It’s been a while since we last spoke with our good friend ToyBro about anything ThunderCats-related, so it is a great feeling to be back in the saddle again to talk new in-hand toys from Super7. Sit back and relax as we talk about Wave 5.5’s Mandora and her mighty bike, the Electro-Charger.
WWMTC: Hey Jared, it’s been a minute since we last got together to talk about ThunderCats. Did you have a nice Christmas with the family and maybe something cat-related under (or on) the tree?
TB: Well yes and no. We went to Disney and all came back sick, so take that how you will.
WWMTC: Oh boy, not a nice way to spend the festive season. Luckily that’s all over now and we’re kicking off 2023 with a beastly combo. What did it feel like to see these two together in its packaging? Any 80s call backs?
TB: It was nice to see something…different in the line for change, not just a figure. The packaging for the Charger in particular is very different from anyting Ultimates, and very much looks like an older style of box, but not necessarily mimicking a ThunderCats vehicle box. Always some good callbacks though like the font choices, colors and of course that LJN burst.
WWMTC: While this wasn’t the first vehicle out of the gate, it is the first one to arrive. Is it as awe-inspiring as it looks on photos? What is the most impressive part of it for you?
TB: I think the thing that’s going to immediately hit people is just how big this is. For something that’s just a 1 or 2 person vehicle, this thing is HUGE.
WWMTC: So the vehicle has had some new owners scratch their heads in terms of how the wheels operate. Is it easy to maneuver and to make it stand on the wheels only, or does it require a stand to be kept upright?
TB: It can definitely balance without the stand. The wheels pop out of their little wells and it’s surprisingly well balanced, it can sit on the wheels without the stand or the kickstand in use as long as the surface is pretty flat.
WWMTC: There are some compartments to store weapons and also a magnetized panel for the buttons near the steering wheel. Are you surprised by how well the space was utilized on the bike? It isn’t just a hollow shell, is it?
TB: It’s definitely not just a hollow shell, it definitely has some hollow parts, of course. But those are for the wheels and storage for the soap gun. The magnetized panels are really cool, too, I’m not sure I was even aware that’s how those worked until I got this open.
WWMTC So the bike seats two figures. One thing I’ve experienced before is that on items like Classics Battle Cat and Swiftwind, the figures sitting on it have their legs kicked out to the sides. Is this something that is a problem here too?
TB: Yes and no. They definitely aren’t going to need their legs that far kicked out, like on a MOTUC mount, but they will take some work to get them sitting well enough. I think Mandora suffers from a lack of hip and knee range that makes this more difficult than it needs to be.
WWMTC: That brings us to Mandora, the first female in the line that never had a toy before. Is she everything she was promised to be?
TB: For the most part, yeah, I think so. Very much looks like the show, has a lot of very specific accessories for her. I wish she could move a little better but she very much falls in line with Ultimates.
WWMTC: Somebody pointed out the difference in the weapon holder’s color from prototype to final product. Super7 have actually gone and corrected it to make it cartoon accurate. Are there any other differences that you have picked up that you are pleased with or concerned about?
TB: That was a welcome change, not the biggest mistake of course, but a small correction that helped make her more accurate for sure. Beyond that she looks pretty similar to what those renders showed us.
WWMTC: Mandora has two specific looks, one being her current costume but the other being mostly black without the pink and red shoulder pads. Is it possible to give her that look with this figure?
TB: Funny you should ask, her torso is actually sculpted like the OTHER look, underneath the shoulder pads. Those are separate pieces and I accidentally popped the pink pads off and found it. The red part is more heavily glued down so I’m not sure how easily it’ll be to remove cleanly, but the torso needed for that look is there.
WWMTC: That glued down shoulder pads may be a disappointment to some, but do you think this gives Super7 an opportunity to release a variant of her later down the line sporting an all black look?
TB: Absolutely, simply don’t include the shoulder pads and she’s done, seems as though this may be part of the plan for her.
WWMTC: Her weapons and accessories are signature to Mandora. Which ones are your favorites?
TB: I love the energy effect boomerang. It’s goofy and weird, and we don’t get a lot of effects in Ultimates, so that’s a nice inclusion. That said, while it doesn’t come with HER, the soap gun is probably my favorite. I always think of that first when it comes to her.
WWMTC: That badge of hers sports a picture of Mandora, very much like the one Turtle communicator had a picture of Donatello on. Is the paintwork on it crisp and clear?
TB: Very much so, her portrait on the badge in particular is super sharp.
WWMTC: Having this vehicle now opens up the doors for other smaller vehicles in this line. What would you like to be released next?
TB: Knowing how big some of these vehicles have to be changes my perception of things now. I’d probably go with a Nosediver or Skycutter, but I’d LOVE to see them do Hachiman with Doji-Kage.
WWMTC: We only have a few more weeks until the mighty ThunderTank ships out to people, and Wave 6 will also be making the rounds at about the same time. Have you found a space to display your tank?
TB: Ha, quite frankly I’m dreading the tank’s arrival. By all accounts its bigger than anything I have to display it on. It’s going SOMEWHERE though.
WWMTC: On that note, keep the drinks cold so long, before you know it we’ll be back for another Q&A of more ThunderCats. 2023 will be filled with lots of new releases and preorders to boot.
TB: Looking forward to it, we’ve got some really good stuff coming this year!
