When I saw the packaging revealed for the 2014 Marvel Legends Infinite Series Spider-Man series, I had my suspicions that the other shoe was about to drop in the form of a price increase for Hasbro Marvel Legends next year. I didn’t have to wait long for my suspicions to pan out–BigBadToyStore has put Spider-Man Marvel Legends 2014 series 1 up for order, and has also confirmed the price increase and case ratios for next year’s Marvel Legends figures…

Alright, Marvel Legends fans! There’s good news and there’s bad news. First, the bad news–Hasbro has now confirmed that the 2014 Marvel Legends Infinite Series figures will carry a retail price of $19.99 each. This is a bit of a bummer, but it’s also not even close to being a surprise.

Between larger Build-A-Figures being brought back next year, the upgrade to the same box packaging as the $20 MSRP Star Wars Black Series 6″ figures and the addition of alternate hands for a Hasbro Spider-Man figure for the first time, the handwriting was on the wall that prices would be going up.

That said, I can live with a price increase because of the good news–the fact that we’re getting one of the most diverse, exciting lineups of Marvel Legends figures in years to coincide with the launch (and price increase) of the Marvel Legends Infinite Series.

The case ratios of the Amazing Spider-Man 2 Marvel Legends Infinite Series 1 are:
(2) Superior Spider-Man (AKA Doc Ock Spider-Man)
(2) Amazing Spider-Man (from the “Amazing Spider-Man 2” movie)
(1) Electro (from the “Amazing Spider-Man 2” movie)
(1) Black Cat
(1) Beetle (from Ultimate Spider-Man)
(1) Carnage (called “Spawn of the Symbiote”)

This isn’t the greatest case pack the world has ever seen, mind you–I could definitely do without four Spideys in a case of 8–but I still think this a pretty excellent mix of Spider-Man characters from across various types of Spider-Man media. I’m grateful that all the Marvel Legends Ultimate Green Goblin Build-A-Figure parts are included in the Wave 1 case, and also that I can get Carnage and Black Cat here (and probably skip the Toxin and Anya Corazon Spider-Girl variants entirely).

The Spiderman Marvel Legends Infinite Series figures are now available for pre-order both as a set and in full cases, with an expected delivery date in January 2014. I’m hoping we get really lucky and see these figures slip out before the holidays, but I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

How do you feel about the new price-point for Marvel Legends figures that begins next year, Marvel fans? Are you still on-board with Hasbro at $20 per action figure, or is the new price too high for you to handle?