Mattel Creations MOTU Origins Mystery Listing! He Skeletor? Keclar? Maybe Moss Man??
Another intriguing image from the Mattel Creations MOTU Origins Launch Calendar website was posted today. Let’s speculate on who will be coming to the line this month!
UPDATE: 01/24/2022: Mattel Creations does it again! Another release date mystery listing
Happy Valentine’s Day MOTU Fans, thanks to Carlos D Caceres for tipping us off on yet another intriguing image from the Mattel Creations Launch Calendar part of their website set to go live February 14, 2023 at 9am PT! Since we just got Frog Monger, could this be He-Skeletor or perhaps Kecklar? Maybe Moss Man is no longer a Walmart exclusive?? In our opinion, He-Skeletor is the most likely candidate and makes the most sense. We explore this question further below and offer some theories!
UPDATE: 12/20/2022: Yet another release date mystery listing
Thanks to ¡Yo tengo el Poder! for posting yet another intriguing image from the Mattel Creations Launch Calendar part of their website. Could this be Frog Monger or Moss Man?? Set to go live January 17, 2023 at 9am PT, who or what could this be? We explore this question further below and offer some theories!
We just got Space Sumo dropped on us at the December 14th listing, and during that drop, we saw a production image of Frog Monger in the promotional images. So right now, Frog Monger is the most likely candidate. But if you remember at the Mattel 40th anniversary celebration, they also revealed He Skeletor and Moss Man, which we have yet to get released, but he was said to be at the time a Walmart exclusives, so did that change? Or does that narrow down the answer to only Frog Monger or He Skeletor? Or will Mattel throw us a bone and sell Keclar as he wasn’t unlocked for the Eternia Crowd fund project.
He-Skeletor
He-Skeletor might seem like a new character to us in the United States, but he is based on the comic series He-Man and the Masters of the Multiverse from the old German audio plays. In this story, the heroic Keldor transforms from Anti-Eternia into He-Man to defeat Anti-He-Man. Known as the “The Most Powerful Keldor in the Multiverse” includes this new He-Skeletor comes with his power sword, axe, and a shield. Same as the previous Mattel Creations exclusives, he includes an exclusive character illustration on the front of his cardback and full new artwork on the rear of the cardback.The artwork features He-Skeletor raising up his Power Sword with the world of Anti Eternia in the background. He too will also include a new mini comic. He is also set to be released in Spring 2023.
Keclar
Eternia failed to reach 10,000 backers but, if it did, everyone who backed the set would have receive an exclusive Council of Wise Men Keclar figure! Keclar seems like a new character to all of us here in the US, but he originally appeared in the United Kingdom comic magazines where the Elders were frequently featured. This also helps to tie into the story of Pre-Eternia and can set up a nice tie into to that sub-line!
Deluxe Moss Man
MOTU Origins fans have been asking for him for the longest time, and now our requests have been answered but with a slight twist. We are finally getting a freakin FLOCKED MOSS MAN in the MOTU Origins line and I personally can not be more excited!! After all this time, I have been waiting for Moss Man to join the Origins line, and in the Fall of 2023. When this was annouced at the presser event, it was announced that he will be a wait for it….. Walmart exclusive! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! Now I know everyone heart just sank when I said that, but unfortunately The Lord of the Forests pine smelling friend will only be available through Walmart. But maybe hope beyond hope, they could have changed this to a Mattel Creations exclusive instead!
Moss Man will be a deluxe figure give that he will be fully flocked, come with an alternate LOP Style Beast Man head. Mossy’s head looks to be based on the Beast Man head, but he is much more friendlier looking with a big smile on his face looking very Filmation like! They nailed it with this head sculpt! He will also include his vintage style club, yellow Beast Man armor as an homage to those that used to put this weapons pack armor on their Mossy’s, and also a brown Pig Head club as well.
Frog Monger
Frog Monger is a character that originally comes from one of the creatures from the Castle Grayskull dungeon grate sticker. But Mattel has been sprinkling him on several package artwork throughout the Origins line, so we figured it was just a matter of time before they made him into an official figure! He is a super bright green frog man with yellow spots on his arms and legs. He is wearing a metal collar around his neck and a little antenna beanie on his head. He looks to share some parts with the standard MOTU buck and but with a new torso and creature arms and legs of Skeletor. His face is super cute with bright yellow eyes and big yellow fang teeth. He looks to come with a new weapon and unique comic book. He will come in a typical single card release Mattel Creations style card back with an illustration of Frog Monger on the front and a beautiful art piece on the back. THere looks to be some additional creatures hinted on the back of the card back as well. Perhaps a skeleton warrior and it looks like maybe King Chooblah in the background? He is set to be released by Mattel Creations in Spring of 2023. You can view more photos that Planet Eternia posted in their detailed article.
Card Art
Thanks to yo_tengo_el_poder, we have official images of the card art for Frog Monger!
November 29,2022
Thanks to yo_tengo_el_poder for posting this intriguing image from the Mattel Creations Launch Calendar part of their website. Coud this be Space Sumo or another figure? Set to go live December 14, 2022 at 9am PT, who or what could this be? We explore this question here and offer some theories!
Who Do You Think it Will Be?
We made a poll so weigh in and let us know who you think the mystery figure could be!
