Masters Of The Universe Classics

Fan Art Fridays: "Trap Jaw At Snake Mountain" By Danbrenus

2012-02-10T09:18:00.002-05:00

Today's installment of "Fan Art Fridays" features a piece that is very special to me. :) I first came across Danbrenus' art over at the He-Man.org forums and was immediately impressed by the similarities between his style and the art used for the vintage line back in its infancy. Dan's art shows a love for Alcala's mini-comic style while also playing homage to the cross-sell images seen on the vintage cardbacks. The minute I saw his work, I knew it would be a perfect fit for a long-held desire of mine... so I commissioned this Trap Jaw piece from him-

...which after some slight revisions (and roughly 10 hours of work later), became this tattoo that covers my left calf-

Please keep in mind that this picture was taken immediately after the last session was done, so it was a bit puffy back then. Now that we are a year past it, everything has settled and the tattoo looks fantastic. I can't thank Danbrenus or Andy from over at Flying Tiger Tattoo enough for their hard work in both the design and its implementation in the form of the tattoo. You guys rock!

To check our more stuff from Danbrenus, head over to his deviant art site here: danbrenus.deviantart.com

To see more of Mr. Andy's tattoo work, check out his blog here: flyingtigertattoo.blogspot.com

Interested in having your MOTU art featured on "Fan Art Fridays"? Well shoot me an e-mail at mastersoftheuniverseclassics@live.com and let's talk!

Moss Man Heroic Spy And Master Of Camouflage

2012-02-09T09:40:00.000-05:00

Real Name: Kreann’ot n’Horosh

Thought of for many centuries to be an urban legend, the creature called “Moss Man” was, in fact, an ancient Eternian nature god and ally to King Grayskull. During the rise of Skeletor and the subsequent battles with the Snake Men and Horde invaders, Moss Man often joined forces with the Masters of the Universe, helping to protect freedom for all forms of life. He was instrumental in helping them win the Second Ultimate Battleground, using his powers over plant life and his “fur” of forest green to fool and frustrate his wicked foes.

Accessories: Nature Mace, Removable Vine Sling, Stone Knife.

Additional Parts: Moss Man includes an extra head representing a more "modern" take on the character.

Variations: Moss Man was also available with flocked ears.

Video Spotlight:

Additional Pictures:

"The Ultimate Battleground Battle Bracket" Round 1 Battle: Man-At-Arms Vs. Snout Spout

2012-02-08T12:36:00.002-05:00

Check out the following video for the result of the latest battle! Was the weaponry wizard Man-At-Arms able to defeat the pachyderm powerhouse Snout Spout? Watch the video and find out!

Castle Grayskull Diorama & Stands

2012-02-07T09:45:00.003-05:00

If you’re a collector who likes to keep figures in-package, this Castle Grayskull Diorama & Stands set just may change your mind! The set includes five display stands, each fully painted in beautiful detail. Along with removable pegs that allow you to position the figure in multiple stances, it also includes a removable “wall” section that lets you build your display in countless ways. Works with any Masters of the Universe Classics 6” figure. (from Mattycollector.com)

Each set includes 5 base portions, 5 rock formations, 10 placement pegs, and 1 peg placement/ removal tool.

Video Spotlight:

Additional Pictures:

"The Ultimate Battleground Battle Bracket" Round 1 Battle: He-Man Vs. Hordak

2012-02-07T08:52:00.002-05:00

Here's the results of the next "Ultimate Battleground" fight!

Dice Roll: He-Man 5, Hordak 2

Winner: He-Man!

He-Man advances to the next round!

Filmation She-Ra Model Sheet: Mantenna

2012-02-06T17:07:00.002-05:00

Poor Mantenna- He even got hurt in his model sheets...

UK Masters Of The Universe Comic Issue 46

2012-02-05T08:30:00.003-05:00

Fan Art Fridays: "The Evil Horde Rule..." By Chris Faccone

2012-02-03T09:44:00.001-05:00

Today's installment of "Fan Art Fridays" features another piece by the great Chris Faccone! Looks like Kowl has gotten himself into a jam here, with Hordak and Imp looming overhead...

To reach Chris about possible commissions, e-mail him at akumaakumaakuma@gmail.com, or check out his site- chrisfacconeart.com

Interested in having your MOTU art featured on "Fan Art Fridays"? Well shoot me an e-mail at mastersoftheuniverseclassics@live.com and let's talk!

Spy Monkey Creations Armory Series 1 (Bloodlust & Venom Versions)

2012-02-02T09:26:00.003-05:00

Spy Monkey Creations presents the next step in custom weaponry: Armory Series 1! Each set has a total of 42 Interchangeable Glyos System compatible parts and is available in 5 different colorways. Presented here are the "Bloodlust" and "Venom" versions. The sets go on sale at 12:00 PM PST on Friday, February 3rd over at the Spy Monkey Creations Store. The guys at SMC were nice enough to hook us up a little early though... so here's our video spotlight and a plethora of pictures give you an idea of just what awaits you if you buy a set (and you SHOULD buy a set).

Video Spotlight:

Weapons In Use With MOTUC:

Weapons In Use With Other Lines:

All five variations of the Spy Monkey Creations Armory Series 1 weapons set go on sale at 12:00 PM PST on Friday, February 3rd over at the Spy Monkey Creations Store. the cost for each set is $20 (plus shipping). A HUGE thanks once again to the Spy Monkey guys for sending these over to us for review!

Star Sisters Starla - Tallstar - Jewelstar

2012-01-31T08:09:00.003-05:00

Starla, Bright and Beautiful Leader
Real Name: Gemma

Jewelstar, Hidden Beauty
Real Name: Devena

Tallstar, Lovely Lookout
Real Name: Cassandra

In ancient times, an evil sorceress became jealous of the Star Sisters’ youth and beauty and trapped them in a shooting star. It was sent hurling through the cosmos until the three women crash-landed on Etheria. There, they remained magically confined in the side of a mountain until the day Swiftwind’s hooves accidently loosened the stone that concealed their prison. She-Ra quickly used her powers to melt away the star that held them captive. In gratitude, the sisters pledged their everlasting friendship. Jewelstar magically conjures gem armor to protect herself and others. Tallstar uses her magic to stretch to unbelievable lengths. Starla, with her pet Glorybird, can sense danger and project spells of light against her foes. Together, they stand side-by-side with She-Ra in the battle for freedom.

Accessories: 3 Individual Star Wands

Additional Parts: The Star Sisters' companion Glorybird is also included in this set- Complete with armor and stand.

In addition, extension pieces for Tallstar's arms, legs, and neck are included to mimic her "stretching" powers-

Video Spotlight:

Additional Pictures:

"The Ultimate Battleground Battle Bracket" Round 1 Battle: Hurricane Hordak Vs. Roboto

2012-01-30T16:25:00.000-05:00

...and the third and final battle for today-

Dice Roll: Hurricane Hordak 5, Roboto 5
Second Roll: Hurricane Hordak 3, Roboto 2

Winner: Hurricane Hordak!

Hurricane Hordak advances to the next round!

"The Ultimate Battleground Battle Bracket" Round 1 Battle: Wun-Dar Vs. Optikk

2012-01-30T11:24:00.000-05:00

Battle number 2 for the day...

Dice Roll: Wun-Dar 3, Optikk 6

Winner: Optikk!

Optikk advances to the next round!

Original Series Prototypes: Teela

2012-01-30T09:44:00.000-05:00

...Another vintage prototype picture from one of the UK Annuals: Teela!

