Last year, Bandai’s SH Figuarts line kicked off a new Marvel range inspired by the comics publisher’s rich legacy of fighting games, most notably in the historic Marvel vs. Capcom franchise. Capturing key Marvel heroes in aesthetics that feel like they’re ripped out of the glorious Bengus artwork for the games, with just two under the toymaker’s belt—Cyclops and the upcoming Spider-Man—it’s only fitting that a series inspired by classic tag team games is getting a third very soon.
After a brief tease late last year, this week Bandai gave us a full look at the third entry in its “Gamerverse” line in the form of another X-Men star, Wolverine. As well as some alternate hands, Logan comes with two faceplates—one angry with gritted teeth, one angrier with a yell—and what has now become a staple for this line of figures in the form of a pixel-art cardboard backdrop depicting his iconic Fatal Claw hyper combo carving an x-shaped slash across the screen.
While he loses a few of the little touches that made Logan’s whole vibe in the fighting games (especially his claws, which are much less exaggerated and curved here) compared to the faithfulness to that MvC era the first two figures adopted, he can still pull off plenty of his iconic poses from the games, including his adorably angry little squatting animation. It’s a shame he’s more of just a really good ’90s-style Wolverine instead of more specifically a really good Marvel vs. Capcom-style one. But who can look a gift Wolvie in the mouth?
Hopefully it’s a sign that things won’t stop any time soon for either Bandai’s pricier Figuarts takes on these games or Hasbro’s own “Gamerverse” series, which delivered a bunch of great two-packs (and a very bendy Shuma-Gorath née Gargantos) last year inspired by Capcom’s Marvel history too. Wolverine is the first figure to be done by both companies in the line, so it’ll be interesting to see what stands out between the two Logans when Bandai’s effort comes out this summer.
The SH Figuarts “Gamerverse” Wolverine is currently expected to release in June, with pre-orders going live in Japan next week on February 2.
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