X-men the Movie was key in the evolution of comic book inspired films creating a franchise all of its own along with spin-offs and prequels it lead the way in big budget comic book adventures such as Spider-man and Hulk amongst others making long awaited big screen debuts. Since 2000 Marvel comics characters have dominated the box office year on year but prior to X-men the idea of big budget superhero movies were risky business and a lot of faith and hope were put on the cast and crew of X-men to put out something that would revitalise the genre and make good some of the promised movie adaptions years of attempts had failed to achieve. Of course no franchise is worth its salt without a good toy line and X-men not only succeeded in theatres but also toy outlets! here we look at each toy line from the first 3 X-men movies:
X-MEN:THE MOVIE
MAGNETO: Leader of the brotherhood of mutants. arch nemesis of the X-men and "frenemies" with Professor X, the master of magnetism as portrayed by Sir Ian McKellen is wonderfully recreated in this Toy Biz Action figure with fabric cape (with wire inserts for dramatic posing) and magnetised arm and foot this figure came also came equipped with a Train wreck diorama accessory and of course his trusty Helmet! One of my personal favourite figures from the Toy Biz that featured at least one figure for every major character that appeared on screen.
MYSTIQUE: Magneto's right hand henchwoman and shape shifting temptress has some of the movies best action scenes and is memorable for her controversial "nude" look! This figure came with a rubber wolverine shell you can slip over the figure to "transform" Mystique into Wolvie though it was ill fitting and unconvincing looking!
TOAD: as the name suggests Toad has certain amphibian quality's that lent themselves to some great stunts and action set pieces when Magneto's fearsome brotherhood came up against Xavier's X-men! This figure is the second version of the character that improved somewhat on the first, which came with hinged jaw (Think ventriloquist dummy) in which an elongated tongue can be inserted and spring loaded legs (which didn't work very well unless you intended Toad to fall flat on his face of course) This version adds a chain vest garment and removes the aforementioned action features to deliver a more standard looking figure, which features a very good likeness of actor *AHEM* stunt man Ray Park!
ROGUE: The most sympathetic and most well intentioned of the X-MEN rogue is just a normal teenager who discovers she has this horrifying mutation that prevents her form having any kind of bare skinned physical contact (unless she wants to potentially kill someone) when she meets Logan (AKA Wolverine) in a Bar they strike up an uneasy friendship that leads them to Xavier's school for the gifted, before Magneto lures her away and uses Rogues Unique gift for his own dastardly means!
This figure is one of three figures that were based on rouge, this particular one was part of a Logan vs. Rogue twin pack, If you place wolverines spring loaded clawed hand into rouges chest his claws appear as though they have stabbed her! Of course no such confrontation takes place in the film, rather Logan accidently impales her when she tries to wake him from a nightmare!
JEAN GREY: Jean is Xavier's greatest pupil she posses telekinetic abilities and like her mentor has some psychic powers, though as we discovered later in the films series, she is far more powerful then she even knows! I can't think of another movie tie in toy line that has so many females figures as the X-MEN MOVIE line and Ms Grey is one of the best, she comes with a mutated senator Kelly (A key figure in the campaign to "out" Mutants who is subsequently turned into a mutant himself via Magneto's machine)
X2:X-MEN UNITED
MAGNETO (MARK 2): X-2: X-MEN UNITED (or just plain old X-MEN 2 as it was known in the UK) superseded the original movie in almost every conceivable way, and Toy Biz's 2003 Action figure line certainly followed suit. Of course the 3 years between the realises of the first movie toy line and this one in toy technology terms is massive, detail and articulation had come a long way in the years between and it really shows in the Magneto figure particularly. Even though the costume changes were minor and Magneto's helmet was only slightly retooled there is a world of difference between the original figure and this one! as well as the above inherent improvements this figure has no gimmicky action features! no unsightly leavers anywhere to be found! and boasts a far superior looking likeness of Sir Ian!
LOGAN: Wolverine AKA Logan is arguably the most popular character in the X-men universe if not the movie-verse, and as a result has by far the most action figure incarnations! For X-2 there were no less than four different action figures based on him, which considering that there were only 9 figures in total is quite something! This one is wolverine in his street clothes, Typically if wolverine is depicted in casual wear he is known as Logan and Wolverine when is suited in his X-MEN digs! This figure comes an action feature similar to the earlier Wolverine figure from the first Movie line, if you move him by the waist his arm do a kind of slashing motion! This figure also boasts the best Hugh Jackman likeness as far as I'm concerned!
