The Shi’ar Empire is getting two much needed offerings in Hasbro’s Marvel Legends line, with Gladiator getting a brand new figure, and Deathbird making her debut in the line. Both figures are inspired by their appearance in the classic X-Men comic books. Gladiator is a member of the Royal Guard in charge of protecting Shi’ar empress Lilandra Neramani. Deathbird is Lilandra’s sister, and she seeks to overthrow her and take the throne for herself.
Thank you to BigBadToyStore for sending along Hasbro’s Marvel Legends Series 6″ X-Men Gladiator and Deathbird figures for review.
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Availability: November 2025
Gladiator and Deathbird are packaged in a window box with the X-Men logo and artwork, including images of the characters from Marvel Comics on both sides, as well as images and a description on the back. Both figures are packaged in a plastic tray along with accessories.
Deathbird is comic-inspired and comes in her purple outfit with some metallic purple parts, along with metallic grey on the torso, grey tubes that connect to the forearms and back, and a detailed cape with sculpted textures and a pattern design.The cape is non-removable, sculpted over her shoulders and around her neck. There are also tubes over the front part of the cape that connect to her back.Her hands are sculpted with fingers sculpted apart with black fingernails.
Her head sculpt includes a headpiece from the comic, that is made of purple plastic, which is also non-removable. Her head sculpt looks great and she is given black sculpted hair in the shape of extended bird wings, and her facial details include white eyes, an open smiling mouth with purple lips, white teeth, and nicely done facial details.
Deathbird does not include any accessories, which is unusual for a Marvel Legends figure.
Her articulation includes a ball jointed head, ball hinged shoulders, swivel biceps, swivel-hinged elbows, swivel-hinged wrists, ball jointed torso, ball joined hips, swivel thighs, double-hinged knees, hinged and rocker ankles.
Gladiator is given a much needed upgrade in Marvel Legends and given a new muscular sculpt, with a reused cape from his previously offered figures in the Apocalypse build-a-figure wave and the SDCC Exclusive before that. This offering is much more accurate to how he appeared in the comics, as well as on X-Men the Animated Series, with not only the improvement of the sculpt, but the colors and facial likeness. He comes in his classic red, blue and yellow outfit, with a yellow bely and thin black line for the belt buckle, and a yellow and black insignia on his chest. The cape is removable, and includes a plug on the inside to place into his back so it’s securely positioned.
Gladiator includes two head sculpts, one neutral, and the other with an effect in his eyes and an open mouth. Both heads include purple skin, a black mohawk with a blue wash, and both are given nicely done facial details.
Gladiator also includes two sets of interchangeable hands (open and closed fisted).
HIs articulation includes a ball jointed head and hinged neck, ball hinged shoulders, swivel biceps, swivel-hinged elbows, swivel-hinged wrists, ab crunch, waist rotation, ball joined hips, swivel thighs, double-hinged knees, swivel calves, hinged and rocker ankles.
Here are some comparisons with some other Shi’ar figures, along with the recent Phoenix figure.
Overall, Deathbird and Gladiator are great offerings and features great likenesses to the source material. Getting this new version of Gladiator is a treat and I was never thrilled with his earlier release. This new updated offering is a much better figure, and Deathbird is another welcome addition to the line. Make sure to grab this set now at BigBadToyStore for $57.99.
Purchase:
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