New Figure Round Up

Just as a round up of the new figures seen so far in the various photos (and keep in mind, we're not counting previously announced but unreleased figures like Hulk Wave 3, the Collector's Pack 2, 4-Packs Wave 3, or Super Hero Squad Wave 10) we spotted the following figures that have either been mentioned only in Walmart SKUs or at conventions but have not been heretofore shown:

Dreadknight
Gargoyle
Iron Man (Movie)
Iron Monger (Movie)
Kang
Mandarin
Marvel Girl (Rachel Grey)
Mystique
Nick Fury
Nighthawk
Ronin
Shang Chi
SHIELD Agent
Skrull
Ultron

For a total of 15 previously unconfirmed characters, which, when added to the 107 other characters (counting movie and Ultimate versions separately from comic versions, but not counting separate variants, resculpts and repaints), we're up to a total of 122 separate characters! Now, take out movies and Ultimate versions and we're down a little bit, but imagine how high that number could be if we didn't have over 20 different Spider-Men sculpts and repaints.

Another piece of good news is the depth of character selection. Dreadknight is known as an Iron Man foe, having first appeared in that title, but he has tangled with Captain Britain, Black Knight and Spider-Man, and once tried to take over Latveria. His only previous action figure has been one for the Iron Man animated line back in the 90's.

Gargoyle, the fan-favorite Defender, has had his own mini-series, and important supporting roles in both the Earth X trilogy and the Defenders, but his most recent appearances have been as a background character in Avengers The Initiative 15 and during the Last Defenders mini-series, which also featured the slightly higher profile Nightwing who has been in the Defenders, the Initiative, the Squadron Sinister, and has worked with the Thunderbolts and many other assorted heroes. This will be the first action figure for either character.

Kang is a long-standing Avengers villain who has also menaced every major hero. His action figure history is long and proud, going back to the Secret Wars line during the 80's. His inclusion isn't hard to imagine considering his general prominence in the Marvel Universe, but his last major storylines were the year-long Avengers epic back in the Kurt Busiek days and his more recent visits to the modern day in Young Avengers.

Marvel Girl has been a member of the X-Men, Excalibur, and now the Starjammers, and has had a recent Marvel Legends figure. Since her return in X-Treme X-Men (there was a long story involving the Days of Future past timeline, Britanic, time-travel, forming the Clan Askani, helping Cable in the future) she has certainly had a higher profile.

Shang-Chi's most recent appearances were in the now-over Heroes For Hire and the Wisdom limited series, and while I think he had a late-90's Toy Biz figure (back when articulation meant your waist could swivel and your arm could go in a complete circle around your shoulder) he's been otherwise absent.

Edit: Just realized that we didn't put Black Widow, 616 Rhino, Avalanche and Tombstone up on the list. They were mentioned later in the convention, and they bring the list up to 19 previously unconfirmed/officially announced characters, or 127 different characters. Black Widow gets a heads up for her Mighty Avengers role, Rhino is a classic Spider-Man villain that has already had an Ultimate release during the Spider-Man line, but classic X-Villain and Brotherhood member Avalanche is an interesting choice no more obscure than any other old-school X-Men villain. Tombstone is perhaps this wave's Puma, but has received a public relations makeover due to his appearances in the Spectaclar Spider-Man animated series, so it's possible his role in that gave him an edge over the competition for creation.

Hulk Wave 3 Pictures

Action-Figure.com has more pictures from SDCC, including pictures of Zzzax (We were hoping for translucent. Oh well, maybe next time...), the Leader, Skaar (a.k.a. Son of Hulk), a new Hulk Sculpt (ripping off a shirt that has Banner written on it), as well as better pictures of Weapon X Wolverine, Ronin, Ultron (who looks a bit too much like a Doctor Who Cyberman we think...) and others.

First pics of San Diego (Set Up)

Well, although we can't go, we're hoping to bring you guys a collection of Super Hero Squad coverage from everyone else. So far SD Comics is the first out the gate with some photos of the set up.

