The ink hasn’t dried yet and we’re already back in the saddle talking about Wave 5 ThunderCats ULTIMATES! which have just started arriving with toy reviewers this past week. Jared Elswick, aka ToyBro, is our go-to ThunderCats pal, and it’s always a pleasure to hear his thoughts on the matter. Don’t forget to also check out his review, embedded here on this page.
WWMTC: Hey Jared, it’s like no time has passed and here we are again – doing another Q&A about one of the stand out lines in pop culture today. Are you making the trip down to SDCC?
TB: Unfortunately no SDCC for me, but I think I’ll manage with this wave of Cats keeping me company this week.
WWMTC: So the impressive Bengali finally completes the Season 2 main line up of adult ThunderCats (not counting Jagara, of course). This must be a milestone in any collector’s book right?
TB: I think so. I’ve certainly been looking forward to this point in the line. I know we still need “new” Thunder Kittens and of course Snarf, but we’re close to being “done” with the team.
WWMTC: Did you expect to get this wave so fast after Cheetara arrived almost two months before we expected her?
TB: Not at all, feels like some things are starting to pick back up and trend in the right direction again. Now we just need to see what happens going forward since after this we’re in a holding pattern until wave 6, not counting Mandora and the tank, of course.
WWMTC: At first glance, is this the Bengali we always wanted?
TB: He’s pretty close at the very least. I’m going to go so far as to say he’s the best ThunderCat so far. He feels different and better than past figures, just like Monkian did.
WWMTC: Super7 seems to keep surprising us with their finished products, and this wave was the first to be revealed as digital renders, not painted prototypes. Do you feel that folk will be pleased because of this? Did it come out as close as possible to the solicitation?
TB: I think he’s pretty close. Colors are maybe a little more vibrant in plastic, the whites in particular are incredibly bright, but this looks really close to solicitation images to me.
WWMTC: We have some nifty accessories with Bengali. Which are your favorites? And was there anything you would’ve liked to see come with him instead?
TB: The hammer is easily my favorite but the reforged Sword is a close second. Everything he has is really good if not a little on the odd side for accessories. No matter how cool and very specific the anvil and pedestal are, they’re still kind of “weird” to me, but a good set nonetheless. I wish, however, he came with a broken sword, but maybe they’re saving that for Tug Mug.
WWMTC: His alt head – please confirm that the eyes are indeed just painted yellowish, and are not glow in the dark?
TB: Just painted, no glow this time around.
WWMTC: Of the two, which do you prefer?
TB: Hard to say, I haven’t picked a favorite yet. I might be leaning towards the “normal” head but both are really good and serve different purposes.
WWMTC: The trio of new ThunderCats are now also completed by Bengali’s arrival. Isn’t it about time that we now get their opponents, the Lunataks? Which one would you like to see first?
TB: I’d love for them to just go all out and give us a Luna and Amok 2 pack right out of the gate, but personally I’d love to get Red Eye first. I welcome any and all Lunataks, though.
WWMTC: Besides Snarf and the kittens, we have now run out of “A-listers” of the noble kind. Which other official ThunderCats would you like to see in plastic? Claudus? Jagara? Lynxana? Any comic book characters like WilyCub?
TB: If we’re going “any” Thunderian it would be Lynxana, I think her design would translate to toy really well. If we’re sticking with the cartoon for now, Jagara for sure. Wilycub (and cat) would need to wait for the “vintage” Thunderians to be made before they got on my list.
WWMTC: Who is next on your review schedule?
TB: It’s going to be a busy week with days with multiple videos, so keep an eye out!
