Action Figure Review: Spawn (Bloody Version) from Mortal Kombat 11 by McFarlane Toys

 

   Spawn again? Yeah, as I mentioned in yesterday's review I picked up both of the new Spawn figures from the Mortal Kombat 11 series and since I looked at Malefik Spawn (Bloody Disciple) yesterday today I will be checking out the simply named Spawn (Bloody Version) figure. This sculpt has appeared in the Mortal Kombat line a few times previously but this specific paint scheme is based on the skin named "McFarlane Classic." I wonder why that is? Did Spawn have a yellow cape in some early concept art or something that I'm unaware of? It's a cool look for the figure but a weird name for the in-game skin. Oh well. I have plenty of red caped Spawn figures and I liked that this one looks a bit different. The real selling points for me, though, were his axe and the bloody paintjob. No one does a bloody action figure like McFarlane Toys. Let's check out this bloody version of Spawn after the break...

Action Figure Review: Malefik Spawn (Bloody Disciple) from Mortal Kombat 11 by McFarlane Toys

 

   Are y'all ready for some Mortal Kombat reviews? OK, while I definitely like the character designs for Mortal Kombat and enjoy the original movie (haven't seen the newest one yet) I've never been a big fan of the games themselves. I'm more of a Street Fighter fan. The last Mortal Kombat game I played was Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe... so it's been a minute. What turned me on to picking up some Mortal Kombat figures, then? Spawn, baby. Spawn. I've seen many of the Spawn figures from the Mortal Kombat XI toyline by McFarlane Toys but while perusing GameStop the other day I stumbled upon the two new bloody variants. Not only did these look awesome but they were on sale as well (maybe 20% off?) so I snagged two of the new Spawn figures. So, yes, Spawn is a character in Mortal Kombat 11. He was introduced in Kombat pack 1 as a guest character but seems to have received more figures in the Mortal Kombat 11 line than any other character. Kind of funny, right? Hey, Spawn sells. The first of the two new figures I picked up is Malefik Spawn (Bloody Disciple), a blood splattered Spawn variant based on one of the in-game skins simply called The Disciple. I picked him up because he's cool looking and the blood splatter effect is just fantastic. Let's take a look at Malefik Spawn (Bloody Disciple) after the break...

Masters of the Universe Month: Battle Armor Skeletor from He-Man and the Masters of the Universe by Mattel

 

   In the vintage Masters of the Universe line Mattel made sure that ever He-Man variant had an accompanying Skeletor variant and, for the most part, Mattel has continued that tradition over the past 40 years. 1984 saw the release of the first vintage He-Man and Skeletor variants, both wearing battle armor with a rotating drum that gave the armor the ability to reflect damage incurred during combat. Battle Armor variants of He-Man and Skeletor have continued to be the most popular MOTU variants and Mattel has included them in the line based on last year's He-Man and the Masters of the Universe CGI animated series. I really like the show (season 2 just dropped last month) but the accompanying toyline has been fairly so-so. Some of the smaller 5 inch figures have been cool but the larger line has left me a bit cold. An 8 1/2 inch Battle Armor He-Man was released last October and back in February Battle Armor Skeletor began showing up in stores to go along with him. Ready to take a look at one of the newest versions of this classic villainous variant? Then join me after the break...

Masters of the Universe Month: Webstor from Masters of the Universe Classics by Mattel

 

   Let's wrap up Masters of the Universe Day 2022 with a real winner from the greatest Masters of the Universe toyline of all time: Get ready for Webstor from Masters of the Universe Classics. Released in September 2009, Webstor was the first figure of the first subscription offered by MattyCollector. While the line started in 2008, it wasn't until 2009 that it started really getting some major attention and experiencing some crazy sellout times. While some figures stayed in stock for a few days (Skeletor stayed up for 10 days, the Goddess for 13 days, Zodak for 12 days, and Webstor for 6 days) others were gone within an hour (Man-At-Arms sold out in 41 minutes!). To kind of help out with this Mattel began offering the pre-sale subscription plan with a truncated 4 month subscription for September through December of 2009 soon followed by a full 2010 subscription. Webstor, the Evil Master of Escape, was one of the vintage 1984 figures and since we're focusing on that year of the vintage roster this month he's getting some special attention. Let's take a look at Webstor after the break...

