Toy Review: Diamond Select Hawkeye Repaint and Black NWH Spidey

Spoiler-hiding has become the predominant game in marketing superhero and sci-fi movies, and judging by the success of Spider-Man: No Way Home, it’s working, big time. So many of those high grosses can likely be attributed to fans wanting to see it before any details got spoiled online. Even though, let’s face it, many of those spoilers were heavily rumored from the getgo, fans had to be first to know if they were true or not. Then, once the element of surprise is gone, some of those same viewers can come back and watch it without simply waiting for the next twist. This only becomes a problem when it comes to toys. As we’ll see in this look at two new Marvel Select figures: a TV-style Hawkeye repaint, and black costume Spider-Man from No Way Home.

See, in order to keep merchandise from leaking images that might spoil a movie, studios regularly hide key images from licensors. (As of now, Hasbro’s first Boba Fett figure based on The Book of Boba Fett isn’t due at retail until next year.) And in the case of Spider-Man: No Way Home, most of the characters themselves were spoilers, at least until Alfred Molina blabbed to the trades that he was in it. What clearly happened, then, was Sony gave the toy companies images of the black Spider-Man suit without explanation, so they’d have something new. But the lack of explanation also makes it ultimately inaccurate.

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So Diamond Select’s black costume Spider-Man basically feels like a repaint of regular Spider-Man. Its textures resemble those of the prior suit, rather than the inside-out lining it is in the movie. Forget about the camera strapped to its chest; this Spidey doesn’t even have Doctor Strange’s teleport-to-the-dungeon gun. Presumably the result of a spoiler-hiding campaign; however, it leaves Spidey relatively accessory less. And in those big Diamond Select blister cards that only Marvel still uses, he looks adrift. The company compensated by giving him lots of extra hands, and two web bits that attach to each other or his wrist pegs with tiny hooks.

Putting all that aside, he’s a fun Spider-Man figure, for those who just want a Spider-Man in black and gold. Though he’s less articulated than Hasbro’s figures, his arms and legs both have double hinges, his upper torso is a double-ball, and his waist is ball-jointed also. Plus his hips are true ball rather than cut/hinge. So he can strike more poses than most Diamond figures, and enough key ones for fun play and display.

The web lines are not bendy, but they’re pretty sturdy. For best web-sling effect, pull out one of Spidey’s hands, put the little web hook around the peg, then reinsert the wrist. Anyone who owns cats will find them drawn to attack it as it bounce-recoils ever so slightly.

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The suit’s texture in closeup is detailed, even though it’s way more “outer skin” than “inner lining” because again, how could the toymakers know? Delayed or inaccurate toys are a price of secrets.

When it comes to Hawkeye, on the other hand, Diamond simply repainted their comic-version figure to more closely match the Disney+ show’s final costume. Most notably, he now has dark brown hair and full sleeves, with Lucky the dog a lighter color. The sculpt remains the same, but the figure will look more familiar to those who just know the show. Even if that face looks as much like David Tennant as Jeremy Renner.

The mild paint-slop in the closeups really isn’t noticeable on the figure itself, and could pass as thread or dye bleed detail. Clint gets two heads — one with shades, and one without. He also includes an alternate bow-string plucking right hand. Neither regular hand features a separate trigger finger for his pistol, but it fits well enough in either.

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Lucky’s not articulated, but his ears and lower jaw consist of softer plastic than the rest. He is good boi. Sadly, he has no pizza.

The pistol fits into Hawkeye’s leg holster, which also contains a small, removable, hand-sized bow. The figure comes with multiple trick arrows, but they do not fit in either of his quivers. However, pose carefully and they can be set up with his bow. Just don’t let that string go or it will propel the arrow forward.

His articulation is standard for DST, though the upper torso ball joint feels fairly restricted. Most poses anyone would want Hawkeye in, he does. And with Lucky, bonus head/hand, and all the weapons, he feels a better value for money than Spidey.

Both the Hawkeye repaint and black Spider-Man are ShopDisney exclusives, running $29.99 apiece. Check out many more images below to see more details.

Do either of these interest you? Let us know in comments!

Recommended Reading: Hawkeye, Vol. 1: My Life as a Weapon

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