Ask Mattel > Answers for December 14, 2011

December 14, 2011 | Poe

Gargamel asks: Will we see a Movie Masters line for the Tim Burton Batman films in the near future?

There are no plans for now, but it’s a good idea that we’ll consider.

Rich asks: Wow, that Legion 12-pack sold really well! And quickly! I know that you’ve barely planned 2012, and 2013 is a long way off your radar, but if you’re considering another 12-pack, would you help fill out all of our DCUC teams with a “Women of the DC Universe” 12-pack? In one fell swoop, you could give us Elasti-Girl (Doom Patrol); Platinum (Metal Men); Ice and Fire (JLI); Hawkgirl II (Kendra) (JLA/Modern JSA); Vixen (JLA); Huntress (JLA/Birds Of Prey); Phantom Lady (JSA/Freedom Fighters); Mera (JLA/Aquaman); Jade (Infinity Inc/JLA); Batwoman (Batman Inc) & Dr Light II (JLI), for example. Would you consider diversifying many teams at once with this approach? DC’s line of busts have already featured 7 of these characters, so there’s more than enough appeal for Kendra/Mera/Phantom Lady/Vixen/Batwoman/Huntress/Jade in your audience! Thanks!

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Ask Mattel > Answers for December 1

December 2, 2011 | Poe

Joshq asks: Regarding the DC All-Stars reveals: is what we see what we get? Will there be additional pack-ins or accessories?

Some figures will include accessories. For example, Larfleeze will come with a lantern.

Andy asks: What was the reasoning behind the character selection for DCUC All Stars series 1? Because is seems to conflict with the aforementioned intent of this line which was to select mainstream characters for a broader appeal.

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Reviews > Snout Spout (Masters of the Universe Classics, Mattel)

November 29, 2011 | Poe

I am not an animal

Snout Spout was one of the later, and weirder, entries in the Masters of the Universe line. His vintage figure appeared in 1986, a couple of years year after the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe cartoon had ended and just a year before the entire Eternian toy universe would over (until New Adventures, at least). He did make three appearances on the She-Ra cartoon,* but he didn’t do much and was even called by his prototype name, “Hose Nose,” in the first episode.

According to The Power and the Honor Foundation Volume 1, Snout Spout was conceived by Roger Sweet very early on in the line. Ted Mayer drew two illustrations in summer 1984, and those early designs would ultimately be used for the character in his minicomic, “Eye of the Storm,” despite the changes made to the figure itself. (more…)

Happy Snout Spout Day!

November 15, 2011 | Poe

I’m not sure I would ever have thought we’d get to today, when Snout Spout, Eternia’s answer to Joseph Merrick, is added to everyone’s Masters of the Universe collections.

Of course, this is also the first time since…man, I don’t even remember, maybe the Eternian Palace Guards?–that I have to go onto Mattycollector and order something, namely, Bubble Power She-Ra. If I don’t, I apparently won’t own a She-Ra who can ride Swift Wind. The question is, did Mattel make as many BP She-Ras as they made Swift Winds? Color me skeptical. I just hope I survive the experience.

For those of you without subscriptions, Swift Wind, the tough-talking, incredibly girly-looking unicorn/pegasus hybrid, is also on sale, along with all the DC Universe Classics Wave 18 figures; the JLU 7-Pack of Gypsy, Crimson Avenger, Johnny Thunder, Thunderbolt w/stand, Dr. Mid-Nite, Speedy, The Creeper; and all of the DC Universe Retro Action figures at the not-so-low price of $20 each. I suspect the Retro Action figures will show up in a sale at a substantially lower price before Christmas, so you might want to wait on that.

There’s also a big JLU deal going on for the remaining stock over the next few days–you can read all the details here.

MOTUC Bio Discussion #44 > Catra

October 28, 2011 | Poe

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

Catra

Real Name: C’yra of D’riluth III

A disputed monarch from the Tri Solar System, C’yra joined the Horde Empire and was given a magical mask which granted her secret powers such as the ability to transform into a panther. She traveled with Horde Commander Kur to Eternia on his mission to ensure He-Ro was destroyed. There, along with the rest of the Horde army, she was caught up in the Great Wars and eventually banished to Despondos by King Grayskull. She remained with her leader throughout their banishment and was eventually promoted to Force Captain after Hordak’s step-daughter betrayed the Horde to the Etherian Rebellion. Catra’s jealousy of She-Ra has become her greatest weakness.

Portrait art source: Original toy packaging

I’m the first to admit I’m very unfamiliar with most of the Princess of Power characters. Even when I became obsessed with MOTU during the 200X era, I never dug too deep into the POP fiction. So I actually had to visit Catra’s Wiki Grayskull page to find out what in this bio has any relation to her cartoon depiction.

Turns out it’s pretty close. In fact, her bio arguably fits with both her Filmation portrayal and the 200X depiction of the Horde (i.e., getting sucked into Despondos), which is a nice touch.

There’s nothing new here and not much to comment on, except the usual bizarre real name. This one reads like it’s from a 1930s Buck Rogers story, with apostrophes to make it exotic.

Happy Icarius Day!

October 17, 2011 | Poe

Link to the all-in-one sale page.