"The Ultimate Battleground Battle Bracket" Round 1 Battle: Battle Cat Vs. Buzz-Off

2012-01-30T09:08:00.003-05:00

We are going to post not one.... not two... but THREE battles today, so if you are participating you might want to have your brackets ready!

First up- It's the fearsome feline Battle Cat battling the bodacious bug Buzz-Off! Who wins? Watch the video (starring Keaton!?!) to find out!

Filmation She-Ra Model Sheet: Imp

2012-01-29T08:04:00.001-05:00

Yep- Even Hordak's little pig-snouted protege had model sheets...

"The Ultimate Battleground Battle Bracket" Round 1 Battle: Scareglow Vs. Bow

2012-01-28T15:16:00.000-05:00

Here's the results of the next "Ultimate Battleground" fight!

Dice Roll: Scareglow 4, Bow 2

Winner: Scareglow!

Scareglow advances to the next round!

Fan Art Fridays: "State Champs" By Blake Wheeler

2012-01-27T09:10:00.002-05:00

Today's installment of "Fan Art Fridays" features an awesome oil painting by the talented Blake Wheeler! The painting is accompanied by the tagline- "Bobby and the He-man villains: '84 state champs". Pretty sure they cheated...

To see more of Blake's work, check out his site- bewheel.deviantart.com

Interested in having your MOTU art featured on "Fan Art Fridays"? Well shoot me an e-mail at mastersoftheuniverseclassics@live.com and let's talk!

UK Masters Of The Universe Comic Issue 45

2012-01-26T18:14:00.000-05:00

Battle Cat Fighting Tiger Of Eternia

2012-01-20T10:00:00.001-05:00

Real Name: Cringer

A member of the Green Tiger Tribe, Cringer was saved from a parek-narr attack by a young Prince Adam and afterwards became his devoted companion for life. He assisted Adam during his quest to unite both halves of the Power Sword of He and afterwards was enhanced by its power to become Battle Cat, the Fighting Tiger of Eternia. Cringer is one of only a handful of allies who knows Adam’s secret and fights alongside the other Masters of the Universe, carrying He-Man into battle against the forces of evil.

Accessories: Removable Armor, Helmet.

Video Spotlight:

Additional Pictures:

"The Ultimate Battleground Battle Bracket" Round 1 Battle: Captain Marlena Glenn Vs. Zodak

2012-01-20T09:23:00.001-05:00

Here's the results of the next "Ultimate Battleground" fight!

Dice Roll: Glenn 3, Zodak 3
Second Roll: Glenn 2, Zodak 3

Winner: Zodak!

Zodak advances to the next round!

Fan Art Fridays: "Hordak Vs. Skeletor" By Axel Gimenez & Chris Faccone

2012-01-20T08:58:00.002-05:00

Today's installment of "Fan Art Fridays" features a special collaborative piece by the artists Axel Gimenez and Chris Faccone! Axel handled the penciling on Hordak, while Chris tackled Skeletor (plus Chris also inked and colored the piece)! Check it out-

To check out more from Axel, head over to his deviant art page- axel-gimenez.deviantart.com. To see more from Chris, check out his site- chrisfacconeart.com

Interested in having your MOTU art featured on "Fan Art Fridays"? Well shoot me an e-mail at mastersoftheuniverseclassics@live.com and let's talk!

Ask Matty! January 17th 2012 (UPDATED WITH ANSWERS!)

2012-01-19T17:53:00.006-05:00

Hey all! After some e-mail confusion, Scott and the crew have supplied me with the missing answers from the January 17th Q & A!

1.) With all the plans that have been revealed so far with regards to the 30th anniversary, are there any surprises left to be revealed still (outside of the standard monthly releases)?

Yes.

2.) We were told previously that it took months for a figure to complete production, and they couldn't make changes due to this. Yet Toy Guru stated in his Sorceress video in mid -December that she has not even started going into production yet, with her release less than a month away... how is this possible?

Different figures and products go into production at different times based on logistics and line time.

3.) The customer service abilities of Digital river seem to be getting worse with time. MANY folks had problems with either their Swift Wind or Wind Raider orders (in some cases even both) and they are still caught in limbo with DR. Simple things like returning e-mails or phone calls just aren't happening. Speaking as one of those customers who has now waited weeks for any word on a broken Wind Raider replacement, it is becoming increasingly frustrating to deal with this. It shouldn't be this hard to get a replacement for defective product or to find out why your order hasn't shipped. Even worse, it seems as if the direct line to U.S. customer service has been shut down, leaving the standard DR call center as your only option for dealing with problems. Is there ANYTHING you guys can do about this? I fully expect the answer to be that "it is being looked into", but that really isn't enough to help all the customers who have issues in the present.

We are constantly working on improving customer service issues with Digital River.

4.) This question is in regard to the Demo-Man delay- Why were we not alerted until 2 days before the on-sale date that Demo-Man wouldn't arrive in time? With sub orders supposedly shipping 2 days before the sale date, it seems as if you would know already that Demo-Man wasn't going to arrive in time. Do figures really arrive at the warehouse the day they are scheduled to start shipping, with no advance warning on whether or not they will arrive that day? I just find it hard to understand how you wouldn't know a figure was going to be weeks late until the day it was scheduled to start shipping to subscribers.

We did not know until very late in the game that their would be a delay and we alerted fans as soon as possible.

5.) Another question regarding the Demo-Man situation- Why was the decision made to hold the Battleground Evil-Lyn figures back instead of shipping those to subscribers separately? It really felt like 2011 ended on a sour note for subscribers, since we were all stuck waiting for product while non-subscribers who purchased BG Evil-Lyn on the day of sale got her immediately. It seems like this would have been one of those cases where Matty should have eaten the cost of shipping BG Evil-Lyn by herself to subscribers as a show of good faith and as a way of maintaining the commitment to getting subscribers figures BEFORE day-of-sale buyers.

(This one was still missing an answer.)

Hopefully our communication issues are all straightened out now... Thanks once again to Mattel for taking the time to do this!

-James

UK Masters Of The Universe Comic Issue 44

2012-01-19T08:55:00.001-05:00

"The Ultimate Battleground Battle Bracket" Round 1 Battle: He-Ro Vs. Megator

2012-01-16T10:10:00.002-05:00

Check out the following video for the result of the latest battle! Was the preternian powerhouse He-Ro able to overcome the gruesome green goliath Megator? Watch the video and find out!

Trap Jaw Evil And Armed For Combat

2012-01-15T20:58:00.000-05:00

Real Name: Kronis

An insane criminal from the dimension of Infinita, Kronis was one of several evil warriors freed from an intergalactic prison by Keldor to bolster his ranks during the start of the Great Unrest. After serving Keldor for years, Kronis grew ambitious and raised an army of his own to challenge his master. Now a powerful Overlord of Evil, Skeletor defeated Kronis — breaking his jaw and arm, and leaving him for dead. Found and rebuilt by Tri-Klops, Kronis was transformed by him into Trap Jaw, a man armed with combat weapons and an “iron jaw!”

Accessories: Power Claw, Laser, Hook, Removable Belt

Additional Parts: Trap Jaw also includes an extra head and interchangeable left arm to convert the figure into Kronis!

Video Spotlight:

Additional Pictures:

"The Ultimate Battleground Battle Bracket" Round 1 Battle: Cringer Vs. The Faceless One

2012-01-15T09:26:00.001-05:00

Here's the results of the next "Ultimate Battleground" fight!

Dice Roll: Cringer 5, The Faceless One 4

Winner: Cringer!?!

Cringer advances to the next round!

