King Randor vintage figure review thread

[Spacedust]

Another week, another vintage review thread.

This week, let's turn our attentions to one of the surprise releases of the final wave. That wise old ruler himself, KING RANDOR.

There were two characters present throughout the MOTU franchise, who appeared regularily in various media, but never had figures made of them. Until the final wave. One was the Sorceress, the other was King Randor.

When I suddenly saw Randor's image on the back of very late release boxes, I was, like many, surprised and amazed.

Whereas most of the late figures were very gimmick-heavy, Randor is surprisingly (but thankfully) very basic. He has the basic 'Heroic Warrior' body mold, with just the head and crown being a new sculpt. He wears a repaint of Jitsu's armor. He also has a cape, and a lance / 'sceptre' (a gold version of the standard Castle Grayskull spear, also carried by Whiplash).

King Randor first appeared in the second wave mini-comics, originally called King Miro. The name Miro was later given to Randor's father, introduced in the second season episode "Search for the Past". Many versions of MOTU lore showed Randor to be grey haired and rather wizened looking, but the actual figure went more with the Filmation-version.

King Randor was way too late and too rare for me to ever have originally. I got my first Randor, nude, as part of a lot a few years ago, and have since got a mint example.

Of course, King Randor was married to the lovely Queen Marlena. There was never a Marlena figure. If the line had continued for another wave, would she have been another surprise release?

King Randor was prominant in the Mike Young Productions 2002 cartoon (although Marlena was dropped into the background somewhat). There was never a figure released, although there was later a staction.

All-in-all... the Randor figure is basic, but not too bad off for it, and his character shines through. I'll give it a reasonable 8 out of 10.

So there are my Randor ramblins.
Now I'd like to hear your own thoughts, comments, memories, suggestions, and anything else KR-related. And whether you post or not, don't forget to rate the vintage figure in the poll!

[motu77]

I give him a 10. I always wanted to see him as a figure and was estatic when I finally got him in 87. Mattel did good job in designing him too, even if he looks a little like the Burger King.

[davidlogan]

I can remember as a kid how shocked I was when I saw him on the toy shelf. Man, was I pleased. I also love that he has no action feature. Perfect 10 out of 10. He and Scareglow were the last motu figs I got in my childhood and the only ones I was able to get out of the later waves.

[Spacedust]

But does he gain a 10 simply on being a late and unexpected release? What if he had come out earlier?

[timhodge]

I never had a Randor, but I think it's excellent that they released him. Like the Sorceress, it's great to see the toy line being used to support the TV series, rather than the cartoon being used to pimp the action figures as was so often the case. It is definitely a tragedy that we didn't get Marlena as well though.

[Darth Latveria]

I had one and I loved it. As I recall, we ordered him and I was soooo happy when he arrived. I am not sure why, but I absolutely loved the crown too!

He was very possibly the last figure that I got as well.

I'd have to give him a ten.

[krugos]

I didn't have it back then, nor did any of my friends, so I don't have nostalgic attachments for this figure. I don't remember wanting it, unlike other figures that I never had or saw (other than in the back of the figure cards) but really loved.

I would think that for being so prominent in the cartoon I would have been more enthusiast about this figure, but it wasn't so. I think it's just because it didn't have anything special to offer, as other figures released at that time, other than just being himself.

I'll give it a 6.

[Spinnerella_of_OZ]

I say he gets a nine, come on the man is He-Man and She-Ras dad!

He was an important character in the show and the action figure is definately one of my favourites, he looks very regal and powerful and even though he doesn't have an action he does have lots of cool accesories like his Spear, sword and crown.

I didn't have any MOTU when i was young only POP but I have quite a few now including King Randor!

[davidlogan]

But does he gain a 10 simply on being a late and unexpected release? What if he had come out earlier?

That's a good question and it may have something to do with it. Tough to say. A lot of the simple figures have been my favs, so I'd have still scored him really high. Probably a ten either way.

he does have lots of cool accesories like his Spear, sword and crown.

That would have been cool if he had come with a sword too. I wonder what his would have looked like?

[Darth Latveria]

I think that the lack of an action feature is a big part of the appeal of the figure. I loathe action features. Most of them are utterly stupid and they frequently screw up articulation. Some are better than others (like cobra khan's spray, and extendar's extending) but as a rule of thumb i prefer them to be avoided.

