Masters of the Universe Origins: How the Mighty Hath Faltered

[@jthom0027]

I have a hard rule when it comes to entertainment (unnecessary) items. If a company purposely makes it hard to find, I'm 100% out. I was loving this line at the beginning but Mattel just HAD to throw some figures on Creations and just HAD to have Target (looking at you Rise of Evil) and Walmart exclusives. Then the retail spaces just HAD to trim down Origins to one peg so they could get Masterverse and the netflix show items out in the 7 inches of space that non Jurassic Park or Transformer toys were given. All of this was happening while what seemed like every single dad-bod having toy youtuber were telling me that either Origins was failing or its perfectly fine for companies to send people through the ringer to find any item they were wanting. Origins will be the end of my toy collecting. I loved it for what it reminded me of and disliked it for showing me how enthusiastically creatively bankrupt we are as a people nowadays. Thanks for the video!

[@ryanbwags]

Funny you mention Masterverse as they've apparently given up on that at retail as well. I've got a shelf of them and I'm about to sell them off and find something else to collect. I'm sick of not seeing any of them at retail. None of the stores in my area have gotten any new ones in at least 6 months. Hell, the Wal-marts around me don't have any Masters of the Universe at all! I refuse to buy any of it online. Hunting is part of the fun for me.

[@KasumiKenshirou]

I have the same rule. I have a full time job. I don't want to take time off so I can constantly refresh my browser at a certain time and rush to order something before the run out in 5 minutes.

[@shanekaylor580]

Exclusives are what happens when a company (Mattel) needs to convince a retailer (walmart) to buy their product. If Rise of Evil, for example, wasn't a target exclusive then Target likely would not have been interested in carrying any of the motu line at all. It's a reboot, not a fresh new product all the kiddos are clamoring for, and Target gives zero fks if Mattel is successful with it or not. How many exclusives has Target done recently w this line? Rise of Evil and the Battlefield 2pack both wound up in heaps at closeout stores like Ollies cause no one was buying them at Target. They got burned, not likely to try again w this line.

[@Carn_Is_Done]

@@ryanbwags eh, Masterverse is plentiful where I live. They're a wave or two behind online stores but they're still getting them in on shelves.

[@KeldorTheWhite]

As someone who lives in the Uk is a real pain. Especially finding out that Battlefield two pack became cheap ​@shanekaylor580

[@neillowery7634]

I wish Mattel would reissue “Jayce and The Wheeled Warriors” I ❤ Vac Metal!

[@kidchuckle]

oh man.. That would be special. But it seems like a pipe dream now.

[@redcomet_622]

The 2nd half of the line is essentially when it became tailor made for scalpers.

[@StarTrekDoor]

It's nice to have a hobby. It's not nice when toys are unobtainable because they're either limited edition, exclusive to special shops and conventions or over priced etc. Also, not nice when sold in some countries and not all.

[@a.rheser8181]

Amen

[@brianlabelle9543]

Agreed. All of the Wal-Mart and Target exclusives are unavailable in Canada, that’s why I gave it up.

[@StarTrekDoor]

@@a.rheser8181 🙏

[@StarTrekDoor]

@@brianlabelle9543 🤪 It's crazy.

[@Carn_Is_Done]

@@brianlabelle9543 Eh, does no one import them for you? I live in UK and I've got the Masterverse store exclusives fine enough from UK based online retailers importing them. I've seen them do Origins too

[@MarleneHomewood-e8l]

I think the cartoon line is great

[@retroblasting]

Not really the point.

[@PelinalDidNothingWrong]

The amount of variants in MOTU Origins gave me flashbacks to what killed the 200x line back in the early 2000's. Like who the hell wanted so many He-Man and Skeletor variants then and now??

[@BowserTheThird]

They’re mostly recreating original figures, sure there’s the Snake Armor ones but they’re very different and cool

[@scockery]

The most irritating 200X variant was Serpent Crush Skeletor, a release that should've been Ssssqueeze who never got a figure in the actual toy line.

