This Green Goblin figure is part of the first series of action figures based on the upcoming Sony feature film, SPIDER-MAN. Since it is based on characters from the film, the figure obviously is modeled after the film version of the Green Goblin, played by Willem Dafoe.

Purist fans of the Spiderman comics have all voiced varying degrees of complaint with the new metallic look of the Green Goblin. The majority opinion is that the new Goblin look is too similar to the cheesy sort of villains that the Power Rangers contend with.

Regardless, once one gets past the departure from the original Green Goblin costume, this figure stands as a very well-built action figure. This figure comes with a removable Goblin helmet. Underneath the helmet, there is a fantastic rendering of Willem Dafoe's features. Toy Biz did a great sculpt of Willem Dafoe's face, as it truly does look like the real thing! When the helmet is placed on the figure, it still looks great, as the size/shape is appropriate to the rest of the figure. Most of the time, when figures have these detachable helmets, either the head, or the helmet is disproportional to the rest of the figure. This is not the case with this one, as the Goblin looks great both with, and without helmet.

These figures are not called "super-poseable" for nothing, however this is also a bit of a misnomer for this particular figure. What I mean, is that the figure on it's own has about a dozen points of articulation, which allows many cool poses and stances. Not quite as many as the "super-poseable" Spiderman figure of the same series, but it makes sense since how lithe could someone actually be, in a body encasing metallic Goblin suit? Anyway, the figure by itself is great in terms of articulation. However, the problem I encountered, was posing the Goblin atop his famous Glider. Once you finally wrangle the Goblin into the foot stirrups on his glider, his range of movement is severely limited. You have to almost jam his feet into place, which in turn locks his legs and hips, and makes him more of a Goblin statue. In other words, it's impossible to pose the Goblin in those awesome menacing poses from the film that you see in the trailers. Instead, he is kind of standing straight up on the Glider. At least his arms and head are still poseable, but the cool anticipated look of the Goblin hunched over on his glider while hurling a pumpkin bomb is impossible to achieve.

Speaking of pumpkin bombs, where the heck are they?? This figure doesn't come with any pumpkin bombs, or any other eye-damaging projectiles, which was somewhat of a disappointment. There is another Goblin figure in this series which has projectile pumpkin bombs that shoot out from the glider. However, this other figure does not have the fantastic removable helmet which is disappointing.

This figure does come with a great clear stand up base however, upon which you can perch the Goblin astride his glider, and have it look like the glider is "flying" (albeit w/a stiff Goblin aboard.) The goblin's stand up base allows for easy display, much like the rest of the figures in this series.

Nevertheless, I was able to finally get the Goblin in his glider, arrange his torso in an acceptably menacing pose, and place him opposite my new Spiderman figure. The only thing that could make it better is more maneuverability while on the glider, and the simple inclusion of some darn pumpkin bombs! Otherwise, a great figure for fans of Spiderman, and fans of the movie.

Please see my reviews of the great Spider-Man figure from the same series (http://www.epinions.com/content_62078029444) as well as my reviews of the Hydro Web Shooter (http://www.epinions.com/content_61986279044) and Ammo refills (http://www.epinions.com/content_61987196548).

Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 6.99
Type of Toy: Action Figure
Age Range of Child: 9 Years or Older