The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Trailer Goes Live

We've got trouble. Remember the first Spider-Man movie? Remember how we were very excited to see a modern telling of the Spider-Man myth with great actors and an epic, New York backdrop? Remember your faces when you saw the Power Rangers-esque Green Goblin? Well, it looks like it may be happening again.

I wish I knew what happens in the minds of film makers when they make choices like these. Sure, the mandate for many super hero films has been "make this as real as possible" over the last 10 years or more, even where The X-Men and a world of Mutants was concerned (see boring black motorcycle outfits), but since then, we've had The Avengers. Game changer. A norse god from outer space fighting alongside a technologically astounding armored man, a super soldier from the World War 2 era, 2 super spies and a giant green monster who is nearly indestructible. If we could suspend our disbelief for two hours of that, why be so concerned with what else we'll swallow? We are talking about Marvel Comics properties, with no end of amazing stories to mine and characters who will tear your heart out, mentally...and sometimes physically. How could you go wrong?

Our Plastic Friends: Marvel Select Rhino

Welcome to the first edition of Our Plastic Friends, where we check out a new toy and make you want it so bad, you hate us for it. It's a calling.

Diamond Select/ Marvel Select have had a 7 inch scaled action figure license for Marvel Comics for some time now. The sculpts are excellent, the paints are clean and plentiful and the quality is top notch. If there was one thing I could point out with this line that we DO continually moan about is the character choice. After all, we've got Hasbro cranking out endless numbers of Spider-Man, Iron Man and Captain America action figures...WE DON'T NEED NO MO!! There's also a matter of a 6 inch scale most of us toy obsessed folks have been collecting for years, so while we don't need 7 inch standard sized heroes and villains, we do welcome gargantuan monsters and overly pumped up, roid ragin humans who look like they can swallow up our heroes in one gulp. Give us giant sized Marvel characters and we'll just throw our money at you as we pass..all day long. THIS is where Marvel Select slides in like an 8 foot ninja with no smoke bombs.

The Amazing Spider-Man Video Game Reveals The Rhino

June 26th is still miles away, but video game developer Beenox obviously want to get in on the post Toy Fair buzz, so they've slid one of their biggest baddies front and center. Get ready for RHINO!!

At first glance, Rhino seems like nothing more than an angry, mindless cross of rhinoceros and human DNA, bent on mowing over anything or anyone stupid enough to stand in his way. His mere appearance is known to scare many into believing that Rhino and all cross-species are abominations that must be destroyed. Yet, the few who have looked into his eyes (and survived) have reported their surprise in sensing a degree of humanity there. Almost a sadness.

Unlike all of the other cross-species, which were created after Curt Connors terrorized the city as the Lizard, Rhino was the result of a pet project belonging to a corrupt Oscorp executive with access to Connors’ research. Abusing this access, he applied this top-secret knowledge to black-market dealings.

Without the knowledge or consent of his superiors at Oscorp, the executive forcefully enlisted the help of Dr. Michael Morbius, threatening to end the reclusive biochemist’s career if he refused to help. Morbius reluctantly complied, applying the rhinoceros DNA with which the executive supplied him to a cross-species serum similar in nature to Connors’ own for the Lizard.

The next step was to test the serum, and the executive’s underworld clients were all too happy to provide his oblivious human test subject: a low-level thug named Aleksei Sytsevich. If it worked, the mafia would have a new weapon on its hands; if not...no great loss.

After an excruciatingly painful transformation, Sytsevich was now a hybrid of man and rhinoceros, ready to tear apart anything in his path – the executive’s clients would be pleased. That is, if they are ever to receive their investment…








Obviously, this isn't the big thug bonded to a super suit we grew up with! Stephane Gravel, a Producer at Beenox and Chris Baker, Interactive Manager at Marvel comment...

Stephane: Rhino is one of the most recognizable villains of Spidey’s infamous rogues gallery. We’ve taken a fresh approach to Rhino, inspired by the tone of the movie. His origin is more grounded, more realistic. He’s a grittier, more animalistic and more visceral version of Rhino, his thoughts complicated by a vague sense of who he used to be and overwhelming feelings of fear and sorrow.

Chris: I’m definitely excited about how this new approach manages to honor both the new movie’s universe and the character’s comic book roots. But honestly, the most exciting thing is his appearance, and Beenox has simply created the most fearsome-looking interpretation of Rhino I’ve ever seen. When it comes to character design, these guys really excel.


Amazing Spider-man Rhino RAMPAGE!! by Nomadixxx

New Marvel Universe Pics

I'll get the moaning out of the way first. OH GOD WHYYYYY CAN'T WE GET NEW MARVEL LEGENDS FIGURES??!!! YAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

It really is sad...and I know it's sad...but I love the 6 inch figures so. I finally found Dum Dum Dugan the other day and almost cried in the middle of Times Square Toys R Us. Hasbro must deny me, like a super hot starlet who refuses to show off her goods. Our meeting at this year's Toyfair should be comical if they've been reading this blog.

At any rate, we told you about wave 3 and 4 of the Marvel Universe Secret Wars 2 packs HERE. We were only able to show you half the pictures then. NOW, we've got the rest. Check out Absorbing Man (with a lil tiny Wasp) & Dr. Doom, Thing and Bulldozer and Mohawk Storm and Nightcrawler. Click to make with the biggie.















We also thought we'd show off the newest characters to grace the abysmal 4 inch Spider-Man line. I'm refraining from posting half a dozen pictures of Spider-Man in his swim trunks, samurai gear, electrician's gauntlets and bee keepers getup. The funny thing is, if Hasbro would paint Spider-Man in his classic outfit choices under all that silly armor instead of these suits they are making up, I'd probably be out to buy them. Here's Rhino, Doc Ock in two awesome outfits and Hobgoblin. Rhino and Reg Armed Ock appear in series 2 while Hobgoblin and dayglo armed Ock will come in series 3. Welcome back, 90's.