This is the figure that started it all for me. I literally worked (off and on) at creating Backlash (Marc Slayton) for 15 years. The summer after I graduated from high school, I took my beloved Grifter figure and decided I could turn his head into Backlash relatively easily, and I’d worry about altering his body later. Little did I know I was beginning a process that would take me over a decade. Although my pace was slow and I frequently went months without working on this figure, I’m glad the process was incremental. Over the years, the skills I was developing through trial and error on other figures allowed me to be more successful on my “holy grail.”

When I decided a Marvel Legends Black Panther body was the best way to go, I became determined to, slowly but surely, finish a custom figure of my favorite super hero (after Spidey, of course.) I borrowed and altered a collar from Bullseye for Marc Slayton’s shoulder wraps once I decided I would make the FIRST and ONLY WildCORE version of Backlash on the Internet. (Trust me, I’ve done a lot of searching for Backlash figures online-- perhaps that’s why I often dream of finding them in a random store or airport.) This labor of love also borrowed belt pieces from Marvel Legend’s fodder and a Ninja Turtle, and fix-it sculpt to make the parts of the straps that didn’t need to be removable.

When I finally finished him, it felt simultaneously thrilling and sad. It was almost like sending a child off to college (okay, not quite) because now he was ready for the world to see. This contest is an excellent opportunity to debut him, since Colonel Slayton is no stranger to using heavy artillery, and has needed to rely on weapons other than his psi-whips during The Kindred and in the middle of his solo run. (Thanks a lot, Gen-Factor!) He even loaded for bear on the cover of Backlash 4 while teaming up with Wetworks, and the pose in the third photo is an homage to that. However, Backlash is never unarmed (as he once said) thanks to his Kherubim genes, which eventually altered his psi-whips to be yellow and more powerful-- more capable than ever of allowing him to slice through, lift up, or knock out his opponents.

I was so thrilled when my wife showed me these wax string things (Wikki Stix), which I immediately knew would be absolutely perfect for Backlash’s whips. Purple or pink ones can be swapped out for the yellows when I’m feeling retro. :) Thanks for looking at the figure that first got me into customizing-- and for voting; I would love to hear any feedback you’d be willing to give!