Masters of the Universe Classics

[Battle Ram Man]

Interesting that it's the same story line. I'm not sure who the sources are regarding Scott's circumstances leaving Mattel, but I would be curious to find out.

Going back as far as I could:

SDCC 2014 - MOTU Discussion • Despondos: The Unofficial MOTU Toy Board • The Fwoosh Forums

This appears to be the original source. No idea if accurate or not.

"Also on a side note, old news/new news, toy guru is not longer part of Mattel. Meaning He is not a Mattel employee. If the info is wrong, feel free to correct this post"

"He's a contractor on a timed contract now"

"Mattel is making sweeping layoffs across the entire company. They brought back people to run the lines they felt were worth keeping, but since they are consultants they have limited contracts and no benefits. It was a corporate money saving measure and had nothing to do with how he ran MOTUC."

 

[Badvermin]

Let's not forget that everyone who preordered was guaranteed the $250 price point and they were given several months to cancel if they weren't satisfied once the final production piece was revealed. The higher price for day of sales was always in the plans and clearly advertised to help promote the preorders. Yes it's disappointing that the original scale and all the features weren't included with Grayskull but nobody was locked in to their preorder.

Originally Mattel said that you could not back out of the preorder. The only reason they allowed cancellations was to keep from being sued for false advertising.

Same thing with the Hoverboard.

 

[dedguy]

Originally Mattel said that you could not back out of the preorder. The only reason they allowed cancellations was to keep from being sued for false advertising.

Same thing with the Hoverboard.

That is my memory of events as well. I don't know if it was specifically because of being sued but I do know it was only after a lot of backlash they changed the policy.

 

[Kuwahara]

Going back as far as I could:

SDCC 2014 - MOTU Discussion • Despondos: The Unofficial MOTU Toy Board • The Fwoosh Forums

This appears to be the original source. No idea if accurate or not.

"Also on a side note, old news/new news, toy guru is not longer part of Mattel. Meaning He is not a Mattel employee. If the info is wrong, feel free to correct this post"

"He's a contractor on a timed contract now"

"Mattel is making sweeping layoffs across the entire company. They brought back people to run the lines they felt were worth keeping, but since they are consultants they have limited contracts and no benefits. It was a corporate money saving measure and had nothing to do with how he ran MOTUC."

This just might be the case, but I still can't help but wonder why Mattel would make "sweeping layoffs" to people who are doing SUCH a great job. Could it just be a coincidence that during this mass layoff period, Neitlich happened to be one of them, but for a different reason other than Mattel saving money? Normally, you have to do something pretty stupid to get fired, demoted, whatever the case may be. Maybe all those people who got converted into contractors were simply inept. Mattel isn't going to flat out fire a bunch of people because then they'd have to pay UNEMPLOYMENT benefits to all of them. If they demote them and take away their medical, then they will leave on their own. So maybe the story we are hearing is only HALF the story. We still don't know for sure if he was reduced to a contractor just so Mattel wont have to pay into his benefits, especially if he, and I quote "was the hardest worker at Mattel"

 

[Kuwahara]

Originally Mattel said that you could not back out of the preorder. The only reason they allowed cancellations was to keep from being sued for false advertising.

Same thing with the Hoverboard.

And this is why I think all the Castle Grayskulls (in the hundreds) that are currently collecting dust in some warehouse are actually canceled orders. LOL!

I also think this might be one of the straws that broke the camel's back. In other words, Neitlich thought he could get away with the bait and switch, but Mattel legal came in and said BY LAW they have to allow customers to cancel their pre-orders due to the misrepresentation of the product being sold. This is borderline criminal business practices. Mattel is probably losing money as we speak with all the Castle Grayskulls they're stuck with. Sounds like grounds for termination/demotion to me.

 

[FatHotei]

Okay, guys, question.

So, I know darkdimensions sells custom motuc heads. But I don't see their vintage style he-man head for sale on the website. It's way superior to the regular mocuc he-man and even the oo-lar he-men head variant imo. So, is anyone familiar with this guy's work? And if you are, does he sell his work anywhere except this website? The guy does amazing work. I'm definitely picking up his filmation Skeletor head.

