tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90303457689399308012024-02-22T03:00:18.574-06:00The Midnight RantWaylonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401043437179086649noreply@blogger.comBlogger366125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030345768939930801.post-86637618146711559612024-01-08T11:30:00.001-06:002024-01-08T11:30:00.134-06:00The 007 Re-Read Project: Icebreaker by John Gardner<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwiGcUyGCXXMIjJdLdy9phHJp_uXcAu-oHQEkd3zx__sMtF9VG5m0w0_-Ep5nSZqHvzfmfQzMkX9uU_wYbhDIP2uN6kcQVBhhDPIyCy3jNfgcQfNpXUKKsBb22qIhmKFEhSzUxXJbVWfGQRILGS1Cp8tLAjFFDS1WqfkE3Yyxv6ILrklQwx29yJTBOhg/s1670/007%20Re-Read%20Project%20header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img border="0" data-original-height="1095" data-original-width="1670" height="421" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwiGcUyGCXXMIjJdLdy9phHJp_uXcAu-oHQEkd3zx__sMtF9VG5m0w0_-Ep5nSZqHvzfmfQzMkX9uU_wYbhDIP2uN6kcQVBhhDPIyCy3jNfgcQfNpXUKKsBb22qIhmKFEhSzUxXJbVWfGQRILGS1Cp8tLAjFFDS1WqfkE3Yyxv6ILrklQwx29yJTBOhg/w640-h421/007%20Re-Read%20Project%20header.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></div><br />Today, we're taking a look at John Gardner's third James Bond novel, <b>Icebreaker</b>, which I remember enjoying when I first read it about 25 years ago. Last time, I was disappointed when <a href="https://midnight-rant.blogspot.com/2023/08/the-007-re-read-project-for-special.html" target="_blank">For Special Services</a> failed to hold up to my initial reading of it back in the day. Will <b>Icebreaker</b> fare better? Read on to find out! (Or just skip to the end, if you want; I can't really stop you!) As always, I won't give away the entire plot, but there are<p></p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: center;"><b>SPOILERS AHEAD!</b><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQBC1k9YUgiC9wRSdkmGY0Cr4cb49tSbz8ncCv0B26hAKEJv96KoMNAEinDB8UZPhiCQpzQMDf5ZYzWqEauzUQgf2Yh3FHzcBH-xpYZgg1rLZnimktcgOraqHhAXnxcPaKlGbtEppPxqUMW-qkMs179pm-K_GtmmZtFLflVV3FymPve9cbpm17dSx6g/s913/eb9f896e97c5cb33c1b90cab8ffdc87c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="913" data-original-width="596" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQBC1k9YUgiC9wRSdkmGY0Cr4cb49tSbz8ncCv0B26hAKEJv96KoMNAEinDB8UZPhiCQpzQMDf5ZYzWqEauzUQgf2Yh3FHzcBH-xpYZgg1rLZnimktcgOraqHhAXnxcPaKlGbtEppPxqUMW-qkMs179pm-K_GtmmZtFLflVV3FymPve9cbpm17dSx6g/w261-h400/eb9f896e97c5cb33c1b90cab8ffdc87c.jpg" title="" width="261" /></a></div>Dozens of terrorist acts are carried out across Europe, with the neo-Nazi group the National Socialist Action Army claiming credit. James Bond, stealing a couple of days respite in Helsinki after completing a training exercise in the Arctic Circle, runs afoul of what may be a pair of their agents. Returning to London, he is assigned to Icebreaker, a multinational mission featuring agents from the CIA, KGB, MOSSAD, and MI6. Bond has been specifically requested. After a quick briefing, he is dispatched to join the group, and mission, already in progress. <p></p><p>CIA agent Brad Turpitz, Nicolai Mosolov of the KGB, and the MOSSAD's Rivke Ingber are Bond's teammates. It immediately becomes clear that none of the agents trust one another, and Bond himself harbors doubts about each of them. Predictably, he quickly gravitates toward the shapely blonde Rivke, despite a shocking revelation about her that directly relates to the mission at hand. With the team already splintering, Bond faces an uphill struggle to complete the mission in any capacity. </p><p>The novel has a fairly strong beginning, and the concept of the mission itself is ripe for interesting drama. It's clear early on that one of the Icebreaker agents is a double agent, actively working to destroy the team and prevent them accomplishing their mission. Naturally, a reveal is expected, and we definitely get one. Unfortunately, I found myself getting sick of all the double- and triple-crosses long before the story ended. It got to the point of self-parody, and I wouldn't have been bowled over if we'd gotten one more in the final few pages. </p><p>Another problem is the villain. Oh, did I forget to mention him in the synopsis? That right there tells you the main issue with him. Count von Gloda is an imminently forgettable villain, even more of a disappointment after the memorable nemeses in 007's first two outings under Gardner's pen. Attempts to make him seem a major threat, such as a ludicrous passage in which Bond wonders if he has finally met his match in this man, are laughable. He's as bland as they come, and that's a major sin in a series whose entries largely live or die based on the strength of their villains. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3MR1abcHSZSjkq36UMU85r7ZtZNdiupK9P4dSk7tWvcm-BiGPsdBxGkIOUVKMQcVtt4914hu0lge8fUHszyI5WX5p26hHCakodu5rWyM6kY6C6VnA_CS5HzMtBqXkjyZ8fyjtXWaMxyLF-XDlapwqQyq89hT8X_BhiZn1m1ubROG6QLYVcS8O3mMoyQ/s1139/71jNmegnPUL._SL1200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1139" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3MR1abcHSZSjkq36UMU85r7ZtZNdiupK9P4dSk7tWvcm-BiGPsdBxGkIOUVKMQcVtt4914hu0lge8fUHszyI5WX5p26hHCakodu5rWyM6kY6C6VnA_CS5HzMtBqXkjyZ8fyjtXWaMxyLF-XDlapwqQyq89hT8X_BhiZn1m1ubROG6QLYVcS8O3mMoyQ/w281-h400/71jNmegnPUL._SL1200_.jpg" title="" width="281" /></a></div>Gardner does keep things moving briskly, however, and the plot is always interesting even as it descends into absurdity at times. He does have a tendency to frequently switch between dialogue and third person narration when delivering exposition. This is a stylistic touch Gardner uses frequently, and it always mildly annoys me for some reason. Gardner constructs a torture scene so sadistic that it rivals some of those in the Fleming novels. This is easily the most gripping scene in the entire novel. <p></p><p>The following scene, however, may well be the low point of the entire novel for me. Bond blabs a bunch of secrets he's just endured a horrendous torture to avoid spilling to the enemy, <i>while he is still held captive within the enemy's stronghold! </i>This only occurs to serve the plot and lead to yet another pair of double crosses, and the whole thing makes Bond look incredibly stupid. He curses himself for it a couple of pages later, offering up a very weak explanation as to why it happened, but it's clear why it really did. Gardner was a good enough writer to advance the plot in the way he desired without having Bond act so wildly out of character here, so it's annoying that events unfold in this way. It makes for a very weird scene. </p><p><b>NOTABLE QUOTES:</b></p><p>Bond did not smile. Perhaps it was his background in the Royal Navy, and working all those years close to M, but he considered smoking while someone else ate to be only a fraction above smoking before the Loyal Toast.</p><p style="text-align: center;"> __________________________________________</p><p style="text-align: left;">For a flitting second, Bond experienced the strange sensation of a clammy hand running down his spine. Because he had not really met von Gloda face to face, or even read a full dossier on the man, Bond felt an unusual unease. In that fraction of time, he even wondered if, at long last, he might have met his match. (Oh, <i>come on!</i>)</p><p style="text-align: center;">__________________________________________</p><p style="text-align: left;">Von Gloda stood, hands clasped behind his back, a tall straight figure, every inch a soldier. Well, Bond reflected, at least he was that - not the pipsqueak military amateur Hitler had proved himself to be.</p><p style="text-align: center;">____________________________________________</p><p style="text-align: left;">"SMERSH has what I understand is called, in criminal parlance, a hit list. That list includes a number of names - people who are wanted, not dead, but alive. Can you imagine whose name is number one on the chart, James Bond?</p><p style="text-align: center;">____________________________________________</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Despite the issues I had with this novel, I still enjoyed it well enough. It's not great, but not bad, either; <b>Icebreaker</b> is very much a middle-of-the-road 007 adventure. There is far better Bond material out there, but if you want to sample some of the non-Fleming Bonds, you can do a lot worse. There's definitely a trend being established here with these books not holding up nearly as well as I had hoped, and that's a bit worrying. I still have about a dozen more Gardner Bonds to get through, after all! Hopefully the next novel in the series, <b>Role of Honor</b>, will break the streak of disappointments. We'll find out together next time! <br /></p>Waylonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401043437179086649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030345768939930801.post-47682857156599363402023-12-11T11:00:00.002-06:002023-12-11T11:00:00.134-06:00Rant Review: Conan the Barbarian: The Original Marvel Years Omnibus vol 9<p><span class="Formatted"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOsttRDAArrrPpvUbCvWvNSC5N6uCkdXP-uxjhGTZ4AMPfxnQDVRuT-Jc7EDSbkWkQIHE-apfQJ61kk2lGp5WJNffpcHHL8ENQFXr_b8nP2mAtn4s8eKg6SxqVxdZhaN1XAFl_tTL9VTy3Im3v9fovx0uGFuGQ05RKNFifE8eFE7AsQGLE2JCO-x3khw/s2560/60617206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1711" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOsttRDAArrrPpvUbCvWvNSC5N6uCkdXP-uxjhGTZ4AMPfxnQDVRuT-Jc7EDSbkWkQIHE-apfQJ61kk2lGp5WJNffpcHHL8ENQFXr_b8nP2mAtn4s8eKg6SxqVxdZhaN1XAFl_tTL9VTy3Im3v9fovx0uGFuGQ05RKNFifE8eFE7AsQGLE2JCO-x3khw/w268-h400/60617206.jpg" title="" width="268" /></a></div>I've been buying all of the omnibus collections Marvel has published since reacquiring (and since relinquishing) the Conan license, and enjoyed all of them, to one degree or another. Volume 9 may seem like an odd place to begin reviewing this series, but I've seen very few reviews of this book online, so I figured I'd contribute one to help anyone who may be on the fence about this one to decide whether or not it's worth adding to their collection. <br /><p></p><p><span class="Formatted">We're nearly at the finish line, but there's a
rather sizeable stumbling block in the way. But just how high is that
hurdle? The issues reprinted in this volume have a reputation as the
absolute nadir of the entire original Marvel run of Conan, so I was
interested to read them for the first time to see just how bad things
got. The book is fairly strong as it kicks off, with Val Semeiks
continuing his run, now co-plotting with Charles Santino. These stories
are all single issue adventures depicting Conan as an unstoppable force,
charging ahead relentlessly as he deals with any obstacles in his path
in the most direct manner possible. These issues are fast-paced and
action-packed, with energetic art by Semeiks and the legendary Alfredo
Alcala providing appropriately detailed and hard-edged visuals. My
favorites are #215, in which a group of Turanian soldiers very quickly
learn the perils of trying to take a Cimmerian captive; #218, which
follows Conan's battle for survival on a small island populated by
hostile visitors; and #219, which relates Conan's efforts to escape a
city on horseback. These stories are fun reads, and very entertaining,
but I wouldn't want an extended run of such short, disconnected stories.<br /><br />Then,
we get an extended run of such short, disconnected stories, as the
Semeiks/Santino team leave the book, and the editors burn through a
bunch of inventory issues. We get stories by Larry Hama, Don Perlin,
Michael Fleisher, and Gerry Conway. Most of these are decent stories
that neither excel nor offend, though I found Conway's trio of
two-parters rather tiresome. Hama's pair of done-in-one stories were
probably my favorites from this batch, with "Drum Song," a tale of
Conan's pirate days narrated in verse, a particular standout. There is
some nice art to be found among these issues, including one fully
illustrated by Alcala. Still, I was ready for the series to have some
sense of direction again long before I reached the end of these short,
mostly single issue tales.<br /><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQWSGU5p0KJuvYlrYkPRYydm2w_V-o-Z0O9v0yHRqu8qNLWdQ4h44JTeGF3W2PssgdcHwEQr31_oJZte3HKEMGrHEIpnxWbqhuXkzZghvHGtyGnos4gmJrtrQHdtt4Q12Y7bvOm2SE0e9_YMZCNBg0c99wOTLBCKD9kA3QxK6q4qZC12Fj0bsFwSUxPQ/s886/large-7090776.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="590" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQWSGU5p0KJuvYlrYkPRYydm2w_V-o-Z0O9v0yHRqu8qNLWdQ4h44JTeGF3W2PssgdcHwEQr31_oJZte3HKEMGrHEIpnxWbqhuXkzZghvHGtyGnos4gmJrtrQHdtt4Q12Y7bvOm2SE0e9_YMZCNBg0c99wOTLBCKD9kA3QxK6q4qZC12Fj0bsFwSUxPQ/w266-h400/large-7090776.jpg" title="" width="266" /></a></div>That new direction kicked off in issue
#232, and I wanted to slap myself for willingly inflicting this
calamity on my battered psyche. "The New Conan," as it was billed,
travels to a time prior to the legendary Cimmerian's birth, and covers
the years leading up to his Marvel debut back in 1970. Writer Michael
Higgins and Jim Lee contribute a very nice cover evoking the beloved BWS
style, and the run peaks right there. Bad comics can be fun-- witness
the gut-bustingly funny trainwreck of Batman: Odyssey, for example-- but
these are just bad in all the right ways to make them painful to slog
through. A prime example is their depiction of the siege of Venarium, a
legendary event in the Hyborian world, one which showed all of the
"civilized" kingdoms that the Cimmerians were NOT TO BE MESSED WITH.
Here, it's reduced to a magical mishap in which the Cimmerians are
barely a factor. This is emblematic of this run's poor understanding of
Conan's world, not to mention the man himself. The first four issues
have art by Ron Lim, and his style is really not a good fit for Conan
and his world. The art improves after he leaves, particularly with
#236's Rodney Ramos/Alfredo Alcala team-up, and we get a couple of very
nice covers by Mike Mignola. Even so, these issues are tough to get
through. Sales must not have been good, as this "bold new direction" was
euthanized by a returning Roy Thomas after just nine issues. He wraps
it up and accounts for its various problems in about the best way
possible, setting the stage for his series-finale run, collected in the
next volume.<br /><br />There isn't much in the way of bonus material, but
that's hardly surprising, so late in the run. The introductions are the
main draw on that front, and they offer a few nice tidbits. The intro by
Higgins is particularly interesting, revealing some of the thinking
behind the "young Conan" run. I recommend this book for big Conan fans,
but only if you can get it at a significant discount, or borrow it from
your local library. Just be aware going in that you're not getting the
series at its best, adjust your expectations accordingly, and you'll
find some fun material among the dreck.<p></p><p><span class="Formatted">I'm currently working my way through volume 10, and enjoying it quite a bit more. I'll probably whip up a review about it as well, once I'm done with it. I may go back and review the earlier volumes, if there's any demand for it. Everyone take care, and I'll see you next time! <br /></span></p>Waylonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401043437179086649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030345768939930801.post-15734484002732275902023-08-28T11:30:00.002-05:002023-12-11T13:16:26.872-06:00The 007 Re-Read Project: For Special Services by John Gardner<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_mQMk4p4CC2j6vov571r-uislWE3jo9NxjBU4aDxtA9qbqa_EHU43zkbhi-bStUeCKxJWeRsdRRPmBNJ6fob98ca8OcczuKAdImxXmK0Hmbx6oMnjDDJ_g-rSDBuPZ3_Soy_Ckq3RFGasz0eH-08tvmqkWruYNUt8SYmJCvJFHUb-VN2siHARYdTxg/s1670/007%20Re-Read%20Project%20header.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1095" data-original-width="1670" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_mQMk4p4CC2j6vov571r-uislWE3jo9NxjBU4aDxtA9qbqa_EHU43zkbhi-bStUeCKxJWeRsdRRPmBNJ6fob98ca8OcczuKAdImxXmK0Hmbx6oMnjDDJ_g-rSDBuPZ3_Soy_Ckq3RFGasz0eH-08tvmqkWruYNUt8SYmJCvJFHUb-VN2siHARYdTxg/w640-h420/007%20Re-Read%20Project%20header.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></div><br />Then-new Bond continuation novelist John Gardner's 007 debut, <a href="https://midnight-rant.blogspot.com/2021/11/the-007-re-read-project-license-renewed.html" target="_blank">License Renewed</a>, had been a critical and commercial success, and he sought to raise the stakes a bit with his follow-up novel. I remember enjoying this one quite a bit when I read it about 25 years ago, so I was interested to see how it would hold up. Grab hold of your martinis, and let's find out! As ever, I won't blow the entire plot, but there are <b> </b><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>SPOILERS AHEAD!</b></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6LlOA2Yc1S0tUmfHQLQvpX5Hg7TQyeKgXimASmNsMhe3DX_cM5QIqtgB-tf56Gf_is0_8NYgibGdzuAyhuOdwoTBvtm3Z_HpuZAqLCb6FM9DzBGWfgVLTmL1dbNu56vap1zZKiLfJFGEybKqn8nbjauMifFvUyIhO8NKM0iKKgFGVFdkfq_ZlnmbqKA/s418/R.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="418" data-original-width="277" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6LlOA2Yc1S0tUmfHQLQvpX5Hg7TQyeKgXimASmNsMhe3DX_cM5QIqtgB-tf56Gf_is0_8NYgibGdzuAyhuOdwoTBvtm3Z_HpuZAqLCb6FM9DzBGWfgVLTmL1dbNu56vap1zZKiLfJFGEybKqn8nbjauMifFvUyIhO8NKM0iKKgFGVFdkfq_ZlnmbqKA/w265-h400/R.jpg" title="" width="265" /></a></div><p></p><p>After assisting the SAS in foiling a string of violent mid-air plane robberies, James Bond finds himself summoned to M's office. He finds M sitting with an attractive young woman who seems oddly familiar. M introduces her as Cedar Leiter, the daughter of his old friend Felix! Flabbergasted, Bond sits to listen to the mission briefing. A scrap of paper found on the body of an FBI agent in the swamps of Louisiana indicates the existence of a resurgent SPECTRE, led by someone calling themselves Blofeld. Bond is sure it can't possibly be his old nemesis Ernst Stavro Blofeld-- with some justification, as even in the often comic book-esque world of 007, Blofeld received just about as definitive a death as possible-- but either way, a revived SPECTRE in any form is a threat to be taken seriously. And Bond, of course, has a personal interest in unmasking this new Blofeld.</p><p>The trail leads to Markus Bismaquer, an immensely wealthy (former?) Nazi sympathizer who has built his own private city in the middle of the desert in the American west, complete with a full-scale replica of Tara from <i>Gone with the Wind</i>. The dead FBI agent whose body yielded the SPECTRE clue, along with several other agents, had been sent to investigate suspicious activity at Bismaquer's compound. Bond and Cedar ingratiate themselves with Bismaquer and infiltrate his compound. They meet Bismaquer's wife, Nena, and his Smithers, Walter Luxor. In a shocking turn of events, Nena quickly falls for Bond, and warns him of the imminent danger they face. As for Luxor, Bond quickly begins to suspect that he may actually be the head of SPECTRE, rather than Bismaquer. Bond and Cedar investigate both of their prime suspects, and attempt to uncover SPECTRE's plan, as the rest of SPECTRE's top-level members begin to arrive for a meeting that will surely signal its initiation. And unbeknownst to Bond, Blofeld has reserved a key role in their plot just for him...</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpJm3bz7lB7TlDxOmIW6R2I29-o62KbupAdOupR2-_nBdBB7_FKRNzhTYmU69KhLeJ6XrNHXzIt2RPZHTWKG5xVooaHUm9Jt5kP8PsB-NuIy3vHitEVclHXd20u1oB8Y7Tsw_BYGaC0rx-JdPkuwjuNntHm0oRnmOvBiecYMAag3aZR5BKqvNJAbD5w/s718/OIP.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="718" data-original-width="464" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpJm3bz7lB7TlDxOmIW6R2I29-o62KbupAdOupR2-_nBdBB7_FKRNzhTYmU69KhLeJ6XrNHXzIt2RPZHTWKG5xVooaHUm9Jt5kP8PsB-NuIy3vHitEVclHXd20u1oB8Y7Tsw_BYGaC0rx-JdPkuwjuNntHm0oRnmOvBiecYMAag3aZR5BKqvNJAbD5w/w259-h400/OIP.jpg" title="" width="259" /></a></div> One of the biggest issues with this novel is its pacing. There's a sizeable section early on that sees Bond and Cedar masquerading as a professor and his wife who have uncovered extremely rare prints in a bid to attract Bismaquer's attention. A group of extremely generic thugs hassle them, leading to a tussle and a halfway decent death trap. This entire section of the novel is so inconsequential that it seems to have been included solely to pad out the page count. The prints serve as a method to get into Bismaquer's compound, but that could have been easily achieved without wasting several chapters. Bond's cover identity is so useless that he just ditches it after the second thug attack, and things proceed just fine. At least when Gardner brings the leader of the thugs back later in the novel he serves a more important purpose. <p></p><p>Once we're in the compound, there's quite a bit of standing around and talking, but there's nearly always a sense of things moving forward. Personally, I found it impossible not to read Bismaquer's dialogue in the voice of the Rich Texan from <i>The Simpsons</i>! Whether that's an asset or a hindrance depends on your own sensibilities. Bismaquer is easily one of the chummiest of Bond villains, and several scenes lend credence to Bond's suspicion that it may be Luxor who is actually leading SPECTRE. Luxor has a pretty interesting appearance and background, and he serves as the antagonist in the novel's best action setpiece. I found the revelation of the new Blofeld pretty satisfying, along with the identity of the person who helped Bond near the novel's end. Both reveals defy expectations in a very interesting manner, though the new Blofeld is sadly dispatched far too abruptly. </p><p>There is one more thing that simply has to be addressed, and that is the character of Cedar Leiter. There's nothing really problematic about the concept itself, though it may age Felix a bit more than many readers would like. The real problem is the constant effort to force a romance between the two, though Bond does vehemently resist it. Still, even though the novel itself acknowledges how inappropriate and downright creepy it would be for Bond to have a sexual fling with the daughter of his best friend, it ends with a situation that seems guaranteed to lead there, anyway. It's nice to see Felix himself appear at the end, but the whole "gift of a daughter" thing is just stomach-churning. Even in 1982, this had to seem pretty fucked up, right?</p><p><br /></p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><b>Notable Quotes:</b></p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"> "The Silver Beast" was the nickname members of the service had given to Bond's personal car-- the Saab 900 Turbo: his own property, with the special technology built into it at his expense. Jibes about it being Bond's "toy" received only a polite smile from 007; and he knew that Major Boothroyd, the Armourer, had constantly sniffed around the machine in an attempt to discover all its secrets: the hidden compartments, tear gas ducts, and new refinements recently built into the bullet-proofed vehicle. </p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">(The Silver Beast was a beloved part of the Gardner Bonds, and I love the idea of Q having a bit of professional jealousy over Bond having it modified elsewhere on his own dime!)</p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: center;">___________________________________ <br /></p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"> Bond did not blush, even though "gentlemen" was scarcely a word ladies used to describe him. </p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: center;">___________________________________<br /></p><p style="margin-left: 80px; text-align: left;"> "To be honest with you, Bond... if it wasn't for that predatory Nena woman, I'd put Bismaquer down as a faggot."</p><p style="margin-left: 80px; text-align: left;">"Right the first time," Bond said.</p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: center;">"Lawks-a-mercy." Cedar gave a satisfied smirk as they turned into Tara's main drive. "I'se sick, Mizz Scarlet, I'se sick." </p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: center;">(Notable for all the wrong reasons. This one has several layers of "HOLY SHIT!" packed into it. Product of its time, and all that, and people can bitch about things today being "too PC" all they want, but I'm still glad we don't commonly see exchanges like this in our entertainment these days.)</p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: center;">____________________________________ <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> </p><p style="text-align: left;">This novel didn't hold up as well as its predecessor, and certainly not to my memories of reading it when I was a teen back in the late '90s, but I did find plenty to enjoy within its pages. The possibility of the Cedar romance is problematic, and I could hardly believe the quote above when I read it, but that is the novel at its absolute worst. You have to keep the context of the time in which the novel was published in mind when you read one of these, and enjoy it based on its merits despite things that stand out in a negative way. Not everyone can do that, and that's okay, but this is definitely one to skip if you can't compartmentalize certain elements of it in that way. If you can, however, give this one a read. The problematic bits don't come close to overwhelming the good bits. It's not one of the best Bonds, but it's well worth a read. It's also worth noting that this new version of SPECTRE does stick around for awhile, so the novel does have a long-term impact on the series. Next time, we'll be looking at another one I remember really enjoying, <b>Icebreaker</b>! Hopefully it'll hold up a bit better. See you then!<br /></p>Waylonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401043437179086649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030345768939930801.post-45443159925693068232023-08-16T11:30:00.001-05:002023-08-16T11:30:00.147-05:00The 007 Re-Read Project: On His Majesty's Secret Service by Charlie Higson<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH3mKCQ13XnNHqedIN2VJlHJFy5X_QmXKmRg2DSqBhzQGq5avI2t7vI-4vJSt8nhejPN2mOH5iv5mGktC7QkWbNhWGuAnS-LW4tJazbV7L2zsgqsOdq379POurH6bSG5VeiL5Afxgtps5vfQ8yVCAzTaYIrLj0c3sLWsEW2Nl069yLdmTo4WVehTCycg/s1670/007%20Re-Read%20Project%20header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1095" data-original-width="1670" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH3mKCQ13XnNHqedIN2VJlHJFy5X_QmXKmRg2DSqBhzQGq5avI2t7vI-4vJSt8nhejPN2mOH5iv5mGktC7QkWbNhWGuAnS-LW4tJazbV7L2zsgqsOdq379POurH6bSG5VeiL5Afxgtps5vfQ8yVCAzTaYIrLj0c3sLWsEW2Nl069yLdmTo4WVehTCycg/w640-h420/007%20Re-Read%20Project%20header.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></div><br />So... it's been quite a bit longer than the couple of weeks I'd planned for. I won't go into detail, because that's really not what this blog is for, but let's just say that real life got in the way. After losing my dad early last year, in particular, it was pretty difficult to care about things like updating my blog. Recently, however, I've been feeling that itch again, so I'm back to do a bit of scratching. Admittedly, this post is a bit of a cheat, as this book is only a few months old, and I'm reading it for the first time. To help me ease back into the habit, however, I figure it gets a pass. Plus, this'll keep everyone from having to wait years for me to re-read it to give it eligibility! <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzwrqsGodbE-jBQwGdY7mFbFFiaZBytwHrOKcygiP078oaqhvmSlgIyep3s0r--63Z3-6tOck1klEbdhhZxdzTS3GxT6OTK52WPwnBvnKu8XNTow2OcLMGpma56i_mTV8K0yTJZMXoT3XaT4jfVEXBpnZ89L36Jol0_hMBgq7Yh56p6xxQE4C_gWnEiQ/s2560/148011888.