Marvel continues to be a divided brand, trying to appease both kids and collectors. There were several lines on display, from Spider-Man, Iron Man, Marvel Universe and Superhero Squad.
Iron Man 2
Spiderman
Marvel
Spider Man
This line continues to be kid-focused with silly things like Scuba Diver Spider-Man and that sort of thing. However, they are in 3 3/4 scale, and the figures that they do take seriously will be a great addition to your collection.
Iron Man 2
I cannot wait for this movie. The figures look so-so. The ones that are taken directly from the movie look great, but Iron-Man suits quickly get silly with things like Arctic Gear etc... I mean, shouldn't the iron man armor be pretty much all purpose? Each iron man figure will come with a translucent card that can be overlaid with other cards to create custom suits of armor. Iron Man toys will be split into two 3 3/4 lines - Movie and Comic lines. The comic line will have an awesome vintage Rusty MK1 suit which looks really fantastic.
We usually don't cover role-play, but they are coming out with a cool Arc Light chest light and repulsor gloves. There is also a neat helmet that has lights, sound, and a slow-close action, just like in the movie.
Two 8-inch rotocast vinyl toys are being released - Iron Man and War Machine. Yeah!
Marvel Universe
The line continues to grow and grow, with a new focus and a new storyline. but the BIG news is that they are releasing a 19-inch, fully poseable GALACTUS. Yep, with lights and sound. It will basically have all the articulation of a marvel legends figure, only super big. This is NOT a build-a-figure. this is a regular retail item and will come with a silver surfer.
Other new figures include Archangel, Thor and Captain America.
As far as the larger scale Marvel Legends - there will be a few, but store exclusives.
Superhero Squad
While I don't collect these, I can appreciate the fun of these SD style superheroes. the show is kind of funny too. One of the best things they showed in this line was a cute version HELI CARRIER. Awesome.
Marvel Transformers "Crossovers"
The less said about these the better.
Comments
23 comments postedI'm still baffled by the crossover series. What do these mean? Who wants them? Are these the worst transformers ever? (I'm still a little bitter about that awful Millennium Falcon set which I paid for with actual human money)
8" Rotocast vinyl Iron Man and Warmachine?? What!? Sweet!!
I have all of the Iron Man 3 3/4" waves on preorder already, as well as the Marvel Select figs. So stoked. I should cover them here... I'm so ready to finally get new Titanium Man and Crimson Dynamo figures, as well as the sweet movie suits.
As for the special-purpose suits, Iron Man has had special suits for a long time, all the way back to the Stealth suit and Space suit from real far back. The Iron Man platform is all-purpose to a point. Things like Underwater or Arctic missions have special and extreme demands that the regular suit just can't be built for.
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Yeah,I was going to say that,too. I usually think "Snow Slingin Spidey" or whatever is stupid,but since Iron Man is known for having many different armors,multiple figures makes sense.
Also,
OMG ED MCGUINESS THOR THAT IS SO AWESOME
I'm pretty sure I'm the only person in the world who likes Jeph Loeb and Ed Mcguiness's Red Hulk nonsense. I can't help it,I just eat it up.
It's like pork rinds-I know there's no value to it,but I love it none theless. I'm also pretty sure I need that Jim Lee Jean Grey.
One thing you guys didn't touch on is the 3 3/4 inch Mary Jane,who comes with Ms. Lion (Aunt May's dog from Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends)!
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A master of mind control who hides inside a Ford Pickup
...is that?
Even with the super crappy quality of Marvel Legends figures, at very last the sculpts have always been (more or less) spot on and faithful.
WTF is that Galactus? Who designed this figure? A drunk 10 year old?
That is NOT Galactus, no more than I am Lady Gaga.
Well, that's Galactus from the Ultimate Alliance video games.
I dunno. I have the big build-a-figure Marvel Legends Galactus...and while I love the classic comic styling, he's kinda anorexic-looking. Galactus was always depicted as being a pretty beefy dude...the ML is too thin for my liking.
Ironically enough, this new one looks a tad too chunky! I dunno. I may pick him up. But I sure hope they're not trying to pass off the (3-3/4"?) Silver Surfer he comes with as being in-scale with him!
--
Sanjeev
'Toy Scale'
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Any kid that get's the Galactus figure won't give a second thought to the Silver Surfer's scale.
If it really bothers you, just get the smaller "Superhero Squad" Surfer. :)
It can't be Thor on there. It's Vincent dressed up as Thor. Does that make Loki as Paracelsus ?
-R78
Giant Galactus? WOOOOT! Come on guys, that is ROCKING! Definitely going to pick one up... really hoping the price is not rediculous though...
Rocking yeah but... Galactus doesn't have his Taa-2 at all, & and he can't go rocking in space without it.
-R78
What's wrong with the Galactus sculpt? He looks fine to me.
