(Full pictures of everything I discuss are right here.)

Hasbro sure does show us a lot of Marvel figures, considering that they haven’t actually sold us many in the last 8 months or so.

Still, Hulk Legends has made it to retail (and Foom is worth it, even if a few of the figures aren’t), and other lines are on their way. In a weird move, Hasbro has shown another Wal-Mart exclusive wave, with no standard HML 4 yet to appear. I hope they don’t plan to continue this trend of ML appearing only as exclusives…

At any rate, the Wal-Mart Exclusive Marvel Legends Wave 2 (hereafter WEML2) lineup is: Crossbones, Ben Reilly Spider-Man, a new Vision figure, a repaint of the FFML Human Torch, Ultimate War Machine (a repaint of UIM from HML1), Heroes Reborn Iron Man, Guardian, and Kang, with Ares as a BAF.

Now, I’m super-excited about a Ben Reilly Spider-Man. Yes, the Clone story was awful, but the minor tweak of the traditional Spidey costume was most excellent. Vision, I don’t really see the need for–wasn’t the ML7 version enough? It had a variant and everything. Heroes Reborn Iron Man? Blech. I understand the drive, the Iron Man movie being the success it was, but still, blech. Guardian. Guardian! More Alpha Flight, please!

FFML Human Torch? Meh. There are a couple of different repaints shown, and they’re fine, but I think we’ve had enough of Johnny in the 6″ scale. Ultimate War Machine…are they even trying? Crossbones I know nothing about, save that he looks cool and I’ll probably like him on that basis alone.

I like Ares as a BAF, but it looks like Hasbro has repeated the move that irked fans with the FFML line’s BAF–packing the accessories with separate figures. What is that about, Hasbro? A helmet is not a BAF piece. It’s an accessory.

I feel like I’m forgetting something. Oh, right. Kang. Kang. Those of you who shelled out $60 plus for him a while back, please take your complimentary tissue* now and feel free to weep openly. It’s okay. We’ll be here when you get back.

Feel better? Good. Onward! More ML Two-Packs were also shown, including Iron Man with SHIELD Agent Maria Hill, Stealth Iron Man with SHIELD Agent Sharon Carter, and a Hand Ninja with SHIELD Agent Dum Dum Dugan (I’m sensing a pattern here…). Also shown again were Thing and Reed Richards. So, to recap, we’re getting those two in a two-pack, and Johnny again in a new wave. Then, we’re getting Johnny again in another two-pack with Sue. It makes no sense. Dum Dum Dugan I about had a nerdgasm over…we are talking a government agent who beats baddies while wearing a bowler hat and handlebar moustache. You wish you were that cool. The alternate Tony head shown in the Iron Man two packs is honestly the best Tony Stark head I’ve seen since the ML11 Hulkbuster version–it looks great, if a bit too long and bony.

Also shown again was the Wal-Mart Exclusive Nemesis wave–previously known as HML4. Are you ever going to release these, Hasbro? My AXM team is sad without their Beast. I heard Cyke crying last night, honest.

Superhero Squad! I’m not even going to attempt to list ALL the new figures shown, so I’ll only talk about one. Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu. SHANG-CHI! Now where is his ML incarnation!? Why are we getting three separate repaints of Johnny Storm and NO SHANG CHI!?

…and one dose of sedatives later, I’m good to go. I really like Shang-Chi, though, Hasbro. Please?

We found out a while back that Spider-Man Classics is making a return, but now is the first time we’re actually seeing new figures in the line. Shown are Tarantula, Venom III (Mac Gargan for those of you who don’t track the numbers), and a Juggernaut figure that looks…well, unimpressive, compared to a certain other version from a certain other best wave of toys ever released. The Venom III looks great, though–I’m really looking forward to that figure. There are also a few Spider-Man figures shown (surprise). I’m not certain if the standard Spidey there is a new release or if he’s the old McFarlane one (having never owned it), but I do know he looks pretty great, and he’ll probably be my display Spidey if he looks that good once he hits the market.

But enough about Spider-Man. Let’s talk about, uh, Spider-Man. More figures from the Spectacular Spider-Man cartoon were shown, and it looks like they’ll be giving us Green Goblin, Electro, Lizard, and Rhino, in addition to endless rehashes of Spidey in both classic and black suit varieties. It does look like we’ll be getting some super-articulated versions though, which is nice. Now if only they’d do that for the villains…

And, of course, there’ll be even more Spider-Man in the Marvel Crossovers set, featuring a Black Suit Spidey who transforms into a cycle. Also pictures is a Human Torch who converts to a jet, and a repaint of the first wave’s Hulk into, well, Grey Hulk. Then there’s Wolverine, who actually looks pretty spiffy, and will probably end up in my home, due to my wife’s (I can say that now, heh) Wolvie fetish.

On the Unleashed side of things, we’re being shown Green Goblin, Spider-Man, and the upcoming Iron Man. Nothing new, but man, that Iron Man looks all kinds of overcompensatingly (it’s a word now) awesome.

Of course, this is all not even mentioning the stuff not made by Hasbro. Skrull Minimates, people. Just keep that in mind.

Don’t mind that howling sound you hear coming from your wallet–it’s just the void where a non-collector’s money would go.

*Tissue not actually complimentary, nor even available. You’ll have to find your own, folks.