Welcome to Gotta Have It! Figure Edition. Each Saturday either Kelly or I will bring you reviews on the hottest toys to hit the shelves that you definitely need to pick up. So, let’s get started!
MARVEL MINIMATES Wave 28: Gambit and Psylocke set.
Companies: Art Asylum and Diamond Select Toys
Articulation: 14 points
Packaging: This is different from other Minimate lines as this set covers characters that fit into Wolverine’s past/present. The box is red with panels from Wolverine comics decorating the background and a bold Wolverine logo on the slanted top of the box. Window packaging lets you see the figures from the waist up.
Released: August 2009
Where to buy: Most comic shops carry these now. If you can’t find them there, internet stores will carry them as well.
Gambit: Remy LeBeau was raised as a thief and assassin in New Orleans, taking the name Gambit and often using his mutant ability to charge objects with kinetic energy for highly illegal (and therefore profitable) heists.–Minimate box biography.
As a huge fan of Gambit, I was excited to see Minimate finally create a figure of him, and I wasn’t disappointed! The Ragin’ Cajun’ has a solid sculpt, intricate detail, and a nice paint job to match. He is dressed in his trademark magenta and black suit with magenta lines down each leg. He’s also wearing his silver armored boots that have the similar knee-high guards that we see in the comics, his black face-framing mask, and fingerless black gloves. His hair is sculpted to a dark brown organized mess and his face is painted with slight stubble to give him his rugged look. Gambit also has his trademark red and black eyes, which is fantastic to see after many figures of him that either lack or screw up that aspect.
High points: The accessories Gambit comes with is more than any other of the Minimates I currently own. He comes with a bo staff and two extra hands. One hand is holding a bio-kinetically charged playing card held in his trademark pose between thumb and forefinger. The other extra hand makes it look as though he is throwing three charged cards. The cards are made with a pink semi-opaque plastic, which looks a lot more appealing than solid pink.
Low points: The hard plastic trench coat limits Gambit’s posing abilities. The trench coat is difficult to remove, as you have to remove the head and wiggle the darn thing around just to get it off. Of course, once you remove the jacket, Gambit’s arms are still brown, so save yourself the trouble and leave the coat on.
Overall: 4 out of 5
Psylocke: Twin sister of Captain Britian, Elizabeth “Betsy’ Braddock became the hero Psylocke after her own telepathic and telekinetic mutant abilites manifested. One body swap and resurrection later, she ranks among the most skilled martial artists in the omiverse. —Minimate box biography
Another favorite of mine makes it into Minimate form as well! With a simple costume compared to Gambit, you’d expect Psylocke to be less detailed and less impressive than Gambit. Luckily, you’d be wrong. She flaunts her classic blue ninja swimsuit with poise, including arm guards, arm bands, thigh-high boots, leg bands, and magenta waist sash with the X logo front and center. Her asian beauty is captured in her slanted blue eyes and full red lips.
High points: Again, I’m happy because there are props with the figures in this set. Psylocke has the option to carry a katana, and her trademark psi-knife is also present, which is cast in the same semi-opaque plastic as Gambit’s bio-kinetic cards. Psylocke’s waist sash is much more pliable than Gambit’s trench coat and won’t get in the way of dynamic posing.
Low points: There is evidence of paint bleeding where her arm and leg bands meet skin. Since the window packaging only shows the figures from about the chest up, it’s hard to tell how good a paint job you’ll get without having to open the box. Her hair severely limits how much her head can turn, making her face forward almost all the time. For some reason, the hand which has the psi-knife falls out easily; whether this is just an independent defect or something more widespread, I’m not sure, but heads up anyway.
Overall: 4 out of 5
More pictures to come.
Until next time!
Dee McNamara
contact@comicattack.net
AWESOME REVIEW!!
Since they’re still making these things, I guess I’m in the minority of thinking they’re totally hideous and not at all cute.
What’s the pricing like?
These look totally cool for collectors. I would love to collect figures, statues and busts but the wallet can’t handle it in this tumultuous time we live in.
Aw, Kris, come on. They’re a little cute… ^_^
Retail pricing is about $7.00 for the set, but I’m sure there are all kinds of deals online.
Awesome that they’re detailed and accurate. And awesome that you give so much info. The good and the bad, that people would NOT know unless they bought it and tinkered with it a little. Plus your personal rating? Sweet review!
Minimates have always been a mixed bag for me. I’ve seen some pretty decent sets but some are just priced too high for only 2 or three figures. The only ones I own are a Ryu and Akuma set I got from a toy store that was mixed in some bin for like 3 bucks!
Haha, no, I really don’t think they’re cute at all. I’m also not fond of the Mighty Muggs.
But the pricing on these things is decent.