Mattel has posted the latest MOTUC schedule, including a slew of reissues.
Here is the most up to date schedule for MOTUC Classics release. We are trying to get this up on the product pages as well, it is just taking some time. Things may always change, but here is what we plan to release:
Jan:
Vikor(Club Eternia figure)
Palace Guards (2010 product shipping late, not part of the club)
Evil Lynn reissue (not part of the club)
Castle Grayskull Stands (not part of the club)Feb:
Bow (Club Eternia figure)
Preternia He-Man (not for sale but will ship to Club members)
Etheria Map (not for sale but will ship to Club members)
Shadow Beast (Club Eternia oversized figure)
Keldor (reissue, not part of the club)
Tytus (reissue, not part of the club)March:
King Hssss (Club Eternia Figure)
Battle Armor Skeletor (Club Eternia Quartlery figure)
Princess Adora (reissue)
Count Marzo (reissue)April:
Sy-Klone (Club Eternia figure)
Panthor (Club Eternia oversized beast)
Weapons Rack (new item, not part of the club)
Moss Man (reissue)May:
Catra (Clue Eternia Figure, revealed in Toy Fare magaizne, on sale now!)
Whiplash (reissue)
Stratos (reissue)June:
New Figure (Club Eternia figure)
New Quarterly figure (Club Eternia figure)
Reissue figureThe June figures will be announced at NYTF on Feb 13th at our collector even from 3 to 6pm.
Scott
The also snuck in a Catra rear shot. The full frontal shot can be found in this month’sToyFare. And with that language, I just boosted my Google results 300%!
Does Mattel sell Pinball Machines? Cause my wallet feels like Jodie Foster in The Accused…
@ Snarf, no kidding. Feb is a killer!
Excellent comment, S!S!. That's a bit how I feel, too.
Even after buying a sub, I'm still going to have to man the computer in January, February, April, and May to crap that I missed before. Whiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiite screen days for me. The overall value of the subscription seems to be … hm. I still can't come up with it.
And no offense to any PoP fans but I would've taken a Sorceress over a Catra any day of the week.
Nice lineup!
Even with my "all in" subscription, I'm still going to have the hit the computer in March. Odd to see Marzo getting a reissue already, especially since characters like Teela have yet to be reissued. Perhaps he is just leftover stock or something?
Ugh. Jan and Feb are killers.
what the hell are they doing in feb? that's the most retarded thing they've done thusfar, and that's a HUGE statement given the regularity of moves matty has made on that website… even corky from life goes on knows better than this crap. and march… why two re-issues in one month?
and of course, as said before, this kind of completely defeats the idea of the sub w/ this much non-sub product available every month. plus, upping the re-issue frequency seems folly when so many figs are getting re-issued w/ a DC fig… i know "they reach separate markets" except, they don't. the motucers are buying the stuff in stores just like we're buying the stuff online… but there's only 1 motuc fanbase. w/ the rising cost of the in-store 2 packs, i suspect many of us will be dropping that avenue of purchase, since it's less a value to us than the monthly figs.
Hello strangers,
I just found this site from Google and I'm looking for the promised cat lady boobs.
Well after next Tuesday I'm able to stay off the Matty until April when I'll need a weapons rack.
am i wrong that increasing the rate of re-issue sales feels like desperation? like they're doing this to squeeze every last drop from this line and the stock they've already produced but wouldn't sell on the initial sale date?
@dayraven: I might agree with you if the reissues weren't selling out. But since they are, it just seems like good ol' fashioned moneymaking.
Successfully fielding this much product might even convince management to take a chance on a retail venue. I'm not trying to be a Mattel apologist here, but there's another way of looking at it. I'm not sure we need to take what looks like pretty good news and turn it into a negative.
While it's good that they're getting product out; they're getting TOO MUCH Product out at the same time.
Didn't they move the Shadow Beasts to Feb. in order to "alleviate the load in January"? Tossing them with Tytus, Bow and Keldor is a bit too much… (May or June would've been better months for Tytus)
Another thing that worries me is that if these reissues don't sell; those who are playing catch up are screwed… (I want my Triklops and a Teela to repaint into the Goddess dammit!)
Why Stratos? Didn't he got a reissue Last year AND a TRU 2 pack recently?
@Snarf! Snarf!: It's possible Mattel is just blindly re-issuing figures with no analysis of their relative popularity, but I think you're underestimating the growth of the line's popularity.
MOTUC is one of the most popular lines right now–if you need evidence of that, look to the fact that ToyFare keeps having exclusive reveals. And that popularity has been growing, and as it does, it's in Mattel's interest to offer those new fans a chance to get them. The reissues aren't for us, or probably anyone who's visited this website regularly for the last few years–the reissues are for the newcomers.
Back in the early days of MOTUC, collectors complained about the aftermarket eBay prices and wanted more reissues. Now we're getting the reissues and people are fretting about it.
@dayraven:
But I think that fanbase is growing. It'll probably top out at some point, but Mattel has been managing their production numbers fairly conservatively. And let's face it, it's not like fan demand for Luke Skywalker or Snake Eyes or Optimus Prime has topped out in the last ten or fifteen years, so who knows how long MOTU could go.
