Mattel Continues MOTU, Announces Thundercats...
Today at Comic-Con, Mattel held their collector-driven event - Mattypalooza - informing fans on what they can expect the rest of this year and into 2016. Moving forward with Mark Morse now at the helm, Matty Collector will focus on more transparency with fans, claiming actions speak louder than words. Matty wants to treat every item as a "Comic-Con exclusive" - premium conversation pieces that are clever in execution.
Matty has had great success with Masters of the Universe, but there is so much more they can do. Other licenses announced included DC Comics, Pixar and the WWE. Other potential properities to receive the Matty Collector treatment include items from Mattel's "vault" - past licensed toys such as Major Matt Mason, Street Sharks, Food Fighters, Dino Riders, and Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors. How would you feel about a second series of Clash of the Titans figures that never saw release, including Medusa? These are all possible ideas that Matty Collector is considering for the future.
As for the present and near future, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe will continue on. In addition to other companies carrying the brand - Mondo, Sideshow and Super7 - Club Eternia rolls on with the following upcoming figuresL
- Peekablue
- Mara
- Saurod
- Perfuma
- Dragstor
- Hero II "Dare"
- Buzz Saw Hordak
- Flying Fist He-Man vs. Terror Claws Skeletor
- Callix
- Evil Seed
- King Chooblah
- Ceratus
- Queen Grayskull
- Prahvus
- Point Dread and Talon Fighter featuring Teela 2.0
- Laser Light Skeletor and Laser Power He-Man
Come 2016, MOTU will introduce a new "Collector's Choice" subscription, featuring lower prices and six new figures. Their package will stay the same with the addition of a "Collector's Choice" call out. New figures include:
- Lord Masque - January
- Vultak - March
- Darius - May
- Crita - July
- General Sunder - September
- Horde Wraith - November
- Despara - June sub only
- Night Stalker - May
Matty also announced that Power-Con will return, June 4 and 5, 2016. Fans can expect several show exclusives, including:
- Green Granamyr
- Red Beast Man
- Camo Khan
MOTU Minis will continue as a multi-pack featuring a Snake Mountain diorama.
Big MOTU news announced at Mattypalooza was a new toy line based on the classic animated series. By "based on," Matty means figures featuring an animated aesthetic, yet still in scale with Classics. Sculpted by the Four Horsemen and featuring all-new packaging, the six figures to debut the line include:
- He-Man 2.0 - Ferbraury
- Trap Jaw 2.0 - April
- Skeletor 2.0 - June
- Evil Seed 2.0 - sub only
- Beast Man 2.0 - August
- Evil-Lyn
After the panel at Mattel's SDCC booth, a prototype Mega Bloks Castle Grayskull was shown. If fan's demand it, it will be made. Something else that will see production if fan demand is there, is a MOTUC Snake Mountain playset. Also shown in prototype form, the massive set will feature a built-in Blue Tooth speaker. Fans will be able to download an app that will allow voice changing features, as well as record and playback. Mattel has no idea on the cost yet, and a drive may have to be held to see if fan demand warrants production.
Aside from MOTU news, the BIG news to come out of Mattypalooza was a new Thundercats action figure line. Cast in the same scale as He-Man, his friends and foes, the series will launch in July 2016 with Lion-O. Jackalman will follow in August, with Mumm-Ra as a sub-only figure.
To buy action figures, take a look at BigBadToyStore.com, TheToySource.com, Toynk.com, BriansToys.com, ToyWiz.com, MonkeyDepot.com, and EntertainmentEarth.com.
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