Sometimes a toy company can destroy a really great character, and Mattel seems to do that more often than other companies. It's even worse when that character is from your own internal brand. The company says they will or won't do something, contradict themselves, and then take a crap all over it. They truly believe you will love it, and then when it fails to impress, they try to justify their actions. The Sorceress of Castle Grayskull is an extremely important character, and Mattel has truly pooped on her three times. It hurts even more so when it's a character you really like. Continue Reading →

Every once in awhile you get a lemon. For MOTU Classics, you can get a bunch. Rio Blast is one of the worst finished products out of the package that I've come across in a long time and I'd like to share it with you. I simply cannot understand how this item made it past through review, QC, and everything else in between. It's an insult from a company that is known for shenanigans from time to time. I give you Rio Blast. Continue Reading →

Like many other collectors my age, Masters of the Universe was a big influence during my childhood. The sheer number of unique characters with absurd names left a lasting impression with cool toys and a fun TV show. For various reasons, the property could not continue much beyond the 80s and interest waned except by the most dedicated fans. In the early 2000s, Mattel tried a re-launch and was at first a big hit, but through management and distribution problems, it could not survive. So when Mattel announced back in 2007-08 that they were going to try again, I admit I was a bit skeptical. Continue Reading →