While Masters of the Universe Classics dropped the original ripcord gimmick, the DNA that brought you Dragstoris very much on display. Transforming warriors were all the rage in 1986 when the original toy came out, so a humanoid that can turn in to some sort of vehicle is very much Mattel keeping up with the Joneses. Or to be more precise, the Hassenfelds. While the original toy employed a mechanism to send him moving, the new toy retains the big crotch wheel but none of the functionality. The "no action features" ethos of this line is one that always bothered me, because what good are ab crunches if the figure's costume restricts all movement? As a toy, it's a bore but as a collectible figure, it works.
When you see what Mattel and the Four Horsemen put in to this one, you'll no doubt be pleased to see both of his original accessories adapted for a modern figure. The ripcord is now an axe weapon, which keeps the feel of the original toy while giving it some actual functionality. The Horde Crossbow made out of old engine parts is a little silly, but knocking a He-Man toy for being silly is like being angry that water is wet. It's part of the deal. He has no problems holding his weapons, and both are good and simple. There is nothing to break your heart, and nothing to excite it.
Articulation is the same as always, meaning you're probably not going to get much out of him. His original "transformation" was little more than "lay on belly," and this figure is completely capable of this feat. The joints are nice and sturdy, plus he's loaded with new parts. The vented shins, the armor, the head, and backpack - it all looks like someone took a goofy 1980s toy a little too seriously. My favorite detail is that the original ripcord "hole" is still there, but it is no longer a hole. You can see where the cord would go through the chest, but modern design choices render it merely ornamental. With orange gloves, silver hoses, and a weird head design it seems that this alien doping athlete turned out to be a pretty nice figure.
Seeing Mattel tick each classic figure off its list over the past almost-a-decade has been pretty amazing, mostly because it seems almost unthinkable that anyone could or would pull it off. For a fairly obscure character, there's no less detail here. The reptilian eyes, blue skin, and creepy gas mask breather make this figure feel even more inhuman than some actual monsters in the line. It's also an instance of Mattel merging then-modern technology in a fantasy line. Sure, He-Man was always about space, swords, and sorcery, but they also made sure to make it as much of a "catch-all" line as possible. Given that the origins of these beings is rarely Earth, it's impressive to see them bring in a motorcycle man.
My biggest complaint is about what this figure isn't. It can't drive around, and that is a shortcoming for me. Once you get beyond that, it's great - he looks like some weirdo 1980s monster bad guy, and he should. I'm thrilled that this figure got updated for the hardcore fans, but as I am merely a fan, I assume he'll take up residence in the back of my displays.
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