Grizzlor vintage figure review

[Spacedust]

Another good thread last week when we looked at Stinkor.

This week, let's turn our attention to that hairy Horde henchman, the ferocious GRIZZLOR.

Grizzlor is a brute whose 'gimmick' is that he comes covered in long brown fur. It was mentioned on the Moss Man review thread just a couple of weeks ago that the green dude was prone to collecting bits of lint. Well that ain't nothing compared to this sucker! Grizzlor is very common on the second-hand market, and many of them need cleaning up where the long fur has attracted fluff over the years - urgh.
The figure came armed with a green version of the standard Horde crossbow.

I think Grizzlor is based upon a bear - unless I've been very stupid and missing something all these years - although his actual face never looked all that bear-like to me personally.

As a kid, I always imagined Grizzlor as Hordak's right hand man, in the same way that Beast Man was to Skeletor, but in actuality, the Grizz was just more of a general dogsbody, with either Mantenna or - in the Filmation version - Shadow Weaver being more of Hordak's trusted aide.

Grizzlor was the only of the original five Horde members (the others being Hordak, Leech, Mantenna and Modulok) that I didn't originally have as a kid.
When I started re-collecting the line seriously, I had loads of Grizzlors - about eighteen at one point!!

There is a famous and rare Grizzlor variation, where he has black skin instead of his regular brown. Other than purple shorts/half-boots Skeletor, this is the only big variation on the figures that I do not currently have in my collection. They can be found on e-bay occasionally, but I haven't spotted one at the right price just yet.

Of course, the Filmation cartoon series had finished by the time the Horde were brought to screen, and were transposed to 'She-Ra: Princess of Power'. Grizzlor was a regular in the series, where he looked like a slightly better groomed version of the figure, and never had all that much to say, being the quiet type.

I always thought that the movie version Beast Man actually quite resembled Grizzlor, with the long hair.

Grizzlor appeared briefly in the 2002 Mike Young Productions cartoon. There wasn't a figure released, as the line was halted before the Horde were introduced; but later a rather good staction figure was released. I like how they give him more detail and bulked him up, but kept the essence of the original - which is what makes the best 200x revamps. I also like the way he is loaded up with weapons, looking like he can use his brute strength to carry around many arms for himself and his fellow Horde members.

All-in-all... Grizzlor as a character isn't bad, but for some reason I was very take it or leave it on the figure. I'll give it a slightly below average 6 out of 10, as it just never really appealed to me, though I know others will disagree.

So there is my ramble on Grizzlor.
Now it's up to you to add your own thoughts, comments, criticisms, memories, and anything else Grizz-releated. And as always, whether you post or not, don't forget to rate the vintage figure in the poll!

[Christophalophalos]

A 6 from me too

I loved the character, especially how they portrayed him
in his minicomic - which scared me as a kid!

But I thought the figure was a bit too fluffy and cuddly to
be monstrous......

Chris.

[weredog]

A ten for me. I got him years after I stopped collecting MOTU, late 80s early 90sish. I was with my mom on an errand and I got bored and started poking around the toy aisle in whatever store we were in. Saw Grizzlor, thought he was neat, so I bought him. I remember smuggling him to school in my pocket the next day, though I am unsure why. I also used to draw him a lot, again, don't really know why. He was just fun to draw.

[He-Fan]

Chris here...

Grizzlor gets a 10 out of 10 from me - I think he's really cute!

In terms of what animal he was based upon, as a kid I actually saw him as being loosely based on a gorilla, although thinking about it your explanation of him being based on a bear sounds more plausible! Maybe he's a cross between a bear and a gorilla...?

Take care...

[2-bad]

What intrigued me most as Grizzlor was the mini comic that came with the figure. Not to say I didn't like the figure, but he looked quite out of shape with all the fur. I got mine loose from a flea market. I'd give it an 8.

[faker32828]

Not my favorite figure, but not bad. I remember taking my old one and gelling the hair in a flame pattern. Liked the attack beast idea, but he never quite looked scary enough. Anyhow, I need his crossbow, so if anyone has a spare...

[Stampede]

I loved this guy, the red eyes, the fangs, the fur. I gave him a 9.

[kalvinchris]

one of my favorite figures so i give him a 10, must be the fur

i recently picked up a black faced grizzlor from a guy in the marketplace forum at a fair price compared to what he goes for on ebay.

[Mer-Man's Minion]

I have a question.

I was at my parents' this weekend and found a box in the basement of some MOTU and POP figures I completely forgot I had. Then I saw evidence that bugs had been in the box (couple of dead ones, etc.). The figs had been down there in that box for at least 10 years, I assume.

So I guess it's safe enough to just put my figures in some soapy water to kinda clean 'em from whatever bug germs, etc.

But what about Grizzlor?

I have a Grizzlor in there, but I'm wonderin' if I dunk him in soapy water, will that be okay with all his fur, or will it kind of "warp" him or what?

[braxsis364]

I allways liked Grizzlor kinda thought he was sort of a werewolf. and a real powerfull evil warrior for He man to deal with. but I allso thought they could have done a better job with his fur. witch came across as kinda teddy bear looking. I think my brother riped off his face. I remember being mad about that. anyways ill give Grizzlor an 8.allso in answer to your question Mer-Man's Minion I belive a damp slitely soapy rag would do the trick dont dunk him.

[Mer-Man's Minion]

Thanks, braxis...I actually did just that last night with him and the other figs. I'm glad I decided to indeed not dunk 'em, lol.

[Mrmotu]

i gave him a 7, i liked him when i was young looking very different but now i got wayyyy to many of him as mentioned, but yep i got to judge him as a kid, when you first truly see him or a figure, thats when you should rate them as first time owner

[Faker]

He's unique looking and that counts for something. He's like an Eternian Wookie

I gave him an 8

[Stampede]

He's unique looking and that counts for something. He's like an Eternian Wookie

I gave him an 8

He's probably also inclined to rip peoples arms out of their sockets when he loses.

[Faker]

He's probably also inclined to rip peoples arms out of their sockets when he loses.

Maybe that's what happened to Trap-Jaw

[Pain Brain]

This is my favorite vintage MOTU action figure. I love his name, his look and his unique furriness. His face is totally menacing and his harness is cool, too (you have got to love the Horde logo). I gave it a 10.

[JonnyTyler]

I gave Grizzlor a 10!!! He was always my favorite Horde Member. I got him for Easter when the Horde 1st came out. And I've had the black faced version all these years, and never knew he was special until I started coming here.

I remember one of my cousins visiting once, and we always played well together, because we both loved He Man, and MOTU. He had a regular Grizzlor, and he told me mine was wierd because it was darker. And we actually got into a big fight over it, and I wound up winning, I punched him in the nose, and made it bleed. Then I got in trouble for hitting, and couln't play with my toys for the rest of the day. But I didn't care, he was wrong, an I had to beat it into him. No one has ever gotten away with talking crap about my MOTU, not even when I was 5.

[motu77]

He gets an 8. You have to love a brutal henchman that does the leaders dirty work.

[Lich Leech]

I liked him a lot. Not as much as Leech (my favorite of the Horde), but he pretty fun. The black version looks more menacing, but I had the brown version.