As we wait for SDCC to begin in earnest tonight, let us indulge in one final orgy of speculation regarding the “new” subscription Mattycollector will be offering. (more…)
Odds ‘n Ends > Amazon SDCC contest, WWE meets MOTU, Warlords & Warriors
- Amazon is having a contest on their Facebook page for a pretty awesome SDCC Exclusives prize pack. If you win and don’t want the Godzilla exclusive, you know where to find me.
- Pixel-Dan reports that WWE.com will soon have a weekly “WWE meets MOTU” feature on Thursdays, showing Masters of the Universe action figures tangling with WWE wrestlers (figures, not actual wrestlers). That’s…cool? But kinda weird, too? I still think Mattel should let Triple H dress up as He-Man for an event.
- I picked up the first issue of the official He-Man and the Masters of the Universe comic from DC. I’ll have a review up soon. Anyone else pick it up? Thoughts?
- USA Today also had an article on MOTU and its 30th anniversary recently, which also reveals the cover to the third minicomic.
- You may, like me, have also missed this interview with the Four Horsemen about Draego-Man.
- Check out this interview over at Infinite Hollywood with the folks behind the vintage-licious Warlords and Warriors indie toy line.
- PGPoA Power Pal PrfktTear has a review of He-Ro over at Doomkick.
- I just know I’m forgetting something…
Club Eternia 2013: What Would It Take For You to Subscribe?
Tyrantisaurus Lomography by geekyvixen, on Flickr
In just a few days – this Friday at 3pm ET, to be exact – we’ll find out the first three to five figures in the 2013 Club Eternia subscription. (Assuming it doesn’t get leaked ahead of time…)
It seems to me that MOTUC’s status as one of the premiere toy lines has been fading, and I suspect 2013 may represent the lowest subscriber numbers yet. My question to you is: what would it take you to re-subscribe? What characters do you want to see? What characters don’t you want to see? (more…)
Poe’s Review > Stinkor (Masters of the Universe Classics, Mattel)
Stinkor. It’s as if someone took all the derogatory clichés about the original Masters of the Universe line and put them into one figure: he’s a half-man, half-amusing-animal with an off-putting action feature (a terrible smell) and a lazy name that describes said action feature but adds “-or” to the end of it. (more…)
Guest Review > Metron (DC Universe Signature Collection, Mattel)
Metron is one of Jack Kirby’s creations, first appearing in the New Gods comic book series. He’s from the same world (the Fourth World, to be exact) as characters like Darkseid, Orion, and Lightray. He’s meant to be a neutral cosmic observer, but he has been known to choose sides (not always Good), especially if something threatened the entire universe. He’s also the man who invented the “Boom Tube” technology which allows the people of New Genesis and Apokolips to travel great distances across the universe, and he holds the key to Darkseid’s Anti-Life Equation. Basically, Metron is not one to be trifled with. (more…)
Odds ‘n Ends > New 3.75″ DC Figures, Possible New DC 6″ Mattel Lines, TMNT, Arkham City
- It’s been a light week around here, primarily because DMG and I have been preoccupied with moving into our new house. Don’t worry, the toys were well taken care of during the move. Now maybe I can finally start opening and reviewing some of the MOC/MIB toys I’ve got laying around.
- DC Collectibles is doing a 3 ¾” DC superheroes action figure line!…that will only be sold at conventions. No doubt this is due in some way to DC’s licensing deal with Mattel. This despite the fact Mattel obviously has no interest in doing this scale right (or at all). I am thankful I do not collect 3 ¾”, because if I did, “apeshit” would only begin to describe my reaction. The best analogue for me would be Hasbro announcing a Marvel Legends-style 6″ Star Wars line that was only available at conventions.
- Speaking of DC action figures, IAT has a report on some EntertainmentEarth solicitations for “Batman Unlimited” and “DC Unlimited” 6″-scale toy lines. Could this be the future of DCUC? Maybe…? I’ll believe it when it’s announced at SDCC.
- While I’ll be getting the retro TMNT figures, I haven’t had much interest in the ones based on the new cartoon. That said, this SDCC exclusive Leonardo is beautiful and I want it.
