Best Jean

[Liney]

Following in the vein of the other threads - what are we feeling is the best Jean?

 

I find this one hard - we've had quite a few Jean, covering quite a few looks. I think there only been one clunker: the green X-Factor look - the face and the hair don't scream Jean to me.

I'm pretty partial to the original Dark Phoenix as I love the shading. Jim Lee is the costume I grew up with. But then I also couldn't pick between the gold on Secret Invasion or the brighter green, better tampo and cool stand from MvC.

 

Overall I think I would go:

1. Jim Lee
2. MvC
3. Secret Invasion

 

Honourable mention to OG Dark Phoenix, who technically isn't Jean anyway...

[Trekker 42]

Thanks for bringing this back. 
I think Wave 81’s Dark Phoenix is a fully spectacular Minimate and the best Jean Grey. However if we’re not counting Dark Phoenixi, I’m giving the crown to Classic Marvel Girl from the Brotherhood vs the X-Men box set. Yes the mask has always looked dumb but I actually never have her wear the damn thing. The green is pretty and her face looks cute. 

I know there’s a lot of love for that 90s look but I just… god I hate that costume for Jean. She looks like she’s in a mech suit. 

[NerdyTrev]

MvC Phoenix is excellent, but the last Jean we got in W78 as well as the two Phoenix's from W81 are purely gorgeous. I think her red X-Factor uni is a very underrated look and it makes for a very attractive minimate. 

1 hour ago, Trekker 42 said:

I know there’s a lot of love for that 90s look but I just… god I hate that costume for Jean. She looks like she’s in a mech suit. 

I am inclined to agree. Thankfully, she was never on the "adjectiveless" Blue team, so she doesn't get much display 

[Barry]

17 hours ago, Liney said:

I think there only been one clunker: the green X-Factor look - the face and the hair don't scream Jean to me.

That one was the second Jean I designed, and I was very disappointed with how she turned out.  Not that it was executed incorrectly, but rather that I just felt I didn't do that good of a job.  The WORST one by far though it First Class.  I find her embarrassing to look at, which says a lot to be embarrassed in your own home with no one else around.

My favourite is the one that wasn't released, and I often forget it wasn't released.  This is the only photo I have of it on my hard drive, hence the red arrow direction for the factory.  I would have to dig her out to get a new photo that doesn't have a direction for the factory on it sometime.

I know it's the same 'tech suit' as the Jim Lee one.  The tech and pouch Lee costumes make no sense, but their nostalgia factor is through the roof for me.

 

 

[Liney]

48 minutes ago, Barry said:

That one was the second Jean I designed, and I was very disappointed with how she turned out.  Not that it was executed incorrectly, but rather that I just felt I didn't do that good of a job.  The WORST one by far though it First Class.  I find her embarrassing to look at, which says a lot to be embarrassed in your own home with no one else around.

My favourite is the one that wasn't released, and I often forget it wasn't released.  This is the only photo I have of it on my hard drive, hence the red arrow direction for the factory.  I would have to dig her out to get a new photo that doesn't have a direction for the factory on it sometime.

I know it's the same 'tech suit' as the Jim Lee one.  The tech and pouch Lee costumes make no sense, but their nostalgia factor is through the roof for me.

 

 

Ohhh, she's a stunner! The shoulder pads and ponytail really slim her down. Where was she planned for? 

[Padrino]

Thanks, Barry. This one will seriously be missed!

I swapped the pelvis piece with one from GI Joe Scalett and used the ponytail hairpiece as well. It's passable and looks a little bit like the X-Men '97 version. Nowhere near as good as the newer version you designed.

 

 

 

[thereasonsy]

3 hours ago, Barry said:

That one was the second Jean I designed, and I was very disappointed with how she turned out.  Not that it was executed incorrectly, but rather that I just felt I didn't do that good of a job.  The WORST one by far though it First Class.  I find her embarrassing to look at, which says a lot to be embarrassed in your own home with no one else around.

My favourite is the one that wasn't released, and I often forget it wasn't released.  This is the only photo I have of it on my hard drive, hence the red arrow direction for the factory.  I would have to dig her out to get a new photo that doesn't have a direction for the factory on it sometime.

I know it's the same 'tech suit' as the Jim Lee one.  The tech and pouch Lee costumes make no sense, but their nostalgia factor is through the roof for me.

 

 

I have been obsessed with this hair piece since I first saw it. I’m still bummed we never got it. 
 

to me, the best Jean was the last Phoenix that we got. She’s near perfect to me.

[Trekker 42]

4 hours ago, Liney said:

Ohhh, she's a stunner! The shoulder pads and ponytail really slim her down. Where was she planned for? 

I believe she was with a Scott, Sinister, and Juggernaut on a 90s X-Men thing meant for Walgreens. 

[NerdyTrev]

8 hours ago, Barry said:

 

 

 

Good lord, what an improvement! You are a wizard, Barry, truly. Were I independently wealthy, I would be funding your design and production of minimates for the rest of our days. A modern patronage relationship.

[thereasonsy]

16 hours ago, NerdyTrev said:

Good lord, what an improvement! You are a wizard, Barry, truly. Were I independently wealthy, I would be funding your design and production of minimates for the rest of our days. A modern patronage relationship.

Hear, hear!

Edited March 1 by thereasonsy

[thereasonsy]

19 hours ago, Trekker 42 said:

I believe she was with a Scott, Sinister, and Juggernaut on a 90s X-Men thing meant for Walgreens. 

You’re correct. Barry shared that they tried to make it. 10 pack as well. 
 

i need to figure out how to post images on here. I took painters tape and used that to update my Jim Lee Jean. Oh and the phoenix face and hair. https://www.instagram.com/p/CgIMkhtO9D9/?img_index=1&igsh=bDNpdmwwNDEwNDc5

Edited March 1 by thereasonsy

[Barry]

Thanks everyone!  I have a soft spot for Jean, so I always wanted to do her right.  She's one of the very few characters that once I settled on Pantones and a facial style that I liked, I used them going forward.  Most other characters I began from scratch every time, but she remains fairly consistent after the Wave 59 version.

And yes, this Animated one was destined for Walgreens.  First in two waves of 8 characters in 2pks, then as 4 waves of two 2pks, then as two 10pk exclusives.  It just couldn't get off the ground, unfortunately, which was frustrating as everything was tooled and ready to go.

Sorry if that derailed the tread a bit!

[thereasonsy]

Steve leaving Walgreens really had more of an impact on the toy industry than people realize— including non toy collectors. I don’t think I’ve been in one since the last Binary figure was released.

[Barry]

39 minutes ago, thereasonsy said:

Steve leaving Walgreens really had more of an impact on the toy industry than people realize— including non toy collectors. I don’t think I’ve been in one since the last Binary figure was released.

I think things were already changing before his exit, but that was definitely a blow.  I remember Daniel Pickett of Action Figure Insider saying something when Steven left to the effect of "I'm happy for him, but I'm sad for my collection."

[thereasonsy]

3 hours ago, Barry said:

I think things were already changing before his exit, but that was definitely a blow.  I remember Daniel Pickett of Action Figure Insider saying something when Steven left to the effect of "I'm happy for him, but I'm sad for my collection."

Oh Jules Verne! And yes I agree with the sentiment as Walgreens has always been… a fun client… always keeps you on your toes. Insert corporate speak here. It is always a great when people move on their on accord. I’m just personally bummed as Steve really was the champion of the toy aisles and really focused on getting return visits/additional sales. Hope he’s doing well wherever he is.