We sat down one last time (for now) to finish the new Super7 ThunderCats ULTIMATES! Wave 6 discussion with ToyBro. With so much going on in the ThunderVerse recently, we couldn’t help but start off our convo with Jared Elswick about the latest and greatest news to hit our screens recently.
WWMTC: We’re back one more time to talk about Wave 6. So far we’ve basically caught up with everything and there is only Wave 7 and 8, the Ghost Jaga exclusive and Reptilian wave that is due later this year. But before we get to Monkian, what do you think about the Wave 8 reveal? Any surprises? Any wishes for Wave 9?
TB: We’ve got Lunataks! Well, Lunatak, so I’m SUPER happy. The wave in general, I think, is really solid. A lot of important side characters AND of course our first S7 Kitten, I’m very curious to check all of them out. But Alluro definitely has most of my attention.
WWMTC: Monkian looks like he got dipped in chocolate sauce. He is really a great depiction of his vintage toy. Are you impressed?
TB: I’m really happy with this one. I’ve always liked the vintage Monkian and this is very close to that style. Of course it’s not exactly the same since it’s mostly a repaint of the toon figure, but I’m happy to have a Monkian in this colorway.
WWMTC: Again, like with Mumm-Ra, you can see some tiny differences when compared to the vintage toy, because of how Super7 utilized his mold here. In some ways it does feel like an improvement over the vintage toy, right?
TB: I don’t know if I’d say improvement, but the figure is exactly what I expected. A recolor of the first Monkian, with a different head. Details aren’t 1 to 1 the same, like with TMNT Ultimates, but I think the existing toon figure transitioned really well to the LJN inspired design.
WWMTC: These are basically the toys we wanted as kids, but with more articulation. Who would you like to see next?
TB: Maybe a weird choice, but the Tuska Warrior. I always liked the toy design and with it being quite different from the show, it’s a good choice, granted it’s not a simple repaint to make it work, I don’t think. Definitely would need unique tooling, which makes me wonder if that would be done or if it would be overlooked.
WWMTC: Monkian is, like Cheetara, also limited in terms of accessories, but he does come with his mace that has a chain. Would you have liked to see his shield in here perhaps?
TB: Not really, honestly. I wouldn’t have been upset to get another shield, I suppose, but I also don’t think I’d use it here. For me, this Monkian gets the mace and that’s all he needs.
WWMTC: His helmet is removable. This is one of those pieces that got lost quite easily when we were children. How does it fit onto his head?
TB: It just sort of sits on it, it’s not snug or anything, so it’s easy to swap with the other head.
WWMTC: Talking about heads, which sculpt works the best for you here?
TB: I like both of them quite a bit, but as far as display goes, the “screaming” head will be what I go with, just because that’s what the LJN figure had. That said, I think there’s a lot of use for that alt head in terms of using this figure as “grunt” Monkians possibly.
WWMTC: Of the two Monkian releases so far, which is your favorite?
TB: I still think I prefer the toon version, but they’re also different enough that it doesn’t really matter. I think both are really good interpretations of their respective version.
WWMTC: These four characters are very different from their toon counterparts in terms of style. Which of the others do you think may be too close to the toon version to be remade in LJN style?
TB: Panthro and Tygra immediately come to mind, Panthro specifically is very close. But a lot of figures don’t necessarily fall into this category of being SO different that it’s easy to make a repaint. Safari Joe for example, that figure is very close, are the tiny differences enough to warrant 2 figures?
WWMTC: What are your overall feeling towards this subline now that you’ve lived with these four figures for a while?
TB: I like it, obviously the LJN stuff does it for me on a nostalgic level, but I’m always down for stuff like this to give us a different spin on the same figure, as long as it makes sense to some degree.
WWMTC: Last question – do you miss his lever? I think we know the answer to that one!
TB: I’ll continue to say…not really. Still think it would be cool, but ultimately (no pun intended) not needed.
WWMTC: Now to wait for the big arrival and then we’re heading to Limbo in a couple of weeks to talk SilverHawks Wave 2. I bet your most excited about Mon*Star right?
TB: Ha, absolutely. I’ve been dying to get my hands on that big dude!
