For years, Marvel Cinematic Universe fans have been crying out for Diamond Select Toys to complete the core Avengers from the MCU in Marvel Select figure form. It took a full three years-plus from the release of the first Avengers movie, but that mission is now complete! Fans were dismayed when DST revealed that only one new character would be in the AOU lineup, but they made the right call and completed the team with that slot! The Marvel Select Black Widow movie figure is now available online for $24 shipped–should you complete your Avengers movie team with her?

The Right:

Let me start off with props to Diamond Select Toys for getting us a movie Black Widow Marvel Select figure. It took a while, but at least she’s finally here. Big thumbs up (now let’s get on with Vision and Scarlet Witch, hm?).

The supposed lack of Black Widow merch has generated a lot of buzz this year, but with the release of the Avengers Age of Ultron Marvel Select Black Widow, she’s finally in all the major toy lines. And I’m thrilled to say that–for the most part–she’s a really good action figure.

The thing that stands out to me the most about this figure is that outstanding articulation scheme. It’s easily the best we’ve ever seen on a DST female figure (particularly the lower body), and packs everything from double-jointed knees to very interesting ankle rockers.

Ordinarily it can be a little challenging to stand up Marvel Select (and even some Marvel Legends) females, but the rocker joint along the middle of Black Widow’s boots works tremendously. Natasha can stand up (and strike a ninja kick) with the best of them!

Of course, all that glorious articulation would be a waste if that was all this action figure had to offer: thankfully, it’s not.

The Marvel Select AOU Black Widow figure features the same style of highly-detailed, nicely textured figure that we’ve come to expect from Diamond. The detailing in Natasha’s hair and outfit are far better than that of the Marvel Legends Black Widow figure, just as I had hoped.

Natasha also comes with a pretty healthy stash of accessories: four interchangeable hands (one pair of fists and one pair of trigger hands), two electric batons, a pistol and a huge display base.

No, seriously: this is one BIG display base. It’s nothing particularly memorable from the movie (I think it’s just some sandbags and terrain from the battle in Sokovia), but it makes for a tremendous stand to pose Black Widow in.

Honestly, as much as I dig this figure of Natasha, I may actually make this humongous display base even more. And as such, I’m seriously considering picking up the Age of Ultron Thor figure I was planning to pass on, as he comes with the second half of the base. I love it.

Finally, scale: Black Widow is just under 7″ tall, so she fits in nicely with the rest of the Marvel Select Avengers team (including being dwarfed by Hulk, just as she should be).

She’s slightly too big to be compatible with Hasbro Marvel Legends 6″ figures–but that’s not really the point of this line, is it?

The Wrong:

Unfortunately, this is far from a perfect toy. First off, the likeness to Scarlett Johansson is off somewhat. In dim lighting or from just the right angle I can see it, but head-on and in bright light, it’s just not Scarlett. The “zombie stare” eyes don’t help matters either.

I always like a ball-jointed upper body, but in this particular case, it looks really odd. Something about the way that DST has sculpted Widow’s… cleavage… doesn’t look right, and I think that the upper torso articulation is accentuating the problem. Also, I don’t think the blue lining on Widow’s upper-body is totally on-model.

In addition, I’m bummed that the MS Black Widow 7″ figure has two trigger hands but only comes with one pistol–I find it hard to believe that one more minuscule piece of plastic would have broken the budget for this figure.

Finally, the figure has a belt with a real working holster–but the holster isn’t sized right, so the pistol falls out instantly, rendering the holster useless. How sad!

Overall: I so desperately want to give this Black Widow Marvel Select movie action figure an ‘A’, but it’s just not there. The likeness to Scarlett Johansson is a tad off, and the chest sculpt looks too awkward for me to give this figure highest marks.

That said, the articulation on the Marvel Select Avengers Age of Ultron figure is superb, the sculpting on the rest of her body is top-notch, she comes with a wealth of accessories and a super-cool base. This is likely the only movie Black Widow Select figure that will ever be released, and she’s well worth the paltry $24 I paid for her. Recommended.

GRADE: B+