Masters of the Universe Month: Prince Adam from He-Man and the Masters of the Universe by Mattel

 

   

   In celebration of Masters of the Universe Day today here's a look at Prince Adam from the new toyline based on the Netflix animated series He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. Arguably one of the most popular civilian "alter-ego" action figures ever, Prince Adam usually makes an appearance in MOTU toylines. Almost everyone has a civilian alter-ego in this version of MOTU but Prince Adam is the first to get an action figure. This version of Adam has a slightly different backstory as he was kidnapped from Eternos Palace as a very young child by his Uncle Keldor but was raised by the Tiger Tribe. Let's take a look at the newest MOTU toy I've procured after the break...

Masters of the Universe Month: Chopper from He-Man and the Masters of the Universe by Super7

 

   

Let's kick off the Masters of the Universe Day celebrations with a look at Chopper!  

 

Hey wait a minute... this isn't Chopper! It's Jitsu! Actually, yeah, it is Chopper, too. In the Filmation animated series He-Man and the Masters of the Universe Jitsu only appeared once (in the 1983 episode "The Dragon Invasion") and there he wasn't even referred to by name. It was in the Filmation series bible that he was referred to as Chopper, so when Super7 released the Filmation version of Jitsu as a 2018 PowerCon exclusive they named him Chopper as a tribute. Jitsu/ Chopper appeared on the cartoon about a year before Jitsu debuted in the 1984 toyline, probably as Mattel was working on the toy designs. Filmation was reluctant to use Jitsu, fearing he would be perceived as a negative racial stereotype, so he never appeared again. Jitsu is a moderately popular character, though, particularly because of his conflict with Fisto since they're both awesome warriors with swords, cool facial hair, robotic horses, and massive metal hands. Well, the Filmation version of Jitsu doesn't have a metal hand. He just has an oversized hand similar to some early concept art for a character whom I believe was called Hand-some. I haven't seen anything concrete making a connection between the two (I believe Handsome was intended to be a hero, so he could have inspired Fisto). Let's get things started and check out Chopper after the break...

Action Figure Review: Ultimate Ash Williams from The Evil Dead by NECA

 

      I've probably mentioned it before but I was introduced to Ash through ToyFare magazine. They regularly included references to Ash and the Evil Dead films, particularly to Army of Darkness, and had lots of appearances and quotes from Bruce Campbell. ToyFare magazine first came out in 1996 when I was in 7th grade and it was a huge part of my formative years. If something was mentioned by ToyFare I did my best to check it out. I was super curious about the Evil Dead films though I really hadn't seen many horror films at that point. I was thrilled that the summer after I finished 8th grade while staying with my grandmother I happened to find a VHS copy of Army of Darkness which belonged to one of my uncles. I was absolutely thrilled. It was everything I could have wanted in a movie and it's still one of my favorites to this day. As soon as I came back home that summer I convinced my dad that we should head to Blockbuster and check out the other films. We started with 1981's The Evil Dead, of course, and wow: I wasn't prepared for that. I mean, I was, but at the time I found it terrifying and shockingly bloody. Honestly, it still is. While the mixture of horror, comedy, and coolness of the future films is probably what makes them so endearing to me it's easy to forget just how crazy and horrific the first film is and how different the character of Ash Williams is in the film.

   I've long collected Evil Dead figures ever since the first Movie Maniacs figure from McFarlane Toys and while we've had plenty of figures from Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn, Army of Darkness, and even Ash vs. Evil Dead, no one has released a figure of the original Ash Williams until now. NECA has a long history with the property and it's exciting that they've finally been able to secure the rights to the original appearance of Bruce Campbell's iconic character. We're just a few days away from Sam Raimi's Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness which will absolutely feature a Bruce Campbell cameo, so let's celebrate the duo's original masterpiece with a look at NECA's Ultimate Ash Williams from The Evil Dead. I picked this up from one of my favorite shops, Back in Time Collectibles in Gastonia, NC, so check them out if you're ever in that area. Now, let's take a look at Ash after the break....

Masters of the Universe Month: Whiplash from Masters of the Universe by Mattel

 

   Masters of the Universe day is this week (Thursday, April 28th) so I've got a few special reviews for this week, one of which is a look back at this Whiplash figure from 2003. Whiplash was released twice in the line, both in series 5 in Summer of 2003 and again in series 6 in Fall of 2003 in the packaging featuring the Snake Men logo. There's also a "chase" variant with a silver belt buckle detail, but this isn't it. Whiplash originally appeared in the vintage 1984 series of MOTU figure and showed up quite often in later Filmation episode. That and his appearances in the Mike Young Productions series definitely helped net him a figure rather than just a Staction but I'm not sure why he was released twice. I seem to remember him being pretty easy to find compared to many of the other Evil Warriors. Let's take a look at this burly Caligar who's built like a tank after the break...

