Scott "Toy Guru" Neitlich talks Mighty Spector over at MOTUCFigures.com...

[EldestSon]

think of the other properties mattel is sitting on because they don't know what to do with them. it sounds like, w/o the 4hm, motu would likely be one of them.

[iron_pride]

That was a great article. It was odd that he mentioned Gwildor being dead, usually anything of that sort is mixed in the classic "keep reading the bios" line. I have always thought Spector was a cool figure, mainly because my son thinks he looks cool. As far as credit goes, the 4H do deserve the credit, TG deserves the marketing credit on Mattel's end, in my opinion. WIthout the 4H there most likely wouldn't be the classics line today, and if there would be, it wouldn't be anywhere near as cool, again in my opinion.

EldestSon, I agree with you completely. Without the 4H, MOTU would likely be sitting collecting dust amongst M.U.S.C.L.E., Captain Power and Bravestarr.

[mightybuck]

this was a cool interview. and so was the article that birthed the interview. and the story that inspired you to write the article that birthed the interview. it's blogception!

i know it would be a nightmare to do, but it would be neat to see unannounced figures surprise us on the cardbacks. i know it would do a lot recreating that excitement of seeing brand new toys on the shelves as a kid. it doesn't even need to happen all the time. just casually throw a photo of a fall figure on an april or may figure. we'd all go nuts. and if mattel found a way to exclude the reveal from review samples or cardback reveals, it would be even more exciting. i'm not holding my breath for this, but it's fun to dream.

This christmas I was shopping for my nephew and found a kickbutt awesome Imaginext T-rex.

My mom's response was "oh... he doesn't collect imaginext." My response was It's a kick butt awesome Dinosaur!! ummm Superman and Batman can team up to fight it!"

yeah, and besides the only way he's gonna collect them is if the collection starts somewhere. i do get where your mom is coming from though. i've got a 2.5 year old nephew and i want him to like all the kinds of things i liked when i was a kid, but so far i've noticed there are some things he just doesn't respond to. LEGO (well, DUPLO if you want to get all technical) is a big one. every time i try to show him that you can make stuff out of these blocks, he ends up wrecking the creations. it's a bummer, but i figure he's still got a few years before i give up completely.

TMS does not fit in the world of MOTU.

i'll never understand the "_____ doesn't fit in MOTU" argument. EVERYTHING fits in MOTU. there are barbarians, robots, monsters, cowboys, ninjas, dinosaurs, aliens, ghosts, and probably a dozen other varied themes i can't think of, and they're all mixed together and fighting with/against each other all day, every day. nobody can say something doesn't fit in MOTU because it's all there already.

a lot of people complain that spector looks like a superhero and that superheroes have no business being in MOTU, but that's silly. he-man is a superhero and he's the main character! he has a secret identity, a special outfit he wears, incredible powers, and he's always casting aside his day to day business to save people. superheroes are in MOTU and they're staring you right in the face.

i'm not saying that everyone has to like spector or that they should like him. heck, i don't even like everything MOTU. rio-blast, ninjor, and marlena's background are a little too earth-centric for my tastes. but i'm not about to say they don't belong in the franchise, because even without them MOTU is a big hodge podge of themes that aren't associated with each other. if it exists, it has a place in MOTU.

[iron_pride]

Mightybuck I agree completely. My thoughts are the same as yours as in if it exists it has a place in MOTU. Sort of like if something exists here on Earth in real life, then like it or not, it has a place. Just my opinion.

[fball13z]

That was a great article. It was odd that he mentioned Gwildor being dead, usually anything of that sort is mixed in the classic "keep reading the bios" line. I have always thought Spector was a cool figure, mainly because my son thinks he looks cool. As far as credit goes, the 4H do deserve the credit, TG deserves the marketing credit on Mattel's end, in my opinion. WIthout the 4H there most likely wouldn't be the classics line today, and if there would be, it wouldn't be anywhere near as cool, again in my opinion.

EldestSon, I agree with you completely. Without the 4H, MOTU would likely be sitting collecting dust amongst M.U.S.C.L.E., Captain Power and Bravestarr.

