Answers to WTFWTK 2.88!

[JVS3]

Mattel has once again provided answers to your questions.
Thanks again to them for taking the time to answer these!
Check out their answers to your Round 88 questions!

This round of questions were selected by Penny Dreadful.
Thanks to that fan for their help!

1. grenadaspice: Many fans are worried that they won't get all the figures they want from POP, NA, 200X, Filmation, prototypes, and concepts if the line might go mainly vintage, with A/B-Listers from the other canons sprinkled in. Has there ever been any conversations of splitting the line up into 3 separate lines: MOTU Classics, POP Classics, and (NA) He-Man Classics? It almost seems like a good way off getting all the characters out, yet if allowing the fans to not have to subscribe to getting characters from a canon they don't care about.

MOTUC is one line that is all inclusive. There are no plans for separate POP or NA lines at this time.

2. Scorpia: Octavia looks AMAZING. You get a lot of flack, so I'd like to thank you for giving her to us. I'm a bit concerned about her tentacles. How is Mattel going to ensure the final figure doesn't topple over under the weight of her wide-spanning tentacles? And how do they fit underneath her hair, without pushing her head down so she's looking at the floor?

We are still a little far off from a tool'd model but the idea is the tentacles will plug into ball joints on her back. As far as toppling over, we'll do all we can to get her balanced.

3. bcrduke: Amazing reveals at Power Con and thank you for the Mattel presence there! Upon closer inspection of the sample Netossa in the case at Power Con, it became obvious that her shin/calf pieces were reversed. Will this be fixed? Please don't allow the next POP character to be ruined by this factory mistake.

Yup. These are corrected on the final figure. Often early hand made prototypes are done quickly for shows. The same thing happened to Mosquitor and he was corrected for production!

4. Swanmarsh: Now the road map has been thrown away, will Mattel reconsider its policy of re-issueing old figures repackaged with their alternate (200x inspired) head on display (i.e. MAA, Mer-Man, Whiplash)? This could be a way to make additional dollars off the old molds to help off-set cost of tooling new MOTUC figures.

Definitely not. New heads would require a development sku and right now we are going to use all the skus we have for new characters (or legit variants such as Thunderpunch He-Man etc…)

5. Wolfman Jake: I feel some boundaries were pushed too far with the death of many iconic characters in the service of "moving the story forward." A lot of fans have very strong attachments to these characters, and killing them off, especially so unceremoniously in certain cases, doesn't resonate well with the celebration of MOTUC. Would you and your creative team consider retconning or touching up some of these major character deaths in future bios or other outlets for the line's fiction?

Nope. Deaths, births and change is part of the MOTUC storyline and we will not be retconning it. But keep in mind that MOTUC mini comics and bios are not the definitive cannon. Adventures told in movies, animation or in your own backyard are just as legitimate.

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[MegaGearMax]

4. Swanmarsh: Now the road map has been thrown away, will Mattel reconsider its policy of re-issueing old figures repackaged with their alternate (200x inspired) head on display (i.e. MAA, Mer-Man, Whiplash)? This could be a way to make additional dollars off the old molds to help off-set cost of tooling new MOTUC figures.

Definitely not. New heads would require a development sku and right now we are going to use all the skus we have for new characters (or legit variants such as Thunderpunch He-Man etc…)

I guess 200X fans better hope that the line continues long enough for those characters to get revisited. However the problem with that is the Quality Control and Digital River issues that have shaken up many fans. We have fans who are fearful to pre-order Castle Grayskull of all things because of these problems.

[SunDevil]

I love how they COMPLETELY misunderstood Swanmarsh's question. He was obviously referring to having figures like Mer-Man or Whiplash or FIsto repackaged with NO NEW PARTS but with the alternate head attached.

I am no fan of 200X but this kneejerk reaction - NO WE WILL NOT MAKE NEW 200X HEADS STOP ASKING - was just ridiculous. That is NOT what he was asking!

Mattel has a chance to sell us the very same figures with nothing new made by just shifting how things are packaged. If they make some more money doing this, maybe we'd get some new figures or an extension of the line. As a MOC collector, I'd love a MerMan packed with his cardback head or TrapJaw packed as Kronis, etc. And these could be completely optional so other fans would not be tied into buying them.

