RockinHard's Top MOTUC Pictorial/Review Countdown!

[MOTU_Maniac]

Those Slush Head pics are awesome!

[DVD]

Just wanted to say that your pics and mini-reviews are awesome! It's super cool that you took your figures outside to photograph and I bet you're having a blast doing it! Keep it up!

[RockinHard]

#67

Optikk

The upper torso piece of the figure is terrifically sculpted and the two different-colored eyeball-heads is a very nice option to have. Further, the re-used Trap-Jaw arms are almost spot-on to the original figure’s design. The gun and newly-designed shield are fantastic as well. However, the main issue with Optikk is the legs, utilizing the (now) overused Trap-Jaw legs that do not wholly match the design of the original figure. They have some similarities, true, but do noticeably differ, and this is once again Mattel taking the unfortunate cheap way out, ultimately bringing the figure’s overall design and authenticity toward the character down a few notches.



I see that the legs aren't mine.

[wayneepoo]

I love what's been done with Optikk and Slush Head in MOTUC. I think Karatti is going to look awesome too. I definitely agree that the Trap Jaw legs have been overused and cheapen the figures a bit. Seems like they could have bit the bullet on Optikk and created some "NA" legs which could have been reused on other NA figures down the road.

As for the other Space Mutants, I think the 4H can do wonders with Flogg, Quakke, and Lizzor. Possibly Hoove. But Staghorn and Butthead are just ugly figures to me, and would say it would be a huge challege to make them look cool. If anyone can do it, though, it would be the Horsemen.

[RockinHard]

#66

Queen Marlena

It hurts a little to have Queen Marlena this low in the countdown, as I have ALWAYS wanted a figure of the character based on how she appeared in the FILMation cartoon. Alas, this figure doesn’t live up to expectations. Other than the arms and head, the figure basically isn’t poseable; the dress restricts any movement below the shoulders/arms. Though the dress itself, and particularly the scepter accessory, are very nice, detailed sculpts, the inability to move the figure is a real disappointment. The paint on the face is also poorly applied, taking away from the sculpt and beauty of the character. As mentioned with Captain Glenn, the ability to remove the dress, having tabs in back of the dress that intrude on the sculpt, is more of an unwelcome gimmick; it would have been better to simply give us a Queen Marlena figure in the green dress, and a separate Captain Glenn figure in white. Nevertheless, flaws and all, I’m very happy to finally have a FILMation-based Queen Marlena figure.


Needing to go to the Eternia Salon.

[hadley]

If Faceless One had a long robe, would you criticize him the same way you just did Queen Marlena? It'd render him basically un-posable too. Though really, he is pretty much that anyway due to his armor design and top-heaviness. I still think he looks super awesome, even if he basically just a mashup of Skeletor and Hordak.

Edit: I tend to agree with your points on the NA figures, but I really don't think they'd ever be made if they couldn't make them cheaply.

[RockinHard]

Those Slush Head pics are awesome!

Thanks, man!

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Just wanted to say that your pics and mini-reviews are awesome! It's super cool that you took your figures outside to photograph and I bet you're having a blast doing it! Keep it up!

Thank you, kindly! Keep posting!

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Seems like they could have bit the bullet on Optikk and created some "NA" legs which could have been reused on other NA figures down the road.

As for the other Space Mutants, I think the 4H can do wonders with Flogg, Quakke, and Lizzor. Possibly Hoove. But Staghorn and Butthead are just ugly figures to me, and would say it would be a huge challege to make them look cool. If anyone can do it, though, it would be the Horsemen.

I agree - they should have at least created some NA legs or something. And yes, the FH can make all the mutants look cool. I have faith in that!

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If Faceless One had a long robe, would you criticize him the same way you just did Queen Marlena? It'd render him basically un-posable too. Though really, he is pretty much that anyway due to his armor design and top-heaviness. I still think he looks super awesome, even if he basically just a mashup of Skeletor and Hordak.

Edit: I tend to agree with your points on the NA figures, but I really don't think they'd ever be made if they couldn't make them cheaply.

It depends on how the Robe was handled. If they just put an unmovable layer of plastic around the figure's legs, I would probably criticize it, yes. But I'm sure they could come up with a solution for that. They are very creative (the Horsemen).

And yes, it seems even concept figures get more attention than NA. Though, I don't think ALL the NA characters have been treated the same in the line so far.

