Masters of the Universe
Encyclopedia
Masters of the Universe (commonly abbreviated to MOTU; and sometimes informally referred to as He-Man
, after the lead hero) is a media franchise
created by Mattel
.
Although featuring a vast line-up of characters, the main premise revolves around the conflict between the heroic He-Man
and the evil Skeletor
on planet Eternia
. Since its initial launch late 1981, the franchise has spawned a variety of products, including six lines of action figure
s, four animated television series, countless comic series
and a film
. Designer Roger Sweet
claims to be the chief creator of He-Man and MOTU, although this is not officially acknowledged by Mattel, and disputed by some other contributors. The earliest storybooks and much of the original backstory were written by Donald F. Glut
.
's CEO Ray Wagner declined a request to produce a toyline of action figure
s based on the characters from the George Lucas
film Star Wars
.The rights to manufacture the Star Wars toyline were later taken over by Hasbro
. Upon the commercial success of the film trilogy during the next few years and all related merchandise, Mattel attempted to launch several unsuccessful toylines, none of which captured the public's imagination or made a significant dent in the toy market.These included: Kid Gallant, a medieval knight; Robin and the Space Hoods, a sci-fi figure; and the daredevil Kenny Dewitt, pronounced "Can He Do It?"
In the race to design the next hit action figure, Roger Sweet
, a lead designer working for Mattel's Preliminary Design Department throughout much of the 1970s and 1980s, realized simplicity was the key to success. According to his book Mastering the Universe: He-Man and the Rise and Fall of a Billion-Dollar Idea
published in 2005, Sweet knew that if he gave marketing something they could sell, he'd won 90% of the battle.Authorship of the He-Man
character has been subject to debate, as two other designers, Mark Taylor and Jill Barad, have also taken credit for creation of the superhero.
It has been rumored that Conan the Barbarian
was a source of inspiration for the He-Man
character. According to this rumor, Mattel had a licensing agreement to make the Conan action figures associated with the 1982 film of the same name starring Arnold Schwarzenegger
. Apparently, such idea had to be modified in order to avoid objections from parents concerning that a toyline for kids was promoting a film with nudity and violence. In addition, brown-haired prototype versions of the He-Man action figure with a strong resemblance to the Conan character created by Robert E. Howard
were produced and given away as promotion through an unknown mail-in order by mistake.
This rumor has been refuted by Roger Sweet claiming that he conceptualized and developed the He-Man/Masters of the Universe franchise in late 1980, two years prior to the release of the Universal Pictures
film. The toyline existed prior to the movie, starting production in 1981 and marketed in 1982. At that time, Mattel did not have a license with Universal to make toys for the film, which resulted in Conan Properties suing Mattel over copyright infringement with He-Man's similarities to Conan.
From the lawsuit of CPI vs. Mattel:
In the end, Mattel won the lawsuit against Conan Properties to retain the rights over He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.
Originally, He-Man was presented in drawings and wax sculptures to the Mattel executives as a barbarian, a soldier, and a spaceman. Out of the three concepts, the barbarian version was chosen to be the basis of the toyline. Taking in consideration that the Conan character was created almost 50 years prior to the development of the He-Man franchise, it is likely that the Masters of the Universe borrowed many aspects from Conan, but it appears that it was not intended to be a toyline for the film after legal agreements were dissolved. Additionally, Roger Sweet has claimed also to have been "real impressed" by the paintings of fantasy artist Frank Frazetta
when creating He-Man. To further expand on this initial barbarian theme, Mattel hired comic book writers and artists such as Donald F. Glut
and Earl Norem
to create additional characters and their backstory, posters, package inlays, box art and mini-comics to be distributed with the action figures.
on Eternia
, a world dealing with the aftermath of a Great War that has devastated the civilizations that once reigned, but has left behind fantastical machinery and weapons. The events of the Great War opened a rift between dimensions, which allows the evil warlord Skeletor
to travel to Eternia, and he has now set his sights on the ancient Castle Grayskull
, the 'fortress of mystery and power'. Whoever attains control of Grayskull will gain the power to become Master of the Universe. To prevent Skeletor from achieving his goal, He-Man has been given special powers and weapons by The Sorceress
(referred to as 'The Goddess' in early stories, except in her debut appearance in which she is shown, the one and only time, to have green skin) and sets out to defend the castle from Skeletor. He-Man is supported by several heroic allies, such as Man-At-Arms
, the Eternian master of weapons, and Teela
, the adopted daughter of Man-At-Arms. Skeletor manages to find one half of the Power Sword
, a great weapon which is itself the key to Castle Grayskull. He-Man has been given the other half by The Sorceress, and must prevent Skeletor
from linking the two halves to gain access to the castle. To distinguish these stories from the TV cartoon-influenced minicomics that were released to tie-in with the TV series, fans dubbed this first version of Eternia as 'mini-Eternia', and the two words were fused into 'Mineternia' in 2003, by a minicomics fansite, called Eternia Minor (now, He-Man Tales). Some fans also refer to this period as Pre-Filmation.
was produced by Filmation
and made its television
debut in 1983.
Eternia is ruled by King Randor and Queen Marlena. (The latter was born Marlena Glen, a Terran astronaut who married Randor after she was marooned on Eternia by the crash of her spaceship). Their son is Prince Adam, who pretends he is lazy, clumsy, careless, irresponsible and almost as cowardly as his pet tiger Cringer. (Adam's twin sister, Princess Adora, was kidnapped at birth by the evil warlord Hordak
- who raised her as his own daughter to become a captain in his army). However, Prince Adam possesses a magic sword
, and when he holds it aloft and says the magic
words, "By the power of Grayskull...I have the POWER!!!" Prince Adam is transformed into He-Man, "The Most Powerful Man In The Universe".
Many episodes, particularly the early ones, are about Skeletor's repeated attempts and failures to enter Castle Grayskull. He-Man invariably defeats these attempts, unless Skeletor defeats himself first via his own stupidity, arrogance and treachery. Though the animated cartoons were similar to the version of the story presented by DC Comics, Filmation focused more on the lighter, humorous elements of the story rather than the violent ones, in order to render it more suitable for a children's audience. A new character was also introduced in the form of Orko
, a small alien magician who shares Prince Adam's secret and provides the comic relief
for most episodes.
Despite the limited animation
techniques that were used to produce the series, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe was notable for breaking the boundaries of censorship
that had severely restricted the narrative scope of children's TV programming in the 1970s. For the first time in years, a cartoon series could feature a muscular superhero
who was actually allowed to hit people
(although most of the time wrestling
-style moves were utilized instead of direct violence), though he still couldn't use his sword often. The cartoon was controversial in that it was produced in connection with marketing
a line of toy
s; advertising
to child
ren was itself controversial during this period. In Britain
, advertising regulations forbade commercials for He-Man toys to accompany the program itself (either before or after the episode, as there were no in-show commercials). Similar to other shows at the time (notably G.I. Joe
), an attempt to mitigate the negative publicity generated by this controversy was made by including a "life lesson" or "moral of the story" at the end of each episode. This moral was usually tied to the action or central theme of the episode. In the United Kingdom, where the episodes were usually edited for timing reasons, these closing "morals" were nearly always edited out of their original broadcasts.
The cartoon series was also remarkable because it was one of the first animated series produced directly for syndication
, as opposed to most other syndicated cartoons of the time which were re-runs of old Saturday morning cartoon
s. The most notable production fact of the series was that it was the very first animated series where a bulk quantity of 65 episodes were produced so that the series could be stripped across 13 weeks.
It is also noted for featuring early script-writing work from Babylon 5
creator J. Michael Straczynski
, and Paul Dini
of Batman: The Animated Series
fame One episode, "Battle Cat," was written by Star Trek
s D.C. Fontana.
and Filmation
decided to diversify the Masters of the Universe line beyond its traditional realm of "male action" in the hopes of bringing in a young female audience as well.
Thus, Mattel created a new line Princess of Power and invented She-Ra
as its feminine warrior-woman heroine. The toyline featured almost exclusively female characters, all of whom featured an emphasis on hair and clothing, with "real" hair and partially softgoods costumes. Essentially, the line attempted to fuse the appeal of Masters of the Universe with Mattel's most long-standing success, Barbie
.
Filmation then had the task of revealing that Prince Adam had a twin sister, Princess Adora, who was first introduced in the animated feature The Secret of the Sword
. This film was a compilation of the first five episodes of the new television series, She-Ra: Princess of Power, which ran for 93 episodes from 1985 to 1986, and was produced in lieu of continuing He-Man and the Masters of the Universe for a third year. He-Man often appeared in special crossover episodes of She-Ra to aid his sister, and many other characters from He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, both heroic and evil, also had crossover episodes.
Just as Prince Adam transforms into He-Man with the use of his Sword of Power, Adora transforms into She-Ra via her Sword of Protection, a replica of He-Man's sword featuring a smooth white gem in its hilt. Adora's transformation into She-Ra is similarly triggered by holding her sword over her head, and by uttering her own unique invocation; "For the honor of Grayskull... I AM SHE-RA!" Unlike He-Man's sword, however, She-Ra's possesses the ability to transform into different weapons and accessories, such as a lasso, a shield or a flaming blade, when commanded by She-Ra.
She-Ra lives on the world of Etheria
, which is dominated by the Evil Horde
, and she fights to free her planet from its tyrannical ruler Hordak
. Hordak and the Evil Horde were originally created in the MOTU toyline as a second evil force who were after both He-Man and Skeletor, and debuted in Mattel's minicomics as such. However, given that the He-Man series had been cancelled to allow Filmation to concentrate on She-Ra, Filmation decided to reassign Hordak and the Evil Horde as the main villains of the She-Ra series to give the characters exposure. The character of Catra, the only villain in the first wave of She-Ra toys, was therefore made a member of the Horde. Thus, the premise of the She-Ra series was the reverse of the He-Man cartoon, whereby the heroes are actually rebels countering an evil establishment.
