MOTUC Bio Discussion #53 > Icarius

March 22, 2012 | Poe

Inspired by He-Man.org’s Roast Gooble Dinner podcast, welcome to PGPoA’s latest MOTUC Bio Discussion!

Icarius Bio

Real Name: TC Icarius Kaz

A great pilot from the cloud city of Levitan on planet Primus, Icarius is equipped and ready to “flip” into battle at a moment’s notice. After his 18th birthday, he left home to join the Galactic Protectors. Rising to the rank of Lieutenant, Icarius traveled with Captain Hydron on his quest to find the legendary twin warriors prophesied to defeat the Horde Empire. Arriving on the distant planet Eternia shortly after the end of the Second Ultimate Battleground, they recruited not only He-Man and She-Ra, but several other Masters of the Universe who were eager to pursue Skeletor to the stars. Nicknamed “Flipshot,” Icarius utilizes a battle helmet, back mounted jet pack and concussion grenade wrist rockets in battle against Skeletor and his new Space Mutant army.

At least this bio does give us a little background on Icarius himself (the “TC” in his name is a tribute to former MOTUC project manager TC Chen, who worked on both the 1980s Icarius/Flipshot and the MOTUC version). Not a lot of background, but we know he’s a pilot, that he’s from Levitan on Primus, that he’s a lieutenant and that he’s nicknamed “Flipshot” (a reference to his 1980s American toy name; the toy was called Icarius on international packaging because “Flipshot” was too difficult to translate effectively).

Of all the various MOTU iterations awkwardly jammed into the MOTUC storyline, none seem quite as contrived to me as the New Adventures stuff. As I recall, Skeletor defeats Hordak and immediately takes off into space to take over the Horde Empire and conquer the galaxy. Enter the Galactic Protectors, who recruit He-Man, She-Ra and other Heroic Warriors to fight the Skeletor-led Horde. If you’re trying to figure out how the MOTUC timeline works out, this thread on He-Man.org does the job as thoroughly as possible right now.

I wonder if Icarius ever sailed the seas of cheese.

MOTUC Bio Discussion #52 > Hurricane Hordak

March 20, 2012 | Poe

Inspired by He-Man.org’s Roast Gooble Dinner podcast, welcome to PGPoA’s latest MOTUC Bio Discussion!

Hurricane Hordak Bio
Real Name: Hec-Tor Kurâ„¢

After being released from exile in Despondosâ„¢ by Evil-Lyn, Hordak returned to Eternia with his ageless army to once again claim its hidden magical properties for his own. Finding his former pupil Skeletor on the throne following the apparent “death” of King Randorâ„¢, Hordak upgraded his armor with a Hurricane Blaster which he used to challenge the Evil Lord of Destructionâ„¢ and drive the Snake Menâ„¢ back into hibernation. After ripping through the walls of Snake Mountainâ„¢, Hurricane Hordak casts off his battle shield and advances on Skeletor whirling his thunderball mace!

This bio spends more time moving the story along than explaining the figure itself. That’s not as big a deal in this case, since the figure’s just an alternate guise of Hordak.

I’m a bit confused, though; Hordak returns from Despondos to find Randor gone and Skeletor on the throne of Eternia, so he upgrades his armor and challenges Skeletor while “driving the Snake Men back into hibernation.” How do the Snake Men figure into this? Has Skeletor defeated King Hssss and is ruling the Snake Men at this point?

If I had written this bio, I would have tried to give a little back story to the Hurricane Blaster. How did he make it? Where did it come from? Did he sacrifice anything for it? As it stands now, all we know is he “upgraded” is armor – which I do all the time in Mass Effect 3 by pressing “A.” So maybe that’s how he did it.

Review > Demo-Man (Masters of the Universe Classics, Mattel)

March 20, 2012 | Poe

The first thing I need to discuss about Demo-Man is his name. “Demo-Man” was not attached to the sketch this figure is based on; the sketch was nameless. Rather, “Demo-Man” was the working title for Skeletor for much of the early development of the Masters of the Universe line in the 1980s. The “Demo” was meant to invoke the word “demon.” I’ve long suspected the name might originally have been “De-Man,” a demonic counterpart to “He-Man,” but somewhere down the line someone decided to make it more obvious by adding the “mo.”

