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© 2002 Toy Biz

Mania Grade: A
Reviewed Format: Action Figure
Distributor: Toy Biz
Retail Price: $7.99

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SUPER POSEABLE SPIDER-MAN

As a general rule, movie-based action figures blow. Maybe they're rushed, designed before the film's even started or the budget was just exhausted on licensing. Who knows? But for whatever the reason, movie toys are usually boring, cookie-cutter designs with below average sculpting and cheesy accessories. (Yes, there are exceptions, so calm your lightsabers, STAR WARS fans.)

No stranger to movies, Toy Biz recently wowed collectors with some great sculpting, articulation and action features on its LORD OF THE RINGS line. And now they're bringing Sam Raimi's SPIDER-MAN motion picture to the 6-inch toy world. Covering the main characters in the film (Mary Jane, Norman Osborn, the Green Goblin, J. Jonah Jameson and umpteen Spider-Man variations), this line's pretty much set up to let kids recreate their favorite scenes from the flick.

Rather than just crank out a standard movie-based toy line, Toy Biz did something smart. They improved upon their current Classic Spider-Man toyline, taking what parts worked and adding new ones. Classic Spidey's Super Poseable Spider-Man is arguably one of the best Spider-Man figures to date, so it's no surprise that this reviewer chose to focus on the new motion picture SUPER POSEABLE SPIDER-MAN.

A completely new sculpt from the Classic figure, this latest wall-crawler is amazing from the get go. Despite the addition of a gargoyle ledge accessory, there was only one (yes one) of those annoying twisty ties keeping ol' Web-Head in the package. Easy access is always a great start.

As far as capturing the look of the movie's Spider-costume, Toy Biz is pretty much dead-on. A metallic silvery paint on the webs nicely recreates the silkscreen effect from Tobey Maguire's Hollywood threads. The dulled red and blue colors also mirror the costume well, but seem a little too dark. Maybe it's just decades of seeing a bright red-and-blue wallcrawler, but this version just doesn't have the visual pop that most Spidey toy fans are used to seeing.

Color coordination aside, this super poseable Spider-Man truly lives up to his name. With over 30 points of articulation (Yes, even the middle "thwip" fingers on his right hand move.), it's hard to find poses you can't put him in. He's got movement in his ankles, toes, knee caps, wrists, elbows, forearms, upper arms, shoulders, neck, waist, chest, head - you get the idea. Basically if you can move it, he can move it.

And what better way to show off this figure's poseability than with an accessory that's actually cool. The Gargoyle Ledge comes with two hanging options: a small hole on the back to easily place over thumbtacks on the wall or a plastic clamp that lets you secure it to any flat object like a desk or shelf. Slap a small clip around Spidey's wrist and pull down a string from the Gargoyle's mouth, and you've got a web-swingin' wallcrawler. Push a button on the Gargoyle's head, and the string quickly retracts (although a bit jerkily), pulling Web-Head straight up. You can also pose Spidey in a spooky crouching position, right atop the Gargoyle's head. A necessary accessory? Not at all. But a really neat bonus to an already versatile figure.