Category: Collectibles

  • 2024 Marvel Unlimited Annual Plus Membership Kit Unboxing

    2024 Marvel Unlimited Annual Plus Membership Kit Unboxing

    I’m busting into the 2024 Nova-themed Marvel Unlimited Annual Plus Membership Kit this week in Merry Marvel Mayhem!

    Overall, I’m pretty happy with this year’s kit! The comics are great (especially the Marvels one with my name on it!) I love new pins, the patch is cool, and the Nova figure is great. That’s it for me, but what about you? Tell me what you thought of this year’s Marvel Unlimited kit in the weekly poll below! Face Front True Believers, and I’ll see you in the Multiverse!

    What was your favorite item in this year's Marvel Unlimited Annual Plus Membership Kit?

  • Upgrade Your Marvel Legends First Avenger Captain America!

    Upgrade Your Marvel Legends First Avenger Captain America!

    Hasbro has only ever made one version of the Marvel Legends line Captain America from the First Avenger movie, and 13 years later he’s really outdated. It’s time to fix that!

    Simply use:

    • Head from Marvel Legends Endgame Quantum Suit Captain America (masked)
    • Shield from any other MCU Marvel Legends Captain America (Age of Ultron or Civil War preferred)
    • Head from Marvel Legends Peggy and Steve 2-Pack (unmasked)

    Check out the images below, and see how much of an improvement the modifications make!

    I honestly think this is such a huge and necessary upgrade to a really old figure. I’m definitely happier displaying him in my collection now. Try it out if you’ve got the figures, I promise you won’t regret it! Face Front True Believers, I’ll see you in the Multiverse!

    Well? Is the new First Avenger Captain America better than the old one?

  • Marvel Legends Retro Card Spider-Man Wave Showcase

    Marvel Legends Retro Card Spider-Man Wave Showcase

    I got a full wave of new retro carded Spider-Man figures from Hasbro Pulse! Below you’ll find a video showcasing all of them with some pretty sweet intros, and a closer look at the pictures I took of each along with a short review.

    Last Stand Spider-Man

    The Last Stand Spider-Man figure is the one that comes with the least accessories, but I feel like he doesn’t need many. In his debut appearance, he was backed against Aunt May’s grave, surrounded by armored enforcers, and threw down with nothing but the hands. Fists and open hands are perfect for this version of Spider-Man.

    The jacket does limit articulation, he can’t really bend or twist in his torso area. So you’ll have a hard time getting those real Spidey poses out of him, but he’s an old man I guess, so maybe he doesn’t need to move as much. Other than that, the figure looks great and I’m glad to have him in the collection. His unique look makes him stand (get it?) out on a shelf full of other Spider-People!

    Jack O’Lantern

    I have two other Jack O’Lanterns, a ToyBiz one and the early Hasbro one. I have to say, this guy is the best. Opposite Last Stand Spider-Man, he came with the most accessories. His hover disk is so versatile. You can plug the little dreidel piece in at the bottom and it’ll make him look like he’s leaning. Or you can remove it and it’ll keep the disk flat. You can also plug in a glider stand if you have a spare one from the likes of the No Way Home Green Goblin or Hawkeye Skycycle.

    He’s got little (definitely not pumpkin) bombs on his waist, one of which is removable and fits nicely into his hand. I also like that it clips onto the belt securely so it doesn’t constantly fall off. The pumpkin head and scale armor are some very well-done deco. I think he might just be a little too broad, but that’s a nitpick. This is undoubtedly the best Jack O’Lantern figure ever made.

    Scarlet Spider

    Now my main concern going in with this figures was Ben’s hoodie. It’s a separate piece, and I felt initially that it would limit articulation like Last Stand Spider-Man’s jacket. Previous Scarlet Spider figures had the hoodie sculpted on a with an ab crunch segmenting it. So this definitely looks better aesthetically.

