As the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) officially charges into Phase Four, many of the original heroes who have been with fans since the beginning have taken their final bows. However, one of the Avengers' Big Three, the God of Thunder "Thor", has no plans to retire. After the epic conclusion of "Avengers: Endgame," he joined the Guardians of the Galaxy to find himself while traversing Earth, the cosmos, and the Nine Realms.
Now, their adventures are finally set to be revealed in the fourth installment of the series, "Thor: Love and Thunder". We're sure MCU fans everywhere have been waiting with bated breath.
In this new story, the sparks flying from Thor teaming up with the Guardians of the Galaxy are sure to bring plenty of laughs. Meanwhile, the return of Thor's love, Jane Foster, who gains the power of Thor to become The Mighty Thor, is bound to create some dramatic shockwaves. And what kind of world-ending catastrophe will the new villain, Gorr the God Butcher, unleash?
We'll have to discover all that in theaters and see just what kind of spectacular story Korg... uh, I mean, director Taika Waititi, has in store for us!
Besides the highly anticipated film, the merchandise is, of course, an essential highlight for us toy collectors! And as expected, the "Marvel Legends" series, which always seems to be the first to drop new action figures, has not disappointed. The wave for "Love and Thunder" was announced lightning-fast right after the teaser trailer dropped and then hit shelves less than two weeks later, much to the delight of fans.
Produced by the internationally renowned toy company "Hasbro", Marvel Legends is a 6-inch scale (1/12) action figure line that encompasses a massive roster of classic characters from comics, animation, video games, and live-action film and television. The character selection is second to none. Furthermore, the line's high level of articulation and durable joints are major reasons for its widespread popularity. The introduction of Photo Real Technology in 2017 elevated the realism of live-action head sculpts to a whole new level. When it comes to a balance of sculpting, articulation, and head sculpt accuracy, Hasbro's Marvel Legends series is an absolutely fantastic value.
This "Love and Thunder" wave includes a total of seven figures and one BAF (Build-A-Figure, a long-standing Marvel Legends tradition where collecting parts from each box allows you to assemble a separate bonus figure). And there are no duds in this lineup—every single figure is a key character set to appear in the film. For dedicated fans of the MCU and Thor, this thunderous set is an absolute must-have!
▼Here are the stars of today's unboxing, a full 7+1 figure wave. The side of each box features character portraits for easy identification and display.
▼As is tradition, the top of the box usually features a character-related symbol. This time, the graphic highlights one of the movie's biggest selling points—the reforged Mjolnir, wielded by Jane Foster!
▼The back of the box clearly shows which BAF part is included with each figure.
▼ Ravager Thor
On a journey of self-discovery, Thor leaves his earthly allies and the people of New Asgard behind after the events of "Endgame." Donning a Ravager jacket, he embarks on a new adventure with the Guardians of the Galaxy. Of course, he hasn't forgotten his mighty weapon—Stormbreaker.
▼ This figure captures Thor's look from the movie after he's worked hard to get back in shape, complete with his signature red Ravager jacket. Accessories include Stormbreaker and the left arm for the Build-A-Figure.
▼ The head sculpt utilizes photo-real technology to replicate the likeness of Chris Hemsworth. The scar running across his right eye is present and accounted for. As for the right eye's color, a point of much speculation from the teaser trailer, the figure features a blue eye. It looks like we'll have to wait for the movie to find out what happened.
▼ The pattern on his undershirt is recreated with printed details. Also, does anyone else feel like the color scheme and leg wraps on the lower body are a nod to his classic comic book look?
▼ By adjusting the full range of articulation, you can achieve all sorts of dynamic and awesome poses. That's the enduring strength of the Marvel Legends series!
▼ And of course, if you want a totally rockin' pose, that's no problem at all!
▼ Mighty Thor
The true identity of this new hero is Thor's ex-girlfriend, Jane Foster. Chosen by Mjolnir, she becomes the new God of Thunder, fighting alongside Thor against a new threat sweeping across the Nine Realms.
▼ The figure recreates her live-action Mighty Thor costume from the film and comes with interchangeable helmeted and unhelmeted head sculpts. Also included is the reforged, crack-filled Mjolnir. The BAF part is the left leg.
▼ On the helmeted head sculpt, her eyes, mouth, and the mole on her cheek are all recreated with printed details.
▼ And the unhelmeted version is even more impressive, perfectly capturing the likeness of Natalie Portman.
▼ The hammer, once crushed by the hand of his evil big sister(?) Hela, has somehow returned. And it's brought a new Thor with it. Looks like we'll have to wait for the movie for the full story.
▼ This figure is a rare treat, featuring double-jointed elbows on a female character. Furthermore, the muscle definition on her upper arms is sculpted exceptionally well, reflecting the hard work Natalie Portman put in for the role.
▼ While most MCU fans knew Mighty Thor was coming, seeing her summon and wield Mjolnir in the teaser trailer was still an absolutely thrilling moment, wasn't it?
▼ King Valkyrie
A former member of the legendary Valkyrior and now the King of New Asgard, a responsibility entrusted to her by Thor. She will wield her sword, Dragonfang, to protect her people at all costs.
▼ The figure fully showcases Valkyrie's new look for the film—a new suit of armor based on a black-and-white color scheme. It comes with her signature weapon, Dragonfang, as well as the head and weapon for the BAF.
▼ The head sculpt captures the confident smile of actress Tessa Thompson.
▼ What's most impressive is her braided hair, which has been perfectly recreated with a detailed sculpt.
▼Just like the Mighty Thor figure, she features double-jointed elbows for an enhanced range of motion.
▼What unknown path will New Asgard take under her leadership?
▼Next up is Star-Lord, a.k.a. Peter Quill. The half-human, half-Celestial son of Ego, he was abducted from Earth as a child by the Ravager leader Yondu and raised to be a cosmic outlaw before making a name for himself as the leader of the Guardians of the Galaxy.
▼This figure sports his new look from the movie, with an all-new sculpt for his upper body coat and attire. He comes packed with his two signature blasters and the right arm for the BAF.
▼The head sculpt also utilizes Photo Real tech, perfectly capturing actor Chris Pratt's likeness... right down to the forehead lines.
▼The lower body is a reuse of a previous mold, and his dual blasters can be holstered on his hips.
▼Because the upper body is covered in multiple layers of soft plastic, the torso articulation is somewhat hindered. However, with a little finessing, you can still pull off dynamic combat poses like this.
▼Thanks to Thanos, every time I see these blasters now, all I can think of is... a bubble gun.
▼It's Groot, the tree-like alien who only says "I am Groot." A long-time partner of Rocket Raccoon, he joined Star-Lord's Guardians of the Galaxy. He ultimately sacrificed himself to save his teammates in "Guardians of the Galaxy" ("We are Groot"), only to be reborn from a surviving twig and grow into the adolescent Groot we see today. And just a heads-up... he's in his rebellious phase.
▼This version of Groot is a reuse of the adolescent body from the *Infinity War* three-pack, but comes with an all-new rifle, a dedicated gun-holding hand, two interchangeable vine-like hands, and the torso piece for the BAF.
▼The head sculpt is a new mold, with that adorable little green sprout still on top. The paint application on the eyes is a significant improvement over the previous three-pack release, offering a much more accurate on-screen look.
▼The body features incredibly rich sculpting, with a realistic and three-dimensional wood grain texture.
▼He can hold the included rifle with both hands.
▼You can also swap in the newly designed hand parts to show Groot unleashing his powers.
▼Even though this wave only includes two members of the Guardians (Thor: "Hey, wait, isn't this movie supposed to be about me?!"), we're still super excited to see them in action in "Love and Thunder"!
▼And here's Thor, rocking his brand-new battle armor from the film. A major departure from his previous color schemes, this armor features prominent gold and blue sections, complemented by his classic red cape and Stormbreaker. It looks like he's set to deliver a whole new kind of visual impact in "Love and Thunder"!
