Aw, as soon as I heard that Fearless Photog was FINALLY going to be made into a figure, I was thrilled. Saw the announcement in the MOTU magazine as a kid, got all worked up, and then . . . nothing. And this turned out beautifully! I did always think, however, that the "yellow stripes" down the sides of his limbs were meant to be comic-book-style highlights, like with Superman and Wonder Woman's "blue" hair.
Holy cow! How did I miss the fact that you have not one, but two videos on Photog and the original contest?! Also, I LOVE that you used my “re-imagining” of the character at the beginning of the video! That is sweet. I also did alternate versions of Brainwave and Compactor. This character is one that I have, for a very long time, felt a strong connection to. Since the very moment I realized my own creation for the original contest did not win, I have both despised and revered Fearless Photog. I feel confident in stating that, outside of Nathan himself, I am Photog’s biggest fan. Heck, even my channel’s logo and my website mascot use Photog as a basis (Photog Smurf). When I was writing and illustrating “Eternian Daze” for the “Rise Of The Snakemen” comics, I included Photog in one issue. The story of my association with Photog is odd and spans decades, but it ultimately lead me to create that novel I previously mentioned, “Tommy and the Order of Cosmic Champions”. We’re hoping to land an agent/publisher for it very soon. It draws directly from my experiences before, during, and after the Mattel Create-A-Character contest. The character in the book known as Fierce Phantos is to Tommy what Fearless Photog was to me.
Although it's sad Fearless Photog never happened in the 80's, but getting him in the MOTUC line has got to be one of the most wholesome toy stories ever, you did good with this figure and the whole line. I wish I could afford collecting MOTUC, hah.
If I won the contest I still would have been happy that all the other stuff happened even though the figure didnt get made. And classics did the right thing and made it anyway so it's a win win for all involved. Thanks for the great info on this franchise I love so much .
I remember seeing the finalists lineup in the Chicago Tribune comics section back when. I just knew Photog would win because he had the coolest head design!
At a local collector's store there is a Photog that has remained unsold for about 3 years now and has been the source of much hilarity over how silly it looks, so its nice to learn the actual backstory of the figure.
I remember reading about this event at a local library some years ago. I often wonder if Mattel or Bitner has a original sketch or drawing on file and if Bitner remembers the original color lay out of his action figure that he submitted? Visual Artist: S. T. Perry
He's silly as anything. However, with so many of these contests in this Era from so many franchises never fulfilling the promised win, Photog was a nice, heartwarming end to a few decades of dissapointment.
You have GOT to get back in contact with Nate and do an interview with him for the channel! I donno why I assumed that was going to be part of this video, but I was disappointed to not hear a quote from him. Can you make this happen?
@@spectorcreative1872 Hopefully you'll get Nathan's info and manage to arrange a interview with him, it would be really interesting to hear what he has to say about all this.
Aw man, it might be a good idea to get whatever his original color scheme was documented somehow. You have to assume that eventually Mattel is gonna want to remake the figure seeing as they own it, and having a re-deco with justification behind it seems like a slam dunk.
I hope you and your family is ok, I saw on the local news here there was a tornado went through guilford county, which Greensboro is part of, I was just concerned, and hoping for the safety of you and your family.
“A grand prize… that we took away”. - Mattel, Inc 1987. Imagine having a party thrown for you for winning a contest? Incredible, never heard that before. That’s some support. Then in 2012: “Scott why did you go out to the catwalk?” “Well you won’t believe it be we just got Fearless Photog!” “You what? It seriously happened?” “Well thanks to you, Mattel’s blunder from 1985 is put to rest.” Anyway that bio being a homage to the contest was a very cool move! Incredible story, you made Masters Of The Universe all the more greater!
@@spectorcreative1872 I bet he was! And he was around in the 1980s when the contest was ongoing. I bet the new King Hiss surprised the old designers too!
I remember the contest in MOTU Magazine (nearly entered but the idea I had was too bland so I abstained. Just a guy with interchangeable hands. Like Trapjaw and Roboto, only boring). I felt disappointed for the winner that Photog was never made (not realizing all of the other non-figure prizes that were involved in the contest).
