Did anyone under like 30 get this toy? Anyone?

I haven't read a Brian Bendis written comic in a dog's age, but if he brought back Nightcrawler as Ronin, I would cough up for all the back issues I missed...well, maybe not all, but it'd be cool.

Immediately after ranting about being "done" with Marvel Universe figures, I find a pile for $2.50 a piece. Check your local Wal-Mart, if you're curious. (Cage is new, but we'll see some others later.) This is the time of year when a lot of chain stores reset their planograms for toys; and if a line of figures doesn't have a place to fit in, it can be on clearance like that. And sometimes that it happens at some stores and not others, even within the same chain. There's probably a reason, but I couldn't tell you off the top of my head...

Also on clearance, at some Target stores: A-Team figures, including the van! B.A. Baracus sold out pretty quickly, but there were three vans left, and I got mine for 75% off. So, I can't say run out and buy it at $24.99; but for $6.24 hell yes. I do wonder if any, you know, children, got one of these; or if all the vans ended up in the collections of adults who remembered watching it as kids.

Usually, I'm a couple weeks ahead on these; but this one I had to finish last night! Man, I better get cranking this weekend...
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Because "Ronins Resemble!" would be a terrible battlecry:

The last panel was originally going to be a stand-alone, but it worked out too well not to use it for the conclusion.

Since I don't read every Marvel comic out there, I currently have only a vague idea why Hawkeye is wearing the Ronin costume now, or why the previous wearer Echo took it off. And I don't care enough to follow it up: look, Bendis, I know comics have a lot of lead time, so when people started guessing Ronin was actually Daredevil, you had time to change it. But you shouldn't have. (Also, I've seen mentioned that allegedly Echo, who is deaf, can lipread some characters in thin facemasks like Spider-Man, and I call B.S. on that.)

This was an odd one to shoot pictures for, since I used two different scales: I know there's a Marvel Legends Ronin, but so far I haven't cared enough to buy it.


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Getting my money's worth for that Ronin figure:

Shoot, thought I had scheduled an actual post for today. Be back tomorrow!

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This is a better answer for the Hawkeye-to-Ronin switch.

Admittedly, it could be anyone under that mask, and I haven't read those Daredevil issues with Echo for a long time; but it's a lot easier to picture a guy in that suit, isn't it? Unless the identity of Ronin is like Captain Universe: "The Hero that could be You!"

OK, I'd prefer to have Clint Barton back as Hawkeye; and have the Ronin suit passed around like a headcold. I'd make the joke that no matter who wears it, they always look like that, whether it's a grown man in peak physical condition, an 8-year-old girl, or a morbidly obese man. Or make it a cheesy-fun game: on every Avengers mission, somebody wears the Ronin outfit; ostensibly for the element of surprise. Maybe you can work it out by process of elimination, or maybe someone unexpected has been called in to fill those shoes. Is it Spider-Man? Quasar? The fifties Captain America? 3-D Man? Who? You wouldn't know until they started using their powers, if any, or by any distinctive speech patterns. (Not everyone gets yellow balloons.)

It's also unsettling to see Clint waving a sword around instead of a bow, but it actually makes sense: back in early Avengers stories, it was established that he was trained in archery by sometimes Avengers foe the Swordsman. Leading to the obvious question, why would the Swordsman train archery? Although I suppose you shouldn't assume he doesn't have other skills and interests, the name hints at a different speciality. So, years later, in Solo Avengers, Hawkeye's archery coach was revealed to be a fat guy named Trick Shot. Yeah, I don't think those were great issues...let's just say the Swordsman cross-trained Clint, 'kay?

This Marvel Universe Ronin figure was $3 at Wal-Mart, not too shabby. The plastic feels different, though. I did pick up a little fistful of cheap stuff yesterday, so more will be up next week.

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