Ok so quickly on where my own opinions and history with these 2 figures you are thinking on (of course no one has BD 85 yet and I?ll try to limit my prejudices from dealing with the regular Mk. LXXXV). Mk. VII diecast was actually a big disappointment when I first received it, I guess mostly down to the new engineering employed to be able to transform into pod mode that it actually took me a few months of sitting in pod mode before returning to it and giving it a fair shake. The Mk. VII can be extremely frustrating to pose BUT it is one of the most poseable IM figures so far (and I do own quite a few). Once I got a handle on the many pieces that would fall off while posing, I decided/learned that those rear flaps, the tiny red thingies below the flaps, the interchangeable thigh pieces and even sometimes the top rocket flaps are best removed when changing poses, even sometimes when it seems like a minor change. Also, because the legs are engineered to detach for pod mode, I?ve had them just fall right off more than once; it doesn?t happen very often at all, but it?s happened so please be aware. From what I?ve wrote so far, I am sure it sounds mostly negative but actually my feelings are very positive because those are my only gripes with that incredible release. All the other stuff that we mostly judge on other figures is done really well on the Mk. VII (paint, headsculpt, accessories, flexibility, design, etc.) and like I said, it remains one of the most poseable IM figures to date but goes way above that. The options for just an arm include normal mode, missile ready, the inclusion of fists, replulsor hands, articulated hands are all there as well as the laser beam deployed fists. Then they even included the swap out forearm pieces that were animated rotating while the laser beam fists were being fired which also give you the option of deployed forearm missile or hidden and lastly the inclusion of the BD shoulder pads. And that is just the options for the arms! As I?m sure you have seen in many pictures already, the display options are almost limitless even though many go for full on beast mode with all weapons deployed (guilty).
Switching to the BD Mk. LXXXV, my joke is basically that you get 1 iconic pose and some cool accessories to use with your regular Mk. LXXXV. Of course that is not even close to being true (except maybe the bonus shield) but I?d love to challenge anyone that buys one to NEVER try the kneeling/snapping pose, I?d think it would be almost less possible than trying out all the deployed weapons on the Mk. VII. Shoot, 9 out of the 24 official PO pictures for it are different angles of that iconic scene. Also for me, battle damage on nanotech based armors hurts my brain especially if that damage persists while weapons and other stuff is still being formed. IW Mk. L Thanos 1 v 1 battle I feel did the nanotechnology armor the most justice (again, as limited as my feeble knowledge can quantify it) by showing that once the supply runs out, Tony must shift what is left to make shields or swords exposing parts of himself that would otherwise be armored. I know, I get too hung up on some stuff but roll right on through other plot holes brought up saying something like, ahh it is just a movie but I can not understand why traditional battle damage would show up on a nanotech armor aside from just looking cool and it is just a movie. So there?s no chance the BD 85 will offer as many options as the Mk. VII and they are both arguably in the same category of iconic-ness with maybe a smidge more for 85 because it was the entire universe saved but I?d argue that with the nuke in A1, Tony thought he would die as well. I am actually really digging my regular Mk. LXXXV having added a Mk. L hand to hold the energy sword with my biggest complaints being the lack of LED?s in the lightning refocuser (not a concern for the BD version), the lack or pull down feet and of course that headsculpt (which amazingly looks better in pictures than in hand, which was surprising as it usually seems to be the opposite). Lastly, there is something funky going on with the top of the legs and/or the hips which may have something to do with the connecting ball joints and/or the thigh armor shapes or something I have yet to completely identify and quantify so that is all I will say as it is possible that my mind is playing tricks on me. So far, having a wide stance seems to mitigate this thing that I can not competently explain yet which, again, might just be my damaged brain cells or deteriorating eyesight. It?s a great figure that should never been released with that headsculpt so more people would have focused on, and given Howard **** for the lack of lights on the Lightning refocuser.
Good luck with your decision and In my opinion you will not go wrong regardless of your choice! My current pose:
I still can't decide on this or the BD MK85 to be my one and only IM figure. Can't afford more than one unfortunately.
so, I've been a little hesitant about owning an Iron Man figure since then.
