The New Eternia releases in the 2022 Masterverse line seem to have been very well received. While I love the character selection and variety of the Masters of the Universe: Revelation and Princess of Power subsets, the New Eternia designs made for some of the coolest figures of last year. I mean, they've even made Stratos really interesting. I've talked before about how I've never been a big Stratos fan; I didn't have him as a kid, he doesn't usually have any weaponry, and he's usually a bit dull to me. This one's a real winner, though. Ready for a look at a Stratos figure who really soars? Then join me after the break...
The Facts:Height: 7 inches
Articulation: Swivel/hinge ankles, calf swivels, double hinged knees, thigh swivels, balljointed hips, swivel waist, balljointed mid-torso, swivel/hinge shoulders, bicep swivels, double hinged elbows, swivel/hinge wrists, and a barbell jointed head.
Accessories: 4 interchangeable hands, 2 piece left wing, 2 piece right wing, harness, belt, mask, wand, collar, and jetpack
Non-Scalper Price: $22- $23 dollars
* One of the cool things about New Eternia is that you can typically gear the figure up to look more like their vintage counterparts. Here's Stratos looking like a really nicely detailed modern update of the vintage figure. He's using a "furry" body but sporting his red wings, feathered trunks, and his jetpack harness. One thing I love about this version of Stratos is that instead of having plain feet, he actually has clawed feet. All of his gear is easily removable and looks great on him. He quite fun and comes with a ton of stuff.
* His portrait is great, too. I love his big, bird-like eyes and the really cool goggles he's sporting. His helmet is crested, kind of like a bird, I guess. It's really nice looking. Honestly, this might be the best Stratos headsculpt I've ever seen. If there's a better one, remind me of it.
* I'm loving his feathered trunks. It's a cool new upgrade for the character, the sculpt is really sharp, and Stratos even gets some different colored feathers here. That belt is really nice, too. Very detailed.
* On each arm Stratos is sporting wings. They're removable and they're jointed at the "elbow" area, so they can move with his arm movements. If you wanted shorter wings, which might be closer to the vintage look for some people, you could remove the upper wing portion.
* Stratos doesn't just fly with wings or magic; he's got some technology, too. The back of his harness has an attachment point for his jetpack that's decorated with some little tech greeblies: wires and circuitry and stuff.
* The jetpack is really cool and has an excellent sculpt. It just looks so sharp in metallic blue, doesn't it? I also really like how it attached to the harness; it has two tabs that slide in it latches in place.
If you're a Stratos fan then check out my review of MOTUC minicomic inspired Stratos, Trap Jaw, and Prince Adam, the Origins Stratos and Stratos (Minicomic), the Netflix He-Man 8 inch Stratos and 5.5 inch Stratos, the M.U.S.C.L.E. green Stratos from series #2, the minifigure Stratos from the 200x Heroes Vs. Villains Gift Pack #1, the Mega Construx Stratos and the Mega Construx Heroes Stratos, the ReAction Stratos (Blue Wings), the deluxe Play Set from Colorforms, the Monogram International Stratos bag clip, the Club Grayskull Stratos, and Super7's Neo-vintage Stratos.
For more Masterverse reviews check out the following:
He's not out here yet but yeah I think he looks great and I was never a big fan of the character either. This is easily the best looking Stratos figure he's ever had. Great sculpt, nice paint (particularly liking the two tones of blue on his feather trunks), nice accessories to give him a fresh look or have him looking like the vintage toy. And I really like that they shrank the staff down a bit too (wish they'd done that with He-Ro :P )
ReplyDeleteI finally got Bat-Lyn (and Roboto too but he had a dent in his right thigh so had to send him back for a replacement) and she's gorgeous and awesome and no flaws on mine at all. Very happy with her. So yeah, the recent figures are starting to trickle their way into the UK veeery slowly...
Dang. My replacement Roboto came today and had issues with the SAME leg but now several deep scratches instead of the weird dent. So he's gone back too and I await a third. Hoping third time lucky... rah...
DeleteI hope you don't anger the company/provider anymore. I know the case of a guy who purchased a NECA Ultimate Nightmare Demon and it came with a broken leg. He sent it back for a replacement and the replacement got both legs broken. He asked again and the provider told him that he was angry enough losing money for every transport fee and decided to not send him any replacement untul he paid the fees on transport for the figure.
DeleteFinally, the guy sued the provider and he got back his money and a perfect NECA Nightmare Demon figure, but he had to wait a full year for it.
I dunno. It's Amazon I been sending it back to. And it ain't my fault. I pay my £30 (which is what they apparently have gone up to now with recent price increases) and expect a non-faulty figure. Plus I'm autistic and while I can manage minor flaws on a figure, notable dents and scratches on what should be a brand new figure really bug me. I just want me a nice non-scratched, non-dented Masterverse Roboto. I don't think that's too much to ask for. :P
DeleteMy Roboto had a broken ankle. I got a refund but I'm looking for a new one. He'll show up at some point, I'm sure.
DeleteYeha my third Roboto should arrive in next couple days.
DeleteWeirdly, movie He-Man turned up today. I didn't even know he was due here yet. Skeletor isn't. Also I somehow got it cheaper than a regular figure even though it's a Deluxe. And yeah the 'Dolph' head is bleh but eh, it's more tolerable in person. I really like the rest of the figure. The sculpt, paint, cape, accessories are nice. And he has the vertical hinge hand the 40th anniversary figure has which I hope is standard for He-Man figures now. Only other crit is he can't hold his gun properly as it has a proper trigger guard and he doesn't have any hands where the trigger finger is separated and can fit. Ironic cos Zodak does but his gun has no trigger. And I would just use his hand for it but he has claws (I think his the same mold as Revelation Skeletor's hand) which might look a bit odd on He-Man. :P But yeah other than that I'm happy with movie He-Man but will probably buy a custom head as I tend to do so. :D
Hope you get a good Roboto soon too, sir. :)
I do have movie He-Man, too, but I haven't reviewed him. Those heads are pretty rough but the body of the figure is excellent. Honestly, I slapped an alternate New Eternia head on him and was quite happy.
