Marvel Legends Puma figure review – Build-A-Figure Kingpin wave
Reviewing Marvel Legends sometimes feels like the Never Ending Story. I am determined to get caught up from this mountain of backlogged reviews this year and I’m really trying to avoid doubling up figures in one review. Today, I’m going back to the Build-A-Figure Kingpin wave, which I will probably never complete as I waited too long to get the Spider-Man I didn’t want and now his heads are stupid expensive. Anyhow, today’s focus is Puma or Marvel’s Puma as the package suggests.
Puma was one of the cooler looking Spider-Man villains/allies and he plays into the always helpful animal theme of so many Spidey characters. Let’s see if he roars or whimpers.
Packaging: This is the normal Spider-Man Marvel Legends packaging with the grey and white web insert accentuating the figure while the red accents add a unique element to the Spidey wing of the line. Puma’s portrait art on the side is very cool. The bio is fine although it really could help collectors unfamiliar with him by adding a bit more insight as to his allegiances and motivation.
Likeness: I really like the ferocious head sculpt Hasbro gave Puma. He’s a character that could have had a serene, calm expression, but they went with a battle mode Puma and that was definitely the right choice in this situation.
It seems like maybe Hasbro considered articulating his jaw as there’s a strong mold line right at that point. Puma’s clawed fingers and feet look nice and sharp. And I appreciate the wrinkles in his pants to convey he’s actually wearing clothing.
Additionally, I like the tail feathers, bracelets and tooth necklace as they make for nice nods to Puma’s heritage. I’ve forgotten the purpose of the E in his belt, but I’m having a hard time looking at it and not seeing world title belt so maybe Puma will be the longest reigning wrestling champ on my Marvel Legends.
Paint: Puma doesn’t have a lot of paint applications, but what is here is done very well especially considering how easily his colors could blend together. The darker orange — complete with wash — for the furrier bits was a great touch.
Ditto for the gold bands around the elbow and shins and the belt. The line work on the torso was smooth as well.
Scale: I can’t place the mold here and it’s possible this is mostly new. Puma seems scaled right as he’s taller than Spider-Man.
Articulation: Puma has exceptional movement and good range even without the butterfly joints that would be ideal for a slashing character. Thanks to a wider ball socket with deeper positioning, Puma is able to get some really nice attack poses. You should be able to get appropriate crouching and pouncing poses as well.
Puma has:
- neck
- ball-jointed shoulders
- bicep
- elbow (double jointed)
- wrist
- wrist hinge
- torso
- waist
- hips
- thighs
- knees (double jointed)
- ankles
Accessories: Puma doesn’t have any natural accessories so he gets the bulk – literally of the BAF Kingpin with the torso. It’s heavy and definitely weighs the package down. On the plus side, I still can complete the Shadow King.
Worth it? Puma has the bulk of the Kingpin figure so he’s essential if you’re trying to build him. He’s also one of the few members of this wave that’s under retail price. What he lacks for in accessories he makes up for with a great sculpt and fun articulation.
Rating: 10 out of 10
Puma is one of those Spider-Man characters whose time had come and Hasbro made the wait worth it with a quality figure and another strong addition to the Spidey display. It’s hard to envision how Hasbro could make this guy better.
Where to get it? This wave has largely left retail now, but try your luck at the random Walgreens of GameStop. You can also get him from Amazon or Hasbro Pulse.