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A master of mind control who hides inside a Ford Pickup
Yeah, I'm diggin the Galactus sculpt too... it looks sweet, and adds in some of the extra detail that you want a 19" monstrosity to have.
I also like the modern Thor alot. I haven't picked up hardly any of the MU figures that aren't Iron Man tho.
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Well, pretty much everything.
That, very simply put, is not Galactus. The worst part is certainly the head sculpt. That has only a very slight resemblance to the real design.
And no, it is not based on the Marvel Alliance. Let's see...
This is the very first appearance of the big G.:
http://www.asitecalledfred.com/comics101/images/2003/aug27/galactus.jpg
This is John Byrne's version, some 18 years later, Byrne is alaways quite respectful of the original models:
http://jb.24-7intouch.com/forum/uploads/JohnByrne/2004-09-24_204133_Galactus.jpg
These are from Marvel Alliance, I think, right?
http://www.manifestdensity.net/2007/06/18/galactus_head.jpg
http://www.jeffpidgeon.com/uploaded_images/galactus-736635.jpg
And as you can see, the MA version is just an updated and more Computer abused take on the original design. But Still Faithful. Granted, there are details added in, but nothing completely invented like the 2 circular holes on the forehead (surely to be lighted up), the handles on the horns, the black mask and all the rest of the ridiculous detailing of the helmet (Hey, I'm not against detailing per se, but this ought to be done with a grain of salt).
The crapper seater pose does not help either.
The shoulders come out of the chest way too low. I could go on forever.
I have the BAF and to me that is just fine. And, mind you, that is already updated on the looks, but in a measured way...
Even Slideshow, produced what I think is a crappy rendition
http://www.thelegends.it/catalog/images/galactus.jpg
But at least it's got some punch.
To my eyes, this is just not right. But I realize that's just me. I just go berserk when people mess TOO MUCH with the work of Jack Kirby...
I'm pretty sure the "black mask" is supposed to be the black shadow that many artists draw around his eyes.
the "crapper" pose is easily fixed by the fact that it's posable. You can just straighten him out when you buy yours.
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A master of mind control who hides inside a Ford Pickup
I really like the Weebles. I don't have any kids,but it's nice to know that somewhere,some baby is putting Tony Stark's face in his mouth and gumming it!
One wierd thing I noticed about the Spider-Man 3 3/4 figures when I was at the store,the Venom figure is Eddie Brock,but all the illustrations on the package show Mac Gargan.
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A master of mind control who hides inside a Ford Pickup
Current Venom is Mac (aka the Scorpion) and he's an even more ferocious Venom... I think the symbiote has much more control over Gargan.
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I know Gargan is the current one,but if the figure you're actually getting is Brock,why show Gargan on the Package?
And since you brought it up,Gargan can completely control the symbiote now,when he enlisted in the Avengers,Norman Osbourne gave him a symbiote-controlling-potion. I guess he had it lying around for just such an occasion.
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A master of mind control who hides inside a Ford Pickup
OK, guess I'm in the wrong here... how do you differentiate Brock-Venom from Gargan-Venom, besides the fact that Gargan runs around as black-costumed Spidey thanks to the pill (which I did read, but it always seemed that even under control Mac-Venom is much more ferocious... maybe Mac's just more of a monster).
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Gargan's Venom face is different from Brock's. Gargan has little eyes inside the big white splotches,and his mouth is different. At some point I think he even had his scorpion tail,but he doesn't have it any more.
You're right though,he is more monsterous. I don't think Brock ever flat out ate people.
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A master of mind control who hides inside a Ford Pickup
Nice to see a new big Galactus out there. The Marvel Legends one I had for a long time, and many people who came over to my place were sad to see it get sold years ago.
I am so-so on Marvel, but I am a complete sucker for anything Fantastic Four related, so this was nice to see.
This one is a bit too "modern" for my tastes. Give me a classic Kirby one, that's the one I'll buy.
I am still wondering, why haven't they made an Invisible Girl figure yet? Ronin, Warpath... but not a complete Fantastic Four team? WTF?
You'll make an Everquest Thor, but not Invisible Girl? Really? That would make her the one main key 60's character that they haven't touched.
You already have one, you just don't know it.
Seriously though, how awesome would it be if they just sold an empty carded figure as invisible girl? That would be awesome.
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CollectionDX Admin
Sideshow already did this with their 8" Invisible Man. They released a variant that was exclusive to Outer Limits in New Jersey that featured the regular card and accessories.... but no figure. I'm not sure how limited it is and it's not listed on their website, but it is out there and I think it actually fetches a pretty penny these days. Yes, people will pay more for an empty package!
"You can't sell it until you get it from him, but you gotta sell it to pay him to get it to sell it".
---Jerilock, talking about me trying to raise the money I need to pay for the toys I already bought....
Now an empty carded Invisible Girl... Josh, that's an awesome idea for SDCC exclusive!
An empty card for $40! ;)