X-Men 97 Sentinel Review

The X-Men ’97 Sentinel from Hasbro’s Marvel Legends line looks like it stepped straight out of the animated series and onto your shelf. From the proportions to the simplified panel lines, this Sentinel is clearly designed to capture the aesthetic of the classic animated look rather than leaning into hyper-detailed, mechanical realism. If you grew up watching X-Men ’97, this figure immediately feels “right” the moment you see it towering over your X-Men display.

Standing roughly 22 inches tall, the Sentinel is undeniably imposing without reaching the sheer mass of the HasLab release. Its clean sculpt, bold colors, and animation-accurate silhouette make it an excellent centerpiece for animated or comic-inspired Marvel Legends collections. This is a Sentinel meant to menace your heroes, not overwhelm your shelf space.

---

Packaging

The packaging is functional but a bit uneven in presentation. The front of the box is fairly plain, doing little to sell just how impressive the figure is inside. That said, the side panel artwork absolutely nails it, perfectly showcasing the Sentinel in all its animated glory. The box is plastic-free and includes a checklist of other X-Men ’97 figures on the back, which is a nice touch for collectors keeping track of the line.

While not the most exciting package Hasbro has produced, it gets the job done and remains collector-friendly.

---

Sculpt & Paint

The sculpt leans heavily into the animated style, with raised black panel lines and minimal surface texture. This is very much intentional, and it works. The Sentinel looks clean, bold, and screen-accurate rather than overly busy.

The standout sculpted elements are found in the battle-damaged parts. The alternate head in particular is excellent, featuring exposed internal details and intricate cables inside the mouth that add a surprising amount of depth. The battle-damaged chest plate continues this theme, with red and yellow wires bursting through the armor for a dramatic, mid-fight look.

Paint applications are straightforward and solid, though the exposed mechanical elements could have benefited from a bit more paint variation to really make them pop.

---

Size & Presence

At just over 22 inches tall and more than 10 inches wide, this Sentinel has serious shelf presence. It scales beautifully with standard Marvel Legends figures and immediately elevates any X-Men display. Whether looming behind Wolverine or grappling with Cyclops, it creates instant visual drama.

Multiple Sentinels together would look incredible, which makes the price point sting just a bit more for anyone tempted to army-build.

---

Articulation

For a figure of this size, articulation is impressively robust:

• Arms feature ratcheted shoulders, bicep swivels, and double-jointed elbows.
• Hands have articulated fingers, allowing for expressive poses and blast-effect displays.
• Head and neck offer a wide range of motion with smooth rotation and tilt.
• Torso articulation is hidden beneath the belt, providing crunch, tilt, and swivel.
• Legs move forward nearly 90 degrees, supported by thigh cuts, double knees, boot swivels, and ankle rockers.

Despite its bulk, the Sentinel holds poses well and feels stable when fully articulated.

---

Accessories

The accessory count is generous:

• Two large, vibrant blast effects in different lengths that can be combined and plugged into the hands.
• Standard and battle-damaged heads
• Standard and battle-damaged chest plates

The blast effects are especially well done—big, bold, and visually striking. They also happen to be compatible with other Sentinel releases, opening up some fun mix-and-match display options.

---

Comparisons & Display Options

Compared to the HasLab Sentinel, this release is obviously smaller and less detailed, but that’s not a flaw—it’s a design choice. Where the HasLab version excels as an ultimate, feature-packed centerpiece, the X-Men ’97 Sentinel shines as a stylized, animated companion.

It works perfectly as a “drone” Sentinel alongside a larger Master Mold-style display and pairs beautifully with animated or comic-based X-Men figures. (And if you really want to build out your X-men animated army you might even consider throwing in a few of the Titan Hero series Sentinels.) It also complements other oversized Marvel Legends releases like Giant Man, and Maximum Hulk without feeling out of place.

---

Final Thoughts

Overall, this is a very solid Sentinel and an excellent representation of its animated counterpart. The size is impressive, the sculpt is animation-accurate, the articulation is strong, and the accessories—especially the battle-damaged parts—add meaningful display value.

The biggest drawback is the price. A slightly cheaper or more streamlined version with fewer accessories would have made this an even easier recommendation, especially for collectors who might want to army-build multiple Sentinels. Still, if you’re an X-Men ’97 fan or want a visually striking threat for your Marvel Legends shelf, this Sentinel absolutely delivers.

Want more mech content? Check out our review of the Cobra S.N.A.K.E Battle Suit.