    And, I’m pleased to announce that Ben can still strike as many poses as your heart desires. The major factor in this is that he’s built on the Renew Your Vows Spider-Man buck, so he’s got that waist bend that lets him get into any Spidey pose he needs to. And I’m also pleased to announce that he’s got a full set of hands, fists, wall-crawlers and Thwip hands! Unfortunately, it’s a crapshoot lately on whether or not Hasbro will equip a full set of Spider-Man hands, so I’m glad they decided to do so for what is probably going to be become the quintessential Ben Reilly figure.

    Hallow’s Eve

    Of course Ben is going to need his partner in crime! Even though this version of Janine Godbe pairs better with the previously released Chasm figure! She looks great, honestly, right off the page. She’s one of those characters that has such a unique design that even those who may not know much about her (she’s a relatively new character) may want to pick her up!

    She’s got some pretty vibrant colors and two of her power-granting Halloween masks with her. She’s popped up in quite a few issues of Amazing Spider-Man and even had her own book for a bit, so she’s definitely making her mark in the Marvel Universe. It’s kind of cool they’ve already got a figure for her!

    Spider-Shot

    This morally bankrupt version of Peter Parker is pretty great in figure form. The most unique accessory he’s got is his finger guns that actually allow you to slot in a gunshot effect. It doesn’t exactly go straight (maybe I put it in wrong?) but it’s still cool nonetheless. He doesn’t have open hands, but he’s got Thwips and fists, so that’s fine. Articulation is great, he’s got some sculpted pouches, and the deco is on point. He’s not the most recognizable version of Spider-Man, but if you know his story he’s a pretty cool figure to have.

    Tombstone

    Lastly is Tombstone. And he is 100 times better than the Vulture wave attempt from 2017. (Seen taking on Miles Morales in Spider-Man: Return to the Spider-Verse Episode 9: Leap of Faith!) He’s TALL! Not too much, but as much as Tombstone realistically should be. He’s got an alternate set of hands and an extra head (the first one had neither). And on top of all that, he’s got a crowbar!

    The other major difference is that this one’s in a suit. Now yes, this did hamper him articulation-wise, but Tombstone is at his best when he’s standing tall like a stone slab (get it?). Now I’m not sure why they went with a whole neck piece instead of just an interchangeable head, but it didn’t cause any problems so I’m not complaining. All in all, this is definitely a superior version of Lonnie Lincoln!

    And there you have it! Six brand new retro-carded Spider-Man figures! I love all of these guys, and definitely want to use them in some future videos! If you have a chance to get your hands on these figs, I highly reccomend them. I hope I’ve helped inform your decision if you were on the fence. As mentioned, I got mine from Hasbro Pulse. They’re the most reliable when it comes to Legends, so always preorder from there! Face Front True Believers, and I’ll see you in the Multiverse!

  • Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Limited Edition PS5

    Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Limited Edition PS5

    My setup just got a major upgrade! True Believers everywhere, I present to you the Limited Edition Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 PlayStation 5! I’ve taken several pictures, so let’s get into it!

    Here’s the console itself and the controller, with the Symbiote creeping in on the now-iconic white spider symbol.

    This is the back side of the console, where Spider-Man has given in to the power of the Symbiote!

    The front of the box, showcasing Peter and Miles from the game’s box art.

    The back of the box, with the concept art of both Spider-Man facing down with (the honestly pretty terrifying) Venom!

    The DualSense controller, with the Symbiote once again taking over, as well as the side of the box.

    Here it is with both of the Marvel Legends and the Free Comic Book Day Prequel Comic.

    And here it is next to the Marvel’s Spider-Man Limited Edition PS4 Pro.

    Check out my new setup, including both of the Marvel Legends, and my copy of Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales signed by Nadji Jeter, the voice of Miles!

    I can’t wait for October 20th True Believers! This console is so cool, and I’m gonna have a blast playing Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 on it! Let me know if you got the console, or the controller or the plates, down below! That’s it for now, Face Front True Believers and I’ll see you in the Multiverse!

  • Saved by Greed! How I Almost Doomed My YouTube Channel!