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1673" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzwrqsGodbE-jBQwGdY7mFbFFiaZBytwHrOKcygiP078oaqhvmSlgIyep3s0r--63Z3-6tOck1klEbdhhZxdzTS3GxT6OTK52WPwnBvnKu8XNTow2OcLMGpma56i_mTV8K0yTJZMXoT3XaT4jfVEXBpnZ89L36Jol0_hMBgq7Yh56p6xxQE4C_gWnEiQ/w418-h640/148011888.jpg" title="" width="418" /></a></div><br />Charlie Higson, no stranger to the world of James Bond, was asked to write his first adult 007 novel to compliment the coronation of King Charles III, with the proceeds going to the <a href="https://literacytrust.org.uk/" target="_blank">National Literacy Trust</a>. Bond is put on the tail of Aethelstan of Wessex, a wealthy eccentric who claims to be the true king of England, and aims to disrupt the coronation. Raising the stakes is the discovery of the dead body of 009, who had previously been sent on the same mission. Time is short, and Aethelstan is sure to be on high alert after discovering 009's infiltration of his organization. Bond must contend with a gaggle of wealthy lunatics who have bought into Aethelstan's cause, an army of mercenaries, and the enigmatic Ragnheidur, the requisite femme fatale of the novel. <p></p><p>The novel is definitely among the shortest Bonds-- <a href="https://mailchi.mp/ianfleming/agent_alert_us-11588272?e=5d700f23bd" target="_blank">Higson was given only three weeks to complete it</a>-- and it feels a bit condensed, as Higson does his best to fit in as many of the expected scenarios as possible. It's still a rather scaled-down adventure compared to what we normally get, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. Most of the characters are rather bland, and the main villain is a particular disappointment, which is surely a consequence of the novel's accelerated creation. Bond himself rings true, which is unsurprising, given Higson's prior experience with the character. (Albeit at a different stage of his life!) Ragnheidur is easily the most memorable supporting character, and I would welcome her presence in a subsequent Bond adventure, however unlikely that seems. The Budapest setting is quite nice, too, though we don't get to spend much time immersed in the local atmosphere before the story becomes barricaded within Aethelstan's castle for much of its length.<br /></p><p>As the novel is set in the present day, we have to endure references to social media, and a heaping pile of political discourse. It would be pretty damn tough to avoid politics, given the story's subject matter, but it may be a bit much for some readers, whether or not you agree with the views expressed. I didn't find this detrimental, but if you think it might bother you, be warned! There was an occasional line that just sounded odd, or out of character-- hearing M refer to blogging just doesn't seem right, 2023 setting or not-- though I feel many such idiosyncrasies would likely have been eliminated if the novel had been given more time to gestate. </p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"><b>Notable quotes:</b></p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"> Bond didn't like the codewords and acronyms that were increasingly creeping into the MI6 vocabulary. He felt they were designed to soften the reality of what they did. D37. Looked harmless. But it was a desperate thing. An emergency flare. A shout for help. A dying scream for your mother. No content. Just a digital blip that communicates when an agent has important information but knows they won't be able to parachute out with it. <br /></p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">There was no acknowledgement that the English were outsiders, themselves... Why pick one small point in history? Why not try to put a Celt on the throne? Or go further back and put a Neanderthal there?</p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"></p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;">Bond hated fighting. If a fight started it meant all else had failed. It was a last resort. Fighting was painful and things got broken. If you did get into a fight, then you had to shut it down as fast as was humanly possible. </p><p style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: left;"> Working for the service had been the making of him but the ruin of him too. It had left him unfit to do anything else. </p><p>Despite the shortcomings enumerated above-- and I truly do believe that most of them were due to the book being completed so quickly-- OHMSS is an engaging, if quick, read. I enjoyed my brief time with it, and I find myself hoping that Higson gets the go-ahead to write a full-length novel of the adult Bond very soon! That's all for today, but I'll be back soon to dive back into the Gardner Bonds with <b>For Special Services</b>. I won't pretend to know exactly when, but it definitely won't be another 21 month wait! <br /></p><p><br /></p>Waylonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401043437179086649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030345768939930801.post-21505814762576254312022-04-24T22:22:00.007-05:002022-09-29T22:38:52.936-05:00Necropost: Ten Books that Changed My LifeOkay, a bit of backstory: On request, I provided my Facebook friends with a list of ten books that have stuck with me. It was an interesting enough exercise, and a long enough post, that I figured an expanded version would make for a good post here. I copy & pasted the list, expanded on it a bit, and resolved to finish it and publish it here later. Well, as sometimes happens, I wound up forgetting about it. A chat with a friend reminded me of it this evening, so I figured I'd dig it up and finish it. The list needs a bit of updating now, but for the sake of finishing what I started nine short years ago, here are ten books that are not necessarily the best I've ever read, but that have stuck with me for one reason or another, presented in no particular order:<div><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span face="'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; line-height: 18px;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5TTsuZP2-V7QPqKFOCwdZEW0XJ172uYaL0nw95JODMCzFQwrRgUMHntWtqA4zg9g5jgaJC1M0y5eHiO9ZxdlmXoQqQWpkH-84c0GKYtpXbKE7do13y4MOT4-5D9lawleqdgJY78-WvwpTXiNRA8yXmijgpwl7sB16rZpUZYNkH9juRJluqrprTKc/s846/Hour%20of%20the%20Dragon.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="846" data-original-width="560" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5TTsuZP2-V7QPqKFOCwdZEW0XJ172uYaL0nw95JODMCzFQwrRgUMHntWtqA4zg9g5jgaJC1M0y5eHiO9ZxdlmXoQqQWpkH-84c0GKYtpXbKE7do13y4MOT4-5D9lawleqdgJY78-WvwpTXiNRA8yXmijgpwl7sB16rZpUZYNkH9juRJluqrprTKc/s320/Hour%20of%20the%20Dragon.jpg" width="212" /></a></div></b></span></span><b>The Hour of the Dragon by Robert E. Howard </b><br /> This is my favorite REH story ever, and is the only Conan novel written by the character's creator, as well as the only novel REH ever wrote. It's baffling that no one has ever looked to this story when adapting the character and his world to film; it has absolutely everything anyone could want from a Conan story, and it's practically a blueprint for adaptation. (I know, they <i>kinda sorta</i> based that Kull movie on it, but eh... that doesn't count!)<br /> <br /><b>The Godfather by Mario Puzo</b><br /> This is one of the rare instances where the movie is actually better than the book, but the book itself is no slouch. In addition to the story used for the first Godfather film, it has all the backstory that was used in the second one.<br /> <br /><b> Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury</b><br /> This is one of the handful of books that anyone who can read should read, without exception. If you can't read, get someone to read it to you. (Perhaps the same person who is presumably reading this to you?) Is it overrated? Maybe. Regardless, it's still easily one of the most important books ever written.<br />
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<span face="'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18px;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLqiqNVhe7yLB0Ji-i76ZLj70zZ0pTaTCkMgcvlluD3vwcNHn8zTkkXkcpUugPvUzsN7b32xiyCcklyy2D8hkSM7qYWjb9wziW0Wpdzm5JkMLYub2udWZAGIgKfCeAaFxS49Err9_m1C2FGaRlaqUf7xLiq1Jn3ZaUcV3-iEdySFx-NklhDpc-0o/s1286/You%20Only%20Live%20Twice.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1286" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLqiqNVhe7yLB0Ji-i76ZLj70zZ0pTaTCkMgcvlluD3vwcNHn8zTkkXkcpUugPvUzsN7b32xiyCcklyy2D8hkSM7qYWjb9wziW0Wpdzm5JkMLYub2udWZAGIgKfCeAaFxS49Err9_m1C2FGaRlaqUf7xLiq1Jn3ZaUcV3-iEdySFx-NklhDpc-0o/s320/You%20Only%20Live%20Twice.jpg" width="199" /></a></div></b></span><div><b>You Only Live Twice by Ian Fleming </b><br />A slightly odd inclusion, as it's not my favorite of Fleming's works, and not even my favorite James Bond novel. (That honor goes to either <b>From Russia, With Love</b> or <b>On Her Majesty's Secret Service</b>.) As the follow-up to the devastating ending of the previous book, however, it has this weirdly fascinating morose tone as it presents Bond as we've never seen him before, and never would again. He stalks his wife's murderer through a Japan populated with ancient castles and bizarre suicide gardens, a shell of his former self who is driven only by a desperate need for vengeance. Not a bit of this, aside from Japan as a location, is in the film that uses the novel's name. It's a book that I'm always interested to re-read because it's so unlike all the other books in the series.<br /> <br /><b> Frankenstein by Mary Shelley</b><br />This and the next entry are books I read pretty much back-to-back when I was 12 or so. I was familiar with both stories previously only from movies and comic book adaptations, so it was revelatory to read them in their original forms. They remain books I enjoy re-reading, though Frankenstein is definitely a bit of a slog for the first 100 pages.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj7-C8jHAb1nlkcRdbCAUweBQq6aHAUFJ0_Kv9ZCVRiJ5TELCB3YDmdcqAxu9IhanS4Nr-IKBu19O4G6t9e13wnwMGLIDYoXLYPMEVXWXm7yhquBmvYoUuMnfUJuBjMrFaX1lz3_HmNslXF5Yu4NkRR6jI8qA9iA1J1_bv8a7s4244FR3y8SReEC0/s1000/Dracula.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="622" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj7-C8jHAb1nlkcRdbCAUweBQq6aHAUFJ0_Kv9ZCVRiJ5TELCB3YDmdcqAxu9IhanS4Nr-IKBu19O4G6t9e13wnwMGLIDYoXLYPMEVXWXm7yhquBmvYoUuMnfUJuBjMrFaX1lz3_HmNslXF5Yu4NkRR6jI8qA9iA1J1_bv8a7s4244FR3y8SReEC0/s320/Dracula.jpg" width="199" /></a></div><div><span style="line-height: 18px;"><b>Dracula by Bram Stoker</b></span><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;">This novel's epistolary style definitely took me by surprise when I first read it, but it quickly sucked me in. It's definitely not without its flaws, but is compelling reading, regardless. To paraphrase Clive Barker, it's a first-rate 19th century trashy novel! (I managed to find this image featuring the same cover art on the copy I had back when I first read it. Cool, eh?)</span><br /> <br /><span style="line-height: 18px;"><b>Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer </b></span><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;">This is one I picked up due to my fascination with mountaineering. I have no desire to ever actually climb a mountain, and I think I'm probably far too lazy to do it anyway, but I've always been interested in it, for whatever reason. It's the true story of the massive storm that descended on several groups who were climbing Everest in 1997, told firsthand by a journalist who was among them. It's an absolutely harrowing tale, nearly told minute-by-minute, of disaster and tragedy. It's a gut-wrenching read, but so powerful that I've found myself returning to it a couple times all the same. The IMAX documentary "Everest" was being filmed at the same time, and it makes a good companion piece to this book.</span><br /> <br /><span style="line-height: 18px;"><b>Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle</b></span><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;">This is the first of those stories I ever read, and it remains my go-to when I feel I need a quick Holmes fix. It's a perfect sampler for anyone interested in reading the character's stories. </span><br /> <br /><span style="line-height: 18px;"><b>To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee </b></span><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;">Easily one of the most satisfying reads I've ever come across. It may not have actually happened, but it's true, all the same.</span><br /> <br /><span style="line-height: 18px;"><b>The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain </b></span><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;"> Well, some Twain had to be included, and this was the first of his books that I ever read. It remains possibly my favorite.</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="text_exposed_show" face="'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif" style="color: #37404e;"><b style="background-color: white; display: inline; line-height: 18px;"><br /></b><br /><b><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; display: inline; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXMfgWrGaA8bPuExrorIqghF20shCZJvD8hoO1KANieewDe9CsIpYTKv1kNRBBt3v4PM2rG2N9btKa7FTHKziCf5AUY7S0mby6S56LYEepzAksp5SYVEE1JB6iP09j2zgxQKeqk4cHRKGyLW68cZ_L95sxvaescSm7YGhmU8C4TnHLxO1XsK7Y2kM/s730/Going%20Postal.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="474" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXMfgWrGaA8bPuExrorIqghF20shCZJvD8hoO1KANieewDe9CsIpYTKv1kNRBBt3v4PM2rG2N9btKa7FTHKziCf5AUY7S0mby6S56LYEepzAksp5SYVEE1JB6iP09j2zgxQKeqk4cHRKGyLW68cZ_L95sxvaescSm7YGhmU8C4TnHLxO1XsK7Y2kM/s320/Going%20Postal.jpg" width="208" /></a></div></b></span></span>Bonus 2022 addition to the list: <b>Going Postal by Terry Pratchett</b><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;">I'd need to do a bit more tinkering with the overall list to fully update it to account for the past near-decade, but I absolutely had to add this one. I've been hearing about how wonderful the Discworld series is for many years, and I finally read the first book in the series, <b>The Color of Magic</b>, back in (consults Goodreads) 2011. I liked, but didn't love, the book. I enjoyed it enough that I wanted to read more, but as I often do, I kinda forgot about it for an entire decade. Early last year, something made me think of the series, and I resolved to give it another chance to really hook me. I jumped ahead to one of the most acclaimed books in the series, and damn, did it ever get its hooks in me! It's a fantastic book packed with memorable characters, humor that frequently made me laugh out loud, and a level of depth that repeatedly surprised me. Since finishing it, I've gone back to the beginning, and am currently reading the entire series in publication order. I'm making myself wait at least a couple of weeks between books so I don't blow through them all in a couple of months. I'm a Discworld nut now, and Pratchett has rocketed right into the top tier of my favorite authors, and it all started with this book. </span><br /><br /><span style="line-height: 18px;">I limited myself to one work by each author, and didn't count short stories. (Although I cheated a bit by including the Sherlock Holmes collection.) So, questions? Comments? Derogatory remarks?</span></div></div></div>Waylonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401043437179086649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030345768939930801.post-12968256893992497892021-11-08T11:30:00.010-06:002023-08-21T11:45:09.765-05:00The 007 Re-Read Project: License Renewed by John Gardner<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Exp8kFHtf4r8OdQjcRXGesQlFEmjPwS69eDG3DqJ8WNXmEyMHgD0junx0RvwBeEZkxF4wh4h6_UlQ16LNtkap8UJO0Z1RWypS1nl93V6g7FaXazXirSFGVyeuupflw7lNlvdU3OAzyE/s1670/007+Re-Read+Project+header.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1095" data-original-width="1670" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Exp8kFHtf4r8OdQjcRXGesQlFEmjPwS69eDG3DqJ8WNXmEyMHgD0junx0RvwBeEZkxF4wh4h6_UlQ16LNtkap8UJO0Z1RWypS1nl93V6g7FaXazXirSFGVyeuupflw7lNlvdU3OAzyE/w640-h420/007+Re-Read+Project+header.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />So yeah, that was a bit more than <a href="https://midnight-rant.blogspot.com/2021/09/the-007-re-read-project-james-bond-and.html" target="_blank">two weeks</a>. I never thought I'd be able to stick to a weekly or bi-weekly schedule indefinitely with this project, as I always have plenty of other books on deck and would need the occasional palette cleanser, at the very least. Beyond that, real life sometimes gets in the way, so there are some weeks where I just don't get to read as much as I'd like. All that said, I really didn't expect it to take me over a month to re-read John Gardner's debut 007 novel! About a third of the way through, I realized I was forcing myself to continue, and I stepped away from it for a few weeks to focus on other things. That's not a condemnation of the novel itself, I just think I'd gotten a bit of Bond book burnout after re-reading the entire Fleming series and the first handful of continuation novels in the span of a couple of months. Returning to the novel after that break, I devoured the remainder of it in short order. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4StGGjovJcKrYNDq9nfgogbWRJxRLfxir22pVWYl3t66AdCVwRRnEoq36VxrUXkoUP61C5pHt8heP-vhy1-ybNQKCG5eUcrKAqvFQNIguFMEk-JSHtl7HmObfoX3OAE8lRcAHR1Stls/s799/R.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="524" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4StGGjovJcKrYNDq9nfgogbWRJxRLfxir22pVWYl3t66AdCVwRRnEoq36VxrUXkoUP61C5pHt8heP-vhy1-ybNQKCG5eUcrKAqvFQNIguFMEk-JSHtl7HmObfoX3OAE8lRcAHR1Stls/w421-h640/R.jpg" title="" width="421" /></a></div><br />Gardner's inaugural 007 adventure sees the intrepid agent infiltrating the inner circle of Anton Murik, a brilliant nuclear physicist who lords over the town of Murcaldy, quite literally, as he is its Laird. Murik has hired a dangerous terrorist to further an enigmatic plot that is easily on par with the most apocalyptic Bond villain plans we've ever seen, and it is up to Bond to figure out the Laird's plot, and disrupt it as only he can. Murik himself is an effective villain, with a rather birdlike visage topped by a shock of white hair. From my first readings of the Gardner novels more than twenty years ago, I remember him as one of Gardner's strongest antagonists, but I wouldn't quite rank him in the upper echelon of Bond villains. His right hand man, Caber, makes for a very effective henchman, and his final scene seems to have been influential in one of the major setpieces from the Timothy Dalton film<i> The Living Daylights</i>. Murik's ward Lavender Peacock checks off most of the boxes one expects from one of Bond's leading ladies, and while she tends toward the bland side, her backstory is at least pretty interesting. The story of the Muriks that led to the status quo we see in the novel sound as if it would make for a pretty good novel in its own right! <p></p><p>When Gardner was hired by Glidrose (now Ian Fleming Publications) to continue the literary adventures of 007, he endeavored to pluck the character from the '60s and drop him right into the (then) modern day, fully intact. (Though he did lower his alcohol and tobacco intake.) For anyone trying to do a version of Bond in the modern day, I think that's the right approach, and Gardner was mostly successful on that front. Gardner made no attempt to emulate Fleming's style; again, I think that was the right call. Gardner was already an accomplished and respected author in his own right, and one author subsuming their own style in an attempt to replicate that of another is rarely something that works well, anyway. Though Bond himself is more or less unchanged, the world has definitely moved forward. The change most relevant to Bond himself is the abolishment of the British Secret Service's 00 section! Thanks to M, however, Bond basically remains a 00 agent in all but official classification: "As far as I'm concerned, 007, you will remain 007...There are moments when this country needs a trouble shooter-- a blunt instrument-- and by heaven, it's going to have one. They can issue their pieces of bumf and abolish the Double-0 section. We can simply change its name. It will now be the Special Section, and you are it." There is also a new face in Q branch, the niece of Major Boothroyd, Q himself. Given the rather cringy nickname Q'ute, she is the main liaison between Bond and Q branch in the novel. Bond's beloved Walther PPK has been withdrawn from use, and has been replaced by the Browning 9mm, occasionally supplemented by the unauthorized Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 Magnum he keeps in a secret compartment in his car. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8IBjzEEeUbDOFAvUaLptSDgwNDC54oqAuRhm68IVep-opFTYJOtKMcqmZCBdU2DfFKQSsKLEJPeqHOl0ZNOJ47TCztxtaGZm6yIOiT-OayQkevPkosadWpQe7nt38_qdd9tLCpc_hdNY/s500/R+%25281%2529.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8IBjzEEeUbDOFAvUaLptSDgwNDC54oqAuRhm68IVep-opFTYJOtKMcqmZCBdU2DfFKQSsKLEJPeqHOl0ZNOJ47TCztxtaGZm6yIOiT-OayQkevPkosadWpQe7nt38_qdd9tLCpc_hdNY/w426-h640/R+%25281%2529.jpg" title="" width="426" /></a></div><br />Speaking of his car, it's not the Aston Martin or Lotus Esprit that was familiar from the film series, or the Bentley Bond typically drove in the novels. Gardner updated Bond's wheels in the form of a Saab Turbo, outfitted with an array of modifications on his own dime, much to the consternation of Q Branch, who seem to have a bit of professional jealousy over the whole thing. The car's modifications include a digital HUD, bullet-proof glass, self-sealing heavy-duty tires, and reinforced bumpers, among other things. As Gardner states in the acknowledgements, "Everything provided by Q Branch and carried by Bond-- even the modification to Mr. Bond's Saab-- is obtainable on either the open, or clandestine, markets." This grounded approach to Bond's gear is appreciated, particularly given some of the excesses of the films, and even later novels. <p></p><p>There are some very effective scenes in the novel. The torture scene springs immediately to mind, and the wrestling match between Bond and Caber-- yes, really- is quite engaging, as well. The nighttime escape from Murik's castle is also quite well done, and its denouement hinges on something that occurs earlier in the novel, in a nice call-back. There are definitely a handful of scenes that are rather odd, and some that simply don't work. The chapter that follows Bond on his date with Q'ute features a very bizarre scene that seems very out of place, and really had me wondering exactly what Gardner was going for. It reminds me of the ELO sex scene from <a href="https://midnight-rant.blogspot.com/2010/10/31-days-of-halloween-dracula-1979.html" target="_blank">the 1979 version of Dracula</a> with how bizarre and out-of-place it seems. The villain having Bond at his mercy, yet failing to kill him outright, is a series trope we're all familiar with, but it's stretched nearly to its breaking point here. Even Bond himself seems completely baffled that Murik hasn't already killed him, at one point! The Laird really starts to come off like a massive dipshit by the end of the novel. Gardner tries to justify Murik's keeping Bond alive, but it gets to the point where it simply wears too thin, and you can overtly feel the hand of the author at work. </p><p> </p><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p><b>Notable quotes:</b></p><p>Governments could come and go; crises could erupt; inflation may spiral, but-- when in London-- Bond's breakfast routine rarely changed.</p><p>With his mane of white hair, against the face in the darkness, the visage took on the appearance of a negative.</p><p>There were desperate mental counter-measures to interrogation by drugs, and 007 had been through the whole unpleasant course at what they called the Sadist School near Cambridge.</p><p>Bond could smell death-- in his head rather than nostrils.</p><p>Murik leaned forward with one of his little pecking movements. Strange, thought Bond, how the man could look so distinguished, with that mane of white hair, yet give the impression of being a bulldog and a bird at the same time.</p><p>Murik's eyes again stirred into that unpleasant deep movement-- the deadly molten lava, which seemed to betray a hint of madness. That he was wholly mad, in his genius, Bond did not doubt. Only a maniac would take the kind of risks this small monster was about to embark upon. </p><p>Why Murik had not already killed them was almost beyond Bond's comprehension. </p></blockquote><p><br /></p><p>John Gardner's run as author of the Bond novels can still be rather divisive among fans of the literary 007, but regardless of how the quality may have fluctuated further down the road, <b>License Renewed</b> is a strong debut. There are certainly some aspects that strain credulity a bit, even by Bond standards, a few hokey elements, and a couple of rather bland supporting characters, but there are also some very strong scenes, a well-developed villain, and the excitement of seeing James Bond once again take up arms against some of the worst the world has to offer. Gardner's novels definitely have a different flavor than Fleming's, but that's not necessarily a bad thing, and based on my re-read of this book, I'm looking forward to revisiting the rest of his run. That's it for today, but I'll be back soon with Gardner's second 007 opus, <b>For Special Services</b>. I remember liking that one quite a bit, so here's hoping it holds up well! </p>Waylonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401043437179086649noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030345768939930801.post-30894294633747035532021-11-05T11:30:00.002-05:002023-06-08T15:52:13.302-05:00Rant Review: Masters of the Universe Origins Webstor figure<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQp6Gd1uu_XE9sXNG3uZ-pvnYZnxdf5Hd_E-19kfKgJmT-BDckFZnFri4v_8lE8vhgUNbKcmowe8hIdLBLww1pK5obg7g86Hkbd_mwmLc11Ezhf0eNXUUUi8k2B1drIOwA9uWXM1TTOe8/s2048/MOTUO+Webstor+review+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1837" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQp6Gd1uu_XE9sXNG3uZ-pvnYZnxdf5Hd_E-19kfKgJmT-BDckFZnFri4v_8lE8vhgUNbKcmowe8hIdLBLww1pK5obg7g86Hkbd_mwmLc11Ezhf0eNXUUUi8k2B1drIOwA9uWXM1TTOe8/w574-h640/MOTUO+Webstor+review+1.jpg" width="574" /></a></div>The villain-heavy wave six of Mattel's MOTU Origins line continues its rollout, and we're back to look at another member of Skeletor's crew of cretinous creeps, Webstor! This spider-themed villain-- or as spider-themed as you can get when you're only allowed tooling for a new head, anyway-- debuted in the vintage line's 1984 lineup, and quickly became a fan-favorite. His cool action feature, distinctive midnight blue hue, and decidedly un-spider-like, yet still likeably creepy and monstrous, head sculpt was instantly appealing to the hordes of little boys who made up a large portion of MOTU's fanbase. Like his wave-mate Stinkor, he was sadly absent in the 2002 MOTU line, so we never got a figure of that supremely awesome redesign, but this Origins version aims to recapture the magic of his vintage figure. How does it stack up? Read on...