Released in April 2023, Mantis is part of the Marvel Legends Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 wave that is exclusively turned over to MCU figures from the movie and includes a Cosmo Build-a-Figure. The wave is packed in plastic-free packaging, using figure imagery alongside the usual artwork around the standard Marvel Legends box to depict the contents.
This is the second version of MCU Mantis in the Marvel Legends line, and the first as a single release with the original 2017 figure being a build-a-figure within a Guardians 2 wave. This new Mantis does share the entire body with the Nebula figure apart from the left arm which for Mantis is part of the uniform. Like the other uniformed figures, the blue in which the body is cast is too light compared to what ended up on screen and may or may not be based on earlier concepts. As a pre-movie release error, it is not huge and the uniform itself still features the rest of the key components with painted red stripe work on the chest arms and onto the thighs as well as the sculpted chest logo which is painted in a gold metallic finish. A separate belt piece is placed around the waist, cast in black and with silver painted details.
The head sculpt at first glance appears now, but I am fairly certain it is repurposed from the original BAF and very much demonstrates the power that photo-real print tech has and can deliver to a figure, The likeness to Pom Klementieff in the full Mantis make up it is pretty great, although a little solemn from a character who is often shown smiling. Her antennae are flexible plastic so they won’t break easily, while her hair is an added piece that flows down past her neck and sits over the shoulders of her body.
Mantis has 20 points of articulation over a fully pinless body. The extra two vs normal Legends figures are achieved via the bootcut which can swivel, adding a small benefit in movement to the legs. Mantis is supremely poseable including the ability to replicate some of her key poses and mannerisms - this is all supported by some open and gesticulating hands, particularly the right which has the two forefingers outstretched as though to touch her own forehead, or someone else's.
While every other figure in the wave features at least one, if not two or more additional pieces, Mantis has no accessories or swap-out parts. Accessories I can live without as Mantis does not wield any weapons as such. However, the figure might have benefitted from a spare pair of hands at least, giving some variation from the fixed poses on the ones fitted. Hasbro could have repainted and included the right hand from Nebula as an easy fix, but chose not to.
Out of all the Guardians 3 figures released for the movie launch, Mantis is probably the most accomplished in both looks and in execution of the full pinless body, articulation, and paintwork - even with that inaccurate blue finish. While she does share parts with Nebula, the figures still look sufficiently different to sit alongside each other in the wave and on display without obviously being the same body.
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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...