There are moments in my life when collecting can be a bit of a drag. Nothing could ever stop me from collecting, short of living under a bridge, but lately I have felt less like collecting and more like unloading things. It’s just a phase I’ve been in. Of course after five years of collecting Masters of the Universe Classics it would only make sense that there are moments of ebb and flow. However just when I thought it was safe to stop caring, Mattel pulls me right back in and I’m falling in love all over again. October was the month of love for Masters of the Universe Classics. Fans got their hands on two Club Etheria releases and both were astonishing. Let’s check them out!

First up is Sweet Bee, a honey of a guide! She comes packed on the standard MOTUC card and is a breath of fresh air. Fans are now beginning to get more releases from the second wave of Princess of Power toys, one of the best waves of toys ever.

Flipped around we can see other MOTUC releases of the POP variety. We are quickly approaching a full completion of the original POP toys into the MOTUC line. I am thrilled!

Sweet Bee’s bio features very little of her appearance in the Filmation cartoon and actually creates a whole new yarn about the warrior. I like this bio; it really creates a solid position for her in the She-Ra mythos.

Out of package Sweet Bee is stunning. Her sculpt is very much like her vintage toy design. The boots, skirt and bodice all have the feel from the original. She even has the darts on her bodice like the old toy. It is just great. The pink wings also snap in pretty easily onto her back.

The face sculpt is where the toy harkens back to her appearance in the cartoon. This face looks just like the Filmation design including her hair. She has a lovely face sculpt and it isn’t any wonder that He-Man would get smitten! Just don’t let Frosta know.

Here is a shot of her turned around. The hair is sculpted in a way so as to work with the wings. It’s a nice design and answers some questions I had regarding the hair sculpts for some of these figures. (I’m beyond wondering how they will approach Peekablue.)

Sweet Bee also comes with another head! Her famed helmet from when she crash lands on Etheria in the cartoon is included. (In the Filmation cartoon, Sweet Bee hails from a floating bee hive space station.) This look really creates an interesting sci fi feel that is just amazingly cool and yet another reason why I love this line. It is such a mix of so many genres.

Aside from the wings, Sweet Bee also comes with her shield and a stun gun. The shield is similar to previous POP shields, but the stun gun is all new and a great addition for Sweet Bee. The detail is nice although I did have a hard time placing it in her hands, which is why there is no picture.

What’s so special about Sweet Bee? Plenty! However what really stands her apart from some of the other POP characters is her appearance in the episode Sweet Bee’s Home, where Frosta has some lusty feelings for He-Man but gets a cold shoulder once the muscle man notices the honey of a guide known as Sweet Bee. It’s a jam packed episode filled with action, adventure, and enough humor to make He-Man blush and Frosta become a gigantic man eater. It’s one of my favorites.

Finally we have, so far, the releases of the second wave of POP toys in the MOTUC line. It’s getting bigger! We only need Mermista, Peekablue, and Perfuma and the second wave from the vintage POP toy line will be complete. I can’t wait!

Grade A (Sweet Bee strikes the right balance of her vintage toy counterpart and her appearance in the cartoon. She is a stunning figure and another reason why the POP characters make some of the best figures in the MOTUC line.)

Up next we have a very special figure to discuss. This release was an extra figure for the Club Etheria sub and it is a completely new take on a character that some thought could never find its way into figure form. I’m talking about Light Hope!

Even under a plastic bubble, this figure looks special. There is something majestic. The interpretation of essentially a beam of light was something that could have proved disastrous. However the Four Horseman and Nate Baertsch helped design and create a splendid interpretation of a classic character.

A nice mix of characters is on the back of the card. This is all standard MOTUC information.

The bio is where things get good! It’s a nice bio. I enjoy the brief back story they give Light Hope. This whole figure is simply cool. I never thought this figure would be released let alone as an actual figure. It’s very nice.

Out of package he is simple breathtaking. He is majestic, full of grace and yet able to be a force of warrior strength. I adore this figure. Elements of the Crystal Castle from the cartoon and toy line are found on this figure as are elements of She-Ra’s look. It is a great blend that could have been cheesy but was executed so well that I would be willing to say this is one of the best figures in the line. I won’t say the best, because I’m saving that designation for Mermista.

The face sculpt is perfection. Check out the details. There’s such a nice blend of so many elements of the cartoon and toy line. He is just a cool figure. His body is cast in a pinkish translucent plastic that also mimics the ethereal beauty of the Crystal Castle. It’s hard not to like this figure.

The back side of his cape is really cool. I like the effect and ability to see his back. It is just a nice over all look that is fitting for the fantasy world of She-Ra.

Details upon details can be found on this figure. I enjoy that so much effort and work was placed on this figure. This is a whole new look for a character that was a beam of light. I like this look though. I wrote a lengthy She-Ra fanfiction and in it I envisioned Light Hope as being this human form of pure light, and this figure is able to give off that effect and so much more. Not even in my wildest dreams could I have envisioned Light Hope to look like this.

The only accessory he came with was this staff. The staff also finds a way to maintain elements of the toy line and animated series. I would have also enjoyed a sword of light or something too. When I see this figure I like to envision the story going along the lines of Light Hope once being this great warrior of light who fell in battle and eventually came to be seen and known as the large pillar of light. I feel like there are so many ways this figure can be embraced.

Unlike Sweet Bee’s stun gun, the staff fits very easily into Light Hope’s hand. The overall look is a great presence. With the Crystal Castle as a backdrop, Light Hope really fits in with the play set. This is a perfect figure to be a part of the Club Etheria subscription. All in all, October was a fantastic month for collecting MOTUC.

Grade A+ (A pleasant figure and amazing design make this a very simple grade)

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