A couple of factors made Marvel’s SDCC revelations a bit underwhelming this year. And when I say underwhelming, that doesn’t mean that there was nothing good shown. Actually, we were shown a fairly decent amount of new stuff, but I was still left with a feeling of “well . . . is that it?” when all was over. Apparently I wasn’t alone.
I think the fact that we were handed a list of figures from a rumored Spider-Man wave — a list that ended up being very true — ahead of SDCC killed what could have been a big face slap of new toys in the form of a full Spider-Man wave shown. This is the conflicting nature of the Internet: we want to know stuff, but when we know it, it takes the surprise away. Maybe it was better when a new wave just showed up. No long waits, no disappointment, just wham bam — new toys.
The second reason that SDCC was a bit underwhelming was the lack of this year’s Hyperion or Machine Man. You know, that classic character that has never had a Legend. Of course, you could make the case for Speed Demon in that slot, but he doesn’t have the glitz of something like Quasar or Count Nefaria. Basically, if you took all the characters from the fan poll and had THOSE been the revelations, SDCC would have been mind blowing. Even Angela. I guess. If you squint. And she had no panties. I think something like a classic Drax would have made the entire SDCC, but nothing like that showed up.
But enough with the lamentations, let’s take a look at what was shown.
The show started off with a neat one-two punch of Black Ant and First Appearance Daredevil being announced as Walgreen’s exclusives. This phenomenon of Walgreen’s getting exclusive figures remains odd to me, but I don’t care what store is given an exclusive as long as cool toys come out of it. I had been hoping an FA Daredevil would make it out as soon as the regular red one was announced, and I’m super happy that it will be making it out in some fashion. I’m not old enough to have read Daredevil when he debuted in this outfit; I ran across it for the first time in the Spidey reprint series titled Marvel Tales, and they reprinted the one where Daredevil and Spider-Man took on the Taskmaster. At the time I didn’t know it was reprinting an early story, so I assumed it was his brand new costume (hey, I was like 5 or something). I loved the bold color scheme and was surprised when the regular Daredevil title never switched him to that. I learned better not too long after that, but still, it’s awesome to get this costume along with the regular.
Black Ant was a character I had to look up immediately upon seeing it. People have been dying for an Eric O’Grady figure, but not quite like this. I, too, am waiting for the Irredeemable version, but this is a swanky as heck costume and I can’t ever turn down the mixture of red and black. I know we’ll be seeing that helmet reused at some point.
With a brief lull, the Spider-Man figures were the next items to be revealed. This was the wave whose lineup was leaked, so we were skeptically prepared for it. With a few disappointments it’s a strong wave that joins the previous strong Spider-Man waves we’ve had lately.
Spider-Gwen is a Spiderverse thing I haven’t read about yet, but I’ve heard nothing but people begging for her. I’ll be reading the story soon, so hopefully I’ll be significantly amped for her appearance by then. The figure looks nice and she’ll be coming with an unmasked head, so that’s a bonus.
Classic Venom is finally making an appearance after getting symbiotes in almost every other form. He’s getting the closed mouth and the open mouth, which is perfect for devotees of either of his looks. I’ll be sticking with the closed mouth because to me it’s way creepier than a waggy tongue. I made a custom of him not too long ago, but I’ll be happy to grab an official version.
Ben Reilly Spider-Man upgrades Hasbro’s previous attempt. Any time that happens it’s more than welcome. Hasbro is doing that 6-inch toy thing much better now.
Speed Demon is a long time coming, a great Spidey villain, a Deadly Foe, a Superior Foe, a Synister Syndicate member — dude fills a lot of slots. If you haven’t read Nick Spencer’s Superior Foes of Spider-Man, comic you may not know what the head on a car is. That’s crime boss and cybernetic septagenarian Silvermane. It’s a whole thing to explain, but the book is excellent so track it down.
I’ve always wanted a cybernetic Silvermane, so I guess a head on a car kind of counts. It’s an awesome inclusion.
