 Mantenna
Evil Spy with the Pop Out Eyes!
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe Cartoon Collection Basic Figure
Item No.: Asst. HYD16 No. HBM78
Manufacturer: Mattel
Includes: Horde Invastion mini-comic
Action Feature: Pop-out eyes
Retail: $19.99
Availability: October 2024
Other: Das Reboot
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The Mantenna update in He-Man and the Masters of the Universe Cartoon Collection is pretty good - but not perfect. On my sample, the eyes are a little misdirected - but I like pretty much everything else. He has the four legs from the cartoon, the bright colors, and the trumpet-like mouth.
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With what is essentially a mostly-new body, you get a great figure. The thinner limbs really work well here, but he retains the Mattel house style for this line with boot swivels, rocker ankles, and bend-and-swivel wrists. This guy has an exceptional amount of articulation, with the usual array of joints plus the two extra legs. I was particularly surprised that all four legs can swing forward, and he can sit on a table. I was also pleasantly surprised to find out he could sit in the Sky Sled, Land Shark, and Wind Raider without much of a fight. Those seats always seemed a little on the wide side, and I guess we're going to benefit from it.
He has no accessories, but you can see where the money went - the extra legs, and the eye mechanism. If you push the button on the back of his head, the eyes bulge out.
Let go, and they go back in. It's a simple feature, and it works. I just wish the eyes on mine were both facing forward.
It looks like the Filmation era of the Cartoon Collection is more or less over - our loss, and Mattel's - but you can get this guy and a few others for roughly retail price. That usually means they made enough of them, and I'm seeing a few of these guys at Ross at barely discounted prices too. As such, I'd recommend picking up whatever's good while they last. My Mantenna has been hanging out in the Fright Zone playset since last year, and I'm finding the most satisfying display for my needs is to have the vehicles and playsets out with the cartoon figures. It's a little less chaotic.
The regular Origins Mantenna is also excellent, but I think I prefer the cartoon one with the brighter colors and goofier face. Right now he seems to be going for $15 or less - so under what he cost when I got mine - and you might even be able to pick up a cheap collection on eBay or off of an online marketplace of your choosing. The three-fingered hands and weird mouth stand out in a line of weird-looking figures, so be sure to put him on your short list if you're doing the whole He-Man thing.
--Adam Pawlus
Additional Images
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