Marvel has used the term Gamerverse in recent years to identify character designs pulled from video game content. This was pretty straightforward when they were only making Spider-Man figures based on the hit PlayStation game. However, as Jada’s Street Fighter line gained popularity, so too did the demand for Capcom-inspired Marvel characters. Over the past year, Marvel has expanded the Gamerverse line to do just that. Both Hasbro and S.H. Figuarts have released figures based on Capcom’s fighting games. Alongside Jada’s Final Challengers, they’re quickly becoming one of my favourite shelves in my collection.
I finally got my hands on the S.H. Figuarts Gamerverse Spider-Man, and he’s everything I hoped he’d be. Shout out to the engineers over at Figuarts. They can articulate butt cheeks like nobody’s business. Spidey can hit some crazy poses, though I’m extremely nervous when I’m getting him into those poses. I’m used to that hefty Hasbro plastic. Figuarts uses some kind of lightweight magic plastic that balances really well, but also feels like if I look at a joint the wrong way, I’m going to be out a hundred bucks. It’s a set-it-and-forget-it type of figure. Delicately get him in an awesome pose and leave him like that unless you need to snap a pic. A toy, this is not… and that’s OK.
On the Capcom side of the MvC equation, Jada’s E. Honda is a hefty hunk of plastic. I’m always impressed with how great the Final Challengers figures articulate, and E. Honda is no exception. While no one will ever mistake a sumo wrestler for the Spectacular Spider-Man, Jada has still given E. Honda has some range of motion I wasn’t expecting. Does he need to be able to put his own foot in his mouth? No. Can he? Yes. I don’t know who needs to know that, but do with that info as you see fit.
That rapid hand slap effect is a thing of beauty. Remove his hand and slip it on his forearm to add motion to your static pose. It elevates the figure to another level, and it was already flirting with greatness. E. Honda was never my favourite Street Fighter to play in the game, but he might be one of my favourite Street Fighter figures.
Jada can seemingly do no wrong… with one exception. I still don’t have last year’s San Diego Comic-Con Exclusive red-and-blue flame-engulfed effect figures. I’m all for a good exclusive, but something that good deserves a wide release. It’s been almost a year. Where are my flame-engulfed wide release figures, Jada? You better not pull that again this year by putting out something else I’ll desperately long for and never be able to acquire…
Oh, for fuck’s sake.
I mean. How can I be mad at something that beautiful? I’ve been begging companies to give me a box of heads and hands, and Jada says, “Hold my beer.”
Battle-damaged heads and hands for ALL of the figures? Jada’s out here putting other companies to shame. I can’t even be mad when this is so good. I just hope I’m able to get my hands on it at some point.
Where will the Gamerverse take us next? Almost on cue, Figuarts has just revealed that their next competitor will be none other than Psylocke! Those are some thick thighs and some Anime eyes. I can’t wait to see more than this teaser. She might be another candidate for the MvC Fight Club I’m putting together!