<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOL1ra76z78gxreO4MCHP0IY7pqZDDVstt7Vooyx11hGumn8tf3E7swBsproGLvrxvKPT587OzWjLEEjYfqGistSSqwZEBVqdnaZRZpRyhTMLRmEz-nVTTfKH-c2-GBkQ5o7PTnEyf-Ew/s2048/MOTUO+Webstor+review+3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1220" data-original-width="2048" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOL1ra76z78gxreO4MCHP0IY7pqZDDVstt7Vooyx11hGumn8tf3E7swBsproGLvrxvKPT587OzWjLEEjYfqGistSSqwZEBVqdnaZRZpRyhTMLRmEz-nVTTfKH-c2-GBkQ5o7PTnEyf-Ew/w640-h382/MOTUO+Webstor+review+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>As is the norm, this is a reused body with a newly-tooled head. It's Skeletor from the neck down, with the same sharply-sculpted details and appealingly exaggerated proportions. The head is excellent, capturing the monstrous head we're familiar with while amplifying such details as the ridges on the sides of his head, and the horns that run down its center. There area pair of tiny indentations, one on either side of the second central "horn," that haven't appeared on any previous Webstor figure. I'm not sure what their purpose is, or if they're intentional. They don't detract from the figure's appearance, in any case. <p></p><p>Webstor has very few paint apps, but what's here has been applied pretty neatly. The red belt has no slop or overspray at all, and has been applied thickly enough that the underlying black doesn't bleed through. The orange and red on the chest armor are similarly flawless. Things get a bit less ideal on the figure's head, though the issue is lack of coverage, rather than slop. The two large red eyes are fine, but the two tiny eyes and the fangs don't fully cover the sculpted features. Still, they are very neat, and you have to be looking pretty closely to notice the lack of full coverage. It's not ideal, but not a major problem. Webstor has the line's standard articulation, with swivel & hinge shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, and ankles, swivels at the waist and calves, and a ball-jointed head. As ever, this is a very good articulation model that is lots of fun to play around with, and the parts pop apart at the usual spots for easy swapping, though I recommend heating the elbows, hips, knees, and ankles before popping them apart. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMQ09Y2kn4wX-X4AqxuS7iN0g_-uiJv-6BdiTaPpZAulqizcAHTOwDyAk4nNYw_aaO9q8r5POMKDxtPfxRUFyR-nX_Ymma1z9BP7lzsbRccWD9lRoJ2bYaD74d1TGiJGLGk7dEX8u6g1Q/s2048/MOTUO+Webstor+review+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1245" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMQ09Y2kn4wX-X4AqxuS7iN0g_-uiJv-6BdiTaPpZAulqizcAHTOwDyAk4nNYw_aaO9q8r5POMKDxtPfxRUFyR-nX_Ymma1z9BP7lzsbRccWD9lRoJ2bYaD74d1TGiJGLGk7dEX8u6g1Q/w390-h640/MOTUO+Webstor+review+2.jpg" width="390" /></a></div>Webstor's accessories are updated versions of the vintage toy's, as we expect from the Origins line at this point. The rifle is a recolored version of the one we got with <a href="https://midnight-rant.blogspot.com/2021/07/rant-review-masters-of-universe-origins.html" target="_blank">Castle Grayskull</a>, appearing here in an eye-catching bright orange. His armor, the only top & bottom-clipped clamshell armor we've gotten in this line so far, is attached to the backpack that contains his signature action feature. Clip the grappling hook onto something, then pull the tab on the other end of the string, and the backpack's interior mechanism propels the figure up the line! It doesn't work as smoothly as the vintage toy's did-- toy companies' inability to properly replicate action features they nailed decades ago is basically a running joke at this point-- but it works well enough to be a fun play feature, even with its occasional hitches and snags. The hook is made from stiff enough plastic that it has no problem staying place without warping. (Anyone who tried to pose their Classics Webstor suspended by his hook will know how frustrating a hook made from pliable plastic can be!) With action features mostly relegated to the higher-priced deluxe line, it's great to see such a thing included on a basic figure! The backpack also has a pair of little hooks, one on each side, to aid in wrapping the string up when it's not in use.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVEQCiJRNIslWT_wZ9klWrxzLoGVKlJk7bHXbsslKmtnVGa707HBoqHhjsIY9yVvGqPj_vqmFl7oKO7sR5PyBoOTSLtv7IbqEQXZhLaCEdrPvqJehtEF-qn1gnkWY12tuNgBHQ9zvV9I/s2048/MOTUO+Webstor+review+4+with+balloons.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1634" data-original-width="2048" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVEQCiJRNIslWT_wZ9klWrxzLoGVKlJk7bHXbsslKmtnVGa707HBoqHhjsIY9yVvGqPj_vqmFl7oKO7sR5PyBoOTSLtv7IbqEQXZhLaCEdrPvqJehtEF-qn1gnkWY12tuNgBHQ9zvV9I/w640-h510/MOTUO+Webstor+review+4+with+balloons.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>As a fan-favorite villain with a great eye-catching design, Webstor is sure to be a popular figure. After the various issues that plagued his wave-mates, I'm happy to see that this fella suffers from no such problems, and even has a cool action feature, to boot! In a wave with a strong lineup, Webstor might be the best figure of the bunch, so don't sleep on this one! That's it for today, but creep on back next Friday for the next review. Until then, stay safe out there, and happy hunting! <p></p>Waylonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401043437179086649noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030345768939930801.post-6657827672350139312021-10-29T10:53:00.005-05:002023-06-08T15:55:00.467-05:00Rant Review: Masters of the Universe Origins Eternian Goddess figure<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3y-XGmBQVl0_rI3HxcX6XA8Mj0Bc83u28uvOoLuz4KyAGWroaAo6HxCfYhLALUEoTn9CASyhk7SHle890UwWgjchT-7IN_bgd6d2H4BgFaV9bkMYC5wsEbsNvanYmcHEinhnr3wcHt_0/s2048/MOTUO+Goddess+review+5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1611" data-original-width="2048" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3y-XGmBQVl0_rI3HxcX6XA8Mj0Bc83u28uvOoLuz4KyAGWroaAo6HxCfYhLALUEoTn9CASyhk7SHle890UwWgjchT-7IN_bgd6d2H4BgFaV9bkMYC5wsEbsNvanYmcHEinhnr3wcHt_0/w640-h504/MOTUO+Goddess+review+5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>One of my earliest memories is looking at the very first MOTU minicomic, He-Man and the Power Sword, in the car on our way home from TG&Y, or possibly Howard's. (I'm not 100% sure which it was, as we frequented both stores in my youngest days.) I had just gotten the last figure the store had, He-Man himself, from the new MOTU line. As I looked at the art in the included storybook, I fixated on this image.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh763yfmoQPR5GEcbnAms_vuEZ_LAyhuRRi-dYkuXXyYw1DtJUbv1a5fX0cYQZOATmz2Z0eWmHbeT0UivSxXf8261lb2y0uTlrlY0SkZAwFpdMyKsU5eGK0NbhjjlqFEkcDjlFAm9gjT8o/s560/MOTUO+Goddess+review+7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="508" data-original-width="560" height="580" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh763yfmoQPR5GEcbnAms_vuEZ_LAyhuRRi-dYkuXXyYw1DtJUbv1a5fX0cYQZOATmz2Z0eWmHbeT0UivSxXf8261lb2y0uTlrlY0SkZAwFpdMyKsU5eGK0NbhjjlqFEkcDjlFAm9gjT8o/w640-h580/MOTUO+Goddess+review+7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>The green woman in the snake armor seemed infinitely cool and mysterious to me, and I wondered when there would be a toy of her. As it turned out, I only had to wait a few decades, as the Classics line delivered one in its first full year, though that figure was sadly compromised by production issues. And now, more than a decade after that, we have one in the style of the vintage toys in the Origins line! Now renamed the Eternian Goddess, she serves as the sole heroic character in wave six. Is she good enough to hold the line on her own, or is this figure saddled with its own equivalent of ECS*? Read on...<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeGYvmWS-kMlMSA5CQ4E_fV5NdNMvR3zVByT-lUc3RHSm8ToiCNZq71y_mg6lLQSHykxFZGGs0q51-h2xCAD4cG172fh6ObL-FE6AgQckwZZ9mVHv8qxMa2jYm9uy_PuG0pwOd6mKXKU/s2048/MOTUO+Goddess+review+3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1821" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeGYvmWS-kMlMSA5CQ4E_fV5NdNMvR3zVByT-lUc3RHSm8ToiCNZq71y_mg6lLQSHykxFZGGs0q51-h2xCAD4cG172fh6ObL-FE6AgQckwZZ9mVHv8qxMa2jYm9uy_PuG0pwOd6mKXKU/w570-h640/MOTUO+Goddess+review+3.jpg" width="570" /></a></div>It's been awhile since I gushed about the packaging art for this line, as its consistent awesomeness can just be assumed at this point, but this figure features such excellent cardback art that it stands out even in this line! Axel Gimenez has channeled his inner Alcala, delivering a piece of art homaging the climactic scene from <b>He-Man and the Power Sword</b>! Check it out:<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBgd1XEh3JimBDcEDkkuF3X3XCfzo3oEDlRJY-P8t3GMTsScFkg_PZV9a8FH0Dx_r8B7yI5MQfUZnjAH7xmEizJMjsfkrjbP1aG5_BGZKCxYyAwNAQxKVsoSynP27_NsyPqceEM92IG2E/s716/FB_IMG_1629476054284%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="446" data-original-width="716" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBgd1XEh3JimBDcEDkkuF3X3XCfzo3oEDlRJY-P8t3GMTsScFkg_PZV9a8FH0Dx_r8B7yI5MQfUZnjAH7xmEizJMjsfkrjbP1aG5_BGZKCxYyAwNAQxKVsoSynP27_NsyPqceEM92IG2E/w640-h398/FB_IMG_1629476054284%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>The figure's sculpt, unsurprisingly, is 100% reuse from Teela. I would have liked to see a new head here, as the original plan for the Goddess/Sorceress back in the day called for that, but Mattel's gonna Mattel, so what can you do? For those of us who haven't been lucky enough to snag a Teela from the newer production run, there is a vital difference: This figure has the new female knees! These knees look so much better, and correct <b>THE</b> major flaw that female figures in this line suffered from. We have presumably seen the last of the original knees, and that is a very good thing! I'm also glad that the figure is not molded in translucent plastic, as the Classics figure was. While the translucent look was cool, it didn't really make any sense, and I'm glad they went with a simple light green skin tone instead.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0OuHFhoMP44BxJXToq2G-6DC73EAQekbcKfc7dYCsq3EYxVaAcyW2oWkFV3Z-N-kRItSnvTeVOeM9ZBpMVIv9KJtMl7eiwXiOzZuAimWua7ZCiedWmrOY_OUruPD98eQIzymn9AIrao/s2048/MOTUO+Goddess+review+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1807" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0OuHFhoMP44BxJXToq2G-6DC73EAQekbcKfc7dYCsq3EYxVaAcyW2oWkFV3Z-N-kRItSnvTeVOeM9ZBpMVIv9KJtMl7eiwXiOzZuAimWua7ZCiedWmrOY_OUruPD98eQIzymn9AIrao/w564-h640/MOTUO+Goddess+review+2.jpg" width="564" /></a></div>The paint apps in this wave seem to be much sloppier overall than previous waves, and that's no different here, unfortunately. There's a general slop and overspray in numerous areas of the figure, with the "belt" and furry parts of the boots as the worst offenders. The fur suffers from overspray, lack of full coverage, and such a thin coat of paint that the underlying red bleeds through in multiple areas. The face is very neat, at least, though that hardly makes up for the relative horror show the rest of the paint apps are. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRhDAdo2zL51IbWwfWAnvxBX1xyjcLo11cMTiZ6H9CeqD5dt3Oke18IPMhBh2OWI73YjuVU59NSvFZYzXYM9Vefw6t8_I91rDYUsFHD5JCTr4uwIU7yMn-6qsHq6mMvXIftZM-ih7Ej0/s1367/MOTUO+Goddess+review+6+comp.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="881" data-original-width="1367" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRhDAdo2zL51IbWwfWAnvxBX1xyjcLo11cMTiZ6H9CeqD5dt3Oke18IPMhBh2OWI73YjuVU59NSvFZYzXYM9Vefw6t8_I91rDYUsFHD5JCTr4uwIU7yMn-6qsHq6mMvXIftZM-ih7Ej0/w640-h412/MOTUO+Goddess+review+6+comp.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>The Goddess has the line's standard articulation, with swivel & hinge shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, and ankles, swivels at the waist and calves, and a ball-jointed head. As ever, this is a very good articulation model that is lots of fun to play around with, and the parts pop apart at the usual spots for easy swapping, though I recommend heating the elbows, hips, knees, and ankles before popping them apart. My figure's right arm refuses to stay in its socket, and tends to fall out whenever you touch it, look at it, breathe near it, or think about it too hard. There's nothing visibly different about it, so I'm not sure what the problem is. The Goddess shares the same trio of accessories that we've seen with Teela, and they all function the same. The shield still has a tendency to fall out of the figure's hands, and the addition of a clip for the forearm would have been most welcome. It would have been nice to get the spear so we could give it to Teela in exchange for her snake staff, but again, Mattel doesn't tend to give us something new if they can avoid it. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7M3mdb63fuKcnH_GVQ1xQwFPrjBSjbxTddHbpHMolwsli8FqBuNkIdtA248wJSYTEMMgQVKr17C6UVrmNbLeKcNFIUUdzpb0pYG6ZhxXxaqwF2POR-eyK-wTJ8PZyGpKaLzbrQffJNnM/s2048/MOTUO+Goddess+review+4+with+balloons.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1567" data-original-width="2048" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7M3mdb63fuKcnH_GVQ1xQwFPrjBSjbxTddHbpHMolwsli8FqBuNkIdtA248wJSYTEMMgQVKr17C6UVrmNbLeKcNFIUUdzpb0pYG6ZhxXxaqwF2POR-eyK-wTJ8PZyGpKaLzbrQffJNnM/w640-h490/MOTUO+Goddess+review+4+with+balloons.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Despite being a 100% recolor of a previously released figure, the Goddess has been a highly anticipated figure for many collectors, myself included. There are a couple of alterations I'd have liked to see, but the figure does work as a simple recolor, and I'm glad to have her in the collection. And hey, no ECS*, so that's always a plus! Unfortunately, the paint apps are among the worst I've seen in the entire line, and on a figure that was so cheap for Mattel to produce, seeing them cut corners so obviously really rankles. Whenever costs are cut on action figures, the quality and quantity of paint apps are the first thing to suffer, and we're really seeing that in action here. I can fix these issues, but the fact is, I shouldn't have to. I still recommend picking up this figure, but just be aware that you'll likely have to either live with sloppy paint apps, or take the time to correct them. Once again, Mattel's cheapness has marred a figure I otherwise really like, and that's becoming a very disturbing trend with this line. That's all for today, but head back over next week for more! Until then, stay safe out there, and happy hunting!<p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;">*Exploding Crotch Syndrome, of course!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaZTDfv_5xODwPrKBN3tNUpUjcshB5580FZK1fnwGnW_QlRRwCCPtI3rtGNEO73nuSreGF0gvK7MCYZ9tNae89vmkkSFKIvX7FJjn50fpo7zWcBXUPyUZrnU06G7lpC4Y7wf1q2FR5IG0/s2048/MOTUO+Goddess+review+5a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1590" data-original-width="2048" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaZTDfv_5xODwPrKBN3tNUpUjcshB5580FZK1fnwGnW_QlRRwCCPtI3rtGNEO73nuSreGF0gvK7MCYZ9tNae89vmkkSFKIvX7FJjn50fpo7zWcBXUPyUZrnU06G7lpC4Y7wf1q2FR5IG0/w640-h496/MOTUO+Goddess+review+5a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><p></p>Waylonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401043437179086649noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030345768939930801.post-64662949735645750022021-10-19T10:53:00.000-05:002021-10-19T10:53:43.519-05:00Rant Review: Masterverse Spikor figure (MOTU Revelation series)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8kprNGYT19f1m8j8uId_pHX6r0nqLWOerXEzVtSS0luHazxs7y2PKZzllJpv68isIn5jK_I_sXZeJKBe8MaigVuCupwgYZuXxbicPTo_KOKZYoW7AT42BGbDB6TXJIDkn1jFIuAkydPs/s2048/Masterverse+Spikor+review+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8kprNGYT19f1m8j8uId_pHX6r0nqLWOerXEzVtSS0luHazxs7y2PKZzllJpv68isIn5jK_I_sXZeJKBe8MaigVuCupwgYZuXxbicPTo_KOKZYoW7AT42BGbDB6TXJIDkn1jFIuAkydPs/w450-h640/Masterverse+Spikor+review+1.jpg" width="450" /></a></div>The second half of the animated Masters of the Universe Revelation series is still over a month away, but wave two of the tie-in Masterverse line is already beginning to pop up! Thanks to Amazon, I managed to snag my first figure from this wave, Spikor! There's been some grumbling about his appaearance in the line, since he technically doesn't actually appear on the show. It's admittedly a somewhat odd inclusion, especially so early in the line's life, but he's a fan-favorite character with an interesting design, so I can definitely see the reasoning behind having him as part of the line in spiteof that. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8yZ9UZJL48UlTcc-HH1Q7bvfvUPBdnpBOGgWDT1YWRNKuiHk1eHDcNLM_ApQSUH1JJ6nALAWpfQFdbAMEfcK2C4L-osrMwJ9WjDX7taw-fnnXx6WL8w1UkfpGD7lEcd2jTHUDkS-hhPk/s2048/Masterverse+Spikor+review+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1412" data-original-width="2048" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8yZ9UZJL48UlTcc-HH1Q7bvfvUPBdnpBOGgWDT1YWRNKuiHk1eHDcNLM_ApQSUH1JJ6nALAWpfQFdbAMEfcK2C4L-osrMwJ9WjDX7taw-fnnXx6WL8w1UkfpGD7lEcd2jTHUDkS-hhPk/w640-h442/Masterverse+Spikor+review+6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>The sculpt shares many parts with He-Man, which should come as no surprise. The head and bracers are new, of course, and the spiky torso is achieved with armor rather than a new torso, a method previously employed with the MOTU Classics version of the character. The bracers are glued in place, which will be annoying to some, but at least it prevents them from sliding off when you're swapping the hands around. (The glue can be removed with a bit of trouble, of course, if one is so inclined.) The head has a great sour expression, similar to the grouchy "I just got up, where's my damn coffee?" expression on his Classics counterpart. The spikes are a bit sharper than I expected, but unlike the Super 7 Filmation Spikor, you couldn't use him to impale your enemies or anything like that. The armor compares favorably with the briefly-seen animated design, though asa result, it features the fewest spikes on any Spikor figure to date. As with <a href="https://midnight-rant.blogspot.com/2021/08/rant-review-masterverse-he-man-figure.html" target="_blank">He-Man</a>, there's a total lack of texture sculpting on the armor, and while that matches the animated source for this design, there's enough added detail on other parts of the figure that its lack here seems incongruous. With a much greater level of detail on some parts than others, it seems at times that this line's designers don't know exactly what they want it to be. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhggjQaKakUbcD_GD0ZHQMc-7PfqteZH2fYzIwDNZl7f7-AZj82-Uwtu7stu3j8zjb67mqVq_qg-zTpFS0lWsNWiyEy-JDI2SnQUkvKtF6SJHnZCIl2m-H8xfo6jk09kBgnz0eJt2Oi2Xg/s1992/Masterverse+Spikor+review+4+with+balloons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1785" data-original-width="1992" height="574" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhggjQaKakUbcD_GD0ZHQMc-7PfqteZH2fYzIwDNZl7f7-AZj82-Uwtu7stu3j8zjb67mqVq_qg-zTpFS0lWsNWiyEy-JDI2SnQUkvKtF6SJHnZCIl2m-H8xfo6jk09kBgnz0eJt2Oi2Xg/w640-h574/Masterverse+Spikor+review+4+with+balloons.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Spikor has far fewer paint apps than many of the other figures in this line, almost to the level of simplicity we typically see with the Origins line. What's here is applied neatly, however, including tricky apps such as the yellow eyes and fangs over the dark purple face, with no bleed through of the base color at all. There's a nice metallic dark pink/light purple on the light pink belt's inlay, providing some nice contrast with the largely dark color scheme of the figure. The light grayish-blue matches up pretty well on the armor and bracers, despite the bracers being molded in that color, while those areas of the armor are painted. There's a bit of slop around the fangs, but nothing too bad for a mass-produced toy. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs37mZWloK9zUOgtZ8ZA6WaNRrEm3WR0tQ7YrhATVYnEqShLx8N6WESWzZlKgxnavm36ufa-5gA7EXtTOcpSVrcegahsIEDrpx5OUwhBEEyN6iCYU6cTxfJ2UimPhppFiujxqVlz1Rucs/s2048/Masterverse+Spikor+review+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1513" data-original-width="2048" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs37mZWloK9zUOgtZ8ZA6WaNRrEm3WR0tQ7YrhATVYnEqShLx8N6WESWzZlKgxnavm36ufa-5gA7EXtTOcpSVrcegahsIEDrpx5OUwhBEEyN6iCYU6cTxfJ2UimPhppFiujxqVlz1Rucs/w640-h472/Masterverse+Spikor+review+5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>The articulation for this line continues to be one of its strong points. Spikor has swivel & hinge shoulders, wrists, hips, and ankles, double elbows and knees, swivels at the boot tops, thighs, waist, and biceps, and a ball-jointed head and torso. The torso's range of motion is restricted quite a lot by the armor, but works normally when it is removed. The hips have the same slotted bar design as the male wave one figures, but it works much more smoothly here. I've put the figure in a variety of poses with the legs splayed out every which way, but I haven't run into any of the issues with the bar getting stuck that I ran into with some of the earlier figures. (Mostly He-Man.) I'd like to see the design team continue to tweak the articulation model here and there, as it's close to Marvel Legends level, the gold standard for mass-produced collector lines. A bit more work, and Masterverse can get there!<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqaovcxRP0a4N1JtcCQHcI7AsZkvBp-LX-LukSAc1ZvORBJlNp58QZj9KRJ3Uo6C9kJCnQ4fB3_mZhyphenhyphen6LA3MrlP0-doJZVefrCutB_eu7Nch7upWzUilml5wJk5b1LLTAvKn_wFgOrnUY/s2048/Masterverse+Spikor+review+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1548" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqaovcxRP0a4N1JtcCQHcI7AsZkvBp-LX-LukSAc1ZvORBJlNp58QZj9KRJ3Uo6C9kJCnQ4fB3_mZhyphenhyphen6LA3MrlP0-doJZVefrCutB_eu7Nch7upWzUilml5wJk5b1LLTAvKn_wFgOrnUY/w484-h640/Masterverse+Spikor+review+2.jpg" width="484" /></a></div>Spikor has a nice collection of accessories, as we've come to expect from this line. The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thagomizer" target="_blank">thagomizer</a>, pitchfork attachment, a pair of swappable hands, and the aforementioned armor offer a good variety of display options. The pichfork weapon is different from previous iterations, matching its appearance in Revelation. It has some nice sculpted details than have been left unpainted. It can be attached onto either wrist, or eschewed altogether if you want to display him with two hands. The thagomizer has a nice metallic finish, making its bright orange stand out even more on the shelf. The plastic used for it is a bit soft, and mine has already begun to wilt a bit after Spikor was posed waving it over his head for a few days. The armor attaches at the bottom on both sides, and slips on and off easily. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP__G1xPfnFtaTveqigf3ZwP_3IfynUZCg5TjYoo9QAMLuiLH6ufs7uZjDLACid7FZCRlwXGpkMCstkla97tqDuxoSPrzhtN5wbtShk_Ck9xyrXHDhXcFgzQ-H35YB5fGSejXXfm41q1I/s2048/Masterverse+Spikor+review+3+with+balloons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1679" data-original-width="2048" height="524" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP__G1xPfnFtaTveqigf3ZwP_3IfynUZCg5TjYoo9QAMLuiLH6ufs7uZjDLACid7FZCRlwXGpkMCstkla97tqDuxoSPrzhtN5wbtShk_Ck9xyrXHDhXcFgzQ-H35YB5fGSejXXfm41q1I/w640-h524/Masterverse+Spikor+review+3+with+balloons.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Though a mildly controversial inclusion so early in the Masterverse line, Spikor is a very solid figure. I consider him a few tweaks away from perfection, as I would like more spikes on his armor, more paint apps, and some more detail in the sculpting, but those are really minor issues. As some of them arise from the figure's adherence to the animated source design, I can hardly fault the figure for that! Spikor is another worthy entry in the Masterverse line, and I'm happy to see a relatively minor character appear so early on. For those who don't have the Classics Spikor, this figure holds even more appeal as a much cheaper alternative! The design sensibility is close enough that he will fit into a Classics display just fine. This is another strong entry in a line I'm enjoying quite a bit, and after the Power Con reveals, I'm even more excited for this line's future! That's it for today, but bash your way back here Friday for the next review! Until then, stay safe out there, and happy hunting!<p></p>Waylonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401043437179086649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030345768939930801.post-41176941577539837122021-10-15T11:30:00.012-05:002023-06-08T17:54:57.908-05:00Rant Review: Masters of the Universe Origins Beast Man figure (Lords of Power)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguU-7Nzv4Wd99V2ajObCaltuNtQDQXnaUj2DAZbjQY5WZcVdtRk6O3zQl_cIoE6xRnvzpRD2NX_fQRQ0VcbRplC4qM96krnfJJJr3Kwj0nXI2NLCt-BoC_pbeKDF5kTXV3hLpGw5HM7IU/s2048/MOTUO+Beast+Man+LOP+review+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1586" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguU-7Nzv4Wd99V2ajObCaltuNtQDQXnaUj2DAZbjQY5WZcVdtRk6O3zQl_cIoE6xRnvzpRD2NX_fQRQ0VcbRplC4qM96krnfJJJr3Kwj0nXI2NLCt-BoC_pbeKDF5kTXV3hLpGw5HM7IU/w496-h640/MOTUO+Beast+Man+LOP+review+1.jpg" width="496" /></a></div>As we saw a few months ago with <a href="https://midnight-rant.blogspot.com/2021/07/rant-review-masters-of-universe-origins_0324971861.html" target="_blank">Mer-Man</a>, Mattel has released a recolored version of one of the figures from it's hideously expensive 2020 Power Con exclusive set at retail, to the consternation of some, and the delight of many. Personally, I applaud this decision, as it makes a very cool character variation available to a far larger number of people, and the new colors sufficiently distinguish it from the con exclusive. As with that Mer-Man figure, this version of Beast Man is based on the prototype of the figure from the pre-release period when the MOTU line was operating under the Lords of Power name. (For more information, check out <a href="https://battleramblog.com/lords-of-power-collection-at-the-dawn-of-he-man/" target="_blank">the article</a> on the always awesome Battle Ram blog!)<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhszQ35zLYFIOWGppESbYpaQPJTCJSYoHXDabVQsZiaQOyxCT9-NKhHov9ttA48Cpfv1xgcgoTi5PDaAkH-XfVyKK9ql1VV4yKCLZ4Ml2KD-vwY7q3R6Q1X-lik9IJZzpXBpQfSQeH4XPo/s2048/MOTUO+Beast+Man+LOP+review+3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1631" data-original-width="2048" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhszQ35zLYFIOWGppESbYpaQPJTCJSYoHXDabVQsZiaQOyxCT9-NKhHov9ttA48Cpfv1xgcgoTi5PDaAkH-XfVyKK9ql1VV4yKCLZ4Ml2KD-vwY7q3R6Q1X-lik9IJZzpXBpQfSQeH4XPo/w640-h510/MOTUO+Beast+Man+LOP+review+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>The sculpt shares most of its parts with the wave one <a href="https://midnight-rant.blogspot.com/2020/08/rant-review-masters-of-universe-origins_28.html" target="_blank">Beast Man</a>, unsurprisingly. These furry beast parts work well enough, and also serve to tether this version of the character to the standard version more strongly than all-new parts would. (Not that we were ever gonna get 100% new tooling here, of course, but the point still stands.) I don't think the head captures the look of the prototype as well as Mer-Man's did, but it's pretty close, and it definitely looks good regardless of any minor deviation from the source material. The new forearms work well with the existing pieces, and the spikes that protrude over the hands make for an interesting visual. Unfortunately, those damn smooth feet that look like baby booties were used again, when this figure <i>really</i> needed newly sculpted feet. I've never liked those smooth, featureless feet, yet they keep popping up when damn near anything else would be preferable. Given that Mattel has now sold this figure twice, and that they have at least one upcoming figure that could make use of new multi-toed beast feet, they really should have tooled a new, more appropriate pair here. Once again, Mattel's cheapness holds a figure back from reaching its full potential.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQYLGO8xSr8qbbDqJ9AqAxGynfrpLW8tyLVwCrB0h7oKCd7q2RXy-1UpgHg3smbXvR4J2iEWEQmkEiyzQdL_xQhZNRBiOmawXUTHlgngcKzwTZ1A5kA6KK8k4-0c1yGrw7MPS75Pjitd8/s2048/MOTUO+Beast+Man+LOP+review+5+with+balloons.