Sdcc exclusives announced - Vykron and Hot Wheels VW Bug

[carlo]

the official start of the line was in feb 1982, as far as major promotion, some figures were already popping up on shelves x-mas of 1981, many figures still do that to this day, no mystery there folks

stores get many toys early and are stamped on box to not display until certain date, but stores goof up or dont care and still open and stock them up

[Berserker79]

Who likes this-more power to you.

Personally I got bored about this new 2012 figures, which, besides of Draego Man, says nothing MOTU to me. I prefer the barbarian touch of MOTU, but I get blind looking at this guy.

It`s ironic, that I want spend my money on MOTUC, but half the time Mattel helps me saving cash.

[Uncle Montork]

I believe I got my first MOTU toys in 1981 as well, from what little I remember and what my mom tells me. I also had the toys for quite a good while before other media (even golden books) started showing up, so I do firmly believe it was 1981.

[darkmoon766]

Hmmm, we need to investigate this 1982 thing further. As you guys do have a point!

I got Man-at-Arms, He-man, Skeletor and Battlecat Christmas of 81.

[AnthonyHall666]

Don't mind the barbarian version but kinda not feeling the other versions. He looks a bit like one of those heman knock-offs. Anyone got a picture of the bald head. I rekon his barbarian version whould have rocked if they just gave him a plug-in pony tail :\

[Eamon]

the official start of the line was in feb 1982, as far as major promotion, some figures were already popping up on shelves x-mas of 1981, many figures still do that to this day, no mystery there folks

stores get many toys early and are stamped on box to not display until certain date, but stores goof up or dont care and still open and stock them up

Ah well, there ya go chaps!

[danbrenus]

I can't understand what I'm reading in this thread, months ago Emiliano posted his design for an ipotetical "He-man trio" and he received a real good feedback, with much praise about how good his work and his idea was compared to the crappy new figures for the 30th.
Now Toyguru announces the figure and everyone kick mud at his face!
How come? I mean, don't take me for the ass kisser of the day, I'm not very happy with MOTUC and I'm the first to say that much of my chagrin is due to Scott ideas, but now? For the first time he do something he read the fan would like and nobody is happy!
Like I said, I'm not fond to Scoot management but now it looks like to me that the guy he's right when he says that no matter whatever he'll do.

[Crusader]

I can't understand what I'm reading in this thread, months ago Emiliano posted his design for an ipotetical "He-man trio" and he received a real good feedback, with much praise about how good his work and his idea was compared to the crappy new figures for the 30th.
Now Toyguru announces the figure and everyone kick mud at his face!
How come? I mean, don't take me for the ass kisser of the day, I'm not very happy with MOTUC and I'm the first to say that much of my chagrin is due to Scott ideas, but now? For the first time he do something he read the fan would like and nobody is happy!
Like I said, I'm not fond to Scoot management but now it looks like to me that the guy he's right when he says that no matter whatever he'll do.

Isn't that a bit like comparing apples to pears ? Emiliano made a very well received fanart drawing of the Roger Sweet trio, while Scott bombarded them to the 2012 SDCC exclusive.
I liked Emiliano's drawing a lot because it was beautifully done and he's a tremendous artist. I don't like the MOTUC trio because A) I don't feel like they are iconic enough and hence the wrong choice to be an item that celebrates 30 years of He-Man and B) they totally lack in execution.
If they had been revealed as an extra non-subscription item or a secondary exclusive like Mo-Larr, I wouldn't have cared so much. Now I think it's just a missed opportunity.

[oICEMANo]

Emiliano also did not approach his art as one buck with clip-on parts (which really kills the look of the figure IMO)
His designs treated each character as a stand-alone figure with clever re-use and unique parts and thus making them look awesome!

[Marvelous0ne]

OK, please! Let's not turn this thread into one where stuff is throw back and forth about Emiliano and Scott/Mattel. It can just cause issues for everyone. If you like Emiliano's design. Cool! If you like Mattel's OK. I think it's best to leave it at that!

[dorrmann]

OK, please! Let's not turn this thread into one where stuff is throw back and forth about Emiliano and Scott/Mattel. It can just cause issues for everyone. If you like Emiliano's design. Cool! If you like Mattel's OK. I think it's best to leave it at that!

I couldn't agree more.

