Welcome to our review of the 2018 Black Panther Marvel Legends release. Black Panther headed up his own wave in early 2018 to coincide with the movie release and was packed alongside MCU figures of Nakia and Killmonger, as well as comic book characters Black Bolt, Namor and Iron-Man. Each figure (except Iron-Man) carried a Build-a-Figure piece to construct a 4th MCU figure in Okoye, Black Panthers loyal Dora Milaje bodyguard.
Packaging 5/5
Compared to other colour schemes used on the scooped Marvel Legend packaging, there is something impactful about the choices made for the Black Panther movie figures. The figure backdrop is a golden orange colouring and this is carried through as highlighting on the images on either side of the box. In contrast these images are drawn in shades of blue, and it is blue lettering that is used around the packaging and as a border for the character name.
On the rear of the box we have a promotional image of the figure, a short bio and then the usual BAF checklist for the Okoye figure
"A warrior and defender of Wakanda, T'Challa is the hero of Legend, Black Panther"
Sculpt & Paint 3/5
Black Panther comes out of the pack with his helmet/mask in place. While this looks quite plain, there is actually a lot of detail built in when you get up close with panels of intricate mesh between the elements of the mask. The head, and indeed the body, are all cast in black plastic and the only paint applications on the head are the white eyes and the silver trimming. Both are neat and crisp with no obvious issues.
The body, like the head, is cast in black plastic and is also cast with a lot of textural detail in the sculpt. All of this flows around a muscular body shape. The black is broken by the various silver detailing, starting with the necklace. Here you can start to see some paint complaints as the silver only partially covers each tooth. The same happens around the wrists and shins. Considering this is the only paint on the figure it would have been nice for it all to be applied neatly and without issue.
There is a second head included with the figure and this pops on and off well with no concerns. The head uses the face print technology and yet the likeness to Chadwick Boseman is not the best. There is something about the frown and the deep ridged eyes that throw off the portrait. While the likeness may not be spot on, the printing element is really nice with shaded skin tones, natural eyes and a good looking beard.
There is a very weird hairline for T'Challa with a strange point in the centre of his forehead. While this is trying to be accurate to the movie look, it actually looks like a flap of excess paint. The hair itself is too flat, it should have some body and instead it looks more like a buzzcut. It is also not painted too well with the hairline showing skin tone where hair should be.
And while I don't want to seem over critical, there is something not quite right about the unmasked head and the neck piece, particularly if you look from the side. The head seems to hit too high and the neck seems elongated?
As well as an alternative head, T'Challa comes with an alternate set of hands also. This allows you to have fists or open claws when displaying him. Both are proportioned well and swap in and out with a simple click. The clawed hands have a bit of paint applied for the claws.
Articulation 5/5
Black Panther is one of the most articulated Legends figures I have had the pleasure of posing to date - up there with the likes of Spider-Man. T'Challa has 21 points of articulation that start with a ball joint pivot neck joint that allows either head to rotate and look up and down. There is a pivot chest piece which gives the ab crunch movement to bring Black Panther into more "crouching poses". The torso joints finish with a waist that rotates although when this one is moved the lines of the figure is thrown out.
The arms are butterfly jointed at the shoulder with a ball joint behind this for full movement of the arm and the ability to bring the arm in past the chest. There is a bicep swivel and double jointed elbows, and we finish with pivot wrists.
The legs are ball jointed hips, with a thigh swivel and double jointed knees. The ankle rocker are solid and the feet hold up Black Panther really well in both neutral and action posing.
With all this movement you won't be short of poses for T'Challa. Being a very athletic figure I would also recommend getting a flight stand to support some action posings of T'Challa leaping into battle.
Accessories N/A
Black Panther doesn't come with any accessories, not that he uses many in the movies. It might have been nice to include the Wakandan blade he uses to finish off Killmonger, but considering we get two heads and four hand options we can forgive them.
The great thing about the masked head is that if you wish you can pose Black Panther holding his helmet - so an accessory of such.
Summary
Black Panther is a subtle figure with a great depth of sculpting that gives the impression of differing shades of black without any significant paint apps. The articulation is excellent, and only the waist joint throws off the look of the figure when posed. That being said there are imperfections with the little paint we do get with unpainted sections on the suit that should be silver. I am also not convinced by the Boseman head sculpt with its odd expression, odd hair sculpting and the little flap of what you think is misplaced paint.
I score the 2018 Black Panther a 3 out of 5 and look forward to perhaps an improved Boseman head sculpt and a crisper Black Panther in the 2nd wave.