"The Ultimate Battleground Battle Bracket" Round 1 Battle: Moss Man Vs. Bubble Power She-Ra

2012-01-14T11:54:00.002-05:00

Here's the results of the next "Ultimate Battleground" fight!

Dice Roll: Moss Man 1, Bubble Power She-Ra 6

Winner: Bubble Power She-Ra!

Bubble Power She-Ra advances to the next round!

Filmation She-Ra Model Sheet: Shadow Weaver

2012-01-13T10:06:00.002-05:00

In honor of her MOTU Classics release next month, here are the Filmation animation model sheets for Shadow Weaver!

Fan Art Fridays: "The Might Spector 2.0" By Chris Faccone

2012-01-13T09:37:00.003-05:00

Today's installment of "Fan Art Fridays" features another piece by the great Chris Faccone! This time around, Chris offers up a personal re-design of the Mighty Spector! Take a look!

To reach Chris about possible commissions, e-mail him at akumaakumaakuma@gmail.com, or check out his site- chrisfacconeart.com

Interested in having your MOTU art featured on "Fan Art Fridays"? Well shoot me an e-mail at mastersoftheuniverseclassics@live.com and let's talk!

Princess Adora Of The House Of Randor

2012-01-12T09:14:00.000-05:00

Real Name: Adora of the House of Randor (Leader in the Great Rebellion)

When Adora and her twin brother, Adam, were born, the Sorceress recognized they were the twins prophesized to wield the Power of Grayskull. She magically cloned the Sword of He, enhancing it with the Stone of Protection so that each twin could have a key to unlock the Power. But Hordak also learned of the twins and arranged for his Eternian pupil, Skeletor, to abduct the infants. Man-At-Arms prevented Adam from being taken, but Adora was stolen away to the planet of Etheria, deep in the Dimension of Despondos. There, she was raised by Hordak, until the day her brother returned, handing her the Sword of Protection, which she held aloft to become She-Ra — The Most Powerful Woman in the Universe!

Accessories: Horde Force Captain Blaster, Sword of Protection, Removable Holster.

Video Spotlight:

Additional Pictures:

"The Ultimate Battleground Battle Bracket" Round 1 Battle: King Hssss Vs. Count Marzo

2012-01-12T09:01:00.001-05:00

Check out the following video for the result of the latest battle! Did King Hssss display Snakeman superiority or did Marzo make mincemeat outta him? Watch the video and find out!

"The Ultimate Battleground Battle Bracket" Round 1 Battle: Beast Man Vs. Eternian Palace Guards

2012-01-11T15:59:00.003-05:00

Here's the results of the next "Ultimate Battleground" fight!

*Illustration by my friend Mike Beckett!

Dice Roll: Beast Man 5, Eternian Palace Guards 1

Winner: Beast Man!

Beast Man advances to the next round!

"The Ultimate Battleground Battle Bracket" Round 1 Battle: Prince Adam Vs. The Shadow Beast

2012-01-11T13:20:00.003-05:00

Here's the results of the next "Ultimate Battleground" fight!

Dice Roll: Prince Adam 6, Shadow Beast 4

Winner: Prince Adam!

Prince Adam advances to the next round!

Nathan Bitner Interview Part 1 "The Legend Of Fearless Photog" By John Atkin

2012-01-11T12:30:00.007-05:00

In a joint posting between MOTUCFigures.com and He-Man.org, my buddy John Atkin brings us an interview with the man... the myth... the legend- Nathan Bitner, winner of the original Create-A-Character contest and creator of Fearless Photog! Take it away John!

In 1985, Mattel held a contest for children to submit their own character designs for the chance to have them become a "Masters of the Universe" action figure. Five finalists were chosen, and fans were able to phone and vote for their favorite character. In the Spring 1986 issue of the Masters of the Universe Magazine the winner of the contest was announced. That winner was an 11-year-old boy from Naperville, Illinois named Nathan Bitner. His winning entry was a heroic warrior named "Fearless Photog", who received over 40,000 votes in a one-week period! The character had a camera for a head, and his chest plate displayed silhouettes of his defeated enemies. His power was the ability to ‘focus in’ on his enemies and drain them of their evil strength, leaving behind only the good that they had inside them.

For his winning entry, Nathan was awarded a scholarship for $100,000 and a five-day trip to Disneyland. Despite the contest's premise, however, Fearless Photog was never actually made into an action figure. For years, many fans of this character have wondered why he was never produced. In part one of a two part interview, I talked with Nathan about the contest and his creation, and he shared with me some of his memories.

How did you find out about the "Create-A-Character" contest, and what made you decide to enter?

I found out about the contest when I was reading the Sunday comics in the Chicago Tribune. It was on the bottom of the back page. I vaguely remember my Dad kept saying "scholarship", "scholarship", "scholarship" at about 10-second intervals, so I can't deny that he had some influence in me deciding to actually enter. I had thought of a few ideas and entered three of them. Photog was actually my second choice. A character that was inspired by Thor, and held a lightning-bolt shaped sword, was actually my favorite entry. I named him Cloud Chaser, and he was an evil warrior. As far as deciding to enter, I knew I was not a great artist, so I tried to sketch a couple and realized how easy the bodies were to draw. You can see how simple my shield was. Once I realized it could be fun and not take too much skill (they were just pencil sketches), I couldn't resist taking a shot at such a fun set of prizes.

What was your reaction when you found out that you won the contest?

There were actually two sets of reactions: one when I found out I was a semi-finalist and a second when I found out I had won. My parents surprised me with the first by taking me out to dinner and then presenting me with the letter from Mattel. I think I went berserk. I looked like one of the people on Publisher's Clearing House. I was completely incredulous. And it may sound crazy, but I think at the time I won, I was more excited about being President of Mattel for a day (and a cool vacation, including a trip to NYC to be on GMA, and to Disneyland/Mattel) than anything else. I was overwhelmed, thrilled, amazed, stunned ... I never thought I had any real chance whatsoever, because I just didn't feel like I had the art skills to compete with others. Even when I go back and look at a character like Brainwave ... I don't think my artwork was nearly as good as his.

How did your family and friends react to the news?

They never said this, but I have a feeling that my parents were pretty relieved that I had just received a "college fund". We were very middle-class and lived a bit above our means, so financially it was a relief for them. At the same time, they were of course very happy for me; they could see how excited I was. My friends had a range of responses ... I got a good bit of razzing. My school at the time (Thayer J. Hill Junior High - now "Middle School") was very proud of me and did some wonderful things ... but it was hard to ever live them down. The art teacher there led a class to create a beautiful cardboard replica of Photog, and the Principal read a poem on the intercom at the end of the day about the contest (my face turned 8 shades of red). Perhaps the craziest thing is that they had a "Nathan Bitner Day" at my school. While I was very grateful for their incredibly kind words and actions, I was teased for years ... when I was a junior in high school, I had freshmen who I had never met coming up to me and asking me about it. 1986 was a crazy year!

Your story appeared in magazines and newspapers across the country. How did you feel about all the media attention you were receiving at such a young age?

I had mixed feelings about the attention. Not all of it was positive, and it created a lot of negative responses from people who barely knew me. On the other hand, it's a pretty cool thing for a kid to get the infamous "15 minutes of fame". Being on Good Morning America, in Newsweek, all of the newspapers, radio interviews, etc. – was very cool in a lot of ways. The day that I was on Good Morning America, I had just had interview after interview, and was horribly sick by the afternoon with a 103 degree fever. It was both fun and stressful at the same time. I learned then (and later) that no matter what you say, it will often get taken out of context and sometimes twisted, especially if it makes a better story. It's not easy to figure that out or deal with when you are 11 and 12 years old.