Action Figure Review: Shift from Final Faction by Greenbrier International

 

   You're going to be getting a lot of Final Faction reviews soon! Last week while I was on a trip I found all six of the new accessory packs and the Kharn Rumbler sets, so those reviews are coming soon. Plus, six more new accessory packs have shown up at Dollar Tree stores in Washington (including an accessory pack for Shift) so those could be on the horizon, too. With the recent skyrocketing prices on action figures, particularly from Hasbro, I'm appreciating Greenbrier International's Final Faction even more. Today I'm checking out Shift. She's another member of Alpha Team 1 who was released as part of the first series back at the end of 2020. She's a warrior and a master with bladed weapons who can see briefly into the future to avoid her enemies attacks. Pretty cool stuff. I reviewed her brother, Scope, earlier this year, so let's check out the close quarters combat specialist of these siblings after the break...

Action Figure Review: Steadfast from Final Faction by Greenbrier International

 

   We're another figure closer to reviewing all of the first series of Alpha Team 1 characters with today's review of Master Sergeant Steadfast. Steadfast is the leader of Alpha Team 1 and also an excellent baker. There are lots of accessory packs that he can utilize and more coming out for him soon but this is the basic figure. Want to check him out? Let's jump in after the break and see if Steadfast has what it takes to lead...

Masters of the Universe Month: Fisto (Black Boots) from Masters of the Universe Action Vinyls by The Loyal Subjects

 

   

   During the time when Mattel wasn't really releasing any Masters of the Universe product companies like Super7, Funko, and The Loyal Subjects jumped in and filled the gap. While I did get annoyed by how many crazy rare figures The Loyal Subjects released in the line I do like the look and style of these little guys. Today I'm checking out the variant Fisto with black boots who was released as part of a Hot Topic exclusive series in 2018. The Hot Topic variants actually came out a good few months before the mainstream series 2 releases, so does that make the standard series 2 figures the true variants? Fisto has always been one of my favorites and even in this smaller scale he still looks rough and ready for action. Let's take a look at Fisto, one of the stars of the 1984 series of Masters of the Universe toys, after the break...

Action Figure Review: Battle for Eternia from He-Man and the Masters of the Universe by Mattel

 

   The He-Man and the Masters of the Universe toyline inspired by the Netflix animated series of the same name was exclusive to Walmart in 2021 but now it's available everywhere. What is exclusive to Walmart right now is this Battle for Eternia 2-pack, which includes repaints of the standard He-Man and Skeletor and a RK Unit (which the package refers to as Skeletor's drone). It's a cool little set that easily gives kids and parents a chance to snag He-Man and Skelly in one go. It's been a month or more since I saw a standard He-Man on shelves so this is probably a good idea for a release right now. While it seems that a trend in the toy industry lately has been to overcharge for multipacks, this set gives you both figures at the regular retail price plus throws in one of the RK Units Beastopoid Poacher Drone, the little drones that hang out with Beast Man/ R'Qazz. I absolutely misidentified them at first so Man-E-Thanks to the unknown commenter who let me know. Let's take a look at this fun 2-pack after the break...

Masters of the Universe Month 2021: Wind Raider with He-Man & Roton with Skeletor (Purple) M.U.S.C.L.E. Masters of the Universe by Super7

 

   In 1984 the Evil Warriors received Roton, their first vehicle in the line. The Roton was a popular toy and appeared in lots of licensing art and other images so it tends to show up pretty often in Masters of the Universe. There's even a new version of the vehicle coming out for Masters of the Universe Origins in the future. Today as a tribute to the Roton I'm checking out the M.U.S.C.L.E. version from Super7 that was released as part of an SDCC 2017 exclusive set. Two years ago I reviewed the orange version of this set for Masters of the Universe Day 2020 and now I'm finally getting to check out the purple version. The vehicles are the same but the figures are actually different in this set (they're the series 3 Battle Armor He-Man and Skeletor figures). Ready to take a look at some smaller MOTU items? Then let's check out Roton and the Wind Raider after the break...

Toy Review: Zombie He-Man Horde Pit from Masters of the Universe by Mega Construx

   There's a new Mega Construx miniature set packaged in a plastic Skeletor head showing up right now and this time it's a Zombie He-Man with the Slime Pit. The package calls this Zombie He-Man Horde Pit which sounds like a really weird translation of a manga title, right? I was surprised that Mattel never put a Slime Pit into Masters of the Universe Classics considering it's the simplest vintage playset and seemed like it would have been a great addition to the line and, so far, we don't have one in Origins yet, either. This is a definitely a take on the Slime Pit although I'm not sure that it fully satisfies me as a Mega Construx recreation of the vintage toy. It's like 50%-60% of the way there, though, and it is a neat little set for $10 bucks. Plus, the Horde Zombie He-Man is just an incredibly cool figure. I love the Mega Construx minis. They're some of the best building block/ minifigures ever. Let's take a look at this set after the break...

