Of all the many, many Marvel licensees out there that make Marvel action figures, I don’t think there’s a single company more prolific than Diamond Select Toys is with their Marvel Minimates line. DST literally releases dozens upon dozens of new Marvel figures each year, spread across Marvel Minimates box sets, specialty store waves and Toys R Us exclusive series. And just in time to end the first month of 2014, the first wave of the year has arrived–TRU Marvel Minimates Series 18!

While Toys R Us unfortunately decided to pass on carrying their own exclusive waves of movie Marvel Minimates based off the latest Marvel movies (Thor: The Dark World, Amazing Spider-Man 2, Captain America: The Winter Soldier), they’re back this month with an exclusive remix Marvel Minimates wave–Toys R Us Marvel Minimates Series 18!

TRU Marvel Minimates Series 18 consists of four two-packs, with five of the eight figures being unique and not duplicated in Marvel Minimates Series 54. We lose the specialty-store exclusive Minimates figures of Baron Strucker, Madame Hydra, evil Winter Soldier and Robot Red Skull, but gain some neat characters in their place…

Toys R Us Marvel Minimates Wave 18 Age of Ultron Wolverine/Ultron Drone

I am not a fan of the Brian Michael Bendis “Age of Ultron” comic book storyline–at all–and I literally want to scream every time I see a site misreport that Marvel is making Avengers 2 “based on the Age of Ultron comic book story”. That said, I really don’t mind this two-pack of exclusive Minimates.

The Minimates Age of Ultron Wolverine is pretty distinct from other Wolverines, and the Minimates Gold Ultron Drone looks pretty cool (and far cheaper than trying to army-build the Marvel Legends Gold Ultron!).

Toys R Us Marvel Minimates Wave 18 Age of Ultron Wolverine/Ultron Drone

Believe it or not, the Marvel NOW! Thor Minimates figure is a Toys R Us exclusive. Crazy, right? Along with a long-overdue and great-looking Minimates Absorbing Man figure, this set is a must-have.

Toys R Us Marvel Minimates Series 18 Fighting Chance Captain America/Falcon

The only two-pack in Marvel Minimates Toys R Us Series 18, this set contains the same Minimates Falcon and “Fighting Chance” Captain America as the specialty store wave. Falcon is an ‘A’-Lister who deserves solid distribution, and a new Captain America will sell well enough to do double-duty. No problems here.

Toys R Us Marvel Minimates Series 18 Winter Soldier Agent of SHIELD/Hydra Elite

Finally, we’ve got a set that looks like two more repacks… at first glance. While the Minimates Hydra Elite is a repeat from Minimates Wave 54, the Minimates Winter Soldier Agent of SHIELD figure is actually painted differently than the specialty store version, making it a unique “good” Winter Soldier figure. Collectors will want a whole bunch of Hydra Minimates, so I think it’s pretty stellar that the Hyrda Elite Minimates is available with three different unique figures.

Overall, I’d say this is a pretty smashing wave of Toys R Us exclusive Marvel Minimates figures. What do you think, Marvel fans? Will any of these Marvel Minimates packs be joining your collections?

Thanks to Josh Heffington for tipping me off that this latest series had hit stores!