MOTU Origins Terror Claws Skeletor

I was less interested in the action feature of 'Ol Swinger Skeletor here than I was his Terror Claws accessories. I never had the '86 original, but couldn't resist this wild version of the evil Lord of Destruction! The "beastly pincher" was less than effective, but Skeletor's swinging arm feature works with his Terror Claws...

Below, a video demonstration of Terror Claws Skeletor's "Swinging Action" and accessories:

Below, Terror Claws Skeletor with MOTU Origins Battle Armor Skeletor, Wave 1 Skeletor, and Rise of Evil 2-pk Skeletor. Terror Claws Skeletor shares the same closed-mouth head that Battle Armor Skeletor came with, and his purple cowl, boots and Havoc Staff are a lighter purple...

Below, Terror Claws Skeletor rides Panthor into Castle Grayskull, 

where the Eternian Guards greet them with steely poleaxes ...!

The Under Siege mini comic included tells a short story involving Flying Fists He-Man, the other deluxe MOTU Origins figure released in Wave 7. I wasn't interested in that figure for my own collection, but I did again enjoy the illustrations in these mini comics...

My Terror Claws Skeletor will likely remain in a vanilla pose showing off his deadly claws, pegged onto a Ringside Collectible figure base- they work great for MOTU Origins. His ratcheted shoulders limit the figure's range of motion, but his aesthetic flair more than makes up for it. Recommended! Be sure to check out the online Battle Ram Blog for an exhaustive look at Mattel's original Masters of the Universe line I loved as a kid in 1982!

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MOTU Origins LOP Mer-Man & Beast Man

Some of the Masters of the Universe fans who paid top dollar for the Power-Con Exclusive MOTU Origins "Lords of Power" set may feel slighted, but I was pretty happy to get the Mer-Man and Beast Man reissue in the Origins main line. The paint decos are different on theses single carded versions, leaving the exclusivity of that box set intact. Lords of Power was a working title for the original Masters of the Universe line back in the '80s, these character versions inspired by the prototypes for that. Mer-Man includes his signature "corncob" sword, but Beast Man includes no weapon- he may not have had his signature whip as a prototype, but they should have given him one for play value.
 

Below, MOTU Origins Mer-Man and Beast Man with their standard Origins counterparts, Wave 3 Mer-Man and Wave 1 Beast Man. These characters were a couple favorite villains in my small childhood MOTU collection, so I enjoy having variants like these. Why Mattel issued only these two Lords of Power versions is unclear to me, but I was pretty excited when they were solicited.

I'm glad they brought back the mini comics for this line- the original Alfredo Alcala mini comics included with the '80s MOTU line captured my imagination before the Filmation animated show took over so much of the lore of Eternia and all it's characters. I've found the art to be in the spirit of those original mini comics...

And finally, LOP Mer-Man and Beast Man battle my Masters of the WWE Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat and Ultimate Warrior. I lament my inability to get more of the Masters of the WWE figure before they canceled the line. They fit in so well with my MOTU Origins figures and were just another reason why MOTU Origins has been one of my favorite action figure lines of the last three years. Recommended! 

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He-Man & the Masters of the Universe Power Attack Orko

While I've had little interest in the He-Man & the Masters of the Universe line running parallel with MOTU Origins, the Power Attack Orko reminded me of the robot in The Black Hole, V.I.N.CENT. I've seen very little of the new animated showed from which this is based, but have seen the Masters of the Universe: Revelation animated show, also on Netflix. Oddly, I don't collect the Revelation figures, due mainly to space and budget. But this Orko is roughly the same size as my Origins Orko, and I liked that this Orko is a robot.

His propulsion blast base rolls around on a steel ball bearing underneath, but he is sorely lacking in articulation. And the "power attack" spring doesn't have a very big wind-up range, but will throw his energy blast off his arm effectively if you are positioned carefully. Although the figure can do very little, the character design update is fantastic. See my video below for an action feature demonstration...

Below, Power Attack Orko with my MOTU Origins Orko. I've still not seen one of these Power Attack Orkos in the wild, nor did I see more than perhaps a couple Origins Orkos at retail. I'm unsure if this is because he is a fan favorite and gets snatched up quick, or just luck. I was ultimately disappointed by the lack of articulation, thought he will display nicely. 

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MOTU Origins Eternian Palace Guard

I haven't posted on anything MOTU this year but have been sitting on some figures and vehicles awhile, including these really fun Eternian Palace Guards. Mattel released a 2-pk of these in 2011 as part of their Masters of the Universe Classics line, so it was a welcome addition to the MOTU Origins line. This figure can be converted to a clean-shaven Man-At-Arms, sans mustache like the '80s figure, or simply serve as a variant among your army of these. I'll likely keep my two displayed masked with all their gear on, however. This deluxe figure has a lot going for it, the cons being the splayed left hand not gripping the shield securely, and some annoying armor migration on the figure's shoulder and forearm while posing. They do hold their pole axe accessory however, and I like the metallic plastic the accessories are molded in.

Below, my MOTU Origins Man-At-Arms guards the jawbridge of my MOTU Origins Castle Grayskull, flanked by the Eternian Guards. 2020 through 2021 was exciting times for this fantastic line and continues to be through this year. Word through the community is that 2023 has solid plans in the works, and past that who knows? 

Below, Man-At Arms and daughter Teela meet Prince Adam and the Sorceress at Castle Grayskull, guarded by the mysterious Ancient Cosmic Armor from the Power-Con Exclusive MOTU Origins Castle Grayskull accessories pack...

Man-At-Arms and the Eternian Guards give Mer-Man and Beast Man  the royal treatment...