The sketch this figure is based on was drawn by Mark Taylor very early in the development of MOTU; its heroic counterpart has already been immortalized as Vikor. Like Vikor, Demo-Man is the MOTUC equivalent of a Star Wars Concept Collection figure. Also like Vikor, Demo-Man has been shoehorned into the Motuthos. I’ve discussed this at length here and here (including Mecha-Shiva’s amazing art showing Hordak merging Demo-Man and Keldor into Skeletor), so I won’t rehash the debate again. (more…)

Odds ‘n Ends > Caesar Ape Figure, Art Asylum News, ToyGuru on the Mighty Spector

March 19, 2012 | Poe

  • Out of nowhere comes this super-articulated Caesar from Rise of the Planet of the Apes from Hiya Toys. It’s available for preorder at BBTS for $25. He’ll have alternate heads, hands, and other accessories.
  • I was a bit disappointed in Art Asylum’s early Universal Monsters offerings due to their limited articulation, but it looks like they’ll be making up for that with their upcoming Metaluna Mutant and Phantom of the Opera figures. I’m seeing hip hinges there. The Mutant will come with an Interocitor, which will finally allow me to put those MST3K figures I got with my box sets into some sort of a display.
  • In other Art Asylum news, they revealed pics of their Avengers Hulk, and again, he’s looking great and well-articulated. Even better, due to the Hulk’s imprecise size, he’ll fit in perfectly with other Art Asylum figs or your 6″ Hasbro Avengers figures.
  • There’s something interesting cooking up over at Onell Designs…namely, some sort of new vinyl variable hub-system.
  • MOTUCFigures.com has an interview with Scott Neitlich about the Mighty Spector.
  • On a more personal note, PGPoA recently regained the average number of pageviews/visits it had before Poe’s Great Ennui of 2011 began last spring. I want to thank you all for sticking it out during that dull time. I hope you’ve been enjoying the site more as of late – I know I have. And I’ve got some fun stuff planned ahead. Keep reading!

Review > Fisto (Masters of the Universe Classics, Mattel)

March 19, 2012 | Poe

“The guys in Masters of the Universe don’t have superpowers…they have deformities. “

I’m unable to think about Fisto without immediately recalling that quote from a twelve-year-old old X-Entertainment review of the Filmation episode “Fisto’s Forest.” As Matt writes, “The show’s a lesson in overcoming adversity more than anything else. If these guys can get over the fact that there’s something wrong with all of them, so can you.”

Between his giant hand and his made-to-order double entendre name, Poing Super Combat Fisto has the odd distinction of simultaneously being one of the most risible and awesome MOTU characters. Yes, his name and gimmick are ridiculous, but visually he’s a bearded armored badass who would fit in perfectly in most any other medieval fantasy world (well, except for the hand).

The hand of Fisto’s vintage figure wasn’t that big; you could argue it was just a big metal gauntlet. The Millennium version,* in keeping with the exaggerated anime-inspired aesthetic of that line, had a gigantic gauntlet and featured some interesting cybernetic detailing.

And now we have the Classics version, which hearkens back to the vintage figure but does have a few Millennium touches. (more…)

MOTUC Bio Discussion #51 > Leech

March 8, 2012 | Poe

Inspired by He-Man.org’s Roast Gooble Dinner podcast, welcome to PGPoA’s latest MOTUC Bio Discussion!

Leech

Real Name: K’ull’leusshhhh

A Slebetor Slug-man from deep in the Lake of Gnarl, Leech was called from the depths by a magic spell of Hordak to bolster his forces against King Grayskull and the Snake Men during the Great Wars. Mindwiped by Hordak’s lead witch, Leech became a loyal member of his Horde Army, using his magically enhanced energy-draining powers to suck enemies of their strength. He later played a key role in the Horde’s fight against the Great Rebellion after Hordak claimed Etheria as a new homeworld during their banishment in Despondos. When called upon in battle, Leech sucks the power from his enemies!

For the most part, this is a fairly standard bio. Yes, the real name is ridiculous as usual, and I was unable to find an earlier source for “Slebetor,” so that may be new. The rest of the story (Despondos, the Rebellion, etc.) has already been pretty well established as MOTUC history.

