Friday, December 2, 2022

Action Figure Review: Digitino from Masters of the Universe Origins by Mattel

 


   Ready for another Masters of the Universe Origins review? Let's take a look at another member of the Sun-Man and the Rulers of the Sun cast who has been introduced into Eternia: Digitino, the Numerical Genius! I will say that out of all of the Rulers of the Sun characters, Digitino might look the most dull (it's either him or Holographo, but Holographo does have a beard and a giant Nerf looking sword). Other than having some numbers on a glow-in-the-dark vest, there's nothing about Digitino that really seems to convey the idea from his original origin story that he is Dr. Carlos Montanez, a scientist whose brain has been fused together with a computer. Dr. Montanez also receives a vision of Quetzacoatl and is charged with stopping a villain named Subtractus. Of course, in the comic included with this figure, Digitino is now a resident of Trefixa who seems to have a computer-like mind, kind of like how Sherlock Holmes was portrayed in the Robert Downey Jr. films. It's pretty cool in the MOTU Origins minicomic "Mind Over Matter" which is included with Digitino and the other figures in this series. Ready to check out Digitino and see how the figure turned out? Then join me after the break...





The Facts:

Height: 5 3/4ths inches

Articulation: Swivel/ hinge ankles, boot swivels, swivel/hinge knees, balljointed hips, swivel waist, swivel/hinge shoulders, swivel/hinge elbows, swivel/hinge wrists, and a double balljointed head.

Accessories: Armor, staff, and minicomic. 

Non-Scalper Price: $17-$19 dollars


The Positives:

* I'm still amazed that Mattel is actually making these figures. I remember seeing some of the other Omec toys products in stores (the Bronze Bombers and the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. figure come to mind) but I'm really not sure if I truly remember Sun-Man himself. That being said, knowing the interesting history of this line it's pretty cool to be able to get a figure that is so accurate to the vintage toy, just with modern articulation. Digitino is kind of basic, but that's true of the vintage figure. Mattel recreated him here faithfully with his techno vest and the boots, trunks, and bracers he shares with Sun-Man and the other heroes. 

* So far as I can tell, Digitino's portrait looks like the vintage toy, just perhaps a bit sharper. He has unique facial features like high cheek bones, thicker eyebrows, and an interesting hairstyle. He just seems like s solid dude who'd help you move if you asked him to, you know? He's not as exciting as, say, Scare Glow or Skeletor, but he looks like the vintage toy. Considering the price and scarcity of vintage Sun-Man toys, I'm sure plenty of collectors are excited to have these on the shelves.

* Digitino is built the same as the rest of the MOTU Origins figures, meaning he has the style of the vintage toys but with more modern articulation. While their bulky frames make the articulation a bit clumsy, the figures do feel like an evolution of the vintage line. Imagine what you would get if you mixed a vintage MOTU (or Sun-Man) figure with a MOTUC figure. They're quite fun to play with.

* They're also modular. and can be easily separated to make your own lazy boy customs! 



* Digitino has a bit of an action feature due to his digital breastplate being molded from glow-in-the-dark plastic. It's kind of neat and reminds me of something from New Adventures. The numbers that are cut out of the armor are more pronounced when the armor is illuminated, kind of like the face of a digital watch. 




* Digitino is also toting his key staff, a tool that recharges his digital breastplate according to the vintage Sun-Man booklets included with the original figures. It's a decent weapon/ tool and does seem a bit more unique than a standard sword or axe. 










* This comic is titled "Mind Over Matter" but, as you can see, there is no title on the cover. This is actually the international version of the figure, so the comic has no words inside nor is there any unique text on the back. The art is still really good, though, and it features the other characters from this series (King Randor, the minicomic Trap Jaw, and Whiplash) in a story where the villains attack Eternos palace shortly after Man-At-Arms and Digitino have worked together to create a portal system between Trefixa and Eternia. 
The Negatives:



* My Digitino has a weird paint scuff on the back of his shoulder. Just a simple QC error, but worth pointing out. 




* I like the concept behind Digitino and I liked his role in the minicomic. The figure, though, is pretty dull. I mentioned it earlier but I'll say it again: I do really like Mattel's decision to translate Olmec Toys' original designs from the 1980s (I think Sun-Man's allies came out in 1986, the year after he was released) as most folks will never have the chance to own those. That being said, Digitino definitely was a dull design in the 1980s and he's still dull now. I mean, there's a weird charm to him, but he really would have benefitted from something like a helmet or some stuff on his wrists. He seems more like a gimmicky professional wrestler than someone in a magical barbarian fantasy universe. 




   Digitino isn't a bad figure at all. He has an interesting premise, a glow in the dark vest, the articulation and modularity of the rest of the Masters of the Universe Origins line, and he's fairly faithful to a relatively obscure and pricey vintage toy. He's also just kind of dull. I really do like the concept of a guy who processes things super quickly and fights with precision but Digitino really needed a few more design elements to convey this. While I'm not sure every Sun-Man character needs to find their way into Masterverse yet, I would be interested in seeing him redone in a "New Eternia" sort of way. Really make him a cyborg of sorts. Digintino gets a Good rating from me. I just dig the name and the glow in the dark digital watch-like vest. 



This is the first figure of Digitino I've reviewed. For more reviews from Masters of the Universe Origins check out the following:




1 comment:

  1. Anything to make Digitino look tougher than he appears, right?

    ReplyDelete

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