Hi there. There’s no new review on the main feed this week, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t produce a ton of content for you to check out.
I have four in-depth looks at Russian Funskool GI Joe figures for you, and some not-so-in-depth looks at some Masters of the Universe Origins figures for you. Check them out after the break.
Russian Funskool GI Joe Updates
As it turns out, this very website is the number one Google search result for “Russian Funskool GI Joe,” due to my Russian Funskool GI Joe Jamboree post from 2018.
When I put that post together, I was a bit overwhelmed by the sheer number of figures. As a result, it’s not very in-depth and not up to the usual quality of my other reviews. My photo setup (and possibly my photo skills??) is much better now, too. Over the last week, I’ve been starting to update that post.
I plan on creating an individual page for each figure, showing it and its accessories in detail, along with comparisons to Indian and/or Hasbro versions.
These are pages, not posts, so they won’t show up in the website’s main feed. You can always find them on this site’s GI Joe page or by clicking the updated links on the old Russian Funskool Gi Joe post.
They also aren’t full reviews and they don’t have any fancy or fun photos. They’re just intended as resources for fans and collectors. I feel bad that I’m the top search result for these toys because my content could be a lot better. This is my way of correcting that.
Here are the four figures pages I created this week:
- Funksool Chuckles (Russia)
- Funskool Eel (Russia)
- Funskool Hydro-Viper (Russia)
- Funskool Roadblock (Russia)
I’ve posted links to these pages on Twitter, but not everyone follows me there. I’m creating this post to let everyone else know about them.
Masters of the Universe Origins Quick Reviews
There were really no Masters of the Universe toys in the 90s, so the franchise’s connection to this website and this project is tenuous at best. I am a big MOTU fan, though, and have been since I was a little kid. I’ve really been enjoying the Masters of the Universe Origins toy line.
Last weekend, I created a thread on Twitter sharing my thoughts on the gaggle of MOTUO toys I recently opened. Again, not everyone follows me there, so I thought I’d share them here.
Unless I come upon some nice New Adventures of He-Man toys, there probably won’t be any full blown MOTU reviews on this website. But I had fun doing these, and I thought some of you might enjoy them.
Battle Armor Skeletor
First up is Battle Armor Skeletor. The frowny head on mine has some jacked up paint, but the maniacal smile head rules. The battle armor is really fun and the shield looks great! 7/10
Becky Lynch
Next up is Becky Lynch. I don’t know much about the actual human being, but this is a really cool Sword & Planet barbarian lady action figure. I need to find her a vampiric sword and a ray gun. 7/10
Mer-Man
Mer-Man! I MUCH prefer the cross sell art/Lords of Power look for him, but this toy just sings once you get it out of the packaging. He is so weird and expressive. I love it. 8/10
Battle Armor He-Man
Battle Armor He-Man. I was prepared to really like this one, but when I tried to swap heads the whole barbell came out. I’ve tried both a hair dryer and hot water. It is not going back in. What a bummer. 1/10
Stratos
It’s Stratos! Apparently it is against the law to package him with a weapon. He is also terminally boring. I like the no-fuss clip-on wings, though. And he is just fine for what he is. 6/10
Ninjor
NINJOR. He’s a demon ninja from another dimension. He looks cool. The red and black is a great combo. Lots of fun weapons and weapon storage. Super stoked about this one. 9/10
Ram Man
Ram Man looks cool and the gimmick works pretty well. I also love his alternate head. It’s staying on. I would have rather had leg articulation than the action feature, though. 7/10
Roboto
If you don’t like Roboto, I don’t know how to help you. The gimmick(s) on this one actually make it better. Best Robot on Muscle World. 9/10
Tri-Klops
Tri-Klops: Evil and Means Everything (to me). 8/10
Hordak
Skeletor is great but Hordak is the best. This toy is basically a perfect update— when I close my eyes and picture Hordak, this is exactly what I see. 9/10
Mr. T
Master T! The T stands for Ten out of Ten.
She-Ra
She-Ra! Thankfully I had none of the problems @SABKToys experienced. I think she’s fantastic AND sparkly. I’m probably gonna give her the Super 7 version’s sword, though. 9/10
The Undertaker
The Undertaker is a wrestler I actually know! Because I was once a middle school boy. Making him into a scareglow with black Tri-Klops armor and a cute hairdo was INSPIRED. His pointy stick is too bendy, though. 8/10
Signing Off
How are you doing? How is your week going?
