Welcome back, fellow toy enthusiasts, to another exciting review from Dan's ToyBox! Today, we're diving into the world of the Hasbro Marvel Legends Retro Spider-Man Wave. Our spotlight is on none other than The Rose Action Figure, a character known for his cunning tactics and intriguing storyline in the Marvel Universe. Join me as we explore the accessories, appearance, articulation, and affordability of this figure to provide an in-depth review.
The first Rose was Richard Fisk, the son of Wilson Fisk, who sought to overthrow his father after learning he was the Kingpin of Crime. He later became a deadly vigilante, calling himself Blood Rose, only to eventually be shot dead by his own mother, Vanessa. Richard is later brought back by his father using the tablet of life. The character first appeared in the pages of The Amazing Spider-Man #253 (June 1984.) He was created by Tom De Falco with the idea in mind that he'd have no secret identity. In De Falco's own words: "I put him in a mask to make him distinctive. It was not a plan that he would have a secret identity. But at some point later on, I was reading something about the big mystery of "Who is the Rose?" I didn't realize there was a mystery! So I realized I'd have to come up with something for the Rose, and I figured I'd use Roderick Kingsley, because we'd already eliminated him as the Hobgoblin but he fit perfectly as the Rose." Unfortunately, Marvel Editor Jim Owsley terminated De Falco before the reveal could be made. Shortly thereafter, in Web of Spider-Man, the Rose's identity of Richard Fisk was revealed. Ironically, in 1997, the three-issue mini-series Spider-Man: Hobgoblin Lives, would retcon the character the Hobgoblin, making Kingsley the villain the entire time, stating that he'd brainwashed Ned Leeds (initially revealed as Hobgoblin) to be his "fall guy."
Accessories: 8/10
The Rose Action Figure arrives with the most accessories I've seen in a single packed Hasbro Marvel Legend in quite some time. He comes with a weapon holding hand, a finger pointing hand, a pair of fists, two pistols, and a single rose. Usually when we see this much stuff, Hasbro yoinks the price up a bit. I'm actually giving this a good grade in spite of the fact that with only one weapon holding hand, he can only hold one item at a time. But still, it's nice to see a bit of variety packed in by Hasbro.
Appearance: 8/10
Hasbro has done an admirable job translating The Rose's comic book aesthetic into action figure form. The sculpting details are commendable, showcasing intricate designs on his mask, costume, and accessories. What little paintwork exists is clean and vibrant, with the color palette staying true to the character's appearance in the source material. I can't recall if his buttons were black in the books or not, but I'd have liked to have seen that done on the suit to at least go along with the black details on his shoes. I really appreciate the silver/blue lenses on his mask and the bright red rose on his lapel rounds out the look very well. The detail on his guns is impressive as you can distinctly tell he's carrying two different types of weapons and the small rose is a very nice touch. It takes a bit of finagling to get it posed in his grasping hand, but once there it stays fairly well.
Articulation: 3/10
Articulation is where The Rose Action Figure suffers. Unfortunately, the design of his suit jacket poses severe limitations to the bulk of his articulation ability. He can look up and down fairly well and his head turns side to side with ease. The shoulders will raise out perpendicular to the figure, making a nice T pose and can be rotated a full 360 degrees. The bicep swivel works fine and the double-jointed (pinless) elbows fully bend to bring his fist to his upper arm. All of the wrists hinge and swivel with ease. As mentioned, the jacket impairs his ability to use the abdominal crunch, but at least the waist swivel works reasonably well. The length of the jacket also inhibits leg movement. The relative inflexibility of the coat means that doing any splits or forward kicks isn't going to happen. The thigh cuts work though, allowing the upper thigh to swivel and the double-jointed knees (also pinless) will bend deeply, but not quite enough to bring his heel to his back. The cut of his trousers also prevents the ankles from hinging up or down too far, but the ankle pivot works well, in and of itself.
Affordability: 7/10
When it comes to affordability, The Rose Action Figure is right at the retail price of $25.99 for the Marvel Legends line. Considering the included accessories, and attention to detail, the figure justifies its cost. However, the price point might be a bit steep for casual collectors who are not invested in The Rose's character specifically. For fans of the character and dedicated Marvel collectors, the figure's overall quality outweighs the cost.
Overall, after evaluating the figure across the categories of accessories, appearance, articulation, and affordability, it's time to deliver the final verdict. The Rose Action Figure from the Hasbro Marvel Legends Retro Spider-Man Wave earns a reasonable:
7 out of 10 ToyBoxes!
The Rose Action Figure offers an engaging and visually appealing representation of the character, and its inclusion in the Retro Spider-Man Wave will undoubtedly please fans and collectors alike. Keep an eye out for more exciting reviews here at Dan's ToyBox and until next time... GEEK OUT!!!