Action Figure Review: Great Black Wizard from Masters of the Universe Origins: The Powers of Grayskull by Mattel

 

   Since I reviewed Gray last week, it seems fitting to review his main adversary this week: The Great Black Wizard! Like Gray (and He-Ro, Sharella, Red Shadow, King Grayskull, and Veena), the Great Black Wizard is a character from Preternia, Eternia's ancient past. Now part of The Powers of Grayskull subset, the Great Black Wizard was created by Axel Gimenez during the Mattel Masters of the Universe Classics era (2008-2016) as a villain for Preternia and he appeared in a few of the MOTUC minicomics. He was offered earlier this year on Mattel Creations as part of the Masters of the Universe Origins: The Powers of Grayskull subset and is a Club Grayskull exclusive, meaning you do need the $10 dollar yearly subscription to purchase him. The Powers of Grayskull/ Preternian era has been one of my favorites since the MOTUC days and I'm really excited that Mattel has released so many figures for it over the past two years. It's quite exciting to finally have this guy as a figure as he was teased during the MOTUC days. The Great Black Wizard is a technomancer who gave some of the Snake Men their powers and created Draego Man, so he's clearly a pretty powerful character. Ready to see how he turned out as a figure? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Order of the Crimson Moon from The Order of the Crimson Moon by Fresh Monkey Fiction & Big Bad Workshop

 

   Let's check out the third of the four The Order of the Crimson Moon figures I ordered from Big Bad Toy Store a few months back: A nameless, faceless member of the cult itself, the Order of the Crimson Moon. Yes, this guy seems to be a generic army builder figure who is a member of the werewolf cult and he comes with three different hooded heads to allow for some variation if you're army building these guys. Or, like with the Soldiers of Fortune figure The Enemy, this could also be used as a crimson suited version of your favorite commander of cobras (whoever that might be). This guy is just a cool looking figure with quite a few neat accessories that make him versatile for multiple 1/12th scale lines. Who doesn't want to have their heroes fight against a group of evil cultists? Let's take a look at the Order of the Crimson Moon figure after the break...

Action Figure Review: Gray from Masters of the Universe Origins: The Powers of Grayskull by Mattel

 

   Today I'm really excited to check out one of the Mattel Masters of the Universe Origins: The Powers of Grayskull figures: Gray! Yes, Gray, the son of King Grayskull and Queen Veena and the secret identity of He-Ro. That's a newer background for the character, though. Gray existed as a character back between 1985 to 1987 during the planned Masters of the Universe expansion "The Powers of Grayskull" where he was to be an ancestor of He-Man and the secret identity of He-Ro, the most powerful wizard in the universe! By placing one hand over his heart, flexing his other arm, and saying the words "Magic & strength, tempered by heart; I stand for peace," Gray would transform into He-Ro. Masters of the Universe Origins has really been exploring the world of Preternia lately, creating figures based on characters from the original 1987 licensing guide, packaging art, and details from the Masters of the Universe Classics era bios and minicomics and finally getting Gray is a pretty cool addition to the line. He's never been made as a figure before in this form (only as He-Ro). Gray is an exclusive to Mattel Creations and was released in May. Ready to check out Gray, the Brave "Secret Identity" of He-Ro? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Major Noir from The Order of the Crimson Moon by Fresh Monkey Fiction & Big Bad Woorkshop

 

   I really appreciate the great response and kind comments I've received for my review of Count Ironmoon from Fresh Monkey Fiction and Big Bad Workshop's The Order of the Crimson Moon toyline so today I'm excited to check out Major Noir, another figure in the line who pays tribute to the Action Force villains from the vintage Palitoy toyline. The Order of the Crimson Moon is definitely a spinoff line of Operation Monster Force but it set in 1974 in Transylvania and focused on a werewolf cult. Major Noir is the second-in-command of the Crimson Moon Army, a devious faction that wants to take over the world and doom humanity. Like with Count Ironmoon, Major Noir is heavily inspired by an Action Force figure; this time the Black Major. Whether you're a fan of the vintage Palitoy Action Force, you want a new villain for Hasbro's G.I. Joe: Classified Series, or you're using these guys to supplement Operation Monster Force, there's a lot to love here. Heck, this guy comes with three swappable portraits that allow for some real versatility. Ready to check out Major Noir? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Blast-Attak from Masters of the Universe Origins by Mattel

 

   Want to check out a somewhat obscure Masters of the Universe villain? Then let's take a look at Blast-Attak from Masters of the Universe Origins. Blast-Attak was part of the 1987 series of action figures and is a bit unusual as he was initially listed as an Evil Warrior summoned by Skeletor but his minicomic appearance shows him as being part of the Snake Men as a creation of King Hiss. He's an odd character whose power is exploding into two halves. This doesn't seem to destroy him, though; it's simply his special attac. What an odd guy, right? I'm quite glad that Mattel finally released him in Origins (he went on sale in January) as I love these vintage guys that just don't get as much attention. The last Blast-Attak released that I can recall was a Funko POP! vinyl back in 2020, so we were definitely due for a new Blast-Attak. Ready to see how he turned out for MOTU Origins? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: E. Honda from Ultra Street Fighter II: The New Challengers by Jada Toys

 

   Some of you might be wondering where I've been for the past couple weeks as it's been about that long since I last published a review. We actually went on a family vacation and took a sleeper train (with a dining car) to New Orleans for a week. It was a lot of fun and I had the chance to ride in an airboat, go on a ghost tour, eat at a vampire cafe, visit some great book stores, visit a filming location from Live and Let Die, roam the French Quarter, and do some Geocaching. I also ate some great food and we visited the National WWII Museum and the Museum of Illusions while staying in the city. I'm back and rested up, though, and I'm excited to check out another new addition to my collection: E. Honda from Jada Toys' Street Fighter. I've never been very good at the videogame Street Fighter II, though I've always liked it, and as a kid I definitely gravitated to playing characters like Chun-Li, Blanka, and E. Honda as they had special moves which could be activated by rapidly pressing a single button. Who doesn't love the Hundred Hand Slap? Ready to check out the character who introduced so many of us to the sport of sumo wrestling? (I'm guessing for many of us, it was either E. Honda or Tattoo from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.) Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Tri-Klops from Masters of the Universe Origins: Cartoon Collection (200x) by Mattel

 

   Mattel is releasing quite a few figures from the Mike Young Productions/ 200x cartoon in the Masters of the Universe Origins: Cartoon Collection subset and I recently picked up Tri-Klops, so I figured I'd take a look at him. How cool is it that we're getting so much product from that era? Remember when Mattel couldn't say enough that the "Hyper Anime Detail" style was retired? Well, now we're getting figures from both Mattel and Mondo based on that era. I haven't jumped on any of the Mondo figures yet since they're over $100 each for a 1/12th scale figure and it will have to be someone pretty special to get me to jump through their hoops. Maybe Moss Man? I actually reviewed Mattel's MYP/200x Moss Man from this line back in March, but I'm always down for more Moss Man. Ready to take a peek at Tri-Klops? Then join me after the break...