Alex Carter
When it comes to Mondo Toys’ Masters of the Universe Battle Cat, the first thing people mention is the price. Is it worth the same as a PS5 at $500? But that’s not the right question to ask. Collectors already know if they prefer video games or sculpted collectibles. The real comparison should be if it were a resin statue of the same size and sculpt, would that price seem reasonable? And the answer is a resounding yes. You’d probably pay even more for a non-articulated, more fragile version of this. In fact, the figure is already selling for twice its original price on the secondary market. Plus, there’s Panthor coming soon, which will likely use the same sculpt.
Battle Cat comes in a box with Mondo-style artwork on the front and a seemingly all-black back with a mini-bio. But upon closer inspection, you’ll notice a hidden Castle Grayskull image in black-on-black. Unlike other Mondo MOTU figures, there’s no window flap because this figure is too big and needs padding. It’s securely wedged into styrofoam halves for protection, making it invisible to in-box collectors.
Kitty Stretches
The articulation on Battle Cat is impressive. His body consists of five ball-jointed segments, with a single ball joint for the neck. The joints are initially tight but not at risk of breaking. The legs are ball-jointed at the hips and have disc-and-pin ball joints at every other point. The forepaws have hinged individual toes, although posing him in certain positions may be limited due to the nature of cat paws. The tail attaches with a cut joint and features a solid yellow end. It’s possible there’s a posing wire inside, but it’s best not to push it.
Not only is the body articulated, but the armor itself also has five points of articulation to move with the anatomy. This is a first for Battle Cat.
Face of Fur
Instead of making the mask removable, Mondo has permanently attached it and included different heads. The heads have the same sculpt and an articulated lower jaw. It seems they modified the mask to fit each head perfectly. While this may have increased the price, it gives both masks a snug appearance. There’s a classic mask, a classic box art unmasked head, a Mondo-style mask (similar to the 2002 style but different enough), and a fully Cringer head.
(The body may be a bit big to be Cringer, but everyone who ever played with a Battle Cat toy ignored that.)
For those who prefer a smaller secret identity, there’s also a solid and surprisingly hefty unarticulated baby Cringer kitty.
Rider, Strong
He-Man sits comfortably on Battle Cat’s back, especially with his feet through the stirrups and angled downward. The saddle’s larger-than-usual back support helps with stability.
The armor fits loosely enough that it can almost slide off, but it’s easier to detach the main strap. The strap attaches to the saddle on both sides with a simple posts-in-holes connection.
It’s not immediately clear if or how the forearm armor bits can be removed, so it’s best to leave them alone. Even if they make the figure look less like a real kitty (which it is the same size as…)
Battle Cat is quite flexible, but don’t expect him to perform every possible cat pose. He won’t be able to do the foot over head butt-licking thing, for example. However, he can beg for belly rubs.
Saddle up
The armor parts have a dark wash that makes the saddle details, like engraved cat designs, stand out. There’s also some metallic dry-brushing to give it a worn-off paint look, resembling metal. The coloration is flawless.
On its own, this feline will display nicely on most shelves. But with a rider, it becomes much taller.
Introducing Battle Cat, the ultimate Mondo figure that’s built to withstand even the wildest playtime adventures. Unlike other figures, Battle Cat is designed to be sturdy and durable, so you don’t have to worry about it falling apart. It’s not just a toy, it’s a centerpiece for any MOTU collection.
From its humble origins as a repainted Big Jim tiger accessory, Battle Cat has evolved into a beloved character with a rich history. This green fighting tiger has received a stunning artistic interpretation that only comes from years of adoration. While the price tag may be a consideration, the toy itself lives up to its appearance.
Take a closer look at more captivating images below:
