An email was supposedly sent out to all Club Eternia subscribers with the above image. I say supposedly because I, and many others, never recieved the email. The image announces Mekanek as an addition to the MOTU Classics line, at long last. As expected, he does not have an extending neck gimmick, but instead comes with neck extension accessories to show off his elongated prosthesis. The accessories will measure 2 and 5 inches a piece. He also comes with the classic styled mace based off the one that came with his vintage figure. Mekanek is slated to be available in October, but that is always subject to change.

This leaves a short list of core characters left. Who is on your must-have list?

CW has a new show in the pipeline based on DC Comics’ Green Arrow. The new show, called Arrow, will star Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen and air on Wednesday evenings at 8PM EST. This will pair Arrow with Supernatural, which airs at 9PM. No word on a premiere date just yet.

Here is a basic run down of the plot:

After a violent shipwreck, billionaire playboy Oliver Queen was missing and presumed dead for five years before being discovered alive on a remote island in the Pacific. When he returns home to Starling City, his devoted mother Moira, much-beloved sister Thea, and best friend Tommy welcome him home, but they sense Oliver has been changed by his ordeal on the island. While Oliver hides the truth about the man he’s become, he desperately wants to make amends for the actions he took as the boy he was. Most particularly, he seeks reconciliation with his former girlfriend, Laurel Lance. As Oliver reconnects with those closest to him, he secretly creates the persona of Arrow – a vigilante – to right the wrongs of his family, fight the ills of society, and restore Starling City to its former glory. By day, Oliver plays the role of a wealthy, carefree and careless philanderer he used to be – flanked by his devoted chauffeur/bodyguard, John Diggle – while carefully concealing the secret identity he turns to under cover of darkness. However, Laurel’s father, Detective Quentin Lance, is determined to arrest the vigilante operating in his city. Meanwhile, Oliver’s own mother, Moira, knows much more about the deadly shipwreck than she has let on – and is more ruthless than he could ever imagine.

Source: MTV Splash Page

The video above has some great behind-the-scenes looks at the Hulk and the special effects that brought him to life. Mark Ruffalo had a much more active role than I would have imagined, wearing the motion capture suit on the set and actually participating in the fight with Thor. Very cool.

Here is your friendly reminder about MattyCollector Day for this month, May of 2012. You can find all the releases for DCUC, MOTUC and much more along with a few pictures after the jump. The big names for MOTUC this month are Slush Head, Stinkor and The Mighty Spector, not to mention the Snake Mountain action figure stands. All items can be found on MattyCollector.com at Noon EST.

[Read the rest of this entry…]

[Read the rest of this entry…]

Poe Ghostal wrote a lengthy article using quotes from several recent Mattel Q&A’s about the expected price hike for next year. I’m not going to rehash everything he said because I think he did a better job than I could. There were two choice quotes, though, he used made by Scott “ToyGuru” Neitlich, manager of the MOTU brand.
From the Ask Matty forum on MattyCollector.com:

The Horsemen tend to “overdeco” figures. Every figure in 2012 is delivering $22.00 worth of paint apps. In 2013 we are dramatically raising prices so we can afford more paint and accessories. If we wanted to deliver all the figures exactly as the 4HM painted the protos we would need to charge more and we already sold in the sub for 2012, so that is not an option. Legally we can’t raise prices on the sub after it is sold in. This is why we will start 2013 at higher prices.

The most frank and honest quote I have ever heard from a Mattel rep, again from the Ask Matty forum:

We will keep the line going as long as their are customers buying. But, yes, as I stated on Roast Gooble dinner, one day these figures will cost more to make then fans are willing to pay. Hopefully that day will be far in the future.

Again, I recommend fans of the MOTU Classics line to read Poe’s article, which can be found here.