Ancient Eternia was populated by many creatures, including cybernetic dinosaurs and giants. When the Sorceress and He-Man arrive, followed by Skeletor, they find King Hiss leading an attack on a village in the hope of drawing out "The Elders", using some of the cybernetic dinosaurs to their advantage. Hiss serves an "unnamed one" and agrees to unite with Skeletor on the basis that he might be an emissary. Seeing Skeletor's interference, the Sorceress allows He-Man to enter the battle but, "for reasons that will be made clear to you in the future," he had to be disguised. He finds himself overwhelmed, but then a shadowy figure appears who turns the odds with a powerful wand. The stranger then sends the Snake Men back to their base and all the time travellers home. The Sorceress describes the intervener as "the Greatest Sorcerer of all" and He-Man is left asking, "But who is he?"
No further story information is given, and it remains unclear how the giants mentioned and released as toys would fit into the story. However, some marketing press releases and prototypes have shed further information.
The wizard was He-Ro, an ancestor of He-Man. Raised by his mentor Eldor and discovering special powers in a cave, He-Ro would have led the fight against the Snake Men. According to the mini-comics' writers it was intended that the central antagonist would be Keldor, a character revealed similarly late in the line to have been He-Man's uncle and also strongly hinted to have been the former identity of Skeletor. Whether or not Keldor was also supposed to be the "Unnamed One" Hiss served is not clear, although in an interview writer Steven Grant
vaguely recalls that the intention was that the Unnamed One would be a greater evil who, as the Emperor
was to Darth Vader
, was intended to be the one who caused Keldor to become Skeletor.
He-Man film was made by Cannon Films entitled Masters of the Universe
. The release date in the USA was August 7, 1987. The film starred Dolph Lundgren
in the title role of He-Man, Frank Langella
as Skeletor, with Courteney Cox
and Robert Duncan McNeill
in supporting roles. The other characters from the original cartoon to appear in the film are Evil-Lyn (Meg Foster
), Man-At-Arms (Jon Cypher
), Teela (Chelsea Field), Beast Man (Tony Carroll
), and the Sorceress (Christina Pickles
). The character Gwildor
(Billy Barty
) is included, apparently in place of Orko
, because the special effects of the time would have been insufficient and too costly to create him.
Many viewers reviewed the motion picture in comparison to the cartoon, when it really was an adaptation of the toys only, which initially depicted He-Man as a barbarian in the first mini-comics (no Prince Adam or Orko). Ed Pressman was interested in the property before the cartoon was even aired and Filmation had no involvement whatsoever in the film.
In the movie, Skeletor has finally conquered Eternia after stealing the Cosmic Key from the locksmith Gwildor, which allows him to gain entry to Castle Grayskull. He imprisons The Sorceress within an energy-draining field and her powers are being transferred to him. In an attempt to rescue The Sorceress, the heroes He-Man, Man-At-Arms, Teela and Gwildor are accidentally transported to Earth by the Cosmic Key. Stranded on Earth, they are faced with the task of recovering the Cosmic Key and getting back to Eternia before Skeletor can gain the power of Grayskull, but Skeletor sends his minions to Earth with the mission of beating them to the Cosmic Key, and chaos ensues as the war between good and evil is transferred to Earth.
Numerous parts of the previously accepted history of the series are omitted in the film, including all references to Prince Adam, as well as Randor and Marlena, in fact it is implied that Castle Grayskull itself is the ruling point of Eternia rather than any royal city. The story concentrates more on the science fiction
elements of the franchise rather than the fantasy. Aside from The Sorceress and Skeletor there is little reference to magic powers, with most of the characters relying instead on futuristic technology. He-Man himself uses a gun in some scenes in addition to his Power Sword, and he only displays superhuman strength in one scene, when toppling a huge statue. Although He-Man twice utters his catchphrase "I Have the Power" while holding the sword aloft in the iconic manner, he does omit the prefacing clause "By the Power of Grayskull".
Although Mattel had hoped that the movie would boost sales of the toyline, it instead had no effect on the line's falling sales, and the MOTU toy line was finally discontinued in early 1988 under immense financial difficulties. A sequel
to the film was written, but by 1989, Cannon Films was in such severe financial troubles that it could no longer afford to pay the license fees to Mattel
. Thus the script was transformed into the action film Cyborg
, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme
.
, comic book writer/artist John Byrne opined that the Masters movie was in part derivative of "Jack Kirby's Fourth World
", featuring characters now found in the DC Comics
Universe: Orion
(He-Man), Kalibak
(Beast Man), Kanto (Blade), and Darkseid
(Skeletor). Cross-dimensional travel from Eternia to Earth is via a concept identical to the classic Boom Tube
. There are many additional parallels to be drawn from the Fourth World source material to the characters in the film than from the He-Man material.
Byrne wrote, "The best New Gods
movie, IMHO, is Masters of the Universe. I even corresponded with the director, who told me this was his intent, and that he had tried to get [Jack] Kirby
to do the production designs, but the studio nixed it....Check it out. It requires some bending and an occasional sex change (Metron
becomes an ugly dwarf, The Highfather
becomes the Sorceress), but it's an amazingly close analog, otherwise. And Frank Langella
's Skeletor is a dandy Darkseid!"
Even though director Gary Goddard
provided a commentary track for the film's DVD release that makes no such claim regarding any intent to produce a covert New Gods adaptation, he did send a letter
to Byrne in 1994, which was printed in an issue of Byrne's comic Next Men
In the letter Goddard indicated that Byrne wasn't far off in his comparison between the New Gods and the Masters of the Universe movie, and that it was (in Goddard's words) "greatly inspired by the classic Fantastic Four/Doctor Doom epics, The New Gods and a bit of Thor thrown in here and there." Brian Cronin, author of the "Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed" column, concludes that "the film itself was not intended to be literally a reworked Fourth World, although the intent WAS to make the film a tribute to Jack Kirby - just a tribute to ALL of his work, not just the Fourth World."
/fantasy
film
based on the toy line. According to Variety
, it is produced by Joel Silver
, and written by Justin Marks, and employing visual special effects to a large degree, as was done with the 2007 war film
300
. Warner announced that John Stevenson, director of Kung Fu Panda
will direct the upcoming feature. On 12 May 2009 it was announced that the scripting duties had been handed to newcomer Evan Daugherty, with John Stevenson still attached to direct. In September 2009, Sony took over the rights from Warner Bros to produce the Masters of the Universe live action film after Mattel and Silver couldn't agree on creative direction for the film. Sony and Escape Artists' Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal and Steve Tisch will now start developing the project from scratch for Columbia Pictures. In April 2010, Sony hired screenwriters Mike Finch and Alex Litvak to draft a new script.
In 1989, two years after the financially disastrous ending of the original Masters of the Universe product line, a second He-Man animated series titled The New Adventures of He-Man, was produced by DiC
to promote Mattel
's short-lived attempt to revive the MOTU brand with a new toyline, simply titled He-Man. The new series is radically different to the original fantasy
-oriented milieu, shifting to an almost purely science fiction
setting which sees He-Man transported to the futuristic planet of Primus ruled by Master Sebrian. As He-Man leads the Galactic Guardians, Skeletor bases himself on the evil world of Denebria, where he forms an alliance with Flogg and the Mutants, who are hellbent on conquering Primus for themselves. The series contains clear continuity links to the original Masters of the Universe, and was intended as a continuation of the existing mythology, although some fans see it as a separate canon from the original series due to the differences in style and character portrayal.
Other than He-Man and Skeletor, The Sorceress of Castle Grayskull is the only character from the original series to make regular appearances, acting as a guide to He-Man. Several other characters are featured in the pilot episode, including King Randor and Queen Marlena, who learn of the dual identity of Prince Adam and He-Man.
The majority of the cartoon episodes were written by Jack Olesker, resulting in a tight continuity, which was almost entirely lacking in the earlier Filmation series. Neither the New Adventures animated series or toyline were nearly as popular as the originals, lasting only sixty-five episodes and a few poorly received waves of action figures.
. The new toyline was made surprisingly faithful to the original line, with the characters gently "re-imagined" and updated in terms of sculpting detail rather than radically reinterpreted.
One point of contention for many fans of the original Masters toyline was the redesign of He-Man's Power Sword. According to the Four Horsemen
, this was due to their original re-sculpts being intended for a continuation of the original storyline in which Skeletor had obtained both halves of the Power Sword (hence the new Skeletor figure's dual blades with clear "good" and "evil" hilt designs), necessitating a new sword to be built by Man-At-Arms
and endowed with the properties of the original by the Sorceress
. However, Mattel
decided to reboot the continuity for a new generation of children, and thus the "new" Power Sword design became the "original" version for the new continuity.
The line's faithfulness to the original series made it very popular with collectors, however, suggesting it would have been better served as a collector-based line, akin to DC Direct
. This theory was borne out in the wake of the discontinuation of the mass-market toyline, with NECA
taking the rather unprecedented step of continuing the toyline through action figure sized mini-statues scaled and sculpted to be aesthetically compatible for display alongside the Mattel toys, thus allowing fans to fill out their collections with other Four Horsemen redesigned characters that had yet to be produced as figures when the toyline was canceled. According to a December 8, 2005 interview with a Mattel representative on he-man.org, NECA offered to produce fully articulated action figures for Mattel without taking any credit, but permission was denied. Instead, NECA was only permitted to produce nonarticulated statues.
and lasting for 39 episodes. This series involved much tighter continuity and a somewhat greater depth of characterization than its Filmation
predecessor. It is particularly noteworthy for cementing the fact that Keldor and Skeletor are the same person (although no familial connection to Randor was established), showing Skeletor without his cowl as a floating skull with no neck, and the first animated appearances of Stinkor, King Hiss and the Snake Men (although several Snake Men characters had been previously shown as Horde members in She-Ra: Princess of Power). It was also revealed that Evil-Lyn's father is a powerful sorcerer known as The Faceless One.
