UnBoxing | Hasbro’s MARVEL LEGENDS: The PHOENIX Legacy

A Collectible Figure Unboxing

The Phoenix Force is indelibly tied to the X-Men mythology, and Hasbro’s Marvel Legends series has released several iterations of the form taken by this all-powerful entity from Jean Grey, through Excalibur’s Rachel Summers.

Since making her dramatic debut in The Uncanny X-Men #101 (1976), The Phoenix has remained one of Marvel Comics’ most enigmatic characters. Created by the legendary team of Chris Claremont and Dave Cockrum, in the landmark issue, founding member Jean Grey makes the ultimate sacrifice, using her telekinetic powers to navigate through a solar flare and protect her teammates as their space shuttle tumbles back to the earth after a mission in space. When the ship crashes into Jamaica Bay, Jean Grey (it is believed) emerges transformed! The one-time Marvel Girl was now something far more powerful, she exclaims, power incarnate, she is “The Phoenix!”

Grey’s telekinetic powers are enhanced and expanded to an almost unlimited level of matter manipulation. She rejoins the X-Men’s active roster and, over the course of several missions, begins to exhibit an abhorrent abandon at using her newfound powers. Ultimately, their enemies in the Hellfire Club discover a vulnerability in Phoenix, and manipulate Jean Grey’s fragile psyche, pushing her powers to their limits and unravelling an instability that releases an alternate personality, a Dark Phoenix (The Uncanny X-Men #134, 1980) that threatens all existence with her near limitless hunger for power. The X-Men are forced to rein in The Phoenix’s power, but not without consequences.

The emergence of the Phoenix draws the attention of the intergalactic Shi’ar Empire, who consider her an abomination that must be contained. It leads to a ceremonial battle for Jean Grey’s soul. In the end, rather than allow her power-hungry alter ego to regain control, Jean, once again, takes matters into her own hands and sacrifices herself (The Uncanny X-Men #137, 1980), thus ending the threat of Dark Phoenix. Her death haunts the X-Men for years, as Jean Grey remained a constant emotional anchor, especially with Scott Summers, who was in love with her. Like a phoenix, her presence would return in the form of the clone, Madelyn Pryor, and the time-traveling Rachel Summers.

It is inevitably revealed that Jean Grey is alive (Fantastic Four #286, 1986) and was placed in suspended animation, cocooned at the bottom of Jamaica Bay. The Phoenix Force had assumed Jean Grey’s identity, including her memories, impersonating her from the moment she emerged as The Phoenix until her sacrifice on the Blue Area of the Moon. Reuniting with her former teammates, the original X-Men band together as X-Factor, and as Jean reestablishes her existence, she learns that she is tied to the Phoenix Force, and soon discovers that she can access the cosmic power. Rachel Summers, the alternate-future daughter of Jean Grey (and Scott Summers), also inherits access to the Phoenix Force.

Rachel Summers assumes the mantle of The Phoenix.

UnBoxing

Popular among fans, especially comic book readers who followed the best-selling “The Dark Phoenix Saga,” the character Phoenix, in various incarnations, has been captured in the collectible action figure series Hasbro’s Marvel Legends. A version of Phoenix was issued in 1995, when ToyBiz owned the license to Marvel Comics characters as part of their line of figures based on the X-Men. The 5” figure featured a “Fiery Phoenix Power” with light-up eyes and blazing fiery hair that was powered by a tiny battery. A more detailed and articulated figure would be released in 2004, part of ToyBiz’s “Marvel Legends” line in Series 6, packaged with a reprint of Issue #101.

The Phoenix Deluxe Edition.

When Hasbro took over the Marvel license, it issued its own version of Dark Phoenix in 2016 as an exclusive 2-pack that included Cyclops and was widely popular. The proportions, articulation, and powered-up accessories were also far more high-end. Overall the figure quality was far better.

In 2023, Dark Phoenix was released on a throwback blister card and featured the powered-up and corrupted version of the character as she appeared in the throes of “The Dark Phoenix Saga.” The figure is clad in the classic red-and-yellow (flat colors) costume, styled with wind-swept hair, and packaged with a powered manifestation of the Phoenix Force that sits menacingly on the character’s hand. Collectors sought after this release, which was apparently limited in run. The following year, a deluxe edition of the Phoenix was offered with a manifestation of the Phoenix Force that could support the heroine for display in her original green, black, and gold outfit.

Jean Grey in her X-Factor uniform is reunited with her daughter.

The line recently expanded to include Phoenix (Rachel Summers), the heroine who appeared in Excalibur #1 (1988). This version of Phoenix is suited up in the outfit that Rachel was forced to wear as a hound when, in an alternate future, she hunted mutants. The daughter of that timeline’s Jean Grey and Scott Summers, Rachel travels back in an effort to prevent the annihilation of mutant kind. She is immediately traumatized when she learns that, in this timeline, Jean sacrificed herself to stop the Phoenix's power from corrupting her. Rachel decides to inherit the power for herself, as well as the identity of the Phoenix, during her controversial time alongside the X-Men.

Rachel, along with Shadowcat and Nightcrawler, decides to move to the UK and ally themselves with Captain Britain and Meggan to form Excalibur, continuing to fight for Professor Charles Xavier’s dream of a world where everyone can get along. During her adventures with this new team, Rachel learns that her mother, Jean Grey, has indeed survived and joined forces with the other founding members of the X-Men to form a new team of heroes calling themselves X-Factor. Eventually, Rachel returns to the fold and is reunited with the X-Men.

The action figure of Phoenix (Rachel Summers) is fully articulated and features an alternate head of Rachel, powered up with her hound tattoos on full display. The figure can also be posed with the fiery Phoenix Force wings that Rachel often had on full display when she flew or utilized her powers. The action figure also includes a mini-comic book of Excalibur #1. The addition of this version of Phoenix truly brings the legacy of the popular force in Marvel Comics full circle.

Hasbro’s MARVEL LEGENDS Series | PHOENIX (Rachel Summers) Action Figure is available on Amazon and through Hasbro Pulse.

Product Description

Inspired by Marvel Comics: Collectible Phoenix (Rachel Summers) figure is inspired by the character’s appearance in Marvel’s Excalibur #1 (1988) and her introduction in The Uncanny X-Men comics.

Character-Inspired Accessories: This Marvel action figure set comes with eight accessories, including four alternate hands, an alternate head, Phoenix Force wings, and a 6-inch-scale comic book replica featuring the cover of Excalibur #1 (1988).

BUILD A MULTIVERSE OF MARVEL COLLECTIBLES: Look for more Marvel Legends figures to build your own Marvel Comics Multiverse (Each sold separately. Subject to availability)

Ages 4 and up

⚠️ WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD - Small parts. Not for children under three years.

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