Marvel Legends Phoenix and Phoenix Force review (2024)

Phoenix has definitely gotten some love during the Marvel Legends run with some solid figures. While they’ve been good Phoenix has lacked that definitive good luck trying to top this figure version from Hasbro. Until now?

Hasbro last released a Marvel Legends Phoenix figure back in 2016. That’s been a minute ago and more than enough time for some significant changes to head sculpts, articulation and paint apps.

I already know one reason this figure won’t be my definitive Phoenix, but let’s see how it fares in terms of being a really close one for now.

Packaging: The packaging is different than the standard presentation as it’s done with a bit more personalization. This time it’s all about playing off the theme of the Phoenix Force. Hasbro went with a black and yellow and orange color scheme with numerous Phoenix logos throughout.

One side features artwork from Russell Dauterman from the Phoenix Omnibus (available on Amazon).

I dug the bio, which did a nice job of summarizing Jean Grey’s “stint” as Phoenix and how it was a balance of good and evil in constant conflict.

Likeness: Phoenix uses the new base female body, which is the standard for 2024 figures and beyond.

One of the big weaknesses with Marvel Legends sculpting, particularly of female characters, is inaccurate hairstyles. The sculptors tend to go with a contemporary straight hairstyle even if the character had a fuller, more era-specific hairdo. Take the 80s Outback Rogue for example who lost her spikey mullet for a flowing style more befitting a modern look.

This is also the case with Jean. To better evoke the look of Dave Cockrum and John Byrne, her hair should have wavy locks that flow out across her shoulders and look fuller around the top and sweep across her forehead more naturally. In his How to Draw the X-Men notes on Phoenix, Cockrum described Jean’s hairstyle as Farrah Fawcett-esque.

This figure has an overly detailed hair sculpt with an abundance of strands that have more of a windswept look. And the lower portion along the right shoulder seems like a separate piece with a weird mold line.

I wasn’t sure if I dug the head sculpt until getting a close up look. It’s pretty good with the smile providing Jean with some personality perhaps foreshadowing she’s enjoying this newfound power. With a better hair sculpt this head sculpt would really look great.

Here’s how some other head sculpts — one from the Mary Jane and the Dark Phoenix sculpt.

Hasbro also fixed a big gaffe from their previous Phoenix by positioning her sash correctly by having the logo clasp with the knot resting against her right hip.

Scale: This new mold is smaller than older ML females allowing Phoenix to be better scaled to the rest of the X-Men specifically Cyclops. He’s about due for an upgrade to the Vulcan mold so he’ll appear even taller than her, but she’s scaled properly now. This version is noticeably smaller than the previous Hasbro release.

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Paint: Hasbro doesn’t quite have the coloring down of Phoenix’s costume. It should be a green-yellow shade instead of this vibrant kelly green shade used. The gold high gloves and thigh high boots have a pearlescent shade to them, which reflects the golden sheen pretty well.

Check out the Mafex Phoenix (on Amazon) for a look at a completely comic accurate paint job with the gold points almost looking like a white gold and the lighter hue of green.

There weren’t any major issues with the paint applications including with the logo on her chest. The plunging black triangle has sharp linework and just a smidge of a paint glop on the logo. Her face printing is very nicely done as well.

Articulation: Phoenix benefits from the newer body, which allows her to strike any kind of dynamic pose from the arms raised high and gesture in various directions.

Jean wasn’t a major hand to hand fighter as Phoenix preferring to take her opponents down from a distance. This figure is set up nicely for dramatic posturing and power showcasing poses.

This is aided by the positioning of her hair which is arranged away from her shoulders. That doesn’t make every flight pose any easier however.

Phoenix has:

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

Accessories: Phoenix is a deluxe figure with her main accessory being an add-on display piece for her.

She does come with swappable fists and an alternate head sculpt. This one features a serious portrait and whited out eyes. There’s some nice shading around her eyes. From certain perspectives this head sculpt looks like Famke Jansen, who played Jean Grey in multiple live action X-Men films.

Again, the Hasbro sculptor didn’t really do a great job of doing the classic hairstyle so it’s less wide and full and straighter and closer to her head. Still, the hair sculpt itself is really nice and it’s raised like Phoenix is fully utilizing her powers. This complements very well with the big accessory.

To capture that iconic flame bird visual shown in the comics, Hasbro concocted a fairly elaborate blazing bird. It’s got its own base to best engulf Phoenix. The bird itself really does channel all those old early appearances of Phoenix. It’s made out of a translucent plastic to best capture light shone through it. That’s a nice touch. The display piece is actually two parts. There’s a cylinder-type base with swirling fire rising up.

This is ideal if you want to have Phoenix starting to hover before the full-on engulfed bird look. The bird piece plugs into the base and Phoenix’s foot can rest in there as well. And bonus! The bird’s neck is actually articulated and can swivel left and right.

Worth It? This all depends on how good a deal you got her for. At regular price, Phoenix is $50. That’s fine if you consider the flame effect the equivalent of another figure. There were some inconsistencies on the initial price point and some folks got her for $35.

Target has occasionally had sales where she’s dropped as low as $25, which is a tremendous deal. That $35 is probably the sweet spot as you’re basically just paying $10 for the effect instead of it pricing out like a (largely) unarticulated figure.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

The hairstyle is my biggest issue by far with an otherwise spectacular Phoenix figure. Hasbro did a bang-up job here and the Phoenix Force really puts it over the top. Once the design team does era-accurate hairstyles we’ll pretty much have a perfect Phoenix.

Where to get it? Target seems to be the best retail outlet to get her though I had no luck in my area tracking her down. You can still get her with no problem at Amazon or Entertainment Earth.

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