Later episodes of this series were retitled Masters of the Universe vs The Snake-Men, and sidelined Skeletor as chief villain in favor of King Hiss, leader of the reptilian
Snake-Men. Hordak and The Evil Horde were to be the main antagonist for the third season if the show had continued.
The 2002 series was considerably more developed than previous incarnations, fleshing out a far more coherent history of Eternia. One episode, "The Power of Grayskull", goes into detail about Castle Grayskull's past, revealing it originally belonged to a barbarian hero named King Grayskull (from whom He-Man derives his powers, thus retconning the phrase "By the Power of Grayskull..." to refer to the king, not the castle), as well as revealing a considerably different background for Hordak, Skeletor's mentor. There were also several major alterations in character from the original series: Adam and Teela, for example, were reconceived as squabbling 16-year-olds (although some fans insist that this was also the age of the classic characters, despite their mature appearances), whilst King Randor was transformed into a far more diplomatically pro-active warrior-king, rather than the amiable but stern-faced character of old. Queen Marlena no longer was clearly stated to have been a stranded astronaut from Earth. Additionally, Teela was redesigned as being much leaner than her previous incarnation, though her basic character outline remained the same.
In addition, the physical transformation when Adam becomes He-Man is far more pronounced than in the original series, making it more plausible as to how no one notices a resemblance between Adam and He-Man. As Adam, he is reasonably fit but nowhere near as tall, muscular or adult as He-Man. Also, in this version, Cringer
does not talk or display near-human intelligence as he does in the Filmation
cartoon; here he simply meows when in Cringer's form, and roars when in Battle Cat
's. Interestingly, He-Man's forebear King Grayskull
, who looks like an older, even more muscular version of He-Man in a nearly identical costume, is depicted as riding an enormous steed similar to Battle Cat. However, instead of being a green tiger, Grayskull's mount is a colossal green lion.
Man-At-Arms
is recast as a sterner, more authoritarian figure with an explicitly military position as the head of the armed forces of Eternos, thus becoming something of a General, and clearly second-in-command to King Randor. This is in sharp contrast to the more avuncular figure in the Filmation series whose place in the military hierarchy was vague compared to his primary role as court inventor. Although the technological emphasis in the new series is not strictly any stronger than in the original, the scale and application of high-tech in the MYP series is much greater. Although still retaining significant fantasy/barbarian elements, the new series displayed Eternos using vast factories to mass-produce fleets of vehicles like Dragon Walkers and Windraiders, of which only single prototypes existed in the original, as well as sundry robots and high-tech prisons.
While the original concept behind the title "Masters of the Universe" was meant to imply that the one who controlled Castle Grayskull would have the power to rule the Universe, this series redefined the term, "Masters of the Universe" as the name of an elite band of heroic warriors founded and originally led by Captain Randor. When Randor was named King by the Council of Elders he passed leadership of The Masters to his second in command, Man-At-Arms. When the series opens the band consists of Man-At-Arms, Teela, Stratos, Ram-Man, Man-E-Faces, Mekaneck, Orko and Prince Adam. As the series progresses the Masters of the Universe take on new recruits including Buzz-Off, Sy-Klone, Roboto
and Fisto.
The transformation of Adam and Teela into bickering teens lends an element of caustic humour (usually Teela complaining about Adam's uselessness), but reduces the strong female presence of the original series. While Teela holds a high position within the MOTU in the 2002 series, she appears considerably reduced from the animal-sensate "warrior goddess" of the original. However, much of this is counterbalanced by the new version of Evil-Lyn. The 2002 series makes it quite clear that, in He-Man's own words, she is "Skeletor's most powerful lieutenant".
The series also featured a backstory for Skeletor. It is revealed that originally he was Keldor, an evil blue-skinned man who dabbled in dark magic, apparently worshiping the banished Horde leader, Hordak. He attacked the Hall of Wisdom where the Council of Elders dwelt, intent on usurping the Elders' power for himself, Captain Randor was summoned to defend the Hall. After an attempt to throw acid on Randor's face, Randor deflected the acid onto Keldor himself, badly disfiguring him. In desperation, the dying Keldor had Evil-Lyn take him to a temple where he could summon Hordak. Hordak saved his life and turned him into Skeletor, upon the agreement that Skeletor would free him from the dimension of Despondos, a promise Skeletor neglected to keep.
The series was intended to have an additional final season, which would have introduced the She-Ra storyline, but the series was cancelled before production.
Dark Horse Comics
will be producing mini-comics to be included in Mattel's Masters of the Universe Classics line of toys, continuing the series of mini-comics first introduced in the original He-Man toys of the 1980s. The mini-comics will be written by Tim Seeley
and drawn by Wellinton Alves, with covers by Eric Powell
. According to Seeley, the current mini-comics will finish off the story that was supposed to be the new direction of the original action figure line, before it was cancelled. The story will deal with the The Powers of Grayskull line, which included King Hsss, Tyrantisaurus Rex and He-Ro, tying the toy continuity to the He-Man line, also known as "Preternia He-Man". Seeley also states that the current Mattel line intends to blend the different He-Man continuities and select the best stories and ideas from MOTU history.
, who managed the line throughout its whole original run. The character of He-Man was given three different designs: an old-fashioned style barbarian, a contemporary military man, and a futuristic spaceman. The barbarian design was the most popular, but the overall design was selected when a chief Mattel executive pointed to Sweet's prototype figures and declared, "those have the power," a line which the Filmation
cartoon would paraphrase as He-Man's famous catch-phrase, "I have the power!".
Early promotional literature from Mattel refers to Skeletor and his followers as the "Masters of the Universe" and an early version of the opening title sequence for the 1980s incarnation also uses this description, and was used on the VHS version of the early episode "The Dragon Invasion." However, later literature and spin-offs use the term "Masters of the Universe" for He-Man and his allies. Series writer Robby London has commented that he noticed the change in description, and personally considers both sides, good and evil, to be the "Masters of the Universe." The 1987 live action film features yet another interpretation of the phrase, as the opening narration claims that whoever occupies Castle Grayskull will have "the power," and this power will make them "masters of the universe."
about the so-called "Conan toyline." The story is that the Mattel Toy Company originally intended to base an action figure line on Conan the Barbarian
, the pulp fantasy character created by Robert E. Howard
which at the time was the lead in several popular series produced by Marvel Comics
and due to be the subject of a major movie. However, after viewing the film, the Mattel executives despaired at the thought of promoting a children's toy with ties to a film featuring such graphic sex and violence. Thus they gave their doll blonde hair and re-dubbed him "He-Man". The legend is unverified but persistent. Roger Sweet, the originator of He-Man, asserts that the He-Man/Masters Of The Universe concept definitely was not an outgrowth of Conan. The He-Man concept, later renamed the Masters Of The Universe, was originated and developed by Roger Sweet in late 1980. Later, that initial concept was followed by the original comics by Donald F. Glut. The Conan license had been dropped by Mattel months before the He-Man concept was begun. Such fantasy artists as Frank Frazetta and Boris Vallejo, made famous previously through their barbarian themed art, were undoubtfully a great inspiration for the MOTU creators.
For instance, while designing the first He-Man prototypes, some artists like Mark Taylor brought forth a very Conan-esque dark haired He-Man bearing a horned helmet and barbaric outfit
Although Conan is not "officially" a source of inspiration, Mattel may have taken advantage of his resemblance by hiring comic book artists (mostly working for DC comics and Marvel Comics) to design the mini-comics and box art. Earl Norem
for instance, having worked on countless Savage Sword of Conan
covers for Marvel, was kept in high esteem by Masters of the Universe fans for his astonishing posters, package inlays and box art. The confusion and "Conan toyline" urban myth may have stemmed from the striking similarities between Norem's Conan depictions and He-Man.
(originally created by Robert E. Howard
(1906–1936), the resemblance with Skeletor
has this time passed relatively unnoticed, as Thulsa Doom is more King Kull's deadly foe than Conan's (except in the comics, where Conan-Kull crossover material was often seen). Thulsa Doom was depicted by Marvel as a powerful undead wizard bearing a skull head, wielding a scepter and constantly trying to revive the Serpent race
in order to access the throne of Valusia.
Keldor and Thulsa Doom share many other important features: in the MOTU mythos, it is revealed that Keldor in his mad quest for magical powers led him to acquire his skull head and being known as "Skeletor" since then; Thulsa Doom the necromancer is said to bear a human face prior to having a similar hooded skull look. Skeletor is hinted as having "extra-Eternian" origins (post-filmation origins are said to be half from Gar, half Eternian, while the pre-filmation shows a completely extra-Eternian Skeletor) and Thulsa Doom's heritage is mysterious (all we know is hat he roamed amongst the first men and the "Old race" ), thus both are depicted as evil foreigners coming to invade a peaceful kingdom, with the eventual help of "snake men" .
The "Thulsa Doom versus King Kull" duality along with the "Snake men
" plot may have been a solid basis to develop the Skeletor character.