I think its 100% true that without the 4HM there would be no Classics, it was their design idea they showed Mattel, at the same time Classics would not be the great line it is without TG

[vertigoink]

Sorry sir, but you're 100% wrong
The 4H basically created the line. They came up with the concept, the created the He-Man prototype, they pitched it to Mattel's managment.
All this unsolicited. No one asked them to do so, no one gave them directions. Scott and all the others at Mattel were still in the dark on how to do a new MOTU line and until the 4H presented their idea, the only thing that was going to happen was a SDCC King Grayskull exclusive figure made using 200x Ice Armor body.
So, the 4H did create the line.

The big credits that go to Scott Neitlich, (not alone but along with others, like David Voss) is to make it happen and push for it. But in no way any of them can get the same level of credits of the 4H. Without Jim, Eric, CB and Chris, there would be no MOTUC line.

Thank you Emil that was my point- they have to listen to you at least lol.

[Barbecue17]

EldestSon, I agree with you completely. Without the 4H, MOTU would likely be sitting collecting dust amongst M.U.S.C.L.E., Captain Power and Bravestarr.

I want M.U.S.C.L.E. and GUTS to return! If these guys came back, I would basically just give Mattel my credit card and say, "Charge me as you ship them."

[phantom1592]

I want M.U.S.C.L.E. and GUTS to return! If these guys came back, I would basically just give Mattel my credit card and say, "Charge me as you ship them."

I HAVE seen some things VERY similar recently... little plastic Marvel characters the same shapes and multi-colors as the old M.u.s.c.l.e. characters... I remember having a few of those guys when I was a kid... but never really cared for them...

if they had been the marvel ones, I probably would have liked them more!

yeah, and besides the only way he's gonna collect them is if the collection starts somewhere. i do get where your mom is coming from though. i've got a 2.5 year old nephew and i want him to like all the kinds of things i liked when i was a kid, but so far i've noticed there are some things he just doesn't respond to. LEGO (well, DUPLO if you want to get all technical) is a big one. every time i try to show him that you can make stuff out of these blocks, he ends up wrecking the creations. it's a bummer, but i figure he's still got a few years before i give up completely.

WOW.. That sounds familiar.

My problem is me and his dad have VERY little in common... He's into sports and Nascar and hunting... I'm into fantasy, superheroes and dinosaurs...

Sadly the 5 year old takes after him a LOT... everything he likes is 'racing'... which I don't care about at ALL... Though I keep pushing SUperhero stuff at him every chance I get!!



THe Three year old though.... THAT is coming along nicely

[PPC]

i'll never understand the "_____ doesn't fit in MOTU" argument. EVERYTHING fits in MOTU. there are barbarians, robots, monsters, cowboys, ninjas, dinosaurs, aliens, ghosts, and probably a dozen other varied themes i can't think of, and they're all mixed together and fighting with/against each other all day, every day. nobody can say something doesn't fit in MOTU because it's all there already.

a lot of people complain that spector looks like a superhero and that superheroes have no business being in MOTU, but that's silly. he-man is a superhero and he's the main character! he has a secret identity, a special outfit he wears, incredible powers, and he's always casting aside his day to day business to save people. superheroes are in MOTU and they're staring you right in the face.

i'm not saying that everyone has to like spector or that they should like him. heck, i don't even like everything MOTU. rio-blast, ninjor, and marlena's background are a little too earth-centric for my tastes. but i'm not about to say they don't belong in the franchise, because even without them MOTU is a big hodge podge of themes that aren't associated with each other. if it exists, it has a place in MOTU.

Well, like I said in my original post, Scott and his fans will try to argue this point all day long, but in the end when most people look at this figure all they are going to see is a 90s X-force lookalike.

I more than understand the diversity in the world of MOTU, but the characters have to have a certain aesthetic to them. Spector, to me, wouldn’t be much different visually than if Matty were to suddenly include Spider-Man in MOTUC.

[Berserker79]

I don't think everything fits in MOTU. I never had the feeling Rio Blast, Rotar, Meteorbs or Gwildor fit in MOTU, even as a kid I never liked them.

I think most of us knows MOTU heavily barbarian-influenced with some technology going on. Filmation is a good example. Most places where action took place were jungles, deserts, canyons, woods. You nearly never saw He-Man in a Sci-Fi city. The mystic, magical touch was always the big think in MOTU. Most of the vintage figures are barbarian influenced, even robots fights with swords, axes and shields. Look how much figures got laser guns and how much got a sword or shield.

