[Acquisitions] Avengers Iron Man Fusion Armor Mark VII

After a much-needed break, I'm back! I was originally planning to cover a whole lot of long overdue hauls for the next couple of weeks starting today but I was able to score some 1:18 Avengers movie figs a week ago and I thought it would be better to talk about the new figs now while they're still fresh instead of putting them again at the far end of my backlog, not knowing when I would be able to pay them some attention. I have a ton of acquisitions yet to be posted but I guess I'll be setting those old hauls aside until the Avengers fever dies down a bit. I don't usually do things this way but I firmly believe that this is the proper thing to do. So, let's do this!

As we've seen on countless teasers, trailers, posters, and set photos, the Iron Man Mark VII armor is a thing of beauty. The new design retains the elegance of the previous wine-and-gold armors but also gives the Armored Avenger some street cred for looking tough as nails, it's actually the best of both worlds! Yup, the Mark VII is sleek and sexy but it's not all about the looks for Tony Stark, as evidenced by the armor's bulk.  Hasbro nailed the Mark VII's transition into toy form almost seamlessly but in typical fashion, there are some issues that prevent the fig from being perfect. Yes, there are issues, but are they that relevant? It's time to find out.

The figure's overall sculpt is amazing. It's full of details and I really love how well the rounded parts of the armor (chest, calves) were handled. Aesthetically, it would seem that Hasbro's been taking some steps towards the right direction. Unfortunately, this fig is considerably small compared to the old Iron Man movie figs. The legs and arms are shorter while the torso and head are smaller, making this toy not only shorter but also slimmer. It's not a major deal-breaker but it's definitely a head-scratcher.

Paint-wise, this one gets an A. The traditional wine and gold hues have been tweaked a bit, they're now darker but you need not worry as the new colors actually work. The gold parts of the armor are no longer painted gold, they're now done in copper and I think that it's a change for the better. It's also worth mentioning that the paint apps are now applied consistently throughout the fig and that's a huge improvement over the previous releases. No, this Iron Man doesn't have pink parts unlike the Mark III, Mark IV, Mark V, and Mark VI armors from the Iron Man 2 line. The only issue I have regarding the paint is that the chest reactor (unibeam) and the palm repulsors don't get blue outer rims that simulate light but that's a very small nitpick.

Now, let's talk about articulation. Collectors and fans the world over have been complaining about Hasbro's decision to reduce the articulation of their action figures to bring down production costs and honestly, I feel my peers' pain. In fact, I've already made a vow to change my purchasing habits. Since the quality of the figs has immensely gone down to a level significantly lower than my standards, I have decided that I will no longer be buying complete waves of Marvel and G.I. Joe figs. Instead, I'll just be getting the ones that I deem necessary for my collection and go on with life. Going back to the topic, Iron Man Mark VII barely survives Hasbro's cost-cutting measures. The mid-torso, wrist, and ankle joints are now gone and the double-hinged knees have been replaced with swivel-hinged ones. The figure functions quite passably well for me despite the omissions but that's because I don't make my figs do crazy poses. So, if you want an Iron Man fig that can do that patented punching-the-ground pose, sorry bub, but this figure isn't your best bet. Heck, this fig can't even mimic the trademark firing-the palm-repulsor pose decently.

Okay, I've got more bad news for you. We all know that the suggested retail price for Hasbro's various 1:18 figs has spiked from 500 PHP to 550 PHP and that basically means we're getting ripped off big time! Not only are we needlessly paying 50 PHP more, we're also getting lower-quality figs and if those two cues are not enough to make you cringe, here goes the cold water: the Stupid Giant Accessories that come with each fig have gotten bigger and that fact is probably part of the company's way of justifying the price hike. Way to go, Hasbro! Luckily, this Iron Man fig doesn't get an accessory as hideous as the other figs come with but still, I don't really have much use for a spinning saw blade right now. The aforementioned accessory clips to the arm like a shield, in case you need to know.

At the end of the day, this fig is essential to my collection regardless of whether I absolutely like the fig or not. I'm such a huge fan of the character that snagging Iron Man figs off the shelves is almost like second nature to me. So, yes, I'm keeping this fig. It's not as good as it could have been but this type of mediocrity is what we've got to deal with from this point on, thanks to the decision-makers at Pawtucket.

Parting shots: