I admit I am not a very nostalgic person but there are a few things I do get nostalgic for in comics. The first, as I mentioned in my review of Dr. Strange, is the Defenders and the other is Power Man and Iron Fist. Like the Defenders, Power Man and Iron Fist turned the norm of the superhero book on its head and gave us a new dynamic. Long before the buddy movies like Lethal Weapon came about there were these two, the Odd Couple with super-powers. Many of their adventures were whimsical and often laughable, but there were fun as well and that is something sorely missing in modern comics.
Normally in a comic pack review I say very little about the comic itself, but this time I have to mention the little walk down memory lane. The story is an direct reference to Doctor Who (which has been running over 50 years) where a “Professor” who is found in a bookstore that is larger on the inside than the outside accidentally unleashes the Dreadlox (Who are clearly the Daleks but instead of “Exterminate” they repeat “Incinerate”). It’s a funny story with some great Odd Couple moments with Luke and Iron Fist. The funniest part is the whole time they believe it is a publicity stunt gone wrong. But it was nice to read a self contained story in one issue that was fun, light hearted, and dare I say a bit wordy. Sure, printing old comics on glossy paper enhances some of the flaws inherent in the old ways of printing, but I have come to accept it with these reprints and try to enjoy them for what they are.
When I found this pack, I was absolutely giddy, yes I said giddy. I love these guys in these looks, sure they are loaded with yellow but it was one of the few things that made them stick out. I know many who prefer modern looks might not understand this, but to me some characters work better with more color and Power Man and Iron Fist fit that bill.
To me, Iron fist shows what a few minor adjustments can do to improve a figure. His first and second releases seemed bland an boring but this one looks very dynamic and vibrant. The belt and new ties to the mask add a great deal to the figure with minimal effort. The torso is new which is a surprise and has Iron Fist’s trademark huge collar. Some might call the design dated and I am not one to argue with that. But I will say the more modern design is a bit bland while the old one stood out much better.
Even though there are no accessories with either figure, they still work. Iron Fist is the exact version of Iron Fist I was wanting way back when he was first released, he fits that bill perfectly.
The added bonus is the great Power Man figure as well. Nearly a perfect representation of Luke Cage early in his career. Unlike Iron Fist, Luke’s look did improve over time. Still the nostalgic side of me was longing for a proper Power Man and now I have it. Luke has an extra waist articulation and to be honest I wish this extra became more standard for the MU line.
The torso is new, but the legs are very familiar. Some of this is fine in a toyline, but it is a bit disconcerting to see Hasbro recycling the Wrecking Crew’s legs as they have done with almost every “big” character. The head also has the extra hinge which is great but his outfit does limit him somewhat. However, he can look down effectively rather than most figures.
Overall, I would have to call this a must buy. I would suppose those who are not fans of the older looks of figures would pass on it, but that is the only reason I can think someone might. By far this is my favorite of the comic packs released to date.
Iron Fist: 4 ½ Stars
Power Man: 5 Stars
Overall: 5 Stars