As for MS and Sir Laser Lot: As long as Mattel wants me to pay for their products, I don't empathize with some childhood dreams. If they want me to spend over 30$ total for their figures, the design better blows my head off. Draego Man is MOTU for me, MS and SLL designs are both epic fails and not worth 60$ imo.

[PrinceAdam101]

Getting the additional info on the development of his character was fun to read. I'm not a Scott-basher, so I enjoyed the interview. I look forward to buying at least one of this figure. But probably two. Because, you know, the ones that are least popular are the ones that will be worth the most later....

[Darkspecter]

I enjoyed the interview. I thought it was well done. I do have a very hard time believing this one part though:

But despite backlash from loud online fans (the very vocal minority), the vast majority of fans at convnetions have told me how much they love him, even a few young children telling me he is the coolest figure they ever saw. He of course will not be for everyone, but most hard core fans are resistant to anything new. I expected a lot of pushback and am surprised it has actually been as calm as it has! Everyone is entitled to their opinion! MOTU celebrates diversity, so there is room for Spector I hope!

I personally do not hate TMS and I can fully believe kids have told TG they love him. Patrick's son (who was at Power Con) really likes TMS. I don't know about "the vast majority at conventions" though (complete silence from the audience when he was first shown off)...and the people hating on TMS online is definitely not a small group. It's EVERYWHERE on the internet. TMS was almost an internet joke meme. He certainly is getting more acceptance recently than he did initially, though. People really are warming up to him (Sallah, especially ). For me, personally, I think he would have been awesome in DCUC (and I would have bought him. I own Nite-Lik) but I'm still not 100% sold on him being a MOTUC because he doesn't look like he "fits" to me. *shrugs* Again, I'm not hating on him or Scott. When I have him in-hand I might feel he fits in more, but probably not. I think the major disconnect for me might be the spandex/secret identity thing. The only heroes that have secret identities are She-Ra and He-Man...and Double Trouble (she's a spy for the Great Rebellion in the Evil Horde).

I also am confused why Scott said hardcore fans are resistant to anything new. When Draego-Man was revealed, I would say 80% of people loved him. Draego-Man is the reason 30th Anniversary subscriptions sold MORE subscriptions than the DCUC subscription. That doesn't say "resistant to new characters" if so many people are buying an entire line composed of new characters (minus Photog, of course).

[Staff Of Ka]

Kids loving TMS makes perfect sense, My nephew was 8 when 'The Phantom Menace' came out and he Loved and Loves Jar jar, now hes 21 and admits Jar jar is lame...but He still loves him today because of how he saw him as a kid!

Kids have a different perspective, they see something they like and they embrace it......sounds similar to me with MOTU in 1982....and Im still here.

[vertigoink]

Oh I'm very much thankful to Scott for Spector- it's the perfect base for a UK comics Horde Prime!

[melmoth666]

I prefer to stay neutral on any attacks on TG, but I still don't personally like the design or the story of the figure. I think its really weak from a continuity perspective to venue shop a character concept across multiple IPs until you find one to jam it into.

For me, knowing that he was never even created for the MOTU-verse makes him more like the meteorbs than anything else, and that is NOT a compliment.

[EldestSon]

Kids loving TMS makes perfect sense, My nephew was 8 when 'The Phantom Menace' came out and he Loved and Loves Jar jar, now hes 21 and admits Jar jar is lame...but at 8 he was AWESOME!

Kids have a different perspective, they see something they like and they embrace it......sounds similar to me with MOTU in 1982....and Im still here.

your comparison is faulty. your now 21 year old nephew doesn't like what he liked at 8. you still do like what you liked at 8 (motu).

[Delthaindia]

well folks if some kid born in 1999 said that the figure is actually the best they put out we have just to shut up and enjoi this figure even if evrybody knows is far from the MOTU universe as Toy Guru is with great concept ideas.

[Death Weed]

a lot of people complain that spector looks like a superhero and that superheroes have no business being in MOTU, but that's silly. he-man is a superhero and he's the main character! he has a secret identity, a special outfit he wears, incredible powers, and he's always casting aside his day to day business to save people. superheroes are in MOTU and they're staring you right in the face.

From what I've read, He-Man's whole Prince Adam concept was intended by Lou Scheimer (Adam's creator) as a knock-off of DC's Billy Batson and Captain Marvel. Mattel just had the Conan knock-off from the mini comic. Scheimer turned him into a normal guy that gains powers by yelling a secret word.