"...he comes complete with his *reel blaster* ..." -Oh, I don't think so, honey. -But Ma..! @7:42 Was that the production order, Bitner's, then Spector Creative? Either way, so cool.
Did he ever get to use the $100,000 college scholarship fund? In his adult picture he was an enlisted soldier and usually officers are the members that join the ranks with a college degree.
Interesting. Wrong colors huh? That's fine just reissue it in it's correct colors. All these decades later it finally debuts. It debuts with a cracked lens. Quite the uproar. Don't mean to bring up old wounds but there are two things that come to my mind when I hear that name. Original contest winner and the cracked lens.
Did Nate buy some photog figures or did he get sent one for free? Was he exited when he found out it was finally being made? or was he more laid back and didn't care too much about it? If it had been me in his position and you called me letting me know that my character from 30 years ago was being made into a figure I would of screamed like a school girl over the phone lol
I remember competing. My creation was like Tall Star now, he broke apart like her extending pieces. Junk Pile. He could break apart and disguise himself as a pile of junk. I wish l came up with something better. L0L
No, he was never really involved in the MOTU community as an adult. I had tracked him down back in 2011 for an interview about Fearless Photog, and then put him in touch with Scott at Mattel.
![Noob To Max With DRAGON REWORK In Blox Fruits [FULL MOVIE]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/LnBMOinoOvA/mqdefault.jpg)
Aw, as soon as I heard that Fearless Photog was FINALLY going to be made into a figure, I was thrilled. Saw the announcement in the MOTU magazine as a kid, got all worked up, and then . . . nothing. And this turned out beautifully! I did always think, however, that the "yellow stripes" down the sides of his limbs were meant to be comic-book-style highlights, like with Superman and Wonder Woman's "blue" hair.
I am so glad we got to Photog! Was a major "goal accomplished" thing in Classics. ;-)
Yeah, I remember there was a similar contest in the Playmates Star Trek line that never came to fruition.
Holy cow! How did I miss the fact that you have not one, but two videos on Photog and the original contest?!
Also, I LOVE that you used my “re-imagining” of the character at the beginning of the video! That is sweet. I also did alternate versions of Brainwave and Compactor.
This character is one that I have, for a very long time, felt a strong connection to. Since the very moment I realized my own creation for the original contest did not win, I have both despised and revered Fearless Photog.
I feel confident in stating that, outside of Nathan himself, I am Photog’s biggest fan. Heck, even my channel’s logo and my website mascot use Photog as a basis (Photog Smurf).
When I was writing and illustrating “Eternian Daze” for the “Rise Of The Snakemen” comics, I included Photog in one issue.
The story of my association with Photog is odd and spans decades, but it ultimately lead me to create that novel I previously mentioned, “Tommy and the Order of Cosmic Champions”. We’re hoping to land an agent/publisher for it very soon. It draws directly from my experiences before, during, and after the Mattel Create-A-Character contest. The character in the book known as Fierce Phantos is to Tommy what Fearless Photog was to me.
Well there is much to explore on this channel and hundreds of videos!
What a very cool story! Good job Toy Guru for fulfilling a childhood dream! I now want to find this Classics figure and add him to the collection.
Worth adding!
@@spectorcreative1872 yep! I picked it up for $45 on eBay. Not sure if that's a good deal but there wasn't a lot of options out there.
Although it's sad Fearless Photog never happened in the 80's, but getting him in the MOTUC line has got to be one of the most wholesome toy stories ever, you did good with this figure and the whole line. I wish I could afford collecting MOTUC, hah.
Maybe Mattel will start reissuing them?
What a great story!
Well thank you for commenting
If I won the contest I still would have been happy that all the other stuff happened even though the figure didnt get made. And classics did the right thing and made it anyway so it's a win win for all involved. Thanks for the great info on this franchise I love so much .
And I'm glad we FINALLY got to make the figure!
I love telling people the kind of incredible and outlandish story behind this figure. It's one of the reasons why I keep it on my display shelf!
Very shelf worthy!
@@spectorcreative1872 I’ve changed up some stuff since I recorded this, but this is close to the current shelf setup: imgur.com/gallery/mJbrtVc
I remember seeing the finalists lineup in the Chicago Tribune comics section back when. I just knew Photog would win because he had the coolest head design!