[@subraxas]

I wish that Michael gets the action figure of Mighty Spector for Christmas. 😀 😛

[@joemartin5669]

I hear it makes a great substitute Yule log if you burn it;)

[@subraxas]

@@joemartin5669 😀

[@ericcampbell4211]

This video is 100% spot on. These toys should come with their gimmicks, not just to pose. You can't play with them having to change parts every two minutes. I really miss the old school days of collecting. Great video Retroblasting, this is why i watch.

[@alterschwede8387]

Anti Eternia He-Man was actually an character in a german radio play and looked right that on its cover. Its episode 11 called "anti eternia".

[@retroblasting]

That's not really the point.

[@tolliverjase8589]

Motu, Gi Joe, and most other toy lines without cartoons or even with are aimed for adult collectors, not kids. The Motu line isn't a confusing line to collect and not hard to get, and I enjoy the different versions. Origins vintage line will be completed, and She Ra stuff is coming in the cartoon line

[@justicierodelaliga]

I´m not a MOTU fan or collector but know what´s going on. I could argue that the reason why they haven´t finished the main line is because there aren´t that many left. As such, they want to spread them as far as possible. For instance, why aren´t people demanding the figure of Blast-Attak?

[@Rocket1377]

Because he isn't a very popular character? He never appeared on the cartoon, and was released in 1986 at the tail end of the line (when most figures from 1985 were still clogging shelves). He also requires 100% unique parts (unlike most He-Man figures that all share the same sculpts).

[@justicierodelaliga]

@@Rocket1377 He should be most favorite character.

[@kaltech04]

I just want to point out, if you hadn't noticed yet, that the cage in the new Snake Mountain can connect to the trap door platform. So it essentially replaces the net.

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

ADAM: I have the power! BROKEN VADER: Your "power" is insignificant to the power of the Force ADAM: You have no arms!

[@stevebragg4256]

I loved the 1987 movie Masterverses. Especially the Meg Foster Evil-Lyn we never got before. Hoping more characters get done that we never got before.

[@mdr8615]

About the action gimmicks. I lament the loss of those too. A lot of the vintage figures are defined by their unique gimmick. I think what happened is Mattel soon discovered that only 40+ men were buying these figures (sometimes forcing their kids, who just want to play on their tablet, to go on nostalgia trips with them). If no-one is playing with these toys it probably made more sense to just focus on poseability and the uniformity in swapping of bodyparts - a dream come true for customizers. I still have all these things mint on card. Should I ever take them out, they will be put on static display. So I don't really mind anymore. I have the vintage figs if I want to play with action gimmicks.

[@mightybluespider]

Origins repeated many of the sins of Classics, which is actually INEXCUSABLE

[@stephaniebaxter7389]

If you didn’t know the cage in the origins snake mountain can be put under the trap door so when the figure falls through it falls into the cage then you can put it back under the floor with skeletors throne.

[@gregoryneal6090]

The Turtles of Grayskull line is where it’s at.

[@retroblasting]

Proof that recreational drugs ruin a person.

[@lareh5501]

I want *_MORE_* MOTU crossovers using the origins buck. Make characters from Thundarr and other Hanna Barbara & adjacent properties. Space Ghost, that faĺcon guy with the dyno mutt, and why not some of the other 80s lines that are getting relatively recent releases in other scales, like thundercats, silverhawks, bravestarr, c.o.p.s... matter of fact, I think there's enough to kitbash a bulletproof, just need to look for some sunglasses that might fit on a boxcut sunman or clamp champ headsculpt, and throw a playmates TMNT trenchcoat on an origins buck.... *_"it's criiimmme fightin' tiiimmmme."_*

[@retroblasting]

Does your mom still cut the crusts off the bread for you?

[@bountyhunter779]

I was watching Masters of the Universe, but I was collecting Star Wars figures and G.I Joe at the time and, when you are a kid... you think the toys you see in your favorite toy store will never go away and you can always get them another day!

[@BH-in4nl]

You summed it up well. The only thing that they did right IMO was to re-release the waves that they initially screwed up and sent overseas while over-ordering the Buzz-off/Naked Stratos wave.

[@Rocket1377]

The store managers are the ones to blame for that. They never understand that ordering more stock from the same wave is a bad idea.

[@theflyingninja1]

I had to watch that intro twice. Hilarious. Haven't thought about him in a long time. He seemed to just disappear into the ether.

