And the good news keeps coming (MOTUC)

September 12, 2008 | Poe

Via He-Man.org:

Dear MOTU Collectors,

I’m writing to let you know that I’ve just made my first really tough decision as Master Toy Collector of Mattel. In a nutshell, we have been forced to make a trade-off between shipping according to our announced schedule and getting our figures exactly right, and I’ve decided to go with quality over speed.

The issue is removable armor for the Masters of the Universe Classics line. As you know, these figures are meant to bring the classic 1980s MOTU toy line aesthetic into the modern era. But the technical challenge of having removable armor that still holds in place with the level of quality we expect from a collector line has proved very difficult. In order to stay on schedule, we briefly considered compromising by gluing the armor for He-Man and Beast Man in place. But I realize that you, the true MOTU collectors, would much rather have the figures done right than get them a few weeks earlier. Our engineers are now re-configuring the sculpts so that the armor attaches to each figure in a uniform plug on his back, so that the armor for almost every figure will be both removable and interchangeable.

So the bad news is both He-Man and Beast Man will now be available for purchase in December. The good news is not only will their armor be awesome, but we will release them on the same day, meaning you can save on shipping by buying both figures together.

I’m bummed we’ve had this delay, but I’m glad it’s given us a chance to show you where our priorities are.

Good Journey,
Matty

Woof! Rough day for Mattel…but again, all the honesty is appreciated.

Ask Mattel > September 1 Edition

September 2, 2008 | Poe

Man, I’m makin’ up for lost time today! Here’s the latest round of Q&A with Scott Neitlich, a.k.a. Mattel’s “ToyGuru.”

POE: I’m sure you’re going to get asked this more than once, but why is Sinestro so short compared to Hal? Was this by design, or was there an error in the production process? In the comics, Sinestro is said to be 6′ 7″–five inches taller than Hal. (more…)

Skeletor – new MOTUC pics

September 2, 2008 | Poe

He-Man.org has posted new photos of the Masters of the Universe Classics Skeletor. I love that the vintage Skeletor in the last photo is all dusty–looks like most of my vintage figs.

My one concern about this figure: I hope the loincloth is flexible, so Skel can sit on a throne or in a vehicle. King Grayskull’s loincloth is made from very stiff plastic (hold the giggles, please).

Prince Adam mock-up

August 22, 2008 | Poe

I mocked up this MOTUC Prince Adam using a He-Man photo from Mattycollector.com…and, well…he looks like Prince Adam. That’s about all there is to say.

And yes, I want him to come with the purple sword.

Poe’s Point > Top Five Most Wanted MOTU Classics

August 18, 2008 | Poe

We all know Mattel intends to make the “original eight” characters for their new Masters of the Universe Classics line: He-Man, Skeletor, Beast-Man, Man-At-Arms, Teela, Mer-Man, Stratos, and Zodac. With He-Man going on sale in October, that gets us through May 2009, assuming we don’t get any non-original-eight figures before that. There are some other characters who are gimmes too–like Trap-Jaw and Evil-Lyn.

But after that, the field is wide open. According to Mattel and the Four Horsemen, they can make any character from any incarnation of MOTU (including the New Adventures of He-Man).

Here are my top five most wanted MOTUC figures. (more…)

It Figures > King Grayskull

August 12, 2008 | Poe

My guest today is one King Grayskull, ancestor of Prince Adam (a.k.a He-Man, though you didn’t hear it from me) and the very first figure from Mattel’s new Masters of the Universe Classics (MOTUC) line.

Thanks for being here, Your Highness.

Thanks for having me, Poe.

So tell me a little about yourself. Who is King Grayskull?

Well, I was a character created for the 2002 He-Man and the Masters of the Universe cartoon. Hundreds (maybe thousands) of years before Prince Adam was born, I built Castle Grayskull and protected Eternia from Hordak–and let me tell you, that guy is an ass. He makes Sauron look like the Purple Pieman.

