2007 Hasbro
Marvel Legends
Wave 2 - Blob Series
X3 Juggernaut
MSRP: $9.99
BAF Piece: Hands
If any figure in Marvel Legends Blob Series would be tagged the underdog, would it be X3 Juggernaut?
X3 Juggernaut looked
very awesome in his 2-up prototype version shown at the 2006 SDCC. Then, months later, looked
very cheap in a PR shot for Wizard magazine. Fortunately, he rides somewhere in between. Removable helmet, good likeness to the actor Vinnie Jones are a few attributes that make this figure desirable, let's get into some of the nitty gritty details.
Packaging
Hasbro still producing the same beautiful package scheme as the first wave of Marvel Legends, The Annihilus Series. It still looks great, it still looks fresh and it still makes me that much more happy to buy the figure. All the color and illustration choices look great here. Nothing stands out as poor design or choices in illustration.
Score: 8
Sculpt / Design
Unless you go out and seek to compare (like I did) I doubt you will have any problems with X3 Juggernaut's sculpt and design as it relates to the costume. However, the toy over-embellishes the actor's physique quite a bit and the costume, while accurate is not precise. What I mean is that, yes all the details are sculpted into the costume as they should be but the straps on his torso for example are too thin, and certain parts of the costume are just place a little off from the costume. Again, if you're not putting the figure side by side with a photo of Vinnie Jones as the Juggernaut, you won't notice. Otherwise all attributes and details are sculpted skillfully and accurately, providing a realistic look, feel and texture. The likeness to the actor is passable but not uncanny. He actually looks a little like a bulkier faced Luke Wilson.
Score: 8
Paint / Color
Here we are again unfortunately, a bit of an underwhelming paint job, especially compared to what was shown at SDCC 2006. There is one spot on X3 Juggernaut that has an exceptional paint application --the bald head is sprayed with a brown with a very smooth transition that is darkest on top and fades as it goes down the sides and back of the head. They pull of very nicely the look of a few days old shaved head with this application. One thing that doesn't look right and may attribute to a not so perfect likeness are the eyes, they are much too light in color.
The skin tone looks better and less pale than previous attempts such as Annihilus Series' Banshee. Unfortunately the skin tone is absolutely dictated by the color of the plastic and there is no sort of paint application to add depth. That is, unless you count the medium brown patches of hair on the forearms, abs and chest between the leather straps. The ab hair does not look as awkward or as bad as previous pr shots released. The choice in color for the pants works, but they should be a bit darker and the color of the boots before the cut in articulation at the mid-calf don't match each other.
Score: 5
Articulation
Dare I say that X3 Juggernaut's articulation feels much more "ToyBiz" than other Blob Series figures (She-Hulk, Thor, Ultimate Wolverine, X3 Jean Grey) I've reviewed thus far. X3 Juggernaut features 32 useful Points of Articulation, here's the list: Neck hinge and swivel, true ball joint shoulders(counts as 2 points each), cut swivel biceps, single jointed elbows, double function wrists(hinge and swivel), ab hinge, waist swivel, true ball joint hips with cut swivel at the top of the leg, double jointed knees, mid-calf swivel and double function ankles (forward/backward hinge and left/right sway). While sufficient articulation, there are a few little annoyances -- the elbows only allow 90 degree hinge, the ab hinge makes the top half of the figure a little loose and wobbly side to side. I want to be clear that X3 Juggernaut is not loose as in falling over forward or backward, in fact the ab hinge has a very strong and sturdy ratchet inside. However, the ankles, in the left to right sway are very loose and can make it difficult to stand Juggernaut in certain positions. The last thing is the ratcheted ball joint shoulders are really loud clicks every time you turn them to the next niche.
Score: 6
Accessories
The removable helmet is a nice touch that I wouldn't have expected. It is very well sculpted and painted. It fits the figure perfectly, snug but not too snug and wouldn't come off on it's own unless dropped on the floor. I can't think of any other accessories that Juggernaut would need except for the included helmet "to protect his pretty face". Of course, he comes with The Blob's hands.
Score: 9
Value
X3 Juggernaut is a decent, medium sized figure with the necessary accessory. Nice packaging, includes Blob pieces. X3 Juggernaut is a great addition to your team of X-Men movie villains, X3 Jean Grey, Magneto and others, or you could have him displayed throwing Wolverine around.
Score: 7
Score Totals
Packaging: 8
Sculpt / Design: 8
Paint / Color: 5
Articulation: 6
Accessories: 9
Value: 7
Overall: 43 out of a possible 60
If you were into or have any of the previous X-Men and X-2 X-Men United figures, X3 Juggernaut is a great addition to the family. If you have an itch to assemble your Blob figure, you won't be wholly-disappointed in having to buy this figure with solid sculpt, decent likeness and good height and bulk. But if Movie figures just aren't your thing then that's fine too, this certainly isn't the most desirable figure out of the Blob Series and it is definitely not the worst (Ultimate Wolverine?).
Check out
X3 Juggernaut in the Database.