Another month, another massive hit to my wallet courtesy of Masters of the Universe Classics. It seems like ages ago that Pixel Dan reviewed Mosquitor (it was about a month). Sometimes I feel like those previews diminish my excitement for a figure…it’s as if it’s already old news by the time the sale happens. Hell, Dan’s already reviewed Ram Man.
Also for sale this month is Procrustus, the Eternian god found in a two-page appearance in a vintage minicomic who I never, ever thought would get an action figure; and, of course, Granamyr, the largest figure in the line and again, something I don’t think I ever expected would be made into a toy.
Oddly enough, I think I’m most excited about Procrustus…I just love his Ray Harryhausen-reminiscent design, and the Horsemen’s sculpting here is fantastic. Granamyr is one of those toys I’ll have to judge when I have it in hand. It should be noted that Granamyr is evidently running late and hasn’t arrived at the warehouse yet, so even though you can order him today he won’t ship immediately.
DC-wise there’s Platinum & Tin, as well as Lead, and a JLU three-pack of Dr. Destiny, Toyman and Firefly. Or was that offered before?
Then there’s the usual assortment of other items. I keep considering picking up a set of flight stands but they always seem to be sold out.
dayraven
DA, when the line debuted, it got discussed at fantastic exclusive too, and granamyr came up in the "must have" topic… so there's at least two websites… and here's a separate topic on the org about a custom someone did in 2006… http://www.he-man.org/forums/boards/showthread.ph…. that certainly shows interest to me.
Dark Angel
I said Granamyr was the answer to a question no one asked and I stand by that – revisionist POVs of people like Pixel Dan and Val Staples aside, I never once heard anyone ever express a desire for this figure anywhere, ever. "Fan demanded" indeed. Now I find out he is a hollow shell without even shoulder hinges? For $80? Really?
Really?
I'll just be over here counting the money I won't be spending now that I am out of the MOTUC completist game. 🙂
Poe Ghostal
He doesn't have ball-jointed shoulders, but they are swivels. The hollowness explains the sitting position. My hunch is that this was the only way Mattel could afford to create the figure.
And people were talking about a Granamyr figure before He-Man even came out. I've always liked the idea of a figure, though I didn't really expect ever to see him. But I think there's more excitement and anticipation for this character than you think.
Granamyr was probably the sorest test of my completism on this line yet (and given that I asked for him for Christmas, technically I still don't know if I'll ever have him). But I think the worst may be over in that regard. And I'm actually pretty excited about Ram Man.
(As for my completism, I actually don't have any of the DC vs. MOTU figures anymore…which does bug me a little. Not a lot, but a little.)
Philip Reed
The only DC vs MOTU I've got is that blue Mer-Man. How could I NOT have that blue Mer-Man? And I still say I'll buy a rainbow of Mer-Men.
PrfktTear
In my mind the only Granamyr I know is from the Filmation toon, so pretty much all we ever saw him doing was sitting down — which I guess is kind of boring — but its just how you associate the character. For someone expecting highly articulated dragon they could stand in cool poses and have terrorize the inhabitants of Eternia… they ought to consider the Marvel Legends Foom BAF.
ero
I decided that there is only one toy dragon I will buy, and that is the Tiamat that Hasbro will sell when they revive the Dungeons and Dragons line and give me all of the characters the LJN line AND, most importantly, from the cartoon.
It's gonna happen. Someday, I'm gonna buy me a big, super-articulated five-headed dragon. It's gonna be awesome.
Mark
Now thats a line I would buy.
Dark Angel
Sorry, I still don't see a character that only got three pages worth of discussion in literally 2 years as "fan demanded".
Poe Ghostal
"I never once heard anyone ever express a desire for this figure anywhere, ever. "
To which I reply with this, from October 12, 2009: http://www.poeghostal.com/2009/10/poes-point-my-f…
Dark Angel
GAAAAAH. Yer just a guy writing entertainment stuff on the web, Poe. I love you and all, but I don't assume everything you write is 100% your personal truth…and honestly, I don't remember that article at all. Sorry. Really. *sheepish grin*
Seriously, I never saw that thread on the org until you found it. Probably because it was buried under all the threads requesting, y'know, popular characters. 😉
However, all this just distracts from the real important question: Do you think they made the helmet look cool? I'm thinkin'…no.
dayraven
BTQ, quick question for the dc fans… does platinum actually have huge boobs, or are those normal boobs made huge-looking because of the not-form-fitting dress? cuz man, from here… that gal is packing some pam andersons.