[@jesusvillasenor355]

The intro of you and BV looking at the Eternia playset! I literally rolled on the floor laughing. Another masterpiece video, Michael! Loved it!

[@ScottHarders]

This video explains to me why I found Origins at Ollie's.

[@esa5952]

You absolutely nailed this review! From your intro that didn’t let that know it all now a nobody get away Scott free to a fair and balanced evaluation of a line that should have been great but suffered from stupid pivots. Bravo on a thought provoking and entertaining video

[@natevaughn2307]

I kicked myself for selling my childhood He-Man toys. Now , as an adult, I'm kicking myself for rebuying He-Man toys.... At least most of them were on sale.

[@Atrox-Veritas]

You at least made some money my friend. My entire collection was throw away to the trash by my mother.😭

[@Finkwood]

I have almost every one of these, plus a lot of the vehicles and playsets. Where is the best place to sell these? Ive had them for 40 years, and I need room in my storage unit 😢

[@CobraSaboteur]

Great video! 🤘🏻

[@Toygains]

MOTU as a whole has to be the most confusing toy line out there to collect.

[@Gangstor]

Not as confusing as the lore 🤣

[@shootermcgavin1208]

Transformers has entered the chat.

[@user-jp3vl5jx1j]

Is it? Im in MOTU for too long so cant really say. What´s confusing you?

[@Gangstor]

@@shootermcgavin1208 🤔...

[@zachjohnson5018]

12 inch Gi Joe and Matt Mason: "Are we a joke to you?"

[@mopkrayz]

Eternia was 1000€ in Europe... oucccchhhh!!!

[@oansun]

I still love Sun-Man, and so glad we got them

[@StarshipYorktown]

Yeah, I liked the inclusion. Made me want to see other characters like Bravestarr and Blackstar in the line.

[@sarderts7680]

@@StarshipYorktown racist

[@Carn_Is_Done]

@@sarderts7680 How are they racist?

[@sarderts7680]

@@Carn_Is_Done POC Collectors are

[@StarshipYorktown]

@@sarderts7680 Racist? Why? Was Mattel racist for making Clamp Champ back in 1987? What you say doesn't make any sense. Diversity in MOTU is a good thing.

[@1comictear]

Great video I’m a kid and it is frustrating, because they made Eternia made it exclusive and the secondary market is way overpriced and I cannot afford the original and so many key characters, exclusives, or hard to find like scare glow

[@TheBoglin]

20:36 No word on Two-Bad yet, but Origins Rio Blast was shown off at SDCC this past July, so he'll be (*sigh*) a Mattel Creations exclusive. Oh and Modulok will be on Amazon AND other online retailers apparently so I guess thats good? 21:10 Well Frosta & Catra will be out in the Cartoon Collection in 2025 so better late then never?

[@Newsystuffs]

I mean Modulok would probably the only other one I'd get since I had the OG figure before, but man. It's a shame they fumbled as hard as they did. Two-Bad really neaded an update. This feels almost like how Hasbro treated the Lightning Collection or even TF: Legacy nowadays. Where they'll focus on one thing, the jump into another and then forget that other thing existed.

[@OGTrilogy]

I agree about the character selection, exclusives and playsets. I disagree about most of the action features though. It's cool if they can re-create the gimmick without hindering the poseability, like Clawful, Battle Armor He-Man and so on. I like to display my figures and take photos of them. I don't play with them the same way I did when I was a kid. I don't need figures that shoot water, I'd rather have the effects parts instead. I agree they're definitely making us wait too long for Two-Bad, but I also appreciate new characters and variants being sprinkled in here and there. Lords of Power Merman, Frog Monger and the Skeleton Warriors for example are all awesome figures and I'm thrilled to have them in my collection.

[@retroblasting]

You're asking Origins to be Classics -- and apparently they fucking listened. A shame.

[@MusicTheLifeBlood]

I gave up on collecting Origins because of poor distribution & how difficult it became to get the ones I wanted & I'm not going to feed into the cycle of scarcity driving up the cost on the secondary market. Plus, I agree with you Michael - skimping on the special features of the figures was a let down. Not even gonna bother with the pure asinine nature of that Eternia playset. Good editorial video man. -Dustin

[@Tripoli-xf6se]

Great vid as always!

