Mattel needs to look at Tygra's wrist....

**scott metzger** · February 10, 2011, 12:27pm

Just saw the picture of the new Bandai classic Tygra figure from Thundercats, and noted what looks to be a ball jointed swivel on the wrist, which would allow it to bend laterally as well as back and forth. I've seen this kind of joint on the old 12" Cy Girl figures, and, if it is constructed as it appears, it would allow a figure to hold a sword aloft properly, as a certain Eternian does during his transformation.

**Mern-Ra** · February 10, 2011, 12:34pm

I was thinking the same thing when I saw it. Since we got a new hand for Bow and Marzo, I'm really wondering when we'll get one for He-Man, and am actually pretty ticked that anyone else got one first. IMO the fact that he can't hold his sword aloft is the only thing keeping this figure from being perfect.

**Alexx** · February 10, 2011, 12:40pm

Can you think of a perfect way to do it, though? If that joint is loose in any way, then there are gona be a lot of ticked fans. I mean, loose ankles have already thrown folks into a fury. On top of that, any joint use in any toy will eventually make it loose (in most cases). I just don't know if I want that joint to eventually make his whole arm useless. As it is, there's not gona be any trouble. The shoulder and elbow could become loose over time, but those larger joints aren't as prone as a small one like the wrist. If that ends up being loose, then you've got a floppy wrist. I don't know if I've seen enough evidence that joints like that work over time, unless it's like a revoltech joint.

**Fighting Foe Man** · February 10, 2011, 01:14pm

I really don't think that more articulation in the MOTUC are necessary. If there were a ball joint at the wrist, it would eventually get too worn from repositioning, and then suffer from limp-wrist; I ask you, do you really want a He-Man with a limp wrist?

**SCB** · February 10, 2011, 01:41pm

Maybe if it was a swappable hand. I like the solid wrists we currently have.

**hhhelmsley** · February 10, 2011, 01:42pm

I liked that idea. Count me in.

**Rainboy** · February 10, 2011, 01:50pm

No. No more articulation. It's just another area that we have to worry about loose joints. I have a handful of figures with ball joints, and about 1/3 of them are loose and have trouble holding up their weapons. And they aren't from "cheap" toy lines either.

**Alexx** · February 10, 2011, 01:56pm

Originally Posted by Rainboy

No. No more articulation. It's just another area that we have to worry about loose joints. I have a handful of figures with ball joints, and about 1/3 of them are loose and have trouble holding up their weapons. And they aren't from "cheap" toy lines either.

This is what I'm talkin' about. It's very hard to get a small joint to stay tight over the years, and there's plenty of figures that I have from a few years back when everyone and thier mother was putting as much articulation into figures as humanly possible. The only thing worse than this was the stupid finger articulation in Marvel Legends, and some of those figures were somehow meant to hold accessories too.

Add in some of the heavy accessories we already have, and it's not looking good. I suppose He-Man could do it and hold the power sword, but no one else is really gona benefit (Skeletor would not be able to support that monster Havoc Staff he's got, for instance).

**DO4M** · February 10, 2011, 02:10pm

I'm torn on the issue. Part of me wants the extra hand articulation, but part of me expects Mattel to screw it up and give us Hyper flapping ultra loose wrist joint action...

**urbanmyth** · February 10, 2011, 02:19pm

I'm someone who hates it when lines alter the articulation mid-line like what DCUC has done recently. I'd be ok with a variant He-Man and She-Ra having special articulation to raise the sword but don't want it expanded to other figures.

**Mijet** · February 10, 2011, 02:23pm

Originally Posted by SCB

Maybe if it was a swappable hand. I like the solid wrists we currently have.

A fan already did that for holding the power sword up correctly, unfortunately it was a small run and is sold out.

**MegaGearMax** · February 10, 2011, 02:56pm

Originally Posted by urbanmyth

I'm someone who hates it when lines alter the articulation mid-line like what DCUC has done recently. I'd be ok with a variant He-Man and She-Ra having special articulation to raise the sword but don't want it expanded to other figures.

I know...now DCUC figures have elbow and shoulder pads. So much for uniformity. I guess they'll have to go back and re-do the rest of the major characters now.

**SCB** · February 10, 2011, 02:58pm

You don't want Batman with double knees and elbows?

**scott metzger** · February 10, 2011, 03:14pm

Originally Posted by Alexx

Can you think of a perfect way to do it, though?

Have someone other than Mattel make it?