How did you come up with the name Fearless Photog?

I was very interested in sports as a kid, as were many of my friends. I liked the journalism side of it. When I was a kid, I would actually play some sports games by myself (Nerf basketball, football in the side yard) and "announce the game" to myself. Yeah, I know it sounds weird. I was a little bit of an eccentric kid. ;) Anyway, I knew that the guys with the giant cameras were called Photogs. I knew I wanted this character to be a good warrior with a humane side to him, and I wanted to somehow balance the goodness with at least some type of ferocity. "Fierce Photog" - even before the lingo of today - didn't sound right. "Fearless" was the word I finally settled on ... I was very much looking for the alliteration and wanted a strong word to balance him out.

Is Fearless Photog a man or a machine? Also, is the camera his head, or is it a helmet of some kind?

He is supposed to be a cyborg, in my vision, anyway. He is intended to have the exterior body of a human (skin) with the internal workings of a machine (no nerves or blood). At the time, I wanted him to have human muscles, but really didn't understand enough about anatomy to realize that it would be difficult to have muscle/bone without nerves and blood. Now that you ask it, it would be interesting to write a backstory to how he came to be. I honestly never considered it. He is intended to be cyborg - something like Data from Star Trek, or maybe more accurately, like Robocop. The camera is intended to be a mechanical head - an electronic brain and a device that drives the rest of his equipment (shield, chest) much like a central nervous system. It's not intended as a helmet. He is not supposed to have a human face under there. I wanted him to interact with others like a human (with emotions), but absolutely intended for his head to be a machine attached to other machines in his "body".

The camera itself that makes up Photog's head was traced (I could never draw that!) from a National Geographic magazine. There was an article in the 1980s about new miniature cameras (surgical endoscopes) that could go inside a person's body and take pictures of their tissues from the inside. Since it was blown up for the article, I could trace it at full size and barely had to scale it down.

Fearless Photog has the ability to ‘focus in’ on his enemies and drain their strength, and his chest plate displays silhouettes of defeated evil warriors. What was the inspiration for your character and his design?

Even at 11, I was kind of tired of the same old thing in cartoons. I loved guns and swords and battles as much as the next boy, but I thought something a bit more creative or different might have a better chance of winning the contest. So, I decided to pretty much rule out violence for Photog (but not for my other two entries!) In fact, I decided to make him as humane as possible. No guns, but a camera (little did I know how scary THAT concept could be until I played the video game Fatal Frame!) Come to think of it, ‘Fatal Photog’ could be developed as an anti-hero, but I'm digressing. I grew up near Amish country in upstate New York, and knew that some believed their souls were captured by cameras (or at least that's what I was taught).

This was the initial inspiration for Photog taking a "picture" of the enemy and draining the evil from them; leaving behind only the good. The evil soul from the enemy would be displayed on his chest, forever trapped, to remind others of his power, and as a "notch on the belt". Again, the chest was intended as a counterbalance to the sappiness of "draining the evil". He needed to be intimidating, and I tried to achieve that through the design of his head, his color scheme, and the concept of displaying "intimidating war trophies" on his chest for all to see.

You won a $100,000 scholarship. How long did you have to wait before receiving the prize money?

I won a "college scholarship" (which actually was just cash) that was to mature to $100,000 on the day of my 18th birthday. So, in other words, they put just over $40,000 in an account that would mature at a rate to equal $100,000 at that point. However, I went to college at 16 years old, at the University of Chicago. This wouldn't have been affordable without the scholarship money. So, we petitioned Mattel to release the money 2 years early, and they generously did so. This gives me an opportunity to thank Mattel for that and all that they did for me in relation to this contest. I never held any ill will against them (at all) for not being able to make Fearless Photog back then. They allowed me to start my college career at a great school and treated me wonderfully. They always have. So, at any rate, I withdrew the money at age 16 (it had to go to my father the first two years, because I was a minor). At that point it had matured to about $80,000. It was paid in 4 equal yearly installments (taxable), and the first 2 1/2 installments went directly to the University of Chicago, before I transferred to UNC-Chapel Hill, where I graduated many years later.

You also won a five- day trip for you and your family to Disneyland. Do you still have many memories from that trip?

I have more memories than I could ever list for an interview! The trip was amazing. I don't even know where to start; I probably have 15 stories I could tell. President of Mattel for a day ... I remember that I was wearing an almost identical suit and tie to the actual President. We sat through some meetings about Fearless Photog, and I was made to feel like I was "making the decisions" that the President made every day. I met "He-Man" (this guy literally looked like he had stepped out of the cartoon!) I got to see their company "store" where they allowed me to pick out a couple of toys. I chose Hordak's Slime Pit, much to my mother's discontent. I can assure you that everything from Transformers to calculators (oops) to Hordak himself got slimed in the next year.

I had never been to Disneyland - that was of course fun, and we went to Knott's Berry Farm as well. The trip to California was the furthest I'd been from home, and just the second time I had been on a plane (the first was the trip to NYC to be on Good Morning America). I met Rick Dees (of the Weekly Top 40 ... hey, to me, he was famous!) in a restaurant. One of the funnier things is that the limo company that was driving us around was Prince Limousine. We were in the 4th car in their fleet, so our license plate read "4 PRINCE". Remember that this is 1986. Prince also happened to be in Southern California that week, so the reaction from other cars and basically anyone that saw the license plate was insane! We were occasionally mobbed! I could never find anything purple to wave out the window, but I was looking!

...And that concludes Part 1 of the interview! Stay tuned for Part 2 as John delves further into the Legend of Fearless Photog!

Battle Armor He-Man The Most Powerful Man In The Universe

2012-01-10T09:45:00.000-05:00

Real Name: Adam of the House Randor

To adapt to new enemies and situations, Adam has learned to tap further into the great power that his sword unlocks. The combined Power of the Universe and the Knowledge of the Elders is called upon by Adam and channeled through the Sword of He to create new forms of armor and weapons to combat evil. His Battle Armor was created to protect He-Man during his early battles with Skeletor and his evil warriors. Using the Power of Grayskull, He-Man — The Most Powerful Man in the Universe, is now shielded by his mighty Battle Armor!

Accessories: Battle Axe, Interchangeable Armor Plates.

Video Spotlight:

Additional Pictures:

"The Ultimate Battleground Battle Bracket" Round 1 Battle: Vikor Vs. Icarius

2012-01-10T09:12:00.001-05:00

Here's the results of the next "Ultimate Battleground" fight!

Dice Roll: Vikor 5, Icarius 1

Winner: Vikor!

Vikor advances to the next round!

UK Masters Of The Universe Comic Issue 43

2012-01-09T11:43:00.002-05:00

The Goddess Heroic Trainer Of He-Man

2012-01-08T19:35:00.001-05:00

Real Name: Sharella

After the death of King Grayskull, the Power of the Universe was transferred from the Sword of He to the Council of Elders, who hid it deep within his castle. Knowing the full sword was the key to channeling the power again, they split it in two to prevent it from falling into the hands of evil. For five thousand years, they waited for a worthy heir to be born. During this time their spirit guide, the creature known as The Goddess of Eternia, trained secret heroic guardians to keep the two halves of the sword separated. Many of these brave warriors took the name "He-Man" in honor of the sword they protected giving birth to many different legends of the protector of Eternia.

Accessories: Staff Of The Elders, Snake Armor, Shield.

Additional Parts: The Goddess also includes Corodite Armor, a Hero Shield, and a Power Axe to bestow upon He-Man.

