When it comes to "Marvel," one of the leading American comic book publishers, which superhero first comes to mind for you toy enthusiasts? Is it the righteous national hero Captain America? The brilliant genius Iron Man, burdened with immense wealth? Thor, the God of Thunder from another realm? Or... our most familiar and friendly neighborhood hero—"Spider-Man"?
Let's turn back time sixty years. In August 1962, the brand-new teenage hero "Spider-Man," co-created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, made his debut in issue #15 of Marvel's magazine "Amazing Fantasy" (formerly Amazing Adult Fantasy). According to descriptions from the late Grandpa Stan in interview clips, the initial concept for Spider-Man was a superhero who could climb walls. However, his character design went against the grain: the young high school protagonist, Peter Parker, was not only an orphan raised by relatives, but also financially struggling, not handsome, and not particularly attractive to women.
Nevertheless, these realistic character traits, which differed from the prevailing trend of "teenagers always serving as sidekicks" at the time, resonated with many readers and sparked widespread discussion after its release. Due to its immense popularity, an independent solo comic, "The Amazing Spider-Man," was launched the following year, thus beginning our friendly neighborhood hero's incredible sixty-year legend.
▲The cover of "Amazing Fantasy" issue #15, Spider-Man's first appearance. Notably, it sold for a staggering US$3.6 million at auction last September, setting a new record for comic book auctions. (Image copyright Marvel)
Sixty years after 1962, Spider-Man, who has stumbled and grown alongside his readers, has evolved from a naive newcomer into a crucial pillar of the Marvel universe. His footprints, whether in comics, animation, games, TV series, or films, are almost everywhere. His image, swinging between skyscrapers with webs in hand, is deeply ingrained in people's minds, and his signature web-shooting gesture has almost become a language for a generation. It's no exaggeration to say he's Marvel's most approachable superhero, and this is precisely Spider-Man's most celebrated unique charm!
To commemorate this momentous 60th anniversary, the internationally renowned toy manufacturer "Hasbro" has released "Marvel Legends" Spider-Man 60th Anniversary commemorative figures. After more than a decade of refinement, the Marvel Legends series has firmly established itself as the leader in 1:12 scale Marvel action figures. Its extensive roster of characters spans comics, animation, TV series, and films, making its character coverage arguably the broadest among all brands.
The six-inch scale, combined with abundant articulation and optional accessories, makes them not only perfect for enjoyable handheld play but also rich in fun when combined with diverse characters for scene setups or simply as display pieces. In recent years, the application of mature "Photo Real Technology" has further infused lifelike souls into the head sculpts of live-action characters. From any perspective, the Marvel Legends series is a highly worthwhile and cost-effective choice. This unboxing features six sets, totaling seven Spider-Man 60th Anniversary figures. Although this is only half of the current wave, their spectacular performance is absolutely beyond imagination. Now, let's follow this unboxing report and soar through this amazing sixty-year journey!
▼The protagonists of this article include four single packs, one two-pack, and one retro carded figure.
▼The top of each outer box features the "Spider-Man 60 Amazing Years" commemorative logo for the 60th anniversary.
In response to the global trend of plastic reduction, Hasbro has made significant changes to the packaging of Marvel Legends. Firstly, the outer box has been redesigned as a pure cardboard box without a transparent window, and the figure itself is now secured internally with thick cardboard. Accessories are stored in paper bags. While this is much more environmentally friendly, the inability to confirm the face sculpt and check for missing parts before purchase is a point of concern for some.
"Spider-Man (Amazing Fantasy)". That's right, as the first figure to kick off this unboxing, it could only be this original Spider-Man! Let's take a look at the new packaging style. In addition to the 3D rendered image of the figure, the two sides of the outer box feature a front-facing illustration of the figure itself and character artwork (for the original Spider-Man, naturally, the comic's original cover is used). The back clearly lists all the interchangeable parts and accessories, so please be sure to check the paper bag for any missing items after opening the box!
Unlike the later red and blue color scheme, the original Spidey's suit appears more subdued, primarily featuring a red and black base, with web-like thin wings under the armpits. The figure itself utilizes an innovative new body sculpt, not only featuring butterfly joints that allow for extensive forward and backward movement of the shoulder joints, but also new chest and waist joints that combine both sculpt and articulation. The previously exposed joint pins on the sides of the elbows and knees have also been replaced with a new hidden design. The overall sculpt is not only refined, but the articulation is also absolutely flawless!
