Dr. Strange (Marvel Universe)

Height: 11cm to top of head.

Articulation: 30 points total- universal-joint neck; 6 points each arm: universal joint shoulder, bicep swivel, hinge elbow, double-joint wrist; mid-torso ball joint; waist swivel; 7 points each leg: ball-joint hip, thigh swivel, double-joint knee, ankle swivel, double-joint ankle.

Colors: Molded blue, red, black, and fleshtone. Painted gold, white, black and light blue.

Accessories: Cloak of Levitation, Stand.

Release Data: Released August 2011 at an MSRP of $7.99.

Author: RAC

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Dr. Strange is one of the most accomplished masters of the mystic arts in existence and an inspiration to armchair sorcerers across multiple worlds. His ability to execute seemingly impossible spells and teleportations is legendary. Mystical artifacts like the red cloak of levitation and the eye of Agamotto only enhance the mystical ability and legend of Doctor Strange.

I don't know much about the modern adventures of Dr. Strange. My dad had a ton of Steve Ditko's run on the book when I was a kid and if anybody has been able to match Ditko's ability to do mystical weirdness, I don't know who. (Just for an example, you know who's never going to have an action figure, let alone a really good representation in plastic? Eternity, that's who. Or possibly what.) But luckily Strange is a character who hasn't changed much visually in a very long time, so this figure's pretty much what I'm used to.


The Figure

In fact, the only differences between the original costume and this one are the sash tying on the opposite hip, and the design on the tunic being slightly different. The latter I'm assuming is to make sure that the design doesn't run afoul of the torso joint. The former is I guess a design choice- it's a minor error if it even counts as one. The sash is a separate piece and can be turned, but it's molded in such a way that it just doesn't look right turned around backwards. The whole figure is nicely sculpted and painted, from the wrinkles of the tunic to the "cosmic" looking spots on his gloves, to the gold brocade and Eye of Agamotto on his Cloak of Levitation. Really nice. The face is the only thing which might be a little off- his eyes look kind of close together. I'm also not sure if that black spot on his chin is a tiny little patch of beard or a paint error. Packaging and images I can find suggest error, and probably unique to my figure.

If this is indicative of where Marvel Universe is going with articulation? We don't need Legends back. The universal joint neck works great, but because it was set up to work with the cape, he can look giraffey without it. Shoulder range tops out at level with the collarbone- coincidentally right where the cape would block it from going further. Well-played, Hasbro. Bicep swivel is fine, elbow is a 90-degree single joint, not ideal but acceptible. The hands are sculpted in Dr. Strange's default spellcasting position... which you might notice is also Spider-Man's web-shooting position. It's also American Sign Language for "I love you," which I believe I read somewhere is intentional on Ditko's part. The wrists are hinged, so you can have him pointing at someone as to cast a spell, or have his hands pulled up as if doing something defensive. (Note to Hasbro: I would like a new Iron Man with these wrists, please. Like, yesterday?)

Strange also has both a fairly useful torso ball-joint and a waist. I'm figuring he only has the waist because of the tunic, which thankfully is not nearly as restrictive as Red Skull's due to the slits on the sides. (Update: Looking at the SDCC galleries- I'm entirely wrong -the waist seems to be part of the new MU standard!) His ball-joint hips and thigh swivels work well in getting around the tunic, but the left hip pops off more frequently than I'd like- again, I think this is unique to my figure. The double-joint knees get a tight V, and there's a swivel just above the ankle. This is because Dr. Strange has a new (to MU) ankle joint which both leans forward and back and side-to-side, greatly expanding his posing possibilities. Nice! After being dissatisfied with Marvel Legends Doctor Strange, it's odd to think that this one may well be the best-articulated 4" Marvel figure I have.


Accessories

-Cloak of Levitation

Speaking of articulation disasters, let's talk about the Marvel Legends Cloak. It was only sculpted pulled back halfway as far as it needed to be and, being made of rubber, was difficult to get pulled back further. It was awful. This is sculpted perfectly, sweeping back as it should to look right and stay out of Strange's way. It's as perfect as a PVC cape can be in both function and form- the sculptor nailed both the Eye of Agamotto and the distinct Ditko-did-this-30-years-before-Spawn collar.

-Stand

Same as Iron Patriot's except with a different name on it. It works. It was a little hard to get his feet attached at first, but it's okay now.


Closing Remarks

Doctor Strange looks great and poses really well, doubly when you've experienced firsthand the kind of damage a heavy cape and plastic tunic can do to an action figure's range. There's two versions out there, the other being Dr. Strange in his astral-projection form, which seems to be entirely pearlescent white plastic. I'd recommend either, if not both. This is only the second Excellent figure I've reviewed in this scale, but if these articulation changes become the new standard it will not be the last.

-RAC