Fengschwing
Sorry, did you say something? I was too busy looking at Platinum's boobs…
Bottom line; she's a (relatively) mainstream comic book character, her body is going to be 'perfect' isn't it?
Harrig
Basically it's the piece they added onto the front – the buck is standard, and then think of it as having a 1mm thick triangular skin added on to – so the cleavage is the same. At the top of the piece there is a gap of about 1.5mm that then attached to the body at the top of the breasts. So basically she has "normal" DCU breasts, with a thick triangular tabard attached to the front. The paint colour and light source could also be enhancing the shot, but when you have it in hand, you'd see she's no Power Girl…
The bloodyawfulpoet
I've a weakness for robotic/armored characters, so I actually ordered platinum. Though, I almost didn't solely because of the massive breasts. I usually dont buy overly-sexualized figures since I find them embarrassing to have in my collection. It just feels unseemly.
Misterbigbo
Since this is the Internet, I’ll weigh in, even though I won’t be buying any of this stuff.
Granamyr was one of those characters that I never heard of, even though as a kid I *thought* I’d seen all the Filmation episodes. Your head shop comment was dead on.
I remember the minicomic issue with Procrustus, but not him. No connection with him, but I really dig the figure. Like Horde Prime, CGM, or Draego Man, I like a nifty design, but this is too much to spend for nifty.
And as for Pixel-Dan’s reviews, I think it’s great that they are up so early. I would’ve thought they’d increase hype and excitement, but maybe since they often reveal shortcomings, people have their hopes dashed.
Poe Ghostal
I think it's fine that he does the reviews ahead of the release, but I still think a month or more is just too early. As I said, to me it makes the figure feel like old news when it finally ships.
But perhaps I'm just particularly sensitive to that, because as a reviewer, writing a review of a figure that Pixel Dan and the Fwoosh reviewed a month and a half ago seems like an exercise in futility. I know readers have told me many times that they still want to read my opinion, and my traffic backs that up. But I've never been able to shake a feeling that I'm late to a party that's nearly over, which sometimes makes the process of writing the review tedious.
Writing these reviews was more fun in the early days of MOTUC when there wasn't a schedule to each figure's release: announcement at Toy Fair/SDCC, then the review by Pixel Dan/Fwoosh days or weeks in advance, then (often) some sort of shipping delay, then Mattycollector order day, then two weeks' worth of Newgistics shipping, and then finally the thing arrives, at which point Pixel Dan is already reviewing the figure from two months from now. (Writing action figure reviews was also more fun when there weren't a dozen other high-profile sites doing it.)
I don't hold it against Dan for getting the early samples, though I do think he should consider holding off on all his reviews until a few days before the figures' release. I just find it personally difficult to get excited about a figure – especially to write a review of that figure – when it's already been dissected ad nauseam on the Web before I even get it in the mail.
All of this is a part of why I've been considering reducing a lot of my Web interaction with other sites (Twitter, Google Reader feeds, etc.), and social media in general. I've even considered getting rid of comments here on the website and just sending out my missives to the world (and interacting with readers primarily via email and Poe's Bag). I might be able to be more creative if I'm not being influenced by the constant influx of others' opinions (and becoming discouraged by how much is already out there).
PrfktTear
I have to agree with you… watching PD's reviews so far ahead, definitely feels anticlimactic come sale-date. There used to be much hype and anticipation leading up to a Matty "drop" now, half the time I don't even know what day it is.
I think if PD staggered his reviews a bit it would help a lot. He's still going to get "the scoop", reviewing it before everyone else. with the exception of Fwoosh. Of course, this is easier said than done. People are absolutely clamouring for reviews. You see it in the comments on his Facebook, web site, and YouTube page. Then again, by teasing us with snapshots it's really kind of like ringing the dinner bell.
Mysterious Stranger
This is exactly why I avoid any advance reviews of product I'm probably going to get. When I first started collecting MOTUC I was devouring any advance review I could find. Then I started getting bored with figures as they arrived. Reading and seeing so many different reviews ahead of receiving the toys was sucking a lot of the excitement I had for the line right out of me. Same with the advance pics that Matty posts. I've avoided them for the most part too, at least for the figures I'm genuinely looking forward to. And I have to say I'm starting to enjoy the line a lot more since I stopped reading advance reviews (I refuse to watch a video review. I have no interest in watching anyone prattle on about a figure while playing with it like a teenage boy copping his first feel) After I receive my figures though I search out those reviews and compare notes.
doctorkent
There's a guy in my Twitter feed who is a movie reviewer, and he is always (yes, actually) complaining about people talking about movie previews. Yes, the entire society has moved into overdrive and we're always thinking about "three months from now".
