Kids and collectors are basically obsessed with the ritual. You wake up, stumbling through the dark of a December morning, and your first thought isn't coffee or school. It’s that little cardboard door. Specifically, it’s about which version of Peter Parker or Miles Morales is hiding behind the perforated edge of the Spider-Man advent calendar 2024 edition.
It’s a vibe.
Honestly, the market for these things has exploded lately because Marvel knows exactly how to tap into our collective nostalgia while keeping the modern "Spider-Verse" hype alive. If you’ve spent any time on TikTok or Instagram lately, you’ve probably seen the unboxing videos. People aren't just buying these for five-year-olds; they’re buying them to sit on office desks next to high-end mechanical keyboards.
The 2024 lineup is particularly weird—in a good way. We aren't just looking at one generic box this year. Instead, we have a fragmented market where LEGO, Funko, and various stationery brands are all fighting for that prime real estate under your chimney. But here is the thing: not all of them are actually worth the $35 to $50 price tag. Some are incredible, filled with unique minifigures you can’t get anywhere else, while others are... well, let’s just say they’re mostly stickers and plastic erasers that’ll be under the couch by New Year’s Eve.
The LEGO 76293 Marvel Spider-Man Advent Calendar 2024 Breakdown
If we are being real, the LEGO version is the heavyweight champion here. It’s the one everyone searches for first.
Designated as set number 76293, this year's offering feels like a love letter to the fans who actually play with their sets. It includes five specific minifigures: Spider-Man (obviously), Ghost-Spider, Venom, Miles Morales, and a very festive Green Goblin. But the real star isn't even a person. It’s the "Spider-Ham" snow-sculpture.
Wait.
Think about that for a second. A tiny, plastic, brick-built pig made of "snow." It’s that kind of detail that makes people lose their minds. The set is designed to build out a little street scene. You get a hot dog cart—because Peter Parker is eternally hungry and broke—and a Christmas tree that looks surprisingly decent for being made of ten pieces.
Most people don't realize that LEGO's strategy with the Spider-Man advent calendar 2024 was to bridge the gap between the comics and the movies. The Venom figure comes with a little scarf. It’s ridiculous. It’s adorable. It’s also a clever way to make a terrifying symbiote feel "holiday-ready." You’ve got 246 pieces in total, which, when you do the math, isn't a massive haul, but the exclusivity of the prints on the torsos is where the value stays.
Why the Funko Pocket Pop! Version Hits Different
Then you have the Funko enthusiasts. They are a different breed entirely.
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The Funko Marvel Advent Calendar for 2024 isn't strictly Spider-Man, but let’s be honest—Spidey is the face of the box. These are the "Pocket Pop!" figures. They’re about two inches tall. If you have a cat, these are basically expensive hockey pucks that will disappear under the refrigerator within forty-eight hours.
But for the desk-worker? They're perfect.
The 2024 Funko box features a mix of characters, but the Spider-Man variants are usually the ones that drive the secondary market on eBay later. You get these tiny vinyl figures with metallic finishes or "holiday" sweaters painted on them. The build quality on these has actually improved. A few years ago, they had a habit of falling over because their heads were too big for their tiny feet. Funko seems to have fixed the balance issues for the most part in the 2024 run.
What’s interesting is the "chase" element. You never quite know which version of the web-slinger you’re going to pull on day 24. It creates this low-stakes gambling rush every morning. Kinda addictive, actually.
The "Fill-Your-Own" Trend and Why It’s Smarter
Lately, I’ve noticed a shift in how parents handle the Spider-Man advent calendar 2024 season.
A lot of people are ditching the pre-made cardboard boxes from big-box retailers. They’re buying high-quality wooden calendars shaped like Spidey’s mask or a New York City skyline and filling them manually. Why? Because the "filler" in the official calendars can be disappointing.
If you go the DIY route, you can scour sites like BrickLink for specific Spider-Man 2099 or Noir minifigures. You can throw in some Spider-Man themed PEZ dispensers or those little web-shooter bracelets that actually work. It’s more work, sure. But you avoid the "Day 14 disappointment" where you open a door only to find a single, lonely plastic web accessory that costs about two cents to manufacture.
The Stationery and "Toy-Lite" Alternatives
Not everyone wants more plastic clutter.
