In 2020 Hasbro announced that they would be producing figures from the Fox X-Men Movies to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the original X-Men movie. The Fox Marvel Legends would sit as an anniversary line outside of the main Legends releases, and be made up of both single releases and two packs. Four sets were initially announced, with single figures of Wolverine and Mystique and a two-pack of Magneto and Charles Xavier. The line would expand further with releases from Deadpool 2 and exclusives - with two more Wolverine sets, including a 2-pack based on Logan, Wolverine's final outing in the X-Men Universe.
The X-Men Movie Legends do not utilise the standard Legends packaging and utilise a box format that is similar in size to those used for the MCU First Ten Years sets in 2018 and the 80th Anniversary series in 2019.
The box uses a steel grey base colour with yellow and black X-Men logo and an angled character name coming off this. The figure is presented in a shaped window against a bright yellow background with the Legends logo sitting just above this window on the top left. The side art moves away from the usual coloured movie prints to a silhouette image of Mystique with very subtle highlights on her neck and two bright white eyes as a point of focus. This image is repeated on both sides and also on the back - where there is no other details in terms of character background, movie details or even a checklist of other releases.
Once opened the figure slides out in the usual inner plastic tray, the yellow outer tray is now revealed as carrying another X-Men logo and provides a very stark backdrop to the blue skin of Mystique.
3.5
While a movie source is not directly quoted on the box, the initial press release confirmed that this is Mystique as inspired by the X-Men movies. The likeness is very much that as seen in the first batch of movies as played by Rebecca Romijn, and not the more modern Jennifer Lawrence version.
The likeness to Romijn is good and the texture of the skin is excellent around the eyes which are coloured in the deep red. The hair is perhaps a little out of line in terms of how it flicks out at the back and a flatter finish into the neck would have been nicer.
The entire body is cast in blue, with the same scales applied on the neck, chest, arms and legs the base blue is shaded and the scale sections painted neatly in a darker blue finish to finish the overall look.
4.0
Mystique includes an alternative pair of hands - with one pair of fits and one pair of open hands. Both are cast and sculpted to match the body with the applied textural scales. Swapping in and out is easy enough and the pegs feel robust despite the slim forearms.
We also have a transformed human left arm that is aimed to demonstrate Mystiques shapeshifting powers. This swaps out with the normal left arm at the shoulder. Again, the swap out process is painless and without issue.. This alternative hand includes a top section sculpted in blue with the rest of the arm left as flesh coloured with an open hand. It is a clever inclusion for a character like Mystique and looks great on display.
4.0
Mystique features 16 points of articulation, with full movement on all joints in lieu of the slim and unencumbered body design.
Head : ball joint neck with pivot
Body : torso ball joint
Arms : ball joint shoulder, concealed single joint rotating elbow, wrist pivot
Legs : ball joint hips, thigh swivel, double joint knees, ankle rockers.
The torso joint is the least mobile joint, rotating fully but with limited forward and backward lean. The arms work really well, including the additional "human" arm which is fully jointed in the same way. While only a single elbow joint exists, it bends to and beyond 90 degrees and allows the relevant combat stances or gestures you'd expect from Mystique.
The legs allow Mystique to crouch, sit and kneel - and with a bit of help from a stand she can also perform some impressive martial arts poses. All of Mystiques joints are secure and robust and she can stand perfectly well in most poses.
4.5
Mystique has grown from a generic background bad guy in the early films to an integral part of the Fox X-Men Universe, and it is great to have her in Marvel Legends scale. While this is the earlier version of Mystique, she represents the character really well in terms of sculpt, facial design and execution and the overall body shape and skin texture.
Articulation is excellent and all the joints work well and Mystique is very poseable including action and fighting stances. The box design works well, but I still fee l the back of the box is a missed opportunity to give collectors some background on the movie/character.
I score the Marvel Legends X-Men 20th Anniversary Mystique a total score of 4.0
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...
action figures, reviews, review, articulation, marvel, legends, wolverine, mystique, professor x, xavier, magneto, x-men, 20th anniversary, hasbro