Tag Archives: Skeletor

Editorials

Thoughts Concerning the Upcoming He-Man and Masters of the Universe Movie!

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Grab your sword and shield, find a jungle cat to throw a saddle on, and you bet your ass it’s time to brandish the coveted powers of Grayskull because we’re going back to Eternia, and I couldn’t be happier! Due to my restless obsessing over MOTU and, to my endless glee, foolhardily giving me a platform to express said obsessions on as much as I want, I’ve spent weeks of my life feverishly writing articles (and hardcore essays) on He-Man and his eternal battle against the best villain ever created, Skeletor. Coincidentally I’ve come to be known (for better or worse) as the Master of the Universe guy around here at Nightmare Nostalgia – a title I wear proud as pearls – and as it so happens a brand-new fancy-ass movie is in the works, and I’ve been asked to share my humblest of thoughts concerning it.

Oh, believe me, I have thoughts a plenty concerning this ambitious project so let’s get right to it and talk about He-Man’s most dangerous adventure yet – walking down the red carpet and up to the silver screen …. again. Sigh hopefully, this second time around doesn’t suck for him.   

Remember the ‘80s?

The decade is practically mythic at this point. An age fraught with peril and forged under the neon heat of Cold War threats. Us kids had no clue how imminent the end of the world was though because we had toys, sugary cereals, and Saturday morning cartoons to keep us focused on how great life really was. And oh my God the only thing better than playing with our favorite toys and watching them on TV was seeing them turned into big-budget action films and hitting a theater near you to flambee our little brains!

Of course, they made a He-Man movie! Kinda a no-brainer when you think about it. We weren’t all that far away from Return of the Jedi or Conan the Destroyer so there was a definite market for space barbarian fantasy at the time, a thing only He-Man could masterfully fulfill. I remember how excited we all got when they first announced the project. Images of swords and sorcery assailed our imaginations as we imagined how epic this hallowed-be-thy-name project had to be. Then the actual movie was released.

If I sat here talking about how great the actual movie was you all would have every right to beat me over the head with a dead trout. We all know the movie sucked. It did, it sucked hard too, even if I always have kinda liked it. I get the fact the movie isn’t just bad. It’s rotten rat-ass bad!

I’m sure when we all thought of a He-Man movie, we couldn’t wait to watch a film more focused on Courtney Cocks than the mysteries of the Power Sword. And if you’re just now scratching your head wondering what the bull-fucking Hell Courtney Cocks has to do with MOTU you’re not alone. Is she an Eternian? Is she part of the Masters? Is she a secret weapon that alone can save the universe? Oh hell no, she’s just some Southern California teenager. She lost her parents in a plane crash or something like that and since we’re watching a MOTU movie no one gives a shit about it. It’s like a whole other movie, some teenage drama, is fist fucked into what should’ve been the stand-out fantasy epic of our lifetime.

What should’ve been a huge adventure across Eternia instead turned out to be more focused on He-Man and the Masters hiding out on planet Earth where (discount-Orco) Gwildor dresses up like an idiot, the Masters eat a bucket of barbeque ribs and at some point, try to communicate with a cow.

Someone also thought it would be super cool to watch Temu Stormtroopers hovering around Mainstreet Americana with He-Man clumsily flailing his sword around swatting them off like obnoxious flies. Skeletor ends up on Earth too and instead of taking over the White House (you know something cool) he gets his maguffin and goes back to Eternia. Everything to do with Earth is entirely pointless! What the fucking Hell were we watching? What were the filmmakers huffing while making this atrocity?

Did anyone want to see He-Man on Earth? No! Did we need to be on Earth to identify with the characters? Of course not! We wanted nothing more than a hellfire action film featuring our favorite heroes and villains battling it out in a fight to the death over the fate of the universe and preferably in the center of Grayskull itself. We had an opportunity to see Eternia brought to life in a cinematic spectacle that should’ve knocked our teeth out and left us begging for more. Instead, people were just begging for it to be over.