Each action figure featured 5 points of articulation (possible head, arms and legs), removable armour, a weapon accessory and a spin loaded "Power punch". All 8 characters featured the spring-loaded twisting waist, but it was Wave 2 that saw additional action features unique to the character such as Tri-Klops's rotatable visor and Ram-Man's spring-loaded legs. Each figure would also come packaged with a mini comic. The line debuted in 1982 with just four figures to begin with: He-Man, Man-At-Arms, Skeletor and Beast-Man. Later that year the remaining four characters from Wave 1 were released. They were Stratos, Teela, Mer-Man and Zodac. Each figure came with removable armour, a weapon and mini-comic. Mekaneck was the first character from Wave 3 to appear in shelves at the tail end of 1983. The rock warriors, Stonedar and Rokkon arrived in the UK a full year before the rest of their wave 5 counterparts. This may have been due to their appearance in the UK Masters of the Universe fortnightly magazine in 1986. Originally Beast-Man was meant to be He-Man arch rival, Stratos was an evil warrior and Mer-Man and Tri-Klops were both intended to be heroic warriors. This changed by the time of their release.
{| class="wikitable"
CREATURES / WAVE 1 / RELEASED: 1982
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| BATTLE-CAT || Heroic Fighting Tiger || Heroic Warrior ||
|}
{| class="wikitable"
VEHICLES / WAVE 1 / RELEASED: 1982
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| BATTLE-RAM || Heroic Mobile Launcher || Heroic Warrior ||
|-
| WIND RAIDER || Heroic Assault Lander || Heroic Warrior ||
|}
{| class="wikitable"
PLAYSETS / WAVE 1 / RELEASED: 1982
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| CASTLE GRAYSKULL || Heroic Fortress Of Mystery & Power || Heroic Warriors ||
|}
{| class="wikitable"
ACTION FIGURES / WAVE 2 / RELEASED: 1983
{| class="wikitable"
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| MAN-E-FACES || Heroic Human...Robot...Monster || Heroic Warrior ||
|-
| RAM-MAN || Heroic Human Battering Ram|| Heroic Warrior ||
|-
| EVIL-LYN || Evil Warrior Goddess|| Evil Warrior ||
|-
| FAKER || Evil Robot Of Skeletor || Evil Warrior ||
|-
| TRAP-JAW || Evil & Armed For Combat || Evil Warrior ||
|-
| TRI-KLOPS || Evil & Sees Everything || Evil Warrior ||
|}
{| class="wikitable"
CREATURES / WAVE 2 / RELEASED: 1983
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
|ZOAR || Heroic Fighting Falcon || Heroic Warriors ||
|-
| SCREECH || Evil Barbarian Bird || Evil Warriors ||
|}
{| class="wikitable"
VEHICLES / WAVE 2 / RELEASED: 1983
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Location !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| ATTACK TRAK || Heroic Battle Machine || Heroic Warriors ||
|}
{| class="wikitable"
PLAYSETS / WAVE 2 / RELEASED: 1983
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Location !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| POINT DREAD & TALONE FIGHTER || Frontier Outpost || Heroic Warriors ||
|}
{| class="wikitable"
ACTION FIGURES / WAVE 3 / RELEASED: 1984
{| class="wikitable"
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| BATTLE ARMOR HE-MAN || Most Powerful Man In The Universe || Heroic Warrior
|-
| BUZZ-OFF || Heroic Spy In The Sky || Heroic Warriors
|-
| FISTO || Heroic Hand To Hand Fighter || Heroic Warriors
|-
| MEKANECK || Heroic Human Periscope || Heroic Warriors
|-
| ORKO || Heroic Court Magician || Heroic Warriors
|-
| PRINCE ADAM || Heroic "Secret" Identity To He-Man|| Heroic Warriors
|-
| BATTLE ARMOR SKELETOR || Lord of Destruction || Evil Warriors
|-
| CLAWFUL || Warrior With The Grip Of Evil || Evil Warriors
|-
| JITSU || Evil Master Of Martial Arts || Evil Warriors
|-
| KOBRA KHAN || Evil Master Of Snakes || Evil Warriors
|-
| WEBSTOR || Evil Master Of Escape || Evil Warriors
|-
| WHIPLASH || Evil Tail Thrashing Warrior || Evil Warriors
|}
CREATURES / WAVE 3 / RELEASED: 1984
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| STRIDOR || Heroic Armored Warhorde || Heroic Warriors ||
|-
| PANTHOR || Evil Savage Cat|| Evil Warriors ||
|}
{| class="wikitable"
VEHICLES / WAVE 3 / RELEASED: 1984
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| DRAGON WALKER || Heroic Sidewinding Beast/Vehicle || Heroic Warriors ||
|-
| ROAD RIPPER || Heroic Warrior Carrier || Heroic Warrior ||
|-
| ROTON || Evil Assault Vehicle || Heroic Warrior ||
|}
{| class="wikitable"
PLAYSETS / WAVE 3 / RELEASED: 1984
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| SNAKE MOUNTAIN || Evil Stronghold of Skeletor || Evil Warriors ||
|}
{| class="wikitable"
ACCESSORIES / WAVE 3 / RELEASED: 1984
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Character !! Log Line !!
|-
| WEAPONS PACK || Arms & Armor ||
|}
{| class="wikitable"
ACTION FIGURES / WAVE 4 / RELEASED: 1985
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance
|-
| THUNDER PUNCH-MAN || Leader Of The Heroic Warriors Now Packs A Powerful Punch || Heroic Warriors
|-
| MOSS-MAN || Heroic Spy & Master Of Camouflage || Heroic Warriors
|-
| ROBOTO || Heroic Mechanic Warrior || Heroic Warriors
|-
| SY-KLONE || Heroic Fist Flinging Tornado || Heroic Warriors
|-
| DRAGON BLASTER SKELETOR || Evil Leader and his Dreadful Dragon With The Paralysing Spray || Evil Warriors
|-
| SPIKOR || Evil Master Of Untouchable Combat || Evil Warriors
|-
| STINKOR || Evil Master Of Odors || Evil Warriors
|-
| TWO-BAD || Double Headed Evil Strategist || Evil Warrior
|-
| HORDAK || Ruthless Leader Of The Evil Horde || The Evil Horde
|-
| GRIZZLOR || Hairy Henchman Of The Evil Horde || The Evil Horde
|-
| LEECH || Evil Master Of Power Suction || The Evil Horde
|-
| MANTENNA || Evil Spy With The Pop Out Eyes || The Evil Horde
|-
| MODULOK || Evil Beast Of A Thousand Bodies || The Evil Horde
|}
CREATURES / WAVE 4 / RELEASED: 1985
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| BATTLE BONES || Collectors Carrying Case || Neutral ||
|-
| NIGHT STALKER || Evil Armored Warhorse|| Evil Warriors ||
|}
{| class="wikitable"
VEHICLES / WAVE 4 / RELEASED: 1985
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| BASHASAURUS || Heroic Combat Vehicle || Heroic Warriors ||
|-
| LAND SHARK || Evil Monster Vehicle || Evil Warrior ||
|-
| SPYDOR || Evil Stalker || Evil Warriors ||
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable"
PLAYSETS / WAVE 4 / RELEASED: 1985
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| FRIGHT ZONE || Evil Trap Filled Stronghold Of Terror || The Evil Horde ||
|}
{| class="wikitable"
ACCESSORIES / WAVE 4 / RELEASED: 1985
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| THUNDER PUNCH HE-MAN AMMO|| || ||
|}
{| class="wikitable"
ACTION FIGURES / WAVE 5 / RELEASED: 1986
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| FLYING FISTS HE-MAN || Heroic Leader With The Arm Swinging Action || Heroic Warriors
|-
| EXTENDAR|| Heroic Master Of Extension || Heroic Warriors
|-
| RIO BLAST || Heroic Transforming Gun-Slinger || Heroic Warriors
|-
| ROKKON || Young Heroic Comet Warrior || Heroic Warriors
|-
| SNOUT SPOUT || Heroic Water Blasting Firefighter || Heroic Warriors
|-
| STONEDAR || Heroic Rock People Leader || Heroic Warriors
|-
| TERROR CLAWS SKELETOR || Evil Leader With The Claw Swinging Action || Evil Warriors
|-
| HURRICANE HORDAK || Ruthless Leader And His Whicked Whirling Weapons || The Evil Horde
|-
| DRAGSTOR || Evil Transforming Warrior/Vehicle || The Evil Horde
|-
| HORDE TROOPER|| Evil Collapsing Robot || The Evil Horde
|-
| MULTI-BOT || Evil Robot Of A Thousand Bodies || The Evil Horde
|-
| KING HISS || Dreadful Disguised Leader Of The Snake Men || The Snake Men
|-
| RATTLOR || Evil Snake Men Creature With The Quick Strike Head || The Snake Men
|-
| TUNG LASHOR || Evil Tongue Shooting Snake Men Creature || The Snake Men
|}
CREATURES / WAVE 5 / RELEASED: 1986
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| MANTISAUR || Evil Insectoid Steed || The Evil Horde ||
|-
| MONSTROID || The Ultimate Battling Monster || The Evil Horde ||
|}
{| class="wikitable"
VEHICLES / WAVE 5 / RELEASED: 1986
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| BLASTER HAWK || Heroic Land & Disc Launcher || Heroic Warriors ||
|-
| LASER BOLT || Heroic Road Rocket || Evil Warriors ||
|-
| FRIGHT FIGHTER || Evil Dragonfly Attack Vehicle || Evil Warriors ||
|-
|}
PLAYSETS / WAVE 5 / RELEASED: 1986
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Location !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| SLIME PIT || Evil Pit Of Gruesome Ooze || The Evil Horde ||
|}
{| class="wikitable"
ACCESSORIES / WAVE 5 / RELEASED: 1986
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| JET SLED || Heroic Rocket Pack & Jetback || Heroic Warriors ||
|-
| MEGALASER || Heroic Wind-Up Beam Blaster || Heroic Warriors ||
|-
| STILT STALKERS || Heroic Battle Stilts || Heroic Warriors ||
|-
| SLIME VAT || Tub of Slime Pit Ooze || The Evil Horde ||
|}
ACTION FIGURES / WAVE 6 / RELEASED: 1987
{| class="wikitable"
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| CLAMP CHAMP || Heroic Master Of Capture || Heroic Warriors
|-
| GWILDOR || Heroic Creator Of The Cosmic Key || Heroic Warriors
|-
| KING RANDOR || Heroic Ruler Of Eternia || Heroic Warriors
|-
