Review > Man-At-Arms (Masters of the Universe Classics)

July 27, 2009 | Poe

After He-Man and Skeletor, the most iconic Masters of the Universe characters is Man-At-Arms, King Randor’s faithful military advisor and friend to Prince Adam, a.k.a. He-Man. Man-At-Arms, whose “real name” is Duncan, was also the earliest example of the more science fiction-oriented aspect of the Masters’ universe. While He-Man and Skeletor would fit perfectly in any sword and sorcery setting (for example, both have counterparts in World of Warcraft), Duncan is clearly a character not of the past or even the present, but the future.

In his original 1980s incarnation, MAA came only with his distinctive asymmetrical armor and iconic mace. Many kids remember how Duncan had a distinctive mustache on the Filmation cartoon, but his figure was bare-lipped. MAA’s 2002 figure offered a much more detailed sculpt and added an oversized anime-style gun, as well as finally giving him the mustache he deserved.

Like the rest of the MOTU Classics figures, the new Man-At-Arms owes much more to his original look than his 2002 figure. However, there are some nice new touches, including two heads (one mustachioed, one bare) and more weapons, so that Duncan can finally boast of being a master-of-arms. (more…)

Sooooo…any questions for the next Mattel Q&A?

July 27, 2009 | Poe

matty

The next round of Ask Mattel is due in a few days. SDCC is over, tons of info has been revealed, and my friend who attended all five days of SDCC wasn’t able to get me a He-Ro before he sold out.

This time around, I don’t feel like making my usual caveat about polite questions. Ask whatever you want, I’ll edit it in post before I submit it. (Just try to limit the swearing, or at least use some asterisks–not for Mattel’s sake, but because I try to keep this a PG-13 site.)

Show and Tell > The Official Ghostbusters Training Manual

July 27, 2009 | Poe

gb_cover

While not a toy, The Official Ghostbusters Training Manual was one of my prized possessions as a wee tyke. Published in conjunction with the movie in 1984, I probably got it only a couple years after I’d learned to read, which explains why there are lines from it that were so deeply embedded in my psyche that I never forgot them.

What I did forget, it seems, is just how much Ghostbusters was a part of my childhood. I’ve gone through nostalgic revivals of interest in He-Man, Transformers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and paid tribute to smaller fads like Robocop, but I’ve more or less neglected Ghostbusters–despite the fact that, as a kid, my Kenner Green Ghost and Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man were two of my most beloved toys. With the imminent arrival of Mattel’s Ghostbusters line, I expect that to change soon. In fact, the entire Ghostbusters franchise seems to be in the midst of a cultural revival (with rumors of a new sequel a la Rocky Balboa, Rambo, Live Free or Die Hard and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull). (more…)

Mattel Panel #2 – MOTU and Ghostbusters

July 24, 2009 | Poe

And just like that, Mattel renders what little I cared about the art book fiasco moot. Holy crap. Scare-Glow! Savage He-Man (a.k.a. Wonder Bread He-Man–I totally called that, btw). Walter Peck–WALTER PECK!?

Here are Rustin Parr’s notes from the Mattypalooza panel.

MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE

  • 2010 subscription comes with poster-map of Eternia and Wun-Dar, a.k.a. Savage He-Man (If you get 3 subs, you get 1 package with 3 Wun-Dars, but all subs ship separately each month from any other Mattycollector purchase).
  • Sub does not count bonus figures or giant figures like Battle Cat or “army builder two-packs”
  • Accessory packs are coming
  • Figures: September – Webstor; October – Teela, plus first bonus figure: Zodak repaint in modern paint scheme w/ tattoos and different bio; November – Scare-Glow; December – King Randor, plus bonus figure Green Goddess; January – Princess Adora, w/ bonus figure of Battle Armor He-Man (w/ three interchangeable pieces for chest); February is Trap-Jaw w/ alternate Kronis head and arms, plus Battle Cat and display stands; March is Moss-Man, who is flocked w/ own head and flocked Beast Man head)

GHOSTBUSTERS

  • 6″ figure every other month starting in October. October – Ray Stanz w/ logo ghost; December – Winston w/ ghost trap w/ blue energy explosion; February – Walter Peck w/ Ghost Containment Unit; May – Peter Venkman (yes, he was shown)
  • 12″ figures: One per quarter, start with Ray Stanz, then Egon, then Venkman, then Winston
  • Will be doing Marshmallow Man, but not as a CnC; “going to do him right”