[@AllBreaksLoose]

I was just thinking we haven't seen DV lately! Great video on the current state of he-man origins. I saw the stranger things crossover too at target.

[@AnalogToys]

This is an incredible video and that intro was gold!

[@derekmcmanus8615]

Tripping balls!

[@elextrano7597]

I need to apologise i am one of the one that wanted sun man character and i got them 😅 and also snake men but dang is true inwould have rather get all the 80s ones first

[@Fauntleroy.]

I like the Sun Man characters too, but those characters and the variants should be the exclusives. The classic characters should be at retail. It's so simple.

[@paolomongon6616]

@@elextrano7597 Don't be sorry... I gladly welcomed the Sun-man set! I love the diversity and whacked out colors and accessories. Space Sumo also gave us an Asian character that actually looks like a human being and not just some chop saki stereotype.

[@elextrano7597]

@@paolomongon6616 i just think they are neat addition to the heroes... and yes i got 2 of the sun mans

[@crossedstreams3683]

It never once crossed my mind that these were for kids. The price point on the individual figures seemed a little high for that. I worked in the toy department for Target for a bit, and you can quickly identify what lines are for adult collectors and what's for child consumers from price alone. I also get why they made some of the play feature vhanges. Fewer parts mean fewer things to break. Lastly, I dig the motu and tmnt crossover, so agree to disagree, and I'm looking to start collecting those at some point

[@mistermustachio336]

At this point, Modulok and Rio Blast are the only two Origins figure that I'd feel any need to add to my collection.

[@Rocket1377]

They are both getting released in Q1 2025.

[@travispowell1513]

Slow releasing Origins figures is great for me. I collect 3 lines and this lets me continue because im prepared for the MOTU releases. We get enough notice to prepare and if we cant secure enough funds to buy 3 outright, then you use a few other options. Just finish out the originals and the Horde.

[@Rocket1377]

Yep, I actually prefer it this way. Keep it going as long as possible. Vintage only collectors only need to worry about 1 figure each quarter, and the rest of us can get a bunch of new characters to help flesh out the world of Eternia. Everybody is happy.

[@ryanbwags]

I used to put Spector Creative's channel on when I couldn't sleep at night. Worked every time.

[@joeholtster1891]

Try Grilling with JR that old mumbling fart always puts ya to sleep.

[@Carn_Is_Done]

eh i wouldn't dare give his videos any more views after the idiotic experience I had with him...

[@AmericanDischord]

Nailed it!

[@Linchpin_TF]

MOTU was ons a part of my childhood and give my parents' endless agony in the past. today i have a origins heman and skeletor symbolic in my shelf.

[@Weremoogle]

Well said. Thank you. This was cathartic.

[@davesample7862]

Nothing is missed in this video! Spot on Micheal!

[@arctrooper999]

Ya know, every time I watch a vintage or Origins video and see battle damaged or thunderblast whatever He-Man and Skeletor I always think about that when I was playing with my toys once I had He-Man and Skeletor I never asked for an upgrade cause that Christmas list slot could go to a character I didnt have😊

[@dariusq8894]

Yeah, Origins is far from perfect, but I still have a soft spot for this line. Some of the variants are downright nonsense, while others I'm into. The Turtles x Grayskull is a perfect example of this with about a 50:50 cool to lame ratio.

[@javi_gn]

People forget that this is a business, and politics and economics has a lot to do with this products, Mattel of course has their own failures, but we have to recognize that even with the fact that Motu is a collector limited toyline and kids are not interested in this toys anymore, they still have some commitment to release the figures in any way possible and of course obtain some profit, I even can be sure they motu is not as profitable as it was in the 80,s but Mattel still show some love to a Limited fan base that just want to get all the vintage figures and move on..

[@nolanmerchan5095]

Here, here! I agree, I'm 43 and just got back into MOTU and I'm so glad that new figures are still coming out, found some at Target without even looking for them and I don't have to search on eBay, which can get expensive. I plan on getting as many as I can for my son so he can have some cool toys growing up.