The only serious point of contention here is why in Nyarlathotep’s name they felt the need to “mindwipe” Leech (or for that matter, summon him from the depths via a magic spell instead of just recruiting him). This is the second time we’ve seen this, the first being Grizzlor (and Adora may have been at least partly brainwashed, although I’m not sure if it’s been explicitly stated in MOTUC canon). Is Hordak so uncharismatic a leader that his every follower has to be either brainwashed or is actively plotting against him?

More importantly, why was it even necessary to use this hoary plot device again at all? Now we have to wonder if Leech is a relatively peaceful fellow who’s been pressed into service against his will. Like Grizzlor and Adora (and perhaps Keldor), Leech is now arguably a victim as much as he’s a villain. Skeletor doesn’t seem to have this problem – his followers may be ambitious (Evil-lyn), argumentative (Tri-Klops), or dumb as rocks (pretty much everyone else), but they’re genuine bad guys.

I want to think the odd fact of both Grizzlor and Leech being brainwashed will play into the plot later on – e.g., the brainwashing is somehow reversed and the two turn on Hordak – but I’m afraid I doubt we’ll get a payoff like that.

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MOTUC Bio Discussion #50 > Megator

March 6, 2012 | Poe

Inspired by He-Man.org’s Roast Gooble Dinner podcast, welcome to PGPoA’s latest MOTUC Bio Discussion!

Megator

Real Name: Moleb the Demolisher

An Eternian giant in service to Hordak, Megator led Hordak’s troops in battle during the Great Wars. He was recruited to help booster the Horde’s ranks after Tytus and several other giants from the Mountains of Perpetua allied themselves with King Grayskull. Megator was killed during the First Ultimate Battleground, caught in the iron jaws of Central Tower when the Three Towers were enchanted to sink into Sub-Ternia. His remains were discovered millennia later by King Hssss who magically reanimated him into a mindless zombie. He served King Hssss and fought against Hordak and the Masters of the Universe in the Second Ultimate Battleground – once again dying on the battlefield.

Not a whole lot to comment on here. We don’t really get a lot of back story to Megator, other than he was an “Eternian giant in service to Hordak.” The story of his reanimation explains the extra zombie head that came with the Megator toy, and allows Megator to exist in the “current” time period of He-Man.

I would have liked more on Megator’s origin, and perhaps his powers or abilities (if he has any other than “giant-strength”), but apparently it was more important to tell the MOTUC story.

I find it interesting when they give characters whose names are already fairly normal-sounding a “real name.” It’s not like he had a codename, like Buzz-Off or Trap Jaw. “Megator” doesn’t mean anything. And “Moleb the Demolisher” sounds like a wrestler with some sort of Old Testament gimmick.

Guest Review > Star Sisters (Masters of the Universe Classics, Mattel)

March 5, 2012 | Doc Thomas

This is a guest review. Opinions expressed in this review (toy-related or otherwise) do not necessarily reflect the views of Poe Ghostal.

Doing these reviews for Poe lead me sit down and actually watch the She-Ra: Princess of Power cartoon, something I’ve never done before outside of minor glimpses as a kid. I loved the Filmation He-Man as a child, and love it now because it’s totally stupid, but I never really gave She-Ra the time of day. And you know what? She-Ra is actually pretty good. The Horde represent more of a threat to Etheria than Skeletor ever did, and the heroic characters don’t just defend the world’s inhabitants from the Horde but teach them to rise up and fight for themselves.

Adora is an interesting, powerful, independent character who is handled well and isn’t dependant on a man – an excellent role model for young girls. Adora/She-Ra is the kind of character we could add to that very short list about of strong, interesting, non-misogynstic female protagonists. Even Bow, despite occasionally falling into a neat subversion of the “damsel in distress” role Teela took in He-Man, is well-executed. He’s not threatened by the powerful women around him; he’s a real man.

So basically, I want to make clear I have no anti-She-Ra slant, no misogynistic female-character-toy hatred, no anti-girl’s-toys sentiment – and despite all that, I still can’t bring myself to like these figures. (more…)