Video Spotlight:

Additional Pictures:

"The Ultimate Battleground Battle Bracket" Round 1 Battle: Battle Armor He-Man Vs. Keldor

2012-01-08T16:18:00.001-05:00

Check out the following video for the result of the latest battle! Was the battle-armored brawler He-Man able to defeat Randor's blue brother Keldor? Watch the video and find out!

Demo-Man Evil Spirit Of Despondos

2012-01-08T00:30:00.000-05:00

Real Name: Uqquz’ Zekul-Mshqx

Realizing his pupil Keldor had no intention of releasing him from Despondos, Hordak merged him with an extra-dimensional being called Demo-Man. While this saved Keldor's life, it also drove him temporarily insane and convinced him to open a portal to Despondos and lead what he thought were “his people” to Eternia. Hordak intended to use this ruse as a means to escape once the portal was opened, but the new merged being “Skeletor” was quickly defeated by Oo-larr, the jungle He-Man, and Hordak remained trapped. Soon after, with the help of Evil-Lyn, Skeletor gained control of the powerful spirit inside of him, increasing his abilities ten-fold. He was now the true Overlord of Evil and one of the most dangerous men on Eternia!

Accessories: Mace, Sword, Trophy Skull.

Additional Parts: Demo-Man also includes an alternate head based on the art of Alfredo Alcala designed for use with the MOTU Classics Skeletor .

Video Spotlight:

Additional Pictures:

(And since I really like that last one, Here is a link to it in a larger size: Skeletor Origins)

Blaze's MOTUC Theater Episode 1: King Randor's Special Mission

2012-01-06T09:16:00.004-05:00

Welcome to a new continuing segment here at MOTUCFigures.com- Blaze's MOTUC Theater! If you watched our Christmas video, you may be aware that Blaze got an iPod touch for Christmas. One of the new features on the iPod touch is the ability to record and send videos. Well, on the day I went back to work, Blaze sent me a steady stream of funny MOTUC shorts that he thought up and filmed with his figures using the touch. I really got a kick out of seeing what his 9-year-old imagination and oddball sense of humor came up with. So after I got home, I asked if he might want to use my camera and start doing little shorts with his figures at home so we could add them to the site. He of course was all over this idea.

So what you see here is totally from the mind of Blaze. I edited the video and added the text segments he wanted, but everything else was totally him and will continue to be completely from him for as long as he wants to do these. Hope you guys get as much of a kick out of these as I do and that they provide a brief distraction from our sometimes boring adult lives...

Fan Art Fridays: "Mer-Man" By Dave Rapoza

2012-01-06T09:11:00.001-05:00

Today's "Fan Art Fridays" piece again comes from artist Dave Rapoza and features the Evil Ocean Warlord: Mer-Man! To get in touch with Dave or to check out more of his art, e-mail him at rapozaster@gmail.com, or check out his site-daverapoza.blogspot.com/

Interested in having your MOTU art featured on "Fan Art Fridays"? Well shoot me an e-mail at mastersoftheuniverseclassics@live.com and let's talk!

UK Masters Of The Universe Comic Issue 42

2012-01-05T10:34:00.000-05:00

Filmation She-Ra Model Sheet: Tung Lashor

2012-01-05T08:44:00.001-05:00

Also known as just "Tung".... here's the Filmation model sheets for that slippery snakeman Tung Lashor!

Our Favorite MOTUC Figures Of 2011!

2012-01-04T11:00:00.001-05:00

Now that 2011 has come to a close, the boys and I thought it might be fun to pick our top 3 releases of the past year... and reveal the figure we are most looking forward to in 2012 (so far). Enjoy! Oh, and please be sure to post your favs in the comments! We'd love to hear them!

"The Ultimate Battleground Battle Bracket" Round 1 Battle: Panthor Vs. Mo-Larr

2012-01-04T10:55:00.002-05:00

Here's the results of the next "Ultimate Battleground" fight!

(Illustration by my buddy Matt Wright!)

Dice Roll: Panthor 5, Mo-Larr 4

Winner: Panthor!

Panthor advances to the next round!

King Randor Heroic Ruler Of Eternia

2012-01-03T10:36:00.000-05:00

Real Name: Randor of the House of Miro

King Miro's second-born son, Randor, came of age during the Great Unrest, a time when conflict returned to Eternia following the Count Marzo Uprisings and the subsequent betrayal of his half-brother, Keldor. After the disappearance of his father, Randor was appointed Captain of the Guard and lead Miro's troops in battle against Keldor's growing rebellion. Randor eventually ended the battles by fatally wounding Keldor, and locking him and his evil warriors behind the Mystic Wall. For this act, he was appointed King by the Council of Elders. King Randor raises his staff, exulting in his rule over all Eternia!

Accessories: Sword of Eternos, Royal Staff.

Video Spotlight:

Additional Pictures:

"The Ultimate Battleground Battle Bracket" Round 1 Battle: Faker Vs. Chief Carnivus

2012-01-03T10:15:00.003-05:00

Check out the following video for the result of the latest battle! Was the blue behemoth Faker able to defeat the feline ferocity of Chief Carnivus? Watch the video and find out!

An Updated Look At Our MOTUC Display...

2012-01-02T14:26:00.000-05:00

Some folks e-mailed & commented with requests for an updated look at our MOTU Classics display... Well, here ya go!

UK Masters Of The Universe Comic Issue 41

2012-01-01T13:57:00.002-05:00

Filmation She-Ra Model Sheet: Scorpia

2011-12-31T08:19:00.005-05:00

Watch out for that wicked tail- It's Scorpia! Man would I love to see her in MOTUC...

Vintage Trade Article: "Mattel Is..."

2011-12-31T07:27:00.002-05:00

Today's vintage trade magazine post is part of a multi-page licensing ad focusing on all of Mattel's toy lines of the time. Each page of the ad featured a word describing what Mattel would be in the coming year... The MOTU line was used to show that Mattel was "Bigger", while the She-Ra line promoted Mattel as being "Trendier".

Fan Art Fridays: MOTU Plush Characters By Handmade Stuffs

2011-12-30T08:54:00.003-05:00

Today, we have an extra special installment of "Fan Art Fridays" for your viewing pleasure! Most of the segments so far have focused on 2D art... but today we have some MOTU goodness in three dimensions! That's right folks- It's time to get cute and cuddly with some MOTU plush characters from Jennifer over at Handmade Stuffs! I picked up three of these insanely cool guys a few months before Christmas, but I had to wait until after the holiday to post this review since I didn't want to spoil the surprise for my boys. Here's our thoughts on these guys in a convenient video format...

You can check out more of the great stuff that Jennifer has created over at her website- Handmade Stuffs... or you can head directly to her Etsy shop and purchase a plush of your very own- Handmade Stuffs on Etsy

Now here's a bunch of pictures to fill your eyeballs up with! (I actually had to sneak these away while the boys were sleeping to get pictures...)

A BIG thanks once again to Jennifer for the amazing work she puts into to these!

Interested in having your MOTU art featured on "Fan Art Fridays"? Well shoot me an e-mail at mastersoftheuniverseclassics@live.com and let's talk!

"The Ultimate Battleground Battle Bracket" Round 1 Battle: Evil-Lyn Vs. Leech

2011-12-30T08:47:00.001-05:00

Here's the results of the next "Ultimate Battleground" fight!

Dice Roll: Evil-Lyn 4, Leech 2

Winner: Evil-Lyn!

Evil-Lyn advances to the next round!

