{"id":14397,"date":"2011-09-11T22:36:59","date_gmt":"2011-09-12T03:36:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/?p=14397"},"modified":"2011-09-12T00:56:10","modified_gmt":"2011-09-12T05:56:10","slug":"thundercats-classics-sdcc-lion-o-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/?p=14397","title":{"rendered":"Thundercats Classics
SDCC Lion-O Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a>I wasn\u2019t planning on getting into Thundercats Classics. I have no connection with the original property other than a vague awareness, but two things happened. First, I kept seeing folks insist they were awesome. Then came the e-mails, tweets, etc. asking if I was planning on reviewing them. Well, alrighty then…<\/p>\n

I don’t really know why, but I never cared much about Thundercats as a kid. I’ve thought about why that might be, and I just don\u2019t remember encountering the franchise that often. I tried to refresh my memory by watching some old episodes, but not even the intro song really felt familiar. Pictures of the old toys in package didn’t stir any memories either. The only thing I could vaguely remember was a Thundercats book. I\u2019ve long since forgotten specifics, but I recall that Lion-O was being forced to ‘walk the plank’ – which was weird, because he was on a spaceship at the time. Anyway, what all that means is there’s no nostalgia in this review. This isn\u2019t just my first Lion-O figure, it\u2019s really my first Thundercats toy… ever.<\/em> Have I been missing out? <\/p>\n

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There are three figures in the Thundercats Classics line so far. Bandai has released a regular Lion-O & Tygra to retail, and a special edition Lion-O exclusive to SDCC\/TRU.Com. The latter, exclusive one is featured here. I opted to buy that version primarily because of his accessories (which I’ll cover on the next page). SDCC Lion-O is currently still available<\/a> at ToysRUs.Com, but be warned, he’s a steep $39.99. I purchased him with a 20% off coupon and some Rewards dollars, so I ended up getting him closer to ‘normal\u2019 price. He\u2019s been a blast to own, but I don\u2019t know if I would\u2019ve bought him for $40 outright. At retail, I’ve seen the regular figures at TRU for $20 and Walmart for $16. Not big on TRU\u2019s markup, but the Walmart price looks pretty nice in comparison.<\/p>\n

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After getting Lion-O out of the box<\/a>, the first thing you can’t help but notice is his staggering height. I didn’t have any Thundercats toys as a kid, but I’ve seen the pics – this guy towered over most of his 80s brethren. Now, nearly thirty years later, he does so again. Thundercats toys are just destined to be bigger, I guess? I don’t really know why Bandai opted to go for an 8″ line on the Classics. Were they seeking to replicate the 80s scale issues? Did they want to keep the Classics line and the Modern line incompatible? Do they think bigger is just better? I really have no idea. In any case, he’s a stark reminder that even though the collector market would pretty much universally appreciate inter-line compatibility, it’s either not registering with toy companies or simply of no interest to them.<\/p>\n

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After you’ve sorted out if you’ve gotten smaller or your action figures have gotten bigger, the next thing you notice about Lion-O is that he’s a sturdy fella. There shouldn’t be many warped limbs in this line with this kind of construction. There’s still some softer plastic, like the middle part of the knee joint, but the overall figure feels sturdier than a lot of Mattel’s offerings. <\/p>\n

When it comes to how much detail should be present on an action figure, I’m feeling particularly vexed of late. Does every toy need to be a mini-masterpiece in the sculpt department? I know some collectors look at the Four Horsemen’s Scarabus<\/a> and judge lesser figures against it. I don’t think I can do that. While I spent a week lavishing deserved praise on Scarabus & crew, I also like the great, but not-as-detailed sculpts found on many of my beloved superhero-based figures. That said, the Thundercats add an interesting aspect to that debate. Other than basic anatomy and the appropriate costume details, there’s not much detail to be found. You won’t find fur (Thundercats are supposed to be covered in fur, right?), striations, veins, or other little imperfections. And, unlike MOTUC, where the Four Horsemen add some realism into ye olde 2D designs, this Thundercats line looks more like the figure walked off the cartoon and on to our shelves. I think that\u2019s going to be a love it or hate it aspect to this particular line. I’ve come to appreciate it. <\/p>\n

