TG Blog #12 He-Ro - Spell stones and not afraid to use em!

[lorde trooper]

Another cool read, after seeing the eldor cardback again shows how powerful and important of a character he really is with the book of living spells. Being able to have access to secerts of past present and future events.

Id be pretty happy with a Gray figure, he isnt too exciting but still a piece of history never seen the light of day in plastic form, he could even come with the He-Ro alternate staff so fans can display He-Ro with the artwork staff.

[Tallstar]

Honestly I think at times these blogs are almost toeing the line between being informative and then just being downright false and a slap in the face to the original staff that worked hard to write this fiction and canon. The Preternia concept was started in 1986, not 1987 as the Eldor card back had an 86' stamp on it as did the one Gigantisaur proto that's supposedly in a private collection now. The three tech-dino's we did get also had concept filings for trademark in June of 1986. Interesting enough is the fact Mattel once again registered the Gigantisaur name in 95' but never used it and it eventually expired. Eldor by the way was filed for on October 6, 1986. This was a direct sign that Mattel was quickly approaching the point of canceling the line and they tried to get out as much product as possible near the end.

The 1985 date Scott mentioned at the beginning of his blog entry is probably correct. Since trademarks for Eldor, Starla, Jewelstar, Tallstar and Glory Bird were filed on the exact same date in 1986, which incidentally is pretty much exactly 1 year after Jon was hired to conceptualize the extension line for Princess of Power (he was hired October 1985), I'm guessing there was some synergy between the MOTU team and the POP team and they had a lot of the Preternia concept mapped out around the same time.

[Old Bolty-Neck]

WHICH stands for Retroactive Continuity... So.. TECHnichely correct

But like you said, a lesser complaint

It's nevertheless advisable for Scott to use the term retcon because it's in widespread use. "Retro-conning," his own version, would only work against him because to anyone not recognizing at a glance what it's supposed to abbreviate, it sounds like "swindling in a retro way" or something. With growing numbers of Matty customers growing more and more disgruntled, surely it's in his interest to switch to "retcon" rather than use a term with connotations of deception and theft.

[mekaneckpain]

Actually, what I mean is this sentence (describing the red stone):



Since he said green was the highest produced, and purple was the least produced, that means that "green" and "purple" are transposed in this sentence.

yeah... it's who you know at Mattel, not how well you can form a sentence that gets you to the top.

[EuroCoin]

So if "He" means power in Trollan, isn't it a bit redundant to call the sword as "the Power Sword of He" like it's called in at least Battle Cat's and Eternia Map's bios.

- Joni -

[Squishy Duck Man]

Recently picked up a He-Ro figure, got the purple stone and I actually like it best. One thing I don't like about him is that the cape is ultra-stiff. I do wish we'd seen it made of a more rubbery plastic like the cape eventually used on say, Carnivus or BG Evil-Lyn, but I'm still happy that there is a He-Ro figure to be had. I wouldn't be shocked to see Eldor pop up as the sub-exclusive character for next year.

[vertigoink]

The 1985 date Scott mentioned at the beginning of his blog entry is probably correct. Since trademarks for Eldor, Starla, Jewelstar, Tallstar and Glory Bird were filed on the exact same date in 1986, which incidentally is pretty much exactly 1 year after Jon was hired to conceptualize the extension line for Princess of Power (he was hired October 1985), I'm guessing there was some synergy between the MOTU team and the POP team and they had a lot of the Preternia concept mapped out around the same time.

I'm simply going by the proto Gigantisaur that I got to see EONS ago in a collectors private collection that shall remain anonymous- and known filing dates as well. Also, the POP team and MOTU team were two different entities as far as I'm aware. Actually, you should totally ask Jon about that and see if he can shed some light on that as it would make for some really interesting reading.

[Dynamo of Eternia]

I'm simply going by the proto Gigantisaur that I got to see EONS ago in a collectors private collection that shall remain anonymous- and known filing dates as well. Also, the POP team and MOTU team were two different entities as far as I'm aware. Actually, you should totally ask Jon about that and see if he can shed some light on that as it would make for some really interesting reading.

