The Red Skull seems to be a slight modification of the previous Cap buck. New head and accessories with a superior paint job. The changes are smart and now the Skull feels more sinister than before. I think Black Widow is all new. New head is all one piece instead of a hair glued to a bald head, and much better than the previous MU figure. The only articulation that's gone is the mid-torso one but if the trade-off is better head sculpts and paint apps, I'll take it.

ETA: This Black Widow is a repaint of the Scarlett Johanssen-looking Avengers buck. Derp. I would've known that if I owned that figure. Better paint app threw me off, but it looks to be the same sculpt.

I'll have to see Red Skull in person before I bite. But I couldn't be more impressed with Falcon and Black Widow. Falcon's wings alone are a marked improvement over the wings we've gotten on the previous Falcon, Darkhawk, and Nighthawk. I'll definitely be getting more BWs to re-use that headsculpt for customs I have planned.

Got Red Skull off of Amazon. Excellent face sculpt and I like his hat and coat accessories. But why no weapon?

Still, I like you'd like him, Cal. He's much better than the Cap movie version.

Yeah, if there's any knock I can make against the rebranded line, it's the bland kiddie-toy nature of the weapons. The don't seem character specific, which is the real disappointment. The toy-ish nature of the weapons usually just means they break the illusion of scale but sometimes it means giving Black Widow a giant cannon that she could barely lift by herself or would not be very useful to her in her role as spy. Otherwise, they're pretty cool. I wonder what this means for the current MU line and future AA waves?

Ive now seen these at Wal Mart and TRU--

Will echo Cals sentiments on the Falcon-- the wings are a giant improvement.

In fact this seems like the old Star Wars Hasbro approach-- make the next wave of figures- just better enough that you feel obligated to replace the old ones... The Black Widow sculpt feels like it combines the best parts of the previous widows with a comic head -- and the coat with Red Skull is an outstanding addition.

My problem is no difference in the backer for the basic and more highly articulated figures. So not only will I have to search through those terrible 5 POA figures to make sure I'm not missing somebody, but you just know some moms are gonna be ticked that a figure hanging on a $5 peg rings up as a $10 toy.
Not a smart move, Hasbro. The SW figures have different backers based on articulation, why not the Avengers figs?

Still haven't seen Widow or Red Skull at retail.

Still have to pick up Falcon I've seen him a couple of times. Although I did pick up a Cap which I've got a bunch of from his movie line but this one has a really good paint job although another stupid gimmicky accessory. I just wish they'd include a proper shield with all the Cap figures.

Re: Shield: You're so right. Especially with the little one that gets packed in with the 5-POA versions, there's no excuse not to include at least that with EVERY Cap.

I picked up the Red Skull today at TRU. What an outstanding figure!
The head sculpt and paint is perfect, and the coat & hat are excellent additions.
(1-per-case I think)

I barely passed on the Widow (x2) because I've already got the movie version, and while the Falcon looks great, the paint apps on his face were wonky (x2). The Hulk looked good too.

Red Skull!

Red Skull is x2 per case. But you are right. He's an excellent figure.

I have yet to see a single one of these in stores (not counting the Happy Meal Toys).

I have seen them at both TRU and Walmarts now...

I've started spotting these guys a couple of times already at TRU and Walmart. Picked up the Red Skull last week and he's pretty cool. Even though I've got a couple of Black Widow figures (the 1st MU single pack and the Avengers with the light up base version), I'm digging this one. I'll have to pick up Falcon one of these days.

Well this is good news at least-- Case for Wave 2

4x Tech Bow Ultimate Hawkeye
3x Thor
2x The Leader
3x Nick Fury

Hawkeye, Fury and Thor are currently available on Hasbrotoyshop.com. The Leader is out of stock.