Awesome!! Although a few of the months are gonna hit the wallet extremely hard, its cool to see what re-issues they are putting out as I missed all of these the first time except for Stratos. The new releases look great as usual! 2011 is looking to be good year for MOTUC.!
@Poe: I AM playing catch up… While I have SOME of the reissued figures I don't have others, so pretty much I'm getting hit hard for the next few months. Apparently May is the only month I get a break… except for Catra.
I hope that I'm underestimating the line… Last thing I need is the line to die without a few more rebels, the Main vintage Horde, Marlena, Sorceress, and some other figures from All eras…
The only one I need is Whiplash.
They are definitely unleashing a lot of product.
I'm prepared to bite the bullet on most of it, but the one I keep flip flopping on are the grayskull stands. It'd be roughly $100 to cover the figures released SO FAR.
For those of you that have 'em…is it worth it? Does anyone know of any images of a ton of them being used to together to create a display?
Right now I'm just kinda thinking about getting enough to provide a floor for the weapons rack. I'm assuming one would cover it?
I am not convinced that most of these are "reissues" in the strictest sense. I more than suspect they are selling off customer service stock again. Hear me out:
1. By all accounts they only let Marzo go into production at all because of time contraints, nor did he sell out in under five minutes, so it is difficult to believe Mattel rushed him back into production for reissue. I absolutly love the character and figure, but even I have to admit this is illogical (although that in and of itself might explain the appeal of this move for Mattel).
2. Whiplash and Keldor also seem to be on a pretty quick turn-around, especially in light of the fact that neither was particularly hard to acquire the first go-around (at least not by MOTUC standards: Keldor hung around for about half an hour while Whiplash strolled to a 43 minute sellout), nor have they even been out all that long–as others have pointed out, a lot of big names are still awaiting reissue, and we've just established that none are arriving int he first five months of this year.
3. This is the nail in the coffin as far as I am concerned: This would be the third reissue of Stratos, and the fourth run overall counting the TRU exclusive. That's pretty nuts for a guy whose initial release hung around the site for three days, and whose second issue fairly languished over four days just as the line was really heating up. Only He-Man and Skeletor have the same overall number of releases under their belts, and He-Man's third release sold out in just over two days.
So, that's my thinking on the subject. Now, as for Catra, I am thrilled to see she is in the Filmation style, which to my way of thinking will let her fit in with Hordak a bit better that the original figure design would have. Between her, Vikor and Panthor, I am really glad I went for the sub this year…
I agree with the sentiment, Feb. is going to be one hell of a month.
I forget now, for those of us who went in on the 2011 sub, have we already been charged for <del>Preternia He-Man</del> the "Sub-fee"? If not, thats going to be one hell of a charge on that months bill…
Also, choosing to reissue Tytus in the same month as the Shadow Beast was stupid. I intentionally passed on him the first time around, but I was considering picking him up on the second go, but I may have to re-reconsider.
Catra should be interesting. I can't wait to see her full frontal spread. I guess this puts the rumors about The Faceless One to bed…
I hope that re-issue Stratos doesn't have his wings glued. If his wings aren't glued, I'd get him.
You know, I'm not too fussed about this.
There's no way I can be at a computer this month so I'll just wait for a reissue of the Palace Guards and except for an extra Shadow Beast or two I'd like to have, I won't be missing anything in Feb either. The rest comes to me through my sub.
And I still have no interest in Tytus.
I am curious if these are actual reissues or just left over stock though. If they are true reissues I'd pick up an extra Keldor if he's still available when I get to a computer later that day, and I'll definitely pick up an extra Adora and Marzo in March.
I'll get an extra Stratos too if they've finally unglued the wings on the regular version. I love my TRU Stratos with the poseable wings. Stratos is a very cool figure.
Sorry for you guys that have re-issues to pick up. I'll be hanging back just waiting for my subscription figures. Feels good getting everything the first time around ^_^
@Dark Angel: You could be right that it’s all old stock. But if true, and if they only hold back enough for replacements, then we can probably expect fairly quick sellouts (meaning 24-48 hours, which is still a great sellout by any reasonable standard, though perhaps not Mattel’s).
If these reissues are the held-back stock for replacements, I don’t know if we can really use them to make any educated guesses as to how the line’s doing. They’d just be unloading old stock–possibly to make room for new stock.
Whether or not they’re old or new stock is probably a question worth asking Mattel in the next Q&A.
