Toy News and Reviews
Marvel
Mini-Mates
Series 4 and 5
by The Toyman
Welcome back once again, toy fans! This week, yours truly, the Toyman, will be reviewing the newest releases from Art Asylum and Diamond Select’s Marvel Mini-Mates lines.
Series 4 features three two-packs:
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Unmasked Spider-Man and Doc Ock
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Spider-Man and Gwen Stacy
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Battle-Damaged Daredevil and Bullseye
Series 5 features:
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Juggernaut and Civilian Logan
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Thing and Dr. Doom
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Absorbing Man and Captain America
And, as always, there are chase two-packs as well. The Series 4 chase is Unmasked Daredevil and Bullseye, while the Series 5 chase is the Thing and Unmasked Dr. Doom. This line has proved amazingly popular and hopefully the future DC line will be just as great.
Series 4 and 5 Complete Line-Up — Click for a Larger Image
Initial Thoughts
What are these — little toys with a massive amount of play value? How is that possible? It is impossible to pick up a Mini-Mate and not play with it. They are infinitely posable, easily balanced, and everybody’s favorite Marvel characters are either available now or will be soon. And have I mentioned how addictive they are? You can’t stop with just one.
Art Asylum started their Mini-Mate line with larger-scale Mini-Mates based on rock stars, Star Trek, Crouching Tiger, and other popular properties. With the Marvel line, the figures got smaller but didn’t lose any of their fun. And with the future Lord of the Rings line, Art Asylum has made the Minis to make anyone happy.
Packaging
After
the first three regular carded waves of Mini-Mates, the
packaging has changed. We received a preview of the new packaging on the Professor X
and Magneto set, as well as on the Giant-Size X-Men set. The Mini-Mates now come in a
small sealed box, with action shots of the featured figures on the front. Initially,
when the packaging change was announced, I was a little skeptical — but
now that I’ve seen it in person, I really like it. Sturdy boxes, bright graphics
and easily identifiable characters. Even the variants are well labeled.
The figures are encased in an inner bubble, which is incredibly collector friendly. If the desire strikes you, the Mini-Mates could easily be placed back into their boxes. Sure, MOC/MIB collectors can’t see their new figures — but they can drool over the box. 5 stars out of 5!
Sculpts
Like all mini figures,
Mini-Mates feature their own basic body
style. That body style is then modified with add-ons to create the desired
character. The basic body is very simple, and most of the character
representations come across in the paint jobs. Belts, hoods, capes, hair, and the
occasional accessory are about as elaborate as the sculpting gets.
I really can’t give a score on sculpt. The basic body is great, there is no mistaking the characters, and they did sculpt some massive hands for the Thing.
I take it back. For sculpt, the Mini-Mates get a 5!
They aren’t overly detailed statues, but they aren’t supposed to be. Love them or hate them, the Mini-Mates have style, and they couldn’t do that if the basic body sculpt wasn’t sound.
Articulation
14 points of articulation on every Mini-Mate! That’s an amazing amount for a figure that’s only 2 inches tall. None of the add-ons get in the way, there are no stuck joints, and you can mix and match parts to create your own characters.
That was an easy decision. 5 stars out of 5, yet again.
Paint
The paint applications on figures like these can really make
or break them. The paint jobs make these figures! All the lines are clean, the
colors are consistent, and even the basic details are perfect.
The rock texture
on Thing and Absorbing Man looks great, and Battle-Damaged Daredevil actually
looks like he hurts.
Their expressions are great, as well. From Daredevil's blind eyes to Logan’s snarl and Doom’s scowl, everybody looks appropriately emotional.
They just keep packing a lot into a tiny figure. 5 stars out of 5!
Accessories
Accessories, too? You betcha!
Captain America has
his shield, Absorbing Man has his ball and chain,
Doom has his cape, Spider-Man
has his webbing, Daredevils has his billy clubs, and Bullseye has his knife. For
some reason Daredevil has one club and Bullseye has two knives on the box. Inside the box, it’s completely the opposite. (However, if you can
find the chase
set, at least one of your Bullseyes can have two knives.)
Even Juggernaut has a separate hairpiece to put on his head when you remove his helmet. And let’s not forget Doc Ock’s tentacles (which technically add another four points of articulation).
5 stars out of 5 again. Every accessory is almost like a little bonus. They are spoiling us, making these figures this much fun.
Price
$6.99 at the Dragon. That’s the SRP, and it’s completely fair. These little toys pack a lot of punch in a little box, and they won’t tug too hard at your wallet.
Considering that most mini-figs run in the $4-6 range, $3.50 each is a great deal. I would have paid more, and for as much enjoyment as I’m getting out of these little buggers, they get another 5 stars.
Overall Playability
A perfect score! 5 stars out of 5.
These are great toys!
Another slow news week:
McFarlane Monsters 3 exclusive Club accessory pack revealed! Click here for a peek!
McFarlane Toys has secured a licensing agreement to produce figures of Wayne Gretzky. See the press release here.
Star Wars Unleashed Clone Trooper variation revealed! Click here for a glimpse.
That’s all for this week, kiddies.
Next week: MUPPETS SERIES 7!!
See you then, toy fans — same toy time, same toy channel!
Feel free to ask questions, suggest a
review, or share toy news with the Toyman!