SpartanNerd Unboxing and Review...Marvel Select Thor

I have reviewed an excellent Marvel Select figure before, Deadpool, which you can read here...(And probably should)

I say that because, unfortunately, Thor doesn't stack up to Deadpool as a figure.  Let's see why!

Here Thor sits on the shelf at the Tangled Web in Spartanburg, yelling "Purchase me, mortal.  Thou hast the power!"

First of all, the packaging.  Thor comes in a beautiful Marvel box that displays what you are getting very clearly.  Also, there is nice comic book artwork on the left. side.

$24.99.  Not bad.  The Christmas fund will cover it.

The back of the package gives you a nice little backstory for Thor as he is in Marvel Comics.

Apparently, Thor is the daughter of Odin's mistress....

Time to tear into it!

Here is what you see when you open the box.  In case you are wondering, the little pamphlet shows off other Marvel Select figures as well as Marvel Mini-Mates.

Thor was strapped in with those stupid bread tie things.  I had to resort to cutting the left foot's wire-in with nail clippers, because I was afraid I would damage the figure.

What vile power can bind the God of Thunder?

Here he is, freed from his prison.

Let's discuss his articulation.  Compared to the previous Deadpool figure, he theoretically has mostly the same articulation points.  But I used the word Theoretically for a reason.  Actually, only the bottom joint of his double jointed knee moves.  Furthermore, his left leg is tighter than the right leg.  He has rocker ankles, that are quite stiff.  What about his arms?  Well they are pretty tight.  But his hands are sculpted into permanent positions.  No finger articulation.  Just Hammer Holder and Bruce Dickenson "Metal to the Masses" pose  (Thanks Puller, for that bit of poetry!).  His head is hampered by his hair and cape.  The hair and cape are not movable...They are stiff poses.  So really, he isn't all that much articulated.  In fact, his coolness as a toy is lessoned quite a bit.  He seems more like a statue with posable arms.

Here is what his back looks like.

 Now for the really important stuff.  Thor uses a "real man's hammer!"  (The SpartanNerd's friends will recognize this saying....)

nicely sculpted detail, it even has a loop.  This is what Thor uses to swing the hammer like a bola, I gather.
Pay attention to the bottom of the handle.  That little bulb of lacquer is going to be a problem.

I wanted to remove Mjolnier from the hand of Thor.  But, that little
blob of stuff made the hammer too fat to get it out of his hand.

I hope you're reading my captions.  That's right.  I couldn't get it out without force.  Force is the enemy of handles made of soft plastic.  I was so afraid I would bend it, I seriously considered leaving it in his hand forever.  But it is the job of an internet reviewer to come forth with all of the truth.  So I pulled it out as straight as I could.

You can see, I didn't bend it much.

Thor also comes with this stand...er...rock...err...meteor thing.

OK.  He has peg holes in his feet.  But it isn't any easier to make Thor stand.  Why?  That cape is quite heavy.  Also, his right leg is looser than his left leg.

I believe he stands better without the rock!

Not going to give you a picture, but my MOTUC figures stand quite nicely on that rock!

Here he is holding Vikor's sword.  He is a tad taller than MOTUC figures.
The scale seems larger.
It makes this awesome sword seem less awesome.

Two vikings.  This is the kind of Thor story I like.

Teela makes a fine barbarian bride for Thor!

Someone's a little jealous....Vikor, you're going to mess around and bend your axe!  (Too late!)

Deadpool..."What's your excuse for being less articulated?"
Thor..."I don't have to be.  I am immortal."
Deadpool..."Well, I am unkillable!"

How do I rate this Thor figure?  I am quite a fan of Thor, and I like the Thor movies.  In general I like the comics also, recently having read the whole Ghor the Godbutcher series in the Marvel NOW events.  (I will have to review that story sometime.)  I bought this figure for those reasons.  Plus I already knew the Deadpool was really very nice.  But I was disappointed in the quality of this figure, it feeling more like a statue and less like an action figure.  It only came with one accessory, and it can't stand on its stand so good.  His articulation is hampered.  And you can't do anything about it really because the cape is glued on and the hair is stiff.

So I am going to give it a grade of 2/5.  It gets the two points really only because he looks so awesome.  And looks awesome with Vikor and Teela.  But he could just as well continued to look as good on the store shelf.  On the other hand, he wasn't expensive.  And comparable comic book statues cost over $100.  So looking at it that way he would be a 4/5 as a statue.  (Not having as precise a sculpt as a statue because he was meant to be an action figure...if that makes sense?)

