It’s that time of year again, isn’t it? You know the one, right toy fans? New York Toy Fair is fading in the rearview and the San Diego Comic Con is still a good three months out, so news about our favorite toy lines is scant at this time of year, to say the least. Well, far it be it from us to sit on our hands, speculation continues in the forums, we are still getting new figure releases and there is never a bad time to enjoy the collection that is on your shelf; as collectors though, idle time is usually always spent making lists, at least in some capacity. We have recently run our traditional Marvel Legends and DC Universe Top Ten votes, so we figured we would move right down the boards to our next line for voting: Masters of the Universe Classics. Yep, we will be holding a special Top Ten for that line starting very soon, and it will have some features that we have never tried out before. Excited? So are we! MOTUC is really starting to fill out the corners of the Universe, but there is still a lot of work to do, so the time is coming for you to make your voice heard.
To help ramp up to this event, I thought I would take some time this week and offer a few Top Five lists that will help document what characters from the various areas of the Masters of the Universe mythos are in most need of a figure. This is not a series of personal want lists by any stretch of the imagination; it is more based on the importance of character to the overall MOTU world. Even though we are in the fifth full year of the line, there are still some very important characters that need to be made in plastic, and that includes those from the vintage MOTU, Princess of Power and all of the other places.
So join us each day as we count down the top five most needed characters from the various pockets of the MOTU-verse and we will lead you right into being able to cast your own votes for the most needed figures in the line. We are going to start with the heavy-hitter line first, so here is our list for the most needed vintage Masters of the Universe toy line figures. Some might surprise you, most of them probably won’t, but don’t be afraid to leave a comment below to share your thoughts and check back each day this week to see who is represented from the different areas!
VINTAGE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE
5. Rio Blast
A space cowboy with cybernetic weaponry, mustache and a haircut that is quite possibly my hero? Yes, please! I realize that Rio Blast generally causes some divisiveness amongst MOTU collectors and he is usually a “love him” or “hate him” character, but I am going come right out and question how the latter could EVER be possible. This is Masters of the Universe, and as a space cowboy, Rio Blast can heroically stand up against the likes of demon ninjas, two-headed monster strategists and giant pink bunny despots to keep the deserts of Eternia safe and sound. He would require a bit of new tooling so the Horsemen should be able to have a field day, I just cannot wait for that hairdo, I might just grow mine out for it to show my support.
4. Modulok
Modulok! Modulok! MODULOK! Everyone remembers that commercial, so perfectly designed to get young and impressionable kids to buy into the “beast of a 1000 bodies,” right? Well, I do too, but really, that is what I remember more than anything about the character from the 1980s. I had the figure, but for some reason, even though he was a part of my beloved Horde, he never quite struck the chord that Mantenna, Leech and Grizzlor did for me. That does not keep me from recognizing that he has the ability to be one of the most amazing figures in the entire MOTUC line. All of the parts, all of the possibilities, all of the awesomeness should have several 30-somethings swooning at the eventual debut. I for one REALLY hope that they not only give us all of the pieces from the vintage toy, but also the ability to create his FilMation look. It will take some work, but Modulok could very well be the crowning achievement of MOTU Classics.
3. Horde Troopers
Although these robotic beauties are heavily rumored for a San Diego Comic Con reveal in July, they are still making the list. I have learned that, over the years, you cannot just go on rumor alone to help ensure that your favorite figure will come to fruition. Heck, even prototypes that have been shown and announced never make it into final plastic, so I am flying the flag for these guys until they are on my shelf. If ever there has been an army-builder figure in MOTU, this is certainly it and Toy Guru and gang have been sitting on this heavy-hitter for a while now, so I am not expecting anything BUT a two-pack at this point. A lot new tooling will be needed, but I am positive the cost will be easily offset by the amount of units this figure will sell. There is also a certain former Horde general that can make use of about 90% of the parts. Wink, wink. Nudge, nudge. The Palace Guards and the Snakemen have both sold quite well for Mattel, so the Troopers should provide an embarrassment of riches for all. Just don’t include any whiff of the lame action feature, please.
2. Tung Lashor
If Classics has taught me anything, it is that it has the uncanny ability to take figures and factions that, in the past, were never standouts for me, and make them amazing. Well, as a faction, the Snakemen have not ever really been my favorite, but I have always really liked some of the characters, that includes Rattlor and, yes, Tung Lashor. If the Classics incarnation of the former is any indication, then Tung should fantastic in his own right. At the moment, there is a lot of green and rust and orange in the Snakemen display, so Tung Lashor will add some nice variety with his purple and black over his more salamander-like body. As a kid, it bulbous finger tips always kind of freaked me out, but they are just a part of what make Tung, well, Tung. I am positive that we will get either a swappable head, or dare I say, swappable TONGUE, to illustrate his signature action feature. I for one like to support “firsts” in the Classics line, so I am putting my support squarely in the swappable tongue faction. Make it so.
1. Two Bad
I know, I know, where is the surprise? Where is the off-kilter top pick to generate discussions and heated a back and forth? Well, for this top spot, I have none of that for you because, at this point in time, Two Bad is by far the most essential character that has not made it into the MOTUC line. Yes, he is the two-headed topper of a short list that is littered with bad guys, but the Heroic Warriors have almost all of their membership covered by now. Snake Mountain might also be getting crowded on my display shelf, but that does not mean that I don’t already have a spot reserved for this evil strategist. He/they would obviously take some new tooling, but not nearly as much as some of the other entrants on this list. However, the MYP cartoon fleshed out the characters of Tuvaar and Baddrah before they got mushed together, so that might add an interesting spin on how Two Bad might be released. Should he be just a single-carded figure? Should he be a special release that offers up figures of his individual personalities as well? This is obviously a first world problem for us, but all I know is that the MOTUC community demands Two Bad ASAP.
So that is it for the vintage MOTU, check back tomorrow for the next batch of characters!
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