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Series: Masters of the Universe Origins
Year: 2025
Prelude: A space cowboy from Mattel with high-tech weapons? Say no more, surely we are talking about... Rio Blast? Oh, okay. I was thinking of somebody else, actually. Someone whose toy was released that very same year in order to star in his own cartoon series. But, no, we’re talking about Rio Blast instead. So whip out your cybernetic sixguns and prepare to blow away some Snake Men or Horde troopers. Let’s say go, pardner!
Review: Rio Blast is a recreation of the 1986 vintage MotU figure, featuring improved articulation and pop-out limbs that can be exchanged with other Origins figures. He features all the same weapon gimmicks as the original figure. He has (removable) guns attached to his palms, hidden flip-out weapons in his thighs and chest, plus a big (removable) rucksack that deploys a large double-barreled cannon over his shoulders, complete with targeting visor. His wrists are connected to his back via (removable) cables, probably meant to be the power source for his guns.
Rio Blast works well as a space cowboy figure and while he sports almost the same haircut as He-Man, he adds a nice, bushy mustache to it for good measure. His one flaw is that the cables on his back clash with the rucksack a bit, sliding the guns up will pop the cables out of the back more often than not.
Overall, though, I like this guy. Great recreation of the original figure and a pretty novel idea at the time, too. If you wonder whether it makes sense for a space cowboy with guns built into his chest and thighs to appear on a planet and fight magical snake men and evil lich lords... well, that’s Masters of the Universe for you. Welcome to Eternia.
Remarks: Rio Blast was released in 1986, the same year that Mattel began releasing the toys for Bravestarr. Now I don’t know exactly if there was any synergy involved here, but the same toy company releasing two space cowboys in two different toy lines in the same year? Hard to believe that it was coincidence. Anyway, Rio Blast debuted in the Mini-Comic “The Fastest Draw in the Universe” and has quite a few more comic appearances under his belt, but never starred in any cartoon series.
I had Rio Blast as a kid, so when he was offered as a Mattel Creations exclusive, I couldn’t resist. There was a Classics version of the character, too, but I missed that one and he is a bit too expensive for my taste now. The Origins version does a great job of bringing the old vintage figure to life with improved articulation, so no complaints. Maybe we’ll get a Masterverse / Chronicles version of him one of these days, so he can properly team up with The Marshall.
Bottom line: if you like the idea of a space cowboy partaking in the fantasy-themed battles of the Masters of the Universe, this figure here will appeal to you, I’m sure.
Rating: B+
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