Marvel Universe 3.75" Ultimate Gift Set 5-Pack

The Rangerlord and I stumbled upon this great set of your classic heroes at OG Orchard one day.  There were loads (more than 20) of this pack on sale at S$36.90 (down from $59.90), but no one was biting and they had been left lying there for a couple of months.  So when we both came upon it I had said, "Yeah, there it is.  The most expensive Captain America shield."

I was referring to when I had first seen this 5-pack on sale and told the Rangerlord, prompting him to say he wasn't going to pay that amount for the one thing that most would want from the gift pack.

The shield is translucent, you see, and all the figures in the sets were very basic-looking re-releases.  But more on that later.  I wasn't really batting an eyelid at the pile, until RL turns one of the sets over and says, "Hey, they're $15 each."

Suffice to say that caught my attention.  We both snagged a set each after pouring through the boxes for a nicely painted Cap each.  (And Thor.  And Iron Man.  And Spidey.  Wolverine, not so much...Haha.)

After passing the set by for so long, I was curious to see what it offered.  So here's what I found!

Back Road Brawls 3.75" style

Well, after finally getting past the fun of the (cardboard) forest from the Toys 'R' Us Back Road Brawl Wolverine and Sabertooth 3.75 inch 2-pack, I managed to snap some photos of the figures!

I guess what really appeals to me about this line is the size of the figures and how easy it is to take them all out and pose 'em together in a mass brawl or in single combat. Usually what works best is if you have one or 2 big guys like Hulk or a tight-jointed Thing that can be the dude everyone is beating up on (or trying to) so that all the other little guys can balance on/hang on to/be held up by him/her. And a big figure is always good for breaking up the uniform-ness of figs being the same size.

Well, Back Road Brawl give you not one but two of these figures!

You get a tall, comic book costume Sabertooth and a short Logan of correct height when side by side with other figures from this line.

Now I don't own any other Wolvies (except brown and orange comic costume Logan) so I can't speak from first hand experience, but I hear that some of the Wolverine figures from the movie line are too tall. Could be an error on Hasbro's part, or it could just be that they wanted to make a movie accurate and hence Hugh Jackman height Wolverine (Mr H. Jackman is of course over 6' tall). And as any Wolvie fan would know, Logan in the comics towers over hobbits, gnomes, and other such woodland folk at over 5 feet and a bit or thereabouts.

Anyhow, this Marlboro Man Wolverine and the one I already own are (fortunately for me) of the same height and in proportion with the rest of our little heroes and villains!

His hat makes him a little taller as you can see here and unfortunately, it can't be removed. Also his hair and chops are cool, but they restrict him to looking down mostly, though he's ok looking side to side.

I would've also preferred if he had metal claws instead of bone ones. But that'll be easily remedied with some mithril silver paint. His jacket is removeable, but his armes have the sleeves molded on, so he looks quite silly with it off: black sleeves, wife-beater singlet, and jeans. Oh yeah and his jeans are nice, but the hems prevent him from pivoting his feet.

Sabertooth, while tall, is nicely proportionate to large figures like Hulk. And while he's bigger than the likes of any other 3.75" guys, is not overly bulky.















What I really love about him is the slightly shiny paint they used on this guy--makes his costume a little more unique and breaks the flat colours of most of the other figures. And just how awesome is his mane and face? Check out the detailed the washing of his hair and chops as well!












Oh, and there's also one other item they come with--the X-Cycle/X-Bike/X-cessory vehicle! Wolvie would be none too pleased if I didn't feature him posing with his prized steal from Cyclops in X-Men 3.


(Yes, more Marlboro Man imagery)

The bike does have some manoeuverability in the front wheels and handle bars that 3.75" figures can hold onto nicely. It also has a stand, which is really important when you need to stand it up wihout a rider (Duh, what else would it be for. Lol). It's also got a really nicely detailed engine and a great silvery paint job.

The down side is the X-men logos that are painted on it. Not so much the tiny ones on the rear, but rather the large one on the body that thakfully is hard to see from any angle but the top, and that mostly when there's no rider.










Well then, let's rate Back Road Sabby and Wolvie!

