It’s not quite the end-all be-all Spider-Man I was hoping it would be, but the MAFEX Spidey is waaaaaaaaay up there on the list.
The sculpt is awesome. It’s so very, very 90s. I’m not naming an artist because 1) I don’t keep of little nuances from source to source like I used to, and 2) I’d be wrong to some and right to others because we just can’t decide. It’s a good amalgam of different styles though, making me think that the X-Men cartoon is new on TV and I need to grab tickets for the Nirvana concert.
The articulation is nearly Revoltech level, without the joint nakedness. Sure, it’s not going to get as crazy, but this thing pulls off poses like nobodies business. Legs up and around, arms to and fro, head up down and sideways. Three-point stance, four-point, boom. Wall-crawling for days, and if you have metal shelves, magnet extremities are included.
Some may say it’s too small to fudge into your Marvel Legends display but I think it’s just right. I feel like some of the ML Spideys are a little tall. The MAFEX feels like a young adult Parker. That’s furthered by how lithe the body looks compared to other lines. And then there is “issue” of small hands and feet. I can see how this may irk some but I didn’t notice much until I had it standing side-by-side with other figures.
But for me, the colors don’t do it, at least not all the way. The promo pics, the proto, even the pics on the box all show a richer red and brighter blue. What we ended up with was a subdued red with random shading and the blue is much blander and dull. It could be said that the 90s were more gritty, and I’ve come to accept it on this figure, but it’s not what I was wanting, nor is it what was advertised. If a 2.0 is announced, I’d probably buy it for a more classic display. Well, maybe. I think I want a Symbiote first.
As much as I talked up the articulation and range, I feel like I need more torso crunch along with slightly higher kick. That’s not to say it’s not adequate, remember I already said I loved it, but I need more. MORE! Saying all that, the figure looks awkward in a neutral stance. I guess it’s meant to be in action poses all the time, and I’m happy to oblige!
Not a negative but it evokes a Toy Biz feel for me both in look and figure aesthetics. So by that logic, the MAFEX is expensive, but cheaper than tracking down the old Toy Biz McFarlane Spidey, right? Right?
The unmasked Parker head, like a lot of printing, looks way better in-person. I did not notice the pixels at all until I was editing the macro pics. In fact, I even edited out a part of the video where I talk about it being painted instead of printed. But I’m also getting older, need to hit the optometrist.
So nope, not my perfect Spider-Man. But it’s damn close.
Package
Figure
Alternate heads and neck
Hand and feet options
Accessories
Comparisons
Action
