MOTU Origins Hordak & Grizzlor (Sketchbook Series)

I took a hard pass on this MOTU Origins 2-pk some time ago but inspected it more closely when it recently dropped from $29.99 to $8.99 at my local Target. Grizzlor's Terror Claws are obscured in the package, hiding one of my favorite MOTU Origins accessories, worth the price of admission alone! I don't think the box art shows any of the real concept sketches for these characters, but out of the package these figures are more interesting, despite their somewhat morose palette.

Below, Sketchbook Series Hordak with my MOTU Origins Hordak:

Sketchbook Series Hordak Vs. Despera ...!

Below, Sketchbook Series Grizzlor and Hordak with Despera and the Horde Revenant...

To my delight, this Grizzlor came with the same accessories as Terror Claws Skeletor ...!

Grizzlor and the Skel-Knight imprison my MOTU x Stranger Things Vecna...

And finally, Sketchbook Series Grizzlor and Hordak with my MOTU Origins Hordak, Horde Troopers, Horde Revenant, and Despera. These Sketchbook Series figures can just stand in as more of Hordak's henchmen. I've doubled my Evil Horde group pretty quickly the last few weeks, and I know there's a couple more on ice- stay tuned!

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Five Below: Mini Vending My Machine (Pink) & Rainbow Quacks

 When I found these bagged Rainbow Quacks at Five Below, I picked up another Mini Vending Machine to put them in- this one pink to complement the pastel tones of what I estimate to be about 250 ducks. The ducks are small enough to dispense into the machine drawer below, though not 100% dependably. Regardless, a makes a unique background piece for my "arcade" diorama. Below, She-Hulk, Tigra, and Capt. Marvel watch Dazzler retrieve a duck from the vending machine...

If you haven't picked up a Duck Launcher from Five Below, do yourself a favor- they're fun. I'm seriously contemplating picking up a green one because I liked my standard yellow so much. A fantastic toy!

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MOTU Origins Despera, Battle for Eternia 4-pk

I wasn't initially bowled over by the two MOTU Origins offerings from Mattel, but the Mattel Creations Despera and Battle for Eternia 4-pk grew on me after a while- in hand they were way more exciting. There are a lot of reused parts in the Battle for Eternia, but some nice adds to your MOTU army build- really glad I picked this up. What a presentation with the box art- Wow! 

Despera made an appearance in the Masters of the Universe: Revolution animated series, but I had no recollection thereof  ...? It was right at the end and never resolved, so I must've blanked out, but fans of She-Ra know it's really Adora- the sister of He-Man, kidnapped at birth by Hordak. There's been some complaints about her oversized swords, but they don't bother me- great little figure, and another female for my MOTU Origins collection.

Below, the Paragon Champion with my King Randor, 

Man-At-Arms, and the Eternian Palace Guards:

The Paragon Champion climbs into the Talon Fighter atop Castle Grayskull...

The Paragon Champion, Man-At-Arms, and the Eternian Palace Guards are joined by my Temple of Darkness Sorceress, Teela, and Prince Adam in King Randor's throne room...

Skel-Knight is supposed to be some being "subservient to the Lord of Destruction", but his horded helmet reminds me of the Skelegod from the Netflix Masters of the Universe: Revelation series. He could sub for your Skeletor figure...

Skel-Knight with my MOTU Origins Screeech 2-pk Skeletor 

and Lords of Power Beastman in the bowels of Snake Mountain...

At first glance, the Pit Warden looked like an absolute mess to me with his radically bisected body, but he quickly grew on me- the snake heads have hinged jaws, and an extra, single neck piece is included, opening a lot of possibilities for parts-swapping fun. He'll fit in great with all my other Snake Men: King Hiss, Sssqueeze, Rattlor, Snake Face, Tung Lashor, and Masters of the WWE Jake The Snake!

Snake Armor He-Man and Serpent Claw Man-At-Arms battle the Pit Warden on Snake Mountain ...!

The Horde Revenant and Despera really round out my 

Evil Horde Army of Hordak and his Horde Troopers ...

The mini comics for the MOTU Origins have been a welcome and nostalgic experience for me, really taking me back to the '80s and the original mini comics drawn by Alfredo Alcala that set my young imagination going!

Despite my initial dismissing of both, Despera and this Battle For Eternia 4-pk were a ton of fun! The MOTU Origins line continues to be my favorite toy line since it's 2020 launch- the numerous vehicles, playsets, and deep bench of characters, as well as the figures interchangeable parts boost playability to a level surpassing possibly all other recent toy lines. Recommended! 

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Five Below: Mini Vending Machine, Gremlins Mini-Pops

Five Below often has some miniature item I can use in my dioramas when photographing action figures, like this mini vending machine that will fit great in my "arcade setup, in which I often pose Marvel Legends figures. The front of the box shows the machine stocked with small charms, but on one of the side panels shows it filled with Tic-Tac shaped candy, but I dumped in sixteen rails of Pez instead. The Pez capsules will dispense, but it can get jammed due to their size. Still fun!

Below, Lynx plays Dance Royale in the arcade, while Meowscles gets some Pez from the vending machine... take note of the Duck Launcher I also picked up at Five Below. So great! The Stumble Guys at the top/left and Care Bear to the right also came from Five Below...

I also found these two brightly colored Gremlins Mini Pops at Five Below that I could not resist! I almost picked up the exclusive Gizo figures, but these weren't that cheap at five bucks a pop. The store I was at had the entire wave pictured on back of the box. But these two will make great background figures on their own, in their neon-bright, blacklight colors- the perfect addition to my 1:12 arcade!

 

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McFarlane Movie '66 Italian Movie Poster & Robot Batman

I've followed this line of McFarlane action figures for a while now, only recently dipping my toes into it, and really find them appealing. Of particular interest to me were the strange variants of Batman, including this Italian movie poster-inspired, red Batman and Robot Batman. Eleven years ago, I read issue #14 of Batman '66 that featured a giant Robot Batman much like this figure, and the Movie Poster Batman merely appealed to my love of foreign, off-model color variants of superhero figures.

Black and red make a great color combo for Batman, and this figure is no exception. Sure, it's merely a repaint, but an exciting one! He can't really get his arm all the way through the Bat-Sheild straps, so he has to has to hold it with his only gripping hand. Still, it can be held and it's a fun accessory you can use with your other '66 Batman figures.

Robot Batman is such a fun, retro-licious figure, I had to have him. He struggles to hold his jets, but the two prongs can be clipped onto the figure's claws. His articulation is only slightly more limited than the regular figures, most pronounced in the hips.

Below, Movie Poster Batman with my Funko Gold Batmobile, which also has an off-model colored version of '66 Batman- something about color variants really appeals to the collector in me...

I have a few Mech Batmen in my collection, including a couple of these really fun Imaginext Exo-Suit Batman toys that has lights, sounds, and a missile launcher...

Below, Movie Poster Batman with my Space Batman...

While we're here, Space Batman Vs. Colossus Rex ...!

And finally, all three of my 6" McFarlane '66 Batman figures- I'm mad for these and kinda wished I'd started collecting these earlier in the series, but ya can't collect everything. I'm just happy to have these unique versions of Batman from the series- they're fun and a little wacky, just like the beloved TV series. Recommended!

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