Mattel-DC Panel News

July 24, 2009 | Poe

Here are Rustin Parr’s notes from the DC-Mattel panel:

  • Movie Masters – Now a Mattycollector.com exclusive, one figure a month will be sold starting September 15. Sept: Bank Robber Joker; October: Prototype Batman; November: Harvey Dent; December: Jailhouse Joker; January: Arkham Asylum Scarecrow; February: Sonar Eyes Battle Damage Batman; March: Two-Face. They might do more if the figures sell well.
  • There will be more JLU singles, 3-packs and 4-packs. Wave 6 features: a more comic-book-accurate Hawkman, a modern Martian Manhunter, Captain Atom in metallic silver, a straight re-release Hawkgirl, and an all-new Firestorm; next three 4-packs: Shazam Family, Doom Patrol, and Justice Guild
  • DCIH: 6-packs available online and at Walmart, including a 3-pack of Hal Jordan Parallax, John Stewart and SC Sinestro
  • There will be a 12″ Movie Masters, with one figure sold per quarter on Mattycollector, starting 1Q 2010. The first two figures are General Zod and Christopher Reeve Superman
  • Mattel is teaming up with Emcee to produce a new line of retro, accurate Mego figures. Called World’s Greatest Superheroes, the first figure, Green Arrow, will be available on Mattycollector this fall; after that, the figures will be sold at TRU and online retailers. The first series is Superman, Lex Luthor in Silver Age purple shirt, Hal Jordan GL, and blue-outfit Sinestro. There will be at least three waves of four figures each.
  • Brave and Bold: nothing that wasn’t seen in booth photos
  • DCUC: Four waves plus one Walmart wave in 2010 (that’s entirely in 2010, and doesn’t include Waves 10 and 11). Mattel swears that Walmart has placed considerably larger orders and the figures will be easier to get.
  • DCUC Wave 10: Beast Boy, Batman (all black w/ yellow symbol and yellow belt) w/ bat-laptop; Forager; Joker; brown Man-Bat; Power Girl; Robotman–opening head so you can see his brain; CnC: Imperiex
  • DCUC Wave 11: SC Cyborg Supes–couple pieces of new tooling, hands w/ rings; Deadman; variant Deadman w/ fading to translucent legs; John Stewart w/ GL constructs; Katma Tui; the Question; and Shark (Silver Age); Steppenwolf (50/50 green armor vs. Super Powers-style); CnC 9″ Kilowog
  • DCUC 2-Packs: SC Romat-Ru and Karu-Sil, comes w/ at least one construct; Animal Man and B’Wanna Beast
  • DCUC 5-pack exclusive to Walmart: Black-and-gray Batman w/ no mud, Superman (normal eyes), Two-Face repainted in Silver Age colors, purple Catwoman repaint, new Silver Age Lex Luthor
  • Target-exclusive series for Superman/Batman Public Enemies: 6″ and 3 3/4″ inch. The 6″ line-up is “pseudo-DCUC,” a blending of DCUC and animated style, and includes: Superman (normal and metallic variant), Batman (black and gray and blue and gray), Icicle, Silver Banshee, Black Lightning Silver Age, Major Force, CnC: Brimstone (somewhat translucent) Due in the fall (?).

Poe’s Point > Random thoughts on SDCC thus far

July 24, 2009 | Poe

There are a dozen different websites you can go to for much better SDCC coverage than I can offer, what with my not actually being there and all–and even websites you can go for better SDCC news roundups. So rather than bother with any of that, I’ve decided to just post a list of random thoughts and observations on SDCC so far. (more…)

Review > Darwin (G-Force)

July 24, 2009 | Poe

The only reason I picked up this figure is because Dr. Mrs. Ghostal and I own two guinea pigs (Tribble and Nibbler), and the novelty of owning a guinea pig action figure–particularly one who looked a lot like Nibbler–was too much to resist.

The figures are based on Jerry Bruckheimer’s new Disney action movie G-Force, featuring an elite team of guinea pig spies (the plot seems to involve some sort of Mission: Impossible-style double-cross by their agency, I think, but that’s really neither here nor there). In any event, I’m not here to discuss the movie, just the toy. (more…)