Masters of the Universe Month: Orko from Masters of the Universe Classics by Mattel
This year for Masters of the Universe Month I'm paying tribute to the vintage 1984 series of Masters of the Universe action figures by looking at how those characters have been reinterpreted in toy form over the past 38 years. Today I'm getting the chance to look at two figures from 1984, Orko and Prince Adam, who were sold as a set in Mattel's Masters of the Universe Classics line. Masters of the Universe Classics began in 2008 with a SDCC release (King Grayskull) and over the next twelve years became the most expansive Masters of the Universe toyline of all time. For SDCC 2010 Mattel released a very special figure: Orko, with Prince Adam as an "accessory." Seriously, the package just listed Orko on the name card while Prince Adam was tucked down behind the name card, largely hidden from view. The version actually released at San Diego Comic-Con was actually different than the standard release I'm looking at today. The true SDCC exclusive had Orko molded in translucent plastic that allowed him to "disappear" when exposed to heat. I never picked that version up as, at the time, I just wanted the classic looking Orko. This one was released throuhg MattyCollector.com. The 1984 MOTU line definitely benefitted from the popularity of the Filmation animated series "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe" and saw the inclusion of Orko and Prince Adam due to their appearance on the show. They're still two of my favorites and considering my love for Masters of the Universe Classics, you know I'm probably just going to be heaping praise on this lovable duo. Let's check out Orko and Adam after the break...
The Facts: Prince Adam
Articulation: Hinged ankles w/ lateral rocking, hinged knees, swivel thighs, swivel/hinge hips, swivel waist, mid-torso hinge, swivel/hinge shoulders, swivel biceps, hinged elbows, swivel wrists, and a double ball-jointed head.
Accessories: 2 Portraits, Power Sword, and half Power Sword.
Year of Release: 2010
Original Retail Price: $25 dollars
The Positives:
* Orko looks incredible, doesn't he? While today there are multiple "Filmation accurate" Orko figures, back in 2010 we really only had the vintage figure and the 200x Orko. The colors, the size, and the sculpt really do capture Orko's appearance in the Filmation series perfectly. It's a clean, sculpt with just enough detail that he fits in with the rest of the MOTUC line perfectly.
* Orko's next accessory is.... Prince Adam? Haha. Yeah, Mattel did market Prince Adam as an accessory in this set. It was kind of funny, though I know there were some folks who collected carded figures that wanted a single packaged Prince Adam. I've always loved Prince Adam and this is a pretty nice version of the character. Like the vintage Prince Adam, this one is largely a reuse of the MOTUC He-Man with a new vest piece. The colors are excellent here. They're still bright and noticeable but they're subdued a bit to fit in with the MOTUC aesthetic as an update of the vintage toy. There are lots of cool little extras like the wash on his purple trunks and his silver bracers that enhance the detail of the costume, nicely upgrading the vintage design.
The Negatives:
* Many of the early MOTUC figures suffered from some loose joints and while Prince Adam overall has very tight articulation, his left ankle is definitely a bit loose.
I've reviewed so many toys of Prince Adam/ He-Man that he has his own review archive. Check out Fabulous Secret Powers for more He-Man reviews than anywhere else on the web.
If you're an Orko fan I've also reviewed the MOTU Origins Orko, Super7's vintage styled Orko and Shadow Orko, Sideshow's exclusive Orko statue, the Masterverse Savage He-man who comes with Orko, the green Orko M.U.S.C.L.E. minifigure from the #1 Masters of the Universe set by Super7, The Loyal Subjects Orko, the Orko pin from the GameStop Funko Masters of the Universe box, the Orko POP! + Pez dispenser, the POP! Orko #566, the Dorbz Orko, the Pint Size Heroes Orko, the Geeki Tikis Orko mug, the Micro Collection Orko, the Monogram International Orko figural bag clip, the standard Orko ReAction figure, and the boxed ReAction Orko (Cartoon Colors).
For more reviews from Mattel's Masters of the Universe Classics check out the following: