Toy Review: MOTU Classics Faker

I knew this month's MOTU Classics figure, Faker, would be a challenge to get. Not only was a portion of this wave set aside for a convention, but also MOTUC figures are selling out more quickly every month. Last month's Stratos sold out in a few days. So I was sure to stay frosty this month: I was on the Matty Collector site at 11:50 the day of release, and literally refreshed my browser until it was available. Obsessive? Most certainly. But then again, Faker sold out in just a few hours, so I think my obsession was justified this time.


This MOTU Classics line has been a home-run for Mattel so far. How does Faker compare to the rest?

Stats
Company: Mattel
Size: roughly 7.5"
Price: $20 at MattyCollector.com
Packaging: Carded

Looks: 4.5/5
I love the look of this figure. Mattel took the great sculpt of the MOTUC He-Man and spiced it up with some wacky colors. The blue skin, purple boots/undies, metallic belt/wristbands, and orange armor all combine into a fun anti-He-Man. Faker's colors are similar to Skeletor's but they are more saturated in color so Faker pops a bit more on the shelf. The computer panel is now painted on, which is better than G1 Faker's sticker. The other paint details in the face and costume are super-precise.

There are a couple of problems, though. First, while the paint wash on the armor adds a great weathering effect, the weathering ends abruptly on the two lower straps where they meet the bones. Also, the armor doesn't quite hide the entire computer panel and you can see the computer on Faker's chest poke out underneath the armor. (This was also the case with the G1 Faker.)

But these two problems are nit-picky and Faker is probably the most dynamic-looking of the MOTUC figures.

Articulation: 5/5
Faker has the same articulation as the other MOTUC figures: ball-in-socket neck, ball shoulders, swivel biceps, hinge elbows, swivel wrists, hinge chest, swivel waist, ball hips, swivel thighs, hinge knees, and hinge ankles. Like Skeletor, Faker's neck is limited a bit by his armor, but it's nothing that would take away from his score.

Accessories: 3/5
Faker comes with two swords: a full sword and a half sword. The full sword rocks; it's really cool to have three different-colored versions of the same power sword (He-Man, Skeletor, and Faker). The half-sword is like Skeletor's in that it combines with He-Man's half-sword. But the sword halves are so thin that they warp every which way, so when you combine them they have no chance of sticking together. Both He-Man and Skeletor came with something more than just a sword and half-sword, so I would have liked a little something more with Faker.

Value: 3.5/5
$20 for a figure of this size is very pricey. Still, the quality of these MOTU Classics figures is astounding; like the other figures in this line, Faker has solid construction, quality plastic, and precise paint apps.

Coolness: 5/5
I'm a sucker for the "evil twin" of a hero. Nemesis Prime is Optimus mixed with Darth Vader. Mirror Universe Spock uses his logic for evil instead of good, sporting a fancy goatee reminiscent of Ming the Merciless. Faker continues the awesomeness of "evil twins", mixing the cool elements of both He-Man and Skeletor.

Overall: 4/5
This is a great figure, but Mattel just missed making another perfect figure. While I love the figure's look, there are a couple distracting flaws like the inconsistent strap weathering and the computer panel peeking out from under the armor. And the lack of accessories, especially compared to those of He-Man and Skeletor, is another downside. Still, Faker is really fun and probably one of my favorite MOTU Classics figures to date.