'Marvelous' Hasbro

Hasbro Toys has taken the Marvel toy license and ran with it. Never has so much Marvel superhero material hit toy shelves before. Movie tie-ins such as Spider-Man, the Hulk and Iron Man merchandise dominate toy isles and the animated Spider-Man cartoon and Marvel Legends and other figures have become highly-popular with collectors. I have a sampling of four figures from four different series that I believe warrant a closer look.

The new Marvel Universe Fury Files 3 1/2" fully articulated figure set from Hasbro are wonders of miniature articulation and sculpting. The Silver Surfer figure is especially impressive. It's not easy making an action figure exciting when the paint application is one solid color. In this case silver. But Hasbro's sculptors have more than made up for the lack of multi-colors by making the Surfer's muscles really pop! Every tendon, muscle and joint screams detail. I'm especially impressed with the Surfer's upper torso articulation. Its almost impossible to spot where it is. Now that's tight construction! Of course where there's the Silver Surfer, there's his trusty surfboard.

The Fury Files figures also come with a special secret code that lets you go online, register as an agent, enter your secret code and unlock the Marvel Universe. Although the Fury Files figures are smaller than other Hasbro Marvel figures but they are no less impressive. The packaging is very secure, displays the character to its best advantage and is visually appealing.

The Mighty Muggs Venom figure is adorable! I never thought I'd catch myself calling Venom adorable, but in this case he is. He stands about six inches tall, has short stubby legs and arms, an oversize head and a ridiculously long red tongue.

The paint application is simple but well designed, Venom's costume is black with white spider symbols, jagged white eyes and a large deep red mouth with nasty teeth lining the top and bottom. The figure is partially articulated, fitted together securely so as to allow small children to play with it and comes in a handsome box with clear front panel for easy viewing. Toy collectors and kids are sure to love this figure.

A more traditional Venom figure is Hasbro's Spider-Man Super Villain Venom with Jaw Slash. The variant edition comes with arms extended from its sides. Push the button on its back and its jaws slash!

Encased in a clear wraparound plastic container attached to a hanging card, the figure is completely visible, nicely positioned and easy to spot on store shelves.

The figure itself is highly-articulated with tight joints that allow you to position the figure in many action stances. Paint application is tight with no slop over or rough edges although there is a little inconsistency in tone on the arms and torso.

The face is the real clincher with its oversize open jaws, long flailing tongue and shark-like teeth. Overall this is a very well done figure. My only complaint is the lower torso area where the legs connect to it. The ball joints are a little too obvious and could have used a bit more camouflage such as those joints on the rest of the figure.

The Absorbing Man has always been one of my favorite Marvel villains. The idea that a bad guy can simply touch any object and take on its properties appeals to me.

Part of the Hulk Marvel Legends Fin Fang Foom Build A Figure series, the Absorbing Man figure comes with the right leg of the giant dragon that when assembled stands at over 15 inches tall!
The Absorbing Man is all articulation and boasts one of the most impressive paint jobs of all of the Hasbro marvel figures. His upper torso is half flesh and rock while his loser torso, dressed in prison striped pants, consists of a fully transformed to brick left leg and a partially transformed right leg.

His scowling face is pure villain. Careful attention has been given to the eyes and features. He holds his trademark ball and chain and looks prepared to take on the Hulk himself.
Eight figures come in the series. Like the Venom figure the paint application s tight, articulation points are snug and because the figure is painted in multi-colors the upper legs ball joints are better camouflaged than the Venom figure. Overall, a very nice figure.