It's been a while since I posted any pick-ups- the Hulkbuster Legends wave really killed a lot of my immediate enthusiasm for collecting for a bit there, but I've finally started finding the Rhino series in stores, and it's got me hyped again.
When the series was first announced, Ghost Rider was one of the figures I was most lukewarm on- it's based on the classic Johnny Blaze costume, which is a look I've never been too hot on, and his lack of accessories don't help. Of course, seeing him in-person really helped, because as it turns out, flaming skeletons are fuckin' rad, and turning one of my favorite Legends molds into a flaming skeleton is likewise fuckin' rad. Ghost Rider here is a new head/neck and belt on top of the recent DnA uniform Star-Lord, who was in turn a heavy retool and repaint of the AIM soldier from the Winter Soldier line. Because Hasbro
is nothing if not consistent. I loved the way Star-Lord looked and posed when the mold was serving him, and so it's natural that I still really like it for Ghost Rider- the new touches add a lot of flavor that keep him from looking like a straight undead Star-Lord- the glowing pupils visible deep in the flames,and the hinged jaw add a ton of personality.
I do have one pretty big gripe about the figure though; his lack of accessories. I understand that it's just not reasonable to expect them to figure out how to budget a full 6" figure motorcycle anymore, which is a bummer on it's own, but not even a chain? Even the Super Hero Masher got a chain. It's always been one of the coolest, most dynamic visual aspects of the character, so not being able to have a rad looking chain whip would make a lot of poses would look awesome. A Hellfire Shotgun could have been sick too.
So yeah, Ghost Rider is a pretty great figure with a ton of personality- he's just a chain and bike away from being perfect. I'm definitely glad I added him to my collection, because he looks great with the other Marvel Knights.