Mockingbird is one of those characters that I love but I'm not really sure why. I first took notice of her back in her Avengers West Coast days. She doesn't have any discernible powers (although she apparently does have a trace of Captain America's Super Soldier Serum in her). She's essentially just a good fighter and a perpetual love interest for Hawkeye (and occasionally Ka-Zar). I think the appeal lies in her classic costume and weaponry. Mockingbird usually carries a pair of escrima sticks (like Nightwing) that can be attached together into a bo staff. She died near the end of the Avengers West Coast series when she sacrificed herself to save Hawkeye from Mephisto. That was in the early 1990s and she was basically a forgotten character until she was very cleverly brought back during 2008's Secret Invasion storyline. Since then she's been all over the place, appearing in a variety of Marvel comics, most recently in the revamped Secret Avengers. She has very very few products made of her. There's a Bowen Minibust, an Eaglemoss Lead Figurine, a few Heroclix, and finally this action figure. Let's check her out below!
While I enjoy and appreciate this character selection, the figure leaves something to be desired. The legs are way too short for the rest of the body. I'm not sure what character the legs are taken from, but they don't match the Firestar upper body. Also, the Right leg on Marvel Universe figures are always oddly bent. It's a very consistent flaw that is starting to annoy me.
Another issue I have is with the waist joint. It's getting ridiculous on these figures. It seems like every female that is released has a wider and wider gap around her middle - like the mold they use is slowly degrading. It's getting very sloppy looking. You can actually see light through it at the right angles.
One final complaint (I honestly like this figure though, I swear), her bo staff is way too thick and stubby. It looks like she's attacking you with a 3 foot length of PVC pipe. By the way, the bo staff does separate into two shorter sticks. I somehow failed to take a picture of that.
Time for a Comparison Pic!
Here are some shots of her with Firestar, with whom she shares a head and upper body. This really illustrates how ill-proportioned her legs are.
Cheers!
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