Fantastic Four (minus two) by Toy Biz

The Fantastic Four were formed when four astronauts were bombarded by cosmic rays during an outer space test flight in an experimental rocket ship. Upon crash landing back on Earth, the four find themselves transformed with bizarre new abilities. Mr Fantastic (Reed Richards), scientist and leader, can stretch, twist and re-shape his body to inhuman proportions. Invisible Girl/Woman (Susan Storm), Reed Richards' girlfriend (and eventual wife) has the ability to bend and manipulate light to render herself and others invisible. She also develops the ability to generate force fields, which she uses for a variety of defensive and offensive effects. The Human Torch (Johnny Storm), Sue Storm's younger brother, possesses the ability to control fire, project burning bolts of flame from his body, and fly. The Thing (Ben Grimm), Reed Richards' college roommate and best friend, has been transformed into a monstrous humanoid with orange, rock-like skin and super-strength.

This Target Exclusive two-pack gave us half of the Fantastic Four, Mr Fantastic and the Invisible Woman. Reportedly, The Thing was scheduled for a Famous Covers figure when the plug was pulled on the line.

Fantastic Four was made into a movie in 2005 and the reason for watching it, Jessica Alba as Invisible Woman. In the movie version, there is a fifth astronaut and he is Victor von Doom.

Doctor Doom by Toy Biz

With a name like Victor von Doom, it seems that one is destined to be a villian. Victor is Reed Richards' rival and after a failed experiment which blows up and disfigures him, Victor goes about to cast his distinctive mask and armour, and sets out to dominate the world, as well as destroy Reed Richards and the Fantastic Four whom he blames for his disfigurement.

In the Fantastic Four movie, Doctor Doom is played by Julian McMahon, best known for the womanizing plastic surgeon Christian Troy on the TV show Nip/Tuck. Irony strikes again - Christian Troy could have done a restorative face job on Victor von Doom, thus saving the world a lot of grief - ha! ha!




Toy Biz did quite a nice job on Doom

Doom comes with removable hood and cape

Problem is, his armour suit is actually made of soft flexible rubber so although the body beneath the suit is articulated, the rubber prevents him from holding any pose - bummer!

Sabretooth by Toy Biz

Sabretooth is a mutant who possesses razor-sharp fangs and claws, hyper senses, and most notably a rapid healing factor, similar to Wolverine. They are both archenemies and victims of the Cold War supersoldier "Weapon X" programme. While Wolverine has always tried to suppress his inner demons, Sabretooth has lcompletely and totally embraced the beast within. Sabretooth was a henchman of Magneto in the X-Men films.

Sabretooth by Toy Biz is one of the nicer figures produced and his meanness is well captured except I don't know why Toy Biz couldn't just give him boots. 

Magneto by Toy Biz

Magneto has the ability to generate and control magnetism. Being a Jewish Holocaust survivor, he is driven to protect the mutant race from suffering a similar fate. He is portrayed by Sir Ian McKellen (Gandalf of the Lord of the Rings) in the X-Men films. Unfortunately, the bucket for a helmet just doesn't look right for such an imposing figure and I expected a much younger man to play the role. I think he's the only character that didn't come out right in the films but he's such an important character.

Toy Biz gave him a removable helmet but it's a tad too small!!





Magneto unmasked

Dark Phoenix by Toy Biz

Jean Grey is probably the first comic book superheroine to turn to the dark side, a la Anakin turning into Darth Vader. Jean Grey is consumed by the Phoenix Force when she sacrifices herself to save her team mates, re-emerging as Phoenix. Later, after being corrupted and manipulated by Mastermind and unable to adapt to her enormous power, Jean was driven mad and became Dark Phoenix, destroying a planet populated by sentient creatures by eating the sun of that planet's solar system to satisfy her "hunger" and subsequently died committing suicide on Earth's moon.

In "X2: X-Men United", Jean is engulfed in a fiery aura as she held back a tsunami of water from a burst dam to save her team mates and a giant flying fiery bird can be seen reflected in the water in the final scene. In the third X-Men movie, "X-Men: The Last Stand", Jean becomes Dark Phoenix, kills Scott/Cyclops, kills Professor Xavier and joins Magneto. Wolverine manages to stop Dark Phoenix from wrecking havoc and total chaos and end the destruction. Jean is buried on the X-Mansion ground, beside Scott and Prof X.

With hair like that, no wonder Jean turned to Dark Phoenix

Psylocke by Toy Biz

Elizabeth "Betsy" Braddock's twin brother is Brian Braddock, Captain Britain. Originally a telepath, Betsy developed telekinesis and attained hand-to-hand combat skills eventually and transformed from a boring stiff upper lipped Brit into a hot vivacious oriental styled X-Babe. Psylocke could also use her telepathy to project a focused beam of directed psionic energy into a "psychic knife," which she used to disrupt the neurons of her foes by driving the glowing "blade" of psionic energy into their heads. In the 2006 film, X-Men: The Last Stand, Meiling Melançon portrayed Psylocke.

Gambit by Toy Biz

Gambit (Remy LeBeau) first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #266 (August 1990). He possesses the ability to manipulate kinetic energy. He is also skilled in card throwing, hand-to-hand combat, and the use of a Bō or staff. He is fiercely proud of his Louisiana heritage and speaks in a very thick, Cajun accent. Gambit develops a relationship with Rogue when he joins the X-Men. Though he did not appear in the first three X-Men films, Gambit will finally appear on screen in the upcoming "X-Men Origins: Wolverine", where he will be portrayed by Taylor Kitsch.

Somehow, the shocking pink top comes out very wrong when executed, as opposed to the art rendering. He looks gheyish. he comes without any accessories either - would be nice if he had his staff.

Head sculpt is alright but the shocking pink top really irks me

Rogue by Toy Biz

Rogue has been one of the most popular and consistent members of the X-Men since the 1980s. One of her distinctive features is the white streak that runs through her hair. She is portrayed by Academy Award winner Anna Paquin in the X-Men movies. In the first X-Men movie, she is the one who leads us to Wolverine indirectly when she runs away from home after her power manifests itself by accidentally draining the life from her boyfriend while she is kissing him.

Nightcrawler by Toy Biz

Kurt Wagner is Nightcrawler. When the original X-Men were defeated by Krakoa, Cyclops escaped and helped train a new group of X-Men which included Storm, Colossus, Nightcrawler and Wolverine to rescue the others. Nightcrawler possesses superhuman agility and the ability to teleport but his physical mutations such as blue skin, three-toed and -fingered feet and hands, yellow eyes, and a tail makes him stand out as an outcast as most other mutants look normal (human) until they manifest their powers. Nightcrawler only appears in one of the X-Men movies, "X2" played by Alan Cumming.

In the movie as well as with this toy, Nightcrawler is very well captured.

Cyclops by Toy Biz

Scott Summers is Cyclops, founding member of the original five X-Men, with the ability to project optic beams and who has a relationship with Jean Grey, Marvel Girl. He is the de facto leader from day 1. In the movie version, "X-Men: The Last Stand", Cyclops is killed by Phoenix, a resurrected Jean Grey who supposedly sacrificed herself to save her team mates in "X2". Cyclops was played by James Marsden, who has starred in Superman Returns, Hairspray, Enchanted, and 27 Dresses since.