Do you agree or disagree?  Let me know, oh Hub City Geeks!  And be on the lookout for more awesome reviews by the SpartanNerd!

Masters of the Universe Classics Unboxing and Review....Battleground Teela

I got Battleground Teela on the Cyber Monday sale for $10!  I had passed her up several times before, but the $10 price was Big Lots cheap enough for this SpartanNerd!

No question, I would rather have the redhead Teela.  But BG Teela isn't so bad.  She doesn't look much like Teela to me, because "my" Teela is the one from Filmation and virtually all other Masters of the Universe film.  But I had some of those comics in the early days that featured Teela as a blonde, and I enjoyed the modern story that had her blonde also.  (DC Comics Masters of the Universe mini-series)

This blonde Teela with metal bikini armor feels more generic, kind of like the Griffin and Vikor.  She could be any barbarian's girlfriend!

Of course she came in a box like this.

Here is what she looks like in box.

Here's the back.  Sorry about the blurry pic.  (I didn't know how bad it was...and the card is trashed now)

She came with this gun, but It just isn't my style for Teela.  I think I remember
Teela using a gun in the 1987 movie, and that is just about it.

But this sword is cool!

BG Teela makes a fine bride for Vikor!
Unfortunately, she always looks down when
her head is turned, because of her hair.

This is most unsightly.  If you waist twist her, she has this shelf.

This staff looks splendid in her hand!  It just feels right! 

I have some extra accessories for female figures.  They work nicely with BG Teela,
except for the snake mask. Oh how I wish that would fit  :(  (The hair again)

Here she is, properly armed.  I like this sword better than
the one that came with her.  I wish the shield were a different color.

Now for a classic pose!  BG Teela has the "2.0"
buck.  This means she can do this, but the redhead
wouldn't be able to do it.  She fits nicely behind the saddle in
the "BEEP" seat.

Removing Battle Cat's mask makes him look like a different character...
Give her both swords....Now this is fantasy!

What is my rating for Battleground Teela?  I'm afraid I can't give more than a 3\5.  The hair looks good, but I wish it didn't hinder her neck movement.  I also wish the snake mask would fit...Also, the whole love handle shelf thing when she twists her waist isn't good.

On the other hand, I like her...She is beautifully sculpted, and fits almost any fantasy situation, including MOTU.  I like sitting her on the back of Battle Cat, and I like her holding that staff.  I am proudly displaying her in my nerd closet!

Masters of the Universe Classics Unboxing and Review....The Griffin!

Remember my review of Megator?

Well I think I have an even more impressive figure to review, now!  The GRIFFIN!

The Griffin is AMAZING!  Who would have thought we could get this?  And it seems very calculated as well, being an amalgamation of Battle Cat and Swift Wind.

In the Mike Young cartoon, griffins were the bad guy's main mode of escape.  They would start to lose, and the griffins would swoop in and grab the villains and take them to safety.

This creature absolutely fits in my nerd closet with the Magic cards and other stuff like that.  I'd bet I have several dozen Griffin Magic cards...

When I first saw the Griffin, I thought, "Do I really want that?"  Then I got Vikor, and thought, "The Griffin would be a great ride for Vikor."  It didn't take too long for me to figure out, Vikor isn't riding any steed, with that loincloth.  But it was worth a try.

I got the Griffin as a part of the Cyber Monday sale, as mentioned on the Groovy Dork List.  And am I glad I did!  This figure is the most impressive figure I may own!

He came in this big box.  It is so big, I decided to use it as a background!

Here he is in his ugliness!  Awesome ugliness at that!

When you take him out of the box, you see that you have to assemble the wings to his body.

Here he is, ready to fly!

Don't call him four-eyes!

He has a double tail...the kind of thing that was favored on the MYP show.

I don't own a Beast-Man, so Spikor will have to do.  Ugly riding Ugly!

I dreamed of putting Vikor on the Griffin.  Alas, his loincloth was too much.
Even with the saddle off.  This was the best I could do.  It kind of looks like
Vikor is going to slay him in this picture...

You can see that he has a cool mane.  His backside is just the Battle-Cat buck, with chicken feet.

What do Griffin's eat?  Temple of Darkness Zoar!  (not included of course)

Here is an overhead shot.  This figure is HUGE!