[JoeyCruel]

#70

Slushhead

The main issue I take with Slushhead is that Mattel cheapened the figure in regards to its lower half. If we compare it to the vintage figure, it’s obvious that Mattel took cost-reducing liberties in this department, as the Classics version does not share the same unique sculpt and instead shares parts from other figures. Also, another issue I have is that the tentacles do not stay attached on mine, but simply fall down or out of their connector. Therefore, it’s almost impossible to pose/move them and have them stay in place. The torso, however, is quite nice, with a very nicely sculpted head and armor piece (though the face through that clear plastic helmet is difficult to photograph!). The option and ability to fill the water dome with water is a nice addition as well.


I'll grab ya if I my attachments don't fall out first!

I share your disappointment, it's the same problem I have with Snake Face. The upper part of these figures is really good and the shared parts are a smart choice but the lower parts are dull.
They should have sculpt another pair of legs full of blisters shared between Snake Face and Slush Head.

[RockinHard]

#65

The Sorceress

Never had the figure as a kid, and couldn’t wait to have The Sorceress in Classics. And I love the paint scheme chosen and used on the figure, updating the head and wing colors beautifully. I also love the how the wings “work,” as the wings’ ability to raise and spread when the figure’s arms are raised is a pretty cool feature. However, the “drums” on the back of the figure are a bit of an eye sore. I really don’t know if there is a feasible, better way to have the wing feature work or not without those drums, but as it stands, it’s just undesirable to have them sticking out the way they do. Also, the way the wings are constructed hinders arm articulation, particularly the lower arms; the wings are attached to the lower arms and unfortunately prevent movement without the wings coming along for the ride. This is disheartening when attempting to pose or move the figure to say the least. Meanwhile, the paint apps to the face are possibly just as underwhelming. The Sorceress should be striking and beautiful, yet the figure’s face definitely lacks in that area. Regardless, when posed with those wings spread on the shelf amongst the other Classics figures, it remains an awesome sight.


Are wing drums on a girl's back done at the Eternian Spa?

[SCB]

Why are Faker and Wun-Dar so far apart? They're both repaints of He-Man with different armor and colored skin.

[RockinHard]

Why are Faker and Wun-Dar so far apart? They're both repaints of He-Man with different armor and colored skin.

I personally find Faker to be more unique, and the fact that he is a robot (with gears on his chest). I find the figure to be more aesthetically pleasing as well. And again, if we get an alternate head for Wun-Dar that TG has mentioned in the past, Wun-Dar would and will be ranked higher (see my review on the figure).

[He-Dad]

Awesome pics as always. I love the details on Optikk's eyeball but the rest of the figure is eh to me. I love Marlena and I too always wanted her as a child. I agree that the posing is limited and wish they would have at least given her the ability to sit!. The Sorceress is an awesome figure but I prefer TOD myself. Don't get me wrong, I love the Filmation coloring but there's just something extra about TOD that makes me love her a little more.

[Teacher of Madness]

I love this thread! The photos are great, and as others have said it's a nice retrospective. I disagree with your ranking of several of the figures so far but that's not at all killing my enjoyment of it all. Keep it up!

[RockinHard]

#64

He-Ro

When I first saw the vintage prototype for He-Ro, I was very unimpressed – to put it lightly. When the Classics version came out, I still wasn’t impressed, though it was a marked improvement. With the exception of the rigid plastic used on the cape, which prevents him from riding beasts (unless we take the armor off or partially off), He-Ro is a solid figure: great sculpt, paint, and the articulation is good (though mine has loose leg/ankle joints). The choice to not vac-metalize his armor was wise, as using the vac-metal would have potentially lessened the figure (though I could be wrong on that one – can’t possibly know until having seen the actual product). To this day, however, the design choice I dislike the most is the hair on the figure; it just adds a little too much 80’s cheese and looks a little too “fab” compared to all the other beings in MOTU. I’m just not a fan. Regardless, I HAVE warmed up to He-Ro, and even more so his backstory and importance to the MOTU mythos.



Anyone got any Spritz for my hair? Vidal Sassoon?

[shadowfall1976]

He-Ro strikes me as what Superman would look like in MOTU....at least the face sculpt....very Clark Kent.

[RockinHard]

I love this thread! The photos are great, and as others have said it's a nice retrospective. I disagree with your ranking of several of the figures so far but that's not at all killing my enjoyment of it all. Keep it up!

Thank you for the support!

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He-Ro strikes me as what Superman would look like in MOTU....at least the face sculpt....very Clark Kent.

Yes, face sculpt, yes. Hair? No.

[He-Dad]

He-Ro strikes me as what Superman would look like in MOTU....at least the face sculpt....very Clark Kent.