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1210" data-original-width="2048" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQYLGO8xSr8qbbDqJ9AqAxGynfrpLW8tyLVwCrB0h7oKCd7q2RXy-1UpgHg3smbXvR4J2iEWEQmkEiyzQdL_xQhZNRBiOmawXUTHlgngcKzwTZ1A5kA6KK8k4-0c1yGrw7MPS75Pjitd8/w640-h378/MOTUO+Beast+Man+LOP+review+5+with+balloons.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>As I've mentioned in my other wave six reviews, paint apps seem much sloppier in this wave, and poor Beasty doesn't escape unscathed, either. The paint apps on the armor are neat with nice, crisp lines, but the head has its share of issues. The light yellow used for the teeth bleeds all onto the black area in the interior of the mouth, but that's not the worst of it. My figure had a big blob of bright orange paint that had been plopped right onto his left eye. There's no orange anywhere on this figure, so Grodd only knows where it came from! I scraped most of it off without much trouble, though I hadn't finished cleaning it off yet when I took the review photos, so traces remain. As for the figure's overall color scheme, the designers went with a dark red for the fur, similar to that seen on one of the character's B-sheet designs. Beast Man has the line's standard articulation, with swivel & hinge shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, and ankles, swivels at the waist and calves, and a ball-jointed head. As ever, this is a very good articulation model that is lots of fun to play around with, and the parts pop apart at the usual spots for easy swapping, though I recommend heating the elbows, hips, knees, and ankles before popping them apart. My figure's left ankle has a limited range of motion due to a bunch of excess plastic that is wedged into the joint! It'll be easy to trim it off, but there's no way this should have made it past QC!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZuAsfY-PNTJoTZ9GhAQT2VuCyBN_sB0sLjdVR8P2rqBmHYlCSoRU6MZ5emlYGdgR6QLvT3oXNjLZsp3WOT6vNosdl8juzxHxUR5FrNKfwTK4Rg66PqPwBf3s5Jfxhu1bdIsrImmRadw/s1825/MOTUO+Beast+Man+LOP+review+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1659" data-original-width="1825" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZuAsfY-PNTJoTZ9GhAQT2VuCyBN_sB0sLjdVR8P2rqBmHYlCSoRU6MZ5emlYGdgR6QLvT3oXNjLZsp3WOT6vNosdl8juzxHxUR5FrNKfwTK4Rg66PqPwBf3s5Jfxhu1bdIsrImmRadw/w400-h364/MOTUO+Beast+Man+LOP+review+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Beast Man's only accessories are his armor set, but what an armor set it is! There's a big belt, possibly commemorating Beast Man's victory to become world champion of Eternia's jungles, and the large body armor. This piece, with its massive pauldrons and big, curved horns, has a fantastic design, and it does much to make the figure an intimidating presence on the shelf. It would have been nice to get some paint apps here, or even a wash to bring out all the sculpted details, but we all know by now that Origins isn't the line where things like that happen! While the prototype upon which this figure is based wasn't shown with any weapons, it wouldn't have killed them to at least toss in the standard Beast Man whip. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_HD7w9z1kxMgxzTtuQlnF_kN9W0HkzGAWNthnBsPBVWII1_XXXidAsr5QYSCwSRJKuJVpXVsIW1U82N4cAhWJPaN-3ig9_QsDFAP6_oSC_oUgeDNqVvv4gHuUYRuK5oUpkMelsnCQzs/s2048/MOTUO+Beast+Man+LOP+review+4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1747" data-original-width="2048" height="546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_HD7w9z1kxMgxzTtuQlnF_kN9W0HkzGAWNthnBsPBVWII1_XXXidAsr5QYSCwSRJKuJVpXVsIW1U82N4cAhWJPaN-3ig9_QsDFAP6_oSC_oUgeDNqVvv4gHuUYRuK5oUpkMelsnCQzs/w640-h546/MOTUO+Beast+Man+LOP+review+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Despite this figure's shortcomings, it's a very cool addition to the line, and exactly the sort of thing I was hoping to get when the Origins line was announced. I can see many collectors grabbing multiple of this figure to serve as henchman for the standard Beast Man, something I'm tempted to do myself, money and space allowing! It's just a shame that, once again, Mattel's relentless chintziness has held a figure back from being everything it could be. None of the issues I pointed out ruin the figure, but they do take what could have been a fantastic figure, and make it just a pretty cool one. This is still a figure I like quite a bit, so by all means, grab one if you have the chance. Just be aware that there are a few potential problems that may bug you. Of course, we always need to keep in mind that if you give one of these to a kid, though, they won't notice any of that stuff, and will have a blast playing with it! <p></p>Waylonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401043437179086649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030345768939930801.post-52674879240866706402021-10-15T11:30:00.011-05:002023-02-14T22:13:45.856-06:00Rant Review: Masters of the Universe Origins Stinkor figure<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKtgGFb1jc9uuEhBTxPzoGMDzPVqXQlaD3nCwKu-ZcB2J6DH8TkD1bOmps5SoJSxl4g-xNcLAGW57lCvQazSdHmli27oJt4idMLdHnXlEDb9jx_Sk0eKkTgQqZs5Dn8ob8ryjOZgbdpJY/s2048/MOTUO+Stinkor+review+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1543" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKtgGFb1jc9uuEhBTxPzoGMDzPVqXQlaD3nCwKu-ZcB2J6DH8TkD1bOmps5SoJSxl4g-xNcLAGW57lCvQazSdHmli27oJt4idMLdHnXlEDb9jx_Sk0eKkTgQqZs5Dn8ob8ryjOZgbdpJY/w482-h640/MOTUO+Stinkor+review+1.jpg" width="482" /></a></div><br />Wave six of Mattel's Masters of the Universe Origins line is popping up across the country, though not in my city, as usual. Thankfully, BBTS has me covered, as the set I had on pre-order with them showed up at my house a couple of days ago. My reviews of that set kick off today with a look at one of the most beloved and infamous figures in all of MOTU, the smelly scoundrel himself, Stinkor! I'll tell you the bad news right off the bat: Stinkor doesn't stink, despite the packages claims to the contrary. Stinkor's package is the only one lacking the little vent at the bottom of the bubble, presumably to prevent the figure's patchouli-infused aroma from escaping, but this was an unnecessary precaution. The figure simply doesn't have his signature smell, and from comments I've seen across the web, none of them do. I'm not sure exactly what went wrong, but it's a shame this figure's key feature is missing. With that unfortunate bit of business out of the way, let's move on...<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG7oCBv7UjXTdiUt2TD3pA9GtUoyiJnkb6RoKThsuK6BjEy8c91D2m6XGxka0B2_w9IGRZPgU87dFklDDpxkxPBLKKhWaljoH1Ua-Ybul_kh4ixQKGLultnkiV0owmb7UD4-TgoYarHEo/s2048/MOTUO+Stinkor+review+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1269" data-original-width="2048" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG7oCBv7UjXTdiUt2TD3pA9GtUoyiJnkb6RoKThsuK6BjEy8c91D2m6XGxka0B2_w9IGRZPgU87dFklDDpxkxPBLKKhWaljoH1Ua-Ybul_kh4ixQKGLultnkiV0owmb7UD4-TgoYarHEo/w640-h396/MOTUO+Stinkor+review+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />The sculpt is no surprise for anyone familiar with the character's past plastic incarnations, as he is a recolor of Mer-Man. As ever, the Mer-Man head sculpt is oddly far more appropriate for this furry fiend than for the scaly undersea warlord, though the smooth body and limbs are a bit incongruous. The Classics version of the figure went with the furry body that was originally planned for the figure during the prototype stage, but as Origins nearly always draws inspiration from the vintage toys, the route the designers took here is no surprise. The sculpt works as well for the character as it did in the vintage line's days, and fans of the character will not be disappointed. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikSjaoeXnUPSuzs5PUKMZUy7P9E6dft_eq4f13ojcDVLwMKJRxx0CoZvjdeh1EiIxs0i-dfCzpAw3ZkXmdwKtWe6olIQY6OMNFZ-Cv89GpvDPsMILS0vQzeiB_o9nl2gR_Fu8PHZq8ENI/s2048/MOTUO+Stinkor+review+3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1374" data-original-width="2048" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikSjaoeXnUPSuzs5PUKMZUy7P9E6dft_eq4f13ojcDVLwMKJRxx0CoZvjdeh1EiIxs0i-dfCzpAw3ZkXmdwKtWe6olIQY6OMNFZ-Cv89GpvDPsMILS0vQzeiB_o9nl2gR_Fu8PHZq8ENI/w640-h430/MOTUO+Stinkor+review+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Stinkor traditionally has some of the trickier paint apps in the MOTU range, as the white and red on top of black is notoriously difficult for toy manufacturers to get right. Mattel has applied thick enough coats of white and red to avoid the black bleeding through for the most part, though bleed through is evident in some areas. The right arm on my figure has coats of white paint of varying thickness, and the bleed through is at its worst here. The cut lines are nice and crisp, though the red of the gloves doesn't exactly line up with the sculpted points of the gloves. This detail doesn't really bother me, but your mileage may vary. There's a major color mismatch between the painted red gloves on the forearms and the molded red hands, and that's a much bigger issue. The mismatch looks awful, and once noticed, you can't un-see it. The figure's head has more issues. Mine has a random bit of white paint on one lip, but this is thankfully hidden by the armor in most poses. The eyes are fairly sloppy, with wavy, unclear lines around the rims. The ribbed area around the eyes has not been painted fully, with only a thin white strip around the outer perimeter. This doesn't look inherently bad, but if you're familiar with how Stinkor figures normally look, including the vintage figure from which this one draws its inspiration, it's something you're bound to notice. I was particularly annoyed to see that the white stripe down his back only goes down to the top of the figure's armor! Every prior Stinkor figure has had a white stripe that went most of the way down the figure's back, and this is a distinctive feature of the character and skunks in general. This move reeks of cheapness even beyond Mattel's general M.O. of cost-cutting. None of these paint issues ruin the figure, but they do compromise its look significantly. </span></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_7I0ZyILzSkf1H367cio3D0F3KYWUxLlpW-OBVoiPEio0ITH5XnddwN3ueVfCkaNDHOpl5cT2LMZLWWI3q8IMA5mMZfvHgiuZBmPosDs2SJXfUoYrtEzfMNx8QUwQzZYd4JpL0-SYpc/s2048/MOTUO+Stinkor+review+5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_7I0ZyILzSkf1H367cio3D0F3KYWUxLlpW-OBVoiPEio0ITH5XnddwN3ueVfCkaNDHOpl5cT2LMZLWWI3q8IMA5mMZfvHgiuZBmPosDs2SJXfUoYrtEzfMNx8QUwQzZYd4JpL0-SYpc/w640-h320/MOTUO+Stinkor+review+5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Stinkor sports the articulation model we've become accustomed to with this line, with swivel & hinge shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, and ankles, swivels at the waist and calves, and a ball-jointed head. As ever, this is a very good articulation model that is lots of fun to play around with, and the parts pop apart at the usual spots for easy swapping, though I recommend heating the elbows, hips, knees, and ankles before popping them apart. Stinkor has his standard pair of accessories, his armor and shield. Both of these parts are traditionally reused, but we're seeing them for the first time in the Origins line. Stinkor's armor is a "pre-use" of Mekaneck's, and his shield is a blue version of the Castle Grayskull weapons rack shield. It was MIA in this line's version of <a href="https://midnight-rant.blogspot.com/2021/07/rant-review-masters-of-universe-origins.html" target="_blank">Grayskull</a>, however. It would have been nice to have the tanks that were added to the character's design in the 2002 days as an option here, but let's face it, that was never going to happen in this line. Armor and a shield aren't hugely impressive accessories, but at least both are new to the line, and Stinkor's main weapon is his stench, so he doesn't really have much need for a physical weapon, anyway. This wave's minicomic is also included, and while it's a nice bonus, it seems more than ever that these are simply dashed off quickly, with little care. Still, I do love the fact that they're included, and I'm sure any kids who may get any of these figures will enjoy them more than the average adult collector! <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKgtTCnbXE8gPwQasK_7VwHKxWzZDkVnDDMzoUNYi8lhVHh9BruX1StAd7epggEGbOafqr5ddgPRpvPS2pnRKrlisJg5P_yTx2JmLasm9mTzuE8Z2Ax_GjNmCkNy94HutqNxrdArw3GQ/s2048/MOTUO+Stinkor+review+4+with+balloons.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1358" data-original-width="2048" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKgtTCnbXE8gPwQasK_7VwHKxWzZDkVnDDMzoUNYi8lhVHh9BruX1StAd7epggEGbOafqr5ddgPRpvPS2pnRKrlisJg5P_yTx2JmLasm9mTzuE8Z2Ax_GjNmCkNy94HutqNxrdArw3GQ/w640-h424/MOTUO+Stinkor+review+4+with+balloons.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>It may seem from this review that I dislike this figure, but that's really not the case. I actually like it quite a bit, it's just a shame that Mattel's cost-cutting has unnecessarily compromised its look. I'm not sure what happened with the figure's signature smell, as we were assured that it would be present, and the package even insists that the figure stinks. There may have been a mistake during the production run, or maybe the scent was applied and it simply wore off by the time it reached our shores. Whatever the case, it really sucks that the figure's main feature is simply not present. Stinkor is popular enough that the figure is sure to be a strong seller regardless, and I'm happy to have him in the Origins line. I just wish he wasn't a shadow of what he could, and should, have been. With a price increase incoming, Mattel really needs to be stepping up their game to justify the higher price, rather than doubling down on the cost-cutting. That's it for today, but swing back by next Friday for the next Origins review! Until then, stay safe out there, and happy hunting!<p></p>Waylonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401043437179086649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030345768939930801.post-78575115461084442862021-09-23T22:30:00.006-05:002021-09-23T22:30:58.532-05:00The LEGO Haunted House has electricity!<p>Just a quick update on my beloved Haunted House compound: I picked up a string of fiber-optic lights on clearance at Target a couple of years ago. Because I am so on the ball, I finally got around to actually installing them this week! They can display either red or green, or you can choose to have them alternate between the two. Personally, I prefer red.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB4u7VdSgR2CeFHUV72Etvg5WuTnI1pwbZCW2eoAjKPaWuOxw0Pgm6E0ZkcBF-RrlwuF0joigKsD0Un5Q2Z1fbbbz_kiNUL7PTcfpt_4p6l3thUQLUllzHwKNTZE3E4S8GzTKxmFQBAZU/s2048/Haunted+House+with+lights%2521+9-20-21+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB4u7VdSgR2CeFHUV72Etvg5WuTnI1pwbZCW2eoAjKPaWuOxw0Pgm6E0ZkcBF-RrlwuF0joigKsD0Un5Q2Z1fbbbz_kiNUL7PTcfpt_4p6l3thUQLUllzHwKNTZE3E4S8GzTKxmFQBAZU/w480-h640/Haunted+House+with+lights%2521+9-20-21+1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiy8nZ1KFSnY6D6pwSjPisl_5PT3phFBOjrBuVCIP1t7HnsEQBpDkYgD6LDXwc2nesezdcdFRtEY_hlmj55p7n9TXrffQ60mIqKF0eZymjQi6lXc_NAs9U_yg-YYJ-QBPFq9NqyNbKzCU/s2048/Haunted+House+with+lights%2521+9-20-21+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1694" data-original-width="2048" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiy8nZ1KFSnY6D6pwSjPisl_5PT3phFBOjrBuVCIP1t7HnsEQBpDkYgD6LDXwc2nesezdcdFRtEY_hlmj55p7n9TXrffQ60mIqKF0eZymjQi6lXc_NAs9U_yg-YYJ-QBPFq9NqyNbKzCU/w640-h530/Haunted+House+with+lights%2521+9-20-21+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>The entire compound has grown quite a bit over the years, with a slowly but steadily expanding cemetery, and even the addition of a haunted lighthouse! I've been offered as much as $750 for the whole shebang, but this is something I won't sell unless I absolutely have to. I just love the damn thing too much! <br /><p><br /></p>Waylonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401043437179086649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030345768939930801.post-75510703891099749962021-09-17T11:30:00.000-05:002021-09-17T11:30:00.241-05:00Rant Review: Masters of the Universe Ninjor figure<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio4kUe4gpVD4V2Ur_LPme6zVpCPTtKlM4r4tp0cYC6fTc-FbtSsYK460cCZfUOddzb1H7WsGogsiXRKaKLxkG4Rnva9ebYHpPLCTmdsz7ER1vNYmSz27Igfy71YXN04ZaHGUa2fSY-vTQ/s2032/MOTUO+Ninjor+review+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2032" data-original-width="1851" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio4kUe4gpVD4V2Ur_LPme6zVpCPTtKlM4r4tp0cYC6fTc-FbtSsYK460cCZfUOddzb1H7WsGogsiXRKaKLxkG4Rnva9ebYHpPLCTmdsz7ER1vNYmSz27Igfy71YXN04ZaHGUa2fSY-vTQ/w582-h640/MOTUO+Ninjor+review+1.jpg" width="582" /></a></div><br />As one of the vintage MOTU line's final releases, Ninjor was a bit of an oddball that stuck out even in a sea of oddballs. Even among cybernetic elephant men and reptilian speed freaks with tires wedged into their torsos, a straight-up ninja transplanted to Eternia seemed a little weird. Ninjas were very popular fare in the late '80s, however, so it was perhaps inevitable that the team behind MOTU would slip one into the line in one form or another. Something that is particularly amusing to me is that, given the vintage figure's resemblance to Lee Van Cleef under his mask, the character seems to have been partly inspired by the TV series The Master, which really only remembered today for the good-natured mocking it received on Mystery Science Theater 3000! As with most of the line's late releases, Ninjor made few media appearances, and lacked much character development as a result. He continues to be one of the more obscure and maligned MOTU characters. Is his debut in the Origins line cool enough to overcome that? Read on...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPV7Q6ZRm7LoTueakbF5xdFeCnJJg9WheV_NEtoweB9QJiwxa40MppEc5IrZCuvOhr2BulIgDHbmJMXdWejz0LlXVT5ThBGvGgX9a5fYboyiBZptzNPVsU8U8sjsMdK6Wnz6GojIUPDY/s2048/MOTUO+Ninjor+review+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1615" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPV7Q6ZRm7LoTueakbF5xdFeCnJJg9WheV_NEtoweB9QJiwxa40MppEc5IrZCuvOhr2BulIgDHbmJMXdWejz0LlXVT5ThBGvGgX9a5fYboyiBZptzNPVsU8U8sjsMdK6Wnz6GojIUPDY/w504-h640/MOTUO+Ninjor+review+2.jpg" width="504" /></a></div><br /><p>From the neck down, Ninjor shares all his parts with Skeletor. Many have expressed puzzlement that an apparently human character would have the clawed hands and feet shared by many of the line's villains, but this always made perfect sense to me. I always assumed these were simply boots and gloves he was wearing to aid him in combat and climbing, no doubt inspired by my having seen ninjas use clawed devices for climbing in various movies. Of course, given that he does live on Eternia, there's always the possibility that he's not entirely human. However you rationalize it, the parts are accurate to the vintage figure, so they definitely belong here. The head is new, and while the mask is not removable on this figure, the part of the face that we can see certainly carries the same likeness. The shirt piece is not cloth, as it was on the vintage figure, but it is sculpted with a nice clothlike texture that works very well, as we saw previously with <a href="https://midnight-rant.blogspot.com/2020/12/rant-review-masters-of-universe-origins_11.html" target="_blank">Scare Glow</a>. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivFiZPg5Ph-fBCrG1bucjj9AAOVGUOoJghR3x0JD11LiGSXWm8hEuS_EXGxqK6v9r-7gehfrpGmxcgUO1tiwSv3R8sctb62ZVO4SksmfT5nnMnFWcCNpfKIM_ShQ9odZi4MBrhhxngIhw/s1719/MOTUO+Ninjor+review+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1506" data-original-width="1719" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivFiZPg5Ph-fBCrG1bucjj9AAOVGUOoJghR3x0JD11LiGSXWm8hEuS_EXGxqK6v9r-7gehfrpGmxcgUO1tiwSv3R8sctb62ZVO4SksmfT5nnMnFWcCNpfKIM_ShQ9odZi4MBrhhxngIhw/w640-h560/MOTUO+Ninjor+review+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>The few paint apps the figure requires are applied very neatly, and despite some color combinations that are often problematic, the underlying color never bleeds through. Caucasian fleshtone over black plastic is a recipe for bleed-through, but non is present here. Ninjor has the articulation model we've become familiar with, with swivel & hinge shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, and ankles, swivels at the boot tops and waist, and a ball-jointed head. He's a very fun figure to pose, and none of the joints on mine are overly tight or loose. The pieces pop apart at the usual spots for easy swapping, but as always, I recommend heating the elbows, hips, knees, and ankles before popping them apart.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8mbK5PJlSK_Wr9IrUYAZbkmDccaENfwP0f3VprRsigOLczjKmNMV1_2PiPUO5w-pdvkjWa-s_ORnVZnDbvsrCUNuaQZyJa4WKNoCaKSnWV_kpD4Bq6VTwARhJLWKlTYctEY4FjuFs4zQ/s2048/MOTUO+Ninjor+review+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1576" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8mbK5PJlSK_Wr9IrUYAZbkmDccaENfwP0f3VprRsigOLczjKmNMV1_2PiPUO5w-pdvkjWa-s_ORnVZnDbvsrCUNuaQZyJa4WKNoCaKSnWV_kpD4Bq6VTwARhJLWKlTYctEY4FjuFs4zQ/w492-h640/MOTUO+Ninjor+review+4.jpg" width="492" /></a></div><br /><p>Ninjor has a nice assortment of accessories, with a katana, nunchaku, and a bow. The weapons fit easily into his hands, and so far have not shown a tendency to fall out. The nunchaku have a chain with actual individual links, which is a nice touch. With the two weapon slots on his back, you can have him hold one while storing the other two. I always appreciate when a figure's accessories can be stored on the figure itself, so this was a very nice surprise! All weapons are molded in silver, and while some additional paint apps would have been nice, their lack is not surprising. The wave four minicomic is also included, and while the tiny page count severely limits the kinds of stories that can be told, I'm still gleeful about getting actual minicomics with these figures!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrxw4MK8lFDPjwpUf2RhGlGUockM3ZjvN_29SYUm6SJPBzulKJl_0zn9kTzJSZM5q8LIbfSvhFudKh2URy9OPmjgbnaYeQvJds5rmecToPMPr_irFUo-A-ScDyxj5-mlSV94TFPDF5sSw/s2048/MOTUO+Ninjor+review+5+with+balloons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1649" data-original-width="2048" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrxw4MK8lFDPjwpUf2RhGlGUockM3ZjvN_29SYUm6SJPBzulKJl_0zn9kTzJSZM5q8LIbfSvhFudKh2URy9OPmjgbnaYeQvJds5rmecToPMPr_irFUo-A-ScDyxj5-mlSV94TFPDF5sSw/w640-h516/MOTUO+Ninjor+review+5+with+balloons.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>The announcement of this figure's inclusion so early in the Origins line was a big head-scratcher for many collectors, but I was happy to see Mattel mix things up a bit. For most collectors, Ninjor is far from an essential character, but he has an interesting look, some cool accessories, and let's face it: Ninjas are still cool. A ninja with red demon boots, even more so! I doubt he'll be cracking any top ten lists, but if you tend to like the oddballs, as I do, Ninjor is a figure you definitely want to add to your collection. That's it for today, but infiltrate the blog again in three days for more! Until then, stay safe out there, and happy hunting!</p>Waylonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401043437179086649noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030345768939930801.post-37878303853477550452021-09-14T11:30:00.000-05:002021-09-14T11:30:00.263-05:00Rant Review: Masters of the Universe Origins Zodac figure<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAnfS3H-62BiiA8KDgp_WXJevf16Lp4CSjlz9-05qiPgHigetaI4juuKTz_Od-QYGM3zJ10yYJ6fEpm9cXKTeLzDT72x8la4wPeYjfmrImDzJApU_wlttlCtsCqySYYmXGYTKB3DCwLkU/s1779/MOTUO+Zodac+review+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1779" data-original-width="1599" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAnfS3H-62BiiA8KDgp_WXJevf16Lp4CSjlz9-05qiPgHigetaI4juuKTz_Od-QYGM3zJ10yYJ6fEpm9cXKTeLzDT72x8la4wPeYjfmrImDzJApU_wlttlCtsCqySYYmXGYTKB3DCwLkU/w576-h640/MOTUO+Zodac+review+1.jpg" width="576" /></a></div><br />Quite possibly the most enigmatic of all MOTU characters, Zodac has been portrayed as a hero, a villain, and something in between. In at least one early document, <a href="https://battleramblog.com/zodac-cosmic-enforcer-1982/" target="_blank">he was explicitly described as a bounty hunter</a>. Ultimately, he was deemed <a href="https://youtu.be/TNXwew5vn2Y?t=13" target="_blank">neutral</a>. For many children of the '80s, this was how we learned what the word meant! As a cosmic enforcer, Zodac has generally been portrayed as immensely powerful, seeking to ensure that the balance of power between good and evil is never tipped too far in favor of one or the other. Often depicted flying around in a cosmic chair a la Metron of the New Gods, he never wears pants, despite the vast coldness of space. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSSQ8D7w9yuPIcVy8DZMljHSNBUdhEMxErKeILeq766XJy8SJIS05I9sb-ZO1uX_JQ7RX0URwQ0sOg5yu_x_AsoIxLgt5tZCI04XYCZumnkz3nhTH6pU9mlN22mSi-l6823ebkxp2yBh4/s2560/MOTUO+Zodac+review+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1228" data-original-width="2560" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSSQ8D7w9yuPIcVy8DZMljHSNBUdhEMxErKeILeq766XJy8SJIS05I9sb-ZO1uX_JQ7RX0URwQ0sOg5yu_x_AsoIxLgt5tZCI04XYCZumnkz3nhTH6pU9mlN22mSi-l6823ebkxp2yBh4/w640-h308/MOTUO+Zodac+review+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>The sculpt is the same rather odd hodgepodge of parts from other figures, as with the vintage toy. The level of sculpted detail remains good, with some particularly nice detailing on the scaly boots and the hairy torso. The head is new, and follows the line's M.O. of replicating the vintage design with slightly sharper details, for the most part. There are a couple of spots where things are a bit soft, such as the notch or "buckle" on the right jaw. The back of the head has some different design elements, notably a small hole near the top of the helmet that I've certainly never noticed on any Zodac figure before. I have no idea what purpose it's meant to serve; it just seems to be there for no apparent reason.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuYooi4Ea8xkYFlhzLMWNbTY7tfMQyPrP99gOfygkLXdvSZ0LvybiuQegihlFDQCvaFbbGiZxAkIyAvGqRLKB15QfD3gDanFRFPTnS5ooJuGgCjqtOu9bdny2KzIdblo5-u0Ht6INX8p4/s1939/MOTUO+Zodac+review+3+with+balloons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1825" data-original-width="1939" height="602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuYooi4Ea8xkYFlhzLMWNbTY7tfMQyPrP99gOfygkLXdvSZ0LvybiuQegihlFDQCvaFbbGiZxAkIyAvGqRLKB15QfD3gDanFRFPTnS5ooJuGgCjqtOu9bdny2KzIdblo5-u0Ht6INX8p4/w640-h602/MOTUO+Zodac+review+3+with+balloons.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>What few paint apps there are have been applied neatly, particularly the exposed area of the face. The black eyes have a gloss sheen, lending them a goggle-like appearance, which is a nice touch. Zodac has the usual articulation, with swivel & hinge shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, and ankles, swivels at the waist and boot tops, and a ball-jointed head. This remains a very nice articulation scheme that is loads of fun to mess around with and pose, and the joints move easily and hold poses well. They still pop apart at the usual spots for easy swapping, though as always, I recommend heating the elbows, hips, knees, and ankles, before popping them apart. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjztGbpr5JjDAztMcBlF45_vn5Hn6gAqNF0eMmX0HCxYUGPfmfFpnrR0p3i4480DSmQnfNbd85A_JUZnXGfKZz39iB9ex_xVrG7wVcfGAqJZMQBdExbd12vuedhMQdUfB62KIui2jICjnA/s2048/MOTUO+Zodac+review+5+with+balloons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1962" data-original-width="2048" height="614" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjztGbpr5JjDAztMcBlF45_vn5Hn6gAqNF0eMmX0HCxYUGPfmfFpnrR0p3i4480DSmQnfNbd85A_JUZnXGfKZz39iB9ex_xVrG7wVcfGAqJZMQBdExbd12vuedhMQdUfB62KIui2jICjnA/w640-h614/MOTUO+Zodac+review+5+with+balloons.