Hasbro knows the secret sauce to getting the attention of a huge swath of comic book figure collectors is “nostalgia”, and after last year’s highly successful Marvel Legends Secret Wars Wave 1 lineup hit just the right note, they’re coming back for a second helping! This wave has a little something for everyone, including a remake of a European exclusive from the 80s, a Spidey Hasbro has never done before, a previous Build-A-Figure in single-packed form and a rare solo release of the red-costumed Man Without Fear! Marvel Legends Secret Wars Wave 2 is now up for order, featuring Daredevil, Magik, Falcon, Absorbing Man and more!

Individual Figure Pre-Order Links:
Daredevil ►
Symbiote Transformation Spider-Man ►
Magik ►
Constrictor ►
Absorbing Man ►
Falcon ►

Absorbing Man

A few months ago, the Hasbro Marvel team had teased an update to a character last released in 2016. It was widely speculated that that character would be the Absorbing Man, and those rumors turn out to be true: Crusher Creel is back—and this time, not as a Build-A-Figure!

This is a bit of an oddball release, though. Despite the fact that Absorbing Man’s whole schtick is his body taking on the attributes of materials he touches, Hasbro gives zero transmuted parts of any kind here. It’s pretty awkward, especially considering that the BAF a decade ago had transformed parts. It feels like a major omission to exclude them this time.

Along with the necessary wrecking ball, we get swappable heads with and without eyebrows (plus the obligatory lenticular secret shield). This release feels incomplete to me. I don’t love this one.

Mattel released exactly zero females in the 80s Secret Wars lineup, so it still feels a mite weird to see a female figure on these retro cardbacks. That said, there’s few 80s women I’d want to see in the lineup more than Magik in her original New Mutants costume!

While Walgreens released a more modern look for Illyana a couple years back, the New Mutants were my first favorite comic book team, so Hasbro could basically sell me anything from their 80s era and I’d have a smile on my face. What I’m really waiting for at this point is Cypher, though!

Magik is sort of a basic design, but the head sculpt looks swell, as does her pin-less teen girl body mold. The gloved and armored hands are a nifty inclusion that complement the integral Soulsword (with magic effects piece!) well.

For many collectors, this Secret Wars Daredevil is the main event of the wave. Hasbro rarely has classic red costume Daredevil figures available individually, so there’s quite a bit of demand for this DD built up. And I think Hasbro does not disappoint with what they’ve come up with here.

Marvel Legends Secret Wars Daredevil gives ol’ hornhead a new super-articulated body, with plug-in sensory effects piece, alt hands, lenticular shield and two batons that can attach into a billy club, have the attachment points removed, and can fit into the holster on his leg.

I really dig this Daredevil figure. I have quite a few past iterations of him, but this one offers just enough new that I don’t mind making the upgrade purchase one more time.

In honor of the insanely important event that was Spider-Man finding the symbiote that would become his black costume (and eventually Venom) in Secret Wars #8, we get another Spidey in Marvel Legends Secret Wars Wave 2 that’s meant to represent the legendary event that is the classic red costume “transitioning) to the black one.

In theory, this sounds hella cool. However, the execution here really leaves a lot to be desired. Rather than going with a complicated paint scheme depicting the symbiote actually growing and gradually overtaking the red and blue costume, we get a black costume upper chest and left arm that abruptly switch to the classic costume for the rest of the figure. This looks really jarring and bad to me (especially how the abs are just the normal costume).

For a 28 dollar figure, I think Hasbro could have poured a little extra love (and accessories) into Symbiote Transformation Spider-Man. 4 total hands, a tiny symbiote blob and what feels like a slapdash “transition” deco doesn’t feel good at all for nearly 30 bucks. For me, this is the one huge “Pass” in the entire Marvel Legends Secret Wars lineup so far.

Whereas this next figure, Constrictor, is one of my Secret Wars holy grails. You all read me gush about Iceman a few months ago, and you’ll read it again when (not if) Hasbro puts out Electro to complete the trio of characters who only got European releases in the 80s vintage line.

Some collectors are likely to balk at the bright colors Hasbro is using on Constructor here, but the vintage toy colors homage is literally exactly what I wanted. This can fill another third of the 40-year hole in my heart, and I am utterly delighted by it.

Aside from the vintage fan service, this is a big overall upgrade to the 2012 Constrictor figure as well. The articulation has been modernized and the gradient energy charge transition on the coils (which are now removable) looks super cool. Great job, Hasbro.

My first exposure to Falcon as a kid was the Mattel Secret Wars figure. I loved GI Joes that came with animal pack-ins, so I was instantly a Falcon fan as well because of the included Redwing. And this weird 80s vest-like costume is somehow “my” Falcon that I visualize in my mind.

Hasbro did a different and less cool Falcon on the vintage style Retro cardback in 2021, but I’m hyped to get the fun costume I I really wanted in super-articulated form after all these years.

As a bonus, a Redwing Falcon figurine is included here, just like with the vintage figure. He’s got a removable clasp to attach to Falcon’s wrist, and this is the first time we’re getting him in 6” scale from Hasbro. We also get alternate flying hands and a pair of swapout closed wings. I love this whole release.

Marvel Legends Secret Wars Wave 2 is now up for pre-order and will be shipping out this spring. I’m pretty giddy about 4 of the 6 figures, but I’ll be passing on Absorbing Man and Spider-Man here. What’s your take on this wave, Marvel collectors? And who would you like to see join Electro in a potential wave 3?