Marvel Legends Outback Rogue review

I started reading X-Men just as the Mutant Massacre tore through the longtime 80s team so while I learned of the history of the group through Classic X-Men “my” era of the squad was the Outback iteration. Predictably, Hasbro’s Marvel Legends team is taking its time in completing a team that could now be finished with a couple of two packs or a box set, but that’s how it goes. Lately Hasbro has been making more of an effort to knocking out the team with the Mojoworld Dazzler and Longshot, a classic-esque enough Havok and today’s feature Rogue.

By the Outback run, Rogue had become established as an essential member of the X-Men staying on after longtime stalwarts Colossus, Nightcrawler and Shadowcat departed to recover from injuries. While not quite ready to assume a leadership role, she filled the big sister role for newcomers Psylocke, Longshot, Dazzler and to a lesser extent, Havok.

Let’s see if this version of Rogue truly delivers to consider another member of the Outback era checked off the list.

Packaging:   We’re still in the era of the windowless packaging. Sigh. That means render images galore on the front and right side. The side portrait art is an odd choice as its J. Scott Campbell’s take on Rogue from this era instead of the artist most synonymous with X-Men during that phase, Marc Silvestri. Silvestri’s work probably doesn’t get enough acclaim since he was on the title before Jim Lee, but his run was very solid. And definitely warrants inclusion in the presentation.

The back is impressively lackluster with a photo (or render?) of the figure and her measly amount of accessories. This really shouldn’t be what passes for a $25 figure before even seeing it.

Bios have now been ported to the Pulse website so here’s the basic summary of her: MARVEL’S ROGUE: From their new headquarters in the Australian Outback X-Man Rogue faces off against dangers in the Savage Land and Genosha putting her ability-absorbing mutant powers to the test. It does a pretty solid job of explaining this time period for Rogue, her team affiliation and powers. Not bad, Hasbro ML crew.

Likeness:  Part of the reason I didn’t immediately rush to get this figure was because how half-tail Hasbro executed what should have been a very easy figure. I keep wondering what the Marvel team uses for character references. If the intent, which it should have been even if that wasn’t the case, was for an Outback era style Rogue there’s way too much off with it.

Rogue had way more of a punk 80s hairstyle with a wild, wide flattop that jetted out to the front almost like a fin. Silvestri frequently drew Rogue’s hair like she had it shorn close to the sides with a longer mullet style deal extended past her shoulders.

This hair sculpt, much like the Shadowcat one in the Excalibur set, suggests that the Hasbro or sculptor had little idea of Rogue’s signature Outback style hair.

The figure looks suspiciously closer to Campbell’s take than the one Rogue sported through the Outback era. It’s done up in a way to be cuter to a modern audience as opposed to evoking the rocker style from the late 80s.

Rogue’s head sculpt is actually pretty nice. Her expression is less harsh and more youthful compared to some of the other Rogue figures Hasbro has rolled out.

Then there’s the matter of her outfit. Hasbro opted to paint the details on even though it’s clear she’s not just wearing a leotard. They’ve got the ideal corset piece from Scarlet Witch’s recent figures.  And just because of the various characters that could use them, Hasbro could have sculpted long gloves and thigh high leggings.

Rogue consistently switched her attire during this time period sometimes wearing a skirt, heels and a small tank top underneath her black spandex, but if you wanted a signature Outback costume this is her “main” look.

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Paint: In another instance of what were you thinking, Hasbro went with a weird dark green shade for this attire when it’s very clearly a yellow green in nearly every image that pops up on an Outback Rogue Google search.

This is a very weird thing to get wrong. Sure there’s a few random images with this darker green, but those are definitely the exception as opposed to the norm.

Scale:  With her high hair, Rogue was about the same height as Storm, but more accurately eye to eye with Psylocke placing her just a bit shorter than Havok. She should be taller than Longshot and Wolverine.

Articulation:  After taking some frustrating Ls on the likeness and paint front, Outback Rogue gets some overdue wins in this category. This figure gets the desperately needed bicep articulation along with double-jointed elbows, which is ideal for a physical brawler like Rogue.

Since she has the mid-torso floating joint Hasbro really could have used the Scarlet Witch torso with the sculpted corset with no problems.

On the plus side, Rogue can now hit some very physical poses and really strike like the team’s co-powerhouse should when flying into battle.

Rogue has:

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

Accessories: I’m trying to figure if Rogue has the most pitiful accessory option of any ML this year or if it’s just bad because her figure would have benefited from some extras.

Rogue has swappable outstretched fingers hands. That’s it. This would have been the perfect opportunity to throw in an alternate head sculpt, with a more throwback-skewing hairstyle. That way collectors could have the best of both worlds.

Worth it?  Rogue is a terrible value at $25. Maybe if the figure was as well executed as it should have been, I wouldn’t hate the price point as much. It’s just the value isn’t here at all with no BAF piece, just a set of swappable hands and minimal new sculpting. I was able to cobble together some reward points at GameStop to knock her price down to $15, which was a much better price.

Rating:  6.5 out of 10

Having the sculpted costume elements or just borrowing Scarlet Witch’s torso would have helped the aesthetic so much. Ditto for getting Rogue’s hair more accurate to this Outback era. It’s nice to have another member of the team, but Hasbro could have done much better.

Where to get it?  I’ve seen Wanda at GameStop, but that’s probably the only available retail option. You can also get her online at Amazon and Entertainment Earth.

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