UPDATE 1/1/2019: For those who don’t want the whole wave to build Kingpin and who’ve been waiting for individual fgures of the first 2019 Marvel Legends Spider-Man wave, wait no more: singles are now available online of all the figures in the wave, including Silver Sable, Night Thrasher, Puma, Black Cat, Red Goblin, Six-Armed Spider-Man and Symbiote Spider-Man! (Well, okay. You’ll have to wait a little–these don’t ship for a couple weeks yet. But still!)
ORIGINAL 12/23/2018: Marvel Legends collectors usually have plenty of hi-res photos of every variety available to peruse by the time the latest wave of a series is ready to go up for sale, but the first Spider-Man Legends Series of 2019 bucked that trend a bit with only limited images available when the Marvel Legends Kingpin Series went up for order at the start of this month. But now that the wave will officially launch in just a week, all the hi-res images–included packaged photos–that collectors need to help make their buying decisions have arrived! Let’s take a look…
- (2) Six-Armed Spider-Man [No Kingpin BAF Part]
- (1) Modern Symbiote Spider-Man with Both Kingpin Heads
- (1) Puma with Kingpin Body/Torso
- (1) Red Goblin with Kingpin Leg
- (1) Night Thrasher with Kingpin Leg
- (1) Marvel NOW! Black Cat with Kingpin Arm and Cane
- (1) Silver Sable with Kingpin Arm
This is an interesting case assortment, as the figure that’s been perhaps the most-criticized among collectors–the new Six Arm Spider-Man ML–is the one figure in the case that’s both double-packed and also contains no Kingpin part. Hmmm.
The Six-Armed Spidey figure instantly got a lot of flack from collectors when it was revealed, as the mold used for the upper torso doesn’t feature any kind of ab crunch, chest ball-joint, or even a swivel waist.
Even if the action-packed hi-res shot of the figure, it’s immediately obvious that the lack of articulation on the torso is going to be a problem when posing this figure. The lack of any kind of paint wash on the webs doesn’t help matters. On the bright side, at least no one that doesn’t want this figure will be forced to buy it for a Kingpin piece, right…?
The other Spidey in the wave–the modern Symbiote Spide-Man from Dan Slott’s “Go Down Swinging”–comes with both heads for the Kingpin BAF. If you just want the Kingpin body to use with the upcoming Shadow King head that Professor X comes with, then you can skip Symbiote Spidey as well. I actually don’t mind the angular nature of this new symbiote designs too much, but the oversized eyes bigger than the head on Spidey definitely throw me for a loop.
Also from “Go Down Swinging” is the craziest Norman Osborn figure that we’ve ever gotten–the Green Goblin/Carnage mashup, Red Goblin, in Marvel Legends 6″ figure form! Symbiote figures are always popular and always sell, and this is certainly a unique one. ‘Twill be interesting to see if collectors get more excited about this figure once it’s actually in-hand.
Wisely, Hasbro has placed the largest and most important part of the Kingpin Build-A-Figure–the torso–in with the most obscure character in the wave: Marvel Legends Puma. Puma isn’t exactly a figure that has been tearing up the Top 10 Most-Requested ML Polls over the past few years (or ever), but I welcome the chance to own a never-before-done Spidey villain in super-articulated, 6″ form. This figure looks fun. Love the portrait!
It’s a sign of how far the New Warriors franchise has fallen into obscurity that a lot of fans have said that they’re totally unfamiliar with Night Thrasher. The skateboard is a crazy accessory and I dig that we’re getting a member of the New Warriors–I just hope he’s not destined to be alone on our shelves. Bring on Marvel Legends Speedball and Firestar, please!
Silver Sable has had an action figure released in the past, but this is the first time she’s officially coming in under the Legends banner. This is also a vastly superior action figure to her previous toy, and almost surely the best piece of merch of the character that there’s ever going to be. The various shades of silver/grey on her look terrific, and this may be a real dark horse to be the most popular single-packed figure in the wave.
Finally, we’ve got a new Marvel Legends Black Cat. Her hair isn’t blue this time, which is a big plus, but she’s also in her almost universally-disliked Marvel NOW costume with cat eyes on the chest. I don’t really know that this is a version of the character I’ll ever display on my shelf, as I much prefer the classic version from a couple years ago, but hey–she’s got the right arm of the Kingpin and his cane, so I’m a-buyin’ her.
