First, there’s the MOTU figures you really want, then there’s the ones you buy only because you’re a subscriber, and then, there’s the ones that you just don’t know what to think about. Grizzlor was in the last camp for me. The Ferocious Figure with Fur? Yeah, I had no idea how this review was gonna go.
I never had a Grizzlor as a kid. In fact, I don’t think I had any Horde members as a kid. I know there are some serious discussions to be had about which set of MOTU Villains were the ultimate badasses, but, for me, it’s always going to be the Evil Warriors first and foremost. Skeletor’s crew was my favorite as a kid and still is today. So, now late into our second full year of Masters of the Universe Classics, we’re getting our second member of the Horde and while I’m happy to get just about any character, I wasn’t really sure how integral he was going to be in my collection.
Turns out, he’s a fun figure to play with. The two central reasons for this are his fur and his face. His fur is styleable. Maybe I haven’t played with enough troll dolls in my time, but I was expecting his fur to be a mess that you might be able to get a little control of. It turns out that you can do a lot with it. It’s very thick and provided you have She-Ra’s comb/axe handy, Grizzlor inadvertently becomes much more fun to photograph.
The face sculpt is nicely done. I can see some ferociousness in it, but it’s muted somehow. I think it’s the eyes – they almost seem gentle to me (maybe that’s Gur’Rull showing through despite the brainwashing). I also appreciate the level of detail put into the face. After the hoopla surrounding Count Marzo, I wasn’t sure what would happen with the figures that need detailed faces. And with most of the figure being obscured by the bulky fur coat, a lot was going to ride on this face sculpt in particular. It didn’t disappoint.
Aside from the Horde boots and new hands (with paw pads on the palms), Grizzlor is built out of mostly reused parts. Beast Man’s arms and upper legs with Carnivus’ upper calves are used for the sculpted hair on the limbs. But one thing that annoyed me, and this isn’t really a valid complaint because we’re not supposed to take his fur coat off, is that they gave him a non-furry chest! It’s not a big deal, but it is one of those customizer unfriendly things Mattel does at times. Also, note his “inner” loincloth is molded to match the rest of his body (you will see it a different color in some images here, but that’s a customization), but his belt is painted! I had to laugh because 1) he has a loincloth under his fur and 2) Mattel took the time to paint the belt. Logistics!
Grizzlor doesn’t really have a head to speak of. While Moss Man’s “not MO2K” head had sculpted details underneath, but Grizzlor goes without on that front. There’s simply a yellow piece in there that has the fur and face glued on to it.
Which, to segway for a moment, brings me to the one thing that does make me sad about the figure. The plan was interchangeable faces at one point (even if only at the 4H Studios) and it’s a shame that plan got scrapped in favor of cost/weapons (woo hoo…) because not only did we miss out on the MO2K head, but we also could have gotten a black face pack-in here as well to recreate the other vintage version of Grizzlor. Perhaps that’ll get a “design slot” later on as a refresh.
Grizzlor also includes two pieces of armor, his classic harness and his MO2K loincloth. I like both and my Grizzlor will be sporting both on the shelf. I’ve heard some collectors have trouble getting the loincloth clipped into place. I don’t know if it really is difficult or not. I was able to get mine on very easily/quickly, but my wife and I have a Pomeranian. Suffice to say, I’m well trained at getting my dog’s leash/harness snapped together despite her Grizzlor-like fur.
Grizzlor doesn’t have much paint to speak of, but most of the figures we received at IAT were free of slop. The only issues we had was one with a bit of smear to the left eye and some extra black paint on the loincloth of the figure in this review. None of the teeth were perfect, but none were that objectionable either.
Articulation is fairly standard for a MOTU Classics figure. The fur coat is loose and doesn’t restrict any of the joints. He can’t look up as much as other figures, but there’s still plenty of range in the neck. Continue to Page 2 for Weapons…
Grizzlor is too hairy figure for my taste.