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As it is, I’m a pretty satisfied with Lion-O’s sculpt. While the figure is all-new, there are some parts like the upper arms and legs that appear to be generic for the line (we can already see them re-used on Tygra). Specific to Lion-O are the pieces that comprise his costume and his head sculpt. The costume details are nicely done with a more defined, armored look to them along with some ribbing and rivets where needed. I like the head sculpt, though I’m not a fan of the hair. I know why it’s been done this way, but it looked weird then and it still does now. <\/p>\n

I know just got done talking about how I don’t mind the lack of little details missing, but there is one exception: the eyes. The face looks good, but the eyes appear to be completely handled by the paint and it creates an odd effect. I’d like to see an unpainted version of this head sculpt and see if it’s as freaky as I think it’d be.<\/p>\n

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The paint is the primary feature that differentiates Lion-O from his retail counterpart. Some of the changes were for the better (this figure doesn’t have as much of a plastic\/toy look), but others weren’t. I love the metallic paint on the tunic and the extra detailing in the crevices for depth. Looking at pics of the regular release, I really appreciate the wash in his hair too (there’s a joke in there, isn’t there?). I’m not so keen on the other changes though. Like the armor, the muscles are similarly defined by a wash and some extra stripes of paint, but it just doesn’t work as well. I did end up with a rather dirty version of Lion-O, so the effect might be better lighter. Also, his hands, having received no wash at all, look out of place. <\/p>\n

That said, I’m not exactly keen on the lack of any washes on the regular version of Lion-O either. I\u2019ve been wavering about picking one up for $16 at Walmart. There are some problems endemic to both versions \u2013 the thin paint around the collar and the incorrectly colored joints. The insert molded pieces are all pre-produced in the same color. The color matches the biceps (great), but that also causes the wrist and ankle joints to be colored incorrectly. Just in case you were might forget these were figures were made by Bandai, those orange ankles will be a constant reminder. Continue to Page 2…<\/a><\/p>\n

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In the teaser, I said this figure was highly recommended and yet so far, I’ve pointed out that he’s light on sculpted details and that the paint choices (while generally crisp) are a mix of good and bad. And yet, this figure still satisfies for one major reason: Articulation.<\/p>\n

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Lion-O features a ball-jointed upper neck joint and a hinged lower neck (on my Tygra, this combination works really well, but my Lion-O’s head pops back up whenever I pose him looking down \u2013 I think of it like an annoying action feature). His arms feature ball-jointed shoulders, swivel biceps, hinged elbows, and swivel\/ball\/swivel wrists (think Revoltech). The wrists are a major plus for the figure. They have so much poseability that the annoyance of the interior ball-joint being the wrong color is overcome (well, a little anyway).<\/p>\n

Lion-O also has a slight ab crunch, a ball-jointed waist, ball-jointed hips, swivels at the thighs and calves, double hinged knees, and rocker ankles. The thigh swivels are notable for having the primary leg muscle (I know, I should look up the name\u2026) extend up from the thigh piece and partially cover the swivel. It’s weird, but it’s interesting. Anyway, that was a lot to list and, as you can imagine, that means this guy moves really well and is extremely fun to pose and play around with. No matter what you think of most aspects of this figure, the articulation is what really brings this figure home.<\/p>\n

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The reason I ultimately paid a little more for this version of Lion-O is for the accessories. His complement is mostly the same as the standard version: an extra gripping hand, the Sword of Omens, a retracted Sword of Omens, the Claw Shield, and a little strap for the Claw Shield to clip on the belt, but he also includes a nifty weapons rack for all his gear. I didn’t buy this figure for the weapons rack though, the real prize here is the vac-metallized Sword of Omens. <\/p>\n

While many of the reviews I’ve seen for the standard Lion-O have all ended with something akin to “you have to buy this figure!”, there’s one consistent point of displeasure – the regular version of the Sword of Omens is apparently rather soft. That’s not a problem for the vac-metal version. Even if the dirty paint washes here do end up having me buy a regular Lion-O for my display, I’ve already got the Sword of Omens he’ll wield. It’s one of the cooler accessories I’ve bought in a long time.<\/p>\n