Did I miss anything on those Funskool figures? Who is your favorite MOTU character? Let’s chat about all these things and more in the comments.
The Dragon Fortress 
Conveniently enough, I picked up my first MOTU Origins this week. Completely on a whim, but I grabbed a Skeletor and he’s terrific fun. Any figure you pick up and start quoting all his best dialogue is a good figure. “Nyaah He-Man you royal boob”, and so on and so forth.
Also his blue hue makes him look like he should be bubblegum flavoured. He isn’t.
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Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment, George!
Skeletor was the first Origins figure I found at an actual store and I grabbed him immediately. He’s great. I actually love the head sculpt, even though some people don’t care for it. And no, sadly, he is not candy flavored in any way. Way to disappoint us again, Mattel.
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I’m never gonna see the MOTU origins beside basic He-Man and Skeletor. I was sort of interested in collecting it, but but stores and people suck, so pretty much to hell with it. I’m 20 figures behind already.
I’d contact Mattel about that Battle Armor He-man. That’s annoying.
I’ve only ever seen one WWEternia wave at retail. It lacked the only figure I’d have ever talked myself into buying from that wave. Macho Man. Mr. T would be great to have, too. Now they doing Sgt. Slaughter? Never gonna see that one.
Becky Lynch is ready to beat up Pixel Dan.
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I haven’t seen much besides He-Man and Skeletor in stores, either. I actually think I’ve only seen Skeletor and some Roman Reigns from WWE. I’ve been pre-ordering them on BBTS, though, and that’s worked out nicely. I did actually get a Walmart.com pre-order for Scare Glow, too, somehow. He was the first figure I got from the line and made me want all of them. I think you can still get most or all of them from BBTS at this point, if you want.
I actually contacted BBTS about Battle Armor He-Man, since I haven’t had much luck with Mattel in the past. They will replace him for me, but he is on “pre-order” right now, so I guess it depends on if and when they get more stock.
I wish the WWE figures weren’t so hard to find. I’m not a wrestling person really, but I am loving the MOTU mashups. I definitely had to pay eBay extortion prices for Mr. T, New Day, and the Undertaker. I will probably do the same for Bret Hart (he is my favorite Wrestle Man) and the rest of that wave, including the Sarge, if it comes down to it.
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I have an Imaginext figure Dracula figure from a few years ago. He’s in the same basic colors as Hordak. But, he has a bat that sits on his arm that’s a dead ringer for Hordak’s. Knowing the cross pollination of He Man into Imaginext, it’s certainly not coincidence.
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Imaginext did a Roton, too! I like that they can sneak in those homages. I also love that they’ve done some MUSCLE and Battle Beasts stuff, too, even if Mattel doesn’t own those licenses. Imaginext seems like a toy line where the designers actually have fun and enjoy what they do.
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Hey bud, try some baby oil on that barbell, should slide back in with a bit of pressure.
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Sadly I already tried it! The plastic for the neck piece just won’t budge in any way. It’s a great suggestion, but I think the figure is a lost cause. Maybe someone with more skill and/or strength than me could do it, but I gave up. Luckily, I should have a replacement from BBTS at some point.
Thanks for stopping by, by the way!
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Wowzers!
Always a pleasure to swing by! Thanks as always for taking the time to cook up great content!
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Man, Origins is just too much fun. I was able to find all of the wave 1 stuff on shelves, and it’s still fairly abundant around here, where there aren’t pegs full of He-Men and Skeletor. I’ve even seen the odd Panthor and Tri-Klops on the shelves, but from wave 2 and onward I’m gonna let BBTS take care of me. Hopefully they get Wave 2 in at some point. I can’t miss out on another Scare Glow!!!
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Thanks for stopping by!
Scare Glow was the one figure I knew I needed, even before I decided I was collecting the toy line. I chanced a Walmart pre-order (and hopped on it the second it went live) and it actually went through. It also arrived ON HALLOWEEN, which was perfect. The negative is that I am basically all-in on another toy line, minus the vehicles.
I hope BBTS does get wave 2 in for everyone, since it’s such a knockout. Orko and Trap Jaw are really fun, too. I also like Zodac, even though I would prefer a Zodak.
We will find you a Scare Glow somehow, though, as you definitely deserve one.
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