Products You May Like
Diamond Select Toys is often at their best when they’re doing things Hasbro hasn’t done before. Such is the case with their just-solicited Marvel Select Hobgoblin figure, which brings us the first ever Roderick Kingsley unmasked head and a removed mask accessory. But this classic comic book goodness comes at a new increased price point for Marvel Select figures that may make some collectors hesitate…
Diamond Select Toys has managed to hold the line on their Marvel Select figures at a $30 MSRP for around a decade now, but there came a day unlike any other when that price had to increase. That day is apparently this day, as Hobgoblin is the first mass-release Marvel Select 7” action figure to carry a $35 MSRP.
If Hasbro was raising the Marvel Legends standard price to $34.99 I’d be out there with the mob with the torches and pitchforks, but I’m much more accepting of this move from DST. Their figures are larger than Hasbro’s, more limited, include more unique accessories and tooling, and often give us characters Hasbro isn’t keen to invest in. Given how long it’s been since a DST price increase on this line, it’s easier to stomach paying a couple bucks more.
And Diamond Select definitely picked a good entry to raise the price with—Hobgoblin in his most classic comic book look is a character that Hasbro has attempted, but just not quite nailed yet in my opinion.
Hasbro’s Goblin Gliders for Hobgoblin have always felt on the flimsy side, but the one DST is giving us should be nice and sturdy (and looks great!). This is the type of base/diorama piece that Diamond Select really excels at. Hobby is going to look awesome flying atop his dynamically posed glider.
But the Goblin Glider isn’t even the coolest pack-in here—it’s the unmasked Roderick Kingsley head! We’ve surprisingly never gotten one of these unmasked heads for Hobgoblin in Hasbro Legends, so I’m glad DST has churned out top-notch work on this head sculpt. It looks like the comic art brought to life.
And we even get a hand holding a removed Hobgoblin mask, which is also a first (which makes sense, what with there never being an unmasked head included before and all). A fun and neat inclusion—good work, DST!
Diamond has really upped their game in the articulation department in recent years. While still contractually limited in the number of points of articulation figures can have, DST has learned to really maximize what they can integrate to make their Marvel action figures the best they can be.
Hobgoblin looks to have double-hinge elbows for posing properly with pumpkin bombs, as well as a ball-jointed chest (no unsightly ab crunch) and the lower body articulation like swivel ankles needed to perch perfectly atop the glider. Select will never (and cannot) reach the sheer amount of articulation packed into Marvel Legends, but I’m impressed with their continuing growth in this area.
I also wanted to give props for the extremely subtle texturing on the “Mail” portions of Hobgoblin’s costume here. You can see the mail up-close, but from a distance it still looks like a guy in a costume and not a thick layer of armor. I really dig the aesthetic here, and think it works convincingly for a classic look like this.
The Marvel Select Hobgoblin is up for order now and arriving in the latter half of 2025. Popular Selects like the upcoming Archangel pre-sold out from many retailers, so consider reserving Hobby if you know you’ll want him.
How does this Diamond Select Hobgoblin look to you, Marvel collectors? Do you think it compares well to Hasbro’s takes, and are you considering picking one up?