Even if the filing dates were in 1986, the basic planning could have began in 1985. You do realize that they have to come up with the concepts and characters first BEFORE they can file for copyright, don't you? What happened in '85 may have simply been them "kicking ideas around the office."

[Prahvus]

I'm happy to see Toyguru found some time to write his blog... What about addressing the pressing and multiple issues about the line, the subs, the shipping, the QC etc. !?

[oICEMANo]

it felt repetitive to have multiple ancestor figures.

Much like multiple "He-Men"...

[Tallstar]

I'm simply going by the proto Gigantisaur that I got to see EONS ago in a collectors private collection that shall remain anonymous- and known filing dates as well. Also, the POP team and MOTU team were two different entities as far as I'm aware. Actually, you should totally ask Jon about that and see if he can shed some light on that as it would make for some really interesting reading.

Oh, they were definitely considered separate brands. What I meant, was that the team working on POP may have seen all the success that MOTU was having in 1985 and been kept in the loop with regard to the Powers of Grayskull extension line. Maybe the executives felt the urgency to have someone conceptualize an extension line for POP from the get-go, and it happened to coincide with the estimated life cycle of the doll line and release of POG. I'm not sure if it's standard practice to come up with an extension line for every doll line during the first year release of the main/parent line. Morever, Jon's original origin story has the Eternian ties. That's what gives me the impression there may have been some back and forth between the two teams... but then they hired the Disney writer and the direction changed.

[snakeeyes0217]

I may not always agree with the decisions he makes but I like that he shares his thinking in these posts.

BTW, as far as Preternia priorities...I personally put Eldor before Gray.

[Eternian Poet]

"but honestly, it felt repetitive to have multiple ancestor figures."

Yes, as we all know, people only have one ancestor.

[Sabretooth]

I enjoy reading these - and this one was particularly interesting when Toyguru mentioned the links and similarities between the vintage line and MOTUC. The input he has from Tim Kilpin is very cool - the Snakemen and concept characters of POG and Star Sisters. I hope he will reveal more of the behind-the-scenes of the end of the vintage line in some of his next posts. It was great to read this He-Ro Directors comments together with the Star Sisters articles that were posted here on .org in March. Interesting stuff.
The only thing I am missing is Toyguru's comment on the 'H' versus 'G' on He-Ro's chest armor.

[MC Modulok]

A thorough read. And... *'em* *Turbodactyl* *vice* *conning* *less* *more* *canon* *Wun-Dar* *alone*.

[13977]

Nice read, looking back at it I can't believe we got HR so early! But I'm really glad we did, bring on Eldor I say, he's well over due
Nice to hear they still have plans to incorporate the 'Gray' name some how (hopefully as an alter-ego) as IMO it's much better then 'Ro', plus it's his original real name.

[Barbecue17]

In 1985, vintage MOTU was at the height of its popularity. So it totally makes sense that the brand managers at the time (Tim Kilpin, our current General Manager!) would want to expand the toy line. The proposal he put together (which Tim was nice enough to locate and give to me when we were planning out MOTUC in 2008!) was designed to take MOTU to the next level and introduce new worlds and new challenges for He-Man.

Very cool to see that some of the old guard are still involved in the line, even if in as small a way as this.

This image has haunted collectors for years, making He-Ro and Eldor the “next” figures in the MOTU line… and toys that never came to be.

Please make "Eldor" the "next" figure in MOTUC, as well. He has such a cool design and definitely fills the need for the wise old wizard/sage archetype.

Getting to unproduced prototype figures was high on my priority list and I jumped at the chance to get to He-Ro as quickly as possible. He was hand-picked by me to be the second SDCC figure for the line and to really show how deep we wanted to get.

This was a darn good choice. Thank you for this!

The magic staff was also a fun accessory to tackle and let us do our first (and only) chase figure for SDCC (or even in the line).

