Secret Wars Comic Packs continue this week, with a look at Comic #10, with Doom and Absorbing Man (and as a bonus, Wasp!)! How does DOOOOOOOOOOOOM stack up? See below!
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Popularity: 27% [?]

Over the next few days, I’ll be taking a look at some Secret Wars Comic Packs from the Marvel Universe. First, lets take a look at Issue #9, that has (Marvel’s) Piledriver and Hawkeye. Check it out below!
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Popularity: 100% [?]

The modern X-Force gets another figure into the Marvel Universe toy line, and this time it’s Warpath. How does this figure stack up as a toy? Check below for more!
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Popularity: 9% [?]

Making his grand entrance in Iron Man 2, the War Machine’s movie armor comes in with an arsenal of firepower! So just how is he in 1/18th scale? Let’s take a look!
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Popularity: 9% [?]

Another Iron Man 1 movie superstar makes an appearance in the 1/18th scale Iron Man 2 line, the Mark I Iron Man suit. How does the rickety suit hold up in terms of action figures of the 1/18th scale? Check out below!
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Popularity: 7% [?]

The main villain from the first Iron Man movie, Iron Monger, is back in the new 1/18th line from Iron Man 2. How does he measure up in terms of a 1/18th scale figure? Find out below!
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Popularity: 7% [?]

Sorry for the delay, I was out of town for the weekend.  See below for the results of the Marvel Q & A!

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Popularity: 16% [?]

One of the original X-Men, Cyclops has been through it all with different adventures and different teams. Thanks to the Wolverine: Origins line, we can now get X-Men’s boy scout in the 1:18th scale. Check it out here! Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 10% [?]

The answers are in from Marvel’s June Q & A.  See below for responses! Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 13% [?]

One of the big questions for long time collectors since the advent of the Marvel Universe line is should collectors keep the old Super Hero Showdown versions or grab up the new Hasbro versions. Truth of the matter is there is no clear answer. Sometimes the Hasbro venison is greater, sometimes the Toy Biz one is. So this series is an attempt to show both lines merits and flaws so that they can make informed decisions about their collections.

This time I will look at Aunt Petunia’s favorite nephew: The Thing.  Ben Grimm is a classic character and while we realize there would be no way possible for a man made entirely of rock to really exist he is still a great deal of fun on the merits of his looks alone.  The Toy Biz SHS version was released in a two-pack (Or starter pack for those who actually played the game with this) while the MU version came out this year in a single pack. 

Articulation:

Of course the SHS version will win this hands down.  The poor MU version only has 13 points (and that is taking the term liberally to add in the hips, just a second on that).  The Toy Biz Thing is articulated nearly as well as most of the smaller MU figures which is pretty significant when you think about it.  But to take the articulation a bit further Toy Biz had articulation in the feet and left hand. 

Conversely MU Thing barely gets as much articulation as a DC Infinite Heroes figure.  In fact technically they have more.  The MU version cannot move his hips up and down (just swivel).  Talk about disappointing, you can’t even put him in a good running pose with that. 

Also the MU version cannot bring his forearms all the way up into a 90 degree angle.  This seems to be a huge problem with Hasbro of late (effecting both this line and the GI Joe Line for the most part). 

Sculpt:

This is the category that really separates these two figures.  One of the major praises of the MU Thing is that his left hand is open to grasp other figures.  The SHS Thing’s left hand is not only open but can be closed allowing more versatility in grabbing other figures. 

The MU version does have some nice details with the rocks that make up Thing’s skin.  However when you compare the skin to the much more detailed SHS version the MU one falls very short.  Articulation does not destroy the SHS mold (which is a rarity within the line).  The SHS’s face is just superb with a gritting teeth sneer that looks like Mr. Grimm just said “It’s Clobberin’ Time.”  The MU face however is almost expressionless and that works for many figures, however for the Thing it just doesn’t work.  SHS Thing looks ready for a fight and honestly when you have the toy out that is what you want him to look like. 

Also the SHS version is broader, which works great with The Thing.  SHS also appears a bit taller and his arms appear to have more girth.  All of this contributes to a much more menacing looking Ben Grimm, and that is how I like it. 

I should point out too that the MU version has been plagued by reports of “space” in the knee, and the same goes for mine as well.  In the package (with the knees bent) this is nearly impossible to see.  I am not sure if its all the figures but its common enough that two other people have reported the same problem to me, which tells me its either a design flaw or a major quality control issue. 

Also the costume choice, call me old fashioned but Thing in the trunks is how I was introduced to him, and while I never really disliked the long tights and boots look, if I was given a choice I would go with the trunks.  They just look right on him.  Plus the fact he would run around with bare feet is kind of interesting. 

Paint:

The MU thing looks like the designers were leaning more towards the Fantastic Four movie palette.  Which is perfectly fine but it must be pointed out that the colors make the figure resemble the “Oatmeal” look of Thing’s early appearances.

The SHS Thing has a ton of detail in the paint.  While the MU one does as well its no where near what SHS accomplished.  MU looks like it was added for detail, SHS looks like it was there the whole time, like it was destined to be the look of Ben Grimm.  I think the paint on the SHS even looks better than most of the work I have seen artists do in comics.  When one looks at how the tiny rocks appear almost individually painted you can’t help but be in awe of the level of craftsmanship.

Even the eyes look better on SHS version.  On the MU they look like a cartoon drawing while on SHS they look quite natural.  And of course in both cases they are blue. 

Playablity:

SHS hands down.  The extra articulation really adds to the play.  Tiny things like the little bit of articulation in the hand and feet just add so many levels of “fun to this character. 

In all seriousness I would have to recommend the SHS Thing over the MU line.  While he is a bit tougher to find I know that stores had him for months after SHS was put on sale, so he is out there. 

Up next: The Silver Surfer

Score:

MU 1

SHS 1

Popularity: 6% [?]