Marvel Legends Nuke figure review
Hasbro doesn’t blow it on top notch Nuke figure
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a mighty powerful force. How else can it continually bring so many fringe characters to prominence with a quick appearance on a movie or TV series? Nuke is the latest to translate a live-action role to a Marvel Legends figure. While he’s hardly a household villain, Nuke is one of those solid universe-building characters for an impressive collection. It helps when the figure is executed this well.
[irp]
Packaging: Nuke gets assigned to the Captain America wave. Essentially that just means he gets the blue accents on the standard black box. Hasbro has kept this scheme for a while so I doubt it will change at this point, but I’d be interested in some adjustments.
A more elaborate bio and comic book picture on the back would make for a nice start. Since he’s not sharing the packaging with another figure, Nuke’s portrait is on both sides. I don’t typically care too much about the portraits, but Nuke’s is pretty well done and captures his personality well.
Likeness: Nuke isn’t the calm, docile villain. He’s typically in some sort of deranged state and his figure reflects that — in both expressions. Of the two, the secondary head is my favorite. It’s got a Terminator-esque skin peeling effect like Nuke’s been in a tough battle but isn’t backing down.
Nuke doesn’t have a go-to costume compared to some other characters. The military style vest and green cargo pants are the look he sported in Wolverine Origins. The vest actually has some nice detailing including a pair of non-removable grenades.
Scale: Nuke is broad and imposing. He looks like a formidable threat to the smaller Daredevil figure, which uses the often used ‘Bucky-buck.’ For a regular-sized hulking figure he’s definitely has a presence and looks great with the other figures.
Paint: By far the most distinct aspect of Nuke is the American flag face tattoo. With that handled well everything else falls into place. The vest, belts and pouches have a nice wash to really bring out a leather-like visual.
The silver kneepads didn’t hold the paint all that well as the green from the pants was already showing through on mine. Of the important parts of the figure the kneepads being a off isn’t a big deal.
Articulation: Nuke has the standard Marvel Legends articulation. I wish his arms could come in just a little closer so he could grab hold of the grenades. Or choke out Daredevil.
Nuke has:
- neck
- ball jointed shoulders
- bicep
- elbows (hinge and swivel)
- wrist (hinge and swivel)
- torso
- waist
- thighs
- hips
- knees (double-jointed)
- ankle
Accessories: Nuke makes out like a bandit here. The big winner in this category is his alternate head sculpt based off his Death of Wolverine appearance. The heads swap on and off without any trouble.
He also comes with the Bowie knife we’ve seen before with Warbird and Drax. It’s one of the better daggers/knifes/swords available as it fits snugly into either hand and in a slot on the back of the vest. Finally, Nuke gets a patriotic repaint of the blaster packed with the Hydra soldier. While it’s a little cheesy it seems perfectly fitting with something a nutjob like Nuke would do.
Considering Nuke is hardly tiny in the package it’s a little surprising he comes with the Build-a-Figure Giant Man’s torso. From sheer package volume, you’re getting your money’s worth.
Worth it? A larger than standard ML figure with a terrific accessories that can fight Wolverine, Daredevil and Captain America? Definitely. For under $20, Nuke is a great deal for a low-level villain. He was a nice surprise and an addition I’m glad to have in my Marvel collection.
Rating: 9.5 out of 10
Where to get it? Amazon.com currently has him in stock and you can also try your luck with Target and Wal-Mart. Stores seem to be in the middle of their fall resets so it might get tricky tracking them down at this particular point.