While during the final months of this year we'll see mostly unique characters who have not had a chance to get a figure yet, there are still a few variants waiting for being part of the KR collection, whose overall expanse is becoming more and more impressive.
Even though the new iteration of Masq-Lor that I'm going to review is a bit of a departure from what we have seen in the past, I am glad I finally got this prototype. Behold Reptile Masq-LorTM!
Similarly to the Steel Monster versions of Deptilion and Loghar, this 44th action figure prototype from PoliganToys is obviously a different take on a high-profile character. Personally, I think Masq-Lor's reptile form is really, really cool.
Details
Name: Reptile Masq-Lor
Real name: Desion
Subtitle: dragon-toothed warrior
Classification: human-primivod hybrid (but he looks completely reptilian)
Sex: male
Home: Tahron
Affiliation: Theriom
Rank: leading warrior.
Background (with spoilers)
Masq-Lor's only appearance in his reptile form takes place in one of those KR comic issues that haven't been printed yet but I had the chance to preview. This story shows the hero's ability to tap into the power of the Spektrosaur amulet, which was donated to him by Lor-Drek right before being killed during the Cereutian invasion. Masq-Lor is tasked with journeying into the past of Tahron, in order to prevent a revived Deptilion from ruling for centuries by constructing a fortress where the multiversal walls are destined to be built. After learning Deptilion's real demonic identity, at first Masq-Lor fights his foe by appearing heroic as usual, but then transforms into a reptilian warrior and leads the Therioms into victory. Thanks to this new power, Masq-Lor is able to defeat the threat of a different history.
Articulation
Standard, plus a hinged lower jaw, a pair of ball hinged wings and a tail that features two swivels at about one-third and two-thirds of its length.
Description
Head: slightly similar to Lor-Drek's dragon/Spinosaurus head, characterised by a long and narrow snout, dark-green skin, large sharp teeth along the edges of the jaws and a faintly forked tongue sculpted on the inside of the mouth. The figure wears Masq-Lor's trademark helmet, which in this case displays some unusual details in the covering, such as a metal cranial crest and a pair of metal pointy ears (each ending in a rather long, curved dark horn), and in the visor, such as a scaly texture, an ochre (i.e., light brownish-yellow) colour and a pair of intimidating large solid red eyes
Body: dark-green scaly skin, claw hands. On the back of his newly sculpted torso, similarly to Lor-Drek, he bears an ochre neural spine sail, a pair of large bat-like wings (without tears and holes), and a long, thick tail emerging from under the loincloth and ending with a dark-green zigzagged point. The wings and the tail are painted in dark-green on the underside and ochre on the upper side.
Wearables: a big gold necklace with a very detailed medallion carrying the Spektrosaur symbol, i.e., a greenish flame, on the back of the distinctive Theriom symbol, two golden bracelets, two golden boots, a golden belt and a brown scaly loincloth. The wrist guards and the belt are great updates of the respective pieces seen with Lor-Drek and are shaped to resemble reptile heads, while the boots are reused from Combat Masq-Lor.
Action feature
Although being probably the coolest (or at least the most peculiar) Masq-Lor's variant would be satisfactory enough, we get a little add-on. Like with other versions of the Theriom leading warrior, a pair of brownish claws can snap into each bracelet, to simulate the retractile claws seen in the comics. The only difference is that in this case the pairs of claws are more similar to the pincers seen with Alterok.
Weapons and accessories
Apart from the grasping claws, RM comes with an exact replica of his regular release's enhanced sword, characterised by the threefold silver&gold blade and the bronze hilt. Additionally, there is a brick block that matches the design of the fortress seen in the comic issue and is intended to hold the sword vertically thanks to a small slot.
Also, the team at PoliganToys has decided to give the figure an additional head and a pair of reptile arm attachments that are meant to be used with regular Masq-Lor (or perhaps with his Apprentice Minister variant) to simulate a mid-transformation stage. The alternative head shows the helmet with the reptile visor activated plus some hints of the metal ears and crest, as well as the human mouth at the beginning of its mutation into a prognathous and toothed snout. The reptile attachments snap on Masq-Lor’s forearms and look enough like RM's bracers and clawed hands, but they are definitely too big and their entire underside is necessarily left open with no additional detailing.
Overall, I think this is a great figure and, aside from the too big reptile arm attachments, I really dig it. The sword holder is also fine and works as it should, but it is not at all exciting on its own. I look to be getting several surprises throughout the final part of this year and if they are all as solid as this one, we'll be in good shape. This figure opens a lot of doors and it makes me think that the rumour that an official Key Raiders release will be announced in a couple of weeks has some merit to it.
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