Today the movie’s reached a beloved cult status and is appreciated for what it is – a silly ‘80s fantasy flick that fits alongside Legend or the Dark Crystal. Is it a good He-Man movie though? No, it’s not. It is a very good Skeletor movie with Frank Langella dominating the role with monstrous flair. Watch the movie for Skeletor alone I say. Nevertheless, fans were left disappointed, and it seemed as if any hope to ever see a proper He-Man movie was dashed against the rocks.

The movie was so bad that many blame it for the sad decline of the toy sales thus ending MOTU if only for a brief season. Personally, I feel like it had a heavy hand to play in the decline, but I also think some heroes in a half shell also had a little something to do with it too once their toys hit store shelves.

But Manic, I hear you lament, why are you so hung up on rehashing the failures of a past movie? Shouldn’t you just shut the fuck up and let this new project stand on its own feet, you say. You would otherwise be correct to make such an assessment, but I bring up the failures of the Canon film because it would seem no one learned a whole fat load of anything from history,

That being said, no one wants to see He-Man on Earth ever again. Not only is it rumored He-Man will be on Planet Earth (again), but he’ll be stuck working an office job…. oh God why? Why, why, why? Who thinks that’s a good idea? Who do they think wants to see Prince Adam working a desk job?

Recently leaked photos all but confirm those rumors too.

Maybe the Earth scenes are the result of evil magic. Like maybe it’s in Adam’s head and he needs to break free from the illusion? Maybe once he touches the Power Sword the evil spell is broken? Yeah, that’s really stupid I know but no stupider than having He-Man working an office job on fucking Earth! Why are they doing this? It feels like Kryptonite to this movie’s success, and I really don’t feel like seeing history repeating itself.

Time For Redemption

Today we’ve witnessed redemption stories for dead movie adaptations. Previously failed cinematic adventures can now be retooled with the proper respect and love for both the characters and properties and turned into billion-dollar success stories. Super Mario Bros. is a great example of how a movie’s first cinematic flop can be redeemed. That live-action Mario movie was awful, and I was one of those giddy kids sitting at the theater when it first premiered only to be crushed by what I saw. Before Universal Pictures dared return to the Mushroom Kingdom did anyone think a Mario movie could work? And yet it did and was a massive success. It won our hearts over and made us relive some great NES nostalgia.

Another great example of a property rising from failure to success is Dungeons and Dragons. Honestly, I dare you to go back and watch the 1999 D&D movie. I double-dog dare you! It’s worse, so much worse than I even remembered. And then just like a nat-20 roll Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves was nothing short of a Critical Success! The same could easily be true for MOTU.  Do it right and the fans will support the movie. It’s not complicated.

Today filmmakers can bring projects like Avatar or The Lord of the Rings to thrilling life. The special effects of today can absolutely bring Eternia to life in ways Canon could only dream of back in the ‘80s. Langella was stuck performing behind some questionable prosthetics but still mastered the role as the Lord of Destruction. Today they can make Skeletor look like a demonic overlord hellbent on conquering the universe while remaining faithful to the classic look we all love.

Special effects artists have the unique opportunity to bring these larger-than-life characters to the big screen! Think of it – Battlecat, Panthor, and Orko all have a chance to thrive at last whereas before there was no way to add them in any live-action attempt. Bottomline there’s no excuse for this movie to fail.

Casting Choices and Concerns

So far, I’ve been impressed with the casting choices. I mean so far, I’m not all worked up by any of their decisions. Hollywood is notorious for miscasting people all the damn time, but this time around we might be ok.  I mean I like seeing the actors hitting the gym to get buffed up for their respected roles. That’s what we need out of them. They need to fill in the armor and loincloths after all.

But what about Jared Leto, I hear some of you ask. I don’t have any issue with Jared Leto’s involvement honestly. Yeah, he was in some shitty movies, but he’s also been in some fan favorites too. He was in Fight Club and American Psycho to name a couple. Not to mention Leto does look like a cool Keldor.

