Marvel Legends Iron Spider (Spider-Man 60th Anniversary)

The Marvel Legends Spider-Man 60th Anniversary releases are kicking off Hasbro's plastic-free action figure box initiative, and I was surprised to see the Iron Spider at Target last weekend. I've seen similar packaging in Hasbro's Fort Nite action figures, but this is my first window-less action figure package I've bought. There's some controversy about this, and sure enough, mine had a small nick in the eye paint. At least a scalper had not switched contents and returned the item. I was never exclusively a mint on card collector, but I will miss the ability to scrutinize an action figure's quality before purchasing. 

The price tag has indeed gone up on Marvel Legends, this figure ringing up at $31.49 retail, $1.57 off that for using my Target Red Card. While I think we deserved a third pair of wall-crawling hands for that price, the Marvel Legends brand has continued toward import quality in paint and articulation, this Iron Spider also sporting pin-less joints throughout. Hasbro knows the import market taps some of their demographic, and if they can improve some things while still coming in well under import prices, they will ask the consumer for more $$$. Regardless, this is the comic book Iron Spider that Marvel Legends fans have been waiting for.

Below, Iron Spider with my Marvel Legends Modular Iron Man. While the former's first appearance was in Amazing Spider-Man #529 in 2006, I liked this '90s Iron Man paired with him...

WHile dipping back into the '90s, below Iron Spider intercepts 

Carnage from the Marvel Legends Venom Wave I reviewed at the end of 2020...

Marvel Studios changes things from the comics, but certainly pulls a lot from them, this Avengers: Infinity War Iron Spider a fine example. There are four "waldoes" instead of three, and a lot of Spider-Man's original look remains intact, but it's a Spider-Man enhanced by Tony Stark's technology. An Iron Spider, if you will.

Below, Iron Spider hits the arcade with Ironheart...

I opened another Fortnite Victory Royale Arcade Machine to complement the other one I reviewed her last year. This one has a couple semi-realistic assault rifles and a water container. These along with some custom crates and a boombox I picked up just add a little background to my Marvel Legends.

And finally, Iron Spider with some other Spider-Men here at the Super-DuperToyBox: All New-All Different Spider-Man 2099. Big-Time Spider-Man, All New Amazing Spider-Man, and Ben Reilly Spider-Man...

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Titan Hero Series Spider-Man 2099

 

There are some characters I am drawn to that I will often pick up various toy incarnations of, such as Moon Knight, Vision, Martian Manhunter, or as in this case, Spider-Man 2099. Based on the delayed sequel to Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse, this Across the Spiderverse Titan Hero Series figure is a little different than the original character design, but close enough to hit all the notes I like visually. Hasbro did make a cheaper, simpler Spider-Man 2099 in this series two or three years ago, but it didn't have the incised sculpt on the chest insignia and mask like this new Spiderverse version. This figure surprised me arriving on shelves ten months before we expect to see the summer 2023 film- I'm curious what other product we'll see ramping up to its theatrical release.

The DC Comics figures produced first by Mattel, now Spin Master in this scale, have better articulation than these Hasbro figures, but the ones I have owned had good sculpts. I call this class of figure the "Big Dumb Toy"- meant for the kids to play with, but some adult character fans may latch onto as well.

Below, Titan Hero Series Spider-Man 2099 with my 10" ToyBiz Spider-Man 2099 from the '90s, a favorite toy in my collection. These larger ToyBiz figures from that era served the same purpose as Hasbro's Titan Hero Series, and I've owned many over the years.

My first exposure to the Spider-Man 2099 was 11 years ago reading the Spider-Man 2099, Vol. 1 trade paperback as an adult, having missed its debut in the '90s. And though I may not have the nostalgic attachment that kids 5 - 10 years younger than I, it does evoke that excitement I felt rediscovering comics & action figures as an adult.

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MOTU Origins Wave 6 Webstor & Eternian Goddess

 I've been sitting on these MOTU Origins Wave 6 figures for a bit, Webstor being the one that interested me most. I didn't have the original Webstor in 1984, having moved onto other things with the onset of puberty. I love the head sculpt and colors on this figure, but the grapple pack makes him top heavy- if I had a compatible back plate, I'd ditch the grapple- it's mechanism kind of works, but not that well. There's no place to stow the hook or his orange gun, and only one gripping hand.

Below, an Eternian Palace Guard spots Webstor scaling the walls of Castle Grayskull ...!

Webstor invades Castle Grayskull with some of the other Evil Warriors: 

Trapjaw, LOP Mer-Man, Tri-Klops, and LOP Beast Man!

Though a straight up repaint of the Origins Teela, I remember the Eternian Goddess of those early mini comics included in the 1982 debut of Masters of the Universe. This Eternian Goddess would later evolve through a somewhat convoluted continuity into Teela, further confused by her sometime identification as the Sorceress. Like the updated Evil-Lyn, the Goddess has the improved knees, which were a vast aesthetic improvement.

Below Sorceress, Temple of Darkness Sorceress (included with the MOTU Origins Castle Grayskull), Eternian Goddess, Teela, Evil-Lyn, and the updated Evil-Lyn.