There's a shot of the still empty display case and then the big time, over at the Marvel Comics booth... this huge backdrop featuring Colossus, Falcon, Iceman, Loki, Super-Skrull, Catpain America, Human Torch, Hawkeye, Iron Man, Thor, Magneto, Hulk, Cyclops, Doctor Doom, Wolverine, Sentinel, Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, the Abomination (in the comic style we've seen from other promotional materials and the box of the Gamma Lab), and the Thing. Since this isn't at the Hasbro booth, it's probably more related to the upcoming animated series and merchandising efforts than the toy line. Also worth noting is that Spider-Man doesn't get a square.

Although some of the art is obviously re-used (we're looking at you Iron Man), others look original (Loki, Super Skrull, Thing, Sentinel)

And just as a reminder, tonight is preview night!

If anyone sees something we miss, post a comment somewhere or drop us an e-mail and tell us how you want to be credited (what name you want us to use, what website you'd like to be linked to, etc.)

Kitty and Professor X are coming?

Toymania has a second July Q&A up which has this interesting bit of news:

5. Any chance of a Superhero Squad boxset featuring the 90s X-Men Animated characters and designs (Cyclops, Wolverine, Storm, Beast, Gambit, Rogue, Jubilee, Jean Grey, Professor X)?

Answer: There will be a cool new boxset coming out late in the Fall (at Toys R Us) that will feature an X-Mansion theme. It isn't specifically 90's, but it does feature Professor X, Kitty with Lockheed and 6 other X-Men faves. You'll get your 1st look at this one at SDCC this week!

Shucks. Looks like the guy who heard from his friend that the Collector's Pack (ie, Kitty and the Professor) would be a Wal-Mart exclusive this August was just mis-informed. Who could have guessed that?

Actually, we'll play fair here. It's possible that the new box-set featuring Professor X and Shadowcat won't be THE Collector's Pack 2, since we were told it has "6 other X-Men faves" (the original Collector's Pack 2 featured 6 X-Men related characters, a chrome Silver Surfer and a Spider-Man), which could mean that Wal-Mart gets the Collector's Pack 2 while Toys R Us gets this. But then wouldn't Q&A Man have said "Professor X and Kitty come in August to Wal-Mart, then in the fall to Toys R Us"? So while we did suggest shenanigans way back in April when that rumor started, and this Q&A certainly lends credence to that theory, we're willing to eat crow if it turns out we were wrong.

Hasbro's Convention Sketchbook

The ever talented Logan Lubera of Hasbro Design has posted the cover of Hasbro's SDCC Sketchbook over at his page here. Browse his gallery for examples of his great work (he's partly responsible for those giant Hulks used in recent theatre promotions and up for auction at Marvel.com so if that doesn't make him your hero, what will?)

Anyway, looks like visitors to San Diego Comic Con have one more thing to add to their basket! Hopefully we'll be able to see some of those sketches soon.

SHS at SDCC

Geek Tyrant has posted Friday, July 25's San Diego Comic Con schedule, including this little bit here:

2:30-3:30 Hasbro: Marvel- Jerry Jivoin, Michelle Favaloro, and Scott George of Hasbro marketing and Brian Wilk, Josh Lamb, Steve Redinger, Dwight Stall, and Logan Lubera of Hasbro Design present the Hasbro Marvel line, including Spider-Man, Iron Man, Hulk, Marvel Legends and Super Hero Squad toy lines from 2008. Also, see a sneak peek into the 2009 line and a Q&A session! Room 5AB

Ooh. Hopefully the sneak peek won't neglect the Super Hero Squad line in lieu of focusing on Legends and movie lines, but oh well.

Action-Figure.com's June Q&A

Action-Figure.com's June Q&A doesn't have any new Super Hero Squad information, per se, focusing mainly on Marvel Legends, but when asked about SDCC they say:

"Can you give us a sneak peek at what we will see at San Diego Comic Con?

HASBRO: Tons of stuff…pretty much everything from the 2008 line for all Marvel brands and possibly a couple of sneak peeks at early 2009."

So that means that, with luck, we can see the rest of 2008's Super Hero Squad figures in a couple weeks! Does that mean we'll finally see Ultron, Mystique and Abomination? We'll find out when the convention starts July 23.