    Saved by Greed! How I Almost Doomed My YouTube Channel!

    I know what you’re thinking, the title is crazy! How did greed save me? And how was my entire YouTube channel almost doomed? Well, True Believers, sit down and let me tell you the story!

    There I was, working innocently on Spider-Man: Return to the Spider-Verse Episode 9: Leap of Faith (Available Now!), filming the fight at the Super Collider between Peter, Miles, and Prowler. This was the first thing I filmed for this episode, mind you. I get to the part where Miles hits Prowler with his Venom blast, and I’m thinking I’ll creative. Dangerous thought, True Believers!

    I took the Widow Bite effect from the Black Widow deluxe figure because I thought it would look like Miles’ Venom Blast around his hand. It did, but it wasn’t fitting on there quite right. So, like any sane person that takes care of their collectibles, I forced his fist into the socket through the Widow effect!

    After the (perfect) shot, I removed Miles’ fist, as I have done a million times before, but this time, the fist was pulled free of the loop connecting it to the peg! For those who aren’t familiar with Marvel Legends, let me explain. The hand is connected to a peg that inserts into the arm of the figure. But the hand and peg are connected with a loop on the end of the peg that goes into a little rod on the wrist, allowing wrist movement for the figure. This break has only happened to one other figure in my collection, Gwenpool, as demonstrated in the pic below.

    What happens is the rod at on the wrist breaks on one end and the loop slides out. What you have to do to fix it is kind of pull the wrist and the rod apart and get the loop back in. Two problems with that though: Firstly, I’m a nearly 30-year-old man with big clompy hands, and these parts are tiny. Like, TINY! It is very, very difficult to re-loop that peg. And secondly, once it’s broken like that, that’s it. Because every time you want to switch hands (which I do often in my videos), the wrist is gonna pull out of the peg and you have to go through the tedious reconnecting process again.

    So, I was understandably frustrated, because I still had the entire dang video to shoot, and Miles was the star of this one. So I (painstakingly) got the loop rethreaded and stuck his fist back in. I got as many scenes shot as I could before I had to swap hands again. Inevitably, the time had come. But when I tried, the unthinkable happened! The loop pulled the whole dang rod off of the wrist!

    I was done for. Any fix I thought of wasn’t feasible. The rod, completely separated, was sooo tiny (I almost lost it, like, ten times). Handling it was dang-near impossible. I didn’t want to super glue it back in because then I’d lose the wrist articulation. So my only option was to get a new fist.

    Now, finding a specific part for a Marvel Legends figure can either be very, very easy, or very, very difficult. The left fist of an out-of-circulation Miles Morales figure that’s not cheap on the aftermarket leans toward the latter. I reached out to my Marvel Legends Facebook groups. No bites. I saw one sales post with a bunch of fodder pieces and asked if he had what I needed. And he did… not. He had Miles’ right fist. Like, really universe? What did I actually do to you?

    Ebay was useless, they gave me results for every Miles Morales thing except what I was looking for. In desperation, I turned to Mercari. I was hoping, praying I could find something! I searched “Marvel Legends Miles Morales” and scrolled until I came across the seller that saved me: A man named Greed.

    He sells Marvel Legends parts and pieces, and I came across a post that had both of Miles’ web-slinging hands… and his left fist! Overjoyed, I purchased it immediately! Greed shipped fast and within two days, I was able to continue production on episode 9! So please, if you’re in the need for a part, piece, or parcel, make Greed’s shop your first stop!

    My YouTube channel was nearly doomed! With Return to the Spider-Verse being my most popular content, and Episode 9 being hotly anticipated, postponing it indefinitely was simply not an option! My fans would have revolted! Unsubscribed en masse! I’m sure of it! Okay, maybe not, you guys are great, but honestly, I had been hyping Episode 9 as being close to finished, building anticipation. It would have really sucked if I had to come out with an apology video and asked you guys to wait EVEN LONGER for the next episode.