[@Rocket1377]

Well said. We are lucky MOTU Origins is still going at all. Very few toy lines last this long anymore. I appreciate Mattel's commitment to finishing it, they just have to make sure it remains profitable in order to do so.

[@burntvirtue]

Weird then how so many of their business decisions and strategies are so anti-profit.

[@Xô_Bitor]

Nailed it with this video! Everything is so precise and true. I feel the same way with this line.

[@maniacmasks]

Eternia is the greatest playset ever in my opinion second is the hyve i don't regret the cash i spent importing them both too the uk ,etrernia is visually stunning and the tram is the magic for me , the line is never ending so space is the problem now they promised to complete the line and i think they will bring them all out and extra characters the way they are smashing them out.

[@Fauntleroy.]

I had the original Eternia. I was 7 and it was pure magic. I think it's cool they brought it back... but I can't get behind big companies crowd funding, and I can't support that outrageous price point.

[@a.rheser8181]

Fantastic video as always Michael. I’ve been a fan of Motu since the beginning and collected them as soon as I had my own income. I was so excited when the line was announced and looking forward to it. But with all the exclusives, the weird figures I’m not really interested in etc, I rarely buy origins anymore, and when I want to buy something, I can’t.

[@Zombi.K]

Seeing that eternia playset makes me wish for a motu land in universal studios

[@firelightyear]

Same here for Hollywood and Osaka Japan.

[@trollpaintingminis4496]

My biggest frustration with this line has been tracking down the exclusives. I grew up with 200x figures not the original 80s line or filmation cartoon so I've actually enjoyed all the snake men and turtles stuff. I'm just getting really tired of mattel creations exclusives.

[@RobClooney]

A really insightful video, I'm really glad I've come across it. My little one has really gotten into She-Ra; she even went dressed as the princess of power for Halloween. We're excited about the POP series being included in the cartoon collection, and hopefully they treat it much better than the She-Ra originals. But anyway, when it came to the WWE crossovers, they stopped making the WWE Retro (Hasbro style) figures to make the WWEternia line. And I was really into the Retro figs, that I purposely did not want to get the WWEternia line. Fast forward to when my daughter got into the MOTU, and I now have half the WWEternia figs on my game room wall, along with the Origins Horde figs mixed in. Anyway, hope to see more of your content.

[@RobClooney]

I am bummed to see the origins line not having the original features of the figures. That's what made them fun in the first place.

[@robbieracer3294]

Mattel cutting corners are known and being seen very clearly by us Hot Wheels guys too... literally just repainting cars/trucks from 2022/2023 for 2024 and 2025 is looking even worse. Distribution on some of their anniversary cars, holiday cars.. completely absymal this year.

[@SeansModelBuilds]

I was done with Mattel Creations when it stopped shipping to Canada. Now I wait for Toy Conventions to buy Origins, and the Cartoon Collection.

[@JurassicRod]

As I have my vintage collection AND Classics/Masterverse for modern sculpting and articulation, Origins didn't really have a place in my collection. It was the characters who were not in the vintage line that appealed to me in Origins. However I couldn't care less about Sunman. I wanted vintage style figures of Masters of the Universe characters not in the original line. Filmation characters for instance.

[@ooshiemaniac5188]

I LOVE all the new snake men and sun men figures. Most of us already have all the old figures its good to add new characters to the collection.

[@juankid8802]

As someone who is merely peeking in as someone interested in the toys of the past, this was an interesting video to watch. Born in the late 90s, I never experienced Kenner or any of the other toys of that generation, but it’s been interesting to watch your videos and learn about their past. It looks like this is another case of a company losing focus and pushing their ideas of distribution rather than having someone more knowledgeable of the toy collecting scene explains things to corporate. Great video, despite me not knowing much about He-Man

[@Salsaandoval82]

Great video! I gave up on Motu origins,because I couldn’t find most of them. I have some,but I pick and choose.

[@stevenhuff6400]

I enjoyed this immensely. It's all too true. I love the Filmation and Masterverse figs though. 😊

[@Carn_Is_Done]

I like both of those far more than regular Origins. Masterverse is my fave figure line of recent times. Cartoon Collection is nice too though I don't have as strong an affection for the cartoon but it's cool to see them done for those who do love it that much (I did buy He-Man just to include him in 'multiverse' figure photos with others)

[@JRJohnson1701]

I'm trying to collect all the MOTU Origins figures... but some are just way too exclusive and I find out about them way way too late. I do want to get Wun-Darr though. I have about 1/5 of the entire line right now.

