photos by Magnita
Art Design: A dynamic and colorful illustration of the X-Men: Darktide on the front, and screen shots from the DVD on the back of the box. This box includes four minimates figures which are about the same size as most Lego and Megablok figures.
Magneto: All of these figures can be taken apart, which is fun to do. You can also mix and match their parts and create your own hybrid heroes. Magneto's detailed helmet and cape make the little guy look menacing and yet cute. Each of these little figures is about three inches tall and has little gripper hands. The hands are simple, but effective. Magneto can hold his helmet and his cape.
Juggernaut gets the deluxe treatment. If you remove his helmet, you can add the 1970s style hairpiece and he sort of looks like Joe Pesci in Goodfellas. Or you can use the wig for Magneto too.
Cyclops has that same 1970s hair style but the yellow vest looks good on the little black body. Cyclops has a little utility belt with an X on the buckle. The neat thing about these figures is that even though they are very kid-oriented and basic; the sculptors have put some interesting details into them.
Wolverine made me chuckle because he has curly black hair that has been sculpted onto his chest and belly (and a dog-tag too). With that 1970s hair style it is easy to imagine him with a beer in his hands at the X-Men Academy. The little razor claws are a neat touch. Even though all these figures have grim snarling faces, every time I look at them I have to smile. They are cute and funny. These minimates action figures are fun to play with; especially if you have Lego blocks around and can create a Lego headquarters for them to hang out.
Darktide Movie: This set includes an excellent ten minute long CGI cartoon (on dvd) which has great FX of many of the X-Men minimates fighting the evil mutants.
Market: Collectors can get Minimates at most comic book shops, Target, Toys R Us, and Borders stores for around $14.99.
Overall: The figures are a lot of fun, and the movie is excellent.
Grade: B+