What was the statue King Grayskull then? I definitely think that was a SDCC chase figure. (I'm willing to give some slack that silver She-ra and Spirit Grayskull are so rare there is no way to chase them: only money!!

Another issue with He-Ro was his vac metal.

Thank you for not going with vac metal!

The original prototype from 1987 had vac metal armor. This is a toy-making process where we apply reflective coating to a toy (see Hurricane Hordak for an example). We did explore this, but due to the way the armor snapped on and was attached to the cape, it just wasn’t working. Applying vac metal (or flocking) to a highly articulated figure is extremely difficult. While we strive to be authentic, it can wind up not only being difficult, but can look really bad.

See Hurricane Hordak for an example.

So that was about it on He-Ro. He sold very well at SDCC and succeeded in not only getting this figure to market, but as a figure, he physically represented how deep we wanted MOTUC to go. No longer were we just doing figures from the original line, but here for the first time was a step towards a larger world.

True words. Great to see how much the Masters of the Universe universe is expanding. He-Ro- such a cool figure!

[BoShek]

I want Eldor so bad. I hope he comes soon!

[JonWes]

I'm simply going by the proto Gigantisaur that I got to see EONS ago in a collectors private collection that shall remain anonymous- and known filing dates as well. Also, the POP team and MOTU team were two different entities as far as I'm aware. Actually, you should totally ask Jon about that and see if he can shed some light on that as it would make for some really interesting reading.

It's funny you mention Gigantisaur, because I thought (IIRC) the Power & Honor book said the proto had been destroyed! I mean, I know they were just working with the facts they had at the time. But it's interesting to hear it's still floating out there somewhere.

[Tallstar]

I want Eldor so bad. I hope he comes soon!

I hope we can get vintage style too some day. *sigh*

[Andredwt]

When I first saw He-ro I tought it would be only a joke! I remember when they announced it I hated his hair style and his smile!
But after hear some stories about the caracter and the toy I started seeing different the figure!
I bought it and I really like the caracter today and his storie!

I really prefer King Grayskull as He-man ancestor, in my opinion it fits better because his visual is like he-man, a barbarian, because the name, because the castle, but He-ro is a part of the toy storie of Masters of the universe, and what toy guru did linking He-ro to the power Sword I think is perfect!!

[NastyNate]

HMMMM...
Sounds like Eldor might be our 2012 SDCC exclusive. The hints are kinda "there" I guess?
(sorry, wishful thinking Im probably WAY off)

[MrRoboto]

Really enjoy reading TG blogs. Maybe a thread should be made here on the .org just for TG blog entries?

Kinda weird how He-Ro is the concept figure i've warmed up too the most. Granted the others look good or whatever, but there just seems to be a 'connection'.

[Exinferis]

So if "He" means power in Trollan, isn't it a bit redundant to call the sword as "the Power Sword of He" like it's called in at least Battle Cat's and Eternia Map's bios.

- Joni -

That's like people who say PIN Number and MAC Code, irritating!

I'm happy to see Toyguru found some time to write his blog... What about addressing the pressing and multiple issues about the line, the subs, the shipping, the QC etc. !?

I'm with you mate. I can't be doing reading the ravings of an egomaniac when I'd rather see him sorting out the problems with this line. Wish I had his job, where I could cover up all the real issues by releasing some eye-candy once a week. "Ooh look, naked pictures of George Clooney!" *That'll stop her complaining about Snouty's flaccid spout! Mwahhhhhhh!*

[mekaneckpain]

HMMMM...
Sounds like Eldor might be our 2012 SDCC exclusive. The hints are kinda "there" I guess?
(sorry, wishful thinking Im probably WAY off)

I can see that: TG did allude to himself pushing for prototype and concept figures to be more or less prioritized. King Grayskull, He-Ro, and now Eldor. Very possible. I think a 2 pack with Eldor and Gray with the book of living spells would be a nice package for regular sales though.