Review New Marvel Select: Dok Ock and Spider-Man

There's something I've always been drawn to by Marvel's villain Doctor
Octopus, but I can't quite place a tentacle, err, finger on it. It wasn't like
he was gifted with any supercool superpowers. No, the good 'ol Doc mainly relied on his keen intellect to outsmart his foes. It wasn't because of his ripped physique either. Doc Ock was a rather chubby comicbook chap. Hummm, no true powers, no good looks... gotta be the tentacles!

And tentacles we do receive in the latest DST/Toy Biz Marvel Select
collectible! Very cool, slick new tentacles as seen in Marvel Comics' "Spider-Man -
Doctor Octopus" Vol. 1, Issue #1 2003. Otto Octavius also receives a new "Matrix"
makeover courtesy of his new Gothic wardrobe and slimming calamari seafood diet.
He's also traded in his Elton John shades for some serious laser eye-surgery. New
beady red eyes adorn this version of the Doc.

Alas, looks aren't everything. While fans will be rushing out to purchase this
latest Marvel Select entry for a superior looking Doctor Octopus (downright
creepy lookin!), it must be noted that he doesn't fair as well in the
articulation department. Oh yeah, four lengthy (13-inches long!) super-bendy
tentacles do add-up for some serious posing fun: if you can get them to stay where
you want them, and you can, with some effort. The unarticulated "claws" cast of a
surprisingly soft plastic don't help. Some of mine came out of the pack "pre-posed"
in odd angles. Kinda like that one figure's gun just so slightly bent. You know it
isn't gonna shoot straight, and it drives you MAD. Some cool jointed pinchers, cast
of a harder plastic and attached to the bendy tentacles would have worked wonders
here. Tentacles baby, tentacles. Other joints on Otto include swivel head, cut
shoulders, waist and v-crotch legs.

To balance out the multi-limbed menace, DST & Toy Biz also gives us
Spider-Man. Face it, you can't have enough of this iconic superhero,
especially when done right without the parachutes and pants (read: GIMMICKS. Get
it? Har har.) Seriously though, this Spidey is a very faithful replication in
plastic, and while he doesn't star the 500 points of articulation that his Toy Biz
18" brother boasts, he moves well: swivel head, ball-jointed shoulders, cut
upper-forearms, hinged elbows and knees, swivel waist, v-crotch legs and jointed
feet.

As is Marvel Select norm, this large set retails for a SRP of $18.99. The
packaging art is cool and displays nicely MIP with other figures in this line on
your bookshelf. Opened is a mixed bag. You're buying it for Doc Ock and he LOOKS
good. Spidey is a nice bonus. Gotta figure that you get two figures; one's
shortcomings are made up by the other. So overall, pretty good deal. Especially if
you're into tentacles...

To find a specialty store near you that will be carrying this collectible, click
HERE or call 1-888-comic-book.

Head over to our Reviews Photo Gallery to see many more Doc Ock pictures.

By Jeff Saylor