I think the saddest thing I'm seeing here is the reason given by many for not wanting it: because they figure Mattel can't do it right. And there's sadly a point there. I have Mego figures I played with as a kid with joints tighter than the new MOTU figures. Being more Mattel centric, I can say the same about some Big Jim figures form the same time period.

EVERY joint may eventually loosen; with quality control like we see form Mattel, that becomes a near certainty. But I do want action figures, not stactions, so that comes with the territory.

Extra hands get lost or misplaced; a posable hand doesn't. To me, not being able to put He-Man in his most iconic pose is a problem with the present figure, nigh-perfect though he may be in every other way. It just irks me a little to potentially see the Lord of the Thundercats (I assume he'll have the same wrist articulation) do He-Man's classic pose better than He-Man can.

**MegaGearMax** · February 10, 2011, 03:21pm

Originally Posted by SCB

You don't want Batman with double knees and elbows?

Holy character refresh, Batman!

I'm not against changing articulation. I'm a little skeptical about changing things up when it's so far into the line. That's a crapload of new development slots--alot of characters that have to be redone now. And I'm talking about the major characters, not guys like Killer Moth. I guess if DCUC has the staying power, I suppose it could work.

**SCB** · February 10, 2011, 03:38pm

I don't think they'd be re-done unless it's a figure like Batman, who could use that sort of articulation. I'd want it case by case. I don't need Arkillo doing Spiderman poses for the sake of uniformity.

**kagamigod** · February 10, 2011, 05:09pm

I am for a wrist like this for He-Man, but I don't think every figure need to implement this change.

**MegaGearMax** · February 10, 2011, 05:14pm

Originally Posted by SCB

I don't think they'd be re-done unless it's a figure like Batman, who could use that sort of articulation. I'd want it case by case. I don't need Arkillo doing Spiderman poses for the sake of uniformity.

I could easily see the big seven, Green Arrow, Black Canary and Captain Marvel.

**SCB** · February 10, 2011, 05:27pm

I don't see it happening. Those versions have already been released. You can get away with it with the Bat family because there's so many costumes and versions of them.

I bet **** Grayson Batman for example will have doube joints.

**Cammor** · February 10, 2011, 05:32pm

Sure, the kitten's wrist is really cool but at least the MOTUC ladies don't have Tygra's hip articulation.

**MegaGearMax** · February 10, 2011, 05:43pm

Originally Posted by SCB

I don't see it happening. Those versions have already been released. You can get away with it with the Bat family because there's so many costumes and versions of them.

I bet **** Grayson Batman for example will have doube joints.

Current Batman Incorporated Batman and Blackest Night Aquaman and Martian Manhunter, Wally West, WW's current costumes...I don't know if Superman's costume is any different these days.

I can see them releasing another GL with new joints. Mattel isn't a stranger to making new variants of old characters with minute changes.

**Jii Dee** · February 10, 2011, 08:10pm

Although I know it'll never happen my first thought when looking at the new collector thundercats was HA. Look at this, Bandai USA, a company renowned for making cheap rubbish is totally punking matty at articulation at a cheaper price point.
My major gripe in terms of design that I've had with motuc since it's inception is the lack of double jointed knees/elbows and proper articulated hands...then here comes Bandai and is all like "Hey we hear you like articulation and stuff...well wut up!?"
In my opinion these are features that motuc should have had from the start and there is no excuse for them not to have it. For shame mattel. For shame.

Infact I would totally be down with modding my figures to have this wrist feature. I've contemplated using small plastic hobby joint packs you can get off of HLJ and trying something similar on a trash He-Ro I have as a proof of concept.

**REX-203** · February 10, 2011, 08:39pm

I am very pleased with the wrists MOTUC already have. I think MOTUC have just the right amount of articulation all around. Not too little, not too much. Just right!

**urbanmyth** · February 10, 2011, 08:39pm

Originally Posted by Jii Dee

My major gripe in terms of design that I've had with motuc since it's inception is the lack of double jointed knees/elbows and proper articulated hands...then here comes Bandai and is all like "Hey we hear you like articulation and stuff...well wut up!?"

I would have never bought into MOTUC had they started out with double elbows/knees. . .HATE THEM! I've bought everything so far but there is a great chance I'd have to peace out if they switched up a big articulation factor like that. Yuck!

**SCB** · February 10, 2011, 08:40pm

I don't think double knees and elbows on MOTUC would look good at all.

Too much articulation

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