[Faker]

I give him a 7, though he looks a lot like 'The Burger King' and that creeps me out a bit

[Dr Bo]

I got one as a kid from a special offer though mail, and remmber very well having received it on December 23, one day before the other gifts from that year (must have 1987). I remember how thrilled I was to get He-Man dad and a King on top of it!

I always liked how the Randor figure look like He-Man and Prince Adam, thus making sense as is father. Also much appreciated how they took the cartoon version and while being pretty faithful added much heroism an warrior attribute to the character, turning a sober and solemn ruler into a pretty cool warrior king.

I think in all Mattel did what Filmation did to their character: took the main idea and make thier mine and interesting in their respective medium.

I just bought back a King Randor on E-Bay. I often bidded on some but always got outbidded. Not that I stressed, but they're a maximum price I wouldn't go over. Happily I found one nice and clean at a price I was confortable and on Buy it now.
Can wait to have one back, haven't seen one in real life for like 15 years or so!

[He-Fan]

Chris here...

I have a lot of happy memories of getting my King Randor - having come into collecting MOTU pretty late he was actually one of the earliest figures I got, for Christmas 1988!

I always liked how the Randor figure look like He-Man and Prince Adam, thus making sense as is father.

Hey yeah, now that you mention it, there is a fair amount of similarity in the facial sculpt of Adam/He-Man and King Randor, simply that Randor has a beard!! I can't believe I never noticed that before, that's fantastic!

Also much appreciated how they took the cartoon version and while being pretty faithful added much heroism an warrior attribute to the character, turning a sober and solemn ruler into a pretty cool warrior king.

Yeah, amen to that, another reason why I think Randor is such a great figure!

When I play with my MOTU figures (which I'm not ashamed to admit I still do from time to time, although not as often as I'd like), I often portray Randor as having had to take up warrior ways again due to the increased threat from Skeletor and/or Evil-Lyn - I pick up on the reference from "Prince Adam No More" where he states he hasn't fought like that since he was a boy and basically build on that!

The thing I like about the King Randor figure is that it would have been really easy for Mattel to make a figure that was very cartoon-accurate (and thus, let's face it, rather dull) or that felt very "fake" because of having to change his personality to make an interesting figure. As it is, IMO neither of those things happened - somehow, Randor is both exciting and fits very nicely into Mattel's vision of the He-Man universe!

Take care...

[Oceanwalker]

I bought my Randor off of Ebay a few years ago and I have like 2 moc and one loose.

I like Randor, he's really darn cool.

[Dr Bo]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr Bo
I always liked how the Randor figure look like He-Man and Prince Adam, thus making sense as is father.

Hey yeah, now that you mention it, there is a fair amount of similarity in the facial sculpt of Adam/He-Man and King Randor, simply that Randor has a beard!! I can't believe I never noticed that before, that's fantastic!

Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised they had started from a He-Man head cast to sculpt Randor.
I liked this aspect, I found often imaginary character miss to have a visual link of their family ties, and this one was even better than in the Filmation series.

[Louis649]

I received Randor's action figure 2 days ago of an auction I won from Ebay and I couldn't be more happy to have it in my collection. I got it with all the accesories minus the cape and in c-8.5 for just $18.50 with s&h included. It's a great looking action figure and a must to have for any MOTU action figure collector.

I want to ask you guys if you know the type of fabric Randor's cape was made so I could make a custom one for my figure. Getting the real deal is very,very hard.

[TriKlops1971]

Mattel waited too long to release the King Randor figure. I thought he looked very cool, but not overdone. No big frills, just a classic-looking action figure. It would have been nice if Mattel had included the King Randor figure as a freebie with it's Eternia playset. By the time KR was put out on toy store shelves, I was about 16 or 17 and becoming more interested in cars and girlie magazines than collecting MOTU stuff

[Midwinter]

I will have to agree with the last post. I was not in my teens, but I was already entering 1st grade I think. Sure I loved MOTU still, but not even a key figure like this could restore the glory of the early years.

I love Filmation and I love the cartoons, but the toys were always first in my mind. The problem is that King Randor is not a cool figure unless you love the cartoon.

[Evil_Horde]

One of my favourite AF! Voted 9!

[PaoloKr]

I always wanted him as figure.
A was disappointed for the Jitsu armor, but in the end he's a really good figure.

[DynastyMasters]

Wait a minute, it has been said that the toys always came before their cartoon counterparts, but in the case of King Randor, the cartoon character came first and then the action figure. I'm guessing he is the only one in this category, as well as the Sorceress.

[baronterror]

5. Never had him as a kid. He's ok. So half marks.