People love pointing to Moebius to rip on the guy, but I argue nobody could save that movie no matter who was cast for the part. The movie was a shit puddle. People also love to criticize his Joker role but then Leto turned around and gave us a chilling portrayal of Joker in the epilogue of Snyder’s Justice League and people sang his praises. Point being give him a chance.

I remember when the internet lost its shit over Heath Ledger being cast as Joker in Nolan’s The Dark Knight. Oh, don’t act like you didn’t bitch about it because we all did. I bitched the loudest…and then I had to eat crow.  It’s easy to get wrapped up in internet raging is all I’m saying.

You can tell I’m trying to be hopeful here. I want to like this movie. I want to love this movie! I’ll make a promise right now that if this movie’s good I’ll go see it every single week it plays at the theater. I’m dead serious. Give me a good MOTU movie and I’ll see it as often as possible. Make a great movie and I’ll watch it multiple times in the same day.

That Earth crap though already gives the movie a huge obstacle to overcome.

Having said all that if, and I mean a big if, we get Earth out of the way early on and the rest of the movie is totally on Eternia toting us across both Grayskull and Snake Mountain and with the Masters at war against the evil forces of Skeletor maybe, just maybe, all the action and excitement can wash away Earth’s hideous taint.

We will see. As it stands now the movie already has that working strongly against it. So, if the movie manages to excel despite all of that it’ll prove its merit.

Look, MOTU isn’t hard to make work. It’s brimming with adventure, fantasy, whimsy, magic, romance, and a clear moral tale about good vs evil. It’s everything the human soul thrives on for inspiration. It’s how a simple toy line has stayed alive (off and on granted) for 40 years. It’s gone beyond a nostalgia trip back to the past. The lore continues to reinvent itself and find new fans across every generation. It’s because it speaks to us all. Horror, monsters, dragons, demons – lightness and comedy with bumbling wizards and yet galaxy-binding sorcery. MOTU is brimming with inspiration.

So good luck to everyone involved with this upcoming project. I have faith that it could be awesome.

If nothing else maybe it’ll be reason enough for a MOTU game to finally be released with all the hype now surrounding the movie. Come on, make a video game happen for crying out loud!

Manic out!

Cool shit to buy

Toys! Toys! Toys! My Top Favorite Figure Purchases Of 2023

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Admittedly this is the kind of thing you’d come to expect at the beginning of the year and not a whole month later. However, I have been dealing with health complications and a sheer bout of laziness, which caused the delay. Last year was a fantastic year for me in terms of toy collecting, and there were so many incredible releases. Honestly, it would be a sin not to take a moment to comment on some of the best of the best releases that I picked up in 2023.

Besides, I have a passion for discussing toys whether they be old or new. I’ve also been tinkering with the idea of creating toy reviews for some time now, and this is simply a fun way to showcase some of the most prized possessions in my ever-expanding collection. This list is comprised of items that I’ve personally picked up, so if some more popular items are not mentioned here (Like Warduke by NECA), it’s not from a lack of interest but is simply because I can’t collect everything I see, no matter how much I may want to.

So without further ado here are my top favorite figures from last year

Ultimate Dracula by NECA

NECA did an impeccable job with their Universal Monsters line, and we’re particularly impressed with their work on Dracula. Universal’s Dracula stands as the first talky horror film and quickly transformed Univeral Studios into the macabre House of Horrors. The role made Bela Lugosi a household name and has invaded the nightmares of generations. It’s appropriate that NECA put so much into bringing this iconic character -that means so much to so many horror fans worldwide – to thrilling (un)life.

Dracula is my favorite gothic horror. However, at first, I passed on this guy. Somehow the figure in-box wasn’t doing much for me and I almost let this one slip through my fingers. It took a little convincing from my best friend at the time but finally, my iron will caved in thanks to relentless peer pressure and – since Best Buy only had one left – I wound up buying the figure.

Glad I did too because this figure looks way better out of box. He instantly became a prime set piece during Halloween and I found myself going back to the shelf to check out the Prince of Darkness.

