Action Figure Barbecue: Action Figure Review: Gray from Masters of the Universe Origins: TPowers of Grayskull by Mattel

Today I'm really excited to check out one of the Mattel Masters of the Universe Origins: The Powers of Grayskull figures: Gray! Yes, Gray, the son of King Grayskull and Queen Veena and the secret identity of He-Ro. That's a newer background for the character, though. Gray existed as a character back between 1985 to 1987 during the planned Masters of the Universe expansion "The Powers of Grayskull" where he was to be an ancestor of He-Man and the secret identity of He-Ro, the most powerful wizard in the universe! By placing one hand over his heart, flexing his other arm, and saying the words "Magic & strength, tempered by heart; I stand for peace," Gray would transform into He-Ro. Masters of the Universe Origins has really been exploring the world of Preternia lately, creating figures based on characters from the original 1987 licensing guide, packaging art, and details from the Masters of the Universe Classics era bios and minicomics and finally getting Gray is a pretty cool addition to the line. He's never been made as a figure before in this form (only as He-Ro). Gray is an exclusive to Mattel Creations and was released in May. Ready to check out Gray, the Brave "Secret Identity" of He-Ro? Then join me after the break...

The Facts:

Height: 6 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 barbell jointed head.

Accessories: Tunic, staff, spear, Spirit of Grayskull, and minicomic.

Non-Scalper Price: $22 dollars

Comparison:

* Here's a look at Gray (left) with the MOTU Origins He-Ro (right). He-Ro was released last year as a Mattel Creations and Club Grayskull exclusive and is a rather unique figure, so there really aren't many shared parts between the two figures other than maybe the arms and upper legs. The staffs look the same, though He-Ro's is gold while Gray's is made from yellow plastic that looks like it's glowing a bit.

The Packaging:

* The packaging on this line is really amazing. It's not the most collector friendly, but it isn't bad. Still, it really looks like something that stepped out of the 1980s. You know, something you vaguely recall seeing on a shelf but can't fully remember. It's fantastic and really sets The Powers of Grayskull apart from the main MOTU Origins line.

The Packaging:

* And here's a look at the very cool art on the back of the package. It's really impressing, showing Gray, Sharella, and Eldor facing off against a mysterious foe. I hope Mattel delivers another artbook soon as their packaging artists are all amazing.

The Positives:

* Gray is a fairly basic looking figure, but I guess that kind of makes sense considering he's a "secret identity" figure. He-Ro is all bright gold and flashy while Gray just looks like an ordinary peasant. His base body is very standard and his tunic is a pliable piece that fits over the torso. He doesn't have anything unique under there, (just a base body) but he does look a bit giraffe-necked without it. The tunic looks like a rough garment with crude sleeve cuts and rough stitching. He's dressed like a player character would be dressed at the beginning of an Elder Scrolls game!

* Gray definitely doesn't look as serious or mature as He-Ro. He has a bit of a goofy grin and some messy yet somehow still stylish hair. It definitely feels like a design right out of the late 1980s that would have been right at home with a Filmation cartoon.

* When it comes to the articulation, there's nothing new here: This is a figure with a similar build to the vintage toys but with a basic level of modern articulation. You're not getting fancy stuff like butterfly joints or mid-torso hinges but you are getting a sturdy, modular figure that's absolutely made for play or to strike a vintage MOTU pose. If you posed Gray in a bit of a crouch you could probably set him alongside your vintage figures and he'd look just fine.

* Gray comes with some rather nice accessories. First up is a spear. It's simple, basic, and may make you think of Oolar/ the Jungle He-Man from the original minicomics. Like He-Man in the minicomics, Gray was also a humble member of a small tribe who was brought to a magical cave. This spear originally came with last year's The Powers of Grayskull Red Shadow figure, but it's a pretty basic spear so seeing multiples of it makes sense. The paint details are quite good and I love the stone blade.

* Gray also comes with He-Ro's Staff of Transformation, though this time it's cast in yellow plastic that makes it look like it's crackling with energy. It's just a bit translucent, so it seems rather mysterious. I believe that the original intention for the staff was that once Gray became He-Ro, he could use it to channel spells from Eldor's Book of Living Spells in order to shape the world around him.

* The headpiece of the staff opens via four hinged panels, revealing a yellow gem inside. The gem doesn't come off but it does rotate. You can pose the hinged arms up or down, so the design is a bit of an improvement over Super7's Staff of Transformation.

* The coolest accessory included is a manifestation of the Spirit of Grayskull that fits over Gray, giving the illusion that it's guiding him and protecting him. It's pretty cool and is reminiscent of the way Alfredo Alcala drew him in the comics, just on a smaller scale. The translucent plastic looks great and the wisps of his ectoplasmic/ ethereal arms are rather mysterious and bubbly.

* Gray comes with his own minicomic, "Gray Zone." It's a neat little minicomic and a fun way to show off more of the world of Preternia. Plus, it has Moss Man in it.

The Negatives:

* My only negative with Gray is that he definitely has a few errant paint spots on him. They didn't easily scratch off, so it's a little bit of a bummer. Just a small QC issue, sure, but they're there.

Gray is a pretty cool figure and I'm really excited to have him in the line. We've had He-Ro in MOTUC (plus He-Ro II, the son of He-Man), Super7's faux-vintage line, Masterverse, and Origins, but Gray is new. For fans who love the Preternian era or who just love these characters based off of more obscure concepts and such, he's a real treat. Plus, the Spirit of Grayskull that attaches to him is incredible. He's a Great figure and a nice addition to the Powers of Grayskull. Tauraton, a minotaur like monster, is next in the line, but hopefully we'll get Eldor soon, too.

This is the first figure of Gray himself, but I've certainly reviewed him as He-Ro. Check out my reviews of Super7's Powers of Grayskull He-Ro and the Masterverse: Maters of the Universe: Revelation He-Ro.

This set also includes the Spirit of Grayskull so, if you're looking for more of King D'Vann Grayskull also check out my reviews of the Masterverse Masters of the Universe: Revelation King Grayskull, the MOTUC Spirit of Grayskull, the Spirit of Grayskull from the MOTU Origins Mysteries of Grayskull set, and the MOTU Origins King Grayskull.

For more Masters of the Universe Origins reviews check out the following:

Masters of the Universe Origins by Mattel (2019)
40th Anniversary 4-Pack

Anti-Eternia He-Man
Battle Armor He-Man

Battle Armor Skeletor

Battle Cat

Battlefield Warriors
Beast Man

Beast Man (Lords of Power)

Blast-Attak
Bolt-Man

Buzz-Off

"Buzz Saw" Hordak
Camo Khan

Castle Grayskull

Clamp Champ