[Torak]

Emiliano also did not approach his art as one buck with clip-on parts (which really kills the look of the figure IMO)
His designs treated each character as a stand-alone figure with clever re-use and unique parts and thus making them look awesome!

I believe he was always meant to be one person, not three different people. It was part of the original pitch as far as I know. The idea being that He-Man ,like Big Jim, could be anything, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Military, etc. These were three examples of that.

Isn't that a bit like comparing apples to pears ? Emiliano made a very well received fanart drawing of the Roger Sweet trio, while Scott bombarded them to the 2012 SDCC exclusive.
I liked Emiliano's drawing a lot because it was beautifully done and he's a tremendous artist. I don't like the MOTUC trio because A) I don't feel like they are iconic enough and hence the wrong choice to be an item that celebrates 30 years of He-Man and B) they totally lack in execution.
If they had been revealed as an extra non-subscription item or a secondary exclusive like Mo-Larr, I wouldn't have cared so much. Now I think it's just a missed opportunity.

There were two different trios (by two designers), so with this character we now have 5 of the 6 in the line. The barbarian became He-man, Spaceman became Zodac. Tank guy became Man-At-Arms, etc. What better way to celebrate He-Man 30th than with his birth?

Just my opinion.

[Crusader]

There were two different trios (by two designers), so with this character we now have 5 of the 6 in the line. The barbarian became He-man, Spaceman became Zodac. Tank guy became Man-At-Arms, etc. What better way to celebrate He-Man 30th than with his birth?

... why does someone always feel the need to start explaining the 'importance' of the Roger Sweet trio every time someone else deems it the wrong choice for the 30th anniversary exclusive.

The trio is not He-Man's birth. Granted, they were the first step in the creative proces, they got the ball running, sure, but Mark Taylor's influences were just as essential, if not more. Look at the Torak picture, that's He-Man and Skeletor right there and they have as good as nothing in common with Roger Sweet's designs, who were little more than a hasty mishmash to pitch his project.

Anyway, to each his own, but I'm still saying that there's no better way to celebrate He-Man's 30th birthday with He-Man himself on a vintage coloured cardback, which is in my opinion the most iconic look you can get.

[Balthus Dire]

Anyway, to each his own, but I'm still saying that there's no better way to celebrate He-Man's 30th birthday with He-Man himself on a vintage coloured cardback, which is in my opinion the most iconic look you can get.

That would've been neat for sure, but personally I would have no interest in buying another He-Man simply for a cool cardback.

[Beastmaster]

The only thing I don't like about this exclusive is the diaper for the space guy. Why is it so long?

Other then that, I'm excited about these three guys.

[mekaneckpain]

I believe he was always meant to be one person, not three different people. It was part of the original pitch as far as I know. The idea being that He-Man ,like Big Jim, could be anything, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Military, etc. These were three examples of that.

Since the vintage prototypes show 3 different people, that's what we should have gotten. If the prototype pic showed one figure standing next to 2 other sets of clothes (and a diaper), then I would understand. To try and rationalize this as he is supposed to be one person when it was really done as a marketing tactic... is just ridiculous.

The whole scam behind VyKron is that if you want all three... and let's face it, we all do (at least those who like how he came out) will have to buy 3 of them to display him all three ways. So basically your getting gouged another $30. Then add that to how much shipping will be after buying 3 of them because of his huge package ... If you read between the lines, Quality was thrown out the window to make room for Mattel's shady business tactics.

[Blaster]

These are toys.

Toys.

I can certainly understand seeing a figure for the first time and not liking it. I know I've done the "what were they thinking?" routine a few times myself. But in the end, they're toys.

The amounts of constant, continuing rage, both aggressive and passive, I see here sometimes is mystifying. It's an action figure. A toy, born out of a childhood hobby for most of us. It's not the end of the world. I don't think there's anything wrong with not liking a particular release, but at the end of the day, if you don't like it, just don't buy it.

I also don't get the 'jump the shark' deal - MOTU by all rights "jumped the shark" around the time they released...well, pretty much the first wave back in the '80s. There's nothing about the MOTU concept as a whole that should work, yet it did. A bee guy, a skunk that really stinks, Orko, a talking fraidy cat, Random pieces of highly advanced technology in a sometimes barbaric, sometimes medieval world with no explanation, Gwildor, the Barbie elements of PoP, numerous unexplained continuity shifts in the mini-comics, the Christmas special....MOTU should have been dead in the water from pretty much Year One. But it didn't, and instead it thrived because it embraced the sublime and the ridiculous.