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Zodac's accessories are his usual pistol and armor. Both are pretty close to the vintage designs, with a few slight differences. The armor deviates more than the pistol, most notably with the size of the cosmic enforcer emblem on the chest. It's much thinner than we've seen on other Zodac figures. The sculpting is also noticeably softer in a couple of areas, most notably on the straps that run on either side of the waist. Where the vintage figure had some large bullets sculpted here, the Origins version simply has a featureless line. This was one of those cool little details that enabled you to use your imagination and come up with your own explanation, thus broadening the mythology of the character and the world. It's a shame to see that the design team didn't see fit to include it here. It also would have been nice to get some gun blast effects or something, as this is another figure with heavy parts re-use that feels mighty light on accessories. The wave four minicomic is also included.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxd3AnY5ob7kvRJJtK54t_cEQ9g1-YMfAHn4ejvOv5EPbXZETowXYpGM26Kt4136ABlOniPjP7Ab1iBzt99gtcLCx0FTqVhUw5THuTvbEEakeg3-b0otylYclsLN1guoIgT-Cki7t9sUs/s2048/MOTUO+Zodac+review+4+with+balloons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1199" data-original-width="2048" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxd3AnY5ob7kvRJJtK54t_cEQ9g1-YMfAHn4ejvOv5EPbXZETowXYpGM26Kt4136ABlOniPjP7Ab1iBzt99gtcLCx0FTqVhUw5THuTvbEEakeg3-b0otylYclsLN1guoIgT-Cki7t9sUs/w640-h374/MOTUO+Zodac+review+4+with+balloons.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>With his relatively bland design and color scheme, Zodac isn't the most exciting figure. The air of mystery that still surrounds him lends him a certain cool factor, though, and for fans of the original 8-back, he's absolutely essential. As someone who's always gravitated toward the early MOTU mythology and cast, I'm happy to have him show up in the line so early on. He's not the most amazing figure in the line, but he's solid, and having this armor and head offers ample opportunity for customizers eager to create their own army of cosmic enforcers, so there's that! Whether you plan to make him a member of Skeletor's army, induct him into the ranks of the heroic warriors, or just have him hang out with the Sorceress in Castle Grayskull, Zodac is a worthy addition to the MOTU Origins lineup. That's it for today, but ride your cosmic armchair back over here in three days for more! Until then, stay safe out there, and happy hunting! </div>Waylonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401043437179086649noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030345768939930801.post-48945165649532223072021-09-10T11:30:00.004-05:002021-09-10T11:42:12.684-05:00Rant Review: Masters of the Universe Origins Hordak figure<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE0VDbGzTI7_WNVLrsD8qACI7IYDk1is5Z5cz4OibWfcFDWUn0aIkxjR-0Z6tBKzlqHtk1CigHlM-runIeV0oEjlqu3bUq-Bv8XD1uO3dApFseRIqOao9AQB0EPSvr6rTVpZ_9VhQrZYk/s2048/MOTUO+Hordak+review+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1886" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE0VDbGzTI7_WNVLrsD8qACI7IYDk1is5Z5cz4OibWfcFDWUn0aIkxjR-0Z6tBKzlqHtk1CigHlM-runIeV0oEjlqu3bUq-Bv8XD1uO3dApFseRIqOao9AQB0EPSvr6rTVpZ_9VhQrZYk/w590-h640/MOTUO+Hordak+review+1.jpg" width="590" /></a></div><br />Hordak has often been a somewhat controversial figure among MOTU fans over the years. One of the biggest debates that frequently pops up concerning him is whether or not he is considered a MOTU or She-Ra villain. Proponents of either point of view have a strong case, as he featured as the main antagonist in the Filmation POP cartoon, but the Horde were only released as actual toys as part of the MOTU line, and featured heavily in the various comics that followed their creation. Even his backstory was controversial when he first introduced. Putting aside the clumsy retcon of employing him to steal an infant princess that had never before been mentioned, the very idea of making him Skeletor's mentor rubbed many young MOTU fans the wrong way. Personally, even as a child, I rejected that backstory, as it diminished Skeletor. But despite that, I found Hordak, and the Horde itself, to be pretty cool and interesting. It was a great idea to introduce a third faction that was after the destruction of both Skeletor and He-Man, and the figures themselves boasted some very cool and creepy designs. Thus, while he was never Skeletor's mentor in my mind, Hordak was a worthy villain who featured pretty heavily in my MOTU adventures after I received the figure as an Xmas gift. We've gotten some truly great figures of the Horde's supreme leader (none of that "Horde Prime" stuff for me!) over the decades, so how does this new version stack up? Read on...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAAhfIwhA-a5OCzpgj9GZGXY70fDy805gOhO7qCMuZQFnv3yTlFv7oaProB6YnCAbajY5yVc2OW54x5XsN4kE_8ExirVsWYSWzTFwa1Pv5vXI8pz73Wo1E_4x_JUmBYkNOGb7bTfBAMC8/s1838/MOTUO+Hordak+review+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1838" data-original-width="1731" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAAhfIwhA-a5OCzpgj9GZGXY70fDy805gOhO7qCMuZQFnv3yTlFv7oaProB6YnCAbajY5yVc2OW54x5XsN4kE_8ExirVsWYSWzTFwa1Pv5vXI8pz73Wo1E_4x_JUmBYkNOGb7bTfBAMC8/w602-h640/MOTUO+Hordak+review+2.jpg" width="602" /></a></div><br /><div>Following the Origins template, Hordak replicates the vintage toy's design, with some minor differences. The most noticeable deviations are the eyes, which are significantly smaller. The chitinous rim of his headpiece and the warts on his head are also more clearly defined, and the points on his forehead ridge are a bit more pronounced. The bulk of the figure uses the standard humanoid body, though his gloves and boots are new. The Horde armband is a separate piece, rather than a sculpted element on the arm. His facial expression seems slightly different, coming off a bit more annoyed or grouchy than the vintage figure's barely contained malevolence. On close examination, however, I think this is more due to the paint apps than the actual sculpt.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcH_Qqhpz19OWc0eQu6wKe34b_UtW-mZadb_9ZNXuj3MfVgCrVpxEJMhj1tfmfixodNDttejjJ4zMbpB09r7SsuaJhLGC1f-p-Te6g7ELz7wBr0KKNd4TbSfbPoSjen_P3n6pzUiYSMJU/s2048/MOTUO+Hordak+review+3+with+balloons.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1588" data-original-width="2048" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcH_Qqhpz19OWc0eQu6wKe34b_UtW-mZadb_9ZNXuj3MfVgCrVpxEJMhj1tfmfixodNDttejjJ4zMbpB09r7SsuaJhLGC1f-p-Te6g7ELz7wBr0KKNd4TbSfbPoSjen_P3n6pzUiYSMJU/w640-h496/MOTUO+Hordak+review+3+with+balloons.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div>Speaking of those paint apps, what's here is applied pretty neatly. Even somewhat tricky apps, such as the red bats over black boots and armor, are thick enough that the black does not bleed through. There are more differences from the vintage toy in this category, especially with the eyes and the surrounding area. Whether or not this is a bad thing is a matter of personal opinion, but there are quite a few variants out there, so you can probably find a Hordak head to suit your tastes. The Origins line's tendency to brighten up the color scheme is only partially in effect here. The shades of white and red used on the head, armor, and cape are indeed much brighter, but the shade of gray used for Hordak's skin is far darker than what we've seen before. The "jowls," gray on the vintage toy, are black here. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvhPZK4FQlQG0SCg-anZGpgeOu3edirh_se90wiAYc4JX0KmzIwhZSMf0oS0dL2xbgEFdSYpcL_EXu5nzXonuNy7-c8LyuRqPDnACrgt-DDtuhgd0v8LSeNWluS13NZ6LCgxr1YujB76c/s2048/MOTUO+Hordak+review+8+with+balloons.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1464" data-original-width="2048" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvhPZK4FQlQG0SCg-anZGpgeOu3edirh_se90wiAYc4JX0KmzIwhZSMf0oS0dL2xbgEFdSYpcL_EXu5nzXonuNy7-c8LyuRqPDnACrgt-DDtuhgd0v8LSeNWluS13NZ6LCgxr1YujB76c/w640-h458/MOTUO+Hordak+review+8+with+balloons.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Hordak has the standard articulation, with swivel & hinge shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, and ankles, swivels at the calves and waist, and a ball-jointed head. The head's range of motion is limited a bit by its design, but it's better than I expected. Hordak's accessories include the aforementioned armor and armband, his bat shield/sidekick, and his crossbow. The bat clips snugly into place on either of his forearms, and the plastic used is a more rubbery kind that seems less likely to cause the band to snap off, an issue that plagued many vintage Hordak figures. The crossbow is a bit trickier to get into proper position, and is prone to fall off the figure's arm. The cape attached to the armor is actual sculpted plastic, rather than the thin sheet of plastic used for the vintage version. It's a soft, rubbery plastic, and that, combined with its short length, prevents it from interfering with posing in any major way. The wave four minicomic is also included. With so many of the figures in this line coming up short on accessories, it's nice to get a figure like this that has a good assortment. A version of the staff from the 2002 and MOTU Classics iterations of the character would have been nice, but there's enough here that I don't feel cheated without it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnU4j1qUOChsBV0fpkj19eqpQHxU13RS_lUrxZaWx7Ehq1H9ldf_eo9C7TmOMji-iQlF0RzWfLUF3wn_YN_CId9sl1P-EwV99DW2da2yFbwVWI24ceelNdQP5_fhx09mNqGsgX6MuMIsI/s2048/MOTUO+Hordak+review+7+with+balloons.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1554" data-original-width="2048" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnU4j1qUOChsBV0fpkj19eqpQHxU13RS_lUrxZaWx7Ehq1H9ldf_eo9C7TmOMji-iQlF0RzWfLUF3wn_YN_CId9sl1P-EwV99DW2da2yFbwVWI24ceelNdQP5_fhx09mNqGsgX6MuMIsI/w640-h486/MOTUO+Hordak+review+7+with+balloons.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>As the leader of one of the main factions, it was vital that Hordak be done properly, and I'm pleased to say that the design team has done it. Hordak's interesting design makes him stand out on the shelf, even all by himself. It'll be even better when we have enough of his cronies in figure form that the Horde can have their own corner of the Origins display! Whatever your feelings about where the Horde belongs on the toy shelf or in MOTU lore, Hordak is a well-made figure, and worthy addition to the collection. Now bring on the rest of the Horde, and some Snake Men! That's it for today, but keep scrolling for more photos, and open a portal back here in three days for more! Until then, stay safe out there, and happy hunting!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKHYV9ocuYPzJUv6xIao3c5EjqoPWyLulgL4BQKoA173CzeA1FZv_DwSWe2twXlFuoU0ar0sTMPWOJQrGi89D4fVKcWyy_tW1knUZbhhoVS5VUQNAQjDDiRTNpBKnvd__tamvvLPuqrY/s2048/MOTUO+Hordak+review+4.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1158" data-original-width="2048" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKHYV9ocuYPzJUv6xIao3c5EjqoPWyLulgL4BQKoA173CzeA1FZv_DwSWe2twXlFuoU0ar0sTMPWOJQrGi89D4fVKcWyy_tW1knUZbhhoVS5VUQNAQjDDiRTNpBKnvd__tamvvLPuqrY/w640-h362/MOTUO+Hordak+review+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWfh_CeRABRUUPydoarQ7LvfH6QpsvVNi0ZuER6HMwUT-Y65MG128yQe-gt0skXDRrh2VB7JMf05ec7l_Y-l0hwTypNKYLeFsp3nYeK78ixM_ZiF8MlRnyQ_EHOeMzpz_IfxSEBjkKBt8/s2048/MOTUO+Hordak+review+5+with+balloons.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1251" data-original-width="2048" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWfh_CeRABRUUPydoarQ7LvfH6QpsvVNi0ZuER6HMwUT-Y65MG128yQe-gt0skXDRrh2VB7JMf05ec7l_Y-l0hwTypNKYLeFsp3nYeK78ixM_ZiF8MlRnyQ_EHOeMzpz_IfxSEBjkKBt8/w640-h390/MOTUO+Hordak+review+5+with+balloons.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiXWMF1SBe9SvjrqvGTzylnXs07nzEWFQKcO911hVEPGqt7Wmoolg-WxzqJgNfEllccEfY0LvErb_CXeCk-ArcBUFWRS7gvlmGFVY994l5n2KPXray_kZQ77gRQGnamEKBHSXB4281MUc/s2048/MOTUO+Hordak+review+6+with+balloons.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1248" data-original-width="2048" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiXWMF1SBe9SvjrqvGTzylnXs07nzEWFQKcO911hVEPGqt7Wmoolg-WxzqJgNfEllccEfY0LvErb_CXeCk-ArcBUFWRS7gvlmGFVY994l5n2KPXray_kZQ77gRQGnamEKBHSXB4281MUc/w640-h390/MOTUO+Hordak+review+6+with+balloons.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Waylonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401043437179086649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030345768939930801.post-70154254041734235092021-09-07T11:30:00.128-05:002021-09-07T11:30:00.244-05:00Rant Review: Masterverse Moss Man figure (Revelation series)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYgnnjFDnuI-ICwTu21xTDgOSL8_Y_F9hYZ_N4NyNCcX83HD3-wcGCRsQsuDUfFW3VvIndnFs1mDgRQZs8scNDEf1z08qkFz97TPkQdcqTI7MdFCBK7ysYEt5cBr-NK0TPRQZvwa_xcLM/s2048/Masterverse+Moss+Man+review+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1194" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYgnnjFDnuI-ICwTu21xTDgOSL8_Y_F9hYZ_N4NyNCcX83HD3-wcGCRsQsuDUfFW3VvIndnFs1mDgRQZs8scNDEf1z08qkFz97TPkQdcqTI7MdFCBK7ysYEt5cBr-NK0TPRQZvwa_xcLM/w374-h640/Masterverse+Moss+Man+review+1.jpg" width="374" /></a></div>We come to the end of the road for Masterverse reviews, for now anyway, with Moss Man! Following a leaked prototype photo last year, Moss Man was the the first glimpse we had of how an actual figure in the Masterverse line might look. (As well as for the Revelation series itself, for that matter.) While the final figure has some obvious differences-- the prototype seemed to have used a Classics figure as its base-- the general design has carried over. The redesign spurred the usual debate among fans and collectors, with some opining that Moss Man without flocking simply isn't Moss Man. While I feel that's excessive, the loss of flocking is a shame, and it remains a sticking point for many. Is this figure cool enough to merit a spot in your collection without a reliance on his traditional gimmick? Read on...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4_K5CFVuhdzWjxnk-aTwuacA4qywz3XGv0yGJfPJoclIsUmq5dJ131U0ht7GbHN_iTgKJfYoSsyWlWtKWn_yxF7EgfCWwMcPV8jLsYR21k-Nuo0ErTrmLxHnvRSIf5CljCMgNTlr-CY/s2048/Masterverse+Moss+Man+review+2+with+balloons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1483" data-original-width="2048" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4_K5CFVuhdzWjxnk-aTwuacA4qywz3XGv0yGJfPJoclIsUmq5dJ131U0ht7GbHN_iTgKJfYoSsyWlWtKWn_yxF7EgfCWwMcPV8jLsYR21k-Nuo0ErTrmLxHnvRSIf5CljCMgNTlr-CY/w640-h464/Masterverse+Moss+Man+review+2+with+balloons.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div>The sculpt on this figure is fantastic, easily the most detailed and eye-catching of the figures released so far. I haven't seen this confirmed anywhere, but it's rumored that the Four Horsemen had a hand in this figure's design. Given the level of detail on display here, I can certainly believe it. Various wood-like, leafy, and mossy textures are lovingly rendered, with nary an inch of the figure lacking in detail. Moss Man has a rather angry facial expression, evoking the vintage figure's ferocious face without simply giving him a repainted Beast Man head again. (I would have liked an alternate head with a more serene expression, but apparently that just wasn't in the cards.) Excellent work here, though it does make me wish the other figures had the same level of detail in their sculpts. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdSNetAZPYcGpG2PVVEZSzFXWHS-0kEPrHMgByp7dyOB9ch7lseqRqTLuaRmWoIs64qANkzC5Iz8cwGRH5JQ8Cx_MmA4H_aA7ta5Jylo4enBWcH8-Q6jvHpFKkHSUhp_cWxrHIImm8orM/s1612/Masterverse+Moss+Man+review+3e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1240" data-original-width="1612" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdSNetAZPYcGpG2PVVEZSzFXWHS-0kEPrHMgByp7dyOB9ch7lseqRqTLuaRmWoIs64qANkzC5Iz8cwGRH5JQ8Cx_MmA4H_aA7ta5Jylo4enBWcH8-Q6jvHpFKkHSUhp_cWxrHIImm8orM/w640-h492/Masterverse+Moss+Man+review+3e.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div>The paint apps on this figure are kinda all over the place. The eyes and teeth are neat, but many of the brown vines and wooden portions are extremely sloppy. There are numerous examples of the paint either not filling the appropriate area, or glopping over onto another. You'll find other areas where the paint has been applied very neatly, making these messy areas stand out all the more. Thankfully, with such a busy sculpt, full of overlapping textures, it doesn't hurt the figure nearly as much as it would have on one of the other less detailed figures. It all sort of fades into the overall design, and manages to work pretty well despite the messiness. Unfortunately, there is still plenty of areas that have been left unpainted, and are crying out for a wash or some drybrushing. The figure looks good as it is, but once I spend some time doing some detail painting, it should look even more impressive! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu08otVU37RcRZdQ3x2AtF7s08kGo0tJttc9e3O2-7WxO3OPlwUVVtCP0gh8-INhyphenhyphenHhBvc7IxsfnFq-ulKtLyCNQDWlW65MWj98FbqyZOl0aYSDf5EjnMvkXU2QRDi8-Def-2h7k0BZGI/s2048/Masterverse+Moss+Man+review+4+with+balloons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1265" data-original-width="2048" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu08otVU37RcRZdQ3x2AtF7s08kGo0tJttc9e3O2-7WxO3OPlwUVVtCP0gh8-INhyphenhyphenHhBvc7IxsfnFq-ulKtLyCNQDWlW65MWj98FbqyZOl0aYSDf5EjnMvkXU2QRDi8-Def-2h7k0BZGI/w640-h396/Masterverse+Moss+Man+review+4+with+balloons.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div>Moss Man sports the line's standard articulation for the most part, with swivel & hinge shoulders, wrists, hips, and ankles, double elbows and knees, swivels at the thighs, waist, and biceps, and a ball-jointed head and torso. Nearly all of these points of articulation move smoothly and hold poses well, though he has the same odd hip construction as <a href="https://midnight-rant.blogspot.com/2021/08/rant-review-masterverse-skeletor-figure.html" target="_blank">Skeletor</a> and <a href="https://midnight-rant.blogspot.com/2021/08/rant-review-masterverse-he-man-figure.html" target="_blank">He-Man</a>. Everything works as you'd expect until you hinge the legs outward, at which point the barbell piece inside the crotch drops down. This allows a greater range of outward motion for the legs, but the problem is that the barbell doesn't always want to pop back up when you move the legs inward. As with Skeletor, this piece moves back into place with considerably more ease than it does on He-Man. He lacks the side-to-side tilting in the feet, and the cut at the calves, which is a shame. Moss Man has two pairs of swappable hands and a large wood/vine piece that can pop onto either wrist. The vine piece is long, unwieldy, and rather heavy, so the figure is prone to tipping over when it's attached. It takes a bit of work to find a pose in which he can remain standing while using it; thankfully, he has those huge feet to help keep him balanced. Personally, I would have preferred the swappable head I mentioned above, or a new version of his traditional mace, but this is a cool accessory, nevertheless.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirWxHDwt1rnwlLJrhXnCPcCg2ipHw5I-sarvBYrWOdJsCnftWx828GFvnJsRgS5Nybb0TIDNiemsEjpMR3F2Wd8z0qEkUsMzogwyJwfXXK9oVEtkVmWM3k2mOyc2abTqme9PCne0eEbFU/s2048/Masterverse+Moss+Man+review+5+with+balloons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1335" data-original-width="2048" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirWxHDwt1rnwlLJrhXnCPcCg2ipHw5I-sarvBYrWOdJsCnftWx828GFvnJsRgS5Nybb0TIDNiemsEjpMR3F2Wd8z0qEkUsMzogwyJwfXXK9oVEtkVmWM3k2mOyc2abTqme9PCne0eEbFU/w640-h418/Masterverse+Moss+Man+review+5+with+balloons.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div>Despite coming up a bit short in articulation and accessories, Moss Man is a very cool figure. He's neck and neck with Evil-Lyn for my favorite of the figures released so far. The lack of flocking may be a deal breaker for some, but I feel the fantastic level of detail in the sculpt helps make up for that. This version of Moss Man makes is an imposing presence on the shelf, and truly feels like a powerful, godlike entity for the first time. Don't sleep on this one. He seems to be lingering on store shelves a bit longer than his wave one brethren, but as a fan-favorite character, he's sure to sell eventually. If you're on the fence about getting him, I definitely wouldn't wait too long! Although I have every previous figure of Moss Man, I'm very glad to have added this one to my collection. He's different enough, and cool enough, to be compelling even among that illustrious company. That's it for today, but head back this way Friday for the next Origins review! Until then, stay safe out there, and happy hunting!</div>Waylonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401043437179086649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030345768939930801.post-24977980997630977552021-09-06T11:30:00.009-05:002023-08-21T12:16:23.585-05:00The 007 Re-Read Project: James Bond and Moonraker by Christopher Wood<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Exp8kFHtf4r8OdQjcRXGesQlFEmjPwS69eDG3DqJ8WNXmEyMHgD0junx0RvwBeEZkxF4wh4h6_UlQ16LNtkap8UJO0Z1RWypS1nl93V6g7FaXazXirSFGVyeuupflw7lNlvdU3OAzyE/s1670/007+Re-Read+Project+header.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1095" data-original-width="1670" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Exp8kFHtf4r8OdQjcRXGesQlFEmjPwS69eDG3DqJ8WNXmEyMHgD0junx0RvwBeEZkxF4wh4h6_UlQ16LNtkap8UJO0Z1RWypS1nl93V6g7FaXazXirSFGVyeuupflw7lNlvdU3OAzyE/w640-h420/007+Re-Read+Project+header.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Much like the book we looked at last week, <b>James Bond and Moonraker</b> was written by Christopher Wood based on his screenplay for the film. Unlike <i>The Spy Who Loved Me</i>, however, <i>Moonraker</i> actually has some ties to the original Fleming novel, tenuous though they may be. This results in a rather odd situation, as the book is written as if it is canonical to the previous novels, but features specific characters and concepts Bond has already encountered. It's not a big deal, of course, just a bit of weirdness you have to handwave away. I was particularly interested to read this novelization, as the movie is one of the most derided of all the Bonds. With the alterations Wood made to <b>James Bond, The Spy Who Loved Me</b> to make it more in the vein of the literary 007, I was curious about whether or not a similar approach here would make it more serious and grounded than the movie. There are quite a few differences between novelization and film, but as with Wood's previous book, there's no way of knowing which are due to the book being based on an early draft of the screenplay, and which are due to changes made with the intention of making this book mesh better with the others. Whatever the case, it makes for an interesting reading experience. As ever, I do my best not to blow the entire plot, but there are <b>SPOILERS AHEAD</b>! <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_M9nuh9YKWMhkp7Z5QXvvr0WEeatv4wQFz9EFSm6EJQdLM6tGqDbNhp8OeuBySuTqyvEJnPclLFEhOJQpWobJPEKcviZjJaQxZHHw8LzyIAFMjiPrgdnWvI0ou2MmICoGc-YcJNfKB14/s776/James+Bond+and+Moonraker.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="776" data-original-width="520" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_M9nuh9YKWMhkp7Z5QXvvr0WEeatv4wQFz9EFSm6EJQdLM6tGqDbNhp8OeuBySuTqyvEJnPclLFEhOJQpWobJPEKcviZjJaQxZHHw8LzyIAFMjiPrgdnWvI0ou2MmICoGc-YcJNfKB14/w428-h640/James+Bond+and+Moonraker.jpg" title="" width="428" /></a></div>Things kick off with the mid-air hijacking of the Moonraker, a space shuttle that can travel into space and back to earth, landing like a normal airplane. It was created for NASA by Hugo Drax, an ultra wealthy businessman who doesn't want to cede control of space to the Russians. As the Moonraker was being loaned to the English government in exchange for sharing some top-secret tech of their own, the secret service is now involved. Bond heads to Drax's estate to begin his investigation, and quickly develops suspicions about Drax himself. Bond's eventual ally in his investigation is the hilariously-named (even by James Bond standards) NASA pilot and CIA agent Holly Goodhead. Once Bond becomes a big enough concern, Drax enlists the aid of none other than the indomitable Jaws to snuff him out. <p></p><p>Wood again writes Bond far closer to Fleming's version than what audiences were currently seeing onscreen, and that is to the book's advantage. Many of the more controversial aspects of the film-- the gondola hovercraft, the double-taking pigeon, Jaws's girlfriend, to name a few-- are absent, and the overall tone is more serious. There are several sequences that are downright intense, some of which are played for laughs in the movie. A couple of the movie's strongest scenes are absent, such as the fate of poor Corinne (named Trudi in the novel) and the shooting scene with Drax and Bond. Drax himself is virtually identical physically to the character in Fleming's novel, and there's a nice reference to his predilection for playing bridge, which featured heavily in the Fleming novel. Bond wonders to himself what side he fought on back in the war. Surprisingly, we never get any background information on Drax, so we're left to wonder along with him. It could be that Wood's intent was for the character to share the same history as the Fleming version, but his overall demeanor and Ra's al Ghul-esque motivations are incongruous with that. In any case, he's an effective villain, and I find him more interesting than the previous book's Stromberg. Drax's first henchman, Chang, seems an attempt to create an Oddjob sort of villain, but he receives no development, and falls far short of that standard. His battle with Bond in Venice is a highlight, however, and far more violent that anything we'd see in any of Moore's Bond movies. </p><p>Holly fares much better as a heroine than Anya did in Wood's previous book, getting the better of Bond on a couple of occasions, and her skillset proves absolutely vital in the book's final act. Jaws is, if anything, even more formidable than before, and seems to be virtually indestructible. (His survival of the destruction of Atlantis in the previous book, by the way, is not explained. Where he is shown to clearly have survived in the movie, the novelization saw him in a situation seemingly guaranteed to result in his doom. I wondered how Wood would address it, if at all, and it turns out that he didn't. Not a big problem, just worth pointing out.) Without the addition of his girlfriend-- though he does save a female astronaut from Drax's space station during the climax, she's clearly not the same character-- his turn hinges entirely on Bond pointing out how he himself will ultimately be disposed of once Drax no longer has need of him, as he clearly will not fit into his idea of genetic perfection. His scenes following his face turn are far stronger than in the movie, and one gets the sense that his selflessness in saving Bond, Holly, and the unnamed astronaut are an attempt to condone for all the horrible things we've seen him do prior to this. It's a strong (possible) end for "the man with murder in his mouth."</p><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p><b>Notable quotes:</b></p><p>There may have been something slightly vulgar about the display of so much wealth, but it was a very genuine vulgarity.</p><p>"I want you to look after Mr. Bond, Chang," [Drax] said slowly. "See that some harm comes to him."</p><p>The voice was as cold as that of a mid-western Baptist schoolmistress making her first trip east of the Great Lakes.