We’re back in the saddle with our fellow ThunderCats fan – ToyBro. While the year has already delivered the new Wave 10 preorder, and Wave 7 has shipped to collectors worldwide, ToyBro has had some time to live with the newest wave that started shipping at the tail end of last year, and we’ve finally come together to chat toys again. Let’s go!
WWMTC: We’re finally sitting around the same camp fire singing songs from Thundera again. How’s 2024 been treating you so far Jared? What’s new and what plans do you have for this year?
TB: The year so far has been a bit different for me than usual. I’ve been focusing on a lot of non-toy related things for the past couple months, but I’m working to ramp up my output again since so much is coming out. Multiple Ultimates Waves, new Legions, it’s a busy time for toys. Not to mention the enormous Eternia I have taking up space in my living room until I figure out what to do with it.
WWMTC: The new Wave 7 figures made its way to collectors just as the year ended and has been popping up all across the globe these past few weeks. You’ve had some time to “live” with them, which one stands out the most and why?
TB: Mongor is easily the stand out for me, which is why I tackled him first, and that’s mostly just because I really like the character. But there’s so much about him that S7 got right, that I couldn’t not do him right away.
WWMTC: Three of this wave’s characters had an LJN counterpart. Mongor was one of them, and in this U! shape he is towering over everybody. Is he everything you expected him to be, or more?
TB: He definitely lived up to my hopes. I have a weird fondness for him so I was really hoping they’d nail him and I think they did for the most part. The size, sculpt and accessories in particular really make him stand out, but he’s also just a great example of how good an Ultimates figure can be.
WWMTC: If you own or owned the vintage toy, you’d know the scythe used to be top heavy and would let him fall and destroy your display easily. The scythe here, with lovely flame effect, does not do that. Are you surprised by how these figures sometimes allow for display options you wouldn’t have thought possible otherwise?
TB: Absolutely. I love being surprised by these figures. Often times there’s something that isn’t heavily advertised or something I’d forgotten about because the figures were solicited so long ago, that it’s adds a little element of surprise when I first get my hands on a figure.
WWMTC: Flame on or flame off with the scythe?
TB: It’s going to have to be flame on, it looks too cool that way not to use it.
WWMTC: The alt head has surprised us all with GITD eyes. What did you think about it?
TB: Well it surprised me for sure considering I didn’t even know they glowed until AFTER I’d filmed my review. But I’m always up for glow anything, and the eyes worked well here. I really need to get into the habit of checking figures for glow, it would seem.
WWMTC: There is a moment or two in the cartoon where there are electric beams surrounding his horns, and Super7 gave these to add to Mongor’s fierce look. Have you figured out how to put them on?
TB: It took a few minutes but yeah. The easy way to figure out how to use them is to look at the promo renders of him, it shows which one goes on which horn and you can sort of see how they sit. They wrap and lock on in very obvious ways once you notice it, which made me pretty happy since they’re easy to use and make him look so much cooler.
WWMTC: Do you feel that it is a missed opportunity to have these beams as GITD instead? The material did make me think that it was.
TB: I definitely thought they were GITD based on how they look, but ultimately I don’t really care. It certainly would have been cool, but I like them well enough despite it. And the end of the day, I’m not often looking at my figures in the dark, so little things like that, while cool, don’t really bother me.
WWMTC: There has been several instances of past ThunderCats that has very sharp fingers, nails or claws, but Mongor takes the cake here. Even his beard is sharp like needles. What does the additional texture on a character mean to you that has fur or hair or scales? Besides being impressive, does it make what was one 2D become more lifelike to you with more appreciation of the character and the toy making process?
TB: I really like it here. He is definitely a bit rough on your hands, but it enhances the “realism” of what he is. He’s really flat in the show, so this gives him a lot of texture that he should have, but otherwise wasn’t drawn to have.
WWMTC: Now he has a variety of hands, but of the lot, which hands will you be using that stands out the most in terms of enhancing a character or a moment in the toon?
TB: Definitely the pointing hand in conjunction with him holding the scythe. I’m all about pointing fingers these days, they’re super easy to use to make something more dynamic without much effort.
WWMTC: Do you feel that Super7 has given us a bit of both versions of the character here? Toon and toy? Or do you still think that we can get an LJN version with an updated face, since the rest is basically the same?
TB: I think he’s definitely a mix of both. He’s both very heavy on the “toy” aspects but also the faces are very “toon” at the same time. I’m not counting out the possibility of a full on LJN figure, but I’m not sure he’s going to be high on the priority list there either.
WWMTC: I’ve seen several comments that Mongor feels like he could fit in with other lines too. If you are in agreement, which other toyline would you display him with, as he does have that Krampus vibe too, right?
TB: I think he has the potential to be used in a pretty generic fantasy setting just because of what he is. Nothing about him is overtly “ThunderCats” unless you know that’s what he’s from. Otherwise he’s just a devil goat dude, which can work well. First thought would be Mythic Legions, despite the aesthetic begin quite different.
WWMTC: This wave is probably the last of the ThunderCats waves to come with a sleeve. Do you keep yours or do you chuck them?
TB: I’ve been tossing Ultimates packaging for a while now. We’ve reached a point where if you’re into a lot of the lines like I am, that it’s just way too hard to keep the boxes without being consumed by them. So they had to start going.
WWMTC: Who will we have up next?
TB: I think I’ll need to tackle Uncle Osbert next. Though Ratar-O is definitely tempting me.
WWMTC: Keep the kettle boiling, we’ll be back for more toy talk soon!