And finally, the Eternian Guards on my MOTU Origins Sky Sleds- this vehicle was introduced into the line early on, and I was later able to get a second on sale. I have loved how Mattel has given flight stands to these updated vehicles, and the Eternian Guards look fantastic on them. Again, the MOTU Origins line has been my absolute favorite since they dropped in 2020- pretty much the only good thing about that year. Recommended! 

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Playmates TMNT Figures & Turtle Party Wagon

 There aren't a great deal of posts on the Super-DuperToyBox about the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles because I had moved on from toys before Playmates dropped their first TMNT figures back in 1987. While I don't have the kind of nostalgia for them as I do for Masters of the Universe or Mego figures, these reissued retro figures are fun and fit in with some of the other more "toyetic" items in my collection. Check out the video:

I picked up some more contemporary TMNT figures at a discount outlet a couple years ago from a 2012 line of toys also produced by Playmates. These newer figures have better articulation and detail, but there's no deying the charm of the retro-styled figures...

There were a handful of figures released with the "Movie Star" sub-branding last year, including a Super-Shredder that looked almost identical to his '90s counterpart. I felt it was important to have at least one villain for the Turtles to battle, and this Shredder fits in great...

Having the Party Wagon to go with the Turtles really makes the whole thing fun though! Be sure to check out the video to see the spring-action Foot Tenderizer and Whacko Bombs in action. It seats six figures comfortably!

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Hulk Grand Design MONSTER & MADNESS No.1 (2022)

 I was pretty excited about artist Jim Rugg's Hulk: Grand Design upon solicitation, a fan of the character since childhood. I've said before that the CBS TV show starring Bill Bixby opposite Lou Ferrigno was a defining moment in my Hulk fandom, preceded by my Mego Hulk action figures, both 8" and 12", and strengthened by the Hulk comics I read thereafter. "Marvel's TV Sensation" was stamped on new books, reprints, and the avalanche of other product solicitations. I enjoyed Rugg's 2020 independent release of Octobriana 1976. but Hulk: Grand Design was several levels beyond that, taking on the history of the character, at times deftly assuming the styles of some of the greatest artists ever to have worked on him.

  

Two of the stories noted in Hulk Grand Design: Monster link directly to the Hulk comics of my youth and are reviewed on this blog, Hulk #124 and Incredible Hulk #141, telling the sad story of Bruce Banner and Betty Ross' ill-fated wedding, and the Hulk's jealous battle versus Doc Samson!

Many stories involving Betty Ross, daughter of Hulk's arch-nemesis General Thunderbolt Ross, pepper the character's history and source of his loneliness and misunderstood state of being...

The rapid-fire assault of visual delights never let up throughout Monster, Jim Rugg personalizing the art style at times, such as the ballpoint pen homage to Incredible Hulk #181, introducing alpha Marvel character, Wolverine...

The second book, Hulk Grand Design: Monster deals with some story arcs I'm less familiar with, like the Peter David run, but I had managed to catch a few issues starring Mr. Fixit, the Hulk's smarter, gray version, at the end of the '80s.

                     

Hulk Grand Design: MADNESS ends in an epilogue covering Planet Hulk and World War Hulk, both I enjoyed tremendously. While I've enjoyed Hulk stories that came after these two, particularly Indestructible Hulk, his latest, critically acclaimed incarnation in Immortal Hulk is missing from the Grand Design story - I realize there was a conscious decision where to cut off, and though the aforementioned epilogue seems like a good spot, Immortal may have been a better epilogue due to its ongoing popularity, portraying Hulk as a monster in a horror comic.  

Regardless, I found Hulk Grand Design to be a fun romp through the Hulk's history that I'd recommend to any longtime fan, or new readers to get a broad overview of the character. There are just so many Hulk stories- it would be impossible to get it all in 88 pages. You will find yourself thumbing back through it for the visual delight it is, and for $5.99 each, they are a great value. Jim Rugg is a fantastic cartoonist with a wide range of talent this format showcases wonderfully.  

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McFarlane DC Multiverse Martian Manhunter

We don't get as many Martian Manhunter figures as we do other members of the Justice League, but he's been a favorite DC character of mine for some years now. Created by Joseph Samachson and artist Joe Verta in 1955, J'onn J'onnz is often compared to the other last surviving orphan of an alien race and is portrayed as equal in power to Superman. 

I haven't read any of the more recent Vol. 4 of Martian Manhunter, nor the Rebirth material, but I do like this look- the portrait is very cartoony, much like what little of the art I've seen. The color palette is darker, but the collared chest harness and oversized cape clasps are familiar elements. A mature update to the New 52 look, with a nice swoosh to the cape and leathery texture to the black outfit. What we wanted with this figure was a flight stand and an alternate alien portrait, but I do like him quite a bit.

Below, Martian Manhunter apprehends McFarlane Toys new Superboy Prime...

I've really enjoyed some of the recent McFarlane Toys DC Multiverse figures- 

see my post on God of Apokolips, Lex Luthor, General Zod, and Superboy Prime...

Below, McFarlane Martian Manhunter with my DC Collectibles New 52 Martian Manhunter...

Below lineup of my figures in this scale:  DC Direct JLA Classified Martian Manhunter, DC Universe Classics Martian Manhunter, DC Direct Brightest Day Martian Manhunter, DC Collectibles New 52 Martian Manhunter, DC Direct New Frontier Martian Manhunter DC Direct History of the DC Universe Martian Manhunter...  

Visit The Idol Head of Diabolu, an online Martian Manhunter blog!

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