Marvel Legends TRU 2-pack
Black Widow & Winter Soldier
We’ve already gone over the first exclusive Toys ‘R’ Us 2010 2-pack, the Valkyrie & Hulk set, now we’ll take a look at the only figure I actually voted for during the 2009 Fan’s Choice Poll; Black Widow.
Hasbro decided to pair Black Widow up with Winter Soldier in one of their ret-cons, which are becoming so pervasive it’s a wonder that the whole of time and space doesn’t rise up and put the Marvel writers over their knees for a good rump smacking. It’s worse than the Dr. Who’s timeline. Natalia “Natasha” Alianovna Romanova was an agent of the Soviets (don’t you miss those Cold War stories?) during the period Bucky Barnes (he must have had some sadistic parents that one) had been brainwashed and was training super spies for them.
How do you say “I want to wrap you in skin tight leather” in Russian?
Like the Valkyrie & Hulk pack, the Black Widow & Winter Soldier pack is a trapezoid-shaped box that can be opened without ruining it. The front can be un-tabbed from the back, opening to uncover a plastic blister that keeps the figures in place.
YOu may need some scissors to get the figures out of the bubble, since there are some of those small, clear rubber bands holding their limbs in place and keeping their weapons in the proper wells. Though it’s annoying as hell dealing with these, it’s a welcome change from wire twist ties and keeps the barrels of their rifles from getting warped in the packages, a common problem with many toylines. Just check out what happened to Deathstroke’s gun. It still hasn’t regained it’s proper shape.
Unfortunately, there’s a cloud to this silver lining. For some reason, Hasbro went to Marvel and said, “Give us the ugliest portraits of the Black Widow you have! I want something REALLY offensive!” Seriously. Romanov has been drawn by the likes of Gene Colan, George Perez, J.G. Jones, Paul Gulacy, Jim Lee… hell, even Greg Land. I’m sure one of these guys has artwork that would have been better suited to this box than what Hasbro chose to shellack onto the front. Bucky fares better.
I won’t start again on the back of the box with the photos. I’ll give it another 5 or 6 reviews before I vistit that rant upon you again.
There are 4 guns and 2 extra heads included in the set. Also included on the figures are Widow’s wrist launchers (Widow’s Bite), her belt (which is supposed to hold explosives), and Bucky’s body armor, but these are all non-removable pieces so not technically accessories.
It’s a good mix of toys for the set, but I can’t help wanting more. For one thing, aside from the non-removable pieces and the heads, the guns are all re-used from previous figures (there is that futuristic pistol from the SHIELD agents released last year, and HK USP .45s and the AR-M9F assault rifles with UBGL-M6 grenade launchers from the Ultimate Nick Fury - why Russians are using German and Bulgarian weapons is a little fuzzy). It’s about time Hasbro gave us some OTHER guns to beef up our 6” scale armory. It’s not like we can go to other lines for them. DCUC toys don’t often have guns, and there are no other 6” army toys to share with. GI Joe weapons don’t fit. The only place I can go to are the off brand toys like those from Chap Mei.
To read the rest of the review, click HERE.