- You knew it was coming – Square Enix is making Play Arts Kai Arkham City figures, starting with Batman and Catwoman. I really need to review the Arkham Asylum Batman one of these days…
- The already-somewhat-controversial documentary Toy Masters – about the development of the vintage Masters of the Universe line – will have a panel at SDCC, including some exclusive footage. The documentary attempts to answer the question of “Who created He-Man?” The panel will include former Mattel artist Mark Taylor but not, notably, former Mattel designer Roger Sweet, who in his tell-all Mastering the Universe (my review here) claimed sole responsibility for creating He-Man. Word is Sweet is already unhappy with the whole thing, or at least is “declining to participate further.” For the record, I’m on Team We-May-Never-Know-The-Truth.
- Shadowland Magazine has a special Masters of the Universe-themed issue, available right now from their website. Articles include an interview with minicomic writer Donald F. Glut, a retrospective on the controversial 1987 Masters of the Universe film starring Dolph Lundgren and Frank Langella, and an in-depth overview of MOTUC.
Poe’s Review > The Mighty Spector (Masters of the Universe Classics, Mattel)
“Mmff mffmrmff mffr!”
Where to start with the Mighty Spector?
As every MOTU fan’s long-suffering confidant knows, the Mighty Spector is the creation of Scott Neitlich, brand manager for Mattel’s Masters of the Universe Classics line. He’s t third release in the 30th Anniversary sub-line, which has already given us the somewhat controversial Fearless Photog by Nathan Bitner and the critically acclaimed Draego-Man by the Four Horsemen; Geoff Johns’ Sir Laser Lot will be arriving in August. Neitlich created the character when he was a kid, and once submitted it to Marvel Comics (for two in-depth interviews about Spector’s creation, go here and here). (more…)
Pic of the Day > Vikor’s journey by DEADPOOLISTHEMAN316
Comic Review > “The Lost Knight” (Masters of the Universe, DC Comics, 2012)
“The Lost Knight”
Writer: Geoff Johns
Penciler: Howard Porter
Inker: John Livesay
Colorist: Carrie Strachan
Letter: Sal Cipriano
Assistant Editor: Sarah Litt
Editor: Kwanza Johnson
“The Lost Knight” is the first of a digital-first online miniseries, titled Masters of the Universe, that ties in to DC’s main MOTU miniseries He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. It will feature a series of character one-shots.
The digital series will debut new chapters twice a month on Saturdays. The second chapter (7/14) is written by Mike Costa with artwork by Jheremy Raapack and it tells the story of He-Man’s most trusted companion, Battle Cat. The third digital chapter (7/28), written by Kyle Higgins with artwork by Pop Mhan, is an adventure with the captain of the Eternia guard, Man-At-Arms. —DCcomics.com
The first issue focuses not on any classic MOTU characters like He-Man, She-Ra or Skeletor, but on a brand-new character, Sir Laser Lot, who was created by Geoff Johns in his childhood and will be one of the 30th Anniversary figures in Masters of the Universe Classics this year.
There be spoilers after ye olde jump!
Poe’s Review > Slush Head (Masters of the Universe Classics, Mattel)
Cryogenics was in its infancy when Walt Disney’s head was placed in storage.
For the most part, we’ve long since entered the era of Masters of the Universe Classics featuring characters I scarcely know and am unable to write long winding review-essays about. I never watched The New Adventures of He-Man, and the only toy I owned from the line was Optikk.
So everything I know about Slush Head I read on Wiki Grayskull. Evidently he was the second-in-command of Flogg, the leader of the Evil Mutants with whom Skeletor allied himself in New Adventures. Of course, this being a He-Man cartoon, Slush Head was a complete idiot who often ruined his leaders’ plans.
Also: what the hell is Slush Head? A slug? A lizard?
Slush Head was one of the more notable figures from the NA toy line (here’s his vintage figure), primarily thanks to his special feature – his helmet was filled with water, or rather, the saline/water solution that was often used back in those days (and seems to have turned a disturbing shade of green twenty-three years later – or was it always green? I don’t know). From the little research I’ve done, it appears his arms weren’t bendies even back in the ’80s. (more…)
