You know, you would think that with a line so vast like Masters of the Universe Classics, you would probably never need any supplementary help when it comes to filling out the character weapons and accessories. However, even though the proper line has done a decent job of taking care of the important accessories, it has not been able to get to all of them, and there are some weapons and implements that we would have never thought we needed if not for the creativity of a fan or third-party provider. Well, when those two qualities combine, you are often left with some pretty incredible results, and one of the best third-party guys going right now is also one of the most longstanding: Evil Mike. He has been making new accessories for our MOTUC figures for a long time now, but as far as I am concerned, he just keeps getting better and better. We are fortunate enough to be able to bring you a look at several of his pieces today, so come on in and check out what you are sure to need.
Like I said, Evil Mike has been making cool additions to the MOTUC line pretty much since it started, and his Shapeways store offers a wide variety of things to supplement just about any character. Be they character-specific weapons, famous Eternian artifacts, or even improved hands, Mike is going to have you covered. So, if you are sad that there is not a case for the Power Sword, Mike has you covered. If you need the famous portal mirror, Mike has got you covered. If you are mad that Shadow Weaver did not get proper spell-casting hands, you guessed it — Mike has you covered!
So, that being said, here are a few choice items I wanted to feature for you. Some are old standbys at this point, but some are hot off of the plastic presses for new figures. As vastly different as they may be, I can attest that the artistry and quality of all of these pieces are second to none, and some of the attributes in them cannot even be achieved at a mass-production level. Having these in-hand, I already know I am going to be ordering more pieces because if there is anything I love, it is making my already diverse Classics collection even better with all kinds of cool accessories.
DOUBLE SWORDS
Double Trouble is a relatively new addition to the MOTUC line, and she has a lot of great qualities that recall the vintage doll. However, one thing that the doll did not have was a nice melee weapon, so the Four Horsemen gave her a take on the Horde crossbow that can be converted to a more heroic version to display her true colors. That is fine, but Mike has offered up an option that not only giver her a touch of ferocity, but also falls inline perfectly with her character and “gimmick.”
These green curved blades match DT’s color palette perfectly and they kind of remind me of the Elvish blades from the Lord of the Rings movies. I mean, that in the most complimentary way possible as they are sleek and elegant for the character. The cool part is that they can be connected for a double (get it?) bladed bo staff, or it can be split in two for matching swords. They connect perfectly with a small peg and the butt of the handles join to bring symmetry when they are connected. If you are wanting to power-up your Double Trouble, these will certainly do the trick.
ICE FAN STAFF
If you have been with me for awhile with these MOTUC features and First Looks, you will know that Frosta is my favorite member of the Great Rebellion. You will also know that her Classics figure is one of the VERY few that I have been disappointed over, and that hurts even more when dealing with a favorite. So, while I have corrected my least favorite part of the figure (the head) with help from Alessandra Fucarino, I have never been a big fan of her staff/wand either.
It looks very nice and has a ton of detail, but it has always seemed a bit bulky and clumsy to me. It is also more reminiscent of the style-guide staff, so that alone left the door open for an enterprising mind to jump at an opportunity. Thus, Mike has brought us a sleeker design that recalls the vintage toy version of the staff a bit more, but with some added details. I think this is probably one of my favorite pieces from him and it will most certainly be taking a permanent place on my Classics Rebellion shelf. The snowflake design on top is sturdy but elegant, and I love the little jewel in the middle; the spinning feature has even been retained, which is a fantastic feat for a 3D-printed item. I really like the icicles on the base of the top of the wand and the staff is more shapely and detailed than the original. It has taken a LOT of help, but with this staff, I finally have my perfect Classics Frosta.
CARTOON HAVOC STAFF
Let’s face it, for many MOTU fans, the Filmation cartoons are the seminal work of the property and so many things are fantastical and very memorable, but also quite different than the actual work on the vintage toy line. Story lines, character looks and weapon designs all went through a bit of a stylization on the old shows, and while Classics is starting to give us some of these unique artifacts, many of the most memorable are still undone.
That brings us to Skeletor’s patented Havoc Staff, something that is almost as defining as the character himself. That ram’s head atop a long staff to make a vessel of evil magic gave ol’ Bone Brain one of his main sources of power in MOTU lore. However, while the vintage toy (and subsequently, the Classics) was monochrome with more emphasis on the horns than anything else, the Filmation approach brought more color and strong ram’s “skull” look that appeared to be just as useful in a brawl as a wizard’s duel. Mike has captured the feel of the cartoon design well, but he has also adapted it a bit to that is fits in seamlessly with MOTUC. The detailing is strong and it is instantly recognizable, so if you have that two-pack Skeletor or even a custom “Filmation” head, this is going to go perfectly with them.