Now that you say that I totally agree! Maybe that's why I like him so much. Luckily mine had a purple stone so no Kryptonite (though that green photographs really well!)

[shadowfall1976]

Yes, face sculpt, yes. Hair? No.

Actually the hair depends on which Superman, I have seen him sport very similar looks. And the head band, would be from Krypton, as I've seen the Krypton Elders wear similar things in different Superman media.

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Now that you say that I totally agree! Maybe that's why I like him so much. Luckily mine had a purple stone so no Kryptonite (though that green photographs really well!)

Pop He-Ro's head on SLL, and bam, MOTUC Superman!!!!

He'd go great with the Purple Deadpool / X-Men recruit named Spector.

[Lich Leech]

Cy-Chop is truly awful, IMO. None of the parts look like they belong together. The head looks silly, the scissors look sillier.

[Micro-Man]

As usual, it's fun to come back here and see more of your awesome photography! This time, I have a lot of catching up to do...

I had no clue who Optikk was when I first saw this figure. While I was weighing the pros and cons of going all-in with MOTUC, NA and POG characters were put lowest on my list of priorities. As I shifted my collecting habits towards MOTUC, though, Optikk was actually the figure that bridged the gap between being a vintage/POP purist to wanting every figure in the lineup. He's so unique with that crazy eyeball of his and I like all the detail in his armor. Yeah, the reuse of Trap-Jaw's lower body is unfortunate but he still looks cool to me. NA might be the only MOTU incarnation that feels out of place to many (Although I keep reading here that the new DC comics might have that beat now, heheh!) but I have to admit: The NA designs in the hands of the 4H are very impressive and I feel that the MOTUC canon is doing a great job in integrating it into the mythos. I look forward more to seeing new NA figures than a lot of the vintage characters of the final MOTU waves!

I'm very happy to see Queen Marlena in all her Filmation glory. She's an essential member of the royal family and deserved her own figure. I always keep her in her Queen attire. After watching "The Rainbow Warrior", I agree that the white astronaut attire should've been made instead of the green one. While I also would've liked her to be able to sit down, I don't have any throne for her so it doesn't bug me as much. The only minor gripe I have is that her face looks a bit too fierce for Marlena...She was always so kind and motherly to everyone.

The Sorceress is a must-have figure for me, she's one of my favorite MOTU characters. I left vintage MOTU around the time that the Snake Men came out so I didn't know there was a vintage Sorceress until many years later. So when the MOTUC version was revealed, I had to buy her. She's the only 2012 figure that I was afraid of missing out on during DOS but thankfully, I got her with no hassles. While those drums are unsightly, I don't pose her much. Like with Marlena, there's no throne for her so I don't need to have her sitting either. The Sorceress wasn't an action-based character and she looks great in her classic pose. I rank her pretty high on my list but still place the TOD version just a notch above her.

He-Ro is another new character to me and it's fun to learn more about him. The figure has a neat, mythological feel to it which is perfect for such an important character. I'm also glad that they went with a metallic gold paint deco instead of the vac metal look. I was a little indifferent towards the POG storyline in the beginning but it's slowly becoming one of my favorite factions. Hey, they got techno-dinos with guns, how can you not like it? Cool, you also have the green gem...That's my favorite color and it really shows off nicely in your pics!

[Mad Scientist]

About Sorceress I guess the only thing to make the wings without the drums is to make a fabric wing-cape. The silverhawks figures are the perfect example. But I think their intention was to make the figure closer to the original toy

[EagleOne]

I like this thread. It's a good overview of what we have and good to get someone else's point of view.
I can't say I agree with the rankings but RockinHard you are doing a great job. Keep it up!

[iron_pride]

So far so good Rockin'. I would rank characters such as Faker and Panthor, even Swift Wind a bit higher, but I can agree with your reasons...I always have a hard time differentiating between my head and my heart when it comes to this sort of thing...Faker was like my holy grail MOTU fig when I was little, though yes indeed, he's a cheap out by Mattel all the way. Great thread buddy. I am still working on my list that you inspired me to do. Also, I love the fact that you are totally and completely not biased about any characters as proven by your countdown and that is very cool.

[Lich Leech]

I'm not a huge fan of He-Ro. He looks more like a generic Marvel Comics hero than something out of MOTU. I love the sorceress, though, I think she looks great. She's so iconic. I would have put her in the top 30.

[Defendery]

Really fun thread. I have most of my figs older than 2012 packed up right now unfortunately and it is great to see them in action. I loved playing with my action figures outside as a kid, these pics made my day. Awesome thread! Thanks.