This toy may just look like some dude in regular clothes, but it is in fact a superhero in costume. Keep reading for a look at the modestly dressed Marvel Universe Luke Cage in the latest in a string of Marvel Comics related reviews.
Name: Luke Cage
Line: Marvel Universe, Series 2, Figure 009
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Released: First Quarter 2010
Price: $7.99-$9.99
Scale: Figure is 4.50 in. tall
Accessories: Hat, necklace, steel beam, and figure stand
Sponsor Listings: Past Generation Toys-$11.95
Luke Cage looks pretty good when you consider any individual part. It's when you look at him as a whole that the image starts to fall to pieces. Each body part is excellently detailed with muscle or wrinkles, and generally looks like it belongs on a buff human, but putting the parts together results in a deformed fellow with some odd proportions. Just look at the tiny waist in relation to his hips, or especially in relation to the top of his thighs which jut out even farther. Frankly, his thighs appear a tad off from any angle. His hands and head aren't much better, looking odd when they're posed near one another. And then there is the tiny little butt, which looks totally ridiculous compared to the rest of his body.
Cage's head doesn't look too bad from straight on, yet as you get closer, you can see that it's much too pinched in the front, resulting in a wedge-like head. His glasses are surprisingly well defined given the small scale, though he also has an odd blemish underneath his lips that I suspect was supposed to be some sort of facial hair patch. It doesn't look like one. His necklace accessory is a shade too big, though it hugs nicely to his torso, so it's better than it could have been. The letters are sloppy, but decent enough that you can usually make out what it says without too much trouble. His bent steel beam is a fun addition that looks convincingly enough like it should, and it also fits into his open grasp well. The final accessory is a very fine looking hat.
Sculpt Score: 6 / 10
Luke Cage's paint is mostly a mess. His arms have an ugly splotchy black wash added on, which may not have looked too terrible were it at least consistent with other parts of his skin which remained perfectly smooth in tone. His blue jeans suffer from a similarly hideous and inconsistent wash. I appreciate the effort for these extra effects, but they were all so poorly executed. The few intricate details that do exist are only slightly better, such as the crisp belt buckle that's on a very sloppily painted belt that's inside moderately clean belt loops. His face might look messy in the up-close image at the end of the review, but in person it's okay (remember how much bigger the photo is than reality) with clean sunglasses and a defined goatee. The gold chain is a nice color but has a pink spot on the text, while the bent beam has misplaced glitter worked into the paint.
Paint Score: 5 / 10
One place this figure doesn't suffer is in the articulation department. This is a standard Marvel Universe articulation model, which is rather good for figures in this scale. Luke Cage's joints take full advantage of the model as well, as each retains its full range of motion and helps to create some good posing opportunities. Even the hips on this figure feel less sticky and weak than usual (and they don't pop off with a gentle graze), so he holds poses a little more effectively on his own than many past releases. When that's combined with his stand, this is a poseable and well-balanced figure that's loads of fun for play or display.
Articulation Score: 9 / 10
Part of the fun with superheroes is that they wear crazy costumes. Luke Cage doesn't capture that whimsical feel too well, resulting in what basically looks like a random, well-built guy that may not grab many people's attention. I'm not suggesting that a far-out Power Man figure would have been better, but it might have been a bit more entertaining. You have to take it on faith that this guy can stand up to Thor or the Hulk, so unless you're already a fan, the character isn't going to be much fun on his own. His accessories definitely make up for that, because any time chunks of rubble are used as an effective weapon, I want to be a part of it. The giant steel-beam-bat looks deadly and works well in his hand, which when combined with his removable hat and necklace, offers some fun alternatives for displaying him. A figure stand never hurts, and the extras included in the package (a card, a "secret document", and online code) certainly help a lot too.
Fun Score: 8 / 10
At over $8, there are much cheaper figures in this same scale and quality. It might seem even more outrageous to pay that much for a generic looking toy like Luke Cage. On the other hand, he's constructed better than most Marvel Universe figures, and regardless of appearance, he is a major Marvel character. There are also the three nifty little accessories to factor in, along with the stand. The other packaged extras may only be appealing to big-time Marvel fans or the younger generation, but you can't ignore the cost and entertainment value they add. If the sculpt and paint were a little better, I would be more willing to add a point here.
Value Score: 6 / 10
68 / 100 - This is an Okay Toy
Luke Cage is a good example of a pretty poor toy from a technical standpoint. Unlike most weak toys though, he overcomes his bad sculpt and paint scores by being articulated and equipped for fun. He's certainly not a must-buy, but if you're a fan of the character or the line, and have a few extra bucks to spend, Luke Cage probably won't disappoint you too much.
-The Articulated One
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