At least answer the question being asked please, Mattel.

[Prahvus]

More non-answers and negative answers. So disappointing, but so usual coming from Mattel.

[Flor2099]

Question #4 must have been answered in a hurry while on the toilet or something.

[cbomb23]

I love how they COMPLETELY misunderstood Swanmarsh's question. He was obviously referring to having figures like Mer-Man or Whiplash or FIsto repackaged with NO NEW PARTS but with the alternate head attached.

I am no fan of 200X but this kneejerk reaction - NO WE WILL NOT MAKE NEW 200X HEADS STOP ASKING - was just ridiculous. That is NOT what he was asking!

Mattel has a chance to sell us the very same figures with nothing new made by just shifting how things are packaged. If they make some more money doing this, maybe we'd get some new figures or an extension of the line. As a MOC collector, I'd love a MerMan packed with his cardback head or TrapJaw packed as Kronis, etc. And these could be completely optional so other fans would not be tied into buying them.

At least answer the question being asked please, Mattel.

And while some fans may be interested in these (I would) it's just a different way of asking for re-issues and they've said they will not be going back into production on older figures as ultimately the demand for the number they need to produce is'nt there. Granted they answered the question as if it were for older figures with new heads such as Clawful and Buzz-Off.

[Wolfman Jake]

Not really surprised by the answer to my question, I'm just disappointed. Scott's response seemed very defensive too. A little acknowledgement of the emotional impact they're creating just for the heck of it would have been nice.

[Alexx]

Not really surprised by the answer to my question, I'm just disappointed. Neil's response seemed very defensive too. A little acknowledgement of the emotional impact they're creating just for the heck of it would have been nice.

Well honestly, you gotta speak for yourself here. I can't imagine the ones who are "emotionally impacted" by this is a very large group. Just think of the bios as suggested lore and not stuff you have to use. I mean...there's still the minicomics lore, filmation lore, and 200X lore (not to mention the differences in various comics and overseas stuff). Do what you like; don't let yourself be tied to one particular story. Chances are they wouldn't have played out like that in filmation or the DC comics, so why not take things in that direction? Or anything you like, really. They aren't gona randomly retcon things in the bios just 'cause some people are upset about a story attached to a toyline that you can easily write yourself.

Besides, like I said: It'll all be changed whenever they make a movie or reboot the series again. No point worrying about one of the many different stories of MotU when another one will come along and replace it soon enough.

[phantom1592]

I love how they COMPLETELY misunderstood Swanmarsh's question. He was obviously referring to having figures like Mer-Man or Whiplash or FIsto repackaged with NO NEW PARTS but with the alternate head attached.

I am no fan of 200X but this kneejerk reaction - NO WE WILL NOT MAKE NEW 200X HEADS STOP ASKING - was just ridiculous. That is NOT what he was asking!

Mattel has a chance to sell us the very same figures with nothing new made by just shifting how things are packaged. If they make some more money doing this, maybe we'd get some new figures or an extension of the line. As a MOC collector, I'd love a MerMan packed with his cardback head or TrapJaw packed as Kronis, etc. And these could be completely optional so other fans would not be tied into buying them.

At least answer the question being asked please, Mattel.

To be fair... I misread the question myself

It HAS been said repeatedly that ANY change is an SKU... So frankly I'm not really sure if there is DEMAND for something like this. There may be a few MOC collector's who want the different pack outs... but certainly not enough to justify a whole new run of figures.

And if they put THESE guys in the sub... then the internet would explode

[He-Dad]

To be fair... I misread the question myself

It HAS been said repeatedly that ANY change is an SKU... So frankly I'm not really sure if there is DEMAND for something like this. There may be a few MOC collector's who want the different pack outs... but certainly not enough to justify a whole new run of figures.

And if they put THESE guys in the sub... then the internet would explode

I think you're right. Besides, the only people that would benefit are MOC collectors. Most loose collectors that wanted to display both versions bout 2 and did so. Seems like a waste of a sku that could be used on new characters to me.