Overall Dracula is home among his brethren and enhances my horror collection

Megatron – MDLX

I love what MDLX is doing with the Transformers line. Of course, I also recognize how controversial that is to admit. I’ve gotten some slack from my fellow collectors (and especially from Transformers fans) over my thundering hard-on for the MDLX line. Those who criticize the line justify their irritation because the toys do not in fact transform. ‘That defeats the purpose’ they say.

Well, I don’t give a flying fuck through a rolling Fruit Loop about that. I already owned a pretty sweet Megatron that does transform into an intergalactic battle tank.

What I love about the MDLX line is all the amazing points of articulation their figures come with. Seriously, Megatron stands as a dominating work of art on my shelf thanks to all the many (and imposing) stances the figure can take. Not to mention how the metallic sheen of the figure gives him an intimidating adamantium presence. Also, this guy has some serious weight to him and doesn’t feel all flimsy and loose.

The battle between the Autobots and Decepticons continues on.

Serpentor – G.I. Joe Classified

When I was a little kid, I wasn’t a die-hard G.I. Joe fan, but I always thought the characters looked cool. It wasn’t until I saw Serpentor at a local Hills store that I became interested in the series. Serpentor was dressed in golden armor that resembled a cobra, and I was instantly drawn to him. At the time, I had no idea what his role was, but I knew that I had to have him. Fortunately, I was visiting my Granny, and she saw how mesmerized I was with the figure and bought it for me.

When I used to play with Serpentor, I didn’t know who he was, so I pretended he was an evil sorcerer. His appearance suited the role. It wasn’t until I became an adult that I discovered that Serpentor was, in fact, the EMPEROR OF COBRA! This imperial threat to all mankind was brought to life by combining the DNA of the world’s most ruthless warriors and tyrants from throughout history. Genghis Khan, Attila the Hun, and Alexander the Great are just a few of the historical figures that make up the genetic code of this badass villain

Last year, I was floored when they announced the return and intended update planned for Serpentor. The cruel leader of Cobra was making a comeback and, just like before, I couldn’t help but be captivated by him. He’s the nostalgic figure I remember but masterfully detailed now. Honestly, I never thought I would own this guy and couldn’t believe my luck when I found him at a toy show. However, I have to admit, that even if this wasn’t in my personal collection, it would still be one of my favorite toys released last year.

Like many other items on this list, the packaging really drew me in and proves to be half the value of the figure itself. This is nothing short of a work of art. I mean it’s so good it’ll stomp your face into the ground. It’s something I want to frame on the wall and make every guest who walks in bow down to it.

Overall the figure lives up to its imperial title and even comes with his infamous air chariot shaped like a divine cobra. Otherwise, you’d have to buy that stupid thing separately so I appreciated the fact it was included. I hadn’t bought anything G.I. Joe-related in decades, but after purchasing Serpentor, I was compelled to then go get Cobra Commander and a few other members of the Cobra organization. Anything that impresses me enough to suddenly build upon its franchise out of the blue has really done its job a little too well. Way to go, guys.

Edgar Allan Poe’s Masque of the Red Death – Figure Obscura, Four Horsemen Studios

I’m currently obsessed with the amazing holiday-inspired figures released by Figure Obscura over the past few years. Their Krampus figure, released a few Christmases ago, really caught my attention and since then, I have been eagerly waiting for their annual special figure releases for Halloween and Christmas. I already got my hands on the Headless Horseman figure that was released for Halloween in 2022 and it is one of the top 10 figures in my collection

I couldn’t resist when they announced that their Halloween 2023 release would be based on my favorite Edgar Allan Poe story. The figure itself is both macabre and beautiful. The haunting Red Dead is a thin ghoul draped in a blood-like shroud, standing upon an issue of flowing blood that spreads from beneath an obsidian grandfather clock. The figure awaits to carry the damned away in his scarlet embrace. I particularly like how a raven adorns the crown of the clock, which is yet another nod to the great writer’s dark imagination. Anyone familiar with this gothic horror tale will recognize every reference included here.

