“I’ll show you who hasn’t got a mind! Eh, I mean, who has a mind.” -Trap Jaw, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. “Teela’s Triumph” (1985).
I couldn’t tell you how long it’s been since I reviewed a MOTU Classics figures. This is at least the first one this year and its June. That’s not good. Part of it is just me being annoyed about missing the SDCC Tops 2pk last year. I missed both times they were available online and it broke my completist streak. I can’t complain – 7 years of not missing a product is a good run, but the eBay price for those Tops got dumb fast and every time I muster the gumption to spend the money the damn thing always costs more than the last time. True evil.
Anyway, after that, I haven’t even opened all the MOTUC figures. All the Club 200x stuff is still in box. The Laser figures still in box. All of this year’s figures are still in b- well, I did open Trap Jaw! That’s a start. One of the reasons I was really thinking about MOTUC lately is the run of disappointing news. Snake Mountain is up in the air if not crashed and burned. I started to make a site at SnakeMountain.net to help push for it, but it just feels pointless. There’s no SDCC exclusive this year (which considering last year, is a blessing in disguise I guess). And then there are all the delays. MOTU Classics just seems rudderless. For the first time, I have serious doubts about the future. It’s weird times.
None of this has anything to do with old Trap Jaw here though. I just felt like opening one up and taking some pictures. Trap Jaw is the most recent figure so I opted for him instead of going back to pick up a year-old figure that’s been sitting around waiting. So much for first come, first serve.
I have to admit that I only like these Filmation figures as kind of cool novelty, but even after opening Trap Jaw – I’m not super into him. I signed up mostly for Evilseed & Clawful more than simpler versions of figures I already have. But maybe it’s just that I’m rusty n the MOTU love front and I need to get back into it. I’m curious to hear from all of you – how are you receiving the Filmation/2.0 figures?
The technicals are still good here. The basic buck isn’t changed. Though Trap Jaw strangely got a new torso that’s raised to meet the harness on his right arm, but they reuse those ol’ Trap Jaw upper thighs for the umpteenth time. And I do love the new pieces. The new head sculpt is fantastic. I think I like it better than the regular version. It just has more personality. The jaw is new to match the cartoon and gone is the Walking Dead tongue behind his steel mouth. I like that on the original, but it doesn’t need to be here, so good call. The lower legs are well done and the design thankfully covers up the super useful, but ugly new ankle joints. The simpler loincloth is present along with a simplified belt. He looks good all put together and I find myself liking the bright colors. Continue to Page 2…
So Snake Mountain is no longer a go, huh? That’s a major bummer. I ordered Darius at the last minute (more like May 21) because they finally started using removable helmets and he looked cool plus, it was his first figure, but he has yet to show up which is weird since I usually get the figures shipped out real fast to the Orange County area. I hope these issues don’t plague the upcoming Thundercats Classics line as well.
I got two Trap Jaws to hopefully trade one for Filmation He-Man, which I did miss. I’m betting Skeletor lasts all of five seconds before he sells out.
Darius is delayed, although they “sold him” in May. They won’t have stock to send out to anyone. I think he’s expected soon though.
I skipped him as it’s just too much to buy one figure at a time. If Nightstalker wasn’t delayed, I’d have grabbed them both, but noooo, he’s now moved to September (conveniently when there’s nothing I’ll want then).
I’ll try and grab Darius if they have a sale later in the year so I can combine the few figures I want now. If not, no biggy.
Feel the same way about stuff going on, maybe not as doom and gloomy as I’m still awaiting SDCC to see who the team is and IF they’re even passionate about MOTUC anymore. As long as we get everything we’re promised and even if the Club Grayskull line continues for just one more year, I’ll be happy.
Yeah this guy’s kind of just….there. There’s nothing particularly bad about him, but nothing that really stands out either. To be honest, I really didn’t care at all about him, Evilseed, or Not Clawful, I just subbed so as to not have to play games trying to get He-Man, Skeletor, Evil Lyn, and Beast Man. Though I never did get the regulat Classics Trappy, because nothing can compete with the 200X figure, so there’s that at least.
That He-Man, though. Even with the horrendous new ankles that is easily the best fig of He-Man ever. And you should totally open your stuff. There are some real gems in the 200X ones and the laser light two pack are easily two of the best figs they’ve ever done. Even if you’re not going to review them, you should crack them out for your own personal enjoyment.
I have to say, I’m glad to hear there’s no exclusive this year. I’m over exclusives in general. Even though I’ve been able to get most of the exclusives I’ve wanted easily enough (Shadow Weaver not so much, but whatevs), I just am tired of having to go through the effort. I just want to buy what I want without having to jump through hoops. That and I’m pissed that NECA is making Newt an SDCC exclusive and not selling it online. I am curious as to what got delayed though.
I’m receiving mine with crooked eyes, mostly. I signed up to Filmation 2.0 for Clawful and Evilseed and Trap-Jaw. Trap-Jaw’s one of my favourites. And this one is just like the others: pretty dang fun.
Oh, and I don’t think he’s supposed to have red highlights at the side of his face. That’s yet another paint foul-up on Mattel’s part. Mine has one side of the face near-perfect with just a bit of red showing through, the other side has that “red shadow” effect where not enough paint was applied. They’re getting pretty darn sloppy with the paint over at Mattel, almost to knock-off levels, sometimes. I don’t think I’ve had a single figure so far this year whose eyes have been on straight.
Anywho, sweet review, as always!
My only contact with the whole MOTU deal has been here, so Noisy’s needful absents has left me way way out of the loop, but maybe that makes my eyes valuable. 🙂
What is the deal with the packaging for Trap Jaw? That looks like a really overly large box! Like as in 2 figures would be inside! Is there some odd intent to make these ‘mystery’ items with a sleeve over the actual display?
I like the overall look of the Filmation figures. Same complaint as years ago, they need to crank out the ‘key’ figures and not goof around. Teela, Man-At-Arms, Ram-man, all need to be sooner rather than later.
New line, new packaging. It’s bigger than the normal MOTUC packaging, but not really that bigger. It’s very collector friendly, you can open the box and pull the figure out from the plastic tray and if you so desire you can put him back in too. To the best of my knowledge there is no intent to make them “mystery” items… the sleeve is just extra.
They did Teela with some way too expensive vehicle a few months back, but she looked like hell.
Yeah… she came with the Talon Fighter/Point Dread. Maybe I’m just drinking the Kool-Aid, or maybe I just stopped caring, but she doesn’t look that bad in person (but yeah, she’s still pretty bad).
they’re spending more on the packaging to make up for the “blech” figure within.
i can’t help but feel beyond cheated, as a motucer, they this line of ice cream stand mascots from the 80s gets the articulation upgrade motuc fans clamored for over and over again. but to my great sadistic delight, they don’t appear a bit more posable for it. fancy that!