Otho

First we learn that the land of Mythoss has Spartans - now we find out it also has Moors. Widely known as greatest warrior in the Army of Leodysseus, Otho stands at Attila Leossyr's side as his closest friend and most trusted advisor. As childhood friends, Otho, Attila, and Attlus were inseparable as they trained for the day that they would walk onto the battlefield. Walking away from battle after battle unscathed, Otho's deepest wound came as a result of Attlus' departure. That departure weighs heavily on Otho, perhaps even more so than on Attlus' own brother Attila. Admit it: when you hear this figure's name, you first think of Beetlejuice. But as a black man in a position of honor among a court of white guys, it seems more likely that his name is a reference to Othello than to the guy who was Roman Emperor for three months. So, as mentioned, Otho is a black man, meaning Mythic Legions is already more diverse than Tim Burton's entire oeuvre. [Oooh, topical! --ed.] He's got a take-no-crap look on his face, a big bushy beard, and his hair is done up into dreadlocks that are then pulled back into a ponytail. They're thick and ropy, but not literally ropy, like some examples. They look like hand-twisted clay (which is likely what they are). Being black isn't the only thing that makes Otho different from the other figures. The majority of the armor is the same as everyone else's (for instance, King Leossyr), but he gets a new torso: rather than the breastplate we've seen so many times, Otho has a cloth shirt. Now, he's probably just wearing that over his breastplate, but it's still something that hasn't shown up on any of the figures we've reviewed so far. It's a nice look, and it adds some variety to the line. Plus, the way it blends with his loincloth makes it look like he's wearing a tabard under his armor. The colors are pleasing, as well. His armor is silver with gold trim, while his cloth is blue. Together, they create a very cool pallete - again, setting him apart from the crowd. His eyes are the same blue as his clothes, if you really get in there and look at them. The Mythic Legions figures are incredibly well-articulated, and also incredibly modular. Otho has a balljointed head, swivel neck, swivel/hinge shoulders and elbows, swivel forearms at the top of the gloves, swivel/hinge wrists, a balljointed torso, swivel/hinge hips, swivel thighs, swivel/hinge knees, and swivel/hinge/swivel ankles. Pretty much every one of those joints can be pulled apart with only a modicum of force, so if you want to create your own custom figure, it'll be easy enough to do. Put Otho's head on anybody's body! Make a black dwarf that the Netherlands won't have to apologize for! Otho has no cape and no shield, but he does get the smaller shoulder armor. He's armed with two swords and the Mythic Legions modular axe. Fittingly, the blades are black, while the accent colors are blue and gold. This really is a sharp-looking figure! Let's hear it for the Four Horsemen having the forethought to diversify their Mythic Legions line from the outset, rather than having to invent an excuse to introduce it later. With his distinct colors and unique chest, Otho is a standout figure. -- 10/01/16

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