| Every Hero or Villain needs a character development, but most of the times an upgrade doesn’t make it to fiction it becomes a brand new action figure to sell more toys based on that character. With Battle Armor Skeletor, it adds iteration or a version of the character that has gimmicks like the upgrade before the name itself.
There’s no general straightforward fiction related on how the character gained a ‘power up’ even a minicomic to support that transformation. But the back of the product’s card art just gives you the idea how the ‘Battle Amor’ manifested itself to be based on evil magic protection that gives every kid from the 1980s an idea. |
Originally, Mattel’s design team was ahead of its time to come up with ideas to make the main characters fresh and interesting with an upgrade. This predates the time Batman had a plethora of colourful bat suits to aid him against crime. The same concept of marketing to introduced variations of the same character in different get up or weaponry just to sell toys.
But with MOTU it free up new stories behind the idea how Skeletor gained in his possession the Battle Armor in the packed in minicomic that came with this figure is an original marketing concept to add more versions of the same character, which sometimes works and other times a failure.
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Armored of Evil
This modern ‘retro’ take on the Battle Armor Skeletor is presented as part of the deluxe range rather than part of the basic assortment with added accessories like the alternate head, gripping left-hand, and a shield, which has a higher price point. The difference also is the larger card back that retains the same content of the basic releases featuring the signature cross sell, paly pattern feature and card art.
The front of the card still have the bursting red rocks and starry sky, but added another art featuring the character in his/her appearance that’s based on the product packed in with this one having Battle Amor Skeletor in combat action stance.
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Battle Damage Action
The gimmick of the figure is already is presented why it was called ‘Battle Armor’ Skeletor with a new look and an upgrade from his slightly naked appearance this version is armed for combat against the Heroic Warriors, but not as popular as He-Man’s iconic take on the Battle Armor that cemented the ‘H’ logo than the red cross that introduced the character.
With BA Skeletor, he sports a bat-like symbol in his chest that when you strike it a drum mechanism reveals a damage, and when you trike it again it reveals two damage on the chest as the popular gimmick with this figure. The other upgrade for this new version of the Battle Armor is that the design has incorporated a slot for the half power sword, which was absent in the original figure.
Featured Articulation:
- Head at the Ball Joint
- Ball Joint at the Shoulders
- Swivels/Bend at the Elbow
- Hinges at the Wrist
- Turn at the Waist
- Hinge-like Ball Joint at the Thighs
- Swivels/Bend at the Knee
- Boot Cut Swivel
- Ankles Moves Side-to-Side
Sinister Weapons of Choice
This deluxe version of Skeletor not only gave him the ‘Battle Armor’ but was packed with extra accessories beside his signature havoc staff and the half power sword, which as mentioned can be stored at his back. The extra accessory gives him a new shield with a skull design, left gripping hand, and an alternate head.
The shield was also absent in the original 1985 figure, but it’s an added bonus for someone who’s full armored already. But the issue is the figure can’t properly hold it due to the design of his arms having fins to unable to hold it properly that needs to be placed at an angle, while the alternate gripping left hand lets Skeletor hold both the Havoc staff and half power sword.
Adding premium to the figure is an alternate retro head based from the original that longtime fans have been hoping for in comparison to the one presented from the basic assortment that shows the comedic side of the character. The default head is also brand new and more sinister in his expression, which can be used with the basic Skeletor figure is certainly opens up the mix and matching.
Ready to Strike
Battle Armor Skeletor in comparison to his basic figure is an upgrade and adds the ‘Battle Armor’ battle damage gimmick. The figure still have the interchangeability as now explained in a separate instruction sheet besides the minicomic that was packed in with the figure that shows which parts are still modular.
The appearance of this Skeletor shows that he’s ready for war not just making trouble if Filmation had continued the series. It’s not as popular as Battle Armor He-Man, but it gives you an idea how people behind the MOTU toyline was way ahead of the curve when introducing the same character with a different suit.
Overall, Battle Armor Skeletor builds upon an idea that you can collect variations of the same character with a different look. The idea of selling more toys of the same character has stem from this concept that has been used by other companies to this day. But not all characters are created equal to ever be collected there are other obscure versions that many have forgotten. But this version of Skeletor stood out because he was made equally to He-Man’s version.
Battle Armor Skeletor is part of a third wave in the deluxe assortment with a higher price point that features extra accessories and battle damage gimmick, which retails for at ₱ 1,299.75 (**$ 35.42 AUD | $ 25.99 USD) from Mattel locally distributed by Richprime Global Inc., and was available at Ollie & Co Glorieta. For more about MOTU Origins and the store that carry this toyline, like & follow them on their social media via Facebook!
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