One A Day 2.0: Day #163 - Maximus Boltagon

[puckace]

Classic Mongoose would be a purchase. The other look is a pass.

 

[DetectiveHoag]

Yes to a Handbook Mongoose Legends figure.

 

[tasmaniantwister]

Definite yes for classic Mongoose.

 

[Thor-El]

Absolutely “Yes!” to classic Mongoose. Any chance to get a Thor villain is welcome.

 

[Justice]

No to Varnae and Mongoose. Yes to Puppet Master.

 

[Akatsuki]

Yes to Mongoose!


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[PantherCult]

Yes to Mongoose. Would be a very fun character to have

 

[Beamish]

I'm sure everybody knew who was gonna be in the spotlight today...
Day #122 - Mandarin

Today's entry will be a little different. Instead of my usual "would I buy this" and "which version", let's break down several of Mandarin's classic costumes and discuss if they are doable, and what tweaks (if any) would need to be made to make them appropriate for Disney/Marvel/Jesse to sign off on.
Does a more traditional version of Mandarin evoke the same ire amongst Disney/Marvel people as M'Baku did? Who else has traditional looks that are completely off limits?
Does altering facial hair suffice? The long-clawed fingers are apparently a non-issue since the new figure has them.

I can only use 20 pictures, so if I didn't use your favorite look, please add it. I combined looks from various timeframes.


1) 1964 First Appearance and variations of that costume

2) 1977 Costume

3) 1984 costume and variations

4) Acts of Vengeance armor (1989)

5) Dragon Seed Saga (1991), other robes and ceremonial attire

6) Red Armor (1992) and other armors

7) Iron Man Animated Series (1994) and animated inspired

 

[Chooch555]

I really don't understand why any of them are not doable. For my personal nostalgia hit I'd go with the Acts of Vengeance armor.

 

[TheGillMan]

I really like Mandarin in some sort of ceremonial robe. I know to many that screams of "yellow peril" type of stereotyping, but since I grew up watching so many martial arts movies, he just feels like that kind of villain to me in those looks (plus, I think those robes are freaking beautiful). I have my doubts we'll ever see these, and I totally understand the reluctance to go that direction, but to me Mandarin is a classic Kung Fu movie type of villain that the scrappy street kid or the devoted monk would have to defeat.

Aside from those looks, I really dig the red armor.

 

[SDcomics]

Yes please to a classic Mandarin!

Get it done, Hasbro.

 

[Justice]

Every Mandarin pictured above would have been a better choice than the one we got. I've always been partial to the Dragon Seed Saga and Acts of Vengeance looks myself. I had one of the DSS issues of Iron Man with that Mandarin on the cover and it was the only issue of Iron Man I ever owned. Then I was also a huge trading card fan and he was featured in series 1 of those in the armored look, which was actually my first exposure to the character.

 

[fingfangfoom]

Any of these Mandarin costumes would be better than the one that they're releasing.

 

[DetectiveHoag]

The biggest issue I see with the Mandarin isn’t one of political correctness. His looks have evolved beyond the stereotypes, while still keeping true to his cultural heritage. Many of the outcries tend to forget that, though Mandarin is an American comic creation, his character is *gasp* Chinese. Once more, a man that’s deeply rooted in, and proud of his heritage. It only makes sense that his styles would be influenced by that. Any of his looks are workable, although the English ‘M’ should be replaced with an identifying mandarin symbol conveying thee name. All that said, my personal preferences are for the AoV Armor, or either of the red armors. I agree that the robed looks are elegant, and culturally appropriate, but difficult to pull off on an action figure. The attempt(s) we got at that were glorified traffic cones. I’d welcome a Hasbro attempt at a better version, but I’m still going to vote for the armored versions.

 

[tasmaniantwister]

Just checked out the new figure. Not a big fan of just putting him in a business suit and have never seen any version of him with long white hair. My first exposure to him in comics was as a little kid with a copy of the first Avengers Annual. That's a version of the original costume, image #3. To me, that's the most comic book-like version of his look. If we're playing haberdasher, I think the purple/magenta/pinkish and green costume is what I'd most like. Ditch the goofy M on his chest. Rein the beard and mustache in a little. Costumes #3 and 4 are fine. The robes are beautiful but I just keep thinking how is he walking without tripping all over himself. Don't particularly like the green skin, but otherwise I think the Toybiz armor with a helmet and the looks on the 3.75 inch figures would have been fine. Also, not a fan of the long hair. If we're talking stereotypes, I'd say the next to last image is the one that probably most fits. That one looks like Flash Gordon's Ming the Merciless.