@Poe: poe, i love you… but if you’re trying to make the case that tytus has the kind of legs optimus prime or snake eyes have, you’ve lost your marbles. stratos is on his fourth run… think this incarnation will be up for fig of the year next year on the poppies? of course not… but i bet OP and SE both make at least one appearance.
then again, if we’d only ever been sold one optimus or one snake eyes, they may not have had the success they currently enjoy either.
as for how much product to field, i get your point, more is better… unless they don’t move more. folks were already complaining when the original jan lineup got unveiled, and they scaled it back… yet feb now has even more product than jan was supposed to. i guess sellout times will tell, but i can’t help but think the duds will sit for quite a while.
as for the fanbase growing, on either side, that’s speculation… but the price point is very high, and that will limit new prospects who might be on the fence… and w/ early predictions of 2011 seeing increases in food costs, while unemployment stagnates, there’s a larger world that says toys in general won’t be garnering as much of the dollar of even hardcore collectors as they did in 2010… and those highest on the cost vs perceived value bubble (like motuc) will be the first to lose.
i’m not saying that all is gloom and doom for motuc… but more product in a given month means buyers on a budget have more spending options in a month, options which could conceivably exceed their monthly toy budget… met any collectors who are just doing really well right now, financially, and find themselves rolling in more and more money every month? i haven’t. all i’m saying is, more product every month for this line, means more product i ignore on the 15… them putting it out there in no way obligates me to buy it.
As cute as it is to read all of the conspiracy theories about the re-issue choices, the lot of you have missed the obvious deciding factor.
Mold use.
They can only do re-issues of figures whose parts aren't currently in use for other figures, thus the reissue release order will be dictated by where certain parts are in use already for new figures.
I finally got these figures with He-Man & Battlecat during their Thanksgiving sale, so all of these reissues are great for me. Though that is a lot of money, so I'll have to pick and choose which ones I really want.
@Poe:
“I’m not sure we need to take what looks like pretty good news and turn it into a negative.”
Oh, but that’s what everyone does, isn’t it? You’re only going to please half the people half the time anyways.
@American Hyena:
I think your mileage may vary with the stands. I have one set, which is really isn’t enough to make an epic display or anything. I honestly haven’t really used ‘em. I did see one pic (I think on He-Man.org) of the 2-pack He-Man & Skelly engaged in battle that looked really nice. Otherwise I haven’t seen ‘em in use much myself.
@dayraven:
I’m simply not going to worry about MOTUC until the new monthly figures stop selling out in a day or two. And I’m will to bet despite all the griping about February, Bow and Shadow Beast will sell out in an hour or two, and most likely Keldor and Tytus will a few hours later. The Grayskull Rack and the upcoming vehicle will sell out in an hour or two as well.
That’s the nice thing about MOTUC–the doomsayers simply don’t have much of a case until the sellouts stop. Something like DCUC is a much murkier picture.
On a side note, I wasn’t equating Tytus with Snake Eyes or Storm Shadow, anymore than I would equate He-Man with Snow Job. Don’t be silly. Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow equate to iconic characters like He-Man and Skeletor, and guess what? Mattel has already successfully sold a couple of versions of each of them, and BA Skeletor will sell out in hours in March.
My point was that fans will buy a number of guises of Luke Skywalker, Snake Eyes or Optimus Prime, and quite obviously they will do the same with He-Man or Skeletor. That’s a sign of a healthy brand. Fans won’t buy crappy guises, like Spin Blade He-Man, but with a collector’s line like MOTUC that’s not a problem.
@Poe:
agree 100%. Things have not slowed down on the sales front and until they do there is no doom and gloom.
Remember the day when beastman/he-man took the full month to sell out/get pulled from the site?
poe, the problem is, the reissues aren't selling out nearly as fast as the "new" characters, and we're now reissuing characters who lasted 30 to 50% longer than average for motuc… as you say, we'll see how things go, but to me, too much product will slow the whole thing down.
also, the last couple figs were available for better than an hour, while previously, sellouts were running less than 10 minutes… while you could make the case that they've increased production numbers to meet demand more evenly, the undisputed fact is, that's 600% longer than figs were lasting just three months ago. you could make your case, and i could say, it's due to a decrease in demand. we don't know. but we do know product is lasting longer. when given more product will buy, will things sell more quickly, or more slowly?
i'm far from worried about motuc, but what i am doing is trying to figure out why i'm seeing what i'm seeing. you voiced your opinion, and i voiced mine. neither of us have enough facts to verify our story, we have instead speculation that seems to fit our facts. my only point has been, it could well be that this glut of product is not a statement of how well things are going, that's all. no need to get hostile.
A crapload of news today.
Now all thats left is the shuffling of items amongst months and endless logistics explanations.
…and they have already modified the January lineup again. The Goddess replaced Evil-Lyn's reissue, and they are admitting upfront that this is just Goddess leftovers (and therefore will have the same QC and materials issues).
@dayraven: No hostility intended–I thought we were just having a discussion. The "don't be silly" was more of a rhetorical statement, not directed at you specifically.
ah, misread that then… sorry.
Tytus and showdowbeast in the Same month? Why not just throw Gygor in there as well and finish raping our wallets.
I was happy to hear there would be new reissues as I'm missing quite a few, but most of the ones I'm missing are from 2009 (Teela, Scareglow, King Randor and the Goddess for starters). Looks like as far as reissues the only one I need to stay alert for until May is Tytus. Bummer.
Now that The Goddess is officially being "reissued" I'm still not gonna buy her… (Hyperbreakability issues)
Hopefully the reissues will sell fast enough in order for me to get the figures I need…