He is a pretty cool figure
Omg I remember this!! I entered this contest.
Hopefully the winner got a figure
Nice!!
I was looking forward to this episode! Thank you always.
Glad it met your expectations! The series goes on!
Amazing that you guys finally made him!! I just wish we could have gotten the other contest characters! Especially Eye Beam!!!
Me too! We put him and the others in the mini comic for that reason
@JQ I see a lil MadBall in em...
...& love'm; if it's a skull, ane eye,
or GITD, I'm pretty much sold!
At a local collector's store there is a Photog that has remained unsold for about 3 years now and has been the source of much hilarity over how silly it looks, so its nice to learn the actual backstory of the figure.
Hey let the store know about this video!
Such a funny character, legendary origin!!
And deserving of being in the line!
Awesome figure! Even though it wasn't intended, I LOVED the color scheme!
It had to be done!
I remember reading about this event at a local library some years ago. I often wonder if Mattel or Bitner has a original sketch or drawing on file and if Bitner remembers the original color lay out of his action figure that he submitted? Visual Artist: S. T. Perry
I don't recall what specifically he said the original colors were supposed to be. Wish I did!
1:24
Is that a Char Custom MSN-02 Zeong head on the left?
Potentially
Super cool that this figure made good on a long delayed promise. I never picked up on the idea that the contest was incorporated into the bio.
Yeah I thought people would get that right away. I don't think anyone did!
He's silly as anything. However, with so many of these contests in this Era from so many franchises never fulfilling the promised win, Photog was a nice, heartwarming end to a few decades of dissapointment.
Glad we got to him and made it happen!
You have GOT to get back in contact with Nate and do an interview with him for the channel! I donno why I assumed that was going to be part of this video, but I was disappointed to not hear a quote from him. Can you make this happen?
I don't think I have his contact info anymore. If anyone does or knows him tell him to connect with me on spectorcreative.com
@@spectorcreative1872 Hopefully you'll get Nathan's info and manage to arrange a interview with him, it would be really interesting to hear what he has to say about all this.
MOTUC is such an amazing line...
Made with real love!
Here's hopping we'll get the Fearless Photog in the origins line.
How cool would that be!
"What happened?"
"Well, I'm sorry, but Mattel's temporary president ran the entire company into the ground in only 24 hours."
That is what happened! How did you know?
One of the figures I still want to get. It would be cool if Super 7 did a retro version of him or Mattel do an Origins version.
Now that is a figure that needs a retro version!
You made adult’s dream comes True!
All made with love!
@@spectorcreative1872 and it shows!
1:24 In the bottom left of the character parts image, that red horned helmet is pretty clearly a modified Zeong head from Mobile Suit Gundam! :O
Does look like that!
Congratulations, Nate!
Truly!
Aw man, it might be a good idea to get whatever his original color scheme was documented somehow. You have to assume that eventually Mattel is gonna want to remake the figure seeing as they own it, and having a re-deco with justification behind it seems like a slam dunk.
That would be pretty awesome! I don;t have Nate's contact info anymore alas.
I hope you and your family is ok, I saw on the local news here there was a tornado went through guilford county, which Greensboro is part of, I was just concerned, and hoping for the safety of you and your family.
Thank you! We did shelter in a safe spot, but all is well. I appreciate you asking!
“A grand prize… that we took away”. - Mattel, Inc 1987. Imagine having a party thrown for you for winning a contest? Incredible, never heard that before. That’s some support. Then in 2012: “Scott why did you go out to the catwalk?” “Well you won’t believe it be we just got Fearless Photog!”
“You what? It seriously happened?” “Well thanks to you, Mattel’s blunder from 1985 is put to rest.” Anyway that bio being a homage to the contest was a very cool move! Incredible story, you made Masters Of The Universe all the more greater!
Even Tim Kilpin was shocked we made this happen!
@@spectorcreative1872 I bet he was! And he was around in the 1980s when the contest was ongoing. I bet the new King Hiss surprised the old designers too!
They should have made a toy set; out of those cut out pieces they provided. Build your own Master. Like multi bot.
That would have been fun!
What a great looking character
All Nate!
Did you guys get his address to be able to send one of the figures over when it was complete?
