REVIEW: DST's Spider-Man 3 Minimates

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At last count, I had about 200 Minimates. That’s a lot for a line I never decided to collect. But they have every license you can imagine. Not to mention the price point is as low as the quality is high (especially in the direct market). So it seems every time I see a new set, I have to pick it up. Case in point: The new Spider-man 3 Minimates.

Like you, I hated Spider-Man 3. Unlike the Schumacher Batman films, which had so many characters there was no room for plot, this movie had so many plots there was no room for theme. Peter went from confidence to arrogance, but what did that have to do with Sandman? Why was Harry addressed, put away early and readdressed in the second act? If all the posters featured the black costume, why didn't we see it for a full hour? And why was Venom in this for 15 minutes yet there were two dance numbers and three songs? I'd say it was made by committee, but it's so well crafted, I have to say it was made by distraction.

Anywho, the Minimates. I had all these characters in the comic line and I successfully avoided the Hasbro products. So why Minimates?

Because they never disappoint. The body is as useful as it was five years ago. There’s been no change to the engineering and yet it’s as durable, poseable and interchangeable as anything on the market. There’s ankles, knees, ball joint hips, waist, wrists, elbows, ball joint shoulders and a ball joint head. That’s 14 points for a 2 inch figure. Still hard to beat.

There are plenty of new parts here as well. It’s hard to remember once you’ve seen it, but Spider-Man 3 was supposed to be the movie of the summer. So I’d imagine these got a higher budget.

The red and black Spideys were an early preview so there’s two variants in this line; a battle-damaged red and an unmasked black with a pulled up mask. I was hoping the half mask wouldn’t include a second mouth. The expression is the same and the original mouth would have felt more three-dimensional. The hairpiece is nicer. It looks new and gives the Tobey Maguire likeness weight.

The battle-damaged Spidey is a very bright red. It’s a little too bright as the small details of the torn costume get lost. With the bright silver movie webs, this one looks a bit washed out.

Venom beats the older version simply by using the powerhouse torso. I’m not crazy about the Spidey webs and the grey chest spider, but that’s my problem with the movie design, not the figure. The old one had a simple graphic for a mouth but this one is positively menacing.

Mary Jane is a chase figure, so I don’t have one. But Gwen Stacy is worth it. She has that wide-eyed look that reminds me of both the character and the actress Bryce Dallas Howard. I don’t recognize the hair from any other Minimate and I’m sure the jacket is a new piece. A high budget figure, especially when you consider she’s getting switched out for Mary Jane every few sets.

Sandman is fantastic. The original used just the Super Skrull’s stretched arm, but this one is all new. In fact, with the custom arms and torso, he’s barely a Minimate at all. He doesn’t even have legs! His black line work on an all tan body has a sketchy appearance. You can even see hatch lines in the mouth. It gives Sandman one of the most unique appearances in the entire line.

Transformation Peter Parker is the best of the set. The original chest piece is the most original I’ve seen. And the pained expression sells the look. The hair is either messy or goth, if you liked that part of the movie.

If you were planning on skipping this line, don’t. These are impressive even by Minimate standards. Some of these outright beat the original comic versions. I just wish the movie was this good.

For more photo of the Spider-man 3 Minimates, CLICK HERE.

Review and Photos by Jon Clarke

Review Samples Courtesy of Diamond Select Toys