Growing up, I loved watching X-Men cartoons. I wore out my VHS copy of Pryde of the X-Men, which to this day has one of the greatest cartoon theme songs ever written:
Classic.
That was only a single episode (and great arcade game), though, so for several years the X-Men animated series that debuted in 1992 was appointment viewing every Saturday. With the series making a return in just a few short weeks, when the Disney+ original series X-Men ’97 premieres on March 20, I figured it would be a good idea to look at some of Diamond Select’s offerings of Marvel’s Merry Mutants. Those tumultuous lovers Rogue and Gambit each have some pretty stellar dioramas available from those fine folks, so let’s see how they measure up while we wait for more X-Men cartoon goodness.
Rogue
I really love me a figure in a really dynamic pose, and Rogue here certainly fits that bill in spades.
Did I mix metaphors there? Were those even metaphors? Who cares; this piece rocks.
With her legs positioned to look as if she’s lunging from the base, possibly about to take flight and wreck some Sentinels, Rogue has one arm cocked to the side with the other stretched out in front of her. It’s a terrific pose, befitting Rogue’s hands-on style of brawling. Those beautiful greens and yellows of her bodysuit really stand out too, drawing even more attention to the figure and making the earthier browns of her jacket and hair complement each other without clashing.
It’s the overall sculpting that’s the most impressive, though, made all the more evident when you look at the smaller details. Her left hand in particular is maybe the best aspect of the entire piece, as a slight adjustment in angle completely changes what it looks like she’s doing. Viewed from the side, it’s almost like she’s racing to catch something, where head-on she appears to be steadying herself so she can deliver a mighty blow with her clenched right fist. It’s brilliant storytelling, making for an incredibly versatile display piece.
If there’s a single complaint, it’s that the base– while it works just fine– is kind of nondescript. It looks like pieces of metal or glass strewn about some rocks, which gets the job done, but I wish it had some more character to it. Maybe pepper in some pieces from a dismantled Sentinel or something, make it more X-Men in its design. That would have been really cool. Again, it isn’t a bad base, just with all the detail that even went into Rogue’s hair, which is billowy and curly and frankly stunning, the generic base could have been more.
Regardless, this is a terrific piece, and can be displayed well on its own or with any other number of mutant dioramas and statues. Retailing for $59.99, you can purchase her directly from Diamond or your local comic shop.
Gambit
What I love about Gambit is that nothing about the character should work, yet it all kind of does. His costume is goofy and doesn’t make any sense at all, what with the blue metal boots and collar… thing, the black and purple bodysuit, the brown trenchcoat, and that weird head covering that really doesn’t cover much. Somehow, though, it fits the character, and I can’t imagine him wearing anything else.
Then there’s his personality, which is kind of sleazy, gross, and manipulative, yet he’s still fun and charming. Maybe it’s his cool power that makes up for everything, or perhaps it’s his supposed “irresistible hypnotic charm” that radiates off the page and makes him appealing. Whatever it is, I like Gambit, even if every part of me tells me that I shouldn’t.
Kind of like Lobo, come to think of it…
My feelings about a character don’t always translate to appreciation for toys and statues and dioramas, however, as I’ve seen pieces I haven’t liked of characters I love, and loved pieces of characters I’m kind of indifferent toward. Thankfully, I like Gambit, and I like this diorama, though there are a few caveats I need to point out.
By and large, this diorama is fantastic: Gambit is in a cool pose, with his staff he has for some reason clutched in one hand while his other throws a bunch of charged cards. The way he’s standing atop the base (which is similar to Rogue’s, but not identical) exudes swagger and attitude, with the way he’s posed as if he’s moving in one direction only to twist around and confidently discharge his power oozing personality. The paint application is simple and clean, with the clashing colors of his outfit somehow working well together. His coat in particular looks great, with sculpted wrinkles around his elbows and the flowing tails evoking the look of a heavy cloth.
My only complaints are that his hair looks a bit too poofy and big, and something about his eyes just seems… off. Typically, Gambit has black conjunctiva with red irises, so I think if there was a bit more black on the figure they would have stood out a bit more. Instead, they’re really small and squinty, which makes the rest of his face look kind of weird.
Like Rogue, though, Gambit is a great looking piece, looking far more expensive than its affordable price tag would lead you to believe. You can order the Ragin’ Cajun for a mere $59.99 from Diamond Select themselves, or check at your local comic shop.
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