Space Sumo
This figure was announced at San Diego Comic Con 2022 and was featured in the Mattel Booth in its own special display case along with other Rulers of the Sun figures that are coming to the Origins line but we only got to see the back of the card art. This is figure is highly likely to be the mystery figure and yo_tengo_el_poder has the same thought:
On the @mattelcreations website calendar of future releases, it appears booked on December 14 for a Masters of the Universe article… It could be from that Rulers of the Sun Space Sumo single blister that we’ve already seen to a made-to-order sale by Camo Khan, which goes on sale this Friday in Hunger Games mode. Or maybe something else?
yo_tengo_el_poder
Preproduction Card Art
It is really cool to get a window in the design process at Mattel and we are not sure if this was a mistake on the part of the folks who manage the Official Sun Man IG account but it is great to see nonetheless! A produced version of this card art was seen on display in full color in the Mattel booth at SDCC 2022 and this version appears to the step between and gives us a peak into the possible stages that these card art pieces go through. We also get to see at the front of the Space Sumo card looks like as it has the Rulers of the Sun branding, which will adorn the blister and the secondary hero art that only Mattel Creations (and deluxe figures) get. The illustrations shown below detail out a very cool cosmic scene and if it like the Pig Head card art, we are seeing the transformation as detailed out by his comic lore (we have the full transcript of the mini comic at the end of the article for your reading pleasure).
“You are related through the ages to the great philosophers of the past. We knew you senses would draw you to the monument which is you destiny. But you must head this warning. Each month you are to return here in secret to recharge your skills or you’ll be a normal mortal again. Each month you must return to be washed in the glow of the warriors to remain superhuman. Remember this now and forever, you will be known as Space Sumo, telekinetic Ninja.”
Space Sumo Mini Comic
UPDATE 08/12/2022: Completed Card Art and Finished Product Images
We received some additional images thanks to the motulatv instagram page, of the Space Sumo cardback art fully colored in and Space Sumo in his Mattel Creations exclusive packaging. We now get to see what the finished product looks like.
According to the motulatv instagram page:
A closer look at the packaging of Space Sumo the Telekinetic Ninja. What do you think of this figure and character of #sunman? The packaging of MOTUs is always beautiful thanks to
Mike Bock on Instagram
A Tale of Two Space Sumo’s
Space Sumo seems to be getting the royal treatment from Mattel as he is not only a Mattel Creations exclusive, but he is also packed in the forthcoming Rulers of the Sun 3-Pack with Pig Head and the flat top version of Sun Man! The new Sun-Man and the Rulers of the Sun Target Exclusive 3-Pack was revealed and went up for preorder on Target so we are getting two Space Sumo figures in the near future.
Origins (pun intended) of Space Sumo
Space Sumo is a fairly simple looking character, wearing black chest armor, black belt with green diamond, red shorts, red and teal wrist bracers with the same green diamonds as the belt, and red boots with green toes. He carries a silver ninja sword which is pretty cool looking.
Space Sumo was first introduced into the Rulers of the Sun line in 1986. The vintage version had human head, which seemed to look like a lighter-skinned version of Sun Man V2 head sculpt but with a ninja separate mask for his head, so he can be displayed masked or unmasked.
Mini Comic Lore
Since most are probably unfamiliar with Space Sumo, we’ve dug up the mini comic story to share with you and hopefully the Mattel Creations mini comic will do this justice!
“Legend of Space-Sumo, Telekinetic Ninja: A few short years ago the governments of the world banned together to create a museum dedicated to the world’s war strategists and athletes. The idea of such a museum came from an immensely, wealthy Oriental man who appeared suddenly and left the scene just as quickly. It was his millions that got the “Battle Museum” built.
The World curators of the museum, each from a different county, often spoke of the aged dapper Oriental who refused to tell his name. He vanished into nothingness, and no records, nothing traceable concerning his where bouts could be found. At his request, a huge red circular monument was placed in the center of the museum. This magnificent piece of sculpture looked like a planet and was suspended from the ceiling. It was impossible to miss when on entered the museum. The oriental has said the large monument was to be called the “Monument of battle.” The museum’s builders wondered why the globe was so heavy. The metal felt light to the touch, but it hung by ten cranes of super coils. Everyone was perplexed about how the old man got it there in the first place, for he insisted on secrecy and allowed no one around when it was hoisted. The mystery surrounding the monument was consistent with that surrounding the man himself.
Statues and most other forms of memorabilia were all about the “Battle Museum.” From the battle in the Bible between David and Goliath, the giant warrior David defeated with a simple string and stone; to Muhammad Ali, warriors and athletes were all surround. On display was Attila the Hun, Hannibal, Emperor Menelik of Ethiopia, Peter the Great and General Douglas MacArthur, and Bruce Lee.
Bob Wong, a cook at a Chinese restaurant, visited the Battle Museum one day and was amazed at its displays. When it closed, he hid inside to get a better look and gain an understanding of its treasures. He soon found himself in front of the monument of battle. Magically, it opened from its middle and a glowing radiance from within it flooded over the young Oriental’s figure. A voice speaking Chinese said: “I am Kim Lee, Bringer of the Monument of Battle. Bob Wong, you have come, Oh great Chinese one. We have long awaited your arrival to fulfill your destiny. You have been known to us for ages as Space Sumo, a wrestler and telekinetic Ninja. You now have the power to lift objects at will without touching them, but by commanding them to rise with your mind. That is the meaning of telekinetic, creating motion without touching. You now possess the fighting skills and strategic wisdom of all competitive geniuses. Their combined knowledge is now yours. The combined knowledge of all the sages in this museum is now yours to do good with; you shall be the master of competition, whether it is a mere game of chess or a mental fight for life itself. You are related through the ages to the great philosophers of the past. We knew you senses would draw you to the monument which is you destiny. But you must head this warning. Each month you are to return here in secret to recharge your skills or you’ll be a normal mortal again. Each month you must return to be washed in the glow of the warriors to remain superhuman. Remember this now and forever, you will be known as Space Sumo, telekinetic Ninja.”
Space Sumo Mini Comic
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