[Wolfman Jake]

Well honestly, you gotta speak for yourself here. I can't imagine the ones who are "emotionally impacted" by this is a very large group. Just think of the bios as suggested lore and not stuff you have to use. I mean...there's still the minicomics lore, filmation lore, and 200X lore (not to mention the differences in various comics and overseas stuff). Do what you like; don't let yourself be tied to one particular story. Chances are they wouldn't have played out like that in filmation or the DC comics, so why not take things in that direction? Or anything you like, really. They aren't gona randomly retcon things in the bios just 'cause some people are upset about a story attached to a toyline that you can easily write yourself.

Besides, like I said: It'll all be changed whenever they make a movie or reboot the series again. No point worrying about one of the many different stories of MotU when another one will come along and replace it soon enough.

I can appreciate where you're coming from, but as much as you can just decide to disregard any particular line of fiction in a brand, they all make an impact to one degree or another. I've said this before, and it was part of my original question (but had to be edited for length and clarity), but all the non-heroic and wanton death seems so very out of tune with a series that is supposed to be a celebration of Masters of the Universe. Once again, I can draw parallels with another very famous 80's toyline and its associated fiction, Transformers. But consider instead the live action movies, from the past five years. Lots of longtime fans hate the way this particular franchise of the brand has been handled, and now some of the stranger quirks are bleeding over into new fiction as well. That's why we still have to put up with a mute Bumblebee to this day.

[Alexx]

I can appreciate where you're coming from, but as much as you can just decide to disregard any particular line of fiction in a brand, they all make an impact to one degree or another. I've said this before, and it was part of my original question (but had to be edited for length and clarity), but all the non-heroic and wanton death seems so very out of tune with a series that is supposed to be a celebration of Masters of the Universe. Once again, I can draw parallels with another very famous 80's toyline and its associated fiction, Transformers. But consider instead the live action movies, from the past five years. Lots of longtime fans hate the way this particular franchise of the brand has been handled, and now some of the stranger quirks are bleeding over into new fiction as well. That's why we still have to put up with a mute Bumblebee to this day.

While I don't agree that the deaths are wanton (I would change some minor things about them, but otherwise I'm cool with who is dying) I can see where you're coming from with the example of Transformers. They were certainly big time movies, but I also don't understand why Bumblebee had to be silent forever more because of it.

However, that's Hasbro's way of doing things, and so far MotU has been thrown around with so many stories over the years that I'm not sure they'll go that route with any future story endevours. I of course cannot say that for certain, and therefore cannot discount your fears, but I do still feel that a new movie or series (or even comic book, like we've sorta got now) will yet again take an entirely new route in terms of the fate of the characters.

[phantom1592]

Let's stick with MOTU for examples...

Like KELDOR.

I ABSOLUTELY HATE that the Evil 'Lord of Destruction' and 'Overlord of Evil' has been relegated to 'He-man' uncle Keldor'.

I personally find it sad repetative storytelling to have EVERYONE be 'secretly related' Star Wars made it famous... but now it's Soap opera drama.

Hower since it was 'hinted at' in the vintage line's final wave... 200x has used it. MOTUC has used it... the minis are using it... the DC Comics are using it...


It's become ingrained, and frankly I doubt we'll ever get back to 'Demonic terrorist intent to rule the universe.... vs. the only man powerful enough to stop him.'

[Swanmarsh]

I love how they COMPLETELY misunderstood Swanmarsh's question. He was obviously referring to having figures like Mer-Man or Whiplash or FIsto repackaged with NO NEW PARTS but with the alternate head attached.

I am no fan of 200X but this kneejerk reaction - NO WE WILL NOT MAKE NEW 200X HEADS STOP ASKING - was just ridiculous. That is NOT what he was asking!

Mattel has a chance to sell us the very same figures with nothing new made by just shifting how things are packaged. If they make some more money doing this, maybe we'd get some new figures or an extension of the line. As a MOC collector, I'd love a MerMan packed with his cardback head or TrapJaw packed as Kronis, etc. And these could be completely optional so other fans would not be tied into buying them.

At least answer the question being asked please, Mattel.

Glad to see someone understands what I was asking! LOL. No new heads or new tooling, just a different package presentation.

Oh well. At least it was a straight answer - albeit not to my actual question.