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Hasbro knows right where to hit old-timers like me with the nostalgic feels. A Marvel Legends Secret Wars Retro series of figures has been widely rumored all year, and at PulseCon 2024, Hasbro confirmed it: Marvel Legends Secret Wars Wolverine, Symbiote Spider-Man, The Beyonder, Titania and more are now up for order!
Individual Figure Pre-Order Links:
Symbiote Spider-Man ► Entertainment Earth ► Amazon [SOLD OUT]
Wolverine ► Entertainment Earth ► Amazon
The Beyonder ► Entertainment Earth ► Amazon [SOLD OUT]
Titania ► Entertainment Earth ► Amazon
Captain America ► Entertainment Earth ► Amazon
Iron Man ► Entertainment Earth ► Amazon
I was just a wee bit too young to shop for the Mattel Secret Wars 4.5” figures when they first released in 1984, but luckily, Secret Wars Kang peg-warmed for enough years that I can at least remember seeing him gather dust on the shelves as a kiddo.
As a teen I always lamented missing out on the Mattel toys that spurned the toyline (I got Kang and Captain America for spare change at a yard sale), but with the internet still years away, there was no easy access to go back and collect older toys back then. I moved on to be fully engrossed by Toybiz and Marvel Legends, but I’ve always felt a bit of a void in my life not having much Secret Wars representation in my collection. So, when purported leaks of a Hasbro vintage Secret Wars wave started to circulate early this year, my ears definitely perked up. And at Hasbro PulseCon last week, the prophecy became reality with a whole wave of a half-dozen Secret Wars figures solicited.
On the heroic side, we’re getting 80s-styled Wolverine, Captain America, Iron Man and spider-Man—the first four superheroes Mattel released in the line (although Hasbro is doing the Symbiote costume from Mattel wave 2 here, whereas the vintage line featured classic red and blue Spidey first).
All of the good guys come with round “secret shields” with holographic inserts, just as the vintage toys did in 1984. I’m not so sure many collectors will actually display loose figures with those shields, but they’re essential for the in-box visual and also just a ton of throwback joy.
Captain America’s bright blue costume is something unusual for Hasbro, and I love the nostalgic aesthetic of it.
The 3-piece shattered shield Captain America comes with is one of the coolest accessories ever with a Cap toy, and the interchangeable angry head included to show off how pissed Cap is about his broken shield is just great.
Iron Man likewise includes some wild 80s-inspired accessories. The Mattel Iron Man Secret Wars figure came with a blaster gun (for some reason), so Hasbro is giving the 40th anniversary one as well (with a ‘C-grip’ hand to hold it, which Iron Man figures don’t customarily get).
Wackier still are the detachable “roller skates”, which are just so fun and crazy. This successfully screams “wild 80s toy”.
Hasbro wasn’t able to make a Wolverine figure with snap-on claws like Mattel did 40 years ago, but they at least replicated the color scheme from that vintage figure.
Brown costume Wolverine figures don’t come around as often as many fans would like, so this figure of Logan has been an early hot seller even with the unique color tones used.
Rounding out the heroes is Symbiote Spider-Man in the black costume that Spidey obtained in Secret Wars #8. The origin of the black suit is the most legendary plot point of the original Secret Wars, so it absolutely makes sense to include it here, even if Mattel only released it in their lower-produced second series.
As is typical of any Symbiote Spider-Man release, he quickly became the best-selling figure in the wave and sold out during pre-orders at many retailers. With the sensational fully-pinless lean body mold from the Amazing Fantasy 15 figure and an extra “angry eyes” head, this is already easily one of my favorite Black Suit Spider-Man action figures ever.
On the evil side, even though Mattel created 8 villains in their lineup, Hasbro is opting for two characters who’ve never been made in 6” form before instead: The Beyonder and Titania. As both these characters were created for the original Secret Wars comics (Titania specifically at Mattel’s request for women villains), Hasbro’s choices here are extremely justifiable. Both come with the “villainous” square shields that Mattel packed with their supervillains.
I honestly wasn’t sure at this point if we’d ever see a Marvel Legends Titania figure, but I’m really glad we’re getting her. She’s not quite as big as this year’s Retro She-Hulk, but still quite imposing. Her thigh articulation is well-hidden by her boots.
The Beyonder is one of the more powerful god-like antagonists in Marvel Comics history, and I’m glad Hasbro picked his most recognizable “white leisure suit” look for what’s likely to be his only 6” toy they ever produce.
Beyonder gets a unique “world-destroying” energy effect that is one of the fancier effects Hasbro has ever done.
The 40th Anniversary Marvel Legends Secret Wars figures are now up for order, and scheduled to release around the end of the year. Spider-Man, Wolverine and Beyonder seem to be the early top sellers here.
What do you think of these Retro Secret Wars figures, Marvel collectors? Would you like to see Hasbro expand this line, perhaps with characters like Iceman, Electro and Constrictor who only got international releases in the 80s?