The Marvel Legends Spider-Man Kingpin Series is now up for order, and is expected to officially be shipped out via online retailers on or around January 1st, 2019. This will be a very fascinating wave to watch the retail sales of, as the Kingpin Build-A-Figure is one of the most desirable BAFs that Hasbro has done in years, but many of the single-packed figures in the wave that come with his parts are quite a bit less hyped.
Now that you’ve seen the final production figures packaged, what’s your verdict on the first Spider-Man Marvel Legends 2019 wave? Have you already placed an order for this set, been waiting for the chance to pick and choose favorites, or decided that you’re just going to pay the (likely very) big bucks for the Kingpin figure by himself on the aftermarket?
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I’ve already ordered the whole wave, but we’ll see how many I keep and how many end up on my discount table at toy shows.
I was excited for 6-arm Spidey, but it really doesn’t look great, between the lack of articulation, and poor paint. Symbiote Spidey is growing on me, and I want to see if I can add some flame effects to Red Goblin’s mouth to fix him (he always had fire coming out of his mouth in the comics). I like Black Cat enough to get this fig, and don’t hate the costume, but I’m tempted to headswap it with the older Black Cat fig and see how it looks.
I don’t care about Puma, Thrasher, or Silver Sable, but could change my mind up close.
Really, the BAF is the only must-have for me.
Curious question: Do you think it’ll be possible to put the head from the new Black Cat on the old figure? The hair on that old one is so annoying lol, whereas this one is really nice.
I find SILVER Sable to be too skinny! Da wimmen need some curves! I’m not talking Moonshine/ MS. Marvel curves but those skinny bucks are horrible! Ill get two waves for the Kingpin/ Shadow King BAF…but I’m only keeping Puma, thrasher and Sable.
People complaining about Spider-man’s lack of ab crunch or swivel torso, complaining about a single point of articulation probably due to strength the figure so he wouldn’t collapse from the weight of 6 arms, and yet, everyone was praising the Spider-Ham figure that had articulation similar to a happy meal toy.
Worried about this wave. Most figures just look kinda poor. ZCollectors May buy just for kingpin and resell. Or craftily take the BAF parts and return the figure to shops. Otherwise, I can’t see many kids or casual fans picking any of these up except for 6 arm Spidey.
Hmm, my recollection was everybody ragging on the spider-ham figure since it had no articulation from the waist down. i don’t remember anybody praising that figure, except maybe Dan Larson the Toy Galaxy guy.
I expect ALOT of swaps for the BAF pieces at retail stores.
I’m not a fan of the red circle arm pegs on that 6 arm Spidey. If I can skip that figure and easily get the rest of the wave for the Kingpin BAF, I will.
This is definitely one of those BAF waves where I want the BAF more than the figures that I’ll need to buy to make him. I’ve long since wanted a Puma figure, so thankfully Hasbro finally gave us one, Not liking the rest outside of the new Black Cat head and the 6-armed Spidey is ok overall I guess, but not feeling the rest of the line even though it is pretty cool of Hasbro to finally make an official Night Thrasher figure in the ML line.
Despite my comment to Hasbro, it looks like they’re going forward in putting out the Kingpin wearing a WOMAN’S coat as the buttons are on the wrong side of the coat. Sheesh!!!
This might just be the single most nit picky complaint I’ve seen regarding any toy, ever.
I seriously doubt that anyone in the fashion industry would agree to your comment. It’s one of the most basic feature differentiating men’s and women’s clothing.
that IS an odd choice, didn’t notice that until you pointed it out… now i’ll probably never be able to unsee it lol.
I’m considering on cutting off the buttons by using an X-Acto knife, and relocating them onto the correct side.
You clearly work in/study costuming or fashion and I adore you.
But also…maybe Kingpin wanted to feel powerful and pretty.
Maybe he looks at Emma Frost and thinks, “I wanna wear what she is wearing.”
Dear Ms. Frost,
Congratulations on your crowning of the Black King.
I would really appreciate it if you considered me as your White King or Queen.
Thank you.
Yours Truly,
Kingpin
(Or Queenpin. I’m flexible either way.)
Actually, I’m a professional engineer who happens to have a keen interest in men’s high end fashion.
I can’t unsee that now.
I could take or leave Puma. He’s a maybe. With a price drop to 12 bucks or so. I have comics with him in it. The rest. Nope. I will be buying Kingpin on the aftermarket almost no matter what they want to charge. I’d even pay nearly as much as buying the whole wave. I’d be paying NOT to have to buy these figures. Except Puma.
Is it weird that the only Kingpin piece I want is the Diamond Cane? He is totally the best figure in this set…but I don’t need or want him. Just that cane! But at the same time, that Black Cat figure is so not at all worth the 20$.
