Marvel Legends 2024 has been a bit light on traditional Build-A-Figure waves, but Hasbro has kept collectors guessing with consistent new reveals and pre-orders nonetheless. This time up, we’ve got a 3-pack of updated villains, going up for sale after just being revealed yesterday: the Amazon Exclusive Marvel Legends Cabal set of Dr. Doom, Iron Patriot Norman Osborn and Taskmaster figures is now up for order!
Right after Norman Osborn saved the world in Secret Invasion, Brian Michael Bendis had him form a supervillain group with Loki, Emma Frost, The Hood, Taskmaster and Dr. Doom. This Cabal functioned as a sort of “Dark Illuminati” in the Marvel comics, and was front and center during the Dark Reign era.
I wasn’t exactly cramping at the bit to get updates to 3 characters I already own figures of, but I do think that this set pairs nicely with the monstrous Void Build-A-Figure from the same era, which was released this past winter.
The big selling point here is probably the Doom in this 3-pack. We’ve technically had this figure before, but the new release includes a cloth (non-wired) cape and a slick Doombot head, which I think is enough of a refresh to earn more dollars from a lot of fans.
Doctor Doom is always popular and in-demand in the 6” Marvel Legends scale, and I think this is as good a way as any to get him back in circulation while offering at least something new. I don’t often prefer soft goods, but I feel Doctor Doom is a character that a cloth cape really, really works for.
Iron Patriot feels essential to this set, what with Norman Osborn being the leader of the Cabal and all. We’ve had a Hasbro Norman Iron Patriot before in the 2012 Iron Monger Series, but this version is updated with modern articulation and new paint (plus a Norman head).
The bright red on this action figure does look a bit “toy”-ish, but I’m totally okay with it since Norman is using the Iron Patriot armor as a deceptive sort of marketing ploy anyway. I don’t think this iteration of the armor would feel as right with dark or metallic red. I like this one.
Finally, we’ve got the first classic Taskmaster figure since the 2018 Infinity War Thanos BAF wave. Taskmaster’s popularity with a lot of fans was damaged by the awful MCU take on the character, but I think there’s still plenty of love for an upgraded Taskmaster.
The new head looks much less goofy than the prior release’s, I always prefer pin-free joints and the paint deco on the weapons really elevates the whole figure. I wasn’t dying for a new Taskmaster, but this one is still a win in my opinion.
The Cabal Marvel Legends 3-pack is up for PO now exclusively on Amazon and will ship out later this year. Some Amazon exclusives sell out expediently, and others absolutely do not. I think Doom may push this pack to success, personally. What are your views, Marvel collectors? Will you be snapping this trio up for your shelf?