Includes two pairs of underarm web-wings, allowing for poses with arms raised or lowered.
As an articulated Spider-Man figure, various signature poses are, of course, indispensable. With the included four pairs of interchangeable hands and articulation points throughout the body, you can perfectly recreate Spider-Man's flexible physique and posture.
Whether it's crouching low to climb walls or swinging through the air with web-lines, nothing is too difficult for him.
The included transparent web-line parts add an even greater sense of dynamism.
If you're looking to collect the most classic, most original Spider-Man, then this figure is an absolute must-have masterpiece!
"Silk and Doc Ock" Two-Pack.
"Silk," first appeared in 2014 in "The Amazing Spider-Man" Vol. 3, Issue #1. Her real name is Cindy Moon, a Korean-American who was bitten by the same radioactive spider that bit Peter, accidentally gaining superpowers including organic web-generation, eidetic memory, and a Spider-Sense superior to Spider-Man's.
However, initially unable to control her powers, she was placed in a special facility to avoid attacks from Morlun and his family of Spider-Man hunters. After regaining her freedom, Cindy, as "Silk," assists Peter while searching for her own family. This figure's design is based on Silk's solo comic series, recreating Cindy's appearance in her suit.
Includes two head sculpts: one unmasked (with a removable red scarf) and one with the mask pulled up. Both faces are rendered with printed details, and the delicate and refined features and quality are truly stunning.
As for the body, it utilizes a new female body sculpt, with double-jointed elbows and a hidden pin design that is not only beautiful but also incredibly articulated!
In addition to three pairs of interchangeable hands, a right hand posed as if shooting a web is also included.
The super articulated and exquisitely sculpted physique is truly captivating! Although it was mentioned earlier that Peter was initially portrayed as unpopular with many women, looking at him later... *cough*, it actually makes one quite envious (?).
▼"Doctor Octopus," real name Otto Octavius, first appeared in 1963's "The Amazing Spider-Man" #3. He is a brilliant scientist specializing in nuclear energy and physics, renowned in academia for his intellect and self-developed mechanical arms. However, due to a family tragedy and a radiation accident, Dr. Otto began using his four arms to embark on a path of no return, becoming the terrifying intellectual criminal, Doctor Octopus.
Doctor Octopus later joined forces with other supervillains to form the Sinister Six, launching a relentless hunt against Spider-Man. This two-pack version is not far from the 2018 release, with changes to the main body's coloring and the addition of a calm-expression head sculpt, recreating Doctor Octopus's classic yellow and green battle suit.
▼The two included head sculpts, with their square-framed glasses, exude a retro charm.
▼A hidden Easter egg beneath the glasses: the eyes on both head sculpts are also recreated with printing!!
▼Among Spider-Man's adversaries, Doctor Octopus is undoubtedly one of the most popular. Not only is he intelligent, but his later transformation into "Superior Spider-Man" by taking over Peter's body, and his morally ambiguous character, have always been a unique part of his charm.
▼Although the four arm parts attached to the back have almost no articulation, their positions can be swapped to achieve different angles.
▼Beyond comics, Doctor Octopus's appearances in live-action films and games have also been very popular with fans. It seems the Doctor can fight for another 30 years!
▼"Lizard," first appeared in 1963's "The Amazing Spider-Man" #6. Real name Curtis Connors, he was once a skilled military surgeon who lost his right arm during the Vietnam War due to an explosion. Upon returning to the United States, he turned to the laboratory, dedicating himself to the study of tissue regeneration medicine. Ultimately, he injected himself with a reptilian gene extract. While he successfully regenerated his right arm, it also changed Professor Connors' life forever, as he eventually became the Lizard, intending to transform all humans on Earth into reptilian creatures.
▼This retro carded version is actually inspired by the first episode of the 1994 "Spider-Man: The Animated Series", "Night of the Lizard", recreating the Lizard's debut appearance. It includes two head sculpts, two pairs of hands, and two different beakers. Notably, the tail is made of soft plastic with an embedded soft wire, allowing for free adjustment of its angle within certain limits.
▼Two interchangeable head sculpts with different styles are included. Which one do you prefer?
▼The two styles of beakers feature different coloring in the center. Collecting more of them might provide material for recreating a laboratory scene?
▼Although the character doesn't quite fit, I really want to pair this with the line, "You know, I'm something of a scientist myself."