    So that’s the story guys, Greed saved my YouTube channel, and by extension, Face Front! You all can thank him for Episode 9! Again, Click Here to visit his shop if you need replacement pieces for your Marvel Legends. And Click Here to check out Episode 9! That’s it for now, Face Front True Believers, and I’ll see you in the Multiverse!

  • Beyond Amazing: Marvel Legends

    Beyond Amazing: Marvel Legends

    Ho True Believers! My celebration of Spider-Man’s Beyond Amazing 60th Anniversary continues! Hasbro has been releasing more figures this year than seems like ever before (seems like) and I’m taking some shots as I get them in hand! So check out the pics below, and as I get more, I’ll add them to this page! Remember to click on them for a closer look.

    Spider-Man vs. Doc Ock

    A classic matchup, since 1963! Spider-Man (from the Renew Your Vows 2-pack) takes it to his worst enemy, Doc Ock! (From the Silk 2-Pack)

    Silk and Spinneret

    The Spider-Verse breaks open as Silk and Spinneret team up and streak across the sky in spectacular fashion!

    Spider-Man: Homecoming

    The new figures here are Peter and Ned, but since they were clearly inspired by their appearance in Spider-Man: Homecoming, I decided to bust out all of my figs from that movie and create an entire display! Some notes:

    -Vulture is a kit bash, he has the head, arm braces, weapons and wings of the Target Exclusive Vulture from last year, and the base body is the fig from the 2017 Homecoming wave. I just think that the new Vulture’s colors are too bright, but he had more accurate accessories. The wings were practically the same, but I like the blue in the rotary blades better.

    -The maskless head on the 2017 2-Pack Spider-Man is actually the alternate head from the new Peter, not the one he came with. It DOES NOT fit tight, it sits loose, but for picture purposes, it does the job!

    -The book MJ is holding came from the Peter/Ned 2-Pack

    Well, that’s that! Do you have any pictures of your figs for Spidey’s 60th? Email ’em to mail@FaceFrontBlog.com or tag me on social media with your name and short description and I’ll post them here! Until next time, Face Front True Believers, and I’ll see you in the Multiverse!

  • Marvel Legends “The RAFT” (SDCC 2016 Exclusive) Showcase

    Marvel Legends “The RAFT” (SDCC 2016 Exclusive) Showcase

    So there I was, innocently perusing my local comic shop (shoutout to Greg’s Comics in Mesa, AZ!) when all of a sudden I looked up and spotted the mother of all SDCC Exclusives: The Raft!

    That’s right, the six-figure set that had eluded me since 2016! I was staring right at it! The tag said $225, but Greg’s Comics gives you 20% off of everything, all day everyday, so that brought the price down to a very manageable $180. I simply couldn’t resist, this was one of my grails, after all. So I pulled the trigger, and it was finally mine.

    But I couldn’t do a mere unboxing video for this beauty, no way. So I decided to go the route of my Hellfire Club set and do a showcase for you True Believers! And just like that one, I included a little bit of a story, based on what was written on the box. So no need to dawdle any longer, watch the video below and enjoy!

    In case you missed ’em in the vid, here’s some of the pics I took of the figures included in the set.

    Spider-Man

    Abomination

    Enchantress

    Dreadknight

    Purple Man

    Sandman

    So that’s it for The Raft. I’m so happy to finally have this in my collection. And I’ll definitely be using that backdrop in future videos. What about you guys? And grails you’re hunting down? What’s your favorite SDCC exclusive? Sound off below! Face Front True Believers, and I’ll see you in the Multiverse!

  • Marvel Legends: Pernicious Packaging Problems Persist!

    Marvel Legends: Pernicious Packaging Problems Persist!

    As I’m sure is quite evident by now, I am an avid collector of Marvel Legends! I’ve been doing so for years, and my collection is quite sizable. I have a pretty good idea of how and where to find these figures, as well as the risks of collecting. One of these risks is swapping, when someone purchases a figure, swaps it out for another one (usually old or undesirable), and then returns it to the store. The employees often don’t know any better, especially if it’s similar enough, and they accept the return, thus the swapper gets brand new figures for free.