I give the Griffin a 5/5!  He is solid.  Huge.  Fits in most contexts.  Ugly in a beautiful way.  He is one of the best figures I own as far as sculpt, displayability, playability, and on and on!

SpartanNerd Sundays...SWORDS

Top: Both are He-Man's swords, one from 200x, the other vintage style.  Left to right on the bottom, Tri-Clops repainted sword from a weapons pack, Draego-Man's non-powered sword, Skeletor's two-piece sword from 200x, also called Keldor's swords, and Vikor's Sword, the Sword of Gaz

Swords are a big deal to any Masters of the Universe fan.  The sword reflects which version of a character is being portrayed.  For instance, The Mike Young/200x era weapons usually looked quite a bit different from the Vintage weapons. A character's weapon says a lot about a their fighting style.  And talking about these things lets others know your level of devotion and understanding to a character.

The bible says, in Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

I'll just leave you with this.  A Double-Edged sword is one like all of these in the picture.  It has a sharp edge, and bevels.  So it not only cuts, it divides.  In battle this will cause a more severe wound, as it literally tears apart the flesh being struck.

The word of God can see your motivations, in the same way a sword like this cuts stuff open and reveals what's inside....

"Until next time.....!"

UNBOXING.....MOTUC Snout Spout

Snout Spout was one of those oddball characters that I had when I was a kid.  As a child, I had 80% of the Masters of the Universe figures, and probably 60% of the vehicles.  (When I I say "I had," I mean "We had."  I grew up with two brothers.)  My memories of Snout Spout include squirting acid all over Skeletor, putting out fire in Castle Greyskull, watering plants, etc.  Because, he was basically an elephant shaped spray bottle.  (One of my brothers would take him into the bathtub) :(

There were other figures that sprayed water also....Cobra Khan, and Dragon Blaster Skeletor.  But I don't ever remember having a war between these three.....My Mom was kind of tight in controlling us making potential messes.

So here is the modern Snout Spout.

I found Snout Spout in the BIG LOTS sale.  He wasn't at the first BIG LOTS I went to...but he was the only different figure they had at the alternate location.  Oddly, they had him behind the glass case up front, with the "highly desirable" items.  The other BIG LOTS did not have their MOTUC figures on display that way.

Here he is, in package.

I'm not ashamed of the price tag!

First thing we all notice, THE TRUNK IS HUGE!

His design is reminiscent of the Four Horsemen Seventh Kingdom elephants, which I have none of :(

This figure has the softer look of the vintage figure, compromised with the more fierce look of the 200X design.  (That was a statue only, if I recall.)

Here's the back of the box.

And a close-up of the BIO

I don't collect the BIOS.  And I throw away the packages.  I'd rather use the room I have to display more nerd stuff.

In general, I like the MOTUC BIOs.  Lots of people don't.  I can understand that.  But I always feel that I am at the mercy of what entertainment provides.  I might not always be a fan, but I will stick with it through thick and thin.  Snout Spout was never on the fimation He-Man cartoon, but he WAS on She-Ra, if I am not mistaken, but he was called Hose Nose.  He shares his origin with Dragstor and Extendar, in that Hordak made him into the monster that he is.

And JAXTON is a cool name.

Upon opening the box, here's what I saw.

From this view, you can see his axe/ trunk prop, and the jaws of life, which also have an elephantine design.  (The Horsemen said it was supposed to.)

I have heard numerous stories of the trunk being fragile.  SO...I took extra precautions when removing this figure.  When I removed the figure from the blister, his backpack remained stuck.  I had given no thought to his backpack.  It comes off easily....maybe a little too easily.

Here he is standing up, fully equipped.

And a look at that backpack.  It has a faux "button" reminiscent of the vintage one.  As a kid, backpacks were one of my favorite accessories for a figure.  Especially Rio Blasts backpack, and the backpacks that came with GI Joes.

Snout Spout has sturdy ankles and other joints.  I have not noticed any "cracking" underneath the trunk.  For the record, I also have access to King Hiss.  He isn't cracking either.

So how would I rank Snout Spout?  He's cool and all, but he's no Skeletor, or Vikor.  He isn't you know, as AWESOME as they are.  The figure's fine.  He's just not that cool.  So I give him a 3/5.

What's your rating?  Am I too rough on Jaxton?  Let me know!