DeleteOh i put his 'classic' head on my 40th anniversary figure. I kinda like the slightly cheery look it has and I really dislike the 'doughy' face the 40thA figure comes with.
DeleteAs a curiosity, anyone of you know if Hasbro or Mattel will do a figure of the Skeletroopers from the live action film? I liked them a lot, not gonna lie, and i hope they get a figure soon.
DeleteAnd about your Robotos, i hope you both get the best ones. But my B.A.T. would defeat them without problem. Hahaha!
DeleteThanks Anon. My third Roboto was satisfactory. Not perfect but it'll do. :)
DeleteI came back here cos I got Stratos (the guy this review page is about) today and he's cool. :)
Went almost 2 months with no Masterverse figures showing up here and then got four in the past week or so (Bat-Lyn, Roboto, movie He-Man and Stratos) so they're filtering through into the UK bit by bit. :P Not seen Frosta, Two-Bad or movie Skelly here yet. Though bizarrely have managed to order Shadow Weaver even though she's in the next wave with Pig-Head and Sorceress who have no order page. Weeeeird.
I managed to pick up a new Robot and all seems well.
DeleteI'd love to see the troopers from the 1987 film but the move stuff and rights all seems kind of weird: In MOTUC Mattel could only do movie figures that were released in the vintage line, Super7 went through William Stout to do their figures as they were based on his concept art, and now Mattel is releasing movie based figures without an actor likeness. I'd love more (Pig Boy appeared in MOTU: Revelation, too!), especially the troopers, Evil-Lyn, Teela, and Man-At-Arms. The movie version of MAA might be my favorite version ever.
oh the new deluxe revelation Duncan is prob my fave version of the character but yeah i wouldn't mind some more movie figures.
DeleteReceived this guy this morning, and yep, solid figure, and a really nice rendition of this classic character. Originally he wasn't a priority on my shopping list, but I found it for a cool price on amazon, and I've just ordered Sorceress (arriving tomorrow), so since I got the bird woman, then I thought I might as well get the winged ape man. Also, not being able to find an Origins Stratos (even the mini-comics version) bugged me enough to want the Masterverse version, and I don't regret getting this "consolation prize" instead, as the Masterverse is a much better figure anyway. Of course his scepter (really nice accessory, I must say) came warped, but we have got used to that, haven't we ? (lol).
ReplyDeleteThat's wild to me that you didn't get an Origins Startos as he has been sitting everywhere here in the states, particularly the minicomic version. Of course, that's just one of the oddities of distribution, especially from country to country. I'm glad you like the Masterverse Stratos, though. I was really impressed by him. He's just so much fun with some great accessories.
DeleteHopefully some heat can clear up that warped staff.
Forgot to ask you this, btw : on your pics, both the upper and lower wings seem to be the same bright red. Are they really like that, or is it only the light on your pics ? Mine came with darker (almost burgundy looking) upper wings, and the toyhabits website also mentions darker upper wings in their review of the Stratos.. Is it only your copy which came with bright red upper wings ? Another possible variation, depending on whether you got an early or later one ?
ReplyDeleteNo, my Stratos has the darker upper wings with a bit of a wash and the lighter lower wings, too. Just the lighting in my pictures making them look the same.
DeleteYes, that's the annoying thing with the Origins line - all the best Origins figures are always impossible to find in Europe : Trap-Jaw mini-comics, Leech, Snout Spout, Trap Jaw regular, Zodac, Tri-Klops, Webstor.. We've been lucky enough to get the Rise of Evil and Mekaneck/Ground Ripper sets, though. With Masterverse, it isn't as bad, although these guys haven't been properly distributed here, unfortunately : Trap Jaw, King Grayskull, Fisto, He-Ro, Jitsu, Frosta. (Some of them had better distribution in the UK, apparently - but forget about continental Europe..).
ReplyDeleteMan, Leech and Snout Spout are everywhere here. Some of those others were tougher to find in the states, though. Distribution is weird on Origins and Masterverse with very other series seeming to be ovr produced and then underproduced. King Grayskull and Trap Jaw were pretty easy to find over here as was Fisto.
DeleteWhat action figure lines can you easily find on the shelves where you're located? I'm curious.
Well, kids-oriented toylines (like Transformers, Lego, Star Wars or, a few years ago, Ben10) are fairly well distributed here, but collector market oriented figures are only available from certain specialist shops in Paris. MOTU toys can be found online though (french websites) but the only Origins figures I ever saw in big "regular" toy stores are He-Man and Skeletor. Which is crazy, as there is a huge MOTU fanbase in Germany, France, Italy and Belgium. Back in the 1980's, we had Mattel France, and MOTU figures could be found virtually everywhere (especially when they started producing MOTU toys locally - ie : the famous french "yellow border" MOTU figures), but I'm not even sure if there is such a thing as Mattel France nowadays..
DeleteThe only exception to that rule being Funko 's Pop figures, which are all over the place here. You can even find them in bookshops or gaming shops, and even in certain "grocery store" type supermarkets. Unfortunately, the other Funko stuff like Savage World is confined to the margins of the "collector/specialist" market here..
DeleteFunko POP! vinyls are everywhere here, too.
DeleteIt's always interesting to see what toys everyone has easily available to them in their part of the world.
Oh yeah, I was forgetting Hordak too - Masterverse Hordak hasn't been distributed here at all.
ReplyDelete