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It’s been a pretty good year for the Phoenix entity, first getting an origin in the X-Men comics and then the first-ever ongoing Phoenix ongoing comic book series launching this week. But that’s not the only Jean Grey milestone this week! For the first time in many years, Hasbro has a new (not Dark) Marvel Legends Phoenix figure up for order—and it’s a deluxe release with a huge fiery Phoenix Force entity effect base! It’s a bit on the pricey side, but there’s no denying how lovely it is! Will this be flying into your display, Marvel collectors? (Plus: the Demon Sorceress Magik teleports in for a return of her own!)
The original green Phoenix Toybiz Marvel Legends action figure from 2004 was one of the first Marvel action figures in my life I could never find at mass retail, which has left me with a bit of Toy PTSD. Consequently, Jean Grey versions are always some of the first figures I pre-order these days, because
FOMO. But it looks like Hasbro is swooping in to soothe my damaged psyche, offering perhaps the best green Phoenix Jean Grey figure that’s ever been made.
I had been planning on grabbing the new MAFEX Phoenix figure from Medicom for quite a while, but it seems Hasbro has arrived to save me some money with their own version in the nick of time. I really dig the silky metallic gold on the MAFEX, but that figure is considerably more expensive than the new Hasbro one and lacks the durability and flaming Phoenix effects that make the new Legends release so cool.
I was initially quite fearful of the price-tag on this ML Phoenix after seeing an erroneous rumor it might cost as much as $72 MSRP, but I was mollified when I saw it actually posted at a more palatable $49.99 (temporarily mismarked at $34.99 for a few minutes on BBTS and EE—don’t cancel those pre-orders if you got them!).
50 bucks is still a lot for an action figure, mind you, but I feel much better about the pricing here than I did about the $60 Odin a few weeks back. The huge Phoenix Force entity effects piece base is as big as a whole other figure (and gets billed like one on the packaging), and looks quite spectacular. I think it really gives this iteration a big edge over the Toybiz and even MAFEX releases.
An interchangeable powered-up head is also included, along with a pair of fists that feel natural for many flying poses (which look superb with the new pin-less body, by the way). I wouldn’t want to pay a cost of essentially two figures for one figure very often, but I think this is a very rare instance where it wouldn’t seem outrageously out of line.
Jean isn’t coming alone, though! The most popular New Mutants member of all-time, Illyana Rasputin, will be accompanying her back to stores! After being somewhat difficult to find in some areas Walgreens Exclusive in 2018, Marvel Legends Magik is getting a fresh restock from Hasbro for specialty stores.
I know some collectors cry foul about reissues, but over half a decade later, I think it’s okay to make Magik a bit more widely available (especially given her continued prominence in the modern X-Men comics). Here’s hoping the hotly rumored Hoverchair Professor X re-release gets officially announced soon as well!
Marvel Legends Phoenix and Magik are both up for order now and are scheduled to ship out this fall (in just a few months). Note that Magik is only available via specialty retailers and not via brick and mortar mega chains or Amazon.
Are either of these X-Women coming home to you this year, X-Men fans?