ToyGuru posted a very big update over on He-Man.org–so huge it merited a rare weekend update here at PGPoA. I recommend you read the whole thing over there, but here are some highlights.
First off, obviously MOTUC is doing very well and this has rung all the way up to the top brass. We couldn’t be happier with where the line is and have some amazing plans to expand it beyond single figures per month in 2010. In fact, in all likelihood, almost each month next year will have at least two MOTU items for sale. More details will follow at our SDCC fan panel on Friday at 1:00 in room 2.
And yes, we are looking into other projects and lines to do with the brand, but nothing to announce quite yet.
In the things we can announce category, we’ve been doing some major research into the brand going deep into the Mattel archives. In this process we’ve uncovered quite a lot of goodies such as the original story concept for MOTU (pre mini comics!) and some concept art never before shown to the public (did you know Skeletor was called “Demo-Man”, Trap Jaw was originally called “X-Man”, Evil Lynn was “Sultress” and Zoar was called “He-Bird”!) Lots of cool stuff and we are working on finding ways to publish some of these finds for the fans. We even found the original painting from the Eternia Playset. So good stuff is brewing as we continue to research the line and make MOTUC the best it can be.
As for why his name is “Ro” and not “Gray”, well simple. In the original story line “Powers of Grayskull” He-Man travels back in time to meet his ancestor who turns out to be He-Ro. Because the 2002 MYP series firmly established King Grayskull as Adam’s ancestor, He-Ro was reinvisioned slightly to make him a contemporary of Grayskull, but not the same character. It really wouldn’t make sense to have a character called “Gray” and “Grayskull”. Since he carries the sword of He, it made sense Ro would adapt this weapon as part of his new name to call out his powers. (much as He-Man is a “man who carries the sword of “He” – get it? ). How the Sword of He relates to the Power of Grayskull has yet to be revealed…
Oh, speaking of which, the 2010 subscription should be available to pre order starting at SDCC (in fact you can do so right at our booth!) We have a few surprises in store that are special for the subscription this time, and subscribers for 2010 will get more then just the 12 monthly figures, we’ve got some cool surprises in store! (and there may be a small sign up fee to compensate for this, but it will be well worth it we promise!). Full details will be announced before sign up start.
My thoughts: It’s good to hear the “top brass” has noticed MOTUC’s success. That probably ensures a decent life cycle for the line, assuming they don’t screw it up by, say, trying to mass-market it (a specialty store/comic shop plan, run in addition to but not as a replacement for the online Mattycollector.com sales, might work).
I like the sound of the subscription bonus(es) for 2010–as long as those who pre-order subs at SDCC don’t get something the rest of us who have to order online don’t.
Anyway, Monday is Hordak Day. I recommend you be at your computer and refreshing by 11:55pm EDT.
As for the “other projects and lines” mention, I’m still hoping for a collected trade paperback of all the original mini-comics…
Mark
Speaking of TV shows I guess that is why the new Doctor Who is mostly set in present day London….TRASH.
PrfktTear
Yeah, its a pretty common thing for tv shows to do. If you only have 100,000 for an episode, and in order to have the money to do an episode the way you want to, you have to make sacrifices so you make another episode for say 60,000 and use the extra 40,000 for the special episode.
You just hope the writing is good enough to pull it off! Though, if its written well enough you won't notice its a "ship in a bottle" or "cabin fever" episode. Still, its better then the dreaded Clip Shows :::shudder:::
I doubt Mattel thinks they can get by using the same parts they've been using. Well, sure they would, but I'm sure they know they need to include characters like Ram-Man, Leech, Rattlor, etc…
There are still a lot of figures they can get multiple uses out of… even with accessories… with Fisto's armor they'll give to Clamp Champ, Buzz-Off and Whiplash share the same torso, etc. Clawful and Buzz-Off share the same arm, and Clawful will either have the Whiplash/Buzz-Off feet or Skeletor's feet….
Scott
I think that's common of a lot of shows. I remember them saying that "Friends" usually did 1 episode a seaon with just the 6 of them in their apartments for that reason.
I just hope Mattel doesn't figure "Hey, these guys are buying whatever we make, so why bother with unique sculpts?"
PrfktTear
Its just like when watching Star Trek: The Next Generation (or any Trek for that matter), and they have a "ship in a bottle" episode in which 99.9% of the episode takes place on the ship i.e. no away missions, no space battles. So there's no need for new sets, backgrounds, or special fx. Then the next week they have a huge episode with new sets or and/or huge space battles.
Thomas B
prfkttear- couldn't have said it better myself. the repaints like adam are the way they will offset characters like ram man or the horde members.
i am placing my bet right now that she-ra will be shown at SDCC. she will give a REALLY big new bump for them.
anytime they release her they'll get some PR but they will get the MOST out of it by debuting her to their core consumers and those consumers will be at SDCC.
PrfktTear
Very true… the only advantage of holding off on using the re-paints is that the money they save on one figure they can use to make another figure… so say they spend $10,000 on an individual mold, and then they come up with a character like Ram-Man who has a unique mold that they'll never get any further use out of, and they spend $15,000, the following month they could throw in a Stinkor, Beast Man or Prince Adam who they can re-use with little to no re-tooling.
For Prince Adam, I wonder if they're going to give him a cloth vest or if it will be molded plastic.
-x
Mark
When are we going to get Prince Adam LOL….again this is the genius of all the moulds being reused, better chance of getting the different figures as opposed to waiting for individual unique sculpts.
PrfktTear
So three will be ones released this year, and three for sometime next year.
I'll be a very happy man if Trap Jaw is one of those six announced!
I think we'll be getting a She-Ra next year. I don't have anything to back it up yet, but it'll be a huge announcement!
I wonder how long they'll wait for some of the obvious repaints, i.e. Stinkor and Moss Man. I bet Meckaneck is release before Stinkor though.
They have done a lot of villains so far, so I think we should at least get one or two more heroes.
Scott
They're supposed to show at least 6 new figures + Battle Cat. So we'll definately know what's coming for the rest of the year and beyond.
PrfktTear
@Mark: Understandable. I was going to say, complaining about the price is pretty much a moot point.
@Philip Reed: Those who have signed up for the subscription theorhetically won't have to "suffer" through Mattel's "ill-prepared" web site.
I hope we find out what to expect for the rest of the year @ SDCC, and maybe they'll drop a few hints about who is coming next year!
Philip Reed
@clark – I know I'm waiting for Webstor. Everything else between now and Webstor doesn't strike me as cool enough that I'm willing to suffer through Mattel's ill-prepared website.
Philip Reed
Put me down for a collection of all of the mini-comics. Hell, I'll take two so that I can give one to a friend.
Knightmare
@ Thomas B, how is the Hasbro collectors club I've been thinking about joining it for awhile now.
Back to the main story, I've really enjoyed the MOTUC line so far and I'm seriously debating getting the subscription, I already bought the subscription for the rest of this year. Hopefully at SDCC will find out more about the rest of this year and the beginning of next year too.
Mark
@PrfktTear….lol I guess cheap isn't the right word, I should have said unless I can get him for the price I am getting the others at, £30, I would not pay much more than that for him.