▼The man who intends to turn everyone into lizards, geckos, and skinks.
▼With the main body's articulation combined with the movable tail, even the Lizard can display dynamic combat poses!
▼"Spider-Man" (スパイダーマン), inspired by the 1978 Japanese Toei Company's tokusatsu series, which aired 41 episodes. It can be described as a cross-national collaboration with a distinctly Japanese style. The story follows 22-year-old professional motorcyclist and martial arts champion Takuya Yamashiro, who, with the help of the Spiderian Garia (ガリア), injects a spider extract to become Spider-Man and seek revenge against the Iron Cross Army for his father's murder. This Spider-Man, later classified in the parallel universe Earth-51778, uses his Spider Bracelet to don a special Spider Protector suit, transforming into "Emissary from Hell" Spider-Man. He can also summon his exclusive vehicle, the GP-7, and pilot the giant robot Leopardon (レオパルドン) to battle monsters. Once again, this is truly an adaptation with a strong Japanese tokusatsu style.
This figure can be said to subtly recreate the tokusatsu style of that era, such as the slightly wrinkled mask, the distinctive spider emblem on the chest and back, and the bracelet on the left hand, as if transporting us back to 1978.
The Spider Bracelet also features the "SPIDERMAN" lettering as seen in the show. The only minor drawback is the inability to replicate its opening and closing mechanism.
The included hands are sculpted to match the commonly used gestures from the show, faithfully recreating iconic poses.
The limb joints also utilize a new, hidden version, allowing for exceptionally smooth articulation.
“Emissary from Hell, Spider-Man!” (地獄からの使者、スパイダーマン！)
Two types of white web effects and web lines are included for posing. It would be even more perfect if a machine gun were included (hmm?)
In addition to later appearances in Marvel comics, Toei Spider-Man will also appear in the animated film sequel "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse," set to release in 2023. Let's look forward to Takuya's performance in this new story!
The "Iron Spider," inspired by the 2006 comic "Civil War," is a brand-new Spider-suit created by Tony Stark for Peter, utilizing Stark Industries technology. In addition to its colors being closer to Iron Man's gold and red scheme, its most prominent feature is the three auxiliary claws (Waldoes/Spider-Arms) on its back. These provide assistance to Spider-Man during normal movement and leaps, as well as in intense combat. Both visually and functionally, it is an incredibly powerful Spider-armor.
This Iron Spider figure is truly a brand-new version that fans have long been clamoring for! It not only utilizes a body that combines both articulation and sculpt, but its three metallic spider-claws also offer a high degree of playability, making it absolutely worth the long wait!
Including the base, each auxiliary claw features three points of articulation, and by changing the angle of the jointed parts, it can express a wider variety of poses.
The metallic texture of the main body is remarkably striking, even featuring a subtle gradient of darkening tones along the edges.
As mentioned, once the three spider-claws are deployed, they fully convey the imposing presence of this suit.
Compared to the four-clawed version from the live-action film, the original comic's three-clawed design possesses an asymmetrical beauty.
Ultimately, it's simply "cool"! If you're a fan of this Iron Spider suit, you definitely can't miss out!
The "Future Foundation Spider-Man Stealth Suit," from "FF" Vol. 1 #11 in 2011, is the suit Peter wore when he joined the Future Foundation after the Human Torch's death, fulfilling his last wish. Its black and white color scheme is identical to that of all members, and it is made from third-generation Unstable Molecules, capable of activating a stealth mode with a predominantly black hue.
As mentioned, the color scheme of this suit is relatively simple, featuring only two strong contrasting colors: black and white. A minor drawback is that the base body does not use the new hidden joints, so the visible axes on the inner sides of the limbs appear quite prominent.
The spider emblem on the chest extends outwards with eight legs, making for a relatively modern design.
▼Includes two pairs of interchangeable hands, which can be freely matched according to the situation.
▼The butterfly joints in the shoulders still provide an excellent range of articulation.
▼The included transparent web effects are the same as those of the original Spider-Man, but since there are no gripping hand sculpts, they can only be used for this type of display.
▼With careful posing, you can still create cool poses of him swinging through the air! This is the most powerful selling point of Marvel Legends!
▼And so, this concludes the first part of our unboxing report for the Marvel Legends Spider-Man 60th Anniversary figure. In the next installment, we will take you into another new chapter. Don't forget to follow us and continue soaring through the currents of time with our friendly neighborhood hero!