Action Figure Review: Drone from Final Faction by Greenbrier International

 

 

   I've been checking out quite a few of the 2020/ series 1 Alpha Team 1 figures from the Dollar Tree/ Family Dollar exclusive Final Faction line but I haven't really gone back to look at any of the Kharn yet, have I? Let's give the Kharn some attention by checking out one of the first series army builders: the Drone. The Drones are your standard, basic grunts. They're so basic that you can practically smell the pumpkin spice lattes on them. OK, not really. They are your great standard baddies, however, and in a video game you'd be blowing these guys away by the truckload. One of the coolest thing about Final Faction is that it's pretty affordable to army build. Since these guys were originally a buck (now a buck and a quarter), for less than $10 dollars you could have a pretty solid little squad of them. Ready to check out the Drone? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: A.C.R.M. from Final Faction by Greenbrier International

 

   Ready for another look back at the first series of Final Faction figures from the end of 2020? Let's look at A.C.R.M., a mech piloted by Alpha Team 1's Boyd. Boyd is 15 and a wheelchair user so he uses a virtual reality augmented headset and a special suit to pilot the A.C.R.M., or the Augmented Combat Rescue Mech. It's a cool idea and for a while last year (early 2021) the A.C.R.M. was sort of difficult to find. Who doesn't like mechs? This guy is pretty fun so let's check him out after the break...

Masters of the Universe Month: Stridor from Masters of the Universe Origins by Mattel

 

   In 1984 the vintage Masters of the Universe toyline had three new vehicles for the Heroic Warriors, my favorite of which has always been Stridor. I still have a picture of me on Easter morning at 3 years with the vintage Stridor and Fisto 2-pack next to my Easter basket. Stridor has been one of the more popular vintage vehicles to make a reappearance in modern Masters of the Universe lines and this year Mattel's Masters of the Universe Origins line has revisited the robotic horse. Masters of the Universe Origins has released some truly impressive vehicles in the line and Stridor is another hit with improved articulation and lots of fantastic accessories. Seriously, this guy is really, really cool. Ready to take a ride with Stridor? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Cy-Gor from Spawn by McFarlane Toys

 

   There's another Spawn Megafig out on shelves right now and he's based on a classic Spawn character: Cy-Gor! Cy-Gor first appeared in the vintage Spawn toyline as a character made up solely to be an action figure. He was shortly after introduced into the comic in issue #38, however, and he's popped up from time to time ever since. This version is the resurrected Cy-Gor from the more recent comics and he's a hefty guy. I've only ever owned the Cy-Gor v2 figure which I picked up in dollar bin somewhere to use as Kriegaffe in my Hellboy collection. This guy is definitely chilling with the rest of my Spawn figures, however. I initially ordered him from Amazon using some rewards points but my order was lost by FedEx somewhere in Louisville, KY, so I ended up getting him at GameStop using some my monthly membership coupon when the Spawn figures were on sale a week or two ago. Shop around for a deal. Ready for some massive monkey mayhem? Then join me after the break...

Toy Review: Land Shark from Masters of the Universe by Mega Construx

 

   The Land Shark is one of my favorite Masters of the Universe vehicles and it's pretty cool Mega Construx has released it in the line complete with a functioning jaw that opens when it rolls and two fantastic minifigures. Mega Construx isn't releasing an overwhelming amount of MOTU product but what they have put out is extremely well done and has a great feel to it. They really include some unique pieces to ensure that the builds are accurate to their toy counterparts while also still utilizing lots of standard pieces to ensure that these are still fun to build. The figures included with the Land Shark aren't new characters to the Mega Construx line (Battle Armor Skeletor first came with the Panthor at Point Dread set and minicomic Roboto was released as a single carded figure) but they are new variants. This BA Skeletor has battle damage on his armor while this is the first appearance of vintage toy Roboto. Ready to look at this nifty little set? Then join me after the break...

Masters of the Universe Month: Kobra Khan from Masters of the Universe ReAction by Super7

 

      As we move along in our look at the different characters from Mattel's vintage 1984 lineup and how they've been reinterpreted over the years in different toylines and by different companies it's time to check out Super7's Kenner inspired take on Kobra Khan from their ReAction range of figures. How would a vintage Masters of the Universe figure look as a Star Wars era Kenner action figure? Here's your answer! Kobra Khan was released in 2017 as part of the third series of figures and was the closest this line ever got to the Snake Men. Why does everyone ignore the Snake Men? Kobra Khan is a Repton who was first allied with Skeletor and the Evil Warriors, so he's appropriately scaly and weird looking. Let's take a loom at a figure from Super7's time with the MOTU license after the break...

