With the recent release of the Walmart exclusive Heavy Metal Mater 3 pack, I thought it would be good to take a look at the Toons released in the Heavy Metal Mater Tall Tale... Heavy Metal Mater is one of my favorites - maybe it's because I have been a musician... maybe not... all I know is that I like Cars, I like Mater's Tall Tales, and I like Heavy Metal Mater... in this installment of Respect the Classics, we'll look at Heavy Metal Mater.
A few years ago Mattel released a Mater's Tall Tales Heavy Metal Mater 4 pack... if I remember right, this was a Target exclusive and was the first 4 pack to retail for $29.99; previously, the 4 packs had been $19.99... my friend indykjt from Nathan's Playroom bought one for me at an Indy area Target store:
Actually, he might have gotten me 2 of them, as I have one opened and one carded... as you see in the above photo, the set included Heavy Metal Mater, Heavy Metal Lightning McQueen, and 2 pittys - bass player Eddie, and guitarist Rocky... the pittys were also released as a 2 pitty single, and Heavy Metal Lightning McQueen was also released as a single... somewhere I have them carded... the only way to get Heavy Metal Mater was in the 4 pack... I did not buy the other 4 pack that was released in the case because $30 for a 4 pack was too expensive in my opinion.
I just noticed that Eddie's bass guitar has MATER spelled out on the neck:
Heavy Metal Lightning McQueen featured some leather-look accessories:
And here's Heavy Metal Mater, in leather as well:
I didn't really pay much attention to these until the release this week of the Walmart exclusive Heavy Metal Mater 3 pack:
I wasn't going to buy this 3 pack, as I had the 4 pack... but I did... some of you have asked are there any differences between the ones released in the 4 pack and the new versions in the 3 pack... I don't really think so, but you can look for yourself:
There were a few other Toons released in the Heavy Metal Mater series...
Rodney the Rocker was a single - he was the band's biggest fan:
And don't forget Dex the promoter:
Not to be confused by Dexter Hoover, Dex was released as a single as well... What Car is Dex based on? What other Cars have been released with this body? The answer will appear at the end of the article.
The other Car released in this series was released as a Deluxe Car... Here's Music Video Mater:
If I remember right, Music Video Mater was released in the same case that included 2 Padre (from El Materdor)... Music Video Mater was released as a deluxe for 2 reasons:
1. It's a Mater so customers/collectors will pay more it.
2. The Bat wings.
I found it impressive when Mater flapped his wings in the tall tale.
Here are photos comparing Heavy Metal Mater and Music Video Mater:
What differences do you see between Heavy Metal Mater and Music Video Mater?
There are a few other characters shown in the Heavy Metal Mater tall tale... maybe we'll see them in the future... it depends on how sales of the pack goes... Mattel does need to remember that those of us who already have these Toons because we've been collecting for several years need (want) new Cars in addition to variants or the same Car on a new cardback.
As always, thanks for reading.
Chris
P.S. - I didn't answer the questions I asked in the article... I'll give you an opportunity to answer them.
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