Marvel Legends Ultron review – BAF Ursa Major wave

It’s kind of weird after all this time to finally be here, but today I’m looking at the Marvel Legends classic comic book style Ultron figure. Could Hasbro actually deliver a Marvel Legends updated classic Banshee before 2024? Stranger things have happened.

There’s no need for hype here. Let’s see if this long overdue Avengers murder-bot was worth the wait.

Packaging:  For this wave, Hasbro is keeping it simple. No original art pieces from acclaimed artists. This wave is going strictly throwback with art from the comic books.

His bio is the ideal writeup for a character conveying the threat, skills and his archenemies. Given the movie it’d be hard not to know Ultron is an Avengers villain, but just that extra touch makes this a (Ultron?) prime example of how to write up the bios.

I’m also digging this character-focused package insert, which is a nice personalized touch.

Likeness:  Ultron has seen various changes over the years as artists tinker with the classic design. But there’s something about this timeless version best exemplified in key stories from Secret Wars to George Perez’s take in the modern classic comic arc, Avengers: Ultron Unlimited, that makes the iconic version of the character.

As a general rule of thumb, Perez pretty much provided the definitive version of every Avengers character during his various runs on the book.

Hasbro has tried on numerous occasions to shortcut the way to providing collectors with an Ultron stand-in — typically with Iron Man repaints — but this one is Ultron in his full glory. Hasbro was able to reuse the gauntlets from the classic 80th Anniversary Iron Man, but I can’t place any other repurposed parts.

Ultron’s signature element of course is his head and Hasbro’s sculptors made sure to give it the insidiously sinister visual we expect from one of the Avengers’ longtime foes. The mouth section is sculpted with a wide open section, which provides an extra level of depth to help make silhouette shots even more menacing.

He’s got his tiny shoulder spikes and all the precise paneling with sculpted lining. It took a minute, OK years, but we finally get the straight from the comics classic version of Ultron we’ve been waiting on all this time.

Paint:  I started out with an Ultron that had dodgy painting on his left eye, which was a little annoying since Ultron is one of the first figures collectors are aiming for when this line hits shelves. Fortunately, I found another one with much better paint work around the eyes.

I like the metallic sheen silver Hasbro went with as it reflects light well without making him too sparkly shiny.

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Scale:  Ultron was never a giant, which makes him more threatening. He’s average height, which means we can finally replace the really impressive Marvel Select Ultron stand-in for one more appropriately scaled to battle the Marvel Legends Avengers.

Ultron stands right around the same height as the 80th Anniversary Captain America and Iron Man figures. He’s another indicator that Hasbro needs to come up with an excuse to release the classic Vision on a bulkier, wider body.

Articulation: Ultron features pinless joints and has very smooth, easy articulation. I didn’t have any problem pulling off standard Ultron poses from the deep leaning maniacal laughing or going toe to toe with Thor.

Ultron has:

• neck
• ball-jointed shoulders
• bicep
• elbow (double-jointed)
• wrist
• wrist hinge
• upper torso
• waist
• hip
• thigh
• knee (double-jointed)
• ankle

Accessories: Ultron has some useful accessories in swappable fists for when he’s clobbering Avengers with his adamantium body. He also has a matching gripping left hand. There isn’t a matching open right hand for the left however.

My favorite accessory is the crackling energy effect. It’s a orange and red translucent piece that fits into Ultron’s mouth for that full comic book visual.

Finally, Ultron comes with the right arm for the Build-A-Figure Ursa Major figure.

Worth it?  Thanks to all of the newly sculpted dedicated parts, Ultron is easily worth the $20 price tag.

Rating: 10 out of 10

Ultron was definitely worth the wait. This is a sensational figure that delivers for collectors anxiously awaiting this Avengers mainstay to battle Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.

Where to get it?  I got Ultron from Target.com as I’m getting a little frustrated playing Retail Roulette, but try your local Targets or Walmarts. You can also order him from Amazon and Entertainment Earth.