    Recently, Jay Cochran of Marvelous News reached out to me about a story he’s doing on figure swapping (you can check that out right here). He’d seen a picture I posted on Reddit, and wanted to use it. I gave him permission to do so, and I feel like I should tell the full story. This is how it all went down, True Believers.

    Over the years I’ve seen my fair share of swaps. Some of them were so close it almost fooled me, others it was painfully obvious (to me, at least, since I’ve been doing this for so long). However, I could always see it before I bought it, allowing me to turn it in and attempt to find the figure elsewhere. Well, not anymore. Hasbro, the guys that make Marvel Legends, have switched the way they package their figures to be completely plastic free. Where there once was a transparent plastic window allowing you to clearly see what was inside, has now been replaced with cold, hard cardboard.

    They say it’s better for the environment, and I’m sure it is. But it’s also better for the group of lovely individuals I mentioned earlier: Swappers. And I fell victim to it. Hasbro has just released a Spider-Man 2-Pack that includes him and Spinneret inspired by the Renew Your Vows comic run. People in my circles were finding them in Target, so I decided to try my luck. Imagine my joy when I found one sitting on the shelf, first Target I went into! I was so excited! I preorder all of these figures online, but when I find them in the wild, I cancel my preorder and enjoy my new figure! So I rushed to the register, checked out, and began examining my new item in the car! That’s when I noticed the tape looked kind of weird, dirty, like it had been peeled and replaced. Not good, was my initial thought, so I decided to scrap a potential unboxing video just to make sure everything was on the up and up. I opened up the package, and…

    Devastated. All of that joy and happiness from finding the brand new figure on the shelf was gone in an instant. I always got a sinking feeling in my heart when I thought I found the figure in a store only to notice that it was a swap. But this time, I had made the purchase. I spent my money, I made it into my vehicle. This time, it was personal. (I know, I’m dramatic).

    I marched back into the Target, over to guest services, and explained to the woman. I told her how I’d just bought it, but something told me to check, and showed her what I found. I explained that this was the new packaging for Marvel Legends going forward, and that this was about to be a nightmare for collectors. She seemed to genuinely care (trust me, I’ve seen their reaction when they don’t) and suggested honestly that I check the box before I even leave the store. Of course, I still very much wanted the figures, you all know how much I love Spider-Man and Mary Jane (and if not, well, now you do!) So I asked if she had anymore. She said they didn’t, but gave me two Targets nearby that did, one closer to me that had one, and one a bit further that had four. So I thanked her, and set off.

    I made my way to the closer Target, in the same city, and went straight to the toys. Sure enough, there was one sitting on the shelf. But on this one, the tape was completely missing. So I went to the nearest employee, explained my experience at the previous Target, and asked if I could check. He told me guest services had the final say, so I walked over there, explained what was up, and the girl said she could open it for me. She did, and then gasped in surprise. Same thing, WWE figures. So that tells me that it was the same loser. This time I wasn’t disappointed. I was angry! I swore I would destroy this guy! Target girl probably thought I was crazy, but it didn’t matter. This was no longer about right and wrong, this was about vengeance! (I know, I’m dramatic).

    So I left that one there, having saved anther hapless collector from being duped, and made it to the further Target. There weren’t any on the shelf, but I saw the label. So I used the Target app and scanned it, got the DCPI, and asked a nice lady in the aisle if she could check for me. (Target app and DCPI numbers are very helpful! Use both to their full advantage!) She said that they had four in the back and went to get one for me. She emerged shortly and handed it to me, brand new, in tact, and beautiful! I thanked her gratuitously, and checked out! I did open it in the car (the new packaging also prevents inspecting the figures for quality control issues, so that’s a whole other problem) but finally, 3 Targets later, I had my figures!

