[SIZE=3]My favorite Good guys are Lion-o & Tygra. I’ve also laid down my thoughts briefly on the other main Good Thundercats.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]-Lion-o was a groundbreaking toy for the time it appeared, unquestionably. Taking into account every aspect and part of this figure lead unanimously to the conclusion it featured novel elements and has reasonably left its mark indelibly on the Toy industry. Had it not been for LJN’S Lion-O, the antique quality bestowed upon old toys which are nowadays treated as museum and much sought-after pieces would never be the same by no means. The figure set the stage for the modern statues to come into existence, furthermore I wouldn’t be surprised if present sculptors regard Lion-o as one of the very early forms of statuary in Pop culture. Judging by the unusual, yet impressive height as opposed to the midget G.I Joe or short and bulky MOTU, the limited articulation points preventing the disclosure of the unsightly screws, the rich palette of colors used from head to toe, the intricately made Sword and Glove, the detailed facial characteristics maintaining a serene expression and at the same time being faithful to the cartoon’s dynamic image or even the light up eyes exclusive feature giving him a singular beauty and the aesthetically-wise added Battle Action lever on its back attest further to my belief that it is a sheer revelation in the Toy community. I always adored Lion-o’s very first representation and singled this figure out from day one. Even to this day, with many companies readying a brand new surge of Thundercats products, this Lion-o stands proudly next to them as a legendary piece.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]-The old Tygra is so much different than the Series one, younger version and I think most fans relate to him as the main Tygra figure produced by LJN. He is more muscular and the face is true to the cartoon. If I could put it in a single word to sum it up, I’d say I like him foremost because of his color variance. The green/blue garment accentuates the upper orange body radiating an extraordinary vividness. The black stripes down the shoulders and along the back of the head literally bring to mind the picture of a wild Tiger! It’s quite noticeable that his stance with the left arm upwards showing off the clawed hand and the right holding tight the Bolo whip reminds a bit of Hard Hero’s prototype picture of Tygra. Also I am fond of his bright colored head covered with the same creamy white around Lion-o’s mouth. He is neither beefed up like Panthro nor too thin, to the contrary, he has a delicate physique making him even more impressive. The Battle Matic Action can also turn the whip into a lasso, at least this is how I used to play him as a kid![/SIZE]
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[SIZE=3]-Panthro has a great weapon indeed, the Nunchucks and the way he holds them resemble a lot to a Ninja, his muscular body is very cartoon accurate as well as the color selection but on the other hand his squatting position and gaping mouth is kind of funny. Maybe he was sculpted that way on purpose in order to fit better on the Thundertank and spring into action but aside from that he seems so short when standing straight which contradicts the cartoon icon since he is coming second in height after Lion-o.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]-Cheetara would have been much greater if her hair was similar to the 8-Back Card, long and wavy. Besides, this is one of the main trademarks we all remembered her like! She is small in size but very delicate and certainly way better than the other adult female Thundercat, the teeny-weeny Pumyra. I like a lot the black spots and the sideways grasp of the bo stuff. Her angular face appears many details and the yellow tone makes a perfect antithesis with her shiny silhouette. The major drawback is the hair in my perception.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]-Bengali no wonder he is the fans favorite figure, molded after Tygra’s body and featuring unique characteristics, primarily the light blue paint covering most of the body and matching perfectly with the deep blue sea color on legs and shoulders,justifiably upgrade him into an awesome Thundecat toy! It’s hard to find any blemishes detracting from his overall appearance. The beautiful blends of colors are rare for an 80’s toy, striking the eye at first glance. He is pretty much cartoon accurate for a second class figure and retains the juvenile side of the character as well. One puzzling issue though, is the big size of the magic Hammer of Thundera, it was never portrayed so huge in the series, and it was more like a handgun instead of a Battle axe![/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]-Lynx-o, my third best figure, I love that he has no pupils and the eyes are covered in red to make him totally blind, sort of scary for a kid’s “belonging to the Good Side” toy, but the majority of LJN Thundercats had special traits ahead of their time with the prospective collector in mind. The face was the most prominent element, it managed to convey faithfully the picture of an old and wise man. Probably the only figure being 100% close to the cartoon image, whether we are referring to the color, sculpt, expression or the slightest detail like the small red dots on both arms. I don’t know many figures generally, reproduced so realistically. He was like a miniature of a statue. He is better displayed devoid of his Sonic Reflector.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]-Flesh tone or Orange skin, Jaga is one hell of a figure! The blue Cape, the royal Helmet and the Sword confer a knighthood quality upon him. His appearance changes drastically when he isn’t wearing the helmet looking more like an aged human. I think he should be less muscular because the elderly head is out of proportion to the rest of the body which seems younger and robust. Yet again, we are mostly familiar with the ghost form of Jaga and the blue/gray aura surrounding him. This representation must be from the Exodus episode. I think Jaga would look even cooler and closer to the cartoon counterpart if the cape was longer and he was a bit skinnier with fewer muscles. One thing I always reflect upon is how identical the old Lion-o would be to Jaga, because in the episode Thundercubs part 1 the young Jaga bore a strong physical resemblance to Lion-o.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]-Pumyra or should I call her Elfyra! She appeared fewer times than any other Thundercat member, still she was a very sympathetic character in the cartoon. However, I never took to the LJN figure, she reminds me so much of an elf toy with the pointed ears, edged jaw, the toothpick legs and the slender body. Also, the way her right arm holds the slingshot it’s like she carries her purse and she is out for a stroll, her left arm when lifted up it’s as if she is waving Goodbye. The bland expression of the face doesn’t match at all the youthful and cheerful nature of Pumyra. Even worse, why the Thundercats emblem on the chest was made so small that it’s hardly visible? Add to that the oversimplistic design of the weapon. Altogether, this figure was below par comparing to the rest, probably due to her limited role in the show.[/SIZE]