Anyway, when I died in battle, I transferred my power into what’s now called the “Power Sword.” To me it was just a sword, though. I think I got it in a yankee swap.

You’re looking remarkably healthy for a dead man.

Thanks. You know I’m just an action figure, right?

Of course, of course. Speaking of which, how does MOTUC differ from previous MOTU lines?

Well, unlike all three previous lines (Masters of the Universe, the New Adventures of He-Man, and the 2002 Masters of the Universe), MOTU Classics is targeted specifically to collectors, not kids. (more…)

The Four Horsemen Interview II (Part 2)

June 19, 2008 | Poe

Continuing the interview from yesterday’s post, in the second half of my interview with the Four Horsemen they discuss Masters of the Universe Classics, their ongoing FANtastic Exclusive project and the future of the studio.

POE: While details are few on Masters of the Universe Classics so far, we have seen a proto of the King Grayskull SDCC Exclusive. How similar with these figures be to DC Universe Classics in size, style, and articulation?

JIM PREZIOSI: Both lines are very close in the amount and types of articulation they have, but the style is more of a throwback to the original 1980s MOTU line than DCUC. The style will retain a lot of that old school flair, but there will be enough detail and modern applications that the figures won’t feel at all out of place in todays’ market.

ERIC TREADAWAY: As for size, they’ll be close in scale with DC Universe Classics, but the proportions of the characters will be so different that we’re not sure that they’ll fit all that well together in some collectors’ eyes. (more…)

Poe’s Point > DCUC and retail distribution

May 29, 2008 | Poe

Mattel hasn’t always had the best track record when it comes to action figure lines in recent years–at least, not when it comes to keeping collectors happy. Their 2002 Masters of the Universe revamp died out as collectors gave up trying to find that one Evil-lyn amongst the racks upon racks of Spin Blade He-Man. Their 2003 Batman line suffered from many of the same problems–four of the best figures, Bat Signal Batman, Attack Armor Batman, Bane and the Scarecrow were initially available only internationally, and the villains that were available in the U.S. were often shortpacked in favor of the umpteenth Batman in some bizarre outfit.

There’s lot of evidence Mattel has learned from their mistakes as the Batman line has morphed into DC Superheroes and then into DC Universe Classics. So far, every buck reuse in DCUC has been to create a look or another character who has appeared in the comics, rather than giving us, say, Arctic Shield Batman.

Still, action figure collectors aren’t known for being a particularly patient lot (and I definitely include myself in that characterization), so it’s no surprise that, as they see shipments of DCUC wave 1 fill the pegs at their local retailers while DCUC2 remains scarce, fans have started to worry the line will soon follow the fate of MOTU.

Never mind the fact that Mattel is bringing MOTU back this fall. Never mind the fact that, arguably, Mattel’s 6″ DC line has been in continuous production since the first Batman figures were released five years ago, albeit under various titles. Never mind that Mattel hasn’t even canceled the JLU line (which hasn’t had a cartoon to support it for two years), but have worked to keep it going as a Target exclusive.

(more…)

Odds ‘n Ends > Cruelest Month Edition

April 22, 2008 | Poe

ODD: T.S. Eliot’s famous poem The Waste Land begins with the lines, “April is the cruellest month, breeding / Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing / Memory and desire, stirring / Dull roots with spring rain.” One interpretation of this is while the cold winter keeps us numb and forgetful, the regeneration that comes with spring is painful, reminding us of happier times, now long past.

I know this is certainly true for me. Spring arrived in New England last week, and whenever I found myself walking down a sunny street, the birds chirping and the smell of fresh blossoms in the breeze, I was instantly treated to a series of nostalgic sensations ranging from my childhood to just last year. I remembered “playing guns” in the forest behind our old house on Silva Street; setting up Transformers in a living room lit by the afternoon sun; trekking with my old dog Friskie through Miles Standish State Forest. I hear the cry of a seagull and I’m stepping across the large stones of the Plymouth Jetty, listening to the water lapping at the rocks. (more…)