    Let this serve as a cautionary tale, True Believers. Hasbro seems dead set on this packaging, and as long as their only security option is a flimsy piece of scotch tape, we need to remain vigilant. So look out for each other. This is the fight of our lives. And we’re gonna win. Whatever it takes. (I know, I’m dramatic).

    So that’s it, the full story behind the swap. Be careful out there fellow collectors! I’ll keep you updated if hopefully something changes in terms of Hasbro’s packaging. Until then, Face Front True Believers, and I’ll see you in the Multiverse!

  • Peter Parker Spider-Man Resin Bust Unboxing | Face Front Spider-Man Day 2022

    Peter Parker Spider-Man Resin Bust Unboxing | Face Front Spider-Man Day 2022

    Hey there True Believers! Spider-Man Day is the best day of the year, because I just go all out on Spidey! I celebrated with several videos on Face Front’s YouTube channel, and the first one revolves around this unique new addition to my collection.

    I found a Walmart Exclusive collectible item! A resin Spider-Man bust based on the 90’s animated series! It’s the coolest thing ever and I’m unboxing it here! Check out the video below.

    Here’s a few pictures of the glorious bust and the certificate of authenticity. As well as the box art.

    As I said in the video, I am VERY happy with this new addition to my collection. As a Spider-Man fan and especially a 90’s Animated Series fan, this is a must have in any collection! It’s $50 at Walmart True Believers! Don’t wait! There are only 3200 in the world! (Mine is 0420 of 3200)

    That’s it for this guy. Make sure to check out all of the rest of my Spider-Man Day activities from the Spider-Man Day 2022 Celebration page! Face Front True Believers, and I’ll see you in the Multiverse!

  • Spider-Man Trilogy Collection

    Spider-Man Trilogy Collection

    With Spider-Man: No Way Home finally coming to Blu-Ray (even though I was a sucker and bought it on digital first) I have now finally completed my “Homecoming Trilogy” Blu-Ray collection! I’m so happy about it, in fact, that I’m going to share the editions of each movie I have with you True Believers! Let’s get started!

    Spider-Man Homecoming

    This version of Homecoming was a Target exclusive. It’s a really cool cover that folds out into a display that looks like the inside of Peter’s notebook. It’s got drawings of the spider symbol, Winter Soldier’s arm, the web fluid formula, you name it!

    This version also came with an exclusive comic book! It’s about Peter trying to get partnered up in class with a girl named Amy (it’s not Liz for some reason) but then cop cars zoom by, so Peter bails to stop Shocker!

    He and Droney take Shocker down, but Peter gets detention for skipping class. Poor Peter. I love my copy of Homecoming, it just feels special with all of the amazing little details they included in the box art.

    Spider-Man: Far From Home

    This version of Far From Home was a Walmart exclusive that came with what they call a ‘Throwbaction Action Figure’. They also did one of these for the first Venom and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (both of which I own, of course!)

    The only thing that upset me about this is that I couldn’t see the card when I bought it, and it turns out it was bent! Anyone following me for even a short amount of time knows that I pretty much open all of my figures, but for the select few I want to keep boxed up, it’s really annoying when something happens to the packaging.

    But other than that slight misfortune, I am really happy with my little collectible Night Monkey figure. Best version of Far From Home on the shelves (at the time).

    Spider-Man: No Way Home

    I had several, difficult options for this one (the first two movies were kind of no-brainers with literally no competition) but I settled on the version with the Walmart exclusive cover art. Underneath the slip case is the standard cover, which I’m actually fine with because I dig that cover as well.

    So no foldout, no retro action figure, but still, I’m just glad to have the movie in my physical collection at long last. The exclusive art is also such a powerful image, and I really wanted that in my collection. I wish the 4K would have used the Green Goblin version of that poser, being that he was the more prominent villain, but otherwise, no complaints.

    So, which version of No Way Home did you get? Which versions of the first two do you have? Let me know in the comments below. Maybe show it off on Face of the Fan! That’s all for now, until next time, Face Front True Believers, and I’ll see you in the Multiverse!