Action Figure Review: X4 Turret from Final Faction by Greenbrier International

   

   The X-4 Turret is the last of the Perimeter Defense series of releases and is the only accessory for Alpha Team 1 (the other three are for the Kharn). It's a simple missile firing turret that wouldn't look out of place in a number of other toylines: G.I. Joe, Star Wars, or practically any Kenner action figure line of the 1990s. It's pretty unique that it's sold on its own, though. Releasing accessories like this just isn't something we see many companies selling toys at mass market retail do these days. It reminds me of the G.I. Joe Action Packs from the mid to late 1980s. The X4 Turret provides a little extra firepower against the Kharn, or any other villainous toys in your collection. Let's check it out after the break...

Action Figure Review: P-131 from Final Faction by Greenbrier International

 

   More Final Faction? Yup. Today I'm checking out the P-131, an automated drone that seems to be a bit of an army builder for Alpha Team 1. P-131 is packed in the same case with Krepitus and Diabol which is is currently the newest case of figures available. From images I saw I really thought he was going to be quite a bit larger than he is. This little guy is just a hair shy of 3 inches but after watching the first episode of the animated Final Faction cartoon I do believe these guys are supposed to be a bit on the smaller side. The P-131 is a neat drone/mech and it's been fun to see folks customize these. Let's take a look at what you get from Dollar Tree for a buck and a quarter after the break...

Action Figure Review: Ruck from Final Faction by Greenbrier International

 

   If you can't tell from my reviews on the site, I'm a pretty big fan of Greenbrier International's Final Faction line. I didn't start reviewing them until January but I'd been picking up all of the releases in the line since early 2021 (they first came out at the end of 2020) and I think it's time I go back and fill in some gaps in my review coverage. The nice thing about Final Faction is that Greebrier International  seems to still be producing every figure in the line, so you can conceivably go into a Dollar Tree or Family Dollar and find every figure you're looking for. New figures tend to trickle out but everyone released in 2020 and 2020 is still pretty easy to find as new cases are still arriving. Today I'm going to check out one of the first series Alpha Team 1: Sergeant Ruck. Ruck is Austrian and is a ground artillery specialist for Alpha Team 1. While he's not wearing yellow, he does kind of remind me of Jake Rockwell from Centurions since he's sort of a mobile human tank. Need someone to really bring some heat against the Kharn? Ruck is your guy! Let's check him out after the break...

Action Figure Review: Sun-Man from Sun-Man: Rulers of the Sun/ Masters of the Universe Origins by Mattel

   Today I'm very excited to check out the Mattel Creations exclusive Sun-Man figure. Released as part of the Masters of the Universe Origins line, Sun-Man is actually the star of his own property and was the flagship figure for Olmec Toys. Created by Yla Eason in 1985, Sun-Man was her response to a comment made by her son that he couldn't be a superhero because he wasn't white (some sources record the comment being that he said that it was because He-Man was white). Rather than just take him to McDonalds or buy him a black action figure from some other toyline (she tried but couldn't find one at the time), Yla Eason started a company and created a toy for her son. Dang. That's better than those kids who get a pony. Besides being a milestone in black representation in toys and action figures, Sun-Man has also developed a cult following since he was clearly based on the Masters of the Universe style. Over the years these various toylines designed to "play along" with Masters of the Universe have grown in popularity and collectability and it was a pretty cool surprise last year to learn that Mattel had partnered with Eason to revive the Sun-Man and the Rulers of the Sun property, connecting it with Masters of the Universe. Sun-Man is currently appearing in stores in the standard MOTU Origins line and will also show up later this year in Masterverse but this special version pays tribute to the vintage Sun-Man figure by giving him a backer card reminiscent of the vintage toy. Ready to check out this special edition of Sun-Man? Then join me after the break...

Masters of the Universe Month: Battle Armor He-Man #562 from POP! Television by Funko

 

   Battle Armor He-Man was quite possibly my favorite He-Man as a kid. Yeah, I loved the "original" He-Man since he was the most classic and the default version of the character, but there was just something awesome about 1984's Battle Armor He-Man that really appealed to me. I'm a still a huge fan of this variant and it's fun to pay tribute to him this year during Masters of the Universe Month 2022 where I'm checking out various toy interpretations of the 1984/ series 3 cast of characters. Funko has put out a bunch of Masters of the Universe product since they first started with the license in 2013. In 2013 they put out a modest assortment of figures but in 2017 they came back and started releasing more MOTU product, and they haven't really slowed down much since. Let's take a look at Battle Armor He-Man #562 after the break...

