Cool News
AICN Toys: MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE, Play Arts Kai Batman and Robi, Jumbo Gonk Droid - Jumbo Gonk Droid(!!), And More!!

John Ary here with a quick look at a few action figure lines that are making headlines this week... As always click on the photos for an embiggened version and for more pics follow the pre-order links...
New Masters of the Universe Classics Releases from Mattel





Matty Collector made three big Masters of the Universe Classics announcements last weekend at New York Comic Con. 1) Everyone’s least favorite version of He-man will get a new figure. “New Adventures” He-Man will come with his sword, shield and a new space Bandelier armor. He will represent the third quarter 2013 variant figure. 2) The only African-American Master of the Universe will make his debut in the Classics line. Clamp Champ will ship as the July 2013 figure of the month with new armor and his clamp weapon. 3) Pre-orders are underway for the new Castle Grayskull. If the set reaches its target goal of pre-orders it will ship in late 2013. The plans for the fortress are still being finalized, but Matty is hoping the $250 price tag won’t be too much to dissuade He-Man fans from ordering it.
Play Arts Kai Batman and Robin from Square Enix


Frank Miller's version of Batman from The Dark Knight Returns and an Arkham City version of Robin are the latest additions to the Play Arts Kai line of action figures. Both figures feature 26 points of articulation, an interchangeable head and hands and their signature weapon accessories. They will arrive in February or you can pre-order Batman here and Robin here.
Team Fortress 2 from NECA


All the cool kids call it TF2. The free-to-play sequel to Valve’s Team Fortress multiplayer class-based shooter will soon have its own line of action figures courtesy of NECA. Each figure features 25 points of articulation, their signature weapons from the game and a standing height of 6.5 inches. They will release in February or you can pre-order Pyro and Demoman.
Jumbo Power Droid from Gentle Giant Ltd.

Gentle Giant Ltd. continues its over-sized Star Wars line of figures with this 7.5-inch Power Droid. Based on the original Kenner molds, this fully articulated figure has been faithfully reproduced with the original’s “clicking” leg movement. It will come packaged on a retro blister card with the “21 back” artwork and a resealable plastic outer clam shell. It will waddle its way into toy collections in June or you can pre-order him here.
Realm of the Underworld from Zoloworld