</p><p>Poor Q. He produced equipment for every contingency and yet was furious whenever one arose.</p><p>"Mr. Bond--" the voice echoed down from above, and conveyed a note of genuine regret "-- you defy all my attempts to plan an amusing death for you."</p><p>His smile was like a crack on a gravestone.</p><p>"At least I will have the pleasure of putting you out of my misery."</p></blockquote><p>Whatever your feelings about the film version-- personally, while I find all of the common criticisms of it valid, I still like it and enjoy watching it for some damn reason-- <b>James Bond and Moonraker</b> is a damn entertaining book. The plot meanders a bit, as does the movie, but Wood keeps a quick pace, and his wit and clever turns of phrase keep things enjoyable. It's a bold, sprawling adventure, exciting and ridiculous in equal measure, much like the movie itself. I find myself wishing that Wood had written more Bond novels, particularly some not based on the movies. <b>Recommended.</b> </p><p>That's it for today, and I'll be skipping next Monday, but fly back here in two weeks, as we move into the John Gardner era! </p>Waylonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401043437179086649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030345768939930801.post-52711285416248321102021-09-03T11:30:00.148-05:002023-02-14T22:16:04.757-06:00Rant Review: Masters of the Universe Origins Ram Man figure<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRkBvVB1Mz3J5_BS0h_y-75nEDti4A_7bI-RO7wd25BC4wfXwAWS49o62oSy5t4Lyd1EBT6q45c1oQXNW2XdpPWtQGU47pduoQZlL9KEDzwDBzTuLEN_XhKPtDmvH4b-Ozu-42HQAhoEU/s2048/MOTUO+Ram+Man+review+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1979" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRkBvVB1Mz3J5_BS0h_y-75nEDti4A_7bI-RO7wd25BC4wfXwAWS49o62oSy5t4Lyd1EBT6q45c1oQXNW2XdpPWtQGU47pduoQZlL9KEDzwDBzTuLEN_XhKPtDmvH4b-Ozu-42HQAhoEU/w618-h640/MOTUO+Ram+Man+review+1.jpg" width="618" /></a></div><br />One of the most exciting announcements from last year's Power Con was the debut of the MOTU Origins deluxe line, featuring Ram Man. A mainstay in the MOTU mythos from early in its life, Ram Man's figures have typically been largely defined by their action feature. If ever there was a figure who suited the deluxe line, it was Rammy! The vintage figure really stood out among his plastic brethren, with a unique design, and even a different sculpting style, that made him look almost like a refugee from another toyline. His articulation was further compromised by the toy's action feature, but what an action feature it was! By retracting the feet into the body and pressing the switch on his foot, the figure would ram forward, a function that we '80s kids found a wide variety of uses for! This feature was intact in the 2002 version of the figure, but absent in the action feature-free MOTU Classics version, which gave us our first ever fully articulated Ram Man. This new Origins version looks to split the difference between the two approaches. How does it fare? Read on...<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUiXPI7C0iNLWFZa84KKWE1aDypvv1IxY5Z8DcTqS8wxm_yFuYzYnF87bY6wayqO3UAlKLeWEBALse9iRyVa9q0sq4VZoBsKbq0V43Efv5kPoHoqjHf2qUr1JHYNNnq5waB-O4h1ysT4k/s2562/MOTUO+Ram+Man+review+3.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1228" data-original-width="2562" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUiXPI7C0iNLWFZa84KKWE1aDypvv1IxY5Z8DcTqS8wxm_yFuYzYnF87bY6wayqO3UAlKLeWEBALse9iRyVa9q0sq4VZoBsKbq0V43Efv5kPoHoqjHf2qUr1JHYNNnq5waB-O4h1ysT4k/w640-h306/MOTUO+Ram+Man+review+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>The sculpt is emblematic of the approach of the Origins line in general, as it virtually replicates the vintage design, while slightly improving the level of detail. The sculpt is 100% new, another aspect of the figure's design that undoubtedly earmarked him for inclusion in the higher-priced deluxe line. Every aspect of the burly fan-favorite is here, from his kilt/tunic, his beefy arms, big armor with the chains, and his helmeted head, slightly befuddled expression and all. There are some nice dents and dings sculpted into the helmet, a fun detail that was totally absent on the vintage toy. There does seem to be a bit more of a style cohesion in relation to the rest of the line, however, making the figure look less like he wandered in from another toyline. This is some of the strongest work we've seen from the Origins team so far.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_XmtlwaOagf6jUOFblgCdVtZkq05uS8RRYXXAA5MgAmQlUVvcQ9jTtlzT55kY2rtcM_-iRcJGlAs8ysvYoDqm8rT34D6cNKWqBP4jktZUfNWwdGJYpbjns6C9GCU1Miae1gzs7no-h4/s2048/MOTUO+Ram+Man+review+4+with+balloons.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1641" data-original-width="2048" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_XmtlwaOagf6jUOFblgCdVtZkq05uS8RRYXXAA5MgAmQlUVvcQ9jTtlzT55kY2rtcM_-iRcJGlAs8ysvYoDqm8rT34D6cNKWqBP4jktZUfNWwdGJYpbjns6C9GCU1Miae1gzs7no-h4/w640-h512/MOTUO+Ram+Man+review+4+with+balloons.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Ram Man's paint apps are bit less neat overall than what I've seen on most of the line so far, with a pretty wide variation in the quality of the paint apps on the face and belt buckle. One of my figures has an open-face helmeted head with a very neat face, while the extra I got for my little niece to play with has very sloppy paint apps on that head, about half of which are barely even filled in. The silver belt buckles suffer from slop and overspray on every example of this figure I've seen. If you're fortunate enough to run across more than one of these at once, I definitely recommend that you take a minute to look over the paint apps and choose the best example.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVa3RX3KM71ijc834JAcP0OzOQ5WvTxMf2s22bJ8KBy1SjzXzQ6LZImOFwKK8tKOCkAQ2bS4crsJxWv6oq1h_pWV0Tp60YLjDtm5QF_t97EWhujyVKi_-bAAv_JYHY0vJ2ZkIJZNUnEOM/s2048/MOTUO+Ram+Man+review+2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1361" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVa3RX3KM71ijc834JAcP0OzOQ5WvTxMf2s22bJ8KBy1SjzXzQ6LZImOFwKK8tKOCkAQ2bS4crsJxWv6oq1h_pWV0Tp60YLjDtm5QF_t97EWhujyVKi_-bAAv_JYHY0vJ2ZkIJZNUnEOM/w640-h426/MOTUO+Ram+Man+review+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />As Rammy has a unique sculpt, so he also has a unique articulation model. He has the swivel & hinge shoulders, elbows, and wrists and the ball-jointed head that is standard for the line, but it's a different story below the waist. There is no waist swivel, and the only leg articulation present are swivel & hinge knees. This was a necessary compromise due to the action feature, so I doubt anyone is overly surprised about it. Frankly, the knee articulation on its own is so useless that they might as well have not bothered. The action feature itself works a bit differently. After pressing the figure down, you have to press him down again to make him spring up slightly. This is a bit harder to activate than the traditional implementation, and it doesn't work as well in general. I really would have preferred the vintage-style feature instead. It really feels like the design team tried to fix something that wasn't broken.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEismm5L2nrO2gsOV78QlLhpnNG3adgGf-tSV8Nb4A6MSKN6ZU99ZjuvSv3f29jtz2u5OEpRViqrXOdM1WIWx0wprK04z7R2H_pHrTmfH4UwMicTxU3wiofFcW0UZoUCErIa7BPy0vZYnBI/s2048/MOTUO+Ram+Man+review+6+with+balloons.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1534" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEismm5L2nrO2gsOV78QlLhpnNG3adgGf-tSV8Nb4A6MSKN6ZU99ZjuvSv3f29jtz2u5OEpRViqrXOdM1WIWx0wprK04z7R2H_pHrTmfH4UwMicTxU3wiofFcW0UZoUCErIa7BPy0vZYnBI/w640-h480/MOTUO+Ram+Man+review+6+with+balloons.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Rammy is fully loaded with accessories, as we've come to expect from the deluxe line. He has a swappable head, an alternate right hand, and two axes that can fit together. The deluxe wave one minicomic is also included. The alternate head has a face guard that seems to be inspired by the 2002 animated show, which is a nice touch. I've actually found myself keeping that head on the figure more often than not. This is definitely a better option than the unhelmeted head we got with the Classics figure, particularly with the clumsy implementation that version had. I'm glad they went this route instead. The axes can attach at the handles, and while it looks odd and unwieldy, I can't deny that it also looks plenty dangerous! (Though it may be far more dangerous for the wielder than any of his enemies!) This is a pretty robust suite of accessories, especially for a fully tooled figure with an action feature, so I definitely feel that we're getting our money's worth here. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Yfik8ROi-XtZFAvn9iLrGG51NcxgKORLzOc_CmFq9a4FL8PSlLiQqsdEUkLq48gNxOKNthSajs4UP_HLJT3XLEj3vgzlimi1anx0BZSQqYsvR4IbSwXhKYG4HBHqG4spvxF5dzvnw9g/s2048/MOTUO+Ram+Man+review+7+with+balloons.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Yfik8ROi-XtZFAvn9iLrGG51NcxgKORLzOc_CmFq9a4FL8PSlLiQqsdEUkLq48gNxOKNthSajs4UP_HLJT3XLEj3vgzlimi1anx0BZSQqYsvR4IbSwXhKYG4HBHqG4spvxF5dzvnw9g/w640-h480/MOTUO+Ram+Man+review+7+with+balloons.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />As an essential supporting cast member, Ram Man is one of those figures pretty much everyone wants in their collection. Mattel did him up right, despite a few issues. The ramming feature isn't implemented as well as it could have been, but let's face it: Most of us who are buying these are just going to have him standing on a shelf, so it's not <i>that </i>big a deal. For those of us with children in the family who will be actually playing with them, well, most of them won't know what the alternative is, so they likely wont be bothered by it. My little niece certainly isn't, and she has loads of fun ramming him into things! Ram Man is one of those iconic MOTU figures and characters who has entered the public consciousness, and this is bound to be one of the more popular figures from a very popular line. Thankfully, he's been done justice, and I'm glad to have him in my collection. That's it for today, but smash your way back Tuesday for the next Masterverse review, or stop by Monday for the next entry in <a href="https://midnight-rant.blogspot.com/search/label/007" target="_blank">the 007 Re-Read Project</a>! Until then, stay safe out there, and happy hunting!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhwhpFD5m9JmYn2SkeqFc7lB9_LY9DE6PsIMCGUmIlq5UzT0dlscYf3kKYbTS_QGnMdxGj80gKbuw6H5-cWYaz8yF4y_VMrdLIHR0NB9G3U4w6wUG84z1OfFseDUD5_-4Vf1Z9maFDRl4/s2048/MOTUO+Ram+Man+review+5+with+balloons.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1585" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhwhpFD5m9JmYn2SkeqFc7lB9_LY9DE6PsIMCGUmIlq5UzT0dlscYf3kKYbTS_QGnMdxGj80gKbuw6H5-cWYaz8yF4y_VMrdLIHR0NB9G3U4w6wUG84z1OfFseDUD5_-4Vf1Z9maFDRl4/w496-h640/MOTUO+Ram+Man+review+5+with+balloons.jpg" width="496" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Waylonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401043437179086649noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030345768939930801.post-29509740219361595412021-08-31T11:30:00.001-05:002021-08-31T11:30:00.208-05:00Rant Review: Masterverse Evil-Lyn figure (Revelation series)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih_S3LNklBOCS6jsNslbs58Z1v6FKEfExbsT5NZiZ7DZkRd1rTRtxu6URiU0krNXx0E937RTDkBWFYI2rNOqrLeza3pzE5oqJSo9rwEASEU7YIfSCTD7CYyDwjxE2U9HfVb3ai_2kwhvY/s2048/Masterverse+Evil-Lyn+review+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1506" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih_S3LNklBOCS6jsNslbs58Z1v6FKEfExbsT5NZiZ7DZkRd1rTRtxu6URiU0krNXx0E937RTDkBWFYI2rNOqrLeza3pzE5oqJSo9rwEASEU7YIfSCTD7CYyDwjxE2U9HfVb3ai_2kwhvY/w470-h640/Masterverse+Evil-Lyn+review+1.jpg" width="470" /></a></div>Today we're veering back into Masterverse territory with Skeletor's right-hand witch! Thanks to some timely listings on Amazon, I received Evil-Lyn shortly after coming across a single pair of <a href="https://midnight-rant.blogspot.com/2021/08/rant-review-masterverse-he-man-figure.html" target="_blank">He-Man</a> and <a href="https://midnight-rant.blogspot.com/2021/08/rant-review-masterverse-skeletor-figure.html" target="_blank">Skeletor</a> at Walmart. (No prizes for guessing who the subject will be for my next Masterverse review!) The recipient of one of the show's more drastic redesigns, Evil-Lyn's look has spurred much debate among collectors. Is this new iteration worth getting for fans of the character, or should it be cast into Despondos? Read on...<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEojWGmSEKh5CV8PmM8iYOIhmrJ5O7DkEzrVbId8XXnEHm8qhzrWyWGQMpp7XrRIS_kPbhAp4_emiDE4wsono45GuAKumlOv4WAvTM0wBmsPpL8Wdbk1vsdyuJfGgQ3g-qSImvEk_6mqY/s2048/Masterverse+Evil-Lyn+review+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1697" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEojWGmSEKh5CV8PmM8iYOIhmrJ5O7DkEzrVbId8XXnEHm8qhzrWyWGQMpp7XrRIS_kPbhAp4_emiDE4wsono45GuAKumlOv4WAvTM0wBmsPpL8Wdbk1vsdyuJfGgQ3g-qSImvEk_6mqY/w530-h640/Masterverse+Evil-Lyn+review+2.jpg" width="530" /></a></div>As the only female in the first wave, Evil-Lyn has a totally unique sculpt. Her look from the show is faithfully recreated, with a nice level of detail on most of the figure. There's some particularly nice texture work on the fur, robe, and boots. The upper torso's fabric texture continues onto her chest, which is a bit weird. Her face has a nice, determined expression that nails the calculating persona for which she is known. Evil-Lyn looks intelligent and ruthless, just as she should. The alternate head shares this expression, with the addition of hair that is much longer than she is usually seen with. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhonYu5oHzYSQkt0UZEwzQblMUNKbtrhnuyG5Hgy3fGMS1CE9sqC9uMVolE8KvB0MfW2E9DLDbZHg43S6JVG8szF59dzVrLkk2T9QeIxtR_r_uhXqEqLjXNENeIo3NVLzp0xIUyyxt7yvg/s1958/Masterverse+Evil-Lyn+review+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1958" data-original-width="1799" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhonYu5oHzYSQkt0UZEwzQblMUNKbtrhnuyG5Hgy3fGMS1CE9sqC9uMVolE8KvB0MfW2E9DLDbZHg43S6JVG8szF59dzVrLkk2T9QeIxtR_r_uhXqEqLjXNENeIo3NVLzp0xIUyyxt7yvg/w588-h640/Masterverse+Evil-Lyn+review+5.jpg" width="588" /></a></div>The paint apps are very neatly applied, and the printing on the face is flawless. Her upper lip is a much darker shade of red than the lower one, something I hadn't noticed while watching the show. After checking, the upper lip is darker on the show, not just for Evil-Lyn, but for all the females. It looks like it may simply be an effect of the lighting, but maybe not. It'll be interesting to see if Teela has the same sort of coloration on her figure once wave two hits. Maybe that's just the fashion on Eternia? Two of the hands have some minor slop, but nothing major. It's also notable that someone made the decision to make her caucasian for some reason, which is a new thing for the character in animation. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, though it is a bit odd. I'd definitely be interested in seeing this figure with the classic yellow skin, or 2002-style deathly pale. Anyway, this is a very neat paint job, particularly by the standards of a mass-produced toyline. Just don't expect any paint washes.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRq9kJ5YS4oMYpIr7Du_iAZtzeF-n9MuO7D0oXvTcMeYZB3frEtr-yznNkzU0BL7vu7q2-33f0FRz01RvJrJpUx0Mh9WP9B62ds7CatMy8zQ9wyiCBamibqw1-4kp3TGqwoUChPRS-18Q/s2048/Masterverse+Evil-Lyn+review+4+with+balloons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1651" data-original-width="2048" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRq9kJ5YS4oMYpIr7Du_iAZtzeF-n9MuO7D0oXvTcMeYZB3frEtr-yznNkzU0BL7vu7q2-33f0FRz01RvJrJpUx0Mh9WP9B62ds7CatMy8zQ9wyiCBamibqw1-4kp3TGqwoUChPRS-18Q/w640-h516/Masterverse+Evil-Lyn+review+4+with+balloons.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Evil-Lyn shares the standard articulation for the Masterverse line with swivel & hinge shoulders, wrists, hips, and ankles, double elbows and knees, swivels at the boot tops, thighs, waist, and biceps, and a ball-jointed head and torso. Nearly all of these points of articulation have excellent range, move smoothly and hold poses well. Notably, she does not have the weirdness with her hip articulation that I previously pointed out on Skeletor and He-Man. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-EvFbw4dXW_AeNG9nV9JRYFAv5akJRQFOZSp73FywMJIZvS630FIlNZdByoau8nHL_YyHyr486DQbg4FcywuTsJmolXKPkDVZQLmfesl1sX37fCc53KuYZUz3YT0LlbIRqG2jWDs3ZFA/s2048/Masterverse+Evil-Lyn+review+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1878" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-EvFbw4dXW_AeNG9nV9JRYFAv5akJRQFOZSp73FywMJIZvS630FIlNZdByoau8nHL_YyHyr486DQbg4FcywuTsJmolXKPkDVZQLmfesl1sX37fCc53KuYZUz3YT0LlbIRqG2jWDs3ZFA/w586-h640/Masterverse+Evil-Lyn+review+3.jpg" width="586" /></a></div>Evil-Lyn has a nice assortment of accessories, including the aforementioned swappable head, her staff in two different lengths, a satchel, and two extra sets of hands. The head and hands swap easily enough, and the hands allow for a wider variety of poses and gestures. The hair on the extra head is stiffer than I would like, which interferes with posing to some degree. The satchel is a nice option to have, though I find it more cumbersome than it's worth. There is a strap on the figure's right hip with a ring to hold the small staff, but it's very prone to falling out no matter how you put it in there. It's a nice idea, but the staff is just too top-heavy. Whereas the Classics figure had two staffs into which the orb could be plugged, here we just have two full staves. It's nice to have the choice, however they chose to implement it. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPwtt8Zu7Ll18f_2EjALW-RjX_wNlTvMIpPIXewk7mq4bEGQs1K4NRVMfV6oSLTrp5f08RK17rcFStIETq2sP7pJVkhF1hxUCly1Mmc0AHh-nX10oFEbVTrU6fOXqVKcPrbOpDtX2zTMY/s2048/Masterverse+Evil-Lyn+review+6+with+balloons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1663" data-original-width="2048" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPwtt8Zu7Ll18f_2EjALW-RjX_wNlTvMIpPIXewk7mq4bEGQs1K4NRVMfV6oSLTrp5f08RK17rcFStIETq2sP7pJVkhF1hxUCly1Mmc0AHh-nX10oFEbVTrU6fOXqVKcPrbOpDtX2zTMY/w640-h520/Masterverse+Evil-Lyn+review+6+with+balloons.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>While I'm enjoying the Masterverse line as a whole, Evil-Lyn may be my favorite so far, at least from the basic figures. Both He-Man and Skeletor had a few issues that, while not major, were annoying. Evil-Lyn really doesn't have anything detracting from her good points, and she seems like a more fully realized figure as a result. This is an excellent rendition of an interesting new look for a classic character, and you can hardly go wrong with that! If you only get one figure from the first wave of this line, she is a great choice. That's it for today, but scheme your way back on Friday for the next Origins review! Until then, stay safe out there, and happy hunting!<p></p>Waylonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401043437179086649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030345768939930801.post-37404844817633813282021-08-30T11:30:00.227-05:002023-08-21T12:06:39.707-05:00The 007 Re-Read Project: James Bond, The Spy Who Loved Me by Christopher Wood<b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Exp8kFHtf4r8OdQjcRXGesQlFEmjPwS69eDG3DqJ8WNXmEyMHgD0junx0RvwBeEZkxF4wh4h6_UlQ16LNtkap8UJO0Z1RWypS1nl93V6g7FaXazXirSFGVyeuupflw7lNlvdU3OAzyE/s1670/007+Re-Read+Project+header.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1095" data-original-width="1670" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Exp8kFHtf4r8OdQjcRXGesQlFEmjPwS69eDG3DqJ8WNXmEyMHgD0junx0RvwBeEZkxF4wh4h6_UlQ16LNtkap8UJO0Z1RWypS1nl93V6g7FaXazXirSFGVyeuupflw7lNlvdU3OAzyE/w640-h420/007+Re-Read+Project+header.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />James Bond, The Spy Who Loved Me</b> occupies a rather odd position in the Bond bibliography. Despite sharing the title with one of Fleming's original Bond novels, the film version of <i>The Spy Who Loved Me</i> bears absolutely no resemblance to its contents. This was apparently a condition that Fleming himself insisted upon when he sold the film rights to the Bond books, as he was dissatisfied with the novel. (He wasn't the only one!) Rather than release a tie-in edition of the book that bore no relation to the movie, it was decided to have screenwriter Christopher Wood write a novelization with a slightly modified title to differentiate it from the Fleming original. This was one of the only books that I was unable to find during my Bond book binge of the mid-to-late '90s. Well, that's not exactly true; while I was able to find copies for sale online, they all commanded prices that were well out of my comfort zone, particularly for an old paperback. (There was <a href="https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/the-spy-who-loved-me/author/christopher-wood/first-edition/" target="_blank">a rather nice hardcover edition</a> published in the U.K, but I was unaware of that at the time, and given that it went for far higher prices, it wouldn't have mattered anyway!) Thankfully, it was made available as an ebook back in 2013, and I was finally able to acquire a copy. (Oddly, it was delisted at some point, and a quick web search didn't turn up any explanation.) As always, I won't blow the whole plot, but there are <b>SPOILERS AHEAD</b>! <div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIM1yfI0VMxiP8KSBTlW4kKEh1lnG3xh4fsJIDWTMuHiIMm1KVr5ftp8kTCCU0oJDlwFcdJQm-ZPcRdynBMvR85zf3hOf3VSCv-pehiRcjggERoOpHOcVQ9hxCmY0s2ayBZRTDBJKJj9I/s1467/James+Bond+TSWLM+movie.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1467" data-original-width="984" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIM1yfI0VMxiP8KSBTlW4kKEh1lnG3xh4fsJIDWTMuHiIMm1KVr5ftp8kTCCU0oJDlwFcdJQm-ZPcRdynBMvR85zf3hOf3VSCv-pehiRcjggERoOpHOcVQ9hxCmY0s2ayBZRTDBJKJj9I/w430-h640/James+Bond+TSWLM+movie.jpg" width="430" /></a></div>It will come as no surprise to those who have made a habit of reading novelizations that there are a number of differences between this book and what you see in the movie. This is undoubtedly due to its being based on an earlier version of the script, but it may also be due in part to a desire to make it more congruous with the previous Bond novels. Aside from some of the dialogue, it's quite difficult to picture Roger Moore as the Bond of this book. There's a level of violence and gore that we have yet to see in any Bond films, let alone those starring Moore. There's a torture scene that particularly stands out in this regard that is certain to make male readers squirm as much as the infamous carpet beater scene from <b>Casino Royale</b>. Many of the outlandish setpieces from the film are here, but Bond himself is clearly modeled on Fleming's Bond. </div><div><br /></div><div>M's characterization is much closer to the film version than the literary, however, and his conversations with Bond are about the most casual you're likely to come across. Anya Amasova is given a great deal more background, though she remains a character defined more by her sexuality than her personality. Most of her scenes seem to pivot around how greatly she is desired by the men in her life, chiefly Bond and her boss. Speaking of her boss, he is explicitly called out as the head of SMERSH in the novel. It seems a rather odd choice, as SMERSH had been disbanded in the world of the novels by the time Thunderball was published. Whereas Walter Gotell's General Gogol is a relatively benign presence in the film, his counterpart in the novel, General Nikitin, is an utterly loathsome creature, so duplicitous and lecherous in nature that it stretches belief that M would behave so affably toward him even under direct orders. </div><div><br /></div><div>We also get quite a bit more background on Stromberg, here given the forename Sigmund, and the steel-toothed giant Jaws. Jaws himself is nearly as memorable as in the film, and serves as Stromberg's one and only henchman. (Lesser underlings Sandor and Naomi are not present in the novel.) Jaws is dispatched with quite a bit more finality than in the film, and it'll be interesting to see how Wood explains his presence in the <b>Moonraker</b> novelization, if it's addressed at all. The Stromberg of the novel differs massively from his film counterpart, though his goals remain the same. With his bald head and fashion sense, he almost seems to have been cast in the mold of Doctor No physically, but he has his own rather unique characteristics to set him apart. His ritual when something upsets him is more comical than intimidating, however, and it's probably for the best that the filmmakers didn't include it in the film version! He doesn't reach the upper echelon of Bond's nemeses, but he is a memorable villain nevertheless.</div><div><br /></div><div>Wood makes a valiant effort to replicate the Fleming Sweep, though he doesn't achieve this consistently. The novel is a quick and easy read, however, and retains a feeling of density despite its brevity due to the sheer number of events. Not all of these receive proper fleshing out. Anya's sudden turn during the climax comes literally from nowhere, and without the slightest peek at her mental or emotional state to rationalize any of it. The actor's performances just barely manage to make the moment work in the film, but the novel doesn't have Roger Moore's charisma going for it, so the scene falls completely flat, and is immediately glossed over with no explanation. The book ends differently than the film, though they still escape from Stromberg's stronghold in the same manner. There's an epilogue that shows the pair reuniting after their adventure, but it sadly doesn't amount to much. There's a hint that Anya has defected, but we're left with no details about that, either. </div><div><br /></div><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><b>Notable quotes:</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Women you pick up in casinos are either straightforward whores or have run out of money playing some ridiculous system. Either way they are going to be very expensive and probably very neurotic. (Yikes!)</div><div><br /></div><div>Bond felt a sense of unreality. He had been dropped onto the roof of the world and he had done nothing to earn these spirit-enriching vistas, the reward of those who had bravely scaled the face of a mountain. Bond preferred his pleasures hard-won.</div><div><br /></div><div>(As Bond is relentlessly accosted by merchants in the Cairo marketplace.) Bond felt like a man swimming against the tide. If anyone tried to sell him dirty postcards, he might go under.</div><div><br /></div><div>Stromberg turned slowly like a man in a trance and Bond found himself staring into eyes that were two long corridors leading nowhere. He realized that Stromberg was completely and utterly mad. "You do not understand, Commander Bond. I <i>want</i> to destroy the world."</div><div><br /></div><div>The two departing submarines were now framed in the gaping bows of the Lepadus. It was like a painting. A painting of the end of the world.</div><div><br /></div><div>The tight, cruel line of Bond's mouth divided like a trap being sprung. </div></blockquote><div><br /></div><div>While the novel ends rather weakly, the climactic scenes carry much of the bombast of the film version, and that helps make up for the small disappointments of the final chapters. Its memorable action sequences, (mostly) interesting characters, and the novelty of contrasting it with the film version make it well worth the read. I wouldn't call this a great book, but it's a good one, and definitely in the upper tier of non-Fleming Bond novels. I'm looking forward to tackling Wood's other Bond novelization. <b>Recommended.