Madelyne Pryor has a very confusing past. Comic readers originally met her as a non-mutant Jean Grey lookalike who Cyclops met soon after Jean was killed during the Dark Phoenix Saga. The writers' intentions were for Scott to rebound with Madelyne, retire from the X-Men, and move to Alaska to settle down and have kids. But then the concept of re-establishing the original X-Men team as X-Factor was brought to the table and all those plans were scrapped. Madelyne was dumped for the resurrected Jean and got really ticked. Readers then found out that she was actually a clone of Jean created by Mr. Sinister in order to seduce Scott and produce the powerful Jean & Scott offspring that would have been difficult after Jean's original death (spoiler: they had Nathan Summers aka Cable). During the Inferno storyline in the late 80s, Madelyne's Jean-like powers were unlocked and made susceptible to demonic forces (just like Jean was effected by the Phoenix force) to become the reality-warping Goblin Queen. This incarnation has remained popular and still surfaces as an X-Men villain (or ally) every few years.
This Figure of Madelyne Pryor as the Goblin Queen is from an alternate reality established in 1998's Mutant X comic series. These stories are very similar to those starring the Crime Syndicate in the DC Universe. Havok has swapped realities with his doppelganger. In this reality, all the heroes are darker (but still heroic) and there's a definite demonic slant to everything. Storm is now Bloodstorm, Angel is now The Fallen, etc etc. Madelyne Pryor is still herself and still the Goblin Queen, but she kind of fills the parallel role of Jean in this reality's X-Men team. In the comic, she also went by the name Marvel Woman (a clear nod to Jean's Marvel Girl days). Also, I see this mentioned online often (but never in the comic themselves), but her name may have been spelled "Goblyn" in this reality.
Anyway, enough backstory, let's check out this toy!
She is a very pre-posed figure, but the overall positioning is good. She can't really stand without her figure stand (which is a metallic green in person, but it doesn't show up that way in the photos).
This figure has the standard stiff articulation of all 1990's ToyBiz figures. Ten points of articulation in total, but the pre-posed hands-down look is the only position that looks right.
There haven't been many Goblin Queen items produced over the years, but when they do, they are usually gorgeous, rare and extremely expensive. (That's my segue into an informal Character Spotlight feature)
Madelyne Pryor as the Goblin Queen
Bowen Designs 2013
Sculpted by Tim Miller
750 Made
Goblin Queen - Diamond Retailers Exclusive
Diamond Select Toys (DST) 2007
Sculpted by Sam Greenwell
700 Made
Goblin Queen HeroClix
Marvel HeroClix - Ultimates (2004) #094
Here are an assortment of Goblin Queen images from the comics.
Time for a Comparison Pic!
Cheers!
i like this figure. The head scupt is good and the detail in the body makes her look not to similar to Snowbird. I dig the statues thou...
ReplyDeleteYeah ToyBiz was interesting the way they would re-use molds but make them unique. I'm glad there wasn't a waist swivel like on Snowbird because it would really look bad on this figure.
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