MOTUClassics.Com
Extendar Review

The visuals are finished off by the paint, but I’m not entirely certain of what is and isn’t painted. Usually for Mattel, the pearlescent areas are cast in a near color and then painted. I would imagine that’s the case here, but I can’t quite tell. In any case, the gold and red areas are mostly sharp and look good in contrast to the pearl white. There was a little slop around the fastener on the front of the mask, but I didn’t find that to be a dealbreaker.

Any frustration I do have with the figure is in the articulation. Most of what we’re used to we get here and then some: the elbows are ball-jointed and the torso and limb extensions all create a few extra swivel points. Also, the neck extension ends up with a ball-joint on both ends for some nice range. The areas of concern, though, are the shoulders & hips. The sculpt, while awesome, blocks these two areas pretty heavily. The ball-elbows and bicep swivels aid the shoulders, but the hips lose more range than I’d like, even if I tuck the upper lip of the leg armor under the cover on the lower torso piece. I’m not sure how much I’d like the aesthetics sacrificed, but it’d be cool to get more range out of those long legs.

Extendar included two accessories, his classic shield and a much-needed offensive update, a jousting lance! The shield works great, just like the original and fits snug both on the figure and together. When spread out, the same intricate patterns can be found inside.

The jousting lance is fun piece. As is to be expected, it’s a very soft plastic and will droop over time if you don’t pay it attention and rotate it around now and again – mine had been slightly warped by the package already, but it’s still a great accessory idea for the Heroic Master of Extension.

Overall, maybe it’s just the pearly white talking, but standing there on my shelf, this figure looks absolutely slick. I know I’m showing favoritism – but couldn’t having built this guy up so high and then also being happy with how he turned out be true as well? He hit the mark for me. When I started IAT reviews, I used to talk about where a figure ended up the shelf as an informal rating system. A figure I didn’t think turned out super great ended up at the back and figures I thought were fantastic ended up towards the front.

Extendar here is challenging for space on the front of my MOTU Heroes shelf. I just don’t want to put too many characters in front of him. His extension power does mean he could hang at the back though, propped up on his longer legs – which brings up the question I keep mulling over, and a testament to the figure itself, do I want to order a second one today? Sure, one could be extended while the other isn’t, but that extended one? How would he look with double the extensions? Hmm…

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29 thoughts on “MOTUClassics.Com
Extendar Review

  1. That last picture is a bittersweet riot.

    I’d pick up a second Extendar to scratch that itch for additional extension, but since I already got things in EA, I’m not paying to just ship him.

    It’s a great figure, I just really wish that they had made his forearms and hands as bulky as the rest of him, since they are also new tools, well at least the forearm is. They’re just a bit lanky, maybe I can get a set 3D printed somewhere.

    1. I ultimately decided the same thing. I’d already ordered that little teeny & Scareglow & Ice and didn’t feel like paying Mattel to ship a third, separate box the same week.

      I can see a lankiness when pointed out, but I’m still a fan of the proportions as is.

  2. no Extenze joke? paging Dayraven! LOL
    He’s got a nice look and just different enough from Mek, like Ralph vs Reed, that it works. of course, now he needs a steed…. 😉

  3. Great review, I especially like the pics.
    Extendar was always a must get for me when the line started but as time went on I lost interest and sold them. As much as I like Extendar I won’t be buying him as financially it would just cost too much getting him and all the main characters again here in the UK.

    1. Thanks! If I ever pare down, Extendar was likely to stick around even if he got a bad figure, so this was good for me. I can see selling off parts of the collection at some point, but I’ve got to wait until the bitter end to be sure.

  4. Excellent review, pics, & comics, as per.

    So looking forward to getting this guy. Had the original (long ago given to a buddy of mine), and the pearly armour on top of the gimmick made him one of my favourites, but his bulk was a bit of a put-off. This version looks slightly more believable as a warrior. Not so fond of the new waist/groin armour, though; the proportions look “off.”

    1. Thanks! The color is great, isn’t it?

      I’ve heard the complaints on the belt, but I guess I’m lucky enough to just not see it. I think it might just look better with the bigger gold band.

  5. Great review, man. I’m so pumped for this guy (I hope I get him by Thursday, as I have the cheap shipping).

    I had Extendar as a kid and have always liked him. I’m a bit younger than many MOTU fans, so I was really just getting into the line when guys like Rio Blast, Clamp Champ, and Extendar were joining the heroic warriors, thus I love these guys!

    1. Thanks!

      Defintely some great characters for the kids that got in late! The funny thing is that I had a lot of the early guys, but it’s that list you mentioned that holds a special place. Extendar and Rio Blast have made me a happy camper for 2014.

    2. Same here Barbecue17! I was born June ’82 so I was a bit too young for the early stages of the line but I was definitely around for the tail end. One of my most favorite Christmas memories is when I got Extendar, Clamp Champ, and Rio Blast (along with Randor and Sorceress) all wrapped up in a big box. I was so excited!

  6. I too got my figure before sale day (Thursday last week). I’m in L.A. same as the distribution center and pay for the UPS shipping so my figures don’t go on a “3 hour tour” before arriving. Anyway…

    I haven’t opened mine yet (not sure I’m keeping him) but I’m curious if the waist/torso connection is the same as King Hsss.

    1. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten anything this early before. I loved it!

      You know what? The Hiss torso didn’t even cross my mind. I’m getting old. I just tried it and they are compatible. The hip assembly is different, but the peg is the same for both. Neat!

      1. I just think the armored knight look is executed so perfect, I don’t *want* to display him with any extensions, except possibly the mid-section one.

  7. I made my peace with the belt. He is wearing a single gold band as a belt and the red piece is a fanny bag. Am I the only one who feels that the forearms look a bit too long in normal mode?

  8. While this guy has fascinated me since the vintage days, I can’t help but feel that the color scheme was always “wrong”. Not sure what I think would look better, but the pearlescent white and gold combo always struck me as “odd”.

  9. Well one fig never had but man he does look nice. Sold out at Matty but sadly the toy show I go to moved to location I could get to via bus but coming home with what I usually do on the bus would be wrong. Skipping this year.

    He would be a buy if spot at good price, unless see some figuarts that catch my eye.

  10. Have to say the reviews here are head and shoulder about those of matty mouth piece pixel Dan.

  11. I was not really looking forward to Extendar, as I’ve never been a fan of his design and his action feature didn’t interest me. I have to say he is a lot of fun once in-hand and I am really happy to have him.

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