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>That's all for this time, but infiltrate your way here again next Monday for more! </div>Waylonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401043437179086649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030345768939930801.post-87273292826580358972021-08-27T11:30:00.157-05:002023-02-14T22:24:48.828-06:00Rant Review: Masters of the Universe Origins Keldor & Kronis Rise of Evil figure set <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ksGVnTVAVEZkYs4KmO_c2sGTwA9w5oF1WPEB-v_XVzP_cu82_Nj56BTaAHCL6_N9WJinGt7kH-_kn6-g0EgDUWkOj24S9h_ILftyLda-4znCqZhcUi95TQsFCC_F9oS9V29-19-Ilvw/s2048/MOTUO+Rise+of+Evil+review+4.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1311" data-original-width="2048" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ksGVnTVAVEZkYs4KmO_c2sGTwA9w5oF1WPEB-v_XVzP_cu82_Nj56BTaAHCL6_N9WJinGt7kH-_kn6-g0EgDUWkOj24S9h_ILftyLda-4znCqZhcUi95TQsFCC_F9oS9V29-19-Ilvw/w640-h410/MOTUO+Rise+of+Evil+review+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Hoo boy, was that ever a debacle! If you were trying to score one of these sets earlier in the year, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Thankfully, Target re-ordered more of this exclusive set, and there is now a supply that is more than ample, with many stores piling dozens on the shelves. (Though there are none here, oddly enough.) As with <a href="https://midnight-rant.blogspot.com/2020/12/rant-review-masters-of-universe-origins_11.html" target="_blank">the Scare Glow situation</a> last fall, the drama surrounding the acquisition of this set has largely distracted from its merits. The 2002 revamp and its designs remain beloved among a large contingent of collectors, myself among them. Though Origins hasn't yet been around long enough to give us the breadth of the MOTU Classics line, it has already shown itself to be widely inclusive of various incarnations of the property. Getting a 2002-themed set like this is a huge deal, especially so early in the line's life. Does it live up to the hype, or will you want to condemn it to Despondos? Read on...<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggxS6OSXN1WTlVk-XJ3yZX9wAp5qc4XhO1GmysB5VroiAwDBK8G25ifcITtoeClLHSVoQL1mjetQLMR_5u07HRckMNXJj2VAFwcgEpukRhvcq760jn01sQ7UHTgw63HLqbDzFKwIvJ6KM/s2048/MOTUO+Rise+of+Evil+review+1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1532" data-original-width="2048" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggxS6OSXN1WTlVk-XJ3yZX9wAp5qc4XhO1GmysB5VroiAwDBK8G25ifcITtoeClLHSVoQL1mjetQLMR_5u07HRckMNXJj2VAFwcgEpukRhvcq760jn01sQ7UHTgw63HLqbDzFKwIvJ6KM/w640-h478/MOTUO+Rise+of+Evil+review+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />As per usual, the packaging art is beautiful. It even makes someone like me, who opens <i>every damn thing</i>, reluctant to rip into it. The sculpts are a bit of a mixed bag. Keldor is very well done, making use of existing body parts and adding a new head. I've seen many people claiming that this is the head from the Classics figure, but while it does look very similar, an in-hand examination of the two quickly makes it clear that it is a new sculpt. It's a great head sculpt all the same, with an expression that manages to seem both charmingly roguish or downright sinister depending on the angle from which it is viewed. His cape and boots are also new, adding some very useful pieces to the parts bank. The Skeletor head, touted as an Alcala version, is a fantastic addition to the line. It doesn't look explicitly Alcala-style to me, but it remains a very cool and creepy rendition of the arch villain, with a great pair of jewel eyes, to boot! As with <a href="https://midnight-rant.blogspot.com/2017/10/rant-review-halloween-edition-masters.html" target="_blank">the MOTU Classics Alcala head</a>, the shadowed portions around the eye sockets are purple, but some quick paint detailing can fix that. It's easily the best Skeletor head sculpt we've gotten in the Origins line, and I hope they make it available again down the line so we have options other than dropping $30 on a figure set to get an extra. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2f-9e485usuw342LTH-YB5BP3NmoKWQ2D3zhEMnZflxeQetHzrhd-e6pSwOy_iPdrp0oQgyEfx-6yyJ2SFKU0fOCYnf5B5Sia0gOedkg7Uoqsrtp9XbOoU93yQLRN-xfpsLleGKHpemA/s2048/MOTUO+Rise+of+Evil+review+2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1559" data-original-width="2048" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2f-9e485usuw342LTH-YB5BP3NmoKWQ2D3zhEMnZflxeQetHzrhd-e6pSwOy_iPdrp0oQgyEfx-6yyJ2SFKU0fOCYnf5B5Sia0gOedkg7Uoqsrtp9XbOoU93yQLRN-xfpsLleGKHpemA/w640-h488/MOTUO+Rise+of+Evil+review+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Kronis fares... less well. Like Keldor, he is made up mostly of reused parts, all of which are appropriate. His head is new, and it's, well, it's not great. Where Keldor's head sculpt looks as if they closely modeled it on the excellent MOTU Classics version, Kronis has a head sculpt that looks as if someone with very poor vision described the Classics version to the sculptor. There may have been a major earthquake during the sculpting, but they kept it anyway. Also, somebody peed on it. There was also probably-- well, you get the idea. It's a very odd sculpt, and it looks far more like someone's bad cosplay of the character than the character himself. I've mostly been happy with the sculpting work we've gotten with the Origins line, but this is easily the worst thing released to date. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJkNeitL383LjoguKBfB4ZCw_iiRI27jJOOUjAbepylT2l40ujXoWxImbEUmA8-SgE6T5YZrjRn3HjPmO9NpdBwQg_a97a119hcYgsXfsNPv9ozLjL88YJps2Ij_BBN7FOR56isHld3F0/s2048/MOTUO+Rise+of+Evil+review+3.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1571" data-original-width="2048" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJkNeitL383LjoguKBfB4ZCw_iiRI27jJOOUjAbepylT2l40ujXoWxImbEUmA8-SgE6T5YZrjRn3HjPmO9NpdBwQg_a97a119hcYgsXfsNPv9ozLjL88YJps2Ij_BBN7FOR56isHld3F0/w640-h490/MOTUO+Rise+of+Evil+review+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Both figures have the sparse but neatly-applied paint apps we've come to expect from this line. There is a spot on the Skeletor head's teeth on the right side where it looks as if paint has chipped away, but every one of these I've seen has this, so I'm guessing it's a widespread production error. Not a major deal, easily fixed, but worth noting. Both figures have the line's standard articulation, with swivel & hinge shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, and ankles, swivels at the calves and waists, and ball-jointed heads. This remains a great articulation model that is tons of fun to play with and pose!<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpw_gQ24c2Jpsd1GY_ZSmYI7rBC4HH7GVQN1lMZQgFIeXcK7Z5LriOYycTgA40_NpzBz3uKQBfW9fgbw87sqsMmsFXziiquEHYfgRR_S35PQvrdIJgQdiLVfFRlx1zXLNR0t651fL8wlU/s2048/MOTUO+Rise+of+Evil+review+5.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1884" data-original-width="2048" height="588" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpw_gQ24c2Jpsd1GY_ZSmYI7rBC4HH7GVQN1lMZQgFIeXcK7Z5LriOYycTgA40_NpzBz3uKQBfW9fgbw87sqsMmsFXziiquEHYfgRR_S35PQvrdIJgQdiLVfFRlx1zXLNR0t651fL8wlU/w640-h588/MOTUO+Rise+of+Evil+review+5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br />The set has a decent amount of accessories, with armor and a gun for Kronis, and two pieces of armor, a cape, Havoc Staff, sword, and alternate head for Keldor. I've already covered the head and cape, but it's worth mentioning that the armor Keldor is wearing is the standard Skeletor armor. This is inaccurate to the character's design, and it's too bad the design team repeated the cost-cutting measure that was employed with the MOTU Classics version. Like <a href="https://midnight-rant.blogspot.com/2021/08/rant-review-masters-of-universe-origins.html" target="_blank">Evil-Lyn's 2002 design</a>, it seems we're doomed to never get an accurate version in figure form! The armor has the bat painted in green, likely inspired by the character's original B-sheet design, so that's a nice easter egg for the old school fans. The staff and sword are molded in translucent green with the purple bits painted on, giving them a very cool "powered up" look. Kronis has his armor, a nice design that differs from the Classics version, and a black version of the Grayskull rifle. The figure lacks the green skull & crossbones belt that he is normally shown wearing. </p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-8TUsVS0I-Cza2uJLfyi0KvUe8ovn0RPF_Lhq_TTQwAJcqzwXUkyP_JVlCG23lDF2hyphenhyphenCGuyv91kLmMtHddpXHNnbik3LyO0vOQmFLoSe1WV3M7L3pUQgAkB8IVteU958aVKYE2tWU0G4/s1812/MOTUO+Rise+of+Evil+review+6+with+balloons.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1812" data-original-width="1599" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-8TUsVS0I-Cza2uJLfyi0KvUe8ovn0RPF_Lhq_TTQwAJcqzwXUkyP_JVlCG23lDF2hyphenhyphenCGuyv91kLmMtHddpXHNnbik3LyO0vOQmFLoSe1WV3M7L3pUQgAkB8IVteU958aVKYE2tWU0G4/w564-h640/MOTUO+Rise+of+Evil+review+6+with+balloons.jpg" width="564" /></a></div><br />Despite the months-long drama and turmoil that surrounded this set-- you just know the people who paid hundreds of dollars for it earlier in the year are really kicking themselves-- this is a pretty awesome set, and I'm damn happy to have it in my collection. The odd head sculpt that Kronis got saddled with is definitely a major negative, but this set brings so damn much coolness to the table that it's a net win, even with that strike against it. With the Lords of Power re-releases, the Evil-Lyn repaint, and the upcoming minicomic Tri-Klops, Mattel is gradually building a pre-Adam version of MOTU's main antagonists, and that is a very cool thing indeed. It all starts with this set, and even if you only want it for the custom potential of the new parts that are utilized, it's one of the best $30 purchases you can make. Of course, clearance seems to be inevitable, what with the vast numbers now littering Target shelves, so that's always an option, too. Personally, while I'll score a couple of extras for parts at a reduced price if I can, I'm very glad I secured a set when I did. It's one of the standout releases in the Origins line, and easily one of my favorites. That's it for today, but lead your invading forces back over Tuesday for more! Until then, stay safe out there, and happy hunting! <p></p>Waylonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401043437179086649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030345768939930801.post-82148021162241080282021-08-24T11:31:00.017-05:002021-08-24T11:47:48.704-05:00Rant Review: Masterverse Skeletor figure (Revelation series)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6PQcLx0XZgM0xvSrbVG8HO3QIojwHGxDPHjMQXxotPuLtSHLkGCcjkY0MfaN9gul5OLviSp_GCHbBHFtBLu-yQxHDejXCThploS1Z2WPCdvJThmHfBVAtJoAtd1KWfHQtlIxtt9ypwaw/s2048/Masterverse+Skeletor+review+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1546" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6PQcLx0XZgM0xvSrbVG8HO3QIojwHGxDPHjMQXxotPuLtSHLkGCcjkY0MfaN9gul5OLviSp_GCHbBHFtBLu-yQxHDejXCThploS1Z2WPCdvJThmHfBVAtJoAtd1KWfHQtlIxtt9ypwaw/w484-h640/Masterverse+Skeletor+review+1.jpg" width="484" /></a></div>With the shockwaves created by the first half of the new Revelation series still resonating, the accompanying Masterverse toyline continues to roll out. Distribution of the line is extremely spotty in my area (what else is new?), but I did happen upon a single pair of the big two last week. With <a href="https://midnight-rant.blogspot.com/2021/08/rant-review-masterverse-he-man-figure.html" target="_blank">He-Man already covered</a>, today we'll be tackling the Lord of Destruction himself! Is this newest incarnation of the skull-faced archfiend worthy of standing alongside his predecessors on the shelf, or is he bound for the "extras" bin? Read on...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FG92HtPLezk6fNcayUUygRoiyktDneMJX0OeeHl8p28zpkTFxTZQtWdPFTA_ONXDIERFKIkaQVa4GruUTSQja8fuJgA9gKEp4_W9_KuxA56niPHQ8fL6RYofOqABL2ubZhWWkXo1SXY/s2048/Masterverse+Skeletor+review+7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1523" data-original-width="2048" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FG92HtPLezk6fNcayUUygRoiyktDneMJX0OeeHl8p28zpkTFxTZQtWdPFTA_ONXDIERFKIkaQVa4GruUTSQja8fuJgA9gKEp4_W9_KuxA56niPHQ8fL6RYofOqABL2ubZhWWkXo1SXY/w640-h476/Masterverse+Skeletor+review+7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div>Unsurprisingly, much of the sculpt is shared with He-Man, so most of what I said their applies here: It's a slightly different rendering of the core MOTU buck, with a slightly leaner physique that still looks quite powerful. New parts include the forearms, hands, shin guards, feet, loincloth, and the head, of course. The head sculpt has drawn quite a few complaints online, and I wasn't crazy about it myself, judging from photos. It also appeared far too small. In-hand, thankfully, it comes off far better. The size still seems<i> a bit</i> small, but it's perfectly serviceable. Its sculpt also looks better in person, accurate to the animated design, with a touch of added detail. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd4Y6KndRBb416RxmYdAIgANUKJ53ad4j00xldmX9gaRhGgO28GAEB4sMEnRWPsz5RwnT9RuJ8bsobwUbQACKyCfmxE1NeKcXa0oDKl3MNRqbW_dQS_Hi88F5UCMFmY5kHoQ98pq3MiZ0/s2048/Masterverse+Skeletor+review+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1644" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd4Y6KndRBb416RxmYdAIgANUKJ53ad4j00xldmX9gaRhGgO28GAEB4sMEnRWPsz5RwnT9RuJ8bsobwUbQACKyCfmxE1NeKcXa0oDKl3MNRqbW_dQS_Hi88F5UCMFmY5kHoQ98pq3MiZ0/w514-h640/Masterverse+Skeletor+review+2.jpg" width="514" /></a></div><br /><div>There are some nice ridges on the forearms, reminiscent of the vintage cross sell art. The feet are massive, easily the largest we've ever gotten on a Skeletor figure. Their size and giant claws make them look almost like shaved werewolf feet. It's taking me awhile to get used to them, but their size does lend the figure greater stability on the shelf, so that's a plus. Skeletor fares better than He-Man with overall detail, with some nice texture work on the hood, and the armor straps and baltea have a nice leathery texture. The shin guards and belt have very little in the way of detail, only a few studs and ridges. The birdlike ornament that has long been a feature of the belt has been omitted, owing to the animated design.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4i0HAhQwjT-On3V0EbRcEM9RFcvDgAk0qJXXFbDOVRonmaAJXnJ-zqXRhyMDTUZzcR2fTIAebRii6_PCMn3pV5cT8C02chZbXAFPNxNrBpXSz46tZOHcUsoSuYCjXmjNJsx2vTxd2wl0/s1553/Masterverse+Skeletor+review+6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1466" data-original-width="1553" height="604" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4i0HAhQwjT-On3V0EbRcEM9RFcvDgAk0qJXXFbDOVRonmaAJXnJ-zqXRhyMDTUZzcR2fTIAebRii6_PCMn3pV5cT8C02chZbXAFPNxNrBpXSz46tZOHcUsoSuYCjXmjNJsx2vTxd2wl0/w640-h604/Masterverse+Skeletor+review+6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div>I'll point out here that, as with He-Man, heads from the Classics and Origins line are compatible with this figure. Origins heads require a bit of heat to fit easily, while Origins heads pop right into place. The shades of purple don't match, but that's an easy thing to fix if one is so inclined. I'm glad to see Mattel allowing for this kind of compatibility between MOTU lines! (It would be pretty shortsighted if they didn't, but that doesn't mean it was assured, given their track record!) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7h1pHqN5V4ggqJ1UBPe6MdepF2j4ALu4jPclbjiciPZa5ylqgALS86PX7vvY2FlaB4EWWSYEbIHlh8QK5uB451po0pTiMS6QTcLZiaoo5XCcOsMsboljyQ5d_bTUU5Klse36JulXDaMY/s2048/Masterverse+Skeletor+review+15.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1967" data-original-width="2048" height="614" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7h1pHqN5V4ggqJ1UBPe6MdepF2j4ALu4jPclbjiciPZa5ylqgALS86PX7vvY2FlaB4EWWSYEbIHlh8QK5uB451po0pTiMS6QTcLZiaoo5XCcOsMsboljyQ5d_bTUU5Klse36JulXDaMY/w640-h614/Masterverse+Skeletor+review+15.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div>As is typical for Mattel, there aren't many paint apps on this figure, but what we have has been neatly applied. The skull is a nice light gray with white teeth, and all the hollow areas are neatly filled in with black. The armor has a nice dark purple framing the bat emblem. The only bit of slop on my figure can be found on the crossbones area of the armor, and it's nothing major. I only noticed it once I was actively looking for it. There are plenty of details that have gone unpainted, and the lack of paint washes is again noticeable. I'm also curious why they painted the skull in these colors, rather than a cartoon-accurate yellow. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wIwRUcjiKba5ygSwIloneIYYsVg8lVcXCxAIkyovDFFTdhuM6lU_I1BE3T5nhWNnkHE21eIkVELpJCl5Ut-Xg1UE54NlVdl8JWr48wt-UF6C1QeyNQbM43n2fTY-M8NeLpMTNiRTZJo/s2048/Masterverse+Skeletor+review+11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1893" data-original-width="2048" height="592" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wIwRUcjiKba5ygSwIloneIYYsVg8lVcXCxAIkyovDFFTdhuM6lU_I1BE3T5nhWNnkHE21eIkVELpJCl5Ut-Xg1UE54NlVdl8JWr48wt-UF6C1QeyNQbM43n2fTY-M8NeLpMTNiRTZJo/w640-h592/Masterverse+Skeletor+review+11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div>Skeletor shares He-Man's articulation model, which comes as no surprise. Old Bonehead has swivel & hinge shoulders, wrists, hips, and ankles, double elbows and knees, swivels at the boot tops, thighs, waist, and biceps, and a ball-jointed head and torso. Nearly all of these points of articulation move smoothly and hold poses well, though he has the same odd hip construction. Eveything works as you'd expect until you hinge the legs outward, at which point the barbell piece inside the crotch drops down. This allows a greater range of outward motion for the legs, but the problem is that the barbell doesn't always want to pop back up when you move the legs inward. My Skeletor has more of an issue popping this piece back into position than my He-Man does. Even with that bit of weirdness, this is a strong articulation model, and it's a few tweaks away from being on par with what we see on most of Hasbro's collector lines. That is a very good thing indeed!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigAi7dKPwn_DyLFfGMZDhW73owJ0a6TNGN4gJIOInDDNIsECzQHs8JYGk1hV7n8XfiMzsysr7iJ3FEYNHP-wnW4v9Pu569lGZm7CEcBIOueQcdlPc_At6XG9kf4Xy3LQsFUJSdSYBxXWc/s2048/Masterverse+Skeletor+review+4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1345" data-original-width="2048" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigAi7dKPwn_DyLFfGMZDhW73owJ0a6TNGN4gJIOInDDNIsECzQHs8JYGk1hV7n8XfiMzsysr7iJ3FEYNHP-wnW4v9Pu569lGZm7CEcBIOueQcdlPc_At6XG9kf4Xy3LQsFUJSdSYBxXWc/w640-h420/Masterverse+Skeletor+review+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div>Skeletor's accessories include the requisite Havoc Staff, his cape and armor, the Shaping Staff, and two extra sets of hands. The Havoc Staff is cast in lighter shades than we're accustomed to, and has a nice wash over the ram skull. It looks appropriately cool and sinister. The Shaping Staff is cast in gold and almost devoid of detail, but that's true to its design. Both staves pop easily into the grasping hands, though the Havoc Staff's top-heaviness makes it prone to fall out at times. The armor has a multi-piece construction, with the cape slipped in between the two sections. Without anything to secure the front of the top piece in place, it can slip back while posing, but stays put most of the time. This is an interesting approach to Skeletor's armor, and I find that it works pretty well. I'm always glad to see Mattel's design team thinking outside the box and trying new things! The cape itself is a thin piece of fabric, but it does have a nice thin layer of flocking on the back. Thankfully, owing to the design of the armor, it'll be very easy for anyone who wishes to replace the cape to do so. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGfhyywzc3kmbw48mwnrdg-EpSbTlX7Gzy2HjsNIWfWaBEyfTsKUF6vBzZmkjoNtTqjZE_Ers3e4ozv_qoPyxgx68QvG8TcNGzJJb4W_5NHH_8N2UOlrwmJ4S7_1RquZwicr0TCu1bmX4/s2048/Masterverse+Skeletor+review+5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1157" data-original-width="2048" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGfhyywzc3kmbw48mwnrdg-EpSbTlX7Gzy2HjsNIWfWaBEyfTsKUF6vBzZmkjoNtTqjZE_Ers3e4ozv_qoPyxgx68QvG8TcNGzJJb4W_5NHH_8N2UOlrwmJ4S7_1RquZwicr0TCu1bmX4/w640-h362/Masterverse+Skeletor+review+5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div>With any new iteration of MOTU on toy shelves, Skeletor is bound to be one of the most heavily scrutinized figures, and that has definitely been the case with Masterverse. I was unsure about the execution of this figure based solely on photos, but I'm happy to see that most of my apprehension was unfounded. At this point, I'm thinking that Mattel really needs to get someone else to do their product photos, as whomever is currently taking them really does the product no favors! That aside, this is not a perfect figure, but it is a very good one, and I'm very interested to see what Mattel has in store for us with this line as it continues to evolve. That's it for today, but keep scrolling down for plenty more photos, and head back this way Friday for the next Origins review! Until then, stay safe out there, and happy hunting!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vNqoy9VWsRgS6dvn_XowM8ZvGptr68taV6rfLeV298sysFLskBabmU7vITQQs3RE4YlXhA7yI1yBVtuYGLaIK1hI1sS3nzveFlZ8LvFMQWsQrWu2OgTqj-6Riq0F7HYo3ENwwZpBeLk/s2048/Masterverse+Skeletor+review+12+with+balloon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1293" data-original-width="2048" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vNqoy9VWsRgS6dvn_XowM8ZvGptr68taV6rfLeV298sysFLskBabmU7vITQQs3RE4YlXhA7yI1yBVtuYGLaIK1hI1sS3nzveFlZ8LvFMQWsQrWu2OgTqj-6Riq0F7HYo3ENwwZpBeLk/w640-h404/Masterverse+Skeletor+review+12+with+balloon.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqUA3e-xHAu5y9A7G_oFBcjaXomqQoQA1pnBolWL3r0nEVwVFmbNYTUdJPSJxY3dkLOfiWG-z2pnMfeOs1X1r-3HWvNTDis5Ay8TJcH8FAgdKXFqbKE_7sQNgqj3zx1wihxMtsqdbtrps/s2048/Masterverse+Skeletor+review+8+with+balloon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1821" data-original-width="2048" height="570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqUA3e-xHAu5y9A7G_oFBcjaXomqQoQA1pnBolWL3r0nEVwVFmbNYTUdJPSJxY3dkLOfiWG-z2pnMfeOs1X1r-3HWvNTDis5Ay8TJcH8FAgdKXFqbKE_7sQNgqj3zx1wihxMtsqdbtrps/w640-h570/Masterverse+Skeletor+review+8+with+balloon.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSqKjHpPS0t6AmJAVRd54HiCdkXaH377euaGgPNiEbcJIcB4uR8mHc4ACoy3Luzp-jp1COqWG3TGzAlEEztCVbMjDaGZwqsap_jQZn9iPjCAQeRe_R5Kxb2JMFB9EpxrGlmmbJCGVIng/s2048/Masterverse+Skeletor+review+9+with+balloon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1475" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxSqKjHpPS0t6AmJAVRd54HiCdkXaH377euaGgPNiEbcJIcB4uR8mHc4ACoy3Luzp-jp1COqWG3TGzAlEEztCVbMjDaGZwqsap_jQZn9iPjCAQeRe_R5Kxb2JMFB9EpxrGlmmbJCGVIng/w460-h640/Masterverse+Skeletor+review+9+with+balloon.jpg" width="460" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8_R2QFQeOFWb3ye2ahC09Rf_4nfZDRheAXOfMGjcg_DubCWckduruCqYVicpd2C0mQB7b-igbjQj5ggXrxB9tuithori8ax9zEX1958iKQw6uT_KYYs9ju_svMU8STrF09ZHvVBFkKE/s2005/Masterverse+Skeletor+review+3a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1645" data-original-width="2005" height="526" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8_R2QFQeOFWb3ye2ahC09Rf_4nfZDRheAXOfMGjcg_DubCWckduruCqYVicpd2C0mQB7b-igbjQj5ggXrxB9tuithori8ax9zEX1958iKQw6uT_KYYs9ju_svMU8STrF09ZHvVBFkKE/w640-h526/Masterverse+Skeletor+review+3a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinRl8rALHoh-mL44g7oNJiHgmtk33pU9deMFl6KDJ5CZB8pp63lnC5KDE_vaU3osLsCL56JlIFdwlDE7VQaK5epHnoqvNeAwW0PFVhcfxnq8jSvGZbcFpyJnO7sT5kSOKijNboa98DYUk/s2048/Masterverse+Skeletor+review+13+with+balloons.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1969" data-original-width="2048" height="616" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinRl8rALHoh-mL44g7oNJiHgmtk33pU9deMFl6KDJ5CZB8pp63lnC5KDE_vaU3osLsCL56JlIFdwlDE7VQaK5epHnoqvNeAwW0PFVhcfxnq8jSvGZbcFpyJnO7sT5kSOKijNboa98DYUk/w640-h616/Masterverse+Skeletor+review+13+with+balloons.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcZjDVDtfhnMU7zsDKuHz5gFAMhuLVD-X5N96VEkkosXXfAcD567tKIYDWaZEv1wU4v0Jl-fcI7W2cEAe-Qahlt0PiJZFFy34FcakllU14YXA5i1qIoJHi8e1Lo1P_B7oFhDuPckCUR4w/s2048/Masterverse+Skeletor+review+14with+balloon+and+effects.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1680" data-original-width="2048" height="526" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcZjDVDtfhnMU7zsDKuHz5gFAMhuLVD-X5N96VEkkosXXfAcD567tKIYDWaZEv1wU4v0Jl-fcI7W2cEAe-Qahlt0PiJZFFy34FcakllU14YXA5i1qIoJHi8e1Lo1P_B7oFhDuPckCUR4w/w640-h526/Masterverse+Skeletor+review+14with+balloon+and+effects.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Waylonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401043437179086649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030345768939930801.post-74848062829876238892021-08-23T11:30:00.011-05:002023-08-21T12:06:18.178-05:00The 007 Re-Read Project: James Bond: The Authorised Biography by John Pearson<p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Exp8kFHtf4r8OdQjcRXGesQlFEmjPwS69eDG3DqJ8WNXmEyMHgD0junx0RvwBeEZkxF4wh4h6_UlQ16LNtkap8UJO0Z1RWypS1nl93V6g7FaXazXirSFGVyeuupflw7lNlvdU3OAzyE/s1670/007+Re-Read+Project+header.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1095" data-original-width="1670" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Exp8kFHtf4r8OdQjcRXGesQlFEmjPwS69eDG3DqJ8WNXmEyMHgD0junx0RvwBeEZkxF4wh4h6_UlQ16LNtkap8UJO0Z1RWypS1nl93V6g7FaXazXirSFGVyeuupflw7lNlvdU3OAzyE/w640-h420/007+Re-Read+Project+header.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><br />James Bond: The Authorised Biography</b> is a rather odd, but fascinating, book. A bit of online research reveals that Pearson, after writing his acclaimed biography of Bond creator Ian Fleming, conceived of a similar biography of James Bond himself, treating him as if he actually existed. Ian Fleming Publications, then called Glidrose, was intrigued by the idea, and officially sanctioned the book. Like <a href="https://midnight-rant.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Colonel Sun</a>, I had not heard of it during my numerous bookstore raids back in the '90s. Unlike Amis's opus, I didn't have the good fortune to stumble across it, so it was a few more years before I learned of its existence. It was out of print at the time, and like the movie tie-in novels by Christopher Wood, used copies on the secondary market were priced beyond my comfort zone. I put it on the backburner and basically forgot about it for a number of years. It was made available as an ebook in 2012, and I finally got it shortly afterward. However, I pretty much forgot about it once again until I began this series of posts, so I've just finished reading it for the first time! As always, I endeavor to avoid giving away everything, but there will be <b>SPOILERS AHEAD</b>!<div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgscc4kuh3nEbrC3pjxec2_sfYspEDfWxfTW12oR60_5R3BIdnwnozSW_2TqhbccAe6ghezyP4JcZGFzWR5rpD1eDyu3fLWXjRqZ1bQWocByn8B6Hx9zlMUwpnFYuvvAB8U1ue_Ksgxqz4/s800/James+Bond-+The+Authorised+Biography.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="532" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgscc4kuh3nEbrC3pjxec2_sfYspEDfWxfTW12oR60_5R3BIdnwnozSW_2TqhbccAe6ghezyP4JcZGFzWR5rpD1eDyu3fLWXjRqZ1bQWocByn8B6Hx9zlMUwpnFYuvvAB8U1ue_Ksgxqz4/w426-h640/James+Bond-+The+Authorised+Biography.