Guardians of the Galaxy Marvel Legends Rocket Raccoon Review

I think few people would disagree that Rocket Raccoon was the big selling point of the Guardians of the Galaxy comic series.  We tend to gravitate towards quirky things, and few things are more quirky than a loud-mouthed space raccoon that likes to shoot shit up.  Oddly enough this release marks the second Rocket to get a Marvel Legends figure, the previous one was a comic-based build-a-figure from a previous wave.  Since I officially own two Rockets there is going to be a lot of comparison in this review, so lets dive right into it …

The movie version of Rocket sports an orange jump-suit, an obvious departure from the comic version.  Changes in costume should come as no surprise at this point to anyone.  What works for costumes in a comic book almost never looks natural in real life.  This is why Wolverine has had about thirteen movies and not once worn the traditional yellow and blue spandex suit.

Hasbro Marvel Legends Guardians of the Galaxy Rocket Raccoon Review

Movie Rocket Raccoon is a full-on CGI model (based on a real raccoon) voiced by Mr. Silver Linings Playbook himself, Bradley Cooper.  After listening to a few trailers I have to admit I’m still not sold on the choice in actor to do the voiceover.  I’ve always had in my mind that the perfect voice would be Sir Bobcat Goldthwait.  Now I’m talking his normal voice, not the Police Acadamy one.  Plus if Bobcat landed a nice Marvel voiceover role he may more money in the bank to make his movies.  If you haven’t checked out some of his work like ‘World’s Greatest Dad,’ they are pretty fun films.  But Bobcat isn’t happening, and I can’t help but feel like the decision to add Vin Diesel and Bradley Cooper was the studio saying that this movie needed more star power.

Hasbro Marvel Legends Guardians of the Galaxy Rocket Raccoon Review

Enough of my bitching about the movie’s voice cast, and instead let me focus my complaints on this Rocket Raccoon figure.  The biggest thing that the comic figure does right and this one does wrong is capture the personality of the character.  Movie Rocket has such a neutral look on his face like he doesn’t want to be here.  This makes me angry because I want Rocket to enjoy being in my collection, but he just gives off an “I don’t give a shit” vibe.  Grrrr!  Now Rocket is a small enough figure so he could have benefitted from a screaming face, especially since he doesn’t have the hinged jaw like the comic one.  Instead we get a giant gun-like thing that can be attached to Star-Lord’s chest:

Hasbro Marvel Legends Guardians of the Galaxy Rocket Raccoon Review

Besides the bored looking face this Rocket is built fairly similar to the comic version from the neck down.  The similarities go all the way to the fact that both figures require the tail to balance the figure.  Both figures didn’t even bother to try to make two feet the figures could balance on.  At least the comic version’s tail curled a bit so multiple tail poses could accommodate standing.  The movie version does not afford you that luxury; the tail needs to be straight down or Rocket Raccoon falls over.

Hasbro Marvel Legends Guardians of the Galaxy Rocket Raccoon Review

Rocket Raccoon is a tiny figure, but comes packed with a fair amount of accessories.  He includes Groot’s upper body, a gun for himself, and that giant gun for Star-Lord.  I think we would have hit the sweet spot if they included an alternate head.  The gun made for Rocket is decent enough looking, but its made of soft plastic.  The combination of the gun’s soft plastic being held by Rocket’s tiny soft hands doesn’t work out the best.  When I first got him he held the gun pretty well, but as the weeks go by he just drops it which is unfortunate.

Hasbro Marvel Legends Guardians of the Galaxy Rocket Raccoon Review

I wanted to love movie Rocket Raccoon; I really did.  He’s not the worst thing in the world, but he’d just kind of plain and forgettable.  I just don’t think they were able to capture the attitude of the character in this figure.  I’ll obviously hold on to him because I want to have the movie cast in addition to finishing Groot.  Hasbro could have done a little more with the figure.  The giant gun is okay I suppose, but nobody knows what it actually does and it obviously isn’t even for him.  I just don’t feel strongly about Rocket either way, and I feel like that may be worse than hating him because at least hate elicits an emotion.

But … you may like him and I don’t begrudge you that!  The figure does not appear to be in stores yet, but Amazon has them and is shipping now!

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