Marvel/ Star Masters Of The Universe Comic Issue 7

2011-12-29T08:39:00.001-05:00

Battleground Evil-Lyn Evil Witch Of Eternia

2011-12-28T11:20:00.002-05:00

Real Name: Evelyn Morgan Powers

Cast aside by her secret husband after his transformation, Evil-Lyn sent their infant son into the future and plotted to overthrow Skeletor by releasing his enemies from their dimensional prisons. In a series of miscalculations, she helped free the Snake Men, Hordak and Gygor - increasing her adversaries threefold! After Randor and Miro returned from Despondos, the Three Towers rose and Evil-Lyn found herself again allied with Skeletor during the Second Ultimate Battleground. At the end, defeated and stripped of her powers by the new Sorceress of Grayskull, Evil-Lyn used the Cosmic Key and the Power of Central Tower to return to the future to find a new life with her long lost child - The Son of Skeletor!

Accessories: Staff (With 2 Swappable Orbs), Dagger.

Additional Parts: Battleground Evil-Lyn also includes a second "helmeted" head.

Video Spotlight:

Additional Pictures:

"The Ultimate Battleground Battle Bracket" Round 1 Battle: Tri-Klops Vs. She-Ra

2011-12-28T11:13:00.000-05:00

Here's the results of the next "Ultimate Battleground" fight!

Dice Roll: Tri-Klops 6, She-Ra 1
Winner: Tri-Klops!

Tri-Klops advances to the next round!

Scareglow Evil Ghost Serving Skeletor

2011-12-27T09:35:00.000-05:00

Real Name: Karak Nul

In life, Nul was a shifty bounty hunter who spent years attempting to break into Castle Grayskull, obsessed with the countless legends that it contained the power to be Master of the Universe. In death, he was cursed and banished into the dimension of Infinita, forever chained to his past crimes. He was brought back to Eternia by a magical spell of light cast by Skeletor to locate the most evil warriors in the five dimensions. Provided with a Scythe of Doom, Nul agreed to join forces with Skeletor and quickly became known as Scareglow, thanks to his ability to burst forth and freeze his enemies with fright.

Accessories: Scythe of Doom, Cursed Grayskull reliquary.

Video Spotlight:

Additional Pictures:

"The Ultimate Battleground Battle Bracket" Round 1 Battle: Teela Vs. Whiplash

2011-12-27T08:50:00.001-05:00

Check out the following video for the result of the latest battle! Was the crusty Caligar Whiplash in control... or was the titanic Teela triumphant?

A Very MOTUC Christmas...

2011-12-24T18:23:00.002-05:00

This video is a bit different than our usual spotlights... I thought some folks might enjoy seeing kids getting excited for MOTUC, so I recorded Christmas morning 2011 here at the Sawyer household. :) The boys wanted nothing but He-Man for Christmas, just like I did back in the early 80's. At a little over 30 minutes long, I don't expect many folks to sit through this one, so don't feel bad if you don't want to do it... but for those who wish He-Man was still resonating with kids today, this video might be right up your alley. So if you want to, give it a watch and maybe relive your own Christmas MOTU memories from back in the day. Merry Christmas everybody!

Fan Art Fridays: "Trap Jaw & Tri-Klops" By Aaron Kerr

2011-12-23T10:01:00.003-05:00

Today's "Fan Art Fridays" piece comes from artist Aaron Kerr! Featured here is a very bad day for the Eternian Palace Guards... Being a big Trap Jaw fan, I am pleased as punch to see the bad guys triumphant. :) To see more of Aaron's work, check out his deviant art page- deathbox-was-taken.deviantart.com!

....and here is the original pencil-and-ink version:

Interested in having your MOTU art featured on "Fan Art Fridays"? Well shoot me an e-mail at mastersoftheuniverseclassics@live.com and let's talk!

UK Masters Of The Universe Comic Issue 40

2011-12-22T09:10:00.002-05:00

UK Masters Of The Universe Comic Issue 39

2011-12-21T12:24:00.002-05:00

Wind Raider

2011-12-20T09:34:00.000-05:00

Wind Raider
Assault Lander

-Wings and tail move!
-Has a grappling hook & winch!
-Carries He-Man on surprise raids!

(taken from the vintage packaging)

Wind Raider, the first-ever vehicle in the Masters of the Universe Classics lineup, is ready for high-flying battle! This incredibly detailed craft features a real working winch hook and rope, a highly detailed cockpit, and a ball-jointed stand that allows the vehicle to be posed in any direction. Most MOTUC figures will fit inside the cockpit for unlimited display options (figures with tails, wings or capes may not fit). Wind Raider also features dual mechanical panels that open for "maintenance" to reveal painted engines. Finally, the closed box features original artwork by Rudy Obrero, the same artist who created the art for the 1982 vehicle. (from Mattycollector.com)

Video Spotlight:

Additional Pictures:

"The Ultimate Battleground Battle Bracket" Round 1 Battle: Sy-Klone Vs. Adora

2011-12-20T08:27:00.002-05:00

Check out the following video for the result of the latest battle!

Zodak Mystic Enforcer

2011-12-19T08:55:00.001-05:00

Real Name: Kar-tor

An ancient and powerful enforcer for the Council of Elders, Kar-tor studied the teachings and mystic fighting techniques of the Cosmic Enforcers and knows how to instantly identify an opponent's weakness. After his mentor, the original Zodac, left Eternia to fulfill the Elder's bargain with Trolla, Kar-tor took his place on the Council and helped lead them in battle against the Snake Men, eventually trapping King Hssss in the Void with the power of his staff. Although he prefers a solitary life of meditation in the Mystic Mountains, when he is called to battle, Zodak attacks his enemies using all the power at his command!

Accessories: Cosmic Staff

Video Spotlight:

Additional Pictures:

Vintage Trade Article: "Most Powerful Character..."

2011-12-19T08:42:00.002-05:00

Just a quick one this morning- A two page spread promoting He-Man as the "Most Powerful Licensed Character Of The 80's". During the year when this ad ran in trade magazines, that statement was probably 100% true...

UK Masters Of The Universe Comic Issue 38

2011-12-18T17:23:00.002-05:00

UK Masters Of The Universe Comic Issue 37

2011-12-17T08:25:00.002-05:00

Vintage Trade Article: "Female Action Figures Demand Equal Time..."

2011-12-16T10:45:00.002-05:00

Today's vintage trade magazine article comes from the March 1985 issue of "Playthings" magazine. The story presented here is a pretty interesting read on what was then an almost completely new concept for toy makers- Action figures marketed to girls. Of course, She-Ra and the Princess of Power line figure prominently here... but I was really surprised to see her wearing her crown in the original, intended "masked" position in the included publicity still. Enjoy!

Fan Art Fridays: "She-Ra Vs. Tung Lashor" By Axel Gimenez

2011-12-16T09:31:00.002-05:00

Today's "Fan Art Fridays" piece comes from artist Axel Gimenez with colors by Andrés Maknis. Featured here is an epic battle between She-Ra and Tung Lashor (with sneaky ol' Kobra Khan jumping in too)! To reach Axel about possible commissions, e-mail him at axelgimenez@gmail.com, or check out his deviant art page- axel-gimenez.deviantart.com

Interested in having your MOTU art featured on "Fan Art Fridays"? Well shoot me an e-mail at mastersoftheuniverseclassics@live.com and let's talk!

"The Ultimate Battleground Battle Bracket" Round 1 Battle: Catra Vs. King Randor

2011-12-15T09:07:00.001-05:00

Here's the results of the next "Ultimate Battleground" fight!

Dice Roll: Catra 1, King Randor 5
Winner: King Randor!