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>The novel kicks off with the author receiving a letter following the publication of his Fleming biography that reminisces about meeting Fleming in the company of a young James Bond decades earlier. Pearson is taken aback by this, and initially dismisses it as the confused rambling of an elderly lady, but is intrigued by the other possibility. Further investigation draws the attention of the secret service, who eventually takes him to where Bond is recuperating in Bermuda. Over the course of several weeks, a sometimes reluctant Bond tells Pearson the story of his life, covering quite a bit of ground that had been only vaguely alluded to in the Fleming novels, at best. We get an actual date of birth for the first time-- 1920-- and details about the climbing accident that claimed his parents' lives, followed by young Bond being taken in by his aunt Charmian. Pearson draws from the obituary that appeared in <b>You Only Live Twice</b>, nicely fleshing out the bits of information which readers had been drip-fed previously. There are quite a few missions detailed outside of what we see in the Fleming novels, many of which are on par with Fleming's own short stories. For the first time ever, we see what Bond was up to during World War II, as well as the origin of his facial scar. Suffice to say, it's a visual reminder of an event that harmed him far more emotionally than physically. Bond's relationship with Fleming is explored at length, and it is a rather complicated one. Bond seems to have felt great affection and dislike for him in equal measure. In any case, Fleming is a pivotal figure, even in a world in which Bond actually exists. </div><div><br /></div><div>I do think the in-universe reasoning for the publication of the Bond novels is pretty nonsensical, however. It's posited as a solution to SMERSH's vendetta against Bond-- a remnant of the failure of their assassin to kill him during the events of <b>Casino Royale</b>-- by making them, and the world at large, believe that he is merely a fictional character. But surely the relation of actual events, many of which SMERSH was directly involved with, would blow the whole thing? I suppose that maybe it was intended to create the illusion that "James Bond 007" was a codename used by multiple agents who had done these things, along the lines of the severely misguided theory some hold in relation to the film series, but that doesn't really work, either. If that were the goal, SMERSH would simply endeavor to figure out who the agent in question was in the Casino Royale mission, discover it actually was Bond, and they'd be right back where they started. But whatever, it's one of those things you have to simply hand-wave away for the whole thing to function. By the time you reach this point in the book, what's gone before has been engaging enough to make it worthwhile. </div><div><br /></div><div>I also had some issues' with M' characterization in parts of the book, particularly a certain revelation that rears its head late in the story. It really just didn't work at all for me, and seems massively out of character, but it's a small enough part of the whole that it doesn't do any real harm. Another minor issue is the sudden rise of larger-than-life supervillains once the narrative reaches 1953, where the Fleming novels begin. All but one of the novels are said to be true events, but everything prior to them was so grounded and realistic that the abrupt appearances of such epically malevolent beings as Goldfinger and Dr. No is rather incongruous. It's as if Mr. Freeze and Clayface suddenly popped up in <i>The Dark Knight Rises</i>. Again, though, you're immersed enough in the narrative by this point that it's easy to simply go with the flow. </div><div><br /></div><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><b>Notable quotes: </b></div><div><br /></div><div>James loved his father but could not speak to him of anything that mattered, worshipped his mother, but could not forgive her for rejecting him. In years to come a lot of women were to pay the price of this rejection.</div><div><br /></div><div>War is a dirty business, but some men's wars are dirtier than others.</div><div><br /></div><div>He knew that whilst in ordinary war it is the last battle that counts, in the secret war there could never be a final battle, only the ceaseless ebb and flow of murder and betrayal.</div><div><br /></div><div>I asked him if he saw the James Bond films.</div><div>"Oh yes... At first I was a bit put out to see that Connery fellow supposedly playing <i>me</i>, but I suppose that's normal... it was rather, shall we say, disturbing. I felt as if my character, my whole identity, had gradually been usurped by someone else."</div></blockquote><div><br /></div><div>In the end, the "real" James Bond turns out to be quite different from his pop culture counterpart, but quite like him, as well. This book isn't a quick read, but for anyone who loves a good biography, even a fictional one, it's a damn good one. For Bond fans, it's essential. I find myself wishing that Pearson had written more Bond novels, featuring the "real" Bond or otherwise. <b>Recommended.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>That's it for today, but blast your way back next Monday for more! </div>Waylonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401043437179086649noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030345768939930801.post-28680483998161639522021-08-20T11:30:00.004-05:002021-08-20T11:30:00.265-05:00Rant Review: Masters of the Universe Origins Fisto figure<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQoTmDOtgO750TO4kIoQxhGyx8_he72wYLv3X4Da0jSGKsKspAQNlWyzLknoKDGlLpkQ4N-mPPuV_fVdPsyQ8ShcSGuAVOnxEROyGJN1oGzikhd2L33_CHy7U7VOkZ04nxVhg-vP770s/s2048/MOTUO+Fisto+review+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQoTmDOtgO750TO4kIoQxhGyx8_he72wYLv3X4Da0jSGKsKspAQNlWyzLknoKDGlLpkQ4N-mPPuV_fVdPsyQ8ShcSGuAVOnxEROyGJN1oGzikhd2L33_CHy7U7VOkZ04nxVhg-vP770s/w552-h640/MOTUO+Fisto+review+1.jpg" width="552" /></a></div><br />There are many ways to battle evil, but sometimes, you just can't top smashing it with a big metal fist! One of the best-known and most beloved MOTU characters, Fisto stood out from the moment I first saw him. Rather than first becoming aware of him via a toy commercial, as was often the case, I first came across him when I saw the figure in a store. With his neatly groomed hair and beard, he had something of the air of an old school boxer about him, and apparently that impressed me to some degree. His big-ass metal fist surely didn't hurt, either! Mattel even took the unusual step of associating him with a steed of his own in Stridor. On package art and advertisements, vehicles normally went to He-Man or Skeletor by default, so having Mattel itself showing Fisto with a mount of his own made him seem like kind of a big deal. His included minicomic, <a href="https://old.he-man.org/primary_sects/comics/html/mini_comics/motu/comic_pages/00074770/00cover.shtml" target="_blank">The Clash of Arms</a>, also went a long way toward establishing him as a burly brawler to be reckoned with. Captured and forced to battle a succession of foes in the gladiator arena that Skeletor apparently has, Fisto bashes his way through his opponents with He-Man-like ease. Sure, he eventually gets into trouble when facing Whiplash, but he had already been through quite a lot by then. All in all, it was a strong showing, and it made me like him even more. Fisto was immediately a featured player in my MOTU adventures, and remains so to this day. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisD0Uazvd532Pk2SBqjKb1h7Mc9uZKxQ-SYZRdSs71V-1Lp3RVUcPcM47Q8x2kFodaYgEoMuIVlXV-GjUliXvGtIiTiH4Kon-L1_9UsZwG9lvne6gqowkW0RxofLLVoi06q41D7OZoeUU/s2048/MOTUO+Fisto+review+2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1296" data-original-width="2048" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisD0Uazvd532Pk2SBqjKb1h7Mc9uZKxQ-SYZRdSs71V-1Lp3RVUcPcM47Q8x2kFodaYgEoMuIVlXV-GjUliXvGtIiTiH4Kon-L1_9UsZwG9lvne6gqowkW0RxofLLVoi06q41D7OZoeUU/w640-h406/MOTUO+Fisto+review+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>The sculpt is very familiar, of course, apart from the new fist and head. The head sculpt captures the essence of the vintage figure q<span>uite well, without duplicating it exactly. There are a couple of oddities, however. For some reason, there is no sideburn sculpted on the left side of the head. One is sculpted on the right side, but most of it is left unpainted as if to match the left side. (See the photo below.) It's very odd, and impossible not to see once you've noticed it. It gives the head an unfinished feel, and I can't imagine why they put the figure into production like this. The trademark giant fist is a pretty straightforward duplication of the vintage design, and is molded in a nice metallic silver. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMWCxwVsYrwxREobdHT07D5ObvCrbRhuffm2BZ_Mdp6Mz1Ot1PGS15js90Ni0nzvIz5U1yO5yAy41Qd30PxCDxXzS0X7d9uruJJBmpTF5pbbBwRPA2NjPZpZyJwhm_WDz1uNU0q01Ls6s/s1972/MOTUO+Fisto+review+7.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1972" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMWCxwVsYrwxREobdHT07D5ObvCrbRhuffm2BZ_Mdp6Mz1Ot1PGS15js90Ni0nzvIz5U1yO5yAy41Qd30PxCDxXzS0X7d9uruJJBmpTF5pbbBwRPA2NjPZpZyJwhm_WDz1uNU0q01Ls6s/w640-h324/MOTUO+Fisto+review+7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Fisto has the sparse paint apps we've grown accustomed to with this line, but they're not as neat as usual. Both of my figures have the sideburn oddity mentioned above, as well as a fair bit of slop with the silver paint on his armor and left wrist. The sculpted area of the beard is not fully painted around the mouth, resulting in some fleshy whiskers underneath his nose. The eyes are very neatly done, thankfully. Unlike most of this line, Fisto's colors are largely darker than those of the vintage toy, particularly the purple. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS89fli7mc3FItzOhOjMVeI1Hv64yM2WiCd5j7XDXqy9WQOdWqKXlk7NLecZm87MuEC_OyOqQI5VBKaYPJ4behV3gi4fC33Ne_UwfpFKTCOOP15GAcaggD4uWFmqLS3ad2OfHqPtw4R9Y/s2048/MOTUO+Fisto+review+5+with+balloons.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1453" data-original-width="2048" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS89fli7mc3FItzOhOjMVeI1Hv64yM2WiCd5j7XDXqy9WQOdWqKXlk7NLecZm87MuEC_OyOqQI5VBKaYPJ4behV3gi4fC33Ne_UwfpFKTCOOP15GAcaggD4uWFmqLS3ad2OfHqPtw4R9Y/w640-h454/MOTUO+Fisto+review+5+with+balloons.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Fisto has swivel & hinge shoulders, elbows, left wrist, hips, knees, and ankles, a swivel at the right wrist, waist, and boot tops, and a ball-jointed head. The giant fist loses one point of articulation, but I doubt anyone is truly surprised by that. It also lacks the spring-loaded punching feature of the vintage toy, of course. While most of the pieces pop apart at the usual places, Fisto's right fist does not. You can probably remove it without too much trouble if you apply some heat, but I haven't tried it yet. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh4ABLL5KDDcy5zQqG3dDdSz0YygvuJpjF-aJeby48nRSSBaLI1iQwCz9KEL0_XrsrEjZ3mfDHVU3YiED19l1iCm4Y7V266cEwBiOWwFqOCDuuuk-f-ZWdl7Bx7mYAMEXPl_uKNOwyUEA/s2048/MOTUO+Fisto+review+3+with+balloons.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1306" data-original-width="2048" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh4ABLL5KDDcy5zQqG3dDdSz0YygvuJpjF-aJeby48nRSSBaLI1iQwCz9KEL0_XrsrEjZ3mfDHVU3YiED19l1iCm4Y7V266cEwBiOWwFqOCDuuuk-f-ZWdl7Bx7mYAMEXPl_uKNOwyUEA/w640-h408/MOTUO+Fisto+review+3+with+balloons.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Fisto's accessories are his armor, previously seen on Clamp Champ, and his purple sword, previously seen in green with Tri-Klops. The wave five minicomic is also included. That means we only have two pieces of new tooling for this entire figure. It would have been nice to get an Origins version of his massive 2002-style sword, but Mattel has made it clear that they're going the cheapest route possible with the vast majority of these figures. I still feel we're getting an okay value with these retailing for under $20, but with a price hike on the way, Mattel really needs to start giving us a bit more for our money. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX8qxkAN2U7p5GFHH6LhWfcK0Zrmu1iIjzTcDfJcDDKlXOsZnFeWruJ0BX7eghLfXjTTJ9ei6bqqDKL0F9PUXpIeQDU3KDCDum_hsvvpsgSHVgtnzJTJTSBPgi_KeZawcszXssaYh6P5M/s1905/MOTUO+Fisto+review+4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1905" data-original-width="1499" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX8qxkAN2U7p5GFHH6LhWfcK0Zrmu1iIjzTcDfJcDDKlXOsZnFeWruJ0BX7eghLfXjTTJ9ei6bqqDKL0F9PUXpIeQDU3KDCDum_hsvvpsgSHVgtnzJTJTSBPgi_KeZawcszXssaYh6P5M/w504-h640/MOTUO+Fisto+review+4.jpg" width="504" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Despite feeling a bit light on accessories-- and honestly, it always seemed weird to me that Fisto had a sword, anyway, as a hammer, mace, or even shield seems more appropriate-- Fisto is a cool character, an essential figure, and a great addition to the Origins line. And for me, at least, the Champ finally has his brother! If you still haven't secured a Fisto of your own, keep a check on BBTS and Amazon, as he's been available several times for retail. (It might also be worth keeping an eye out for a possible running change that addresses the odd sideburns issue, if you're into variants. I have no idea if they're going to do anything about that, but it's a possibility.) That's it for today, but bash your way back here Tuesday for more! Until then, stay safe out there, and happy hunting!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBLgja8BGsy1XP9DkEu46s0ZwdxIiJoEN5v4ctvvaA4aFKZvi3CQLQdq9HAgoRTahHkSQS4DdrW0oLTNYylhFziaIig7m2eiNV6WaNukjBx7WisZqzsgxrPx-vTLHizrtDrOmYT6xXxbA/s2046/MOTUO+Fisto+review+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1772" data-original-width="2046" height="554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBLgja8BGsy1XP9DkEu46s0ZwdxIiJoEN5v4ctvvaA4aFKZvi3CQLQdq9HAgoRTahHkSQS4DdrW0oLTNYylhFziaIig7m2eiNV6WaNukjBx7WisZqzsgxrPx-vTLHizrtDrOmYT6xXxbA/w640-h554/MOTUO+Fisto+review+6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Waylonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401043437179086649noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9030345768939930801.post-2330459489723578652021-08-17T11:30:00.007-05:002021-08-21T15:41:02.525-05:00Rant Review: Masterverse He-Man figure (Revelation series)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqXG1bcfeDSTQ8n7SdZbyqQMh8qlAyvx_B7Iz7wYo6rbd9OPfhokTB4kxAo-5i3_LT0uuIghm3SMsCKbqexnb2EaUP5hQIl6_s9FI8vsmXZAjOewa-bk-hJAmzqz2C6Gf-VkgU44ZIVA/s2048/Masterverse+He-Man+review+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1420" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqXG1bcfeDSTQ8n7SdZbyqQMh8qlAyvx_B7Iz7wYo6rbd9OPfhokTB4kxAo-5i3_LT0uuIghm3SMsCKbqexnb2EaUP5hQIl6_s9FI8vsmXZAjOewa-bk-hJAmzqz2C6Gf-VkgU44ZIVA/w444-h640/Masterverse+He-Man+review+1.jpg" width="444" /></a></div><br />There's a wealth of MOTU product hitting shelves right now, resulting in an almost overwhelming amount of options for the discerning collector... <b>if</b> you can find it! A couple of months after they first started showing up, and well ahead of any of the pre-orders I put in online, the first wave of Mattel's new Masterverse line has begun popping up locally, and I was able to secure my first two figures. (Apart from the deluxe <a href="https://midnight-rant.blogspot.com/2021/07/rant-review-masterverse-skelegod-figure.html" target="_blank">Skelegod</a>, of course.) With any new MOTU line, of course, you've gotta have a He-Man. Is this new plastic incarnation worth your hard-earned money? Read on...<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLAL_dEfePPUc-KSE6c_r34qyYqVgQm9i9LA1BfYZMhGsppuHXvhsZwJcDX15Hn3acLXF_Mw8L7i8rfKVfcADmlhXZSb83sdby00jbMklUYsT5KOc1uUjuzvE9nvkrImewxi5Cyp-lmTk/s2048/Masterverse+He-Man+review+3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2010" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLAL_dEfePPUc-KSE6c_r34qyYqVgQm9i9LA1BfYZMhGsppuHXvhsZwJcDX15Hn3acLXF_Mw8L7i8rfKVfcADmlhXZSb83sdby00jbMklUYsT5KOc1uUjuzvE9nvkrImewxi5Cyp-lmTk/w628-h640/Masterverse+He-Man+review+3.jpg" width="628" /></a></div><br />I'm pleased with the sculpting on this figure, for the most part. The overall shape and style of the body is a bit of a departure for MOTU figures, particularly the torso. This is a slightly leaner, more athletic take on He-Man, rather than the virtual tank of muscle we're accustomed to. There's still plenty of brawn here, to be sure, but it's definitely scaled back a bit compared to most versions we've gotten in the past. We'll likely be seeing this body a lot, so it's fortunate that they did a good job with its design. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfbLFQId3x2Yq0wsXwoJH_ZU_Y1002mqHO4bR1CkZApO4oL2nLeZxm2YHG-BPGGDOZ3NRSVpaCBdnAfN6cPDXGsiH2rmvot250SKrNi6ws8gn0_cjHFoqqodYCUhRmDiMzFGqunGewSDw/s2048/Masterverse+He-Man+review+10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1313" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfbLFQId3x2Yq0wsXwoJH_ZU_Y1002mqHO4bR1CkZApO4oL2nLeZxm2YHG-BPGGDOZ3NRSVpaCBdnAfN6cPDXGsiH2rmvot250SKrNi6ws8gn0_cjHFoqqodYCUhRmDiMzFGqunGewSDw/w410-h640/Masterverse+He-Man+review+10.jpg" width="410" /></a></div><br />One of my gripes with this sculpt is the nearly total lack of detailing on much of the outfit. While this could be explained away as a concession to the animated design upon which this figure is based, that detail in the furry portions of the outfit puts that to the lie. Aside from the fur, there is no attempt made to give a sense of texture to any of the figure's clothing. This would have really helped on the leather straps on the left bracer, for example. The plastic used on most of the figure has a semi-rough texture itself, which does help a bit with the boots. Still, a leather-like sculpted texture would be preferable, and some small dents and dings on the bracers would have helped quite a bit with the figure's overall look. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67Re5TwlfPOrJdJuNDeZIHQkc1I-cEJsGFKzw3-GYrwSdTTI3Z8S-3cwG-6LByistpKnUfrS4BynuWtINijRRPymURom2tYrbp0wvoNqWN-7pBcG3UKL6PcKZhcOxItmsC-H3MRKLfTI/s2048/Masterverse+He-Man+review+12.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1376" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67Re5TwlfPOrJdJuNDeZIHQkc1I-cEJsGFKzw3-GYrwSdTTI3Z8S-3cwG-6LByistpKnUfrS4BynuWtINijRRPymURom2tYrbp0wvoNqWN-7pBcG3UKL6PcKZhcOxItmsC-H3MRKLfTI/w430-h640/Masterverse+He-Man+review+12.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><br /><p>The head sculpt is another issue, as it has a smiling, rather dopey expression that is much more Prince Adam than He-Man. It's not a bad sculpt, just inappropriate for the character. It's also a bit on the small side. For those wondering, Classics and Origins heads will fit on this figure's neck post. The Origins heads pop right on. The holes on the Classics heads aren't exactly the same size, but with a bit of heat, they'll pop into place. They do look a bit odd, however. I think the mismatched skin tones are mostly to blame for that.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWkFap6bBE8KxyY9B3x3PP7p5cl6u03n68SKeWuk4hNzv0hwigxVnR5lVh2mLSjfPeHAqTq9Hi3qwy4N7CiDmHVQzS-6WwiisXb7MqlLlTJM4qXMBTp-9_sByIh4kfR229VWI7G1y2xpE/s2048/Masterverse+He-Man+review+7+comp.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1140" data-original-width="2048" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWkFap6bBE8KxyY9B3x3PP7p5cl6u03n68SKeWuk4hNzv0hwigxVnR5lVh2mLSjfPeHAqTq9Hi3qwy4N7CiDmHVQzS-6WwiisXb7MqlLlTJM4qXMBTp-9_sByIh4kfR229VWI7G1y2xpE/w640-h356/Masterverse+He-Man+review+7+comp.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>The paint apps are sparse indeed for something that purports to be a "collector's line." Most of the pieces have been molded in the appropriate color, and given no paint work at all. The only traces of paint washes or airbrushing to bring out the sculpted detail are on the hair and loincloth. What's here is neatly applied, at least. When a company is trying to keep costs down on a line, paint apps are always the first things to go, and that certainly seems to be in effect here. Things like paint washes and detailed painting are pretty damn easy to correct, but the fact is that we shouldn't have to fix it ourselves, especially on a so-called "collector's line." <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXaBm2SdEdEB0LZhWKYkmjsSP6ulypdtAA2jfbBRrCOv6XO7MmEMY2rpt0yXWAjHGGWqGhv-aokTBTrMgX2qzdDn29ByUDCPcF_iNa2CFZEK2Irdtpa8JGV279KMUssIZh_lJeiQhbxM/s2048/Masterverse+He-Man+review+11+alt+with+letters.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXaBm2SdEdEB0LZhWKYkmjsSP6ulypdtAA2jfbBRrCOv6XO7MmEMY2rpt0yXWAjHGGWqGhv-aokTBTrMgX2qzdDn29ByUDCPcF_iNa2CFZEK2Irdtpa8JGV279KMUssIZh_lJeiQhbxM/w480-h640/Masterverse+He-Man+review+11+alt+with+letters.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />With the articulation, things start looking up again. For the first time, we have a Mattel MOTU line with an articulation model that is actually competitive with other collector lines on the market. (As much as I love the Classics line, let's face it: Its articulation model was outdated even when the line debuted in 2008.) The package proclaims that the figure has 30 points of articulation, and it's no idle boast. Depending on how you count the swivel & hinge joints, you could come up with an even higher total! He-Man has swivel & hinge shoulders, wrists, hips, and ankles, double elbows and knees, swivels at the boot tops, thighs, waist, and biceps, and a ball-jointed head and torso. Nearly all of these points of articulation move smoothly and hold poses well, though there is a bit of weirdness with the hip construction. Eveything works as you'd expect until you hinge the legs outward, at which point the barbell piece inside the crotch drops down. This allows a greater range of outward motion for the legs, but the problem is that the barbell doesn't always want to pop back up when you move the legs inward. If you're unaware of this, you could easily end up trying to force it and damage the barbell over time.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4oYODcok5QTC_2nu4HJaSjfiCUK6RAOciIh1zL-mD1yNo_PBLdvRnk1n8nwNhZMWGDDokcYVfVc5WX6uKyyoJbFu9-4c3hLRFJL35WlRpu3rrnMoxOtMxPFFBDwJLIcz4nSkDK_Ct6w0/s1912/Masterverse+He-Man+review+13.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1346" data-original-width="1912" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4oYODcok5QTC_2nu4HJaSjfiCUK6RAOciIh1zL-mD1yNo_PBLdvRnk1n8nwNhZMWGDDokcYVfVc5WX6uKyyoJbFu9-4c3hLRFJL35WlRpu3rrnMoxOtMxPFFBDwJLIcz4nSkDK_Ct6w0/w640-h450/Masterverse+He-Man+review+13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>The design team also made the decision to sculpt the actual elbow pieces with an inward curve, so you can't completely straighten the arms out. This hasn't bothered me nearly as much as I thought it might, as the arms can still straighten nearly all the way, and look very natural when they do. So, while it hasn't been a drawback for me, it's something to be aware of. Overall, while it's not without its issues, this is a good articulation model that works quite well, and it's a huge step forward for the brand. With a few tweaks, Mattel has a shot at matching the excellent articulation models their biggest competitor employs for most of its collector lines. (The addition of butterfly shoulder joints would go a long way toward that!)<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTV33Pt_VtCJXULOhJp-KHrU1Mc5TyNn0wXJ1QQLRcJxKHTaniyQwLkJWblRzy7jzaqyJiIKQe5dABosMhKYKdQGsHtrfDHdSLvOMcXKS9GZAkZ8A7pERxdb9KxaKPcn6dpq2vcCnEfJc/s2048/Masterverse+He-Man+review+4.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1258" data-original-width="2048" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTV33Pt_VtCJXULOhJp-KHrU1Mc5TyNn0wXJ1QQLRcJxKHTaniyQwLkJWblRzy7jzaqyJiIKQe5dABosMhKYKdQGsHtrfDHdSLvOMcXKS9GZAkZ8A7pERxdb9KxaKPcn6dpq2vcCnEfJc/w640-h394/Masterverse+He-Man+review+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />He-Man has all the accessories we've come to expect, with one glaring exception. He has his chest armor, Power Sword, shield, and a swappable set of grasping hands, in case you're not enamored of the fist and pimp slap hands that are attached in the package. The left bracer also slides right off when the hand is removed, so you could also claim it as an accessory, if you're so inclined. The armor matches the source design, fits well, goes off and on with no issues, and has a slot to store the sword and shield. There's been a bit of furor over the removal of the traditional templar-style cross on the breastplate, but I have no issue with the HM symbol with which they've replaced it. That symbol has been part of the MOTU mythology nearly as long as the cross, and it looks good on the armor. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE6eJSQ54O6HF8kOVWnqan2xHnI5uJ4iWw6zurY0y_0_aihyBTR2x288yy5lnPhUIWnhLA7j74A13bm2d903imFSWQRLb3warIpjbX7ql7QnnnJ1KLD5l8aN0SqhIP7sy3ITdyLuOpm8w/s1712/Masterverse+He-Man+review+6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1712" data-original-width="1426" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE6eJSQ54O6HF8kOVWnqan2xHnI5uJ4iWw6zurY0y_0_aihyBTR2x288yy5lnPhUIWnhLA7j74A13bm2d903imFSWQRLb3warIpjbX7ql7QnnnJ1KLD5l8aN0SqhIP7sy3ITdyLuOpm8w/w534-h640/Masterverse+He-Man+review+6.jpg" width="534" /></a></div><br />I still don't love the Power Sword design they went with, but it's okay. This matches its look on the show, which was the intent, so I can't fault them for that. The shield follows the overall look we're accustomed to, though I still find it odd that nearly every iteration of this shield that we've gotten has less detail than the vintage version! The hands pop into and out of the wrist with no trouble, and work as they should. By now you've surely noticed the glaring exception I mentioned earlier: He-Man lacks his axe. It's been a crucial part of his standard set of gear from day one, and it's really odd to get a new standard He-Man figure without it. Many collectors also display their He-Man with the axe instead of the Power Sword, so this is doubly troublesome for them. Hopefully Mattel will get us that axe in a future release. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzenWykaB5YNNbHmsL8g7poaQLJKSVPAMpy0iwPpXQMjj4HQppy-eqWPX60UsZrRVVMGCQ158PiJBoWUi2EZ1GqsZbhS2vyXMyDiz7BtxuNBM8iRMixiLYLtGTZa9QC5xziIgFWQbCS6c/s2048/Masterverse+He-Man+review+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1537" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzenWykaB5YNNbHmsL8g7poaQLJKSVPAMpy0iwPpXQMjj4HQppy-eqWPX60UsZrRVVMGCQ158PiJBoWUi2EZ1GqsZbhS2vyXMyDiz7BtxuNBM8iRMixiLYLtGTZa9QC5xziIgFWQbCS6c/w480-h640/Masterverse+He-Man+review+2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />The Masterverse line has been the subject of much debate and conjecture, but in the end, it's only by having the figures themselves in-hand that they can be judged. While these first few figures aren't the second coming of MOTU Classics that some were hoping for-- and honestly, I always felt anyone with those expectations were needlessly setting themselves up for disappointment-- the line has strong merits of its own, and I feel confident that it will carve out a niche of its own in time. There are a few issues Mattel needs to address, but as they are, these figures have made great strides in the right direction. Let us not forget that many of the Classics figures had issues as well, the first release of He-Man in particular. Any new line will have growing pains, and after spending some time with these first few figures, I'm optimistic about this line's future as it moves beyond them. That's it for today, but head back in three days, when we'll return to Origins, then next Tuesday, for more Masterverse! Until then, stay safe out there, and happy hunting! <p></p><div><br /></div>Waylonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401043437179086649noreply@blogger.com0