinge and rotation
The red waist sash is floating, which doesn't hinder articulation at all and is a nice addition to the figure.
While the figure's overall articulation is excellent, the head movement is somewhat restricted due to the hair sculpts on both head options:
Default Head Sculpt: The long, flowing hair, while beautifully sculpted, does impede backward head tilt and side-to-side movement. This can limit some dynamic flying poses where you might want Carol looking up or to the side.
Alternate Head Sculpt: The fuller, higher hairstyle of this head also presents similar limitations. The volume of the hair at the back of the head restricts backward tilt even more than the default sculpt.
These limitations, while noticeable, are a common trade-off in action figures with detailed hair sculpts. They don't significantly detract from the figure's overall poseability but are worth noting for collectors who prioritize maximum articulation.
A point of concern on mine is the stability of the figure due to loose ankle joints:
The ankle joints, while offering a good range of motion, can be looser than ideal on some copies of the figure. This looseness can make it challenging to keep Warbird standing in certain poses, particularly those involving one-legged stances or extreme leaning positions.
If yours is like mine, you may want or even need to use figure stands or creative posing techniques to ensure stability in dynamic displays.
There are some ways to address the stability issues. You can use clear figure stands can help support the figure in more dynamic poses.
Some collectors apply mild tightening techniques to the ankle joints, though this should be done cautiously to avoid damage. I've used tiny drops of super glue or nail varnish to create a thin layer which helps create more friction to stabilize loose joints. Just remember, if using glue to work the joint back and forth immediately after applying so that when the glue dries, you aren't freezing the joint in place.
Utilizing the figure's flight capabilities in displays can mitigate the need for stable standing poses. Despite these minor issues, the overall articulation of the Warbird figure remains impressive. The wide range of possible poses, especially for flight and combat stances, allows for creative and dynamic displays. The limitations in head movement and potential ankle looseness are relatively minor concerns in the context of the figure's overall excellent articulation scheme.
Affordability: 8/10
Priced competitively within the Marvel Legends line, the Warbird figure offers excellent value for money. Given the quality of the sculpt, paint application, and the inclusion of accessories, the price point is justified. While not the cheapest action figure on the market, it's well within the expected range for a collector-grade item of this caliber. With figure and shipping, I paid my buddy $30, which is a heckuva deal. Unfortunately, due to the difficulty in finding this figure at retail, buyers should note that secondary market prices are significantly higher.
Taking into account the strong performance across all categories, the Hasbro Marvel Legends: Marvel's Warbird Action Figure earns an impressive overall grade of:
8 out of 10 ToyBoxes
This figure is a must-have for fans of Carol Danvers and her various superhero identities. It successfully captures the character's powerful presence and offers great playability and display options. Whether you're a longtime Marvel collector or new to the hobby, this Warbird figure is sure to be a standout piece in your collection. Thanks, and until next time... GEEK OUT!!!