With the NYCC 2016 Hasbro Press Event taking place Wednesday night this week, we can expect some big Marvel toy news (hopefully) to be gracing us shortly! But what better way to run down the time until those big reveals than by taking a look at a character who surely must be one of this year’s most-demanded figures? Okay, okay, maybe that’s a bit of hyperbole–you can get the Marvel Legends Eel figure for below MSRP online right now. And yes–you absolutely should.

The Right:

I would have never–never–believed it was possible, but Hasbro is actually in the midst of creating the Serpent Society in six-inch figure form. Think about that and be amazed, Marvel collectors. This is truly the Golden Age of Marvel toys.

Now, let’s take a look at the fourth Marvel Legends Serpent Society member: Marvel’s Eel!

To be totally honest, I did not think I needed an action figure of The Eel. In fact, I forgot the character existed at all until I saw him confirmed for this wave of Captain America Legends. But he does exist–and what’s more, he’s exemplary.

The Eel has a pretty complicated costume, as it’s a mixture of light blue and jagged purple lines, so I half expected to see lots of paint bleed and uneven lines and mistakes in the paint applications for this figure.

To my surprise, though, the paint deco on this figure is superb. Not only are the paint apps executed perfectly, but the blue and shiny purple paints Hasbro picked are right on the money. Eel may not win any fashion contests, but his paints are outstanding.

The big gimmick for this figure that probably led to Hasbro selecting him for release at all is that the Electro electrified hands can be used here for just their third time ever. While I really like the electric effects piece hands on both 6″ Electro Legends figures, my favorite use for them is right here on Captain America Legends Eel.

The gradient of translucent purple at the base of the hands to clear yellow on the electricity itself looks phenomenal! The effect is way cooler than anything you’d expect to find on a figure of a guy named “The Eel”.

And unlike poor Electro that I reviewed a few weeks back, Marvel’s Eel actually gets a pair of non-powered alternate fist hands in case you don’t want him constantly powered-up. After not getting neutral hands with Electro, I’m really pleased to see Eel get them.

Last but not least, let’s look at Eel’s articulation: ball-hinge neck with a head that can look way up and down; ball-hinge shoulders and wrists; upper torso ab crunch; swivel biceps, thighs, boots and waist; double-jointed knees and elbows; ball-jointed hips and hinge ankles with ankle rockers.

In short, the Eel Marvel Legends figure’s articulation is everything you would ask for. This is likely the only collector’s figure Eel will ever get from any company, and Hasbro definitely did right by him.

The Wrong:

I know everyone looks forward to reading my nitpicking critiques of the various Marvel Legends 6″ figures I review throughout the year, but after much contemplation, in the case of the Eel… I got nothing.

No, really. When I write “The Wrong”, I think to myself “What would I improve about this toy?” But in this instance, I’m fully satisfied.

I can’t think of any extra accessories that would make sense, the quality-control of the Eel Marvel Legends figure is top-notch, the colors are on-target and the articulation is excellent. It’s a phrase I never thought I’d hear myself say, but “The Eel is perfect.” Bravo, Hasbro.

Overall: Superb articulation? Check. Excellent paint applications and deco? Check. Awesome electrical effects piece hands and alternate non-powered hands? Check. Excellent quality-control standards? Check. Some readers are probably going to fight me on this grade, but I don’t care: barring him becoming the big villain in the fifth Avengers movie, this is the best damn figure of Marvel’s Eel that will ever be released. If you’re an Eel fan and you don’t buy this Marvel Legends Eel figure hoping for a better one, you’re totally nuts.

GRADE: A+