[Staff Of Ka]

your comparison is faulty. your now 21 year old nephew doesn't like what he liked at 8. you still do like what you liked at 8 (motu).

Yeah......I just re read it and I did mess it up.....I'll edit it, he STILL LOVES Jar Jar!

[phantom1592]

From what I've read, He-Man's whole Prince Adam concept was intended by Lou Scheimer (Adam's creator) as a knock-off of DC's Billy Batson and Captain Marvel. Mattel just had the Conan knock-off from the mini comic. Scheimer turned him into a normal guy that gains powers by yelling a secret word.

Did Lou have any influence on the DC mini-series?

Prince Adam predates the Filmation cartoon.

[Death Weed]

It's what he says anyway. Considering all the squabbling the various creators do, each trying to say that THEY created the charactes, it wouldn't surprise me if it wasn't true.

[Old Bolty-Neck]

think of the other properties mattel is sitting on because they don't know what to do with them.

I would be ALL OVER a Construx Classics line with 4HM sculpts. ~drools~

[phantom1592]

It's what he says anyway. Considering all the squabbling the various creators do, each trying to say that THEY created the charactes, it wouldn't surprise me if it wasn't true.

I know that the DC Adam was womanizing blowhard... who was too busy partying to do his 'royal duties'... So I have little doubt that Lou changed the character to a more kid friendly 'billy batson' concept...

but the Adam persona was around before the filmation cartoon

[Patreek]

I enjoyed the interview. I thought it was well done. I do have a very hard time believing this one part though:



I personally do not hate TMS and I can fully believe kids have told TG they love him. Patrick's son (who was at Power Con) really likes TMS. I don't know about "the vast majority at conventions" though (complete silence from the audience when he was first shown off)...and the people hating on TMS online is definitely not a small group. It's EVERYWHERE on the internet. TMS was almost an internet joke meme. He certainly is getting more acceptance recently than he did initially, though. People really are warming up to him (Sallah, especially ). For me, personally, I think he would have been awesome in DCUC (and I would have bought him. I own Nite-Lik) but I'm still not 100% sold on him being a MOTUC because he doesn't look like he "fits" to me. *shrugs* Again, I'm not hating on him or Scott. When I have him in-hand I might feel he fits in more, but probably not. I think the major disconnect for me might be the spandex/secret identity thing. The only heroes that have secret identities are She-Ra and He-Man...and Double Trouble (she's a spy for the Great Rebellion in the Evil Horde).

I also am confused why Scott said hardcore fans are resistant to anything new. When Draego-Man was revealed, I would say 80% of people loved him. Draego-Man is the reason 30th Anniversary subscriptions sold MORE subscriptions than the DCUC subscription. That doesn't say "resistant to new characters" if so many people are buying an entire line composed of new characters (minus Photog, of course).

I agree with this. He's twisting things a fair bit there imo. Hardcore fans clearly have NO problem accepting new GOOD figures... and there is proof of that.

[Stickfa]

decent interview, and it made me read his Anti-Hatred for Spector article.... and this guy is nuts.

He starts off with "Spector doesnt fit into the line" and then goes about proving that "He could have been designed in the 80s" .... those are 2 different points. I would argue spectors costume to be so copy-pasta that he could have been designed in any time period, the point is he doesnt fit in the line.

He thinks because MOTU magazine had a 1 page spread comprised of parts that sorta but not really, that look like Spector he fits i the line!. I would argue, if you look at that page, NONE of those parts look like MOTU figure peices. There are 2 arms that look like modulok's and that's it. Everything else is like robo space ninja power ranger samurai junk .... if anything I think it just shows that MOTU magazine was slammed together by people who had nothing to do with the MOTU line itself, and that Spector doesnt fit in the line.

Points made about Dragoman making 30th subs sell better are valid. Photog and Dragoman are why i purchased a 30th..... but dont fora second claim he fits in the line, unless you're talking about marvel legends. This guy is a goof, and a spineless one at that.

That said Sir Laser lot is a decent figure, he's not amazing, but he does look like something that would have been a filmation only character. Filmation had lots of wacky space bunnies, and Lord Masques ... i think he fits just fine. So know that Im not being stubborn and just hating to hate, or that i dont want new characters.

Spector sucks, it's all there is to it..... although the 4H redsigned comic key wristband thing is sweet.