My NYCC write-up is coming soon (probably tomorrow), but in the meantime, we can celebrate/discuss the arrival of Icarius. As discussed at the Mattel NYCC panel on Saturday, the name “Icarius” was used for the vintage figure in Europe because the name “Flipshot” didn’t translate well. When it came time to name the Classics figure, the team chose Icarius because it was, well, cooler-sounding than “Flipshot.”

I have to say I think he’s a great-looking action figure, and I can’t wait to get mine.

Also available in today’s sale is the massive Legion of Super Heroes 12-pack for $180. I’m not a Legion fan and I can’t afford that thing anyway, but it looks awesome.

This is a big sale; there’s also the prop replica Ghost Trap and Battle Cat is back, along with Mer-Man, one of the finest MOTUC figures. Finally there’s Ray Stantz w/ Slime Blower and a number of DCUC figures available. I’ve got Icarius coming by subscription, so the only thing I might pick up is Ray.

Odds ‘n Ends > Good News and Bat News

October 5, 2011 | Poe

  • Warner Bros finally announced their new Batman cartoon for 2013, Beware the Batman. Apparently instead of Robin, Batman’s sidekick will be Katana, and the bad guys will include Professor Pyg, Mister Toad, and what looks like maybe Harley Quinn?
    • I agree with most of the comments from Bat-fans: Bruce Timm’s art style does not work in CGI, Batman’s head looks like a bug, and while I don’t mind the idea of making Alfred a more active badass, arming him with guns is just wrong. Yes, Alfred sometimes picks up a rifle to protect Wayne Manor, but Batman allowing or encouraging the butler to carry guns as part of his crimefighting crusade is painfully out of character.
    • Also, I have to say that I find Grant Morrison’s work on the Batman comics very hit and miss, and in my opinion Professor Pyg and Mister Toad are big whiffas. Pyg’s gimmick (he performs unnecessary cosmetic surgery on his victims to make them “beautiful”) isn’t exactly something kids will find compelling, while Mister Toad is just…Mister Toad, apparently. Except evil. Oh, and he’s dead in the comics. I suspect these characters will be very different in the show. Professor Pyg will be some sort of generic crime boss and Mister Toad will be his Slythe-like lackey.
    • All that said, I applaud the obvious effort to do something new here. Let’s face it–Batman: The Animated Series is the definitive animated take on the classic Batman. I really don’t know how you can top it without waiting for a few generations to pass. So I guess we’ll see how the kids react to this one. If they love it, then I’ll concede that maybe the people behind the show know what they’re doing. Except for Alfred’s guns. That is just so wrong.
  • In more Bat-news, two new characters have been revealed for Arkham City: Nightwing and the Mad Hatter. Both are looking great, especially Nightwing. I hope we get an figure of him from DCD or Mattel. I’m sure we will.
  • On another Bat-related note, there is now a dedicated Batman Ask Matty forum on Mattycollector.
  • Apparently people still don’t know what the deal is with the 1970s Batman Arkham City repaint figure, which is supposed to be free if you preorder Arkham City at Toys R Us. Details are allegedly coming soon.
  • Also, we may getting a DCUC-style First Appearance Batman, which would be awesome. I’ve always loved that early look.
  • I mentioned this elsewhere, but that mystery prototype Joker is in fact an NYCC exclusive. Which I’ll be getting, since I’ll be at NYCC (along with Poester MisterBigBo). The figure still kind of grosses me out, though.
  • Mattel is going to have another Mad Matty Monday on October 10. Three mystery packs–DCU, MOTUC, and Ghostbusters–for $40.
  • The Four Horsemen have announced where and how you can buy their NYCC-exclusive Outer Space Men Beta Phase Waves 3 & 4 figures, if you’re at NYCC. They’ll also be selling some on their website after NYCC, but if history repeats itself, those will sell out right quick.

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

October 5, 2011 | Poe

The two boys stood knee-deep in the swamp, ignoring the thick mud that sucked at their legs. They were too amazed at what they were looking at.

Before them lay an enormous body. It was vaguely anthropoid in shape, but far larger than a man. Its features were rough and wrinkled, like those of an ape, and a stubby horn protruded above its brow. It was curled slightly on its side, its huge arms tucked beneath it. It was obviously very, very dead.

“Procrustus!” exclaimed one boy. “That’s a Shadow Beast, isn’t it?”

“Sure looks like it,” said the other. “But…what happened to it?”

One of the boys, gathering his courage, grabbed a stick and poked at the creature’s face. It didn’t move, but its face shifted slightly, revealing empty sockets where its eyes had been.

The boys shuddered in horror. “I wonder how it died,” said one.

The other boy frowned. “Look at its face. It’s all…shriveled up. Like an old plant…or…”

The boy never finished the thought, for at that moment, something grabbed both of them around the legs and yanked them beneath the murky water. A few bubbles, popping at the muddy surface seconds later, were the only sign they had ever been there.

As a kid, Leech was one of my favorite He-Man figures. Like King Hsss, Leech hung around my toy box for years after I’d given away most of my other Masters of the Universe toys. His appeal, I think, lay in the fact that he was a big green monster with sucker hands and a fun suction action feature. He also had a really unique sculpt, which was rare among He-Man figures and may have been part of the reason I didn’t mind using him with other toy lines.

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