How much would you pay to recreate an iconic scene from cinema? If you've got good taste, then spending the GDP of Europe to copy the final epic battle of Avengers: Endgame with a small army of toys is money well-spent. As an alternative option, getting your hands on a single collectible figure that immortalizes the second-best scene from the film is also worth considering. And no, we're not talking about Thor rightfully cussing out Noobmaster69 during a game of Fortnite.
Endgame's hardest-hitting moment boils down to a bamboozled Thanos as he stares down Tony Stark, right before the Avenger utters an iconic line of dialogue and delivers a reality-saving snap that conclusively ends the Infinity Saga. In a film that had no shortage of incredible and memorable moments, that particular scene still stands as one of Endgame's most emotional moments, and it's one that has been faithfully preserved in the form of a sixth-scale collectible figure from Hot Toys.
Is it worth throwing down almost $450 for a bloodied, battered, and bruised Iron Man? If you're a fan of the Avenger and you don't mind having a non-existent food budget for the rest of the month, then the answer is yes. Food is temporary, collectible Iron Man toys are eternal.
- Hot Toys Iron Man Mark LXXXV (Battle-Damaged) Special Edition
- Type: Sixth-scale figure
- Price: $450
- Release Date: Q1 2022
It's worth noting that this figure is essentially a retool of the previously-released Mark 85 from 2021 but flaunting some wear and tear from his battle with Thanos. Multiple parts of the nano-armor suit have been heavily damaged, but the overall articulation is exactly the same as the original Mark 85. This is fantastic because that particular Iron Man replica is easily one of the best that Hot Toys has ever created.
There's some incredibly clever engineering built into the figure, one that pulls from previous Iron Man releases and adds a few new ideas of its own. Segmented parts on the legs, biceps, and hips make for a surprisingly flexible Iron Man, who's capable of striking an action pose, nailing a three-point landing, or assuming a position where he flips Thanos an Infinity Stone-empowered finger. You'll probably still want to be careful when you flex Iron Man's limbs as some panels are more flexible than others, but this is a figure with some tight ratchet joints in the links, sturdy construction in the torso, and impressive maneuverability in the arms.
As you'd expect, the paint job and sculpture on this Hot Toys Iron Man is incredibly detailed. There are a number of subtle and overt details woven into the design of this particular Iron Man suit, which are enhanced by a color scheme that's vibrant and accurate to the film incarnation. It's the battle damage on the suit that most eyes will gravitate towards though, and each mechanical scar and fresh scorch mark is grotesquely gorgeous.
Strangely, that damage only applies to the front of the figure. While it makes sense--because who keeps a shelf full of sixth-scale Iron Men who are staring at your wall--it's a shame not to see any of that beautiful destruction wrap around the entire Iron Man suit. It's not that Hot Toys isn't capable of doing that--what with the studio currently working on a zombified version of Tony Stark based on Mysterio's illusions from Spider-Man: Far From Home--but seeing such a clean backside on this Iron Man figure diminishes some of this replica's appeal.
What is praiseworthy though, are all the other details of the Mark 85, from its generous use of diecast metal materials to its various accessories. Out of the box, you can easily unplug the regular helmeted appearance of Iron Man and swap it for a head sculpt that's an uncanny representation of actor Robert Downey Jr., as he appeared in the film. Much like his banged-up armor, he has some battle damage of his own and a stoic facial expression, one that ties in perfectly with his final stand against Thanos.
There are also a number of accessories here that are interchangeable with the regular Mark 85 figure, such as a special edition energy shield that slots easily into a fist, extra armored hands for various poses, an energy blade, claw blasters for each arm, and a decently-sized diorama base. The real star of the show here is the Infinity Gauntlet, with this version being almost as banged up as Iron Man. Unlike the cleaner version that came with the standard Mark 85 figure, this version looks as if it's being held together by duct tape and positive thinking.
It, fortunately, doesn't feel that way though, but the image of a battered suit and a gauntlet that can barely contain cosmic energies is an absolute beauty. You'll also have three sets of hands to apply to it--a relaxed palm, a hand with fingers that are fully articulable, and a snapping hand--and there's even full LED support in the armor. Like every Iron Man figure that Hot Toys has ever produced, you'll need the hands of a safecracker to get those lights running. This means popping the back hatch and a section of the helmet, deftly inserting several tiny batteries, flicking a switch, and then you're good to go.
That reliance on several miniature batteries feels like an archaic method for keeping the Iron Man lights powered on, especially when compared to the more elegant solution that other companies have come up with recently. As an example of just how far behind Hot Toys has fallen on this development side, you can look at a company like Morgan's Workshop, which has cracked the design for installing an internal battery that can be recharged between sessions. There's even an unlicensed version of Optimus Prime by Toyworld, which is packed with rechargeable lights via a USB-C connection. If third-party studios can perfect this design, then Hot Toys needs to up its game in this department if it wants to stay relevant.
Looking beyond that technical gripe though, the Mark 85 battle-damaged suit is a work of destructive art. You don't need to leave it in a wildly-articulated position to appreciate its presence, as even a simple museum pose with the Infinity Gauntlet held high is one that can command anyone's attention when they see it. The choice is up to you when you have this figure in hand, and if you're looking to recreate one of the defining moments of the MCU, then the Mark 85 has more than enough clever engineering inside of it to make it possible.
While it's not the last Iron Man figure in the Hot Toys arsenal--at the time of this writing, there are more than a dozen other Iron Man-related figures in development--it is the final armored Avenger in the current MCU timeline. It's a replica that boasts bold colors, bionic battle scars, and a decent selection of accessories, making it the definitive version of an icon. If you're looking to cap your collection off with a well-designed work of collectible art, then the Mark 85 battle-damaged suit is well worth its hefty retail $445 price. If you’re interested in acquiring it, you can find it at Sideshow Collectibles.