It’s worth noting that the figure comes with a beautifully illustrated copy of the Masque of the Red Death, which might be new to you if you’re unfamiliar with the story.

The artwork on the packaging of the Red Death is exceptional. There are several backdrops available that you can use as a background, including one that I personally use for Dracula. Figure Obscura is a game changer and I’m excited to see what they release this Halloween.

Eastman and Laird’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles by NECA

When NECA does something right they really, and I mean really, do it right. One of the best things to come out last year was their insane four-pack release of the iconic heroes in a half-shell inspired by the Mirage comics.

Wow… just WOW! This is a must-have for any TMNT collector. Especially if you love that retro look. Each of the four figures is high quality and comes with their signature weapons as well as a set of ninja stars and other weapons just to really kick it to the Foot.

NECA is well-known for its various Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles lines. They’ve released TMNT movie-inspired figures, cartoon-inspired figures, and even video game-inspired figures. NECA and TMNT are symbiotic at this point. However, out of all the turtles they’ve released, the only set I had to buy was the Eastman and Laird release seen here. Maybe I’m biased, but in my opinion, nothing NECA’s released beats this radical four-pack

I originally bought this four-pack as a birthday gift for my cousin but ended up loving it so much that I had to buy one for myself as well. NECA did an excellent job with this product, and it was worth spending my money twice for it

Regarding the topic of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, two other NECA figures deserve an honorable mention: battle-damaged Shredder and The Last Ronin armored figure. In my opinion, the turtles’ diorama wouldn’t be complete without Shredder as their main adversary. Moreover, The Last Ronin figure represents the future of the turtles, which makes it an essential addition to the collection. All these elements tie in to create a cohesive storyline.

Deluxe Skeletor – Mondo

It should honestly come as no surprise that my favorite figure of 2023 is Skeletor, my all-time favorite villain. To think I almost missed the opportunity to purchase it, but thankfully my best friend helped convince me to secure a pre-order just in time.

As for my overall toy collection, I primarily focus on Masters of the Universe (shocker there right?) and it’s not limited to the vintage line alone but also includes figures/vehicles/playsets from Origins, Masterverse, and Classics. Each line holds a special place in my heart and all for different reasons be it quality or nostalgia, but the stuff Mondo puts out there, in my opinion, is the best of the best. I keep saying that if Classics is the gold standard then Mondo is the platinum.

Even though I’ve never really been fond of the 1:6 scale, I make an exception for Mondo since their figures are of exceptional quality. The size of the figures enables you to appreciate all the intricate details that make them stand out above anything previously yet seen. I mean I was staring at the little details etched into the rings of the Havoc Staff.

I keep finding little details like that to awe over. I love that a metal vertebra is decorated on the back of Skeletor’s chest guard or how skulls adorn each of his leather straps.

This deluxe version of Skeletor is also highly versatile which basically makes him three figures in one. Firstly, you get the classic Skeletor look and a wired cape that offers your figure a more regal appearance. You can also remove his harness and give him that awesome Battle Armor assemble.

Alternatively, you can equip him with his dragon armor that comes with the lethal dragon which has the power to spit toxins at the Masters. The dragon is articulated (which he didn’t need to be so nice touch, Mondo), has real chains, and comes with attachable toxic fumes that can be fixed to the beast’s maul.

It’s also worth noting the figure comes with a pair of Terror Claws, so in essence, Skeletor offers four iconic variants in one figure.

This is as close to perfection as I’ve ever seen in a single figure. I’m amazed by the fact that MOTU’s celebrated 40 years and still to this day companies like Mondo can still floor fans like me with something as incredible as this single figure.

With 2024 just starting out the year’s already proving to be amazing for collectors what with the Turtles of Grayskull (a fusion of MOTU and TMNT) already on their third wave and Mondo’s deluxe Orko preorder come and gone. Who knows what will prove to be my absolute favorite stuff this year? Time will tell.

