We were just talking about Mandora and the Electro-Charger the other day, and out of the blue comes Tygra, in his invisible form, to surprise and delight us all the way from the BBTS warehouse!
WWMTC: Hey Jared, didn’t we just do this like a few days ago? It looks like the ThunderCats machine is pumping out U! goodness into the masses and it is not close to stopping!!!
TB: Yeah we’re back again, but I’m certainly not complaining about having something new to talk about!
WWMTC: This was a surprise exclusive from BBTS last year. We’re not complaining, we had 3 exclusives last year, and this is one with lots of history. What was your first thoughts when you saw this being revealed?
TB: Excitement. It’s no secret that I’m a Tygra fan, so this one was on my want list for sure, and of course this is the right kind of exclusive. A variant that doesn’t need to occupy a spot in the main line.
WWMTC: Back in December it sounded like this one was not yet in production, but here we are, receiving a new and slightly modified version of Tygra. Apart from the invisibility, what else is “new” on here.
TB: The much maligned elbow pad is present on this figure. And what’s interesting is that this figure reveals what we were truly “missing” the first time. It wasn’t JUST an elbow pad, the entire upper arm/bicep is a different piece because of course the pad is part of the sculp. So we weren’t just missing the pad, we got the wrong upper arm last time.
WWMTC: How would you describe the plastic used for this figure?
TB: It definitely has a different feel than the regular Tygra, more brittle is the only way I can think to describe it. Harder. It seems fine though, I’m not worried about it breaking, it’s just the nature of this plastic, it’s going to feel different.
WWMTC: Do you worry that the plastic may turn brittle or yellow over the years?
TB: I know that’s a common worry, I’ve personally never encountered that problem to be concerned about it. My MOTUC Roboto and Goddess are still standing strong all these years later!
WWMTC: Does the plastic cause for his articulation to be any different?
TB: Not really, he moved exactly how I expected and I didn’t treat it any differently when testing it out.
WWMTC: If anything, would you say that we’re in for a treat with the upcoming Ghost Jaga release if Tygra is anything to go by?
TB: Absolutely, if this is any indication, Jaga will be great.
WWMTC: He has some paint on him, but it kinda looks like sandblasting on the photos. Does this work and enhance the figure?
TB: He has some, but very little paint. I think it does help the figure though. Tiger stripes, some facial features and the boot cuffs are all in white and its just enough to help him not literally disappear on your shelf, because he really is very clear.
WWMTC: He comes with the same accessories as before, only the rope is a piece of vinyl it seems? How is this different from the other whip?
TB: This whip is more pliable and stretchy than the regular version, which for me at least helped it to more easily “latch” onto him when I wrapped him up to pose him phasing to invisible. It’s a nice little touch that I wasn’t really expecting.
WWMTC: Two heads – one stoic and one expressive. Which is your favorite? And does the paint on it help to make the features stand out?
TB: I’m flipped on it this time around. Regular Tygra I preferred the regular head, this time around I prefer the snarling head, something about the lack of paint on the head helps it to work a bit better, as I wasn’t too found of his expression when the head was fully painted up.
WWMTC: Now that we have two Tygras, which is your favorite and why?
TB: Still the regular, but that’s just because I prefer that look. I think this new figure is in many ways just as good and how well they executed the “clear” here makes it just as valid of a choice.
WWMTC: There are still several other variants of Tygra that we could get. The LJN one is perhaps an obvious choice. But toon-wise, which versions of him would you perhaps like to see still?
TB: As much as I don’t think it would excite a lot of folks to see it happen, I would love an “old” Tygra. Not the LJN old Tygra, the version of him from Trouble with Time. Probably doesn’t make for a very engaging figure though.
WWMTC: Like “Glow-Ra” and “Frozo”, his packaging is also different. What are your thoughts on the exclusives being different than the rest?
TB: I like the different boxes, makes them seem a little more special and I like the foiled out boxes we’re getting on top of it.
WWMTC: So you coined the term “Glow-Ra”, I coined the term “Frozo”, what would you call this one? I couldn’t come up with anything clever yet and “Invisi-Gra” sounds like a little blue tablet. Any thoughts?
TB: I quite literally was going to call him “Invisi-Gra” but it just didn’t roll off the tongue well.
WWMTC: Don’t go away just yet. We have some more incoming ULTIMATES! that we need to talk about. Same time, same place?
TB: I’m not going anywhere, new figures and something BIG to discuss for sure.
