I am always hopeful that a toy line can get to everyone that anybody wants. It pretty much never happens, of course… of course. When it comes to MOTUC, I’ve also been vigilant that the line be as inclusive as possible. Get the NA guys & gals in. Give MO2K some due. Toss in a new character or two. It’s all good.
As a subscriber, MOTU also made sure that it was finally time for me to put my money where my mouth is. It’s one thing to say a line should be inclusive, it’s another to have to buy everything to help ensure that it is. I’ve kept up (almost).
There have been challenges. It took me awhile to warm up to Laser Lot. I’m still not that in love with the Griffin – I think he’s the one MOTUC item so far that never made it to the display here. Well, that’s not true – since I still haven’t had the spare cash to get the Battle Ram yet. The biggest challenge, though, came last October. Arrow. Bow’s steed in She-Ra: Princess of Power. I know he’s on folk’s wishlists. I know that he’s kind of a big deal in POP circles. But I just wasn’t excited about his reveal, wasn’t looking forward to him, and really haven’t been concerned about opening him among the months-old pile of backed up MOTUC reviews. Still, I’m gonna do these guys in order. Arrow’s review brings me one step closer to Snake Armor He-Man!
Honestly though, I don’t think my general “Blah” over him is the toy’s fault. One reason is just due to space. I don’t have nearly as much room for these beasts anymore, but that’s a straw man argument because I know I’d make room for Stridor & Nightstalker. Another is his color – the MOTU guys have got to be accurate, sometimes at the cost of being cooler. The POP stuff though, strangely, goes for cartoon accuracy over toy accuracy. In Arrow’s case, if he were vintage toy-based, he’d be blue. I’m pretty sure that I’d like a blue horse quite a bit. That’s unique. But I also thought Swift Wind should be white – pink is cool, but his white form is iconic. Is the same true for Arrow? Isn’t this the better known look?
The third thing is that I think I get caught up in what Arrow represents. There are eight horses in the vintage POP line. And a sea horse. Everybody seems to have a ride. I’ll just say it – I, personally, don’t want all that. I want the folks that want it to have their shot, I do, but staring down the barrel of a stable-full of horse toys is daunting. They could have their own mini-sub. Truthfully, though, that’s probably not going to happen, I just don’t see all those repaints in our future. Even if the 4H would try & make them cool (they don’t quite do that for Arrow, we’ll get to that), even though a 4H Battle Swan would probably be something I’m into, I think Arrow might be the capstone on the POP horses. Even if he’s not, I still can’t lump that on the old boy’s back. He’s just one horse toy.
So, when opening him, I decided I needed to try and look at him objectively. As a not-the-horse-I-want, not-blue, not-part-of-a-larger-bunch-of-stuff-I-don’t-want thing, but as just this month’s figure. And in that regard, he’s really okay. Continue to Page 2…
Excellent review, pics, and comics, as ever. I pretty much agree with everything you say here. I suppose I’m fine with having him for a complete collection, and he’d fill out a Great Rebellion display nicely, but I’m not ecstatic, or even very enthusiastic about him. Stridor, Night Stalker, Mantisaur, or any of the Preternian technosaurs . . . those, I’d’ve been ecstatic about!
with that mohawk (manehawk?), he reminds me of Dani Moonstar’s Valkyrie mount.
(and with a new Val coming that seems to have it’s “new” head repainted from Dani’s hair mold…!!!)
I like the color and the overall look. maybe they’ll relist him for the holiday clearance?
#anydaynow$$$$
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also, no Green Arrow jokes? maybe even an Amell nod? :/
LOL
This review pretty much sums up my feelings on Arrow. I also haven’t opened him (Second figure to remain unopened after Hurricane Hordak)I have no place to put him, my displays have become hap hazard, over crowded, figures in the back falling down, knocking over others. I just have no place for these. ive got 4 shelves that are 24dx5′ wide and so help me there is no more room!!! I cant even display Grayskull, the Battle Ram, the Sky Sled (Either version) and variants. Its a mess.
I haven’t opened Arrow yet either. I’m just not excited for him. Maybe one day, I’ll get around to it.
Like most I didn’t have much enthsiasm for Arrow at first — and this is coming from someone who enjoys collecting POP. As a fellow Club Eternia subscriber I was getting him regardless of whether or not I wanted him. I decided to sell him to a friend of mine who is still relatively new to collecting MOTUC, and just so happens to almost exclusively collect POP figures. I sold him off and I figured I was done, but then a friend of mine in a toy group that I’m in was selling his off on the cheap, and the completiest bug got hold of me, so I figured I was bound to have him one way or another. After waiting more than a month to get my hands on him (and having wavered in my decision) I finally received Arrow. What immediately struck me was the colors. So vibrant! Overall I’m glad I was able to reaquire him. The price tag may leave a sour taste in your mouth, so I guess if you’re not a fan just try to sell him off or trade him to recoup your loss. Better yet just give it away! Toys For Tots always needs donations!
I actually really like him. I have no particular affinity for POP over anything else MOTU but I get really excited about anything that world-builds for my display. And a second big ass horse definitely adds to the visual variety! That said I don’t necessarily think I need a BUNCH of horses. But I’m definitely excited to have him!
I totally agree with AmericanHyena’s comments. I do enjoy this figure and it adds interesting colors and shapes to my shelves…
I can’t wait to see Stridor and Night Stalk figures. They will probably be killer action figures.
I mean Nightstalker…
4H unleashed? HA!
I only collect POP figures and due to a couple of months of no internet access missed him at the time and now am scouring ebay and he’s going for a pretty penny so people mustn’t mind him too much. Anyway even though the socket covers are very half arsed it would have been a nice piece of fan service if they had of included a second swiftwind set with the figure.
I was just looking over the checklist and realized I haven’t opened ANY 2014 figures and only a scattered few from 2013. Wow. No wonder I have so many boxes in the garage. Anyway…
I might be in the minority here but I like the beasts (and vehicles) and will take as many as they give us. I have a couple Battle Cats and Panthors still in their boxes and I bought 3 of the Griffon when he came out. I regret not getting a second Arrow because I really like how he looks both with and without the wings. With a simple color change to his mane and tail he could be a different steed. (same deal with Battle Lion, didn’t get a second to customize 🙁 )
I do think the wing pegs could have been done better. A simple strap connecting the two together and you have a saddle bag type accessory. If I ever get a second to customize I’ll be doing that slight fix for sure.
Next stop, Charger.
I LOVE Arrow and Swift Wind! I know they take up a lot of room, but I LOVE that they exist. I seriously would love to see the crystal horses from the vintage second series Crystal Moonbeam and Sundancer… and HOW AWESOME would it be if there was a remake on the vintage Crystal Castle or Castle Brightmoon!?!?!?!?! I mean, C’mon… Castle Grayskull gets rebooted, why not an Etherian playset??? anyway, this girl can keep her fingers crossed.. I really appreciate these reviews… and am definitely jealous that you get to have one of every action figure to open and “pose/play” around with…
Basically, I love and have loved ALL POP since I was a little girl back in the 80’s… I’m so glad the lesser obscure characters are being recognized.. but to me, a die hard POP fan, I love them all… and I wish I could have 2 of everything so I can have one in the box and one out of the box… My collection is pretty extensive, I have all of the vintage characters, and, slowly but surely, I am trying to get the MOTUC action figures as well…
So, Mr. Reviewer, if you are trying to make room for other characters, please feel free to send Arrow and Swift Wind my way… I will GLADLY take them off your hands… I would make room for any POP characters…