Action Figure Review: Krepitus from Final Faction by Greenbrier International

 

   The newest series of Final Faction figures has added two unique personalities to the Kharn forces. I reviewed General Diabol late last week and today I'm looking at Krepitus, a ruthless bounty hunter that tracks down and ties up loose ends for the Kharn. His current target is Torn, a defector of the Kharn who has joined Alpha Team 1. We've got some intrigue going on here now! I like it. Krepitus is a very cool looking character that definitely feels like he's the "cool" bad guy character that everyone is nuts about. Had Final Faction been released in the 1980s or 1990s there would probably be no end to the Krepitus merchandise you could find. Everyone would be posting using screennames like Krepitus69 or something and you'd know at least one person with a Krepitus tattoo. Since he's a new character, though, I guess you can be the first on the block to show off your Krepitus fandom. Let's take a look at Krepitus after the break and see why he's such a cool villian...

Action Figure Review: Soul Crusher from Spawn by McFarlane Toys

 

   I've really been enjoying McFarlane Toy's revival of the classic Spawn toyline. While I'm most familiar with Spawn from the earliest days of the toyline and the movie era, I've almost always paid attention to the toyline and it's been exciting to see it enter into the modern era of highly articulated action figures. While I am reading my way through the Spawn Compendiums (I'm currently around issue #78 or #79) and certainly have characters I enjoy, not knowing who a character is doesn't keep me away from picking up a cool figure. Heck, I'm pretty sure that well over half of the figures from the nearly 30 year old toyline were developed just for the toyline. Today I'm checking out Soul Collector, a figure from the second series of releases who is a newer character in the Spawn universe (first appeared in 2017). Soul Crusher seems to be a major player in Spawn again so the timing of the figure is excellent. He's a cool looking, gas-mask clad warrior with a post-apocalyptic vibe. I dig him and I'd probably dress like him every day of the week if it were socially acceptable. Let's check out Soul Crusher after the break and see if he's worth your time and money...

Action Figure Review: Huntra from Final Faction by Greenbrier International

 

   Over the past week I've reviewed the Decimator and the Crawlers so now it's time to take a look at the third of the Kharn "Perimeter Defense" weapons: Huntra. Huntra reminds me of a cross between the Crawlers and the Crawler: Smaller, spindly legs with a bug head like the Crawler but armored legs and a large turret on top. The Huntra has two missiles. These look like some sort of energy or perhaps bio-weapon rather than straiht up missiles, so maybe these guys shoot their own energy of sorts? Gross. Let's take a look at the Huntra after the break...

Masters of the Universe Month: Orko from Masters of the Universe Classics by Mattel

 

   This year for Masters of the Universe Month I'm paying tribute to the vintage 1984 series of Masters of the Universe action figures by looking at how those characters have been reinterpreted in toy form over the past 38 years. Today I'm getting the chance to look at two figures from 1984, Orko and Prince Adam, who were sold as a set in Mattel's Masters of the Universe Classics line. Masters of the Universe Classics began in 2008 with a SDCC release (King Grayskull) and over the next twelve years became the most expansive Masters of the Universe toyline of all time. For SDCC 2010 Mattel released a very special figure: Orko, with Prince Adam as an "accessory." Seriously, the package just listed Orko on the name card while Prince Adam was tucked down behind the name card, largely hidden from view. The version actually released at San Diego Comic-Con was actually different than the standard release I'm looking at today. The true SDCC exclusive had Orko molded in translucent plastic that allowed him to "disappear" when exposed to heat. I never picked that version up as, at the time, I just wanted the classic looking Orko. This one was released throuhg MattyCollector.com. The 1984 MOTU line definitely benefitted from the popularity of the Filmation animated series "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe" and saw the inclusion of Orko and Prince Adam due to their appearance on the show. They're still two of my favorites and considering my love for Masters of the Universe Classics, you know I'm probably just going to be heaping praise on this lovable duo. Let's check out Orko and Adam after the break...