He is awfully hairy.
Hilarious Don King do you’ve managed to give him! 😀
And agreed about Grizz not looking menacing or ferocious in the slightest.
He looks like an odd teddy bear.
Even without the fur (on the Beast Man body) it’s the head that’s not selling the menacing, and I’m faulting that primarily on the vintage figure, and on Mattel’s anti-200x mandate.
Grizzlor would’ve been a great candidate for a hybrid head if not the separate ones, and he lacks a lot for it.
Great Hairstyles of Grizzlor…
Odd teddy bear is a good description. I saw MWC’s review today and in some of his pics, he looks a tad bit menacing. I didn’t help things with his hairstyles in my review though. 😀
you know naysyers, my question to you… when anthony hopkins was at his most terrifying in the hannibal film franchise, when it was he snarling and biting at ed norton or was it that cold distant gaze he gave jodie foster before doing the sucking noise? you’re welcome, to the world of REAL menace, where the raving angry-faced lunatic is much less disturbing than the guy who regards you as luggage. this is why jason voorhies will always be a pale imitator of leatherface. jason will kill you… leatherface would like to keep you… well, most of you.
as for grizzie, some QC issues aside, i like him. but i was torn on the gear… on looking at him, i was excited, i love weapon laden guys and especially weapon laden guys w/ the gear to carry it all (my biggest hangup to this day on ML is punisher’s lack of ability to be armed to the death), but i took the gear off to work grizzie coat a bit… and i love him without the gear on better. as i’ve spoken my piece frequently on the IAT forums, while i appreciate a loyal grizzlor, the character was always savage for me, so just cuz he’s ONLY sporting the FHBH boots and memorial arm band doesn’t call into question his loyalty (i despise that we got another ambiguous villain… jesus horatio christ on a cross, can anyone on eternia enjoy doing bad things to good people? i don’t need ennui every time skeletor buys duct tape with a bad check!) so the giant horde symbol is at best ostentious.
Yes, but if Lecter or Leatherface were where giant fuzzy coats, their real menace might be in question… 😀
Is it bad that I think Roboto looks awesome??
Great review as usual, Noisy.
Nope, my Roboto is still dressed up that way.
Thanks!
I’m just not that into Grizzlor.
They can’t all be winners, right?
While standard!Grizzlor just looks silly to me (Some things are best left in the 80’s really), the hairless Grizzloe you customised just looks badass in these pictures. The remaining hair on his head just makes him look nice and bonkers too.
The hair is crazy when you lose the coat. Glad you liked his shaved brother!
I dig Horde Magazine–2 Thumbs Up!!
Thanks, Sy!
I expressed my disdain with Griz in the forums and will spare everyone a repete. But I got around to snipping his fur off just so I could try out the yellow Beastman armor and I think it looks so much better!
Still maintain that he’s the worst in the collection thus far.
Bring on Buzz-Off!!!
The yellow armor is pretty neat on him. I still kinda want to give him a haircut though.
Great review! I love the pic of She-Ra as a hairdresser.
I know that his fur is a big part of what makes him the character he is, but I think Mattel lis missing the boat here by not letting the Four Horses sculpt Grizzlor and Moss Man and relying on their old gimmicks to sell the figures.
I’d be interested to see it! Moss Man could at least be stripped down and done that way, but no such luck with Grizz.
Mattel were not involved in the making of the Grizzlor staction and yet the Four Horsemen still gave him real fur. Like many of the fanbase, they clearly agree that Grizzlor is not Grizzlor without it.
I think he looks great, can’t wait for him to arrive.
I do agree. Grizzlor’s a man of the fur.
He looks more funny than menacing.
I think that’s what makes me like him though…
I got to say I’m pleasantly surprised with Grizzlor. As a fur hater I can’t believe I’m loving his fur! Santa’s flocking on the other hand… I’ll save that for the Santa review… There’s gonna be a Santa Review, right?