I actually fell asleep writing this review initially, and while you might think that's a clue towards how boring I found old Webstor here, I actually think this is one of the strongest entries into the Masters of the Universe Classics line yet. Read on for a look at Mattel's latest overpriced but effective shot of nostalgia-relief!

Name: Webstor
Line: Masters of the Universe Classics
Manufacturer: Mattel
Released: Summer 2009
Price: Online: $20.00-$39.99
Scale: 6.00 in. (figure in 6.75 in. tall)
Accessories: Backpack with grappling hook, removable vest, laser pistol
Sponsor Listings: Past Generation Toys-$39.95

     If you bought Skeletor from the MotUC line, then you've already seen a vast majority of Webstor's sculpt. The only piece of his basic body that's any different is the loincloth, which just so happens to be exactly the same as 90% of the rest of the line, like He-Man, Beast Man, etc., etc. That's not necessarily a bad thing though, because it's a good basic body that captures the desired bulky style of Masters of the Universe without looking too silly. The muscles are big and exaggerated, but don't look absurd or out of proportion with one another. The only real complaints I have about this sculpt are minor, first is the transition from very detailed hands with wrinkles and veins to perfectly smooth forearms, in that there is no transition, it's an instant jump from rough to smooth along the cut wrist. I also think the fur at the waist could be a little more sharply detailed; it's a little soft around the edges for a collector line such as this.
    Webstor's head is one unique addition to the tooling box, and it's good too. There are plenty of details from the points and creases running along the top of his head, to the various wrinkles and shapes composing his face. The nose isn't quite symmetrical, but instead of complaining about it, I think it just complements his monstrous look, as do the eyes/bumps of different sizes. I like the size and design of the gun that's included, and the sculpting is top-notch with sharp angles and clearly defined elements. He also includes a vest and backpack, both of which are well done. The vest has a lot of shapes carved right in, to give it a bit of a layered and three-dimensional look that paint couldn't have as effectively achieved, and the backpack matches in design, with four organic-looking arms attached as well. I don't know how I feel about the weird arms just dangling off his back, but I guess it does make him a bit more spider-like and it's a shout-out for the 200X style.
     He features a grappling hook that is attached to a rope that runs through the backpack pretty freely, with a tab on the other end to keep it all together. There's no mechanism for storing the rope easily, so it just kind of hangs around, pooling up on the ground or wrapped haphazardly around arms and such, but I' still glad it's included. The actual grappling hooks work quite well (they keep getting caught on wires, my mesh shorts (sexy, I know), and other figures (see picture)) because they're made of a harder plastic, but for whatever reason, Mattel thought it would be a good idea to make the handle of a much softer plastic. This wouldn't be a big problem, except that the clamp on the backpack intended to hold the grappling hook is very hard, and when the soft plastic of the hook is forced into and out of the tough clamp, it warps and nearly tears the plastic every time. Be very careful when depositing or removing the grappling hook from that prison, because it could snap or tear very easily.

Sculpt Score: 8 / 10

 

     Webstor's applications are very hit or miss. The small amount of paint on his actual body looks just fine, with crisply painted nails at his hands and feet, clean straps on the boots, as well as a nicely done and extremely subtle dark airbrush effect across his body. The red belt is a little messier, but it's not bad, just below the level you'd expect for a collector figure at this price. It's the vest that's disappointing. It's cast in a basic matte black, with a slathering of purple that runs over in some spots, and doesn't go quite far enough in others. It's pretty obvious where the lines are on this one thanks to the deep sculpt cuts, so I don't know why it was so hard to stay inside them. The red and orange are okay too, so maybe poor lighting conditions led to problems painting the two dark colors. I don't know why, just that it looks bad. The backpack and grappling hook are okay, relying mostly on plastic colors, but with a few small patches of shiny purple to offset things nicely and grab the eye. His gun also features a "hidden" glitter effect worked into the recessed areas of the weapon; it's not a big asset to the appearance, but it is a nice attention to detail and I always appreciate that. Although my images might show some problems, his face looks pretty good to the naked eye (remember how much bigger that final head shot is compared to real life) with clear defintions for his eyes and teeth.
     As far as the actual colors go, I think they look all right. He's a bit dark overall, but the blue is a nice shade that's just different enough from the purple to look unique while still matching. The colors match across body parts, even the purple on his vest compared to that of his boots, which can be a tough thing to accomplish. That is, except for his head, which is a tad bit shinier than the rest of his body, and could certainly be a significant distraction for some. Webstor definitely isn't problem-free, but for the most part, he looks pretty good. 

