New York Toy Fair 2022 is officially canceled—which totally sucks since we’ll miss out on seeing hundreds of collectible reveals in one weekend for the second consecutive year. But it’s a guilty blessing for me, since I won’t have to force myself to run up and down the Javits Center, mostly blind, while I’m still recovering from my strokes. Even with limited vision, though, I still would have liked to have seen their newly-solicited Marvel goods from Diamond Select Toys up-close—including the new Marvel Minimates Fantastic Four figures box set and Legends in 3D The Thing 1:2 scale bust!

Despite just turning 20 years old, Marvel Minimates figures have been having a bit of a rough time lately, as they’re a low-MSRP item with a tiny markup and have virtually zero retailer support. So we have not seen all that many new-release Minimates over the last year or so—but this summer, Fantastic Four fans will be getting a treat in the form of a new FF Minimates box set!

If these black and blue costumes on Marvel’s first family look familiar to you from your action figure shelves already, that’s likely because Hasbro captured the full team in their modern era costumes from early in Dan Slott’s run in the comics as a 2020 Marvel Legends wave. Not to be outdone, DST is on the scene with a 7-pack including the whole family—and more!

In honor of the 20th anniversary of Marvel Minimates, Diamond Select Toys is releasing a Fantastic Four Deluxe box set including:

• Mr. Fantastic (Reed Richards)
• Invisible Woman (Sue Storm)
• The Human Torch (Johnny Storm)
• The Thing (Ben Grimm)
• HERBIE the robot
• Silver Surfer Black
• Infamous Iron Man (Doctor Doom)

I’m not sure what this particular modern age lineup of characters has to do with the Minimates 20th Anniversary, but anything that gets more Marvel Minimates into production is good in my book.

Reed will come with interchangeable extra pieces to make his arms and legs elongated, while Johnny will have a flaming flight stand. The Thing will get appropriately oversized fists and feet, and Sue will get… well, nothing. It’s not impossible there will be an interchangeable clear piece or two included for the Invisible Woman, but if that’s true, it sure isn’t mentioned or shown in the solicitation information.

Silver Surfer Black is a surprise pick to be sure, but it’s at least a version of the character we haven’t seen released a half dozen times (or more) previously in 2” form. This will complement the Hasbro Marvel legends 6” figure nicely. Norrin will come with matching grey-black surfboard (as he kinda has to).

One more character getting a new Minimate 2” figure long after a 6” Marvel Legends counterpart is Victor von Doom in his Infamous Iron Man armor (complete with cape). Dr. Doom stopped wearing this costume in the comics years ago now, so this especially feels very out-of-date, but I prefer this over yet another classic Doom Minimates action figure nonetheless.

While Ben and Sue apparently won’t get any accessories of their own, I’m counting the mini H.E.R.B.I.E. in the set as a whole other character! Always a joy to see HERBIE getting some toy love, though I would have liked a little Franklin Richards Minimates fig even more.

Marvel Legends in 3D has really only been comprised of absolute top-tier A-List characters up until now, so I’m a tad surprised to see a character such as The Thing who isn’t exactly a mainstream darling at present getting a 1:2 bust release.

I always have space in my heart (and on my shelf) for another ever-lovin’-blue-eyed-Thing statue, however, so I’ve got no complaints about DST choosing one of my underrated favorites for this spot.

There’s not a lot to say about this 10” arm-less bust, but the craggy rock-skin looks very well textured and the Fantasticar-inspired silver logo base is a hit with me. I dig this, even if I’m not convinced the collecting world was dying for a 1/2 scale Thing bust.

The DST July 2022 Marvel statues and figures are now up for pre-order. The Thing bust is limited to 1000 pieces, but given that the Thing isn’t a hugely popular character at this time, I’m not optimistic that a super-fast sellout is in the cards.

Are either of these F4-centric collectibles on your radar of potential buys, Fantastic 4 fans? Do you think I’m underestimating the present level of fandom for Ben Grimm? And what characters would you like to see next in these two value-priced series from Diamond Select Toys?