| ROTAR || Heroic Master Of Hyper-Spin || Heroic Warriors
|-
| SORCERESS || Heroic Guardian Of Castle Grayskull || Heroic Warriors
|-
| BLADE || Evil Master Of Swords || Evil Warriors
|-
| BLAST-ATTACK || Evil Blast-Apart Robotic Warrior || Evil Warriors
|-
| FAKER II|| Evil He-Man Imposter || Evil Warriors
|-
| NINJOR || Evil Ninjor Warrior || Evil Warriors
|-
| SAUROD || Evil Spark-Shooting Reptile || Evil Warriors
|-
| SCARE GLOW || Evil Ghost Of Skeletor || Evil Warriors
|-
| TWISTOID|| Evil Speed Twisting Robot || Evil Warriors
|-
| BUZZ-SAW HORDAK || Ruthless Leader Of The Evil Horde || The Evil Horde
|-
| MOSQUITOR || Evil Energy Draining Insectoid || The Evil Horde
|-
| SNAKE-FACE || Most Gruesome Of The Snake Men || Snake Men
|-
| SQUEEEZE || Evil Long Armed Viper || Snake Men
|}
{| class="wikitable"
CREATURES / WAVE 6 / RELEASED: 1987
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| BIONATOPS || Heroic Bionic Dinosaur || Heroic Warriors ||
|-
| TURBODACTYL || Heroic Repile With "Jet" Wings || Heroic Warriors ||
|-
| TYRANTISAURUS REX || Most Terryfying Dinosaur In The Land PRETERNIA || Snake Men ||
|}
{| class="wikitable"
GIANTS / WAVE 6 / RELEASED: 1987
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| TYTUS || Heroic Giant Warlord || Heroic Warriors ||
|-
| MEGATOR || Evil Giant Destroyer || Evil Warriors ||
|-
|}
PLAYSETS / WAVE 6 / RELEASED: 1986
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| ETERNIA || The Ultimate Battleground || Neutral ||
|}
ACCESSORIES/ WAVE 6 / RELEASED: 1987
{| class="wikitable"
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| BEAM BLASTER || Heroic Warriors ||
|-
| CLIFF CLIMBER || Motorized Mountain Battle Equipment|| Heroic Warriors ||
|-
| SCUBATTACKER|| Motorized Underwater Battle Pack|| Evil Warriors ||
|-
| TOWER TOOLS || Evil Robot Of Skeletor || Evil Warriors ||
|}
METEORBS / WAVE 6 / RELEASE 1987
{| class="wikitable"
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| ASTROLION || Heroic Lion With Amazing Brute Strength|| Heroic Warriors
|-
| COMET-CAT || Heroic Panther Is The Fastest Of The Meteorbs || Heroic Warriors
|-
| COMETROID || Heroic Meteorb with Heroic Might || Heroic Warriors
|-
| TUSKOR|| Heroic Mammouth Busts- Force-Fields With Tucks || Heroic Warriors
|-
| TY-GRRR || Heroic Tiger Meteorb|| Heroic Warriors
|-
| CROCOBITE || Evil Crocodile With Crushing Jaws || Evil Warriors
|-
| DINOSORB|| Evil Dinosaur Stomps To Start Quakes || Evil Warriors
|-
| GORE-ILLA || Evil Ape With Monstrous Muscle Power || Evil Warriors
|-
| ORBEAR|| Evil Grizzly Bashes Enemies With Claws || Evil Warriors
|-
| RHINORB|| Evil Rhino With Horrible Ramming Horn || Evil Warriors
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable"
ACTION FIGURES / WAVE 7 / RELEASED: 1988
{| class="wikitable"
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| LASER POWER HE-MAN || Heroic Master of Light Energy || Heroic Warriors
|-
| LASER LIGHT SKELETOR || Evil Master of Light Energy || Evil Warriors
|}
ACTION FIGURES / WAVE 1 / RELEASE 2003
{| class="wikitable"
! Character !! Allegiance !!
|-
| PLATONO || Heroic
|-
| SHIDOSHI || Heroic
|-
| TITANO || Heroic
|-
| TEKNO || Heroic
|-
| DESTRUCTO || Evil
|-
| PANTANO || Evil
|-
| CARNIVOR || Evil
|-
| FELINOR || Evil
|}
{| class="wikitable"
He-Man
He-Man is a fictional heroic character featured in the Masters of the Universe media franchise. In most variations, he is the alter ego of Prince Adam...
, after the lead hero) is a media franchise
Media franchise
A media franchise is an intellectual property involving the characters, setting and trademarks of an original work of media , such as a film, a work of literature, a television program or a video game. Generally, a whole series is made in a particular medium, along with merchandising and endorsements...
created by Mattel
Mattel
Mattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from...
.
Although featuring a vast line-up of characters, the main premise revolves around the conflict between the heroic He-Man
He-Man
He-Man is a fictional heroic character featured in the Masters of the Universe media franchise. In most variations, he is the alter ego of Prince Adam...
and the evil Skeletor
Skeletor
Skeletor is a featured villain in the Masters of the Universe franchise and the arch-enemy and main antagonist of He-Man. Depicted as a muscular blue humanoid with a purple hood over his yellowing bare-bone skull, Skeletor seeks to conquer Castle Grayskull so he can learn its ancient secrets,...
on planet Eternia
Eternia
Eternia is the name of the fictional planet that serves as a setting for the Masters of the Universe toy collection and animated series.-Origins:...
. Since its initial launch late 1981, the franchise has spawned a variety of products, including six lines of action figure
Action figure
An action figure is a posable character figurine, made of plastic or other materials, and often based upon characters from a film, comic book, video game, or television program. These action figures are usually marketed towards boys and male collectors...
s, four animated television series, countless comic series
Masters of the Universe (comics)
The Masters of the Universe media franchise has been featured in several comic book series. Most were small publications known as "minicomics" that were included as bonuses in action figure packages...
and a film
Masters of the Universe (film)
Masters of the Universe is a 1987 science-fiction fantasy film based on the toy line by the same name. The movie stars Dolph Lundgren as He-Man and Frank Langella as Skeletor...
. Designer Roger Sweet
Roger Sweet
Roger Sweet is an American designer. He grew up in Akron, Ohio and graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and the Institute of Design in Chicago, Illinois. He served as a lead designer at Mattel throughout much of the 1970s and 1980s and worked extensively on the Masters of the...
claims to be the chief creator of He-Man and MOTU, although this is not officially acknowledged by Mattel, and disputed by some other contributors. The earliest storybooks and much of the original backstory were written by Donald F. Glut
Donald F. Glut
Donald F. Glut is an American writer, motion picture director, screenwriter, amateur paleontologist, musician and actor....
.
Origin of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
In 1976, MattelMattel
Mattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from...
's CEO Ray Wagner declined a request to produce a toyline of action figure
Action figure
An action figure is a posable character figurine, made of plastic or other materials, and often based upon characters from a film, comic book, video game, or television program. These action figures are usually marketed towards boys and male collectors...
s based on the characters from the George Lucas
George Lucas
George Walton Lucas, Jr. is an American film producer, screenwriter, and director, and entrepreneur. He is the founder, chairman and chief executive of Lucasfilm. He is best known as the creator of the space opera franchise Star Wars and the archaeologist-adventurer character Indiana Jones...
film Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
.The rights to manufacture the Star Wars toyline were later taken over by Hasbro
Hasbro
Hasbro is a multinational toy and boardgame company from the United States of America. It is one of the largest toy makers in the world. The corporate headquarters is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States...
. Upon the commercial success of the film trilogy during the next few years and all related merchandise, Mattel attempted to launch several unsuccessful toylines, none of which captured the public's imagination or made a significant dent in the toy market.These included: Kid Gallant, a medieval knight; Robin and the Space Hoods, a sci-fi figure; and the daredevil Kenny Dewitt, pronounced "Can He Do It?"
In the race to design the next hit action figure, Roger Sweet
Roger Sweet
Roger Sweet is an American designer. He grew up in Akron, Ohio and graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and the Institute of Design in Chicago, Illinois. He served as a lead designer at Mattel throughout much of the 1970s and 1980s and worked extensively on the Masters of the...
, a lead designer working for Mattel's Preliminary Design Department throughout much of the 1970s and 1980s, realized simplicity was the key to success. According to his book Mastering the Universe: He-Man and the Rise and Fall of a Billion-Dollar Idea
Mastering the Universe
Mastering the Universe: He-Man and the Rise and Fall of a Billion-Dollar Idea is a 2005 book by Roger Sweet and David Wecker that recounts Sweet's reminiscences behind the scenes of the corporate culture of the 1980s American toy industry...
published in 2005, Sweet knew that if he gave marketing something they could sell, he'd won 90% of the battle.Authorship of the He-Man
He-Man
He-Man is a fictional heroic character featured in the Masters of the Universe media franchise. In most variations, he is the alter ego of Prince Adam...
character has been subject to debate, as two other designers, Mark Taylor and Jill Barad, have also taken credit for creation of the superhero.
