Diamond Select Toys Launches Marvel Retro Line with the Amazing Spider-Man

For years, Diamond Select Toys (DST) has been re-creating the classic 8-inch, cloth-costume action figures of the 1970s, but one line has received more requests than any other: the Marvel Comics characters from Mego's World's Greatest Super-Heroes line. Today, DST is happy to announce a line of deluxe gift sets that are inspired by those classic figures, starting with the Amazing Spider-Man! (click HERE to pre-order!)

Painstakingly designed by the craftsmen at EMCE Toys, the Amazing Spider- Man will come as he first appeared in 1973, in his original "circle suit" costume. However, the head and costume will be removable, allowing you to use the additional heads, hands, outfits and accessories in the set to turn him into Daily Bugle photographer Peter Parker, or a more modern comic version of the wall-crawler!

Sony Expands Their Amazing Spider-Man Universe

In a move to forge a new legacy in the story of Peter Parker on screen, Sony Pictures Entertainment, in association with Marvel Entertainment, is developing several new projects in the Spider-Man franchise, with Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, Jeff Pinkner, Ed Solomon, and Drew Goddard to collaborate on overseeing the developing story over several films that will be produced by Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach, it was announced today by Doug Belgrad, president of Columbia Pictures, and Hannah Minghella, president of Production for the studio.

Amazing Spider-Man Action Figures Do BATTLE!

Right now, on screens across the globe, The Amazing Spider-Man is getting his ass handed to him by The Lizard...for our viewing pleasure of course. Meanwhile, Diamond Select Toys and Hasbro have cranked out quality collectibles to commemorate the moment and give you ample opportunity to make pew pew noises as you re-enact your favorite battle scenes.

As it is just before San Diego Comic-Con, our time is limited, so we will narrow our focus on a trio of action figures you are sure to be gunning for among the piles released.

Hasbro's Amazing Spider-Man Box-O-Doom

Less than one week til The Amazing Spider-Man hits theaters and you realize it is a WHOLE NEW BALLGAME! I am no longer under embargo so I can tell you I've been comparing this Spidey reboot in the way we compare Burton's Batman to Nolan's. I'm not saying Raimi's Spider-Man was bad...it is just a different animal all together. The new film shows a Spider-Man who moves like you'd imagine someone infused with irradiated spider DNA would move...twitchy..always tensed and ready to jump..faster than you'd imagine a human being could possibly move and so agile it defies logic. Watching him in action caused me to default to little kid mode..mouth agape and smiling like I'd been struck dumb. More details to come when I crank out my review, because THIS article is reserved for the box of goods Hasbro just sent over!

Bruce Campbell Vs. The Amazing Spider-Man

Just like Stan Lee in most of the Marvel Motion Pictures, we had come to expect and giddily anticipate B movie icon Bruce Campbell's appearance in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man films. Now a new regime has taken control of the movie Spideyverse and so, Bruce's subtle manipulation of Peter Parker's life and our endless speculation on what those moments might mean in future movies has come to an end...unless you are a video game junkie! Activision handles just about everything from a fan's perspective lately and so, inserting Bruce into the video game universe was a no brainer.

A Closer Look at The Amazing Spider-Man's Gear

If you follow me anywhere on the interwebs, you know I do my best to visit the TRex in Times Square on every visit...which is code for a Toys R Us run. Recently, this flagship store has been utilizing a bit of space amid the lil kiddie toys to celebrate the latest superhero films with brilliant displays surrounded by the expected piles of tie-in merchandise. The newest addition to this area is a killer display of props from The Amazing Spider-Man, providing a live look at that crazy innovative mask design and the mechanical web shooters fans have been screaming for since day 1.





















The Amazing Spider-Man" is the story of Peter Parker (Garfield), an outcast high schooler who was abandoned by his parents as a boy, leaving him to be raised by his Uncle Ben (Sheen) and Aunt May (Field). Like most teenagers, Peter is trying to figure out who he is and how he got to be the person he is today. Peter is also finding his way with his first high school crush, Gwen Stacy (Stone), and together, they struggle with love, commitment, and secrets. As Peter discovers a mysterious briefcase that belonged to his father, he begins a quest to understand his parents' disappearance - leading him directly to Oscorp and the lab of Dr. Curt Connors (Ifans), his father's former partner. As Spider-Man is set on a collision course with Connors' alter-ego, The Lizard, Peter will make life-altering choices to use his powers and shape his destiny to become a hero. The Amazing Spider-Man will open in theaters everywhere in 3D on July 3, 2012.

CLICK HERE to get an in-depth look at the entire Amazing Spider-Man costume!

Amazing Spider-Man Minimates Confirm Lizard Troopers

MEGABloks let art slips ages ago revealing a set with a SWAT Lizard, begging the question...WTF??!! Now Diamond Select get the go ahead to show off their packaged minimates for The Amazing Spider-Man which show off the dude/lizard/thing in question.

The Amazing Spider-Man movie is still a month off, but Spidey fans will be able to get their hands on great Spidey merchandise as early as next week! That's when Marvel Minimates Series 46 hits comic shops and online retailers, with the movie versions of Spider-Man, Peter Parker and the Lizard, plus exclusive figures of Aunt May, Uncle Ben and some Spidey-hunting SWAT Troops! If that's not enough for you, Spidey and the Lizard will also be showing up soon at Toys "R" Us stores and toysrus.com, along with TRU-exclusive figures of Gwen Stacy, Captain Stacy, Curt Connors and Vigilante Spider-Man! Collect them all, and check out the packaging for both assortments below!
























Now from the wording here, we know the SWAT Troops after Spider-Man come across The Lizard and are transformed into lizard creatures themselves. Note: PLURAL CREATURES!! Getting more excited for The Amazing Spider-Man? I know I am.

Check out the Amazing Spider-Man super preview!

2012 Preview: The Amazing Spider-Man Movie Merchandise

Oh yea..there IS another super hero movie in 2012! Let's take a quick look at that calendar...

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance - February 17th
Avengers - May 4th
Amazing Spider-Man - July 3rd
The Dark Knight Rises - July 20th

July 3rd is a long ways away, but images of licensed movie merch are already surfacing. The first surprise came from MEGABloks which revealed the first pieces for their upcoming construction kits. We recently wondered how the LEGO Marvel license would effect the future of MEGA's involvement with Marvel. It's looking like LEGO will handle anything under the Disney flag (Marvel movies and comics) while MEGA snaps up any film revolving around that massive planet (not verified, just speculation). So far, I think they missed an awesome opportunity with X-Men: First Class, but just about everyone expected that film to under-perform, which explains the lack of product. Maybe they'll pick up sets for The Wolverine and Magneto in 2013! At any rate, sets we've uncovered include Lizard Man Showdown, Oscorp Tower FX Battle, Sewer Lab HQ and FX Spider-Room Stunts.