Aesthetics: Sabertooth is too darn pretty! Well, if you get by the snarl-iness and ferocity of his evil predatory grin. The paint on him is also simply excellent and Hasbro could've painted and washed his hair the same shade but they didn't! And just look at those eyes and teeth! All the better to eat you with. ;P -- 9.8 for Sabby!




I'm less impressed with Wolverine. His body, legs, and feet are the same as the singlet and jeans movie version of him. But he's got a nicely molded new head, with brilliantly painted eyes, and arms with rolled up jacket sleeves. The removeable jacket/vest is nice and the gaps at the armpits/shoulders are not too obvious. -- 9 for Wolvie.




Poseability: Sabbycat has a ball-jointed head, ball-jointed chest, ball-swivel shoulders, elbows, wrists; ball-hinge legs/hips, double-joint knees, and pin-swivel ankles.

That's 22 points of ariculation in all. I always like greater articulation in the legs because they're vital to a figure looking action packed or stiif as board. Sabby is awesome in this department. -- 9.8.

Wolvie's got the same number of POAs, but he can't look up. His ankles too are such a waste considering how flexible the rest of his leg is. -- Still, a solid 9.


Fun: Boy are these guys fun when they come together! They've got a nice bike to toss around and a lush, tranquil background to pose/play against.

Too bad Logan's hat isn't removeable and they didn't throw in acouple of logs. Hey, they gave single packed Sabertooh not one but 2, yes TWO logs! :P -- 9.5

Value: Right now, a big, fat 10! At S$12 a pop at TRU you can't go wrong. That works out to S$6 a figure AND you get a large X-cessory in the X-Cycle, AND you get lush, green forest (smells not included)!!! 10/10! I can't say it enough: 10!!!!!!!!!!

Overall: Sabbytooth Kitty -- 9.78, Wolfie-reen -- 9.38. Get it now while you can! TRUs here in Singapore may be overstocked with them, but there's no telling when the scalpers might come along and buy em out, only to sell 'em at China Square Central for a boosted price.

Fun with Backgounds!

It's lucky I didn't realize how amazing a good background from the Marvel Universe Back Road Brawl 2 pack can be. Because if I did, I would have bought this Toys 'R' Us exclusive set at it's retail price of S$39.90. I then wouldn't have snagged it at the low, low price I did of S$12. And if you're a Marvel Universe fan, what in the world would stop you from getting this 2-pack that also comes with a nifty X-cycle (that all your MU 3.75" guys of all shapes and sizes can ride :P) at that price?

Well, I was going to review the exclusive comic book costume Sabertooth and Cowboy hat Wolverine from this set, but I guess I got distracted by the wonderful Back Road Background. The forest background insert was one thing, but the plastic packaging mold that holds these guys up in the box was quite another.

You see, they weren't glued to the background but rather tabbed into slots, making them removeable without damaging the beautful scenery. And you could re-insert them anytime. What's the big deal about plastic packaging, you say? Well, the molds fit pretty much any two 3.75" guys and the bike if you so choose.














Here's a taste. ;)

Wolvie with no Back Road X-Bike!














Wolvie catching Sabertooth's scent in the wind and tossing the bike in anticipation of the fight!













Wolvie jumps Cap on bike! Why? Cos Cap must've stole it from Xavier's Mansion! (Why else? :P)













Or maybe Wolvie jumps Cap, who stashed the bike earlier and doesn't have it on him (or under him. ;])













Or Cap jumps Wolvie for even thinking that ol' Stevie boy would even consider stealing!













Or Wolvie, after changing into different duds and a hat, jumps Hulk by mistake thinking that Hulk is Cap who pinched the X-Bike?












Or maybe Hulk stole X-Bike.














And Hulk mad bike don't start!

So Hulk toss Bike...RAARGH!!!! Bike only for sissies and Cyclopses anyway!!

Look Who's Joined in the Fight!

It's ol' Stars 'n' Stripes himself!

Look at him distract our favourite Big Green Monster as Wolvie attempts some facial reconstruction surgery.

Tsk, tsk. Hulk will simply smash puny men in tights. They should know better. Especially our favourite Super Soldier.