"The only way I was going to have a chance to sell this [to Wagner] was to make three 3D models - big ones. I glued a Big Jim figure [from another Mattel toy line] into a battle action pose and I added a lot of clay to his body. I then had plaster casts made. These three prototypes, which I presented in late 1980, brought He-Man into existence."
"I simply explained that this was a powerful figure that could be taken anywhere and dropped into any context because he had a generic name: He-Man!"Other names considered by the design team were Mighty Man, Megaton Man, Strong Man and Big Man.
—Roger Sweet
It has been rumored that Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian is a fictional sword and sorcery hero that originated in pulp fiction magazines and has since been adapted to books, comics, several films , television programs, video games, roleplaying games and other media...
was a source of inspiration for the He-Man
He-Man
He-Man is a fictional heroic character featured in the Masters of the Universe media franchise. In most variations, he is the alter ego of Prince Adam...
character. According to this rumor, Mattel had a licensing agreement to make the Conan action figures associated with the 1982 film of the same name starring Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
. Apparently, such idea had to be modified in order to avoid objections from parents concerning that a toyline for kids was promoting a film with nudity and violence. In addition, brown-haired prototype versions of the He-Man action figure with a strong resemblance to the Conan character created by Robert E. Howard
Robert E. Howard
Robert Ervin Howard was an American author who wrote pulp fiction in a diverse range of genres. Best known for his character Conan the Barbarian, he is regarded as the father of the sword and sorcery subgenre....
were produced and given away as promotion through an unknown mail-in order by mistake.
This rumor has been refuted by Roger Sweet claiming that he conceptualized and developed the He-Man/Masters of the Universe franchise in late 1980, two years prior to the release of the Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures
-1920:* White Youth* The Flaming Disc* Am I Dreaming?* The Dragon's Net* The Adorable Savage* Putting It Over* The Line Runners-1921:* The Fire Eater* A Battle of Wits* Dream Girl* The Millionaire...
film. The toyline existed prior to the movie, starting production in 1981 and marketed in 1982. At that time, Mattel did not have a license with Universal to make toys for the film, which resulted in Conan Properties suing Mattel over copyright infringement with He-Man's similarities to Conan.
From the lawsuit of CPI vs. Mattel:
"In 1980, CPI, through its agent, Conan Licensing Company ("CLC"), began negotiations with Mattel regarding the possible licensing to Mattel of certain toy rights in CONAN. During this time, Mattel received a substantial quantity of material on the CONAN character. On July 31, 1981, CPI and Mattel executed a License Agreement whereby Mattel was granted "the right to make and sell certain plastic action figures of CONAN and ancillary characters as depicted in the CONAN movie." Amended Complaint, para. 12. The Agreement provided, however, "that nothing in the License should be construed as an assignment or grant to Mattel of any right, title or interest in or to CONAN, and that all rights relating thereto were reserved by CPI (except only for the licensee to use the property as specifically agreed to)." Amended Complaint, para. 14. It was also agreed that, after the termination of the License Agreement, Mattel would not make or sell any CONAN toys."
"In January 1982, Mattel requested that the License Agreement be terminated. On April 14, 1982, CPI and Mattel entered into a termination agreement which provided that "all materials created and or developed by Mattel for use in connection with products under the CONAN License" would be delivered to CPI's agent, CPC, which would have "the exclusive right to use such material." Amended Complaint, para. 17."
"In February 1982, Mattel introduced a fantasy character, "He-Man," as part of its new "Masters of the Universe" toy line of action figures. Since that time, Mattel has also featured He-Man and the other Masters of the Universe characters in, inter alia, a television series, comic books, and video tapes. Thereafter, CPI commenced this action asserting that these figures are copies of CONAN, were created under the License, and are CPI's property. Amended Complaint, paras. 20, 21."
In the end, Mattel won the lawsuit against Conan Properties to retain the rights over He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.
Originally, He-Man was presented in drawings and wax sculptures to the Mattel executives as a barbarian, a soldier, and a spaceman. Out of the three concepts, the barbarian version was chosen to be the basis of the toyline. Taking in consideration that the Conan character was created almost 50 years prior to the development of the He-Man franchise, it is likely that the Masters of the Universe borrowed many aspects from Conan, but it appears that it was not intended to be a toyline for the film after legal agreements were dissolved. Additionally, Roger Sweet has claimed also to have been "real impressed" by the paintings of fantasy artist Frank Frazetta
Frank Frazetta
Frank Frazetta was an American fantasy and science fiction artist, noted for work in comic books, paperback book covers, paintings, posters, LP record album covers and other media...
when creating He-Man. To further expand on this initial barbarian theme, Mattel hired comic book writers and artists such as Donald F. Glut
Donald F. Glut
Donald F. Glut is an American writer, motion picture director, screenwriter, amateur paleontologist, musician and actor....
and Earl Norem
Earl Norem
Earl Norem , often credited simply as Norem, is an American artist primarily known for his painted covers for Marvel Comics books and magazines...
to create additional characters and their backstory, posters, package inlays, box art and mini-comics to be distributed with the action figures.
The very first prototype He-Man was black haired with a deeply tanned eastern European or Middle Eastern appearance. His helmet had no horns. Later, at the direction of Tom Kalinske, then in Mattel's upper management, He-Man was made more clean-cut and changed to a blond... Plus, He-Man's skin was lightened, though definitely still tanned.
—Roger Sweet
Versions of the franchise
As with many toy franchises which have been transferred to several different media there are a number of story differences between the various versions of Masters of the Universe. Complicating matters further, several media have made implicit attempts to change details to realign with other versions, with the result that internal discontinuities arise.Mineternia: the original minicomics (1981–1983)
All of the original action figures came with minicomics that told stories involving the characters. In the earliest comics, He-Man is a wandering barbarianBarbarian
Barbarian and savage are terms used to refer to a person who is perceived to be uncivilized. The word is often used either in a general reference to a member of a nation or ethnos, typically a tribal society as seen by an urban civilization either viewed as inferior, or admired as a noble savage...
on Eternia
Eternia
Eternia is the name of the fictional planet that serves as a setting for the Masters of the Universe toy collection and animated series.-Origins:...
, a world dealing with the aftermath of a Great War that has devastated the civilizations that once reigned, but has left behind fantastical machinery and weapons. The events of the Great War opened a rift between dimensions, which allows the evil warlord Skeletor
Skeletor
Skeletor is a featured villain in the Masters of the Universe franchise and the arch-enemy and main antagonist of He-Man. Depicted as a muscular blue humanoid with a purple hood over his yellowing bare-bone skull, Skeletor seeks to conquer Castle Grayskull so he can learn its ancient secrets,...
to travel to Eternia, and he has now set his sights on the ancient Castle Grayskull
Castle Grayskull
Castle Grayskull is a fortress located on the fictional planet Eternia. It forms a central location in the Masters of the Universe toy/comic/animation universe, and also appears in the 1987 live action adaptation....
, the 'fortress of mystery and power'. Whoever attains control of Grayskull will gain the power to become Master of the Universe. To prevent Skeletor from achieving his goal, He-Man has been given special powers and weapons by The Sorceress
Sorceress of Castle Grayskull
The Sorceress of Castle Grayskull, also known as The Goddess and Teela Na, is a fictional character from the Masters of the Universe franchise.-Original MOTU mini-comics:...
(referred to as 'The Goddess' in early stories, except in her debut appearance in which she is shown, the one and only time, to have green skin) and sets out to defend the castle from Skeletor. He-Man is supported by several heroic allies, such as Man-At-Arms
Man-At-Arms
Man-At-Arms is the primary title of Duncan, a fictional character in the Masters of the Universe franchise. The figure's tag-line is "Heroic Master of Weapons".-He-Man and the Masters of the Universe :...
, the Eternian master of weapons, and Teela
Teela
Teela "Warrior Goddess!" is a fictional character from the Masters of the Universe franchise. She is the Captain of the Royal Guard at the palace of Eternos and thus responsible for training and protecting Prince Adam of Eternia. While Adam is He-Man, Teela often assists him in his battles, but...
, the adopted daughter of Man-At-Arms. Skeletor manages to find one half of the Power Sword
The Power Sword
The Power Sword is a fictional sword from the Masters of the Universe toyline, sometimes also referred to as the Sword of Power and the Sword of Grayskull...
, a great weapon which is itself the key to Castle Grayskull. He-Man has been given the other half by The Sorceress, and must prevent Skeletor
Skeletor
Skeletor is a featured villain in the Masters of the Universe franchise and the arch-enemy and main antagonist of He-Man. Depicted as a muscular blue humanoid with a purple hood over his yellowing bare-bone skull, Skeletor seeks to conquer Castle Grayskull so he can learn its ancient secrets,...
from linking the two halves to gain access to the castle. To distinguish these stories from the TV cartoon-influenced minicomics that were released to tie-in with the TV series, fans dubbed this first version of Eternia as 'mini-Eternia', and the two words were fused into 'Mineternia' in 2003, by a minicomics fansite, called Eternia Minor (now, He-Man Tales). Some fans also refer to this period as Pre-Filmation.
Cartoon series (1983–1985)
The animated series He-Man and the Masters of the UniverseHe-Man and the Masters of the Universe
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe is an American animated television series produced by Filmation based on Mattel's successful toy line Masters of the Universe...
was produced by Filmation
Filmation
Filmation Associates was an American production company that produced animation and live action programming for television during the latter half of the 20th century. Located in Reseda, California, the animation studio was founded in 1963...
and made its television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
debut in 1983.
