In what has happily become an annual tradition here at PGPoA, the Four Horsemen graciously agreed to answer a few of my questions about DC Universe Classics, Masters of the Universe Classics and their own FANtastic Exclusive figures. Read on to get the latest from Santa’s not-so-little helpers, Chris Dahlberg, Eric Treadaway, Jim Preziosi, and H. Eric “Cornboy” Mayse. (more…)
It was ten years ago this month that the fearsome foursome known collectively as the Four Horsemen–Eric “Cornboy” Mayse, Chris Dahlberg, Eric Treadaway and Jim Prezioso cast off the training wheels of McFarlane Toys and struck out on their own to create the action figures they wanted. They were barely out of the iron gate when Mattel swooped in and contracted them to design a radical revamp of the company’s most memorable action figure property, Masters of the Universe.
Thus was born a partnership that would bring ecstatic collectors not only new MOTU toys but also Harry Potter, DC Universe Classics and the Ghostbusters (leaving only one burning question: where the hell are the Thundercats? But I digress).
However, the Four Horsemen were not content to rest on their Mattel-sponsored laurels. In 2005 they created FANtastic Exclusive, a yearly contest in which fans voted on all aspects of a Horsemen-designed character to be produced and sold the following year.
Of course, they’ve had a few bumps along the way. While the 2006 FE, Xetheus, turned out quite well, the Horsemen went through a long run of bad luck in producing the following year’s Ramathorr figure. But now, the FE is back on track with Scarabus (now in production) and this year’s Raven currently in the mid-voting phase.
In the meantime, to keep fans sated, the Horsemen offered Queen Alluxandra, a female figure from the Seventh Kingdom world shared by Xetheus and Ramathorr. Like those two, Alluxandra has had a host of variants.
I can never afford the complete set of variants, so, I look among the options and choose the one(s) I want. This year, it’s Isadorra of the Ironspynne Clan. (more…)
UPDATE: You can pre-order Biggara and Baddathiir here, Akkuli here, and Oktobria here. Will update with more pre-order links as they appear.
I’d booked a half-hour or so to put together a roundup of all the Four Horsemen’s various Queen figures announced in the past week, but FANtastic Exclusive user xrmc20 beat me to the punch and has very kindly allowed me to copy and paste his write-up here. So be sure thank him, not me–my only contribution was being lazy. (more…)
THE QUEEN AND HER COURT – PART 3
The past couple of days of “The Queen and Her Court”, have introduced you to a few of the warrior women from the Four Horsemens’ fan-favorite property, “7th Kingdom”. Today will be no different as we bring to you three more fatal female furies.
Each of today’s offerings will be made available through a different online retailer, toy news website, or action figure magazine.
First up we have the Bengal beauty to be offered through various Wizard Magazine: Wizard World conventions (http://www.WizardWorld.com) later this year – D’zwirra.
Next we have the steel siren – Ccora. Ccora will be carried by online toy retailer, Corner Store Comics (http://www.CornerStoreComics.com), and like all of the other exclusive variants, will be extremely limited.
Our final lady for today wields the coldest claws of any of the feline warrior women – Oktobria. Not only will Oktobria be offered through October Toys’ (http://www.OctoberToys.com) own website, but October Toys will also have her for sale at the 2009 San Diego Comic Con.
All three of these warrior women will each wield a deadly spear, and a razor sharp small sword. The price of each figure will be determined by each individual retailer in the near future. At a later date, all three of these figures as well as the five previously introduced figures will also be available in a complete set along with all of the other yet-to-be-revealed exclusive variants only through Store Horsemen (http://www.StoreHorsemen.com).
Be sure to check back tomorrow when we’ll introduce the final three femme fatales of the 7th Kingdom!
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THE QUEEN AND HER COURT – PART 2
Yesterday, in part 1 of “The Queen and Her Court”, you were introduced to Queen Alluxandra of the Bluddmane Clan and Isadorra of the Ironspynne Clan, the first pair new of figures from the Four Horsemens’ fan-favorite property, “7th Kingdom”.
Today you’re going to be introduced to three more feminine denizens of the 7th Kingdom, each to be offered through a different online retailer, toy news website, or action figure magazines.
First up is the blue hued feline warrior – Akkuli. Akkuli will be available through Action Figure Xpress (http://www.ShopAFX.com), and if she lasts long enough, will also be available at the 2009 San Diego Comic Con.
Second is the gleaming elemental – Kromius. Available through The Fwoosh (http://www.TheFwoosh.com), the extremely limited Kromius will go fast.
Last up for today is the first of two exclusives to be carried by Big Bad Toy Store (http://www.BigBadToyStore.com), the fair-furred feline fighter – Biggara.
All three of these warrior women will each wield a deadly spear, and a razor sharp small sword. The price of each figure will be determined by each individual retailer at in the near future. At a later date, all three of these figures as well as Queen Alluxandra and Isadorra will also be available in a complete set along with all of the other yet-to-be-revealed exclusive variants only through Store Horsemen (http://www.StoreHorsemen.com).
Be sure to check back tomorrow when we’ll introduce the next three warrior women of the 7th Kingdom!
While I’d like to order the entire set of these, as of right now I just can’t afford them all. But I’m definitely getting two: Kromius and the mechanical one, once she’s revealed.
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The Horsemen have announced details on this year’s FANtastic Exclusive, Queen Alluxandra. Click here for photos!
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Raven has come out on top, and the new round for FANtastic Exclusive 2009 is all about articulation.
Rather than asking about specific points of articulation, this time around the Horsemen have chosen to give some more general choices.
While I think many fans might reflexively want “Highly articulated,” the mention of the support stand is basically saying, “This will fall over like Ramathorr.” So in the end, I had to go with “moderately articulated.”
Sorry, had a Mortal Kombat flashback there.
The 2009 FANtastic Exclusive victor–who will be released at next year’s San Diego Comic Con–has been crowned, and the victor is Raven. While I was rooting more for some other characters, I can’t begrudge an action figure based on the inspiration for my namesake’s most famous poem.
Future voting rounds, which will begin next week, will decide things such as articulation, variants and accessories. The Horsemen hint that there may be other types of birds, too. While a cardinal would look resplendent, I’m also hoping for a pigeon and a penguin.
Now that that’s settled, what I really want to know is–what’s the status of Queen Alluxandra?
It all comes down to this: the Ministry of Hunters versus the Raven. Go and vote! Do it now! Get to the choppa!
As fun as this has been, what I’d really like to hear is some news on Queen Alluxandra. When can I actually get a new figure in my hands?
