Saturday, September 26, 2015

Marvel Legends Dr Strange

Presenting the Marvel Legends Infinite Series Dr Strange Hulkbuster BAF action figure.

Doctor Stephen Vincent Strange is a brilliant but arrogant neurosurgeon - sounds a lot like Tony Stark (Must be a mustache thing for Marvel. He's also a bit of a playboy) - who loses the fine motor control of his hands in a car accident, ending his career.

Ruined, penniless and desperate to regain control of his hands, Doctor Strange turns to the rumored healing powers of a mystic hermit in the Himalayas.

Dr Strange finds the Ancient One who refuses to heal him because of his arrogance and selfishness. However the Ancient one senses that there is an innate goodness in Doctor Strange and instead offers to teach him the mystic arts.

Dr Strange refuses, but is kept from leaving due to a blizzard. While waiting he witnesses an attempt at the Ancient One's life by Baron Mordo. He confronts Mordo and is mystically shackled while Mordo leaves to continue his assassination attempt. Desperate to stop him, Doctor Strange pledges to learn from the Ancient One. The Ancient One then releases him stating that he was aware of Mordo's plot from the beginning and wanted to see what Dr Strange would do. Steven Strange becomes his apprentice and Baron Mordo declares himself his mortal enemy.

Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme, Master of the Mystic and Black Arts was born.


Unfortunately, Sorcerer Supreme is a title that he would lose and win back a few times over the years. First when he refused to fight for the Vishanti; Another time when he refused to become one with the universe, and; most recently when he renounced the title after declaring himself unworthy due to the destruction of his hands by the War Hulk, and his inability to completely control Black Magic when he was forced to use it.  The title was passed on to Brother Voodoo.

Healed, this is the uniform that the new Doctor Strange used when he rejoined the New Avengers. It was in this weakened state that he was defeated by the X-Men's Magik in her dimension of Limbo. Doctor Strange would later regain his status again as Sorcerer Supreme.

His blister card reads "Whether by spell-casting sorcery or spectral manipulation, these heroes wield immense power!" Doctor Strange is the alternate of the Vision. Both characters are known for their ability to go intangible.

What's to like about the Marvel Legends Infinite Series Doctor Strange?

FIRST: The uniform. Yes, the uniform indicates a huge loss of power for Doctor Strange and he's obviously lacking the power of the Eye of Agamotto and the Cloak of Levitation, but he looks much more tactical and with the lessened power comes a level of humility that brings his normally snooty self down to Earth. It's also practical enough that you can imagine him fighting hand-to-hand (He's a master of several martial arts).

And it's certainly a step up from the black tights and mini-skirt that he used to wear.


SECOND: Unlike the first Marvel Legends Doctor Strange that had that bulky Cloak of Levitation and quite weak legs, this incarnation of Dr Strange has incredible articulation and is a joy to pose - especially with the energy arcs (Recycled from the Scarlet Witch) added to his hands:


Doctor Strange's kama is made of hard plastic so he loses some leg articulation, but he can still be made to kneel:



What's NOT to like about the Marvel Legends Infinite Series Doctor Strange?

FIRST: Nothing really other than the loss of articulation thanks to the hard kama. We suppose we could grip about the recycled Scarlet Witch energy bands, but we don't really think they're a problem.

It would have been nice if they gave Doctor Strange a different set of casting, or non-casting, hands.

He's also not very photogenic.

The translucent, "Astral Traveler" version found in the SDCC Book of Vishanti would be a really interesting pair for this figure!

The Marvel Legends Infinite series Doctor Strange Hulkbuster BAF action figure is available on Amazon for  US$ 21.99 (Roughly PhP  1,033,53 plus shipping). He's not as rare as we would have expected.


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