What do you call a toy line that’s inspired by Remco’s knockoff series of muscly Masters of the Universe action figures? Realm of the Underworld is an independent toy series from Zoloworld LLC that features heroic dudes with giant swords and humongous pecks along with evil skeleton warriors. The first wave has recently gone up for pre-order and it includes two different Archfiend Skeleton Minions, an Arcomancer and Hercules.
And finally this week, this 1 minute spec promo for a new line of Superman movie toys has given us some valuable clues as to what we can expect from Zach Snyder's new flick. 1) It tells us which villain Superman will battle. 2) It kind of gives us an idea of the film's costume design. 3) We learn how people from Krypton fight. Apparently Kryptonions don’t engage in melee combat like Earthlings. Instead of throwing punches and kicks, they have giant children hurl their stretchable bodies at their enemies. Hopefully there will a stretchable version of commercial fisherman Clark Kent in wave 2.
Look for this toy line to debut in the Spring.
That's it this week. Be sure to follow my toy blog ArticulationTimes.com on Twitter and Facebook and subscribe to the AICN Youtube channel.
Readers Talkback
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....I just feel like I watched the end of Man of Steel.
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....but that friggin' show just angered and confused me as a kid. It was just this weird thing that popped up on TV and was called he-man but really it wasn't he-man. My young brain snapped and couldn't take it. I'm typing this from a mental institution btw
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I have my Gonk but not my original Death Star playset. Now that's a cruel world...
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sucks.
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Oct. 19, 2012, 11:08 a.m. CST
Does Superman "explode" in Louis Lane's face to craft a "Super Pearl Necklace"?
by Atkinson
Someone was gonna ask, might as well be me, folks. ;-)
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Problems at home buddy?
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I hope his arms stretch like that in the movie.
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Order Castle Grayskull so it can hit the goal and actually get produced!!!
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Oct. 19, 2012, 12:40 p.m. CST
African American? Seriously? Even Eternia isn't safe from ultra-pc crowd.
by Farrokh
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Oct. 19, 2012, 12:45 p.m. CST
African American? Seriously? Even Eternia isn't safe from ultra-pc crowd.
by Farrokh
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Oct. 19, 2012, 12:46 p.m. CST
PC as in he's not African American, but a BLACK Eternian. So don't go cry racism on me.
by Farrokh
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Oct. 19, 2012, 12:48 p.m. CST
Whoops, sorry for double post. Great figures though. Can you still get the He-Man figure for a reasonable price?
by Farrokh
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Unfortunately, you just missed by a few days the "Birthday of MOTU" where all day they were selling a two pack of He-Man and Battle Cat for $30 on Mattycollector(.com) but you can still get them there at the regular prices. They have "Essential" figures that are constantly on sale throughout the year: He-Man, Skeletor, She-Ra, King Hisss & Hordak for $22 each) and Battle Cat and Panthor for $33 each. That Castle Grayskull design looks awesome. I really hope it gets made. Love that entrance looks big enough for He-Man to clear while riding Battle Cat. Still can't even believe we're getting Granamyr The Dragon in December. I miss money but I'm in for the long haul on this line.
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Oct. 19, 2012, 1:44 p.m. CST
Jesus Christ, if anyone wants Castle Greyskull that bad I'll GIVE you the one in my parents' basement
by spacehog
because I'm pretty sure they didn't pay 250 fucking dollars for that particular bit of Christmas magic when I was four. JESUS, who pays that? I mean, if it were a working Snake Mountain, I'd understand... Also, I had that original droid guy too. Absolutely astounding how many goddamn figures they made, and how easily I lapped it all up. It's a box with legs, and I couldn't tell you now or then if or when it appears in the movies, but I was overjoyed to get that toy. Because it said Star Wars on the package. Bill Hicks was right about marketers.
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$250 for a plastic castle is outrageous. I'll buy a Barbie townhouse & paint it grey/green first.
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Sir, I understand your argument. There is no Africa on Eternia, nor is there an America for that matter. In this case, you are indeed correct in identifying Clamp Champ as black. As an African-American, not only am I not offended, indeed, I am going as far as bestowing upon you the conditional status of "honorary brother". Feel free to use the term "black" freely, without any repercussions or labeling of "racist". You are NOT, however, entitled to use of the "N-word", coon, colored, or any other explicitly racist terms used to reference African-Americans. The status of "honorary brother" is a conditional privilege and should be treated accordingly. Do not abuse this privilege. As an African-American, I reserve the right to withdraw this status with or without cause and without possibility of appeal. This will be the case for any other African-Americans that post on AICN as well. Good day, sir. Stay strong; and don't trust whitey.
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Oct. 19, 2012, 2:46 p.m. CST
So let me get this straight- Eternia can have black people but Middle Earth can't?!?!?
by Cotton_Mcknight
Sure glad PJ isn't running things at Mattel. Think about it.
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Just checking.
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Oct. 19, 2012, 4:12 p.m. CST
Mattel's Disney Princess Castle is like 150 bucks, so 100 dollars more for an exclusive Castle Greyskull is not too far off the mark.
by adeceasedfan
However, I still think it's too much as are the figures.
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SUPERMAN EXPLODERS After defeating Zod, Superman explodes in your unsuspecting sisters face. OUCH! That's gonna leave a mark. SUPERMAN EXPLODERS Your sleeping cat is no match for Superman. MEEEEOWWWWW!! SUPERMAN EXPLODERS Fling Superman through the air to release Grandma from the Black Urn of Doom. SUPERMAN EXPLODERS Your last line of defense against Dad and his kryptonite belt. NUTSHOT!! SUPERMAN EXPLODERS A whole new way to play... Before your grounded until 2015.
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There have been some minor improvements in this regard. The following Eternians are black: Zodak (not to be confused with Zodac), Dekker (the guy who trained Man-At-Arms), and with the optional heads, you can make one of the Palace guards black (i've got him as the pilot of the wind raider). and no, buzz-off is not black. he's of the adreenid race, a bee-man...not human. and as far as middle earth...i believe it was tolkien's intention that the regions we are familiarized in middle earth were a stand-in for medieval europe, whereas eternia's homologies to earth's periods or cultures are played more loosely, since as far as MOTU lore goes, eternia is a separate planet in the same universe as earth.
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Oct. 19, 2012, 8:27 p.m. CST
The original gonk droid toy had some nasty looking
by Bedknobs and Boomsticks
machine grease up in it.
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The idea of a Black Zero spaceship is pure genius... xD
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- John Ary... REALLY, man?
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Oct. 20, 2012, 8:17 a.m. CST
When are we going to get Mall Security Guard He-man?
by obijuanmartinez
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Oct. 20, 2012, 8:19 a.m. CST
@logan: You can get a decent price on eBay for the old / used Death Star playset - Also...
by obijuanmartinez
There were a ton of original Star Wars / ESB playsets that eBay has used / care-worn in the $30-$50 range. Not bad! Including the Droid Factory, Jawa Sandcrawler (w/ escape pod), Cantina, Star Destroyer bridge (w/ Vader's Michael Jackson chamber), Dagobah...
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Oct. 20, 2012, 8:30 a.m. CST
Does the new Gonk's legs click like the 1977 Kenner one? Mas importante...
by obijuanmartinez
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Oct. 20, 2012, 12:59 p.m. CST
Damn ultra-PC nuts, including a single black character in the lineup
by GilbertRSmith
Jeez, enough is enough, darkies.
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You can find most figures for $22.00 at mattycollector I just got my He Man, Battle Cat and Skelator in today from those guys and they are awesome. If they are sold out there your best bet would be Ebay or Amazon, but you'll be spending around $40.00 or more for He Man.
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The sheer brilliance of the name and concept says it all. Pity I never bought the figure though...
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