King Randor advances to the next round!

Illumina Day!

2011-12-15T08:47:00.002-05:00

Today is Illumina Day! If you support seeing this character added to the MOTUC line, please take a gander at the image above and follow the steps to show your support.

...And while you're at it, please head over to the Illumina Facebook Fan Page and click "like". The more likes we get, the better the chances that Mattel will realize the worth of adding her to the line. To celebrate Illumina Day and thank you for supporting the page, we are going to pick one "fan" from the page at midnight tonight to receive a special prize: A DCUC Vs. MOTUC Aquaman Vs. Mer-Man Action Figure 2 Pack! All you have to do to be eligible for the contest is "like" the page! It's that easy!

Oh- and we are still doing quota giveaways at the page as well! For every 250 fans we get up until we reach our goal of 5000 fans, we will randomly award one fan with a prize. Our next goal is 500 fans, with the prize being a MOTUC Vikor! Since we are only about 100 fans away from this goal, we may actually end up with 2 giveaways today if enough fans "like" the page (the DCUC Vs. MOTUC pack and the Vikor). So spread the word MOTU fans!

-James

Ask Matty! December 15th 2011

2011-12-14T16:28:00.002-05:00

Hey all! Here's the December 15th Q & A!

1.) It seems that many of the Swiftwind figures are arriving with production errors involving the front legs. Some are correct, but a large portion seem to have either 2 right front legs or 2 left front legs (in case you aren't familiar with the problem yet, check out this thread at the He-Man.org forums- http://he-man.org/forums/boards/showthread.php?t=217547 ). Back when the King Hsss shoulders error was discovered, we were told that there would be no exchanges for correct product since no correct product existed. In the case of Swift Wind, correct versions are out there so at least some were manufactured correctly. My question is this- Will fans who received incorrectly assembled Swiftwinds be given the opportunity to exchange theirs for ones correctly assembled? And if so, is there any way that a team outside of standard Digital River customer service could be brought in to handle the problem (since DR seems ill-equipped to handle just about any customer service issue)?

We are well aware of this issue and yes, fans can exchange and defective product through customer service. Overall it was a VERY small number of Swiftwinds that were affected by this production error.

2.) The "Mad Matty Monday" sale and the Black Friday/ Cyber Monday Sale saw a large portion of the MOTUC product available at discounted prices. It would seem that seeing so many items being sold at sometimes half the cost of their original retail would deter folks from "buying early". After all- Why pay full price for something that will be sold at 50% off months later? The leaves us to question the benefits of being a subscription holder, since it is fairly obvious that if you are patient, and can hold out a for a while, all of these figures will eventually be made available again for quite a substantial discount. Don't you feel that sales like these (while great for newcomers and folks that missed out on certain figures early on) are detrimental to subscription sales... which are supposedly at their lowest point yet?

Starting in 2012, production will be much closer to the sub sales (with some limited stock still available for day-of non sub holders). While there may be some sales, we don't expect a sale as expansive as the 2011 BF sale again in 2012.

3.) Another question regarding the Cyber Monday sale- Why was the decision made to trickle items in and out of the sale instead of just having all the product available at a certain time? Many folks couldn't spend the entire day refreshing the Matty site just to see what product would pop up... And those of us that did were forced into separate orders if we wanted to grab certain items before they sold out. What was the benefit in handling the sale in this manner?

It provided a little more chase for fans on Cyber Monday and added to the shopping experience.

4.) Is there any chance we could get a repaint of the 200X-style power sword in bronze in an upcoming Weapons Pak? It would be really cool to stick one with the bronze version of King Grayskull to make it more accurate to the "Powers of Grayskull" MYP episode.

We certainly can look into this. Cool suggestion.

5.) Many questions (like more international shipping options or earlier shipping for subscribers) are usually met with the same answer… something to the effect of "we are looking into this" or "we are constantly exploring more options". My question is this- Can we start instituting some kind of timetable for improvements and corrections to longstanding issues? It's all well and good to hear that you are looking for ways to improve, but until it actually happens, that's just more words... and in some cases, we've heard those same words for going on 3 years now.

We can't promise an exact time table as things are always in flux but as repetitive as the answer is, we are working on this actively and hope to have solutions as soon as possible.

Thanks again to Mattel for taking the time to do this!

-James

UK Masters Of The Universe Comic Issue 36

2011-12-14T13:37:00.002-05:00

Vintage Trade Article: "Punch Up Your Profits..."

2011-12-13T10:27:00.002-05:00

Today's vintage trade magazine piece comes from a licensing ad focusing on Mattel's popular lines of the time. The text in the ad shows just how popular He-Man was BEFORE the Filmation cartoon even started...

Teela Warrior Goddess

2011-12-12T09:40:00.000-05:00

Real Name: Teela

The adoptive daughter of Duncan, the current Man-At-Arms, Teela grew up in the palace of King Randor. Trained from an early age in the ways of battle, at age 18 she became Captain of the Guard, leading the troops of King Randor and acting as a defacto member of the Masters of the Universe. She is yet to become aware of her true heritage as the magically cloned daughter of, and heir to, the Sorceress of Castle Grayskull. She carries the Staff of Ka, which was once used by the Snake Men in their epic battles against the Horde and King Grayskull during the Great Wars. Teela uses her magical staff to track her foes' every move!

Accessories: Staff of Ka, Sword, Shield, Snake Armor.

Additional Parts: Teela includes an extra interchangeable head which allows her to wear her Snake Armor.

Also included with Teela is Zoar the Falcon-

Zoar does not include a perch or armor, but a green version was available in a Weapons Pak.

Video Spotlight:

Additional Pictures:

UK Masters Of The Universe Comic Issue 35

2011-12-12T09:14:00.003-05:00

Vintage Trade Article: "POP: Retail Royalty"

2011-12-11T08:36:00.001-05:00

Today's vintage trade magazine piece features She-Ra sitting on her "retail royalty" throne. Pretty cool that the image used features the more "Filmation-esque" version of the character!

Masters Of The Universe Newspaper Comic Strip #71

2011-12-11T07:20:00.001-05:00

...and after 10 straight weeks, I have finally come to the end of my run of MOTU newspaper strips! Hope you enjoyed this "semi" daily feature! If I ever get more, I'll be sure to post them up for you guys!

Masters Of The Universe Newspaper Comic Strip #70

2011-12-10T09:32:00.001-05:00

Swiftwind Beautiful Horse Spirit Becomes Magical Flying Unicorn!

2011-12-09T10:39:00.003-05:00

Real Name: Spirit

A magical steed from Etheria, Spirit served Adora during her time as Force Captain of the Horde Army. Loyal to Adora, not the Horde, Spirit stayed with her after Adora learned of her true heritage and joined the Great Rebellion. Enhanced by Adora’s newly acquired Sword of Protection, Spirit was transformed into She-Ra’s flying mount Swiftwind, heroically carrying the Princess of Power into battle. Swiftwind remained with She-Ra, traveling with her from Etheria to Eternia to join with the renegade Masters of the Universe in the continued fight against Hordak and his armies.

Accessories: Removable helmet and saddle (not pictured).

Video Spotlight:

Additional Pictures:

Fan Art Fridays: "Vikor Vs. Demo-Man" By Chris Campana

2011-12-09T09:41:00.003-05:00

Today's "Fan Art Fridays" piece features a titanic battle between the barbaric do-gooder Vikor and the fluorescent foe Demo-Man! This fantastic bit of art comes to us from artist Chris Campana. Chris is a lifelong MOTU fan who has done work in both comics and video game design! To see more from Chris, you can check out a couple of his upcoming projects on Facebook HERE and at the Vigilante Project ... or you can shoot him an e-mail about commissions at jaictr@aol.com

Interested in having your MOTU art featured on "Fan Art Fridays"? Well shoot me an e-mail at mastersoftheuniverseclassics@live.com and let's talk!