The leaked list said “Beetle,” so I was hoping for the classic Beetle, but it’s the female Beetle. Or Lady Beetle, I guess. I actually like the character, but there’s still that bitterness of not getting the version I truly want after three attempts. Kind of like FRIGGIN’ ULTRON. Beetle apparently joins Ultron in the “I don’t have the one I want” column. Still, this one uses a brand new body and looks great. Weird that Hasbro goes for the oddest teams to complete. First they had a Thunderbolt fetish, and now a Superior Foes fetish. Not that it’s a bad thing, just odd.
Classic Morbius is a HUUUUGELY welcome update to the old one. My old one is . . . well, it’s not pretty. Serious meltyface going on. I know this figure is fairly simple, but he looks great.
Jack O’Lantern is another update. I liked the old one well enough, but I feel like anything ToyBiz — especially anything ToyBiz that had action features — could do with a good update. Plus, there’s really no way to turn down a dude with a flaming pumpkin on his head. No way.
Absorbing Man is the unexpected Build-A-Figure for the line. I’ve already expressed my usual “too big” complaints because I tend to like more neutral figures, non-powered, non-size-shifted — that sort of thing. He’s on the Terrax body, which is finally getting some new use, and, despite my complaints, he looks great and will make a nice powered-up team-smasher. Optimal choice would have been a depowered regular-sized one with a sized-up and powered-up version, but that’s just me.
Overall this is another strong Spidey wave, and without any of those crappy action features that plagued the so-called “kid’s line” under ToyBiz’s run.
Time passed and another three figures hit us. One of which I would have been shocked as hell to not see, and the other two a bit bittersweet.
Classic Captain America finally made an appearance on that brand new Grim Reaper body. As soon as that body debuted, everyone knew this had to be inevitable. There hasn’t been a true Cap figure since the Face Off one, and I really hate the Face Off one. People love it, but I seriously hate it. I don’t care if this one doesn’t have the sculpted scales, I’m looking forward to finally have a good Cap figure. Of course, now U.S.Agent is going to look even wrongerererer. Oh well.
Taskmaster would have been fantastic if he were classic. But he’s . . . cartoon, I think. I mean, it’s not bad, but I really need an updated classic Taskmaster. The one thing that saves this is the addition of the UDON head. While this is not the UDON body, that head fits more with this armored type of Taskmaster than the classic-styled head.
Mockingbird we have never had in Legends form, and this one is the modern version. Kind of expected, but you know what I’m going to say . . . I was dying for classic. For my West Coast Avengers. But that’s the way it goes.
The panel started and this is where underwhelming really grabbed on. I wanted a lot more info, but then the panel was over and we only got peaks at a couple more figures. Nuke, Namor, and Red Onslaught were shown.
Nuke is a fine choice, and he looks like he’ll make a great toy. Plus, I need multiples for those legs. Multibajillions.
Modern Namor is apparently an apology figure, but he doesn’t really apologize for anything since I still have no green trunks Namor. I mean, this is a cool updated look for him, but yeah . . . not really an apology if the wrong hasn’t been righted, you know? Maybe one day. That head looks perfect, though. Pompous and regal.
Also, Red Onslaught. Red Skull stole Xavier’s brain and became Onslaught because Red Skull inherited the ’90s. Apparently this was a big deal in the “Axis” event. I will be the first to admit that things with skulls are pretty damn cool.
Finally, A new Abomination was another sneak peak. Looks awesome, but now we need to get a brand new Hulk that’s kind of broad and thick like Rhino and this Abomination look to be.
And then we were done.
What was shown was all cool stuff and hole-fillers, and I’m pretty happy to get a lot of it, but after last year’s SDCC and the last Toy Fair, this SDCC didn’t seem to load enough gunpowder into the cannon to get my blood all twitchy like previous shows. When the fan-poll had awesome characters that didn’t win, and the 4-inch line is tossing out Inhumans and classic Guardians of the Galaxy and Lockjaws and such, I can’t help feeling a bit lowered excitement level. I’m genuinely enthusiastic about a lot of what was shown, and any ennui will change, I’m sure, with toys in hand like it always does, but . . . the 4-inch line is getting a Lockjaw. And we got red Onslaught.
Hopefully when the rest of the Civil War lines are revealed there will be a bit more excitement. As of now . . . I don’t know, Jerry . . .