Paint Score: 8 / 10

 

    There are only a couple surprises with Webstor's articulation, because the basic figure is exactly the same as every past figure from the line, all his points detailed above. His backpack actually adds to the joint count with a swivel/hinge at the base of each of the four extra legs, allowing you to pose them that little extra bit. Hinges at each of the natural joints of those legs would have been neat, but at least they added in the points they did, because I consider those extra as is. All of his points, both body and backpack, work spendidly well, none of the loose legs or frozen points that I've encountered in the past. I think the articulation looks great too, a lot of points hidden quite naturally in the sculpt (such as the swivel thighs and calves, the swivel waist, and even his ab crunch), and those that aren't exactly hidden are still blended in well. The neck has a good range of motion, providing for plenty of personality in all the different poses you can place him in. The only points I consider limited are the hips, which can't go forward very far thanks to the restrictive loincloth, but everything else moves openly. I don't generally consider this type of ankle joint to have a rocking motion, but Webstor's have enough range that I've gone ahead and labeled them as such. This is a pretty fun articulation model that looks good and updates the classic figures so very nicely with only a couple limitations.

Articulation Score: 9 / 10

     Webstor is not the most popular of Masters of the Universe characters, clearly falling into the second or even third tier in regards to fame and popularity, but that doesn't mean he's not enjoyable. First off, he's got a great non-human element to grab your attention right away, a cool spider styling that stands out amongst many of the more pedestrian MotU designs. The added legs on the backpack bring this out even further, making Webstor a great blend of his classic and 200X designs that will please a lot of fans, calling up memories of both eras. Webstor also benefits from an "action feature" that most MotUC figures so far have ignored, which is the grappling hook and rope. He can hang from stuff pretty effectively, as well as grab other figures, or even people, so kids and collectors can both enjoy that. It's not quite as effective as the old figure's action feature in that the rope just runs freely through the backpack, but it's still a cool addition to this collector oriented line that's not quite so focused on fun. The articulated legs on his backpack are entertaining, so too is the included gun for gangster style shootouts with Zodac. Posing him is a breeze and joy, thanks to the various joints and especially the rocker ankles. Webstor is the MotUC figure I've enjoyed the most so far, and I think any fan of the line, or really just any fan of toys will get a few hours of excitement from this fellow, follower by years of appreciation with him posed dynamically on your shelf.

Fun Score: 10 / 10

 

     And once again, this category proves to be the bane of Masters of the Universe Classics figures. These still cost $20 on MattyCollector.com, and still cost $8.70 to ship at the cheapest level, so anyone who gets this guy will pay at least $28.70 for him (That is unless you could win him in a contest. Hm. A contest, that sounds familiar.). Almost $30 is an absolutely outrageous price for a 6 inch figure that's not any better from a quality standpoint than many of the $15 figures at Toys R Us from NECA or Mezco. Given the rampant part reuse and ever-growing run numbers, I think a price reduction would be reasonable by now. Of course, people are already paying $20, so Mattel will never lower it, but I just wonder how many more sales they could garner with a $15 price point. Anyway, Webstor can't even get out of this hole with his grappling hook, because he's 90% parts we've seen before, only the head and accessories are new pieces. They're great elements that make him stand out, just not enough to make him worth $30. He is a durable figure without any major problems, broken joints, or missing pieces, and Mattel is finally taking all the necessary precautions to protect these figures in transit, so that helps too. The previously mentioned weak plastic used on the handle of his hook is a potential problem that could quickly ruin this figure for a kid or even an unlucky adult too, so watch out for that. Mattel will really have to pick things up with this line to make this price point a reasonable one, because right now, the only reason I buy these toys is to review them. As a regular buyer, I'd look over Webstor solely due to cost. 

Value Score: 5 / 10

8 / 10 - We've seen most of it before, but it still looks good. 

8 / 10 - There are application problems, and successes. The colors look good. 

9 / 10 - Lots of points that work well and look great.

10 / 10 - An action feature of sorts along with good articulation and a cool design makes Webstor a winner here.

5 / 10 - He costs too much for what he is.

82 / 100 - This is a Great Toy

If you can afford to lay down the cash for Webstor, I think he's a great figure. The sculpt and paint are pretty strong, the articulation is just fine, and he'll definitely get his hooks in you with all the fun he can offer.

-The Articulated One

This could be the figure given away in this month's Review Commentator Contest. Join the discussion by leaving a comment for a chance to win!

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