Both Webstor and the Eternian Goddess included the "Rock and a Hard Place" mini comic that my LOP Beast Man came with. I'm glad they brought back the mini comics for this line- the original Alfredo Alcala mini comics included with the '80s MOTU line captured my imagination. Check out the online Battle Ram Blog to reminisce about the original Masters of the Universe line!

And finally, the Eternian Godess guards over Castle Grayskull 

with my Battlefield Warriors He-Man and Battlecat ...

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Masters of the WWE Rey Mysterio

I was really happy to find the Masters of the WWE Rey Mysterio at retail price on Walmart.com- many of this MOTU/WWE mashup series were hard to come by due to spotty distribution. I hate that the line came to an end recently as they complemented my MOTU Origins collection so well. I passed on the first blue/red/yellow version a couple years ago, but this second silver version is even better. I absolutely love this figure! The card was mangled due to it being shipped in a bag, but I don't care much about that.

While I know almost nothing about the WWE, I think tying this line in with the New MOTU figures and their interchangeable parts was a great move on Mattel's part- lots of fun! Rey was a mashup with Masters of the Universe Stratos, one of the original MOTU figures I had back in the '80s. I loved the updated MOTU Origins Stratos, which was nearly indistinguishable from the original to my memory.

Below, Rey Mysterio with MOTU Origins "Mini Comic" Stratos and Wave Four Stratos. 

See my post on the MOTU Origins Castle Grayskull!

The jet pack's design is different from the MOTU Origins Stratos, but this second verion of Rey Mysterio shares the same wings. The arm bands add flair, and the torso, pelvic, and thigh tampographs are fantastic- he looks great with or without the jet pack.

And finally, Rey Mysterio with the other Masters of the WWE figures in my collection: Ultimate Warrior, Mr. T, Roman Reigns, Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat, Kane, and Jake the Snake!

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Mego 8in. Classic Superman

 

I somehow avoided this particular Mego Superman in spite of buying three others within the last six months, which paid off, eventually getting him for free using Amazon points. He is spectacularly colorful and evokes the same delight my childhood Mego did in the '70s. The major motion picture starring Christopher Reeve thrilled my young eyes in 1978, and Superman became the cornerstone of my love for superhero comics, as he did for a world of other six-year-olds.

Like the Megos of the '70s, the belt is a band of fabric- I always lamented we could not get a plastic belt on our Superman, but this works fine aesthetically. I like the notched boot tops on this figure, but he can be difficult to pose in them. The yellow S shield is on back of the cape as it should be, and Mego included a translucent green Kryptonian crystal. I like the spit-curl head sculpt, and I think Mego nailed the classic Superman colors- he's perfect. 

Visit the online Mego Museum to see all the news regarding Mego's triumphant return, 

and peruse the galleries to reminisce about the halcyon days of Mego in the '70s!

Below, 8" Classic Superman with my new Mego Justice League Superman. I was content with this movie version as my 8" Superman but could not resist picking up the classic version for free using Amazon points. I'd have a difficult time choosing between the two but was surprised at how enamored I was with the Justice League Superman.

An abbreviated 8" Mego Justice League is starting to take shape after adding Superman to my Robin, Batman, Green Lantern, and Flash. My preorders of the new Mego Green Arrow and Shazam will arrive in the next couple months!

Below, my very new 14" Mego Classic Superman- while very similar, the figures boots and head sculpts, and even skin tones, are very different from one another. As I child, I had both the 12" and 8" Superman figures, which were also different figures. Having new Mego DC figures in two different scales has been thrilling- I love it!

And finally, my new Mego 14" and 8" Classic Superman figure with DC Direct Superman/Batman: Public Enemies Superman and DC Direct Super Friends Superman on card, 7" DC Direct History of the DC Universe Superman, impossibly tiny 1" Heroics Superman, 6" DC Universe Classics Superman, and 13" DC Direct Deluxe Classic Superman.

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MOTU Origins Fisto & Stridor

Fisto is from Wave 5 of the MOTU Origins line, like the Faker and Evil-Lyn I posted on almost a year ago, but I'd been saving him for the Stridor I knew would be coming. I never had the original Fisto that Mattel produced in 1984, but was sure I wanted this burly hero in my modern MOTU collection. Like the other figures of this wave, Fisto came with the "Sucker Punch" mini comic- I'm fond of these and think it was a smart inclusion on Mattel's part. Adult nostalgia fulfilled while bringing the character's stories to kids playing with them.

Below Fisto duels with Wave 7 Jitsu... 

Stridor came with an extra, horned battle helmet, a corral base w/flight stand, and blast effects accessories. His bridle bit is held in place by the toy's spring-loaded jaw. As with Fisto, I had stopped collecting MOTU as a child when the original Stridor dropped in 1984, but this MOTU Origins update has it all over that one with superior articulation, accessories, and even a base. Visit the online Battle Ram Blog to read all about the original Masters of the Universe line I loved as a child in the '80s.

Stridor's corral base is yet another diorama piece to expand your Castle Grayskull playset, like the Battlefield Warriors Battle Armor He-Man/Battle Cat set, the Mysteries of Castle Grayskull accessories pack, and not pictured below, the Wind Raider Assault Lander. Mattel's inclusion of bases for the Origins vehicles & playsets with the same green stone as Castle Grayskull really brought a lot of play value to collecting this fantastic revival of the Masters of the Universe toy line- hands down my favorite of the last 2-3 years. Recommended! 

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