[@Mas0n-80]

I have many and yet I will always still buy different varieties of heman villains or hero’s horse cars and castles

[@hgc7000]

It has been easier to pick up a vintage Grizzlor and King Hiss than getting the Origins version. The King Hiss pre order "selling out" has been the example of why the line has been become frustrating for me. I know I'll find one eventually at a local show or swap meet. Or I'll just pick up that Turtles/MOTU crossover version. Side Note: My kids referred to Lords of Power Beast Man as "Flasher Beast Man". He is the perfect tag team partner for Nudist Stratos.

[@Nijirain]

perfect video about a line i never liked. Also for the reasons you explained. RB always the best toy channel!

[@batangbatugan]

History repeating itself? I wonder if Mattel is afraid that once they DO release all the missing vintage figures people would stop buying the rest of the line?

[@derektorres6260]

I share many of your sentiments, but I am buying the turtles of grayskull line. I haven’t bought a single exclusive and I’m anti billion dollar companies doing crowdfunding. Great video

[@imj3688]

Good video. I've said all over social media where I can - the boutique toy culture is killing the hobby and will be it's death.

[@wesleyhendricks2486]

I was pretty young during the original Heman and got into origins to relive that childhood music and pass it to my kids. The feels faded after Grizzlor, it's been too hard to collect. Mattel Creation is a joke with major figures selling out in seconds. Selling online is fine but then produce enough for demand. Valaverse is a great example for them.

[@bookat69]

Dang, I never saw Whiplash at retail, and missed out on the pre-orders way back when he first went up. Also, they did show off a Rio Blast at SDCC...no idea where that's going to end up as far as being able to buy it yet though.

[@jolemaire6629]

Nitpicking over a few mistakes in a, for the rest very succesful line. It's way better then anything hasbro does this decade.

[@retroblasting]

Captain No Standards here....

[@jolemaire6629]

@retroblasting I'm way more critical then you for most of the time and usually agree with you. But here you are overexagerating. Compared to any other modern action figure line this line delivers, is easy to get and affordable.That it is not a perfect replica of the 1980's is not always a downside.

[@user-bx4nf5xl6c]

Going into this line I was like you Michael, I wanted nostalgically pleasing carded versions of my favorite characters at an affordable price point. Clearly the affordability went out the window quickly, and while I find some of the variants and Origins originals fun, I have practiced buyer control as much as possible. I did buy both Castle Grayskull and Snake Mountain, but I couldn’t justify the Eternity purchase to myself, my children, or especially to my wife, yikes! Needless to say, I don’t have buyers remorse, but also like you I wish they had stayed focused on the original 80s lineup and didn’t feel the need to lock everything behind an exclusive pay wall. As always, thanks for your commentary, humor, and common sense, and hopeful we’ll receive Rio Blast in the near future. Sadly I fear his gun focused aesthetic is holding him up in production Hell.

[@FightOstinFight]

What’s fun about head swapping or neck attachments??? What were they thinking?

[@michaelwills1926]

They were probably thinking it would be a cool gimmick, because toys have gimmicks

[@razrentals8897]

I would like them to finish remaking the original figures too. A new Rio Blast would be amazing, but I’m happy getting new characters and Snakemen too. The Snakemen figures were always my favorite as a kid. I’d like a mix. 3 out of 4 original remakes, 1 new character.

[@Carn_Is_Done]

"Rio Blast would be amazing"? He was revealed in July.

[@razrentals8897]

@@Carn_Is_Done awesome! I didn’t know.

[@benb2296]

Who is he talking about in the beginning?

[@francoisregis2155]

A guy who used to work for Mattel he created master of the universe toys and he thinks he know everything he even created his own figure to be included in the motu universe.

[@michaelwills1926]

@@francoisregis2155I would think creating the toys would make him more of an expert than the joyless prince here

[@jeremykerr3871]

And always remember, drugs might help you enjoy your Eternia playset for now, but the fun won't last forever and will only hurt you and the ones you love in the long run. Great video, sir.

