This figure was kindly sent over to us to review courtesy of Hasbro UK
Over the past few years, Hasbro has released a number of 1:1 scale replica items in their Marvel Legends line including the Iron-Man helmet, Captain America's Shield, and versions of Thor's Stormbreaker and Mjolnir. The latest addition to the line was badged as part of the Infinity Saga Series and took the shape of the Iron-Man Nano Gauntlet as seen in Avengers: Endgame.
The piece comes boxed in a dark black rectangular package that is illustrated with images of the Nano Gauntlet as well as some calls outs of the key features. Inside the gauntlet is packed around a shaped cardboard interior to keep it safe.
The first job out of the box is to install the batteries which - as illustrated in the included instruction leaflet - are contained behind a clip-off panel at the base of the piece. The Gauntlet takes three AAA batteries which are not included.
With the batteries installed and the cover panel repositioned we can now look at the Gauntlet which measures nearly 18 inches from base to fingertips. It is cast in red gloss plastic with gold and gunmetal silver added panels over the top. There are slots for each of the Infinity Stones and we will explore that shortly. On the palm section, we have a circular repulsor, although this is coloured silver and not as we might expect the glowing white. This underside also presents with a lot of exposed screw holes and fixings, these are not as well hidden as perhaps they are on some of the other roleplay items.
The piece is designed as an adult role-play item and can be worn. To help with this there is a hinge in the wrist area, and each of the fingers has a rubber base to them allowing the fingers to be moved - although you won't have full grip or motion as you would have in a glove. This rubber is also going to be the weak spot of the piece and will deteriorate. While this made for an adult I found I could not get my hand through the slimmest part - the wrist - and therefore cannot wear the glove. Unlike the helmets, there are no adjustable options for different sizes. For reference, I do not have excessively large hands and wear just a Large glove (palm width of just under 4 inch) for work purposes.
I mentioned the empty slots earlier and in the box you will find a pack of all six Infinity Stones, making your task much easier than that of Thanos or the Avengers. Each stone is shaped with a rugged gem-like top section but a more smooth central piece and flat base to fit into the sockets. They are cast in translucent plastic which we will see then lights up as they are installed into the glove.
You don't have to remember the order as such for the gems as each one is shaped with a rear socket which means they only fit in their identified socket. There is some magnetic tech used also that pulls them into position (which feels really cool) and once in place, the gem lights up, and the sound FX kicks in.
As you work through the gems the Sound FX seems to build in intensity until the final gem is added and the glove powers up fully with more sounds and a flashing pattern on the Infinity Stones. They then stay lit up for a period of time until the battery saver kicks in and the Sound FX plays a powering down the piece and the lights go out. You can re-engage the lights by pressing any of the stones, each one playing a slightly varied piece of FX.
There is a final feature included which requires you to be wearing the glove (my son had to do this for me). When you click your fingers the final piece of FX plays as the Infinity Stones are activated.
The Iron-Man Infinity Gauntlet is certainly a wearable piece for those with smaller hands, but its beauty is in display functionality. Like the other Infinity Gauntlets before it, the Gauntlets stands in an upright position - without any need for stands or brackets - and presents as a centre-piece of any Marvel Cinematic Universe Collection, either alongside other roleplay items or perhaps in a mixed collection with Marvel Legends figures.
It is not cheap and retails around £120, but for the size and with all of the built-in lights and sounds to tinker with, it certainly put a smile on my face and will be a great focus in my MCU collection.
Grab your Iron-Man Nano Gauntlet from our affiliates at Amazon or Zavvi, or via your local stockist.
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About Me : As a child of the 70's and 80's I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force) and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licences - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...