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There’s a lot more than the Sword of Omens though. There’s the extra right gripping hand and the Claw Shield doubles as an alternate left hand. The SDCC Claw Shield has a slightly different deco with the sculpted lines filled in like on the figure. Like the sword, I like this deco better than the regular piece, though both sport dull, rounded tips on the claws. The Claw Shield also has a spot to stow the retracted Sword of Omens (which is nice because he doesn’t hold it as well as the big version). If you’d rather Lion-O not wear the Claw Shield, it also attaches to a strap that plugs into Lion-O’s belt. It\u2019s a great little touch of functionality by Bandai and the figure looks great either way. <\/p>\n

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Well, if you\u2019re like the ‘me from two weeks ago’, you probably think I\u2019m crazy. You clicked on this review and saw a giant cat-man that doesn\u2019t fit with anything you have, some weird paint choices, and wrong-colored joints and were sure you didn’t need to buy it.<\/p>\n

Well, I must be crazy. I don\u2019t know the first thing about Lion-O. And even with the few nitpicks I\u2019ve got about the figure, he\u2019s been sitting on my desk getting way too much attention for the better part of the two weeks. Tygra too – though that\u2019ll be a review for some other time. I will say, that I don’t know if this<\/em> Lion-O is really worth the $40 bones even with the exclusivity, but the regular version is surely well worth the $16. And while there are a few things I’d like to see Bandai do better for that price – these figures aren’t masquerading as adult collectibles. They’re toys… and I rather appreciate it. And that’s coming from a guy that still doesn’t really know what a Snarf is and keep can barely keep the names of the rest of the team straight. If you like Thundercats more than I do, and how could you not, I think you’ll have a blast with these figures. <\/p>\n

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I wasn\u2019t planning on getting into Thundercats Classics. I have no connection with the original property other than a vague awareness, but two things happened. First, I kept seeing folks insist they were awesome. Then came the e-mails, tweets, etc. asking if I was planning on reviewing them. Well, alrighty then…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":14400,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_options":[]},"categories":[34,910,10],"tags":[445,1165,2566,2589],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.itsalltrue.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/tloTN.jpg?fit=50%2C50","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pObc6-3Kd","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":31388,"url":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/?p=31388","url_meta":{"origin":14397,"position":0},"title":"SDCC Armchair Coverage: Mattel Keeps Calm & ThunderCats Ho!?!","date":"July 12, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"","rel":"","context":"In "News"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":24524,"url":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/?p=24524","url_meta":{"origin":14397,"position":1},"title":"August Review Round-Up (August 1st-16th) 128 Links!","date":"August 18, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"","rel":"","context":"In "News"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":21547,"url":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/?p=21547","url_meta":{"origin":14397,"position":2},"title":"Review Round-Up (October 8th-14th)","date":"October 19, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"I have to say I'm getting a kick out of these Review Round-Ups! I started them to network the great toys blogs together a little more & bring great content to even more folks, but I\u2019m personally enjoying it too. I love seeing some of the great (and some off\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Reviews"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":24704,"url":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/?p=24704","url_meta":{"origin":14397,"position":3},"title":"August Review Round-Up (August 16th-31st) 128 Links!","date":"September 1, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"","rel":"","context":"In "Reviews"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":6030,"url":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/?p=6030","url_meta":{"origin":14397,"position":4},"title":"This Week in the Green Room","date":"June 5, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"We've relaunched our visual DC & MOTU checklists as DCClassics.Com & MOTUClassics.Com! We won't have a regular IAT review of Walter Peck (more on that later), but Lay Ze-Man was kind of enough to post some pictures of his Peck on our forum if you'd like to take a look.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Toys"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1254,"url":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/?p=1254","url_meta":{"origin":14397,"position":5},"title":"Friday Five 8\/21: Links You Need to Know About","date":"August 21, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"","rel":"","context":"In "Customs"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14397"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=14397"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14397\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14412,"href":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14397\/revisions\/14412"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/14400"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=14397"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=14397"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=14397"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}