Which super villain does the Amazing Spiderman expect to wreak havok and spread chaos most during the season of Halloween? No prizes for guessing—it's the Green Goblin! I [Ewan] caught up with everybody's favourite webslinger and found out what he thought about the Marvel Universe 3.75” action figure of his arch nemesis!
Name: Green Goblin
Line: Marvel Universe, Figures 15
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Released: 2009
Price: Online $2.99-$12.99
Scale: 3.75 inch
Accessories: Goblin Glider, Pumpkin Bomb, Goblin (Granny Hand)bag, Fury Files ID Card, and Top Secret Letter
Sponsor Listings: Past Generation Toys-$8.95, Big Bad Toy Store-$8.99
Ewan: So Spidey, we all know Norman Osbourne is the Green Goblin. What do you make of his costume?
Spidey: Well it's actually pretty nifty, and I have to say as much as I love my own, Normy's get-up's got everything you'd want in a Halloween costume. Nice pointy ears—check. Pointy hat—check. Pointy chin—check. Sinister/maniacal smile—check. But his eyes, oh his eyes! I rememeber my Aunt May saying that once of him during my Hollywood debut. (I guess it was also hers, but she was scared half to death by ol' Normie and too terrified to enjoy it. I love you Aunt May!)
I mean, his helmet/mask is so cool it looks so life-like. But it doesn't end there. The rest of his costume is so full of texture! just love to touch it and feel it and rub my hands all over hi....um, I mean I've had many a scuffle with Greenie, and while his green parts on his arms and legs may look like fishnets, they're actually more akin to scales. And his purple hat, gloves, tunic and boots are so cloth-like, with all the wrinkles, folds, stiches, and frayed bits at the ends.
Ewan: What do you think about the rest of his equipment?
Spidey: Well that's quite a personal question. But I can't say I've gotten the chance to see the man inside up close--
Ewan: I mean his EQUIPMENT, such as his Goblin Glider, Goblin Bomb, and Pouch.
Spidey: Oh uh, yeah, that's what I meant, um, his Goblin Bombs. I don't see in that much detail in them cuz they're normally blowing up when Gobbo throws 'em my way (whew close one!)
Ewan: What was that? You've not seen them up close?
Spidey: The bombs? Uh, yeah. Once or twice maybe, when they zipped by me in a fight. They kinda look like pumpkins? Small ones, so he can hurl 'em with one hand. I remember thinking wow, he actually bothered to sculpt them with grooves like the real fruit. I guess that's what fruits do to their, er, fruits.
Ewan: And his Glider?
Spidey: Oh I've taken a ride on his Glider my fair share of times, with and without the Greenie Meanie himself. That's one luxury ride, I tell ya. It's got foot brackets for your feet and nice large flat surfaces beneath them that allow you to balance. It's also got a nice single jet booster, and a battering ram shaped like a bat's head. The whole thing looks like a silver bat. And I might add that I think the Goblin's pointy boots have something to do with his ability to hook on to the foot brackets to better balance himself—I suspect that's why he seldom falls off despite flying and cackling maniacally at the same time.
Ewan: What do you make of his, uh, bag?
Spidey: It's, uh, a bag? Brown, nondescript, looks like it could be used for trick or treating. Also looks like my Aunt May's bag. Hey, wait a tick! It IS my Aunt May's!
[Theres also a hole in the Goblin's open left palm where you can stick his pumkin stalk into so it doesn't fall out easily at all. Spidey doesn't know this - Ewan]
Sculpt Score: 9 / 10
Ewan: Ok, so tell me more about the Goblin's color choices.
Spidey: Sure. What he's done to the green of his armour makes it look like skin. For someone so obviously off his rocker, he seems to have been able to patiently take the time to pick out the details on his mask.
Like I mentioned before, his eyes—yellow, fully opened, and washed in the recesses to make them look like they're about to pop right out from his head. The lines on his face have been given a wash, and his teeth painted white and washed with a grey to make them look an off-white evil.