Action Figure Review: Diabol from Final Faction by Greenbrier International

 

   

 The Kharn warriors from series 1 were all army builders and generic troops but the newest series contains  two named warriors for the Kharn. Today I'm checking out the current highest ranking member of the Kharn in toy form, Diabol. General Diabol is one of the generals of Queen Malara, who apparently is the ruler of the Kharn. Interesting. I wonder if we'll get a figure of her eventually? There's a comic book for Final Faction now and the first issue is available at Dollar General. I haven't found one yet but I'm curious to learn more of the story. Diabol is a pretty fearsome looking figure and stands out from his troops with his bright red exoskeleton. Ready to check out one of the baddies that Alpha Team 1 has to face? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: He-Man on Battle Cat #84 (Flocked) from POP! Rides: Masters of the Universe by Funko

 

   Target recently put out an exclusive version of POP! Rides He-Man on Battle Cat #84 as part of their TargetCon and I ended up picking him up. Unlike the standard version released in 2020, this version is flocked. Yup. Well, Battle Cat is flocked, at least. Yeah, the vintage Battle Cat wasn't flocked (Panthor was) but I'm a hug fan of Cringer/ Battle Cat and getting a flocked version of him was something I just couldn't pass up. Want to take a look at this new Target exclusive? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Decimator from Final Faction by Greenbrier International

 

  One of the newest assortments of Final Faction figures has four smaller turret like releases in it: The Crawler, Decimator, and Huntra for the Kharn and the X4 Turret for Alpha Team 1. Today I'm going to take a look at the Decimator, a living mobile turret of sorts. All four of these releases have Perimeter Defense on the card, so I'll probably refer to them as the Perimeter Defense series in the future. I'm really enjoying Final Faction and not just because it's a budget line exclusive to Dollar Tree and Family Dollar. There's a lot of creativity in the designs for this series and some unusual releases. When's the last time you can remember a mass market retail line releasing turrets and accessory packs like this? I think the 1/18th scaled Fortnite figures from Jazwares have done that in various ways but that seems to be an exception. I love the Kharn designs. They really remind me of the Locust Horde from Gears of War. If I didn't know better I'd think Final Faction was based on a video game. Who knows in the future? The team has done some cartoons and now a comic book. Is a video game that far out of the realm of possibility? I can just imagine something like the Decimator being deployed by the villains and the player having to take them down. Let's take a look at decimator after the break...

Masters of the Universe Month 2022: Clawful from Masters of the Universe by NECA

 

   

   The 1984 series of Masters of the Universe figures brought quite a few new Evil Warriors into the line, many based on different animals. Clawful is a giant crab man and while he didn't get a true action figure in the 200x series released by Mattel he did get a "staction" in NECA's Masters of the Universe line. Designed by Four Horsemen Studios, the stactions are some of the coolest MOTU products ever created. Clawful was part of the first series which made perfect sense; he appeared quite often in the Mike Young Productions animated series and his absence in the basic toyline was rather bizarre. ready to dive in and see what Clawful's all about? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: The Violator (Bloody) from Spawn by McFarlane Toys

 

   I picked up another Spawn figure recently: The GameStop exclusive bloody variant of the Violator. I originally preordered this guy in store at the end of last year (nothing like walking into GameStop and asking for a bloody Violator to get some weird looks thrown your way) but when he showed up online and the GameStop I preordered him at couldn't tell me when he'd arrive I decided to cancel my preorder and just order him off of the website. He shipped quickly and, wow, was I surprised by the mass of this guy! I had the original series 1 Violator figure as a kid and he's one of the few figures I remember breaking right after I opened him. The horn that caused his jaw to open and close snapped and my parents returned him for a second one. The Violator is definitely the go to antagonist for Spawn and I'm glad to finally have him on the shelf of these new Spawn figures. The regular figure was released last year but I opted to wait for the bloody version because he's just so much more striking than the standard figure. I mean, that guy is cool as heck, too, but this guy is just shocking. Like, good old fashioned McFarlane nightmare fuel. It reminds me of the good old days when your mom gave you a disappointed look when you came home with a McFarlane Toys figure. Let's tale a look at the bloody variant of the Violator after the break...

Masters of the Month: Mekaneck from Masters of the Universe by Mattel

 

   

   While Mekaneck didn't show up until 1984, the third year of the vintage Masters of the Universe toyline, Mattel slotted him into the second series of the 2002 Masters of the Universe toyline. Released in Fall 2002, Mekaneck not only appeared in the toyline quite early but he was also a mainstay of the accompanying animated series by Mike Young Productions. The 2002/ 200x toyline was mostly designed by the Four Horsemen (Mattel did some of the design, mostly for vehicles, variants, and such, in-house) and they had a lot of freedom to really explore and reimagine the characters from the vintage toyline. Mekaneck is a great example of a figure that takes what made the vintage toy so great (fun concept, cool action feature) and really going further with the design and details. Let's take a look at Mekaneck after the break and see how the Heroic Human Periscope fares in this redesigned line...