Eternia is ruled by King Randor and Queen Marlena. (The latter was born Marlena Glen, a Terran astronaut who married Randor after she was marooned on Eternia by the crash of her spaceship). Their son is Prince Adam, who pretends he is lazy, clumsy, careless, irresponsible and almost as cowardly as his pet tiger Cringer. (Adam's twin sister, Princess Adora, was kidnapped at birth by the evil warlord Hordak
Hordak
Hordak is a fictional character in the Masters of the Universe franchise, as a villain who opposes She-Ra, He-Man, and villain Skeletor. In the She-Ra cartoon, he is the leader of the segment of the fictional Evil Horde on the planet Etheria, an army of savage warriors, most of whom wear a red...
- who raised her as his own daughter to become a captain in his army). However, Prince Adam possesses a magic sword
Sword
A sword is a bladed weapon used primarily for cutting or thrusting. The precise definition of the term varies with the historical epoch or the geographical region under consideration...
, and when he holds it aloft and says the magic
Magic (paranormal)
Magic is the claimed art of manipulating aspects of reality either by supernatural means or through knowledge of occult laws unknown to science. It is in contrast to science, in that science does not accept anything not subject to either direct or indirect observation, and subject to logical...
words, "By the power of Grayskull...I have the POWER!!!" Prince Adam is transformed into He-Man, "The Most Powerful Man In The Universe".
Many episodes, particularly the early ones, are about Skeletor's repeated attempts and failures to enter Castle Grayskull. He-Man invariably defeats these attempts, unless Skeletor defeats himself first via his own stupidity, arrogance and treachery. Though the animated cartoons were similar to the version of the story presented by DC Comics, Filmation focused more on the lighter, humorous elements of the story rather than the violent ones, in order to render it more suitable for a children's audience. A new character was also introduced in the form of Orko
Orko
Orko is a fictional character from the Masters of the Universe franchise. He was not part of the original toy collection on which the show is based but, when he was created by the show's writers as comic relief, a toy figure of him was then manufactured. Orko appears in the 1980s Filmation series...
, a small alien magician who shares Prince Adam's secret and provides the comic relief
Comic relief
Comic relief is the inclusion of a humorous character, scene or witty dialogue in an otherwise serious work, often to relieve tension.-Definition:...
for most episodes.
Despite the limited animation
Limited animation
Limited animation is a process of making animated cartoons that does not redraw entire frames but variably reuses common parts between frames. One of its major trademarks is the stylized design in all forms and shapes, which in the early days was referred to as modern design...
techniques that were used to produce the series, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe was notable for breaking the boundaries of censorship
Censorship
thumb|[[Book burning]] following the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état|1973 coup]] that installed the [[Military government of Chile |Pinochet regime]] in Chile...
that had severely restricted the narrative scope of children's TV programming in the 1970s. For the first time in years, a cartoon series could feature a muscular superhero
Superhero
A superhero is a type of stock character, possessing "extraordinary or superhuman powers", dedicated to protecting the public. Since the debut of the prototypical superhero Superman in 1938, stories of superheroes — ranging from brief episodic adventures to continuing years-long sagas —...
who was actually allowed to hit people
Violence
Violence is the use of physical force to apply a state to others contrary to their wishes. violence, while often a stand-alone issue, is often the culmination of other kinds of conflict, e.g...
(although most of the time wrestling
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
-style moves were utilized instead of direct violence), though he still couldn't use his sword often. The cartoon was controversial in that it was produced in connection with marketing
Marketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
a line of toy
Toy
A toy is any object that can be used for play. Toys are associated commonly with children and pets. Playing with toys is often thought to be an enjoyable means of training the young for life in human society. Different materials are used to make toys enjoyable and cuddly to both young and old...
s; advertising
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
to child
Child
Biologically, a child is generally a human between the stages of birth and puberty. Some vernacular definitions of a child include the fetus, as being an unborn child. The legal definition of "child" generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younger than the age of majority...
ren was itself controversial during this period. In Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, advertising regulations forbade commercials for He-Man toys to accompany the program itself (either before or after the episode, as there were no in-show commercials). Similar to other shows at the time (notably G.I. Joe
G.I. Joe
G.I. Joe is a line of action figures produced by the toy company Hasbro. The initial product offering represented four of the branches of the U.S. armed forces with the Action Soldier , Action Sailor , Action Pilot , Action Marine and later on, the Action Nurse...
), an attempt to mitigate the negative publicity generated by this controversy was made by including a "life lesson" or "moral of the story" at the end of each episode. This moral was usually tied to the action or central theme of the episode. In the United Kingdom, where the episodes were usually edited for timing reasons, these closing "morals" were nearly always edited out of their original broadcasts.
The cartoon series was also remarkable because it was one of the first animated series produced directly for syndication
Television syndication
In broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast radio shows and television shows by multiple radio stations and television stations, without going through a broadcast network, though the process of syndication may conjure up structures like those of a network itself, by its very...
, as opposed to most other syndicated cartoons of the time which were re-runs of old Saturday morning cartoon
Saturday morning cartoon
A Saturday morning cartoon is the colloquial term for the animated television programming that has typically been scheduled on Saturday mornings on the major American television networks from the 1960s to the present; the genre's peak in popularity mostly ended in the 1990s while the popularity of...
s. The most notable production fact of the series was that it was the very first animated series where a bulk quantity of 65 episodes were produced so that the series could be stripped across 13 weeks.
It is also noted for featuring early script-writing work from Babylon 5
Babylon 5
Babylon 5 is an American science fiction television series created, produced and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. The show centers on a space station named Babylon 5: a focal point for politics, diplomacy, and conflict during the years 2257–2262...
creator J. Michael Straczynski
J. Michael Straczynski
Joseph Michael Straczynski , known professionally as J. Michael Straczynski and informally as Joe Straczynski or JMS, is an American writer and television producer. He works in films, television series, novels, short stories, comic books, and radio dramas. He is a playwright, a former journalist,...
, and Paul Dini
Paul Dini
Paul Dini is an American writer and producer who works in the television and comic book industries. He is best known as a producer and writer for several Warner Bros./DC Comics animated series, including Star Wars: Ewoks, Tiny Toon Adventures, Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: The Animated...
of Batman: The Animated Series
Batman: The Animated Series
Batman: The Animated Series is an American animated series based on the DC Comics character Batman. The series featured an ensemble cast of many voice-actors including Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., Arleen Sorkin, and Loren Lester. The series won four Emmy Awards and was nominated...
fame One episode, "Battle Cat," was written by Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
s D.C. Fontana.
Animated series notes
- Due to the budget-constraints by Filmation, the He-Man cartoon only featured a voice-cast of four to five people, after Erika ScheimerErika ScheimerErika Scheimer is an occasional voice-actress in the cartoons of the defunct Filmation animation-studio. She is the daughter of Lou Scheimer, who was an integral member of Filmation and a voice actor in his own right....
joined the cast. Linda GaryLinda GaryLinda Gary was an American voice actor and voice-over artist, who has worked on multiple animated projects.-Personal life:Linda Gary Dewoskin was born in California on November 4, 1944....
, who through an early mis-crediting was often assumed wrongly to be actress Linda GrayLinda GrayLinda Ann Gray is an American actress, best known for her role as Sue Ellen Ewing on the television prime-time soap opera Dallas.-Career:Prior to acting, Gray began working as a model in the 1960s...
, single-handedly provided voices for nearly all the female characters, but the bulk of the character voices were provided by the show's executive producer, Lou ScheimerLou ScheimerLouis Scheimer is an Emmy and Grammy Award–winning American producer, one of the original founders of Filmation, an animation company, and also an executive producer of many of its cartoons .-Career:Early in Filmation's history, Scheimer also contributed...
, one of the founding producers of Filmation and at the time still its chief producer, who in the earliest episodes went under the name Erik Gunden. The character voices of He-Man and Beast Man were provided by John ErwinJohn ErwinJohn Lee Erwin is a voice actor known for voicing Morris the Cat and He-Man.-Career:Erwin was the voice of He-Man in the Filmation production He-Man and the Masters of the Universe that ran from 1983 to 1985. Due to the extreme cost-cutting by Filmation, the cast of voice actors was small, and...
; that of Skeletor, by Alan OppenheimerAlan OppenheimerAlan Oppenheimer is an American character actor and voice actor. He has performed numerous roles on live-action television since the 1960s, and has had an active career doing voice work in cartoons since the 1970s.-Early life:...
.
- A common misconception about the cartoon series is that it was cheap to produce, due to the small number of voice actors and heavy reliance on stock animation. In fact, the series was one of the more expensive 1980s animated series to produce, primarily due to the entire series production being handled in the U.S., rather than having the animation outsourced to another country.
She-Ra: Princess of Power (1985)
In 1985, MattelMattel
Mattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from...
and Filmation
Filmation
Filmation Associates was an American production company that produced animation and live action programming for television during the latter half of the 20th century. Located in Reseda, California, the animation studio was founded in 1963...
decided to diversify the Masters of the Universe line beyond its traditional realm of "male action" in the hopes of bringing in a young female audience as well.
Thus, Mattel created a new line Princess of Power and invented She-Ra
She-Ra
She-Ra is a fictional character and the heroine in the Filmation cartoon and series of toys produced by Mattel called She-Ra: Princess of Power. She is the alter ego of Princess Adora and the twin sister of He-Man. She-Ra was intended to appeal to young girls in the same way that He-Man appealed to...
as its feminine warrior-woman heroine. The toyline featured almost exclusively female characters, all of whom featured an emphasis on hair and clothing, with "real" hair and partially softgoods costumes. Essentially, the line attempted to fuse the appeal of Masters of the Universe with Mattel's most long-standing success, Barbie
Barbie
Barbie is a fashion doll manufactured by the American toy-company Mattel, Inc. and launched in March 1959. American businesswoman Ruth Handler is credited with the creation of the doll using a German doll called Bild Lilli as her inspiration....