"Toys".... Very expensive toys, marketed at adults who have every right to debate the validity of something proposed for sale on the open market. Rage? Perhaps a bit over done I agree, I vote with my wallet and that is pretty much where it begins and ends. But it is not a valid argument now or ever has been that we shouldn't be debating and getting worked up over "toys". That is the nature of this forum, it should be understood before you sign up. Just sayin.

[SCB]

[mekaneckpain]

I don't buy the whole, "they're just toys" thing. Alot of us have a serious love affair with this line including myself. This line is a big thing and very important to alot of us. Yes, they may actually, factually be toys --- but for some of us they are pieces of art, priceless sculptures, plastic figures that hit home and help us re-live the days when nothing else mattered but these "toys". We want them to be the best the SHOULD be.

[the_ultimate_evil]

this years MOTU is actually perfect to me, i could not give 2 damns about these character, they just dont interest me

where as the whole shadow weaver mess up last year shows what they do when take a character everyone wanted and basically flips off the fans.

i'm own of the first to jump on mattel for they're many many many screw ups butthis year it seems they played with the head.

i'm not saying they're good figures but they are not ones i'm gonna be ****** about missing

[Berserker79]

Anyway, to each his own, but I'm still saying that there's no better way to celebrate He-Man's 30th birthday with He-Man himself on a vintage coloured cardback, which is in my opinion the most iconic look you can get.

Yep, a 2.0 He-Man would be way more iconic than some concept stuff from the 80's...

[BAKULL]

I often wondered the same but as far as I was aware, these 3 'He-Man' figures were presented in late 1979-1980, with figures going into production around 1981 and then launched in early 1982.
The toys really hit shelves in 1982 which I why I guess Mattel site that as the launch year. I do question if you really got a figure in 1981 or weather you are remembering it incorrectly.

I am pretty sure this is in the Power and Honor foundation catalog. Can someone confirm that? Emilainoooooo.......

I received my first he-man and accessories on christmas 1981!!!! I was 9 years old at the time.....the initial castle grayskull commercial was being aired before xmas '81...granted though this was the beginning of collecting my favorite toy series which I still am lol!!! (classics wise) so my memory receptors are finely tuned when it comes to the MOTU!!! I think the MATTEL push was for motu to be out for the 1981 xmas season.....(however,,,limited though) because that is when they made their money back in those days. just my 2 cents....

[MegaGearMax]

I got my stuff in Christmas of 1981 as well. He-Man and Wind Raider, Grayskull, Man-At-Arms and Skeletor.

[BAKULL]

I got my stuff in Christmas of 1981 as well. He-Man and Wind Raider, Grayskull, Man-At-Arms and Skeletor.

Long Live PRE-FILMATION MOTU!!!!!

AHHH....the memories......I was kicking back on the chair in the tv room early on a saturday morning....around halloween time 1981!!! watching scooby doo where are you episode followed by the superfriends....eating some BOO BERRY cereal when all of a sudden....a commerical caught my attention with this "red beast"(beast man) coming out of a skull faced opening....and then the commercial states that you can pit he man against beast man for the power of castle grayskull "you have to put the castle together" and then the dad saved the castle by initiating the throne release for the trapdoor and then beast man fell out of frame.......At that moment my life changed!!!!! lol nothing had affected me more in my short 9 years (previously being a huge STAR WARS vintage 1978-1979 collector)then seeing that huge playset with gothic skull face and opening jaws...(the force of the jedi was gone and the fortress of mystery and power engulfed me) at that moment i changed my xmas list and crossed off the empire strikes back playsets and figures and instead listed "CASTLE GRAYSKULL". THE ADVENTURE AND JOURNEY BEGAN!!!!!

[TheShadow]

The Vykron Barbarian one is OK but I don't like the other outfits. I've not been a fan of these designs in any form I've seen them; they just aren't something I personally need in my collection. I'll most likely be skipping them at SDCC this year. I definitely understand the reasoning behind doing something like this for the 30th though, it just isn't something I am interested in.