Action Figure Review: Crawler from Final Faction by Greenbrier International

 

   Are you ready for some new Final Faction reviews? I hope so! Last weekend my wife and I went into a Dollar Tree and I stumbled upon the new series of figures (General Diabol, Krepitus, and the P-131) and the new series of drones and such. I snagged one of everything except for the P-131, which I grabbed two of). It's pretty cool how diverse the Kharn warriors in this line have been so far; they remind me if the enemies from Gears of War. Today I'm going to check out the Crawler pack. This pack contains not one Crawler but two. Yes, two! These are small guys but they're pretty nifty and you get two of them in a set. I'm probably going to snag another set when I see them again as they're really cool. Ready for a look at this pair of Kharn pests? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Binary from Marvel Legends Series by Hasbro

 

   After a bit of a dry spell quite a few of the Walgreens exclusive Marvel Legends figures showed up one after the other. Baron Zemo is the newest Walgreens release but showing up right before him was Carol Danvers as Binary. Carol Danvers/ Captain Marvel has been around since the late 1960s and she has assumed quite a few different long lasting identities over the past 50 years including Ms. Marvel, Warbird, Captain Marvel, and Binary. If you want the full run down on Binary here's a great write-up from TJ Dietsch at Marvel.com but, to make a long story short, during her time with the X-Men an encounter with the Brood changed Carol Danvers into Binary who can tap into the power of a white hole in space. Crazy stuff! Let's take a look at this powerful incarnation of Carol Danvers after the break...

Masters of the Universe Month: Buzz-Off from Masters of the Universe by Mattel

    

   The 1984 series of Masters of the Universe figures, vehicles, and accessories was the second largest year of offerings for the vintage toyline (only 1987 had more releases) and offered up new Heroic Warriors and Evil Warriors to collect. For the first installment of the celebration of Masters of the Universe Month 2022 let's take a look at Buzz-Off, one of the Heroic Warriors released in 1984. I never owned Buzz-Off as a kid and I always kind of wanted him so I finally picked up a vintage one back in 2010. He's a fantastic looking figure who is instantly recognizable as a MOTU character. I seriously believe that Buzz-Off is so recognizable in the franchise that Pixar based Twitch from Toy Story 3 on him. Doesn't that design just seem like a tribute to not just MOTU in general but specifically to Buzz-Off? I'm excited to give this guy a once over. Let's check out Buzz-Off, the Heroic Spy in the Sky, after the break...

April 2022 is Masters of the Universe Month! This Year We Travel Back to 1984...

 

   April 28th is Masters of the Universe Day and while I've taken part in Masters of the Universe Day celebrations since 2013 it's only been since 2020 that I've decided to turn the holiday into a month long celebration. So what exactly is Masters of the Universe Day? Are you in the dark about this holiday that ranks only behind Easter, Christmas, and Halloween for me? (Yeah, it's still ahead of Thanksgiving.) Maybe you're a new fan this year who was drawn in by the Netflix shows He-Man and the Masters of the Universe,  Masters of the Universe: Revelation, or She-Ra and the Princesses of Power? With multiple active toylines right now, new shows, and a potential move on the horizon, it's more important than ever to celebrate the awesomeness and joy that is Masters of the Universe. 

   So.. Masters of the Universe Day. The short version of the story is that in 1987 Tom Bradley, then the mayor of Los Angeles, California, declared April 28th to be "Masters of the Universe Day"  due to the live Masters of the Universe: Power Tour show coming to the city. While now it seems that every popular franchise has a holiday (Batman Day, May the 4th Be With You, Aliens Day, Mario day) Masters of the Universe is, to my knowledge, the first fandom holiday. Yeah, it was just a goofy PR thing but fans took it and ran with to create something pretty special. 

   This year I'm taking a look back at the 1984 roster of characters and vehicles to look at how the toys from that third series have been interpreted and reinterpreted over the past four decades in a variety of toylines. We're really living in a renaissance period for Masters of the Universe as there are over a half dozen active toylines right now (MOTU Origins, He-Man and the MOTU, Masterverse, Mega Construx MOTU, Eternia Minis, Mondo's MOTU, and Funko's POP! vinyls and Vinyl SODA) with some high end stuff and other collectibles from companies like Tweeterhead, Iron Studios, Beeline Creative, Factory Entertainment, and others. I'm not going to get to every toy in the 1984 series but I definitely am hitting the majority of them. Keep checking back and join in the fun as we celebrate all month long...