Masters Of The Universe Newspaper Comic Strip #69

2011-12-09T09:34:00.000-05:00

Masters Of The Universe Newspaper Comic Strip #68

2011-12-08T08:33:00.000-05:00

"The Ultimate Battleground Battle Bracket" Round 1 Battle: Swiftwind Vs. The Goddess

2011-12-07T13:45:00.002-05:00

Check out the following video for the result of the latest battle! Witness as I roll something other than a 2 and the boys get an early holiday surprise...

Masters Of The Universe Newspaper Comic Strip #67

2011-12-07T10:52:00.000-05:00

Vintage Trade Article: "POP: A Breakthrough Concept..."

2011-12-06T17:59:00.002-05:00

Today's vintage trade magazine piece is a licensing ad for "Princess of Power"... promoting its breakthrough concept of an action-oriented female line:

...and in case you want to read that fine print-

Filmation She-Ra Model Sheet: Horde Troopers

2011-12-06T16:57:00.002-05:00

Whether you think of them as men or machines... this is how they should be animated according to the fine folks at Filmation!

Masters Of The Universe Newspaper Comic Strip #66

2011-12-06T08:26:00.001-05:00

Bubble Power She-Ra Most Powerful Woman In The Universe

2011-12-05T09:06:00.003-05:00

Real Name: Adora of the House of Randor

After crossing over from Etheria to Eternia with the help of Light Hope, She-Ra joined forces with her brother and the Masters of the Universe who were caught in a four-way war with the Snake Men, Skeletor and Hordak. She used her cloned sword to harmonize with and channel the Powers of Grayskull to form new arms and armor in the midst of battle. Her Bubble Power armor greatly enhances She-Ra's stamina and allows her to funnel great fumes of energy at her foes. She remained on Eternia to fight off evil until both she and He-Man were called to the stars to fulfill their destiny, traveling to the Tri-Solar System to end the oppression of the Horde Empire.

Accessories: Bubble Wand, Gold Shield, Vintage Toy Sword, Axe, & Helmet.

Video Spotlight:

Special Notes: Using parts from the original She-Ra, Bubble Power She-Ra can be modified into a more ideal version of the character-

Additional pictures:

Masters Of The Universe Newspaper Comic Strip #65

2011-12-05T09:03:00.001-05:00

"The Ultimate Battleground Battle Bracket" Round 1 Battle: Gygor Vs. Battle Armor Skeletor

2011-12-04T20:30:00.001-05:00

Skeletor dons his battle armor in an attempt to stay in the tournament... but is it enough to stand up to Gygor's ferocity? Watch and find out!

Original Series Prototypes: Tri-Klops

2011-12-04T07:50:00.001-05:00

...Another vintage prototype picture from one of the UK Annuals: Tri-Klops!

Masters Of The Universe Newspaper Comic Strip #64

2011-12-04T06:34:00.001-05:00

Vintage Trade Article: "She-Ra... Where Do You Put Her?"

2011-12-03T07:52:00.003-05:00

This one should be a pretty fun read for POP fans, focusing on an issue I'd never really thought about. Check out this article from the March 1985 issue of "Toys Hobbies & Crafts" on an interesting issue facing retailers back in the 1980's; Where exactly do you place the "Princess of Power" line in your store?

Vintage Trade Article: "He-Man Events!"

2011-12-03T07:37:00.003-05:00

Not really a vintage article or ad this time... Just a couple of cool shots featuring vintage He-Man "events"! First- A great shot of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade float from the February 1986 issue of "Toy Trade News":

And second- A shot from the premiere of Filmation's "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe" at the Mann's Chinese Theatre from the January 1984 issue of "Toys Hobbies & Crafts". Check out the He-Man hot air balloon!

Masters Of The Universe Newspaper Comic Strip #63

2011-12-03T06:32:00.000-05:00

Ask Matty! December 1st 2011

2011-12-02T10:11:00.003-05:00

Hey all! Here's the December 1st Q & A!

1.) This question is in regards to subscription charging & shipping- When we originally signed on for the subs, credit cards were supposed to be charged 2 days before the on sale date, with the items shipping on or before sale date. As time has gone on, charge dates have moved up earlier in the month while shipping seems to move further out. And to add to the frustration, the renewal e-mail notices sometimes arrive after a charge has already been made. For example, this past month I was charged on November 10th, got my renewal notice on November 14th , and still don’t have any kind of shipping notice as of the 15th (meaning the sub items won’t leave the warehouse until the 17th at the earliest, since the shipping seems to not actually occur until the day after I get my notice). My question is this- Why are we charged SO early on if our items aren’t going to ship until up to a week later? I’ve never had a week turnaround between charge and shipping with any other online store… It just doesn’t seem very efficient.

We are actively working on aligning shipping and CC charges to be as close together moving forward!

2.) My last few orders from Matty have included a $5 coupon good towards DCUC figures. This has been a pretty nice bonus, especially since I was able to use them towards the TRU DCUC Vs MOTUC packs! I am wondering though if you’ve given any thought into doing the reverse- Including a coupon good towards purchases at Mattycollector.com inside the package of figures bought at retail stores. It would seem that this would be a good way of making brick-and-mortar consumers more aware of Matty’s presence online…

It is always a promotion we can look into, but nothing planned at this time.

3.) Speaking of those DCUC Vs MOTUC packs- Is there anything being done to help clear the glut of Wave 1 Skeletor/ Luthor packs from stores? I have never seen Wave 2 or Wave 3 in stores due to the overwhelming supply of this pack and I’m a bit worried that I never will.

Yes, we are working with TRU to move through the older inventory and get to the newer figures.

4.) Are there any plans to create an add-on sub for extras like Granamyr in 2012? Having to go online to buy Bubble Power She-Ra is a good reminder of how inconvenient ordering non-sub items can be.

No, we purposely need to keep some items out of the sub so we have the freedom to grow or shrink the line as needed and to adjust prices for new concept items like vehicles and giant Dragons (like how the Windraider was originally 40.00 but had to be raised to 45.00 in the end). If we include items in the sub, we have to stick to the advertised price at sub purchase and need some flexibility to grow the line.

5.) I know it’s pretty far in the future still, but in regards to Granamyr- Is there any chance that he might get the same packaging treatment as the Wind Raider? It would be cool to see a vintage-style painting for this long sought after character as opposed to the standard window box.

It might be possible but we just are not there yet as far as his development as a toy and a package.

Thanks again to Mattel for taking the time to do this!

-James

Fan Art Fridays: "Grizzlor Vs. Moss Man" By Axel Gimenez & Môme Kéké

2011-12-02T09:54:00.003-05:00

Today's "Fan Art Fridays" piece comes from artist Axel Gimenez with colors by Môme Kéké. Featured here is an epic battle between Grizzlor and Moss Man... with Mosquitor sneaking in from below! To reach Axel about possible commissions, e-mail him at axelgimenez@gmail.com, or check out his deviant art page- axel-gimenez.deviantart.com. To check out more from Môme Kéké, you can check out either of these pages- lemomekeke.blogspot.com/ or lemomekeke.deviantart.com/

Interested in having your MOTU art featured on "Fan Art Fridays"? Well shoot me an e-mail at mastersoftheuniverseclassics@live.com and let's talk!