▼Beyond the color palette, the helmet is also drastically different from past versions. The masked design is reminiscent of a classic Viking helmet, giving it a strong Norse feel (IKEA, anyone?).
▼You could even argue the color scheme has a bit of an Egyptian vibe... In any case, the face beneath the helmet is rendered with Photo Real tech. It's worth noting that the long hair in the back is sculpted in a dynamic, flowing pose, which cleverly prevents it from hindering neck articulation—a smart design choice that definitely earns it some bonus points!
▼ "I am Thor, Son of Odin!!"
▼ In keeping with Marvel Legends tradition, the Thor figure is appropriately taller and more muscular than the others. This time is no exception, but don't let his size fool you—it doesn't compromise his articulation.
▼ A godly handover. Only Hasbro's Marvel Legends could satisfy fans with both Thor's new look and the Mighty Thor in a single wave!
▼ Gorr, also known as the God Butcher, is the mysterious new villain introduced in "Love and Thunder". In the comics, Gorr hails from a distant, barren planet plagued by famine and drought. Despite their unanswered prayers, his tribe clung to their belief in the gods. That faith was shattered when Gorr witnessed a battle between Knull, the god of the symbiotes, and a Celestial. He seized the fallen god's weapon, "All-Black the Necrosword," and embarked on a vengeful quest to slaughter every god in existence. How will the film interpret Gorr's descent into darkness? We'll have to wait and see!
▼ At first glance, this Gorr figure might seem a bit plain compared to the others, but that doesn't mean it lacks detail. A closer look reveals that the texture of his clothing is meticulously recreated with intricate sculpting.
▼ And the head sculpt is simply phenomenal. The photo-real printing technology vividly captures the features and spirit of actor Christian Bale, bringing him to life in 3D. The scars on his head, the veins, and even the deep-set eye makeup are beautifully rendered. Stare at it long enough, and it becomes genuinely unsettling...
▼ Beyond the head sculpt, the fine details continue with the scars and stitch marks running from his head down his neck and arms, his blackened fingernails, and the stains on his robes. It's all exquisitely crafted—a level of treatment befitting a main villain.
▼ As for his weapon, while we don't know if it shares the same origin as its comic counterpart, the battle-damaged finish on the blade is incredibly effective, truly living up to the name of a god-killing sword.
▼ In terms of articulation, while the long robes slightly hinder the lower body's range of motion, it's more than sufficient for striking imposing, powerful poses.
▼ The figure expertly captures the madness lurking beneath his calm exterior.
▼ "Prepare for the double kill!!!"
▼ Finally, let's unveil this wave's BAF. Once you've collected all the parts, it's time to assemble...
▼ Korg! After meeting Thor in the gladiatorial arenas of Sakaar, he became a key ally in the revolution. Korg later followed Thor to Earth, settling in New Asgard and helping him through a difficult (and reclusive) period. This time, he stands with Thor to face the threat of Gorr and protect his new home and best friend.
▼ The head sculpt is slightly different from the previous two-pack version, featuring a more serious expression. And by the way, not even the mighty photo-real tech could capture the likeness of the actor—or rather, the director—Taika Waititi himself (obviously).
▼ From the texture of the fur on his shawl and the goat-head carving on his belt to the leather bracers and flamboyant pants, not to mention the rocky skin texture, this figure is absolutely packed with detail.
▼ His only weapon is a hefty club, but given Korg's already impressive physique, the accessory almost seems a bit underwhelming in comparison.
▼ The range of articulation is still quite impressive and doesn't suffer just because he's a Build-A-Figure.
▼ From fighting side-by-side in a revolution to teaming up for video games, the bromance between Korg and Thor is absolutely rock-solid!
▼ "Team Asgard, ready for battle!!"
▼ And that wraps up our look at the Marvel Legends "Thor: Love and Thunder" wave! It's a rare treat to get an entire set dedicated to the movie's key players with absolutely no obscure filler characters. For MCU fans and Thor collectors, the question is: are you ready to add this to your collection?!
