As I type this, Comic-Con International (SDCC) is currently underway in San Diego with the biggest names in pop culture coming together for their annual gathering. On the toy front, the exclusives are many, and Hasbro has some stellar offerings – a few of which they sent to me for early review here at Rock Father™ HQ. One of the biggest and most-anticipated is the MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES DEFENDERS RAIL AUTHORITY 5-PACK. This set brings together five characters from Marvel Studios’ Netflix Original Series, The Defenders, each presented in super-articulated 6″ format. Packaged in a box that’s made to look like a NYC subway car, this thing is a sight to behold with JESSICA JONES, LUKE CAGE, DAREDEVIL, IRON FIST, and COLLEEN WING all ready to defend the residents of Hell’s Kitchen and beyond!
Priced at $124.99, this set is pointed firmly at the “adult collector,” and Comic-Con packaging often assumes that the figures contained within will not be freed from their plastic bubbles. The exterior sleeve of the rail car is chromed cardboard that easily slides off to reveal the interior window box. There’s a nice scene that depicts our heroes likely headed home after and exhausting adventure, but I had to crack it open.
My goal was to keep the packaging intact as a display piece/playset, and I did it – but it took around a half hour to remove all of the bands, straps, tape and bubbles holding it all together – but it was worth it. The train car is reusable and perfect for displaying these figures or doing some toy photography.
The figures use Hasbro’s recent advances in face technology – something I’d first seen in the Star Wars The Black Series range. Rather than paint the faces and risk sloppy apps, they’re now “printed,” which means lifelike detail that was previously only available on far more expensive display pieces. The result is that these toys look like the actors who portray the characters on-screen.
There’s a few accessories included, like Colleen’s sword and Dardevil’s sticks, but the inclusion of swappable heads for Matt Murdock/Daredevil is a great touch. I’ve enjoyed the head-swaps in the past, though my wife thinks the availability of multiple heads is “creepy.”
“Some heroes make headlines; others make police reports. For the roguish band of vigilantes dubbed The Defenders, the battle for justice is riddled with gray areas. From Hell’s Kitchen to Harlem, this crew of so-called heroes must join forces to stop the radical group known as The Hand from destroying the place they call home: New York City. Though their methods may be unconventional, their motives are clear: defend and protect the city at all costs – even if it means sacrificing themselves in the process.”
As the Marvel Legends collection continues to expand (more figures were just announced), I expect this to become a sought-after piece that many will want as new fans start to get in on the action. Bottom line – get it now before they start hitting the secondary markets! If you can’t pick this one up at SDCC, limited quantities should make their way to HasbroToyShop.com.