[@Fauntleroy.]

"You, all right? I learned it by watching you!" Parents who play with Eternia... have kids who play with Eternia. 😢

[@TGWNN.]

Love the old-style logo too!

[@LewisChristisonVids]

I agree with you 1000% on how most of the online only exclusives should have been general release, while obscure repaints like Anti-Eternia He-Man, and Naked Stratos should have been the exclusives. Seeing every single newer MOTU item go on clearance when they were only 6 months old, while he's been there for literal years has made me hate the character. I have to disagree with you on the concept and guest star figures. I love the fact that we got brand new Sun-Man figures; and I'd imagine Mattel had a deal with the creator that they would have to be in stores; since the whole point of the original Sun-Man line was to give kids more diverse human characters. I love the WWF and Turtle crossovers, as well as things like Frog Monger, and all the snakes who were either vintage concepts or Classics characters. In terms of action features it's so odd; In one wave we got Horde Trooper with the break apart feature (Even though I'd have rather him be a solid figure) and Mantenna who not only had the eye bug out feature, but also has a ball jointed neck, AND they gave him 4 legs; all for a basic figure; Then the next several waves and no spitting, no neck extending, no tongue lashing, no nothing! Snake Face could have had the snake pop out action if Mattel had used a similar mechanism as their Mantenna. You are so right about Cobra Khan; they could have made him a lil' squirt bottle. Then they could have also done a lazy Dragon Blaster head on Cobra Khan body new character. I could go on and on about the agony and ecstasy of current year He-Mans, so I better stop for now. Hope you have a nice day.

[@planetschlock]

3:34 I feel like this could have been a prime opportunity for an over-the-top fart sound effect.

[@retroblasting]

Nope

[@robbieracer3294]

I do love the New Eternia figures, some of those are gorgeous looking, but it seems those are mostly being sold online now as the stores around me only ever get in a few and sit on them for months. But it is a shame how things ended up. And as i just finished watching the entire video, HOLY CROW were there a ton figures i never saw on the pegs! Wow...and sad thing is i have a Target or Walmart on just about every corner around me. Also, that animated line dried up and moved onto online stores as well...last i checked on Big Bad's site there were some new ones that definitely came out after the stires quit carrying them

[@LadySienna1]

Great video! Bravo!

[@louisthom2595]

I love my MOTU Origins figures - but yes, agreed - the sequence which they came out in and the decisions by Mattel in relation thereto hurt the market badly - especially in a far away destination like here in South Africa. Toy stores would over-stock on a wave that included Sun-Man and the likes - the wave would not sell, and then they would skip the next wave or two that included must-haves like Buzz Off. This forced me to online sites which provided these figures at much higher prices. Enough to make me want to tear what is left of my hair out! Lol...

[@KJ-tz7vc]

Frosts and Catra Origins figures were listed on Amazon and sold out within minutes.

[@retroblasting]

I only see Masterverse versions of those figures. The only Origins character I have heard of from that duo is the announced Cartoon version of Catra that hasn't launched yet.

[@KJ-tz7vc]

@@retroblasting OK, that must be the one, then. Origins scale, anyway.

[@Carn_Is_Done]

@@KJ-tz7vc yeah those are Cartoon Collection and look very nice though I only really collect Masterverse and got those ones. I do wonder why Frosta got priority over Glimmer and Bow in both lines though. I like Frosta but she's a very minor character compared to those two.

[@bashcrash9148]

I popped for the use of Lethal Weapon 2 in this one.

[@micshork]

Mattel effectively soft rebooted the toyline with Cartoon Collection. Corporate just wanted to play it safe and release variants of the older characters. While I can understand their reasoning I still don’t like it. While I am glad we are getting some characters that were never originally released as vintage figures it shows that Mattel is incompetent when it comes to managing both the MOTU and PoP brands.

[@Rocket1377]

It was a smart decision. Stores did not want to order obscure figures like Dragstor and Extendar. They wanted He-Man, Skeletor, She-Ra and Hordak. Those are the characters that sell. If Mattel hadn't done that, the line would have ended in 2023, and we would not be getting Rio Blast and Modulok at all.