The only figure I think I am absolutely getting is the Red Goblin. He doesn’t feel complete by any means, but he also just seems so cool.
Part of me really believes I’ll get the Silver Sable figure to use with the Lilliandra head Mystique has, unless they announce some BAF plans for her soon.
I really want to want the 6 arm Spiderman…but it just looks so cheap *in all the pictures*. I thought it was one of the coolest variations I saw him go through as a kid and actually loved it. This figure…I need to see in person.
This wave is still causing me angst. I’ve been trying to convince myself I should buy it for Kingpin, but I just can’t get excited for the individual figures. Usually I’m actually excited for at least half of the figures in a wave, so I’m willing to buy the last 2 or 3 to complete a BAF, but with this wave none of the individual figures makes me sit up and pay attention.
Probably the hardest ML wave to justify so far.
I’d consider picking up a few figs from this wave once their prices drop to $10 or so. love that BAF but there’s just no way i see myself getting 6 figs for msrp in order to build him. Puma seems OK, red goblin and silver sables are ‘maybe’s. I’m hoping hasbro re-releases Kingpin separately in a year or two, like they did with the comic Thanos BAF and mcu GRoot BAF.
I’m not digging this one at all. Pass. It would be cool to have Kingpin but I can probably find him on eBay for less than paying for the whole case of figures.
Still really digging the Puma, Night-Thrasher (SO glad he has the skateboard), and Silver Sable figures.
The Six-Armed Spidey looks worse the more I see of it, but I have a lot of nostalgia for Spider-Man with the extra arms, so I’ll still probably get it.
And the rest of the figures I don’t particularly care for, but I gotta get if I want that Kingpin BAF.
Let’s be real here. I don’t think the Black Cat figure is getting hate because of the cat eyes. I mean, come on now. Let’s not ignore the elephant in the room.
Regardless, I don’t care about the costume or anything more obviously relating to it. The very low bar that this figure has to pass in order for it to replace my old Black Cat figure is simply having any ability to look up and down and stand on it’s own. If this figure can be posed more dynamically than the last figure, which again is an extremely low bar, then it has won me over.
Not meaning to be a downer but this looks like such a weak wave – The Kingpin figure looks tempting but I imagine it will just end up being far too big and out of scale for Marvel Legends – just like both the Sandman & Absorbing man BAFS….
As of right now, this wave is on Amazon, all figures are for preorder at retail price of $19.99 each. I ordered the 6 figs with the BAF piece, so it avoids me having to buy the 6 armed Spidey.
Yeah, I had no plans to order any of these, but with easy 19.99 availability on Amazon instead of one of these other places we usually get pre-orders from (that I refuse to do business with anymore and won’t even mention their names)… I couldn’t resist. The cost of just the ones with the BAF at retail is probably something similar to buying Kingpin online already built, considering that’s the only thing a lot of people will be interested in and demand will be higher than normal. So I just bought nearly an entire wave of figures I care almost nothing about. That better be one sweet Kingpin. 🙂
Still waiting on an update from BBTS on this preorder.
Anybody know anything about Puma? Before this wave was announced I had somehow never heard of him and I’ve been a comics fan for decades.
Specifically, why is there an “E” on his belt? Google has become utterly worthless so I’m not getting an answer on that there.
I only know Puma from the 1991 Marvel trading cards. Here is a link to the card which has a mini bio on it:
https://www.tradingcarddb.com/ViewCard.cfm/sid/74959/cid/5576688/1991-Impel-Marvel-Universe-II-79-Puma
Right on, thanks! I forgot about those cards! I think I may still have the Doppleganger card around somewhere.
I think in his earliest appearances the intention was to have “native american patterns” on his belt and it just so happened that the buckle area looks like an E design (i think its just supposed to be 3 horizontal lines). There are less-pronounced designs elsewhere on the belt (admittedly, mostly vertical and horizontal lines). later on i guess artists just decided to turn it into an E buckle. some artists depict the belt as plain, some have the E backwards. So in short, I think its not really supposed to be an E since there is no reason for him to have one… i think it was supposed to be a native american culture thing (or maybe just neat abstract designs) i could be wrong though.
Gotcha, thank you! I think I may have been devoting more time to finding that answer than I probably should have.
This is an easy pass for me. I’m not remotely interested in any of these figures. I’ll buy the kingpin aftermarket I can wait till the demand goes down. Seeing what’s coming out in 2019 it looks like I’ll be saving alot of money on marvel legends.