The purple on his custume has also been washed, but sharply, so as to pick out the folds and stiches of his “clothes.” The green of his fishnet scales are a little different, though. They've been spay-shaded instead of washed so that they looks like mesh. The shading also brings out the musculature of his thighs and arms well.
Oh, and his Goblin Bomb is washed with details are highlighted sharply despite its small size. It's also got a face painted on it like a Jack O' Lantern.
Paint Score: 9 / 10
Ewan: What about the Goblin's moves? Super strength and all that he has, he's not as nimble as you, is he?
Spidey: Are you kiding me? No one in the Marvel 3.75” Universe is as nimble as I am (except Captain America). Granted, Gobbo's got extra flexible ankles, but that's cuz of all the practice he's had standing on his Glider, swooping and swooshing every which way. But I tell ya swivel/ratcheted ankles does not a Spidey make you. The rest of him's like most other guys I've fought in the Marvel Universe—distinctly average in their range of movement. For example, despite his wonderfull mask, Goblin can't look up real well. Maybe parts of the helmet/mask get in the way? He looks side to side perfectly fine, but lack of upward movement ensures I can blind-side him from the top if and when he terrorizes kids for candy.
Articulation Score: 7 / 10
Ewan: You always seem like you're having a blast no matter which villain you're facing off against. How high on the fun list does the Green Goblin sit?
Spidey: Near or at the top, fer shizzle. I mean, the Greenie Meanie is a guy who is not afraid to use his equipment, Goblin Bomb, Glider, (Gucci) Goblin bag. I mean here's a guy who wouldn't look outta place with one of the movie Joes' BFGs. Sure, he's part of my rogues gallery, but honestly, Gobbo can fight with any Superhero, or even supervillain, and it'll be good fun, because always loses.
Ewan: Why's that?
Spidey: I don't know. Maybe he likes being beaten up. Haha. Hey, wait a sec...
Ewan: So you're saying he let you and all the other super heros beat him all the time cuz he enjoys it?
Spidey: Uh, er...no comment.
Fun Score: 8 / 10
Ewan: Ok, er, moving along...do you think the Goblin is worth getting as an action figure?
Spidey: Well, he's got lots of accesories for a Marvel Universe figure. Fans of MU, it's better than what you're be used to. But those who are Rise of the Cobra GI Joe fans will feel the shortage in terms of weapons
But if you're a comic book fan as well you will enjoy the top secret Fury File letter as well as the fully coloured Super Human Registration Card. The card's double sided and has nice art of Gobbo on the back (Don't tell Norman I said that). And of course, there's a registration code for Hasbro.com that will further unlock more juicy bits about the Goblin.
Don't ask me how I got my hands on all of the Golins info. Ok, I'll tell you, it pays to be good friends with Tony Stark. Heheh.
Value Score: 7 / 10
9 / 10 - Face is cruel and crazy. Eyes are wild, Mouth is locked in a cruel sneer. Looks like he's just about to break out in evil laughter, armour is well sculpted with mesh/scales
9 / 10 - No slops, drips, or mistakes. Washing is tight, sprayed paint is sharp.
7 / 10 - Extra ankles but hips limit legs' forward and backward motion. Head swivels, barely tilts.
8 / 10 - Goblin doesn't need a reason to haunt and terrify super heroes, he can pick a fight with anyone just because he's mad. So he's fun to pose with any hero/villain and is crazy enough to use any weapon, the bigger the better.
7 / 10 - More accessories than most figures of the line, but he's nooooo Joe! But the extra sculpting makes him worth it.
80 / 100 - This is a Great Toy
Ewan: Any last words you might wanna add, Spidey?
Spidey: Green Goblin may look hip and cool for a Halloween costume. But if you dress up as him, and I happen to swing by the neighbourhood, web you up, punch you around, and eventually spin you in aweb for some photos, apologies in advance. You should just ask Mommy to get you the Goblin toy instead of the costume for Halloween.
-Ewan
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