Toy Review: Marvel Select Thor

Marvel Select comes up with a superior action figure on the new Thor!

Just recently got my hands on Marvel Select’s new action figure on the new version of Thor, God of Thunder. This rendition is from J. Michael Straczynski’s new take on the Marvel Thor character, with artwork from the series’ artist, Olivier Coipel, inspiring this action figure.

Packaging
Typical Diamond Marvel Select clamshell - with big comic artwork splashed liberally on the front, side and back of the carton flaps outside and inside. I especially like the side of the box - as it has a close-up profile of the character’s comic book artwork - you can line up your Marvel Select collection on a shelf, beside each other, much like displaying books. Well, I’m not really a packaging critique, but their line of works for me. After all, I open the boxes anyway.

Front

Back

Sculpt
Big, bulky, around 7″ tall, this sculpt is totally loyal to the new comics’ artwork. Though he looks bigger in scale, especially among his 6″ Marvel Legends little brothas and sistahs, he still looks as a good blend-in, a god among mortals. Compared to the early Marvel Legends Thor figures, he’s just as tall as them anyway.

There’s a stern expression on his face, quite what’s expected of the Odinson. Detail on cloth parts mince no detail on folds, however wide or small. The new chainmail style on his arms and legs add more intricate bumps that make him look larger and wider.

The cloth above his chest/chest armor is more prominent now, with all the realistic folds. The trademark circles are still there, only now replaced by metal-looking buttons. Har.
His only accessory, Mjollnir, is as always, looking hefty - the small details of the aged stone hammer and it’s short handle has carried this classic look from Thor’s earlier looks. He’s also got one impressive base/stand - a cross section of a part of a tower, with great cracked stone and slab details. Thor just enjoys surveying the landscape down below as he’s close to stepping-off this base.

Pretty solid sculpt, with each detail totally dead-on.

Paint
Paint is applied moderately - no drybrushing here, but none of the flat, boring Hasbro Marvel Legends-style insults. Though silver/metallic parts aren’t that shiny, they do their job to convey it. Props to the paints applied on the base - even if the paint looks too randomly applied on the stone. Flesh tone on the face is clean and smooth. The cape has enough folds in the sculpt to actually make up for the flattish application red color. Overall, clean, crisp - no problems here.

Articulation

The big guy has over 20 points of articulation - a ball neck and waist, knees, elbows and shoulders. Hips rotate, as well as the wrists. Ankles also tilt. Still no chest/torso artic, nada on the fingers and toes as well - not that he needs them anyway. Pretty good set of movement for a Diamond Select figure. He can even raise his arms to the sky unlike the old Toybiz Marvel Legends Thor of the early series. Just a note when twisting his wrists - they’re a little tight, and can easily break off if you force them. Turning them slowly while pushing his fists towards the arm can loosen them up. If not, a little heat (the blow dryer technique or hot water exposure) can soften the plastic so it can cooperate with the twisting.

Overall, this quite a superior Marvel Select rendition of the Thunder God. I’ll even go as far as saying that this is the best non-statue (read:articulated) Thor that’s come out for toys for Marvel. Retails for about US$20, though I got mine cheaper through the local ebay seller. All smiles when I purchased this dude - I suggest you grab one when you get the chance! Yea!

Now for more photos! (Hope you can bear with me - the subject IS very photogenic, hehe)