There are several "Book" style advent calendars circulating this year. Insight Editions and Disney often put these out. Instead of toys, you get mini-books, stickers, and ornaments.
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- Day 1: A mini-comic retelling the origin story.
- Day 5: A "Property of Midtown High" luggage tag.
- Day 12: Glow-in-the-dark stickers for a bedroom ceiling.
These are great for younger kids who are just getting into the lore. It’s less about "collecting" and more about the "story." Plus, they take up way less space on a shelf. The 2024 versions have leaned heavily into the Across the Spider-Verse aesthetic, using that glitchy, neon-heavy art style that looks incredible compared to the flat, Saturday-morning cartoon art of the early 2010s.
Is the 2024 Calendar Actually a Good Investment?
Let’s talk money. People often ask if keeping these things sealed is a good "investment."
Generally? No.
Unless it's a LEGO set with a very specific, one-off minifigure that never appears in another set, these don't appreciate like a fine wine. They’re toys. They’re meant to be ripped open with messy, chocolate-covered fingers. However, the LEGO Spider-Man advent calendar 2024 does tend to hold its retail value better than the others. If you look at the 2021 or 2022 Marvel calendars, they still sell for roughly their original MSRP on the secondary market because collectors want the specific holiday-themed prints.
The Venom with the scarf? That’s going to be a $10 figure by itself in three years. Mark my words.
Spotting the Knock-offs (The Amazon Problem)
You have to be careful when searching for these online.
If you go on a major marketplace and see a "Spider-Hero Countdown Box" for $14.99, run. It’s fake. These generic calendars often use stolen fan art on the box and fill the insides with "mystery" toys that are often poorly painted and made of questionable materials.
Always look for the official Marvel logo. Check the manufacturer. If it isn't LEGO, Funko, Disney, or a reputable licensee like Hasbro or Insight Editions, you’re probably buying a box of disappointment. The plastic smells like a chemical factory, and the "Spider-Man" inside will probably have purple boots for no reason.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Calendar
If you’re doing this for your kids—or yourself, no judgment—make it an event.
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Don't just rip the door open while you’re rushing out the door. Some families have started a "build-a-day" tradition where they take the tiny LEGO build and integrate it into a larger winter village scene. By December 24th, you have a full-on superhero battle happening in the middle of a snowy Victorian village. It’s hilarious to see Venom trying to steal a pie from a Dickensian street walker.
Also, pro tip: buy it in October or November.
Every single year, people wait until December 1st, and every single year, the Spider-Man advent calendar 2024 sells out at Target and Walmart by November 25th. Then you’re stuck paying double on eBay just so your kid doesn't cry on the first of the month. Don't be that person.
What We Learned About This Year's Releases
The 2024 season has proven that Spider-Man is basically the King of Christmas.
We saw a move away from the generic "Avengers" boxes and more toward character-specific sets. People want Miles. People want Gwen. They want the specific "Spider-Family" dynamic. The inclusion of more "lifestyle" items in the non-toy calendars—like the patches and pins—shows that Marvel is realizing their audience is aging up.
Whether you're looking for the high-end LEGO builds or just a simple 24-day sticker book, the variety this year is actually pretty impressive. It’s a far cry from the days when an advent calendar was just a piece of waxy, cheap chocolate behind a cardboard flap. We've traded sugar for plastic, and honestly? Most of us are perfectly fine with that trade-off.
Actionable Steps for the Holiday Season
If you are planning to grab one, do these three things right now. First, check the LEGO store's official site to see if they have the 76293 set in stock; it’s the gold standard and usually the first to vanish. Second, if you’re a collector, look closely at the "Holiday Venom" minifigure photos—the scarf print is the defining "exclusive" feature for the 2024 run. Finally, if you're buying for a child under six, consider the book-based calendars over the small-part LEGO or Funko versions. The tiny accessories in the toy sets are a massive choking hazard and, quite frankly, a pain to find in a shag rug.
Check the back of the box before you buy. Most brands now list exactly what's inside (in small print). If you want the surprise, don't look. If you're a parent who doesn't want to spend $40 on twenty-four erasers, read that list carefully. Stick to the brands that provide actual figures, and you’ll have a much better December.