By J. Brent Stewart

Ah, it's been a strange couple of weeks, but rather than waste time apologizing for why I suck (when there are myriad reasons to choose from) why not dive back into the action?

We've profiled all of the series of Marvel Minimates currently on sale, but here is what is on the horizon!

Late summer:

Series 10
Sandman/Silver Sable

The Spider-Man Supporting Character B-Team

Black Cat/Ben Reilly (yup, really scraping the bottom of the barrel for Spider-guys these days)

Spider-Woman/Spider-Carnage (Spider-Carnage??? WTF is this? Did this happen in the comics? Why?)

Chase is Spider-Woman in her black outfit…actually a different character altogether, I know, I know…

Series 11
Bishop/Cable (These guys both suck, but hey, at least it’s not mullet Bishop)

What would happen if you put Iceman in a Snoopy Snocone maker? Answer: delicious!

Rogue/Mystique (Awesome, Mom and Daughter duo! Not a fan of that particular Rogue costume, though I concede that it is the most popular one)

Firestar/Iceman (From Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends!!! AWESOME!)

Chase is a variant clear Iceman.

These should ship later in the summer.

And now, for your OCD completists, don’t think I’ve forgotten the exclusives and packaging variations!

Available in other packages/variations:

- Grey Hulk & Ultimate Spider-Man 2-pack (Wizard World Chicago & San Diego ComiCon)

- Silver Surfer (Tower Records)

- Marvel Minimate 10-Pack (Toys "R" Us)
This 10-pack retails for about $20. The only figure in the pack that you can’t get elsewhere (so far, at least) is Ultimate Green Goblin…and I’m not paying $20 for that ugly hunk of crap.
However, if you’ve never picked up a 2-pack, or just want to get a cool group of figures in one go, you could do worse than this set, which features: Silver Surfer (with his board!), Mr. Fantastic, Ultimate Spidey, New X-Men Wolverine, Iron Man, Ghost Rider, Venom w/ or w/o Tongue, Battle-Damage DD, and the Thing.

If only they all had optional tongues...

As of now, only available from the original source or eBay, and possibly not to be reissued:

- Professor X & Magneto 2-pack (ActionFigureExpress.com)
Prof and Mags were reissued in a TRU 4-pack, but Prof didn’t have his Cerebro helmet, as he does in this exclusive. STILL AVAILABLE AS OF THIS WRITING.

- Mary Jane & Peter Parker DST 2-pack (Wizard World Chicago & SDCC)

- Giant-Size X-Men #1 Boxed Set (Diamond Select Toys)
I’m still kicking myself for passing this one up. It originally retailed for $25, and I remember walking around the comic shop with it in my hands, thinking about buying it. At the time I wasn’t collecting the line, but this set was nearly enough to get me into it.
Of course, I put it back, it disappeared, and now it sells for $40-$70 online. Crap in a hat.

- Spider-Man Gold (2003 Wizard World Chicago & SDCC)
This one was a lottery giveaway at comic cons, and is the Holy Grail for most MM collectors. Only 200 or so (250? I don’t know the exact number) exist. They routinely sell for $250+ on eBay…that is, when they show up at all.

- Power Man & Iron Fist 2-Pack (ToyFare Exclusive)
Wizard Toyfare Mail away. The character selection and the execution (Iron Fist even comes with clear “chi”!) make this an instant classic.

- Classic Iron Man Grey & Silver Centurion (ActionFigureExpress.com)
As a fan of the different Iron Man armors, this one is a personal favorite. The Classic Grey armor looks kinda funky (that skirt!) in MM form, but it’s still a blast. STILL AVAILABLE AS OF THIS WRITING.

- Clobberin' Time Thing & Super Skrull (Tower Records)
This is another favorite set, featuring a classic Thing in that great uniform, and SUPER SKRULL! Nothing is cooler than a Minimate Super Skrull. From his extending rocky arm to his clear feet, he simply rules the school. He is king of the Minimates, as far as I’m concerned. STILL AVAILABLE AS OF THIS WRITING, at tower.com.

- Mariko Yashida & Wolverine (2004 SDCC)
So…another Wolverine…and…uh…his wife. Yay. I’m glad I got this one for $7 at a con last summer.

- Battle-damaged Captain America & The Punisher (2004 SDCC & Wizard World Chicago)
This was the first Punisher, in that classic uniform, but he came completely unarmed. Luckily the new Assault Punisher is overstocked on weapons, so he can pass a couple of glocks over to his clone.
The Battle-Damaged Cap continues the tradition of the ripped-up clothes and messed up face, and even includes the clear “laser shield” from that lamentable stretch of Avengers comics! Again, it’s the small, comic-specific details that really make this line a winner.
Now for the packaging freaks, a breakdown of the different assortments and carding variations you can track down:

Wal-Mart/Target 2-Packs
- Spider-Man & Green Goblin
- Masked Spider-Man & Civilian Logan
- Iron Man & Doctor Doom
- Captain America & Rhino
- Hulk & Thing
- Kingpin & Ultimate Spider-Man
- New Wolverine & Phoenix
- Ultimate Cyclops & Ultimate Wolverine
- Logan & Peter Parker/Spider-Man
- Unmasked Spider-Man & Doctor Octopus
- Battle-Damaged Daredevil & Bullseye
- Battle-Damaged Spider-Man & Venom w/ tongue

Toys "R" Us 5-Packs w/ Hidden Figures
- Spider-Man & Battle-damaged Spider-Man & Green Goblin & Venom & Rhino
- Green Hulk & Bruce Banner & Daredevil Red & Elektra Red & Gray Hulk
- Ultimate Wolverine & Ultimate Storm & Ultimate Cyclops & Logan & Sabretooth

2003 Toys "R" Us 4-Packs (no hidden figures)
- Spider-Man & Battle-damaged Spider-Man & Green Goblin & Venom
- Green Hulk & Bruce Banner & Daredevil Red & Elektra Red
- Ultimate Wolverine & Ultimate Storm & Ultimate Cyclops & Logan

2004 Toys "R" Us 4-Packs (no hidden figures)
- Unmasked Spider-Man & Captain America & Absorbing Man & Dr. Octopus
- Civilian Logan & Juggernaut & Battle Damaged Daredevil & Masked Spider-Man
- Thing & Spider-Man & Dr. Doom & Carnage
- Silver Surfer & Gamma Hulk & Classic Wolverine & Iron Man
- Phoenix & Professor X & Magneto & New Wolverine
- Peter Parker & Kingpin & Bullseye & Ultimate Spiderman

ShopKo Single Packs
- Battle-damaged Spider-Man
- Classic Green Goblin
- Daredevil
- Hulk
- Spider-Man
- Venom

And last but not least, we have the summer convention exclusives!

Exclusive to the big summer comic cons, these are going to be hard to find. I normally don't fret about this stuff, but I actually REALLY WANT ALL OF THESE! GAAAAH!

Dark Phoenix/Cyclops 2-Pack

This Cyclops is still more lively than James Marsden

Fantastic Four set

"Our movie may suck, but we will not!"

And finally, after much hemming and hawing, Thanos has finally been announced! Unfortunately he's stuck with yet another Silver Surfer, but apparently that's the price we have to pay. And honestly, it looks like he's gonna be worth it!

Smell the glove!

Thanos is supposed to be a summer con exclusive, with remainders heading to AFX. Can't wait to get my hands on him!

And that, at least as of June of 2005, is the Marvel Minimate story.

But wait…what else is there???

Join us for a future installment covering the very interesting “build” line C3 (featuring DC superheroes and Lego-style building sets), Lord of the Rings, and more! Next week! Honest!