Ending our review conversations is always bittersweet. Weeks before the arrival of the review samples, preparations for our interview with Toy Bro, aka Jared Elswick, gets underway. When it finally happens, it flashes by so quickly that the final interview feels like going downhill. We’ve finished talking about the newest additions from Super7, the time to enjoy them has begun. And, sadly, the time to start waiting for the next batch of arrivals begins. Which is why ending these always reminds us of how lucky we are to still have more ThunderCats on the horizon. But before we disappear, let’s discuss Wave 5 one last time.
WWMTC: This character is a touchy subject for some collectors, because of its appearance as part of the wave. Many considered it a variant (when it was just Mumm-Ra in disguise) and wanted it sold separately. Do you honestly think it is a variant or is this a two-fold situation.
TB: I think it’s a little of both. It definitely IS a variant of Lion-O but this specific figure is of course not the same as the W1 Lion-O we already have, so I don’t mind it being introduced in a wave.
WWMTC: Brian Flynn’s one interview with TheFwoosh before the wave dropped hinted at a fifth figure. We all know now that Mandora was planned for that wave and pushed back eventually, and that he took her spot. We know that there was a holiday figure planned last year, but it never showed up. Do you think that this might have been that figure, and that it was ultimately grouped in here as a bonus figure, and then, eventually became one of the four?
TB: Possibly, it’s always possible the SDCC Lion-O could have been a holiday figure, considering the ice theme.
WWMTC: We got a brand new sculpt with this one so we can now get a pinless Lion-O in the future. Are you pleased with the sculpt and does this improve on the previous versions we got?
TB: I am. This is, like a lot of figures I’ve talked about recently, one of those figures that “feels” different, and better. Articulation is smoother, and the sculpt is more in line with the rest of the line.
WWMTC: They already reused this buck for the new SDCC exclusive. What other uses do you think there is for Lion-O? What would you like to see in terms of actual variants?
TB: I’d love to see an Exodus “torn shirt” variant, or a Lion-O with a cape, all of which could/would use this new body.
WWMTC: This is the third time we’re seeing the red Lion-O in toy form. The first time there was a partial glimpse of him back in the LJN days but that never saw the light of day. We got an Singapore exclusive with Bandai many years ago, and also saw him in his smaller form back with the Loyal Subjects not too long ago. You know personally this is a favorite character of mine. Are you pleased we got it now vs later?
TB: I am, specifically for the reasons you mention. It never made it to the vintage line, it was only an exclusive at a pretty obscure convention, so now you can just get it easily, and of course they made this the way to usher in the new body and some new accessories, so it all worked well as far as I’m concerned.
WWMTC: Did you know that the original Lion-O had a red costume on, not blue? So this is what he may have looked like had that stayed the way it was back in the day.
TB: Yeah there’s some of that old pre-production art work where he’s got a different color suit along with that ad where he’s red/orange, the one that’s also missing WilyKit.
WWMTC: The growling head – is this indeed a new growling head?
TB: 100% new. Very much a different head from what we got in wave 1.
WWMTC: The clawshield also comes with an episode specific look, when it was used during their climatic battle. Is there anything from that episode you may have wanted included here?
TB: Honeslty I’d love to get the “art” from DomeTone’s museum, as impractical as it may be. Or even the characters that show up, that’d be great, lol. Safari Joe, Ratar-O, DomeTone himself.
WWMTC: Is his skin tone different than the normal Lion-O?
TB: Sort of, but it’s not a big night and day difference. Maybe a slight change in hue.
WWMTC: Do you think that there could have been any other improvements to the sculpt that is now a missed opportunity?
TB: I think maybe the proportions could have been altered a bit, Lion-O still seems a little too He-Man still, they resculpted the figure but did keep it very close to the original.
WWMTC: What other one off Mumm-Ra guises would you like to see in this line?
TB: How much time do we have here? Mumm-Ra in Berbil form, Silky, Grygory Grygion….throw in his little Diamondfly form as an accessory somewhere, lots to choose from.
WWMTC: Will you be displaying him with the more expressive head again this time? These seem to be your favorites with most of the figures thus far.
TB: I prefer the regular head this time around so I’ll be sticking with that, the growling head seems a little “off” to me. Plus since I use the snarling head on the regular Lion-O it gives me a chance to have a more normal head on display.
WWMTC: Final thoughts on this figure?
TB: I like him, and I’m glad we have a new updated Lion-O that is more in line with 95% of the other figures we have so far. Granted he’s not “the” Lion-O, but we all know we’ll get a regular one using the updated parts sooner than later. Again, it’s another indication of where the line is going when you get your hands on him, he feels improved and of course I love the inclusion of the grappler claw shield, great little addition here that you can give to your regular figure.
WWMTC: We’ve now caught up with basically everything, and only have Mandora, her electro charger and the ThunderTank outstanding (and hopefully Wave 6 very soon!). Shall we mark the calendar for the October release of this beautiful beast and bask in its glory together?
TB: Absolutely, gives me time to figure out where in the world I’m going to put that tank!
