Spider-Tracer: Spider-Man Classics – Series One

Welcome back, Spidey fans! For this month’s article, we have our very own Brad Douglas to thank for the subject this month (one that I thought was a great idea!), which is, of course, the first series of Spider-Man Classics!

 

For years, ToyBiz had been experimenting with the articulation on their Marvel figures. Going back to Mattel’s Secret Wars line from the 80’s (which I previously did an article on), those figures only had 5 points of articulation. Fast forward to ToyBiz’s early 90s Marvel Superheroes line (another series I did an article on for this very site), and we received the first super-articulated Spider-Man figure. With 16 points of articulation, this figure was unlike anything offered before in Marvel figures. Most figures, at least ToyBiz figures, typically got about 9 or so POA. And while they would add or change articulation with each figure, 2001 was going to change not just Marvel figures, but action figures in general, forever!

 

In 2001, ToyBiz produced the first series of Spider-Man Classics. Articulation was the major selling point, combined with intricate sculpts and paint detail, all of which was done in the 6” scale (ToyBiz had previously done figures in the 5” scale, but the scale had slowly been creeping up over the years until Spider-Man Classics officially went with 6”0). Each figure came in a clear, plastic clamshell packaging, complete with a base and comic book! Aimed at kids and collectors, these initial two series consisted of four figures each, and two Kay-Bee Toys Exclusives. With that said, let’s take a look at those first four figures and the two store exclusive figures…

 

Spider-Man

 

 

You can’t start out a new comic-inspired Spider-Man toyline without including a classic Spider-Man, can you? With an advertised 30 POA according to his packaging, this figure could attain poses only previously dreamed of by collectors. The web-lines were sculpted into the body while he got a dark overspray of paint to bring out the details of the sculpt, particularly that of his muscles. The issue he came with was “The Amazing Spider-Man” #301. While that issue features Todd McFarlane on art chores, I feel like this figure evokes more of a Mark Bagley design with his eyes, but your opinion on this may vary. The figure came with a circular base featuring Spider-Man’s face on a brick wall (which obviously tried to emulate the look of the light on his belt), complete with a camera webbed to it for taking pictures of Spidey fighting some criminal. Spidey’s feet could peg into the base, or his body could clamp onto it for swinging poses. While better Spider-Man figures would come alone, this figure set the bar extremely high!

 

Spider-Man (Black Costume)

 

 

One of the most popular Spider-Man costume variants is, without a doubt, the black suit, and ToyBiz was sure to include it as another Spider-Man figure in the first wave! It featured the same articulated joints as the classic Spider-Man, but with none of the sculpted web-lines. As such, this figure relied more on paint, including a nice, subtle blue overspray, which was obviously inspired by the comics. The figure came with a brick wall, complete with a drainage gutter and creeping symbiote. Like the other Spider-Man figure, this one could peg into the base or  be clamped onto it for swinging poses. The figure came with “The Amazing Spider-Man” #252, the first appearance of the black suit after Spidey returned from the 80’s event, “Secret Wars”. A lot of the figure’s influence can clearly be seen in this issue. This was a really, really well done Black Costume Spider-Man figure.

 

Man-Spider

 

 

This was a rather odd character choice for the first series, but he was a cool figure nonetheless! He had a nice, intricate sculpt, and a great job paint. Unfortunately, he wasn’t nearly as articulated as the Spider-Man figures, with about 16 POA (which is ironic, as you’ll recall that ToyBiz’s first articulated Spider-Man had about this many POA). Another odd thing to note was that he appeared to be in mid-transformation, with his limbs and face all in various phases of turning into the Man-Spider. He came with a cool base, which featured a forest, complete with rocks, plant life, and a removable stream. The base was so good, that ToyBiz reused it for Toad in their first series of Marvel Legends. The comic he comes with is “The Amazing Spider-Man” #437, featuring Synch from Generation X and the Plantman of all villains. Spidey was partially transformed in this issue, though the figure features design elements from the animated series and the earlier “Marvel Fanfare” issues, as well.

 

Venom

 

 

The first series of Spider-Man Classics needed a villain, and Venom fit the bill nicely. Unfortunately, much like Man-Spider, this bigger figure was less articulated, and in mid-transformation. Well, sort of. You see, it’s based on the comic it came with, which was “Venom: Lethal Protector” #6. In the issue, Venom goes through some fire to get the bad guy and that appears to be the reason for the symbiote’s odd appearance here (as you know, symbiotes are vulnerable to flames, hence why the suit looks like it’s pulling back and going crazy here). One cool aspect of this figure, is if you look under the duck bill of his symbiote, there’s a sculpted and painted Eddie Brock face under there, which is very awesome. Venom also sports a neat web accessory, which not even the Spider-Man figures in this wave got! He comes with a neat base, featuring a webbed-up Vault Guardsman amid some rubble. As far as Venom figures go, this was a weak offering in the long run (there’s only so much you can do with a partially suited up Venom). I appreciate the sculpt, paint, and time that went into him, but he is far too limited by said sculpt, and little articulation.

 

Scarlet Spider

 

 

The first Kay-Bee Toys exclusive offering from this toyline came in the form of Ben Reilly, the Scarlet Spider! The figure was basically a repaint of the Black Costume Spider-Man, complete with a repainted base from the regular Spider-Man figure. He was also given web-shooters and ankle pouches, but, sadly, no belt. He did, however, get his classic hoodie in the form of a soft goods item with the spider painted right on the chest, just as it is in the comics. He came with “Web of Spider-Man” #118, the first appearance of the character (the name and costume, at least). The figure was a nice addition to the line, and, upon seeing it in the store, I had to have him! For the time, he was incredible, and the only classic Scarlet Spider figure you could get for years.

 

Spider-Man 2099

 

 

Our final of the two Kay-Bee Toys exclusives is Miguel O’Hara himself, Spider-Man 2099! The figure, also a repaint of the Black Costume Spider-Man figure, simply got a new cape and a repaint of Black Costume Spider-Man’s base, sans symbiote. He also came with a copy of the first issue from his initial solo run. I recall taking his cape off, as it was rather annoying and got in the way when trying to play with him. If the figure comes off as rather unremarkable to me, that’s because he was. He didn’t receive accurate hands or forearms, whereas Ben at least got some accurate new pieces. He was okay, but certainly not remarkable in any way.

 

And there we have it, Spidey fans! The first wave of Spider-Man Classics (as well as the two exclusive figures). Did you guys pick these figures up back in the day? If so, what were your thoughts on them? Be sure to let me know in the comments section below, and we’ll be back next month with, I assume, a follow up article featuring Series II (you might say it makes… Spider-Sense… right? Okay, I’m done.)