Review > Mer-Man (Masters of the Universe Classics)

April 24, 2009 | Poe

Next to Beast Man (and maybe Trap-Jaw), Skeletor‘s most recognizable henchman is the creatively-named Mer-Man. The original figure was distinctive for his bizarre, vaguely cat-like head (which looked nothing like the packaging art, seen above) and the so-called “corn-sword,” which was supposed to look like an aquatic weapon of the sea, made from a sawfish’s rostrum, but instead came out looking like one of those things you use to hold corn-on-the-cob. On the 1980s cartoon, Mer-Man had a voice that sounded like Alan Oppenheimer gargled whenever he spoke a Mer-Man line. (more…)

Matty updates

April 20, 2009 | Poe

Nothing particularly new here, but Mattel has posted an update on Facebook. Click through for the text. (more…)

MOTUC updates

April 17, 2009 | Poe

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He-Man.org has posted their latest Q&A with Mattel. There are a few interesting tidbits regarding Battle Cat and production issues, but it also features the longest answer I’ve ever seen from Mattel. (more…)

Ask Mattel Mid-April Roundup

April 16, 2009 | Poe

Here’s your bi-monthly Ask Mattel roundup. I’ll update it with any more that pop up.

Interesting tidbits:

Kastor: With the next Matty Collector DCUC 2 pack coming in only a few weeks, are there any hints about the third 2 pack for the line? A guy and a girl? Hero and Villain? A theme to the pack?

Matty: The next pack will be two villains!

That’s cool. Here’s hoping for two Flash foes–maybe Heat Wave and Mirror Master? (more…)

5 Good (and 5 Not-So-Good) ’80s Toy-Based Feature Films

April 7, 2009 | Poe

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With the imminent release of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra and the announcement that Tom Hanks may star in a Major Matt Mason movie, big-budget films based on toy lines are big business. The last (and first) time this happened was in the 1980s, when there was a slew of feature films based on the various fad toys of the era.

Here’s a look at some of the best and worst toy-based films of the 1980s. With one exception, all of these movies received a theatrical release. (more…)

Toy review roundup (via Fanmode)

April 2, 2009 | Poe

fanmode-copy Jin Saotome reviews the NECA Bionic Commando Nathan “Rad” Spencer, Ninja Gaiden Ryu Hayabusa and Castlevania Simon Belmont figures. Excerpt: “Ryu is a must-buy …” (See also.)

Michael Crawford reviews the Mattel Masters of the Universe Classics Faker New York Comic Con and Mattycollector.com exclusive figure. Excerpt: “If you want to charge the same price for this guy as all the rest, you need to get a little creative when it comes to the extras.” (See also.)

Nathan Newell reviews the Mattel Masters of the Universe Classics Faker New York Comic Con and Mattycollector.com exclusive figure. Excerpt: “This is a great figure, but Mattel just missed making another perfect figure.” (more…)