Or should he? I mean, he's got all sorts of fancy articulation in the shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, chest, legs, knees, just below the knees (360 degrees there too BTW), ankles, and head!!! By the time he's done with Hulkiepoo, our Green Goliath will be twisted like a veggie pretzel.

And let's not forget that fancy-schmancy accessory of a shield. As you can see from the pic, the paint apps on it are simply briliant. The inside of the shield has a plastic clip on a hinge which fits nicely on the good Captain's wrist. But that's not all--the shield also has two elastic bands that allow you to let Cap hold his shield firmer. You'll just have to twist it around his forearm and hand a couple times. The bands also allow him to hold the shield in his left hand--even with an open palm! He can then hold a gun or a rifle in his right and go ahead and let Hulk make his day. ;)

The best part about the elastic--he can wear the shield on his back for those situations where he needs to execute some high-risk acrobatics! Yay Cap!

The detailing on the figure is also awesome, and like the rest of the series, the eyes have been painted on accurately. Now this is Ultimate Cap, so he's got the awesome belt on him, as well as some nicely painted scales on his upper body. The star on his chest has been molded onto the fig and then painted. Looks really great too. The only problem is that of those figures I've seen, the area of his cowl under his eyes have not been painted well and need touching up. Oh well, better under than overpainted.

Oh and I got this guy from one of the stores at CSC for a mere $15 bucks. Oh yeah!!

He flies off the shelves fast, so if you can get him for under $20, it'd be a good deal. I recently saw a couple at Novena Toys 'R' Us and picked one up for my cousin at $18--So hurry down to get 'em from there cos they've just restocked a small amount.

I realized I didn't give ratings for the toys I've previewed before my last post, so I'll give Cap's here, as well as Hulk's and Wolvie's:

Marvel Universe 3 3/4" action figures

Captain America

Comicbook Accuaracy: 9/10 - You can tell right away from the belt and lack of wings on his cowl that's he's Ultimate Cap. Looks perfectly like the character from the Ultimates 2. And the shield? Perfect size for him. :)

Poseability: 10/10 - Is there nothing he can't do? This line of 3 3/4 figs from Marvel are a dream to play with. I just love the flexibility of his torso at the hips and the chest. Makes posing him to throw the shield look too cool! ;)

Aesthetic: 9/10 - Looks great on his own, looks great fighting the Hulk, will look excellent leading a squad of G.I. Joes! (I can't the the idea out of my head now, Bro! ;P)

Overall: 9.33/10


Wolverine

Comicbook Accuaracy: 9/10 - There's just been so much of him in so many costumes/get ups. I mean there's even a naked figure of him in the movie 3 3/4" line! (Ok so he has metal wires and equipment covering "strategic parts." But he's STILL butt naked! :P) They could put him in a white singlet and jeans and people will still buy him. Oh wait. They've done that.

Poseability: 9/10 - Like I mentioned with Cap, this line of 3 3/4 figs from Marvel is a winner. But I do have to say there's a small difference in articualtion--Cap has 360 degree rotation just below the knee. This Wolverine doesn't.

Aesthetic: 8/10 - I have to say--Wolverine with his mask on just looks silly. But this brown and yellow is my favourite silly costume of his! And it definitely looks better than the butt naked version :P (Oh and he comes with a red samurai sword. What's up with that? Ha.)

Overall: 8.66/10


Hulk

Comicbook Accuaracy: 9/10 - Green? Check. Purple Pants? Check. Muscle-bound? Check. Angry face? Check.

Poseability: 9/10 - I have to say, this is probably the most poseable Hulk I've ever seen or played with. He doesn't have 360 degree rotation of the lower leg, and his thighs suffer from being too chunky as do most hulks, but the upper body can rotate at the chest and waist like the 2 guys he's fighting. Plus, his arms can do pretty much anything you'd want a hulk to do, including hold another (smaller) 3 3/4" figure in its palm to smash. :)

Aesthetic: 10/10 - Just look at those gren eyes! Looks angry on his own, looks angry smashing, will look angry smashing a squad of G.I. Joes led by Captain America. What can I say? I'm a Hulkmani...er...Hulk fan! ;)

Overall: 9.33/10