 

[FatHotei]

I also found an artist on facebook who makes this custom head:



That real vintage He-Man head looks a little funny doesn't it?

 

[teemu]

you can find OO-larr recasts on Ebay for good prices

 

[lerath666]

This just might be the case, but I still can't help but wonder why Mattel would make "sweeping layoffs" to people who are doing SUCH a great job. Could it just be a coincidence that during this mass layoff period, Neitlich happened to be one of them, but for a different reason other than Mattel saving money? Normally, you have to do something pretty stupid to get fired, demoted, whatever the case may be. Maybe all those people who got converted into contractors were simply inept. Mattel isn't going to flat out fire a bunch of people because then they'd have to pay UNEMPLOYMENT benefits to all of them. If they demote them and take away their medical, then they will leave on their own. So maybe the story we are hearing is only HALF the story. We still don't know for sure if he was reduced to a contractor just so Mattel wont have to pay into his benefits, especially if he, and I quote "was the hardest worker at Mattel"

Believe it or not, in many major corporations, this is fairly standard practice when the guys at the top want a pay raise. Hasbro did something similar a few years back, and the AAA Video game publishers in the industry pretty much do this constantly.

Yes, it's both a ****** and shady business practice, but Free market says they can.

 

[Kuwahara]

I also found an artist on facebook who makes this custom head:

View attachment 192183View attachment 192184

That real vintage He-Man head looks a little funny doesn't it?

A girl named Alessandra from Italy made that head I believe. She's very talented but not very reliable when it comes to commissions. Sorry to be Mr. Doom and Gloom once again but, she made a killer Filmation Hordak head with cowl and had A LOT of people lined up for one, she never followed through on most of them.

You might want to check out Kevin Kosse: https://www.facebook.com/kevin.kosse

I bought some classics vintage style He-Man head casts from Bad Vermin. Not sure if he's making anymore but it can't hurt to ask if you want some of those.

 

[teemu]

Zombihamma (castle of power) is top game in the custom heads and kits world.He is also in the USA...bought my share of stuff from him

 

[FatHotei]

That looks great, teemu. I'll check him out.

 

[Kuzeh]

Very sad news. He was such a nice, humble guy. A total inspiration for me as a kid.

I know right?...
But the sad part is some fans are more interested in the drama, yet this man who was a legend is ignored blatantly by the conspiracy theorists... oh well...


I'll spread Norem's coolness here, I was lucky enough to see him during Power-Con 2011 and got his prints, such an amazing artist!!

 

[FatHotei]

Riding a lion without a saddle would kill your inner thighs...

 

[Kuzeh]

Riding a lion without a saddle would kill your inner thighs...

Not if you have He-Man thighs!!

 

[FatHotei]

His thighs have the POWER!

 

[FatHotei]

Perhaps you guys can remember. Did He-Man's techno vest have powers in the filmation series? I remember it in the comics being the original source of his strength but I don't remember the vest having powers in the show.

 

[Battle Ram Man]

I also found an artist on facebook who makes this custom head:

View attachment 192183View attachment 192184

That real vintage He-Man head looks a little funny doesn't it?

That's not a real vintage He-Man head. That's the 2000-ish commemorative reissue. Yeah, they messed up the head on that one.

This is the real deal:

 

[Battle Ram Man]

I know right?...
But the sad part is some fans are more interested in the drama, yet this man who was a legend is ignored blatantly by the conspiracy theorists... oh well...

Please don't use Mr. Norem's death to advance your agenda. It's in poor taste. Have a little respect, please.

 

[Battle Ram Man]

Perhaps you guys can remember. Did He-Man's techno vest have powers in the filmation series? I remember it in the comics being the original source of his strength but I don't remember the vest having powers in the show.

Yeah, in Filmation the red part of his harness was made of Corodite Crystal, which he said added to his power.