CYCLOPS: leader of the X-MEN Cyclops AKA Scott Summers emits powerful optic beams of red light from his eyes, which means virtually every Cyclops action figure has a battery and red light bulbs where his eyes should be! Its an action feature that actually makes a lot of sense of course and particularly works well in this figure, which like the original movie Cyclops has a removable visor! despite some minor costume changes and more sleek looking visor Cyclops hasn't changed all that much from movie to movie and I always thought the original figure boasted a pretty good likeness until this one came along! plus with the added articulation you can actually pose Cyclops to look as though he is operating his visor!
NIGHTCRAWLER: Though he made a total of one appearance the first three X-MEN films Nightcrawler remains one of the most memorable additions, deeply religious and pure of heart Nightcrawler's demonic appearance belies the kind and generous soul he actually is and he becomes invaluable to the X-MEN team when they attempt to rescue professor Xavier from the clutches of general William striker! This is the best figure from the range by far, the character likeness with all the intricacies of the movie make up is superbly detailed! along with plenty of articulation and a bendy tail for maximum posing!
X-MEN 3: THE LAST STAND
BEAST: Another big fan favourite Hank McCoy AKA Beast is one of the most fearsome yet intellectual of the X-MEN though he didn't appear on film until part three of the trilogy! still it was worth the wait as Beast is one the best things about the slightly disappointing third instalment. Unlike the first two Movies X-MEN 3:THE LAST STAND didn't actually receive a toy line as such, Toy Biz had ended the tenure with Marvel so it was over to Hasbro to produce several figures based on characters appearing in X-3 (four in all) spread out across their Marvel Legends range. Though a tad anaemic in variety the four standard figures produced (Beast, dark phoenix, colossus and juggernaut) are all nonetheless very decent figures indeed! high in articulation and detail as you might expect from figures that are aimed more squarely at the collectors market!
JUGGERNAUT: Appearing in the last of the X-men trilogy brotherhood member Juggernaut manages to put Wolverine through his paces and chase down Kitty Pryde in the final confrontation at the films climax! Though more of a jokey novelty character Juggernaut is still exciting and fun and is perfectly represented in this highly articulated figure from the Marvel Legends range with removable helmet and boasting a very good likeness of former footballer Vinnie Jones!
X-MEN MOVIE PROMOTIONAL ADVERTISMENTS
X-MEN started as a hugely successful comic book series to become an even more successful Movie series franchise! If you have been to the cinema to watch any one of the many comic book inspired films produced in the last 14 years then you already know the influence and importance of the initial X-MEN movie, which set the standard and paved the way for many more Marvel characters big screen adventures! not only did X-men set the standards for future comic book movies but also the action figures that were to accompany them! see bellow for all the x-men movie figures available:
X-MEN:THE MOVIE
Series 1:
-Cyclops
-Wolverine
-Storm
-Jean Grey
-Professor X
-Rogue
-Logan
-Magneto
-Mystique
-Toad
-Sabretooth
Series 2:
-Civilian Cyclops
-Denim Jacket Logan
-Battle suit Rogue
-Anti-magnetic wheel chair Professor X
-Slime trap Toad
-Arctic attack Sabretooth
Twin Packs:
-Logan Vs. rogue
-Wolverine Vs. Sabretooth
-Logan Vs. Magneto
X mutations:
-Classic Storm/Movie Storm
-Classic Toad/Movie Toad
-Classic Wolverine/Movie Wolverine
10" Figures:
-Magneto
-Wolverine
-Cyclops
Play sets:
-Magnetos Mutant Machine
-Lady Liberty play set
Vehicles:
-X-Jet
-Wolverine with X-Cycle
X2: X-MEN UNITED
Series 1:
-Super-poseable Wolverine
-Optic blast Cyclops
-Battle attack Logan
-Super-Poseable Nightcrawler
Series 2:
-Trench coat Cyclops
-Street fight Logan
-Claw strike Wolverine
-Super-poseable Iceman
-Magneto with magnetic door
12" Figures:
-Wolverine
-Cyclops
-Nightcrawler
Deluxe Figures:
-Wolverine
-Nightcrawler
Vehicles:
-X-Jet
X-MEN 3: THE LAST STAND
-The Phoenix (Jean Grey)
-Colossus
-Beast
-Juggernaut