What about you? What did you add to your collection last year and what really stood out? Be sure to let us know in the comments. In the meantime happy hunting, fellow collectors!

Manic out!

Editorials

‘MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE: REVOLUTION’ spoiler-free review

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Many people have been asking for my opinion about Kevin Smith’s latest work on the He-Man franchise for Netflix. As a huge fan of He-Man, I am always excited to see new content related to my favorite fandom. I recently pre-ordered an Orko figure by Mondo and even took an extra job temporarily to feed my collector’s itch and expand my MOTU collection. He-Man was the first hero I ever knew and I’ve always been fascinated by the champions and evildoers’ conflicts across Eternia. As I looked back at my work, I realized (kinda shocked by) how much time I’ve dedicated to this subject alone. Fair to say I might be a little obsessed, to be honest.

A few years ago, when the trailers for Kevin Smith’s Masters of the Universe started appearing, I was excited to return to Eternia and enjoy new adventures. The show promised beautiful animation and had some great voice talents like Mark Hamil (The Joker, Batman Animated, and Arkham games series) and Tony Todd (Candyman, Hatchet, Venom in Sony Spider-Man 2). However, that enthusiasm quickly faded like a fart in the wind once the show actually streamed. I’m not one of the fans who hated it to the point of wanting Kevin Smith’s head on a silver platter, and I don’t think the show was as bad as festering hemorrhoid like many let on about. Frankly, I found the two MOTU Revelation shows to be sinfully boring. The biggest issue was the show’s blatant disregard for the established lore created by the talented and imaginative minds behind the legendarium.

So when MOTU Revolution was announced it was met by a very barren field with maybe an occasional cricket chirp. Maybe a yawn could be heard too. You follow? No one out there (but maybe a handful of folks) gave a single shit about anything more Smith’s team had to bring to Eternia. He already drove everyone off and, frankly, it would take nothing short of a miracle to bring back that offended fan base. Myself included. I was the target audience for a new MOTU series but not even I could dig deep enough to find one good fuck to give about Revolution.

I was completely surprised once Revolution finally streamed. I couldn’t stop watching it and found myself invested, excited, and even entranced by what I was seeing. It was like all that old magic came rushing back to me. Watching each episode back-to-back was a refreshing experience that felt like a return to the glorious days of high adventure. Swords and sorcery flowed across each consequential story, connecting them in a pattern that enhanced and deepened the lore and awe revolving around Castle Grayskull. The show joined both those who protect her and those sworn to take her by force in what can be nothing short of a true classic Ultimate Battleground – something that He-Man has always been known for.

Every episode is well-written, with magic vs technology, and good vs evil all woven together in a sovereign tapestry. Episode one sets the tone, and the series builds on it, culminating in an epic battle between the Masters and the Horde Empire, and, oh yes, He-Man battling none other than Skeletor. It’s a fantastic ending that lives up to the legendary comic runs.

I’ll do my best to avoid spoilers (and believe me I want to go over everything here) but Revolution is packed with throwbacks, homages, and plenty of Easter eggs. However, the show doesn’t rely on these nods to make the story work, and they aren’t just there to wink at the camera. Instead, they’re part of a larger tapestry that’s woven throughout the show and provide something new to discover with each rewatch, and it’s a testament to the show’s quality that I’ve rewatched this thing multiple times now. I also appreciate how Revolution not only respects the established He-Man lore but in fact, adds to it. That’s something not easily accomplished and they did so brilliantly.

Indeed the adventures continue and are a must-see. The team did their homework this time around (a sweet fan of mine said they must have read my articles…bless you for that) and set out to actually tell a genuine Masters of the Universe story worthy of Grayskull.

I would love to go over all the Easter eggs and surprises here so maybe that’ll be a new article. In the meantime do yourself a favor and watch MOTU Revolution.

Manic out!

https://youtu.be/tHC-VTmLlpU?si=EPLIzlOSlngJbbI5