Yup. We send him 24 units.
@@spectorcreative1872 Awesome. I would’ve loved to have seen the look on his face having that dream finally fulfilled.
IIRC he got an entire case.
Wish Fearless Photog would have his animated debut in Masters of the Universe: Resolution one day.
Fearless Photog is a great thing. I thought the whole 30th Anniversary Line was a nice idea, a different but still fitting way to celebrate.
Yeah very much how I looked at it to!
I remember the contest in MOTU Magazine (nearly entered but the idea I had was too bland so I abstained. Just a guy with interchangeable hands. Like Trapjaw and Roboto, only boring). I felt disappointed for the winner that Photog was never made (not realizing all of the other non-figure prizes that were involved in the contest).
Well at least he was made now!
Did you send one specially to Nate once it was completed?
Mattel sent a large case of Fearless Photog figures to Nate.
Some of those teaser images at the end leave me clueless.
Really? I never collected MotU and even I got this one.
Well once the next video comes out, go back to the previous teaser and you will see the connection!
Did you guys end up shipping him one?
We shipped him 24
"...he comes complete with his *reel blaster* ..."
-Oh, I don't think so, honey.
-But Ma..!
@7:42 Was that the production order,
Bitner's, then Spector Creative?
Either way, so cool.
Phlotog was the first of the 30th figures
Does anyone know, if mattel could make the other contest runner up?
Well now that they were in the mini comics, sure!
Don't ever comment on here but just wanted to say great channel I always click on the new video right away and leave a like great stuff always
Well welcome to the comments! And please also feel free to share with others, it helps the channel a ton!
I bet Tim Kilpin was shocked! And he was around in the 1980s when the contest was ongoing. I bet the new King Hiss surprised the old designers too!
Oh yes. I made sure to leave one on his desk
6:58 I had no idea you worked for Mattel
Well knowing is half the battle. ;-P
Did he ever get to use the $100,000 college scholarship fund? In his adult picture he was an enlisted soldier and usually officers are the members that join the ranks with a college degree.
Yes he did get it.
@@spectorcreative1872 Awesome!
If anything, Fearless Photog´s arch-enemy should have been Mighty Spector.
Why not?
Interesting. Wrong colors huh? That's fine just reissue it in it's correct colors. All these decades later it finally debuts. It debuts with a cracked lens. Quite the uproar. Don't mean to bring up old wounds but there are two things that come to my mind when I hear that name. Original contest winner and the cracked lens.
Yours had a cracked lens? I don't recall that being an issue with a large number of units
Did Nate buy some photog figures or did he get sent one for free? Was he exited when he found out it was finally being made? or was he more laid back and didn't care too much about it? If it had been me in his position and you called me letting me know that my character from 30 years ago was being made into a figure I would of screamed like a school girl over the phone lol
We sent him a case pack of 24 units
They should at least have produced a prototype for his collection.
One would think!
Thrasher magazine has a section called photog
Nice
Yeah idk. Kinda random. I've wondered how to say it photog photo o.g.
May have had some Motu connection.. who knows.
1:26 wait is that the head of a zeong on the left corner
Ha!
I remember competing. My creation was like Tall Star now, he broke apart like her extending pieces. Junk Pile. He could break apart and disguise himself as a pile of junk. I wish l came up with something better. L0L
Never be hard on yourself for coming up with an idea for a toy! It ain't easy trust me
What??!!! Why is photogs name jey??? I would think Nate or even Bit-Nuur or something like that.
It was a placeholder name as was the bio for Nate to chime in but alas we lost touch.
It’s interesting that Nate stopped responding. I wonder if he’s stayed involved in the MOTU community at all.
I still wonder
No, he was never really involved in the MOTU community as an adult. I had tracked him down back in 2011 for an interview about Fearless Photog, and then put him in touch with Scott at Mattel.
Infamous doesn’t mean what you think it means.
Fans complained about the inclusion of an action feature. Fans are the worst.
Not as bad as killer sharks.
Never liked this one. Cool for the kid winning the contest. Wish Pig Boy was made speaking of contest winners.
Well he did make it into the new animated show!
I would put money on Pig Boy getting a figure made for Masterverse.