Marvel Legends Cyclops review – BAF Ch’od wave

Targets apparently don’t have an abundance of shelf space so as soon as stores get new shipments of figures it’s time for the wave currently on shelf to hit clearance. Fortunately, I was able to catch the Marvel Legends X-Men Build-A-Figure Ch’od wave at my closest store and got most of them for 50% off. I was most excited to get Cyclops in his Astonishing era attire.

Hasbro already took a crack at this costume with the Brood Queen BAF wave. It was a passable figure for the time, but it definitely was time for an upgrade. This has become one of Cyclops’ most important costumes as he’s rocked this look for some major modern stories so this was overdue. And now that opens the door for the Utopia-era costume next.

Let’s see if this latest Cyclops figure is an (optic) blast or if he should best be forgotten like Joss Whedon’s post Justice League career.

Package: Sigh. This packaging is so dull and we can’t get a return to the windows soon enough.

The rear of the package is really uninspired with another shot of the figure and the pitiful few accessories.

I do appreciate the use of the iconic John Cassady image prominently featuring Cyclops front and center of the team. The missing bio is a blow even if they weren’t as well done as some other lines (MOTU, WWE).

Likeness:  Cyclops has a stern expression like he’s perturbed and pissed off. The head sculpt kind of reminds me of the old Toy Biz Marvel Legends Series 10 Cyclops. His visor is more streamlined and narrower like his initial visor with some rounded corners.

I don’t love that Hasbro decided to use the vapor trail look for the visor. This can be removed although you lose some of that immediately prominent red from the visor though this is probably more of how it would actually look like. It does feel like a missed opportunity for some additional portraits though.

Hasbro understands Cyclops doesn’t need to be as bulked up and defined as say Captain America and gave him a new body that seems like it’s largely based on the Vulcan mold with enough alterations to be an all-new figure.

It’s not a slim (pun intended) as the Bucky Cap, but it’s a good new body for Cyclops. I’d be fine getting a 70s Byrne style and X-Factor ver. 2 attire with this new mold. Hasbro did incorporate sculpted elements for the piping along his costume.

The new elements are the belt with sculpted X-button buckle and wrist straps. For the boots, they’ve got smaller cuffs and straps.

Scale:  Height wise, Cyclops matches up pretty well with existing Cyclops figures so no worries that he suddenly has grown or shrunk after putting on this costume.

This Astonishing Cyclops does highlight the need for a better scaled version of Kitty Pryde now however.

Paint: This is pretty consistent with the midnight blue Cyclops typically utilizes. I don’t love that Hasbro opted to go with pink lips for Cyclops. It’s a random inclusion and something they don’t need to start adding to figures as it can’t be subtle enough to avoid looking like the characters are wearing lipstick.

Hasbro seemed to match the silverly blue of the visor very well. The linework on the gold piping is better than I’d expect given the thin lining and the trouble of applying a lighter color against such a dark shade of blue.

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Articulation:  Cyclops needs to gesture and aim. That’s the core requirement for his figures and that’s easily accomplished with the base body, which has pretty smooth movement without any wonky or loose joints.

He felt far smoother to pose than the occasionally stiff Vulcan.

Cyclops has:

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

Accessories:  As is the case with most of the figures in this wave, the accessories for the figure are pretty slim. Cyclops only comes with swappable hands. These are the pointing and aiming hands, which work to simulate him tapping his ruby quartz lens and unleashing his optic blast.

An unmasked portrait with the glasses/goggles would have been welcome especially since John Cassady drew him so often with the cowl down.

Cyclops is the one character in this wave that does not have a piece of the Ch’od Build-A-Figure, which greatly lowers his value.

Worth it?  Grab them at the wrong spot and this wave is still clocking in at $24.99 price tag, which just doesn’t balance out given the lack of intricate sculpting. Still, getting him for $12.49 is a tremendous deal and dramatically offsets the high original price tag.

Rating:  9.5 out of 10

The articulation, dedicated sculpt work and the removable vapor trail definitely help with the score. Factoring in the 50% off price and this is another home run Cyclops. Time for a new Utopia era version and the rest of the Astonishing team.

Where to get it? Check your Targets first to try and get him for clearance pricing. Otherwise you can grab him now from Amazon or Entertainment Earth.

As an Amazon and Entertainment Earth affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.