Want to know nothing about product until a week out (barring China shipping issues)? Collect Glyos.
The entirety of MOTUC is anti-climactic. It's either "we want something you haven't announced!" or "f you TG, who wanted Granyamyr and Procrustus".
It's a secret to everyone, but you generate your own excitement.
Philip Reed
My complaint with most movie trailers is that some films have so many different trailers that by the time the movie is released I feel like I have already seen the best parts of the film.
Poe Ghostal
I think maybe the thing I need to do is stop with these very delineated product reviews and start going back to my more conversational, history-of-the-character reviews in which the figure review is practically incidental. The photos do most of the product review anyway, and I can answer questions in the comments if I miss anything.
Philip Reed
"I think maybe the thing I need to do is stop with these very delineated product reviews and start going back to my more conversational, history-of-the-character reviews in which the figure review is practically incidental. "
I think that's an excellent idea. Then you can approach it more as entertainment writing than an informative review designed to help someone make a purchasing decision. After all, we can get paint app and articulation details anywhere.
PrfktTear
I agree… we must have passed the hundredth figure by now — and if you've read one MOTUC review you have pretty much read them all. I always enjoy reviews that delve into the background of the character rather than too much of the nuts & bolts of the figure itself.
PrfktTear
I think thats part of what happened to me. I stopped watching reviews for a while — at least until we got closer to drop days or after I had seen the figure in person. Although, with Ram-Man I could not wait!
The_Fun_has_been_Doubled
I got my Granamyr and Mosquitor order very fast. NO WSOD AT ALL! Getting the figures is a different story…
Poe Ghostal
This speedy in-and-out people are having doesn't seem to bode well for Granamyr's sales…unless they didn't produce too many.
Kevin
After watching Pixel Dan's review (which I agree he puts up way too early and it kills excitement for anything coming out) I don't think I really ever want a Granamyr.
I don't blame that on Mattel though. Sitting he looks just like the animation models so they accomplished what they meant to do wonderfully. I just can't get into a dragon with tiny wings that would never allow him to fly and tiny stick legs that would never allow him to carry his weight.
Mysterious Stranger
In and out in under 2 minutes (including an interruption by a coworker) with NO WSOD!!! I think this is the very first day-of order I've placed at sale time with no WSOD at all. Only bought Granamyr and he came out to $102 and change with UPS shipping.
dayraven
for the record, procrustus is also delayed… no saturnalia miracle to be had there, it'll be the new year before you see your giants.
after all my cheerleading for procrustus, i'm passing. he's just not the fig i wanted and honestly, neither is granamyr. for 80 bucks, let's get him some real shoulders and hips for saturn's sake! interestingly poe, your comment, about him looking a statue from a head shop, changed my POV… cuz he does, but i'd pay 40 for something like him in a head shop and the thing would be almost as articulated and have way better paints…
Poe Ghostal
Well, my Procrustus actually already shipped. But it will still probably be New Year's before I see it because Newgistics is terrible – plus the holiday.
dayraven
yeah, they said they got a partial shipment, but that some orders will take upwards of three weeks to fill… that's just preposterous. but yeah, if your guy has already shipped, providing newgistics hands the figure off to the PO in the next three years, you should have him before the holiday… here's hoping for you.
LXNDR
"Sometimes I feel like those previews diminish my excitement for a figure…it’s as if it’s already old news by the time the sale happens."
I can totally see where you're coming from. When a figure is reviewed a month or more before it's being released, it comes off as less "here's what's being released on the 15th, if you're interested" and more "OH MY GOD, LOOK WHAT I ALREADY HAVE!".
I mean, don't get me wrong, I would do the exact same thing if I got free toys weeks or months ahead of everyone else. But still.
Thebloodyawfulpoet
I've waffled back and forth on granamyr, but I've finally decided to pass. The design and execution just don't work for me. I think I was more in love with the idea of a giant 80s-esque fantasy dragon rather than the helmeted, over-the-hill couch potato matty produced. I do hope he sells well, though. Procrustus, however, will be mine!
The_Fun_has_been_Doubled
I'm going for Mr. Surprise sucking and the Eternal Dragon… I'm not too fond of the small scale on the giants. Granamyr will be the exception to my no giants rule.
googum
I feel kinda dumb that I went aggressively out of my way to avoid buying any DCUC Metal Men figures, since I figured Mattel would never finish up the set. Way to prove me wrong, Mattel! Too bad there's no way I'm going to be able to go back and get them…