ALFREDO A SWORD
While Filmation had a huge influence on Masters, so did the mini-comics that were included with the vintage figures. For many collectors, these comics were the first media introduction to MOTU and many memorable pieces of Masters lore originate within them. The imagery remains vivid to this day and the more barbaric story as illustrated by the renowned Alfredo Alcala is (arguably) still the darkest take on He-Man and his friends.
In one of the very early comics, we get a glimpse at the Power Sword that is strikingly different from the more classic interpretation. The sword is more broad, and instead of the embellishments along the side of the blade coming back to it, they are left open in this version, which is a much more practical take on the design. I would have bet by now we would have gotten an official version of this sword, but since we have not, Mike gives us the option that we need. I will not be giving this sword to my standard He-Man, but right now my Alcala Skeletor and Vikor are fighting over who gets to wield this gem.
SWORD OF THE ROYAL GUARD
Another piece of Filmation lore is the Royal Guard sword that Teela wielded on a regular basis. It is kind of hard to believe that the vintage Teela figure did not get her own bladed weapon, but the writers of the Filmation series were quick to give her a fitting blade, and so does Evil Mike to supplement her Classics figure.
I will admit that I was never a fan of the overly busy, 200x take on the Classics sword included with Teela. I just don’t think it fits with the aesthetics of the figure design, or MOTUC in general. So when Mike made his first version of this sword available quite a while ago, I jumped at the chance to own one and bought it. However, the original version was fitted with a grip for the male figures, so I am very glad Mike has created a second version that is more appropriate for the female grip with a more slender handle. The design is simple and that is good thing because it goes great with Teela.
The final pieces of this feature come together to solve a problem I have had with Classics for a while now. See, just like the staves for the Snake Men, I am an avid proponent of all of the Horde members getting their own take on the signature and standard-issue crossbow. While we have gotten all of the vintage takes and even some new ones like in the case of Octavia, not everyone has been afforded the weapon, and that makes me kind of sad. Ah-ha, but Evil Mike is to the rescue again, and three of the biggest misses are made right with his crossbow offerings. While all three of the below have fantastic character cues that are unique to the intended wielder, the way he has added details to make them fit in with all of the rest is just fantastic. Honestly, if I was not told that these were not “official” designs, I certainly would think that they were, and they fit in just perfectly.
CAT CROSSBOW
I think Catra was released before they decided to start handing out the crossbows to most of the Horde because the opportunity to give her one was just too perfect. Mike has given us a design that fits the ongoing motif of the official crossbows, but pays perfect tribute to Hordak’s Force Captain. The cat’s head at the top of the bow and color scheme pay homage to Catra’s cat form while matching the color of her cape. It looks great with her and it is now a permanent part of my display.
ENTRAPTA CROSSBOW
Much like Catra, I really cannot believe that we did not get a crossbow for Entrapta. Sure, the Shaping Staff is cool, but Entrapta deserved her own weapon, and the signature shooter of the Horde would have been fitting. But I am not crying over “could have beens” because this version is friggin’ great and probably the most visually interesting of the three. The gold base color matches Entrapa’s gold accents and I love the twisted purple and pink twisted around the bow portion — a great tribute to the rest of her color scheme. Since I gave her shield to Glimmer and the Shaping Staff just doesn’t look right with her, Entrapta now has the perfect weapon to help her blend right in with her Horde brethren.
FORCE CAPTAIN CROSSBOW
Even former Horde members are getting in on the custom crossbow craze. The bow intended for Adora is the most subtle in terms of overall design, but so was Adora when compared to the rest of the Horde. While it fits in perfectly with Adora, this one can also be used by just about any Horde member and it would look just fine. It has the female grip, so if you don’t want something so overt for Catra or Entrapta, this could work too. Shadow Weaver with a crossbow? I could see it! Now, I just need to talk Mike into making one fro Mosquitor and we will be all set!
I really cannot praise these pieces and the work of Evil Mike enough. I dipped my toe into the pool early with some of Mike’s accessories with the Netossa mask and male Royal Guard sword, but I am so glad to have these new additions. My favorite pieces are the Ice Fan Wand, the Guard Sword, and the crossbows, but you cannot go wrong with any of them. So, head on over to Evil Mike’s Shapeways store and find something you like. I am going back soon — I need that portal mirror and Black Star sword in my life PRONTO. Oh, and the hands! The hands! Awesome.
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