[@mdr8615]

Good thing he hasn't heard about the upcoming Thundercats crossover 🤫😅 Some of the mutated versions of classic characters in the Turtles of Grayskull line are brilliant. And so is Michaelangelo with a He-Man wig 😂

[@Rocket1377]

Yep, I love the TMNT crossover. Looking forward to the Thundercats one and the rumoured MOTU x Transformers line as well.

[@mws755]

I don't care for half of the figures but The line is not a failure if it's lasted 4 years already so far. How long did the original line last? Ummm 5 years lol

[@timothyward8695]

Wait, do you think he called the line _a failure?_ lol. He doesn't speak the work _failure_ anywhere in the video. The title says the line has _faltered._ Entirely different meaning.

[@Rocket1377]

He's wrong about that too. Nearly five years in and still going strong. It's now expanded to include the cartoon collection with She-Ra characters, and we are also getting a Thundercats crossover next year.

[@michaelwills1926]

@@timothyward8695just say the right thing and agree with the joyless king and you’ll be okay

[@J-John69]

Sun-man was a peg wormer 💯

[@dang75790]

I call him woke man😂

[@GregorySesma]

Great video 👏👏👏👏

[@tydiriumhanger1320]

When MOTU is done I do not see much of anything I will buy from MATTEL. I guess Michael will be done with Mattel after the last 2 releases he wants also

[@Rocket1377]

Agreed. When Origins wraps up, I think this will be it for me. That's partly why I don't want it to end. I want them to update every Classics figure in the Origins style, not just the vintage ones.

[@scubapete9500]

A masterful presentation of all the celebrations, pitfalls, miscues, and emotions of collecting Origins!! Thank you and I’m Eternia grateful for your friendship. 😉

[@jasonking3182]

If you’re skipping out on Turtles of Greyskull your missing a great toy line full stop. They fit in perfectly to the strangeness of Masters of the Universe. Also those She Ra figures are coming out next year.

[@larryhynes63]

Absolutely! Turtles of Grayskull has suprisingly turned out to be an amazing line and lots of fun.

[@kaylemathewcomendador6964]

It appears Micheal here just ain’t into almost any TMNT mash ups. Especially after seeing his video on the old TMNT toyline. He doesn’t get the silly Turtle outfit variants or the crossovers.

[@StarshipYorktown]

The She-Ra figures will be part of the cartoon line. I would have liked to have seen at least Catra in Origins.

[@Sammoga_Yeddi]

TOG is awful abomination. I hate that line. 🤮

[@kaylemathewcomendador6964]

@@Sammoga_Yeddi I don’t hate that line & loving it’s silliness, so I can’t relate 😏🤷‍♂️.

[@autoneurotic]

I have completely gotten out of modern toy collecting (Stan Solo being the exception). Any time something looks promising it just ends up like this. I'm so tired of exclusives, having to chase figures, keeping all these different variants straight, and then only seeing peg-warmers for months on end followed by near non-existent space at retail. As an 80s kid who's very first fandom was He-Man, this line could have and should have been for someone like me and it just isn't.

[@mdr8615]

I have to point out Mattel actually showed off the Catra figure at sdcc 2024, and much if not all of the 2025 Cartoon Collection will be She-Ra/Filmation Evil Horde.

[@Rocket1377]

Exactly. The Snake Men are basically completed now, and Mattel are moving onto She-Ra and the Evil Horde. Origins is still going strong.

[@lk8181]

Stratos looks like he belongs in a Barbarella that never came out xD

[@GameTime-yj6qv]

Excellent video! I agree with you 💯

[@Christolclear101]

Love seeing my name in the opening. ❤️

[@seatspud]

No mention of Fearless Photog?

[@retroblasting]

Don't recall. Watch the video again. It may have changed.

[@DirtyDan16325]

I think I would have been more lenient and happy if they had just released at least the main wave of action figures to retail, and then afterwards, gave characters from 200x, comics, original characters, snake men. Making certain characters exclusives seems like a cheap move. I will however give credit that they reissued certain key characters for fans to get a chance to get them after poor distribution and scalpers. The line had tons of potential, had Mattel just been patient.