[TAO's Note: Clark has already reviewed one black costumed Spider-Man, but he's back to take a look at this alternative version from Hasbro, coming out of the Spider-Man line instead of the similarly scaled Marvel Universe. Did this one turn out any better than its predecessor? Keep reading to find out!]
Name: Night Mission Spider-Man
Line: Spider-Man (3.75 Inch)
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Price: Retail: $7.99, Online: $7.99-$12.00
Scale: 3.75 in. (figure is about 4 in. tall)
I really like the sculpt of this figure, more than the Marvel Universe Version. The only real problem with him are his crazy thin calves. From the knees down to his feet, he just looks a little odd. His head could be considered a bit large, but I think it looks good, very much like some comic books. The arms are a little bulky, but not too bad. I particularly like the torso, it is thin and very ripped.
Sculpt Score: 8 / 10
Here we go again, black Spider-man with blue highlights. That detail is what killed the MU figure in my review. However, Hasbro has really done a great job with them this time, using a much darker blue, with much better applications. The flash of the camera really make the blue highlights standout, but in-hand they look subtle and add a lot to the figure. The eyes and the white spider are painted on very crisply, with a good solid white to them (I saw a 6” black SM in the store next to this one, and the application of the white paint on that figure was awful, much too thin). I give Hasbro much credit for improving on the blue paint. I wasn’t against the idea with the MU figure, just the application.
Paint Score: 9 / 10
Here is where Hasbro took a big step in the wrong direction. Night Mission Spider-man has a balljoint head, swivel/hinge shoulders, elbows and knees, and double swivel/hinge hips. The arms aren’t too bad, but some swivel wrists would help. The knees should be double hinge like the XMO Wolverine figures. The swivel hinge knees just don’t really work well for Spider-man, plus the swivel part is not very useful because it only allows for the same movement that his hips can already accomplish. The joint I miss the most on this figure is a swivel waist. I’m okay that they did not give him a balljoint torso like the Wolverine figures have (because it would break up the spider on the chest and back) but a swivel waist would really go a long way in helping this figure pose.
Articulation Score: 5 / 10
This is a decently fun figure. He is still Spider-man after all. He also comes with some pretty ridiculous armor, that for some reason solidifies his position as “night mission,” but they do add some play value. With some better knees and a waist joint, he would rank much higher in this category.
Fun Score: 6 / 10
Although this figure does come with some battle armor pieces, it is not clear what purpose they really serve. It almost looks like he has a utility belt, whip and wrist guns? I’m not really sure, but maybe the kids will like it. Despite the accessories that don’t add any real value, and the subpar articulation (which is still better than most DCIH figures mind you), I still like the looks of him, but his differences don’t let him mesh well with my other Hasbro Marvel figures.
Value Score: 6 / 10
8 / 10 - Very good looking Spider-man, but with some odd lower legs.
9 / 10 - Great paint application, and bravo on fixing the blue highlights.
5 / 10 - Not the direction you should be moving, Hasbro. Iron Man 2 figures better not be using these joints in its line.
6 / 10 - Yeah he’s kinda fun, but would be better if he could actually pull off some swinging or leaping poses.
6 / 10 - More accessories than MU figures, but they’re not very useful.
68 / 100 - This is an Okay Toy
Well, he did edge out the MU figure for me, but only marginally. I think most of you out there would actually find the MU version a better figure, I just really hated his looks (I don’t have any comparison photos with the MU version because I gave him away the day after I wrote my review). This guy can still look okay standing on the shelf. I think this is a figure that you can skip, and I would have if I weren’t such a sucker for the costume.
-Clark
This could be the figure given away in this month's Review Commentator Contest. Join the discussion by leaving a comment on this review for a chance to win!
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