.
Filmation then had the task of revealing that Prince Adam had a twin sister, Princess Adora, who was first introduced in the animated feature The Secret of the Sword
The Secret of the Sword
He-Man and She-Ra: The Secret of the Sword is a 1985 American animated feature film produced by Filmation. Although released before the series She-Ra: Princess of Power began, the film was a compilation of the first five episodes with minor edits made....
. This film was a compilation of the first five episodes of the new television series, She-Ra: Princess of Power, which ran for 93 episodes from 1985 to 1986, and was produced in lieu of continuing He-Man and the Masters of the Universe for a third year. He-Man often appeared in special crossover episodes of She-Ra to aid his sister, and many other characters from He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, both heroic and evil, also had crossover episodes.
Just as Prince Adam transforms into He-Man with the use of his Sword of Power, Adora transforms into She-Ra via her Sword of Protection, a replica of He-Man's sword featuring a smooth white gem in its hilt. Adora's transformation into She-Ra is similarly triggered by holding her sword over her head, and by uttering her own unique invocation; "For the honor of Grayskull... I AM SHE-RA!" Unlike He-Man's sword, however, She-Ra's possesses the ability to transform into different weapons and accessories, such as a lasso, a shield or a flaming blade, when commanded by She-Ra.
She-Ra lives on the world of Etheria
Etheria (She-Ra)
Etheria is a fictional planet introduced in the animated film The Secret of the Sword. It is the main setting of the She-Ra: Princess of Power animated series.-History:Etheria was founded by a group of beings known only as The First Ones...
, which is dominated by the Evil Horde
Evil Horde
The Evil Horde, more frequently referred to as the Horde, is a group of fictional characters featured in She-Ra: Princess of Power and He-Man and the Masters of the Universe cartoons, comics and toys...
, and she fights to free her planet from its tyrannical ruler Hordak
Hordak
Hordak is a fictional character in the Masters of the Universe franchise, as a villain who opposes She-Ra, He-Man, and villain Skeletor. In the She-Ra cartoon, he is the leader of the segment of the fictional Evil Horde on the planet Etheria, an army of savage warriors, most of whom wear a red...
. Hordak and the Evil Horde were originally created in the MOTU toyline as a second evil force who were after both He-Man and Skeletor, and debuted in Mattel's minicomics as such. However, given that the He-Man series had been cancelled to allow Filmation to concentrate on She-Ra, Filmation decided to reassign Hordak and the Evil Horde as the main villains of the She-Ra series to give the characters exposure. The character of Catra, the only villain in the first wave of She-Ra toys, was therefore made a member of the Horde. Thus, the premise of the She-Ra series was the reverse of the He-Man cartoon, whereby the heroes are actually rebels countering an evil establishment.
The Powers of Grayskull
The distant past of Eternia, dubbed "Preternia", forms the basis of the next incarnation of the toyline, entitled The Powers of Grayskull. However the toyline was axed very early on, with only a few toys released. The main story information originates from the final mini-comic The Powers of Grayskull - The Legend Begins!, which was intended as the first of a three-parter, however only this issue appeared. The information provided in the mini-comics is supported by snippets of information on some of the toy packaging.Ancient Eternia was populated by many creatures, including cybernetic dinosaurs and giants. When the Sorceress and He-Man arrive, followed by Skeletor, they find King Hiss leading an attack on a village in the hope of drawing out "The Elders", using some of the cybernetic dinosaurs to their advantage. Hiss serves an "unnamed one" and agrees to unite with Skeletor on the basis that he might be an emissary. Seeing Skeletor's interference, the Sorceress allows He-Man to enter the battle but, "for reasons that will be made clear to you in the future," he had to be disguised. He finds himself overwhelmed, but then a shadowy figure appears who turns the odds with a powerful wand. The stranger then sends the Snake Men back to their base and all the time travellers home. The Sorceress describes the intervener as "the Greatest Sorcerer of all" and He-Man is left asking, "But who is he?"
No further story information is given, and it remains unclear how the giants mentioned and released as toys would fit into the story. However, some marketing press releases and prototypes have shed further information.
The wizard was He-Ro, an ancestor of He-Man. Raised by his mentor Eldor and discovering special powers in a cave, He-Ro would have led the fight against the Snake Men. According to the mini-comics' writers it was intended that the central antagonist would be Keldor, a character revealed similarly late in the line to have been He-Man's uncle and also strongly hinted to have been the former identity of Skeletor. Whether or not Keldor was also supposed to be the "Unnamed One" Hiss served is not clear, although in an interview writer Steven Grant
Steven Grant
Steven Grant is an American comic-book writer best known for his 1985-1986 Marvel Comics mini-series Punisher, with artist Mike Zeck and for his creator-owned character Whisper.-Biography:...
vaguely recalls that the intention was that the Unnamed One would be a greater evil who, as the Emperor
Palpatine
Palpatine is a fictional character and the main antagonist of the Star Wars saga, portrayed by Ian McDiarmid in the feature films.Palpatine first appeared as the unnamed Emperor of the Galactic Empire in the 1980 film Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back...
was to Darth Vader
Darth Vader
Darth Vader is a central character in the Star Wars saga, appearing as one of the main antagonists in the original trilogy and as the main protagonist in the prequel trilogy....
, was intended to be the one who caused Keldor to become Skeletor.
Live action movie (1987)
In 1987, a live actionLive action
In filmmaking, video production, and other media, the term live action refers to cinematography, videography not produced using animation...
He-Man film was made by Cannon Films entitled Masters of the Universe
Masters of the Universe (film)
Masters of the Universe is a 1987 science-fiction fantasy film based on the toy line by the same name. The movie stars Dolph Lundgren as He-Man and Frank Langella as Skeletor...
. The release date in the USA was August 7, 1987. The film starred Dolph Lundgren
Dolph Lundgren
Dolph Lundgren is a Swedish actor, director, and martial artist. He belongs to a generation of film actors who epitomise the movie action hero stereotype including Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Chuck Norris, Steven Seagal and Jean-Claude Van Damme.A graduate in chemical...
in the title role of He-Man, Frank Langella
Frank Langella
-Early life:Langella, an Italian American, was born in Bayonne, New Jersey, the son of Angelina and Frank A. Langella Sr., a business executive who was the president of the Bayonne Barrel and Drum Company. Langella attended Washington Elementary School and Bayonne High School in Bayonne...
as Skeletor, with Courteney Cox
Courteney Cox
Courteney Bass Cox is an American actress, she is best known for her roles as Monica Geller on the NBC sitcom Friends, Gale Weathers in the horror series Scream and as Jules Cobb in the ABC sitcom Cougar Town, for which she earned her first Golden Globe nomination....
and Robert Duncan McNeill
Robert Duncan McNeill
Robert Duncan McNeill is an American actor, producer, movie director, and television director who is best known for his role as Lieutenant Tom Paris on the television show Star Trek: Voyager.-Acting:...
in supporting roles. The other characters from the original cartoon to appear in the film are Evil-Lyn (Meg Foster
Meg Foster
Megan "Meg" Foster is an American actress best known for her roles in the TV miniseries version of The Scarlet Letter, Ticket to Heaven, The Osterman Weekend, and They Live .-Life and career:...
), Man-At-Arms (Jon Cypher
Jon Cypher
-Biography:Born in New York City, Cypher graduated from Erasmus Hall High School in 1949 and Brooklyn College in 1953. He made his television debut as the Prince in the original 1957 production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella opposite Julie Andrews in the title role...
), Teela (Chelsea Field), Beast Man (Tony Carroll
Tony Carroll
Tony Carroll, LCSW, established a psychotherapy practice in the Neartown area of Houston in 1983, making it the oldest GLBT psychotherapy practice in the city. He served as the first openly gay president of the Texas Society for Clinical Social Work and conducted one of the first studies on the...
), and the Sorceress (Christina Pickles
Christina Pickles
Christina Pickles is an English actress, best known for her long-running role of Nurse Helen Rosenthal in the hospital drama St. Elsewhere, for which she was nominated for four Emmys.-Life and career:...
). The character Gwildor
Gwildor
Gwildor is a fictional character from the Masters of the Universe franchise. He was introduced into the franchise after appearing in the 1987 Masters of the Universe film.Gwildor is a member of the Thenurians, a dwarf-like race of people...
(Billy Barty
Billy Barty
Billy Barty was an American film actor.-Biography:Barty, an Italian American, was born William John Bertanzetti in Millsboro, Pennsylvania...
) is included, apparently in place of Orko
Orko
Orko is a fictional character from the Masters of the Universe franchise. He was not part of the original toy collection on which the show is based but, when he was created by the show's writers as comic relief, a toy figure of him was then manufactured. Orko appears in the 1980s Filmation series...
, because the special effects of the time would have been insufficient and too costly to create him.
Many viewers reviewed the motion picture in comparison to the cartoon, when it really was an adaptation of the toys only, which initially depicted He-Man as a barbarian in the first mini-comics (no Prince Adam or Orko). Ed Pressman was interested in the property before the cartoon was even aired and Filmation had no involvement whatsoever in the film.
In the movie, Skeletor has finally conquered Eternia after stealing the Cosmic Key from the locksmith Gwildor, which allows him to gain entry to Castle Grayskull. He imprisons The Sorceress within an energy-draining field and her powers are being transferred to him. In an attempt to rescue The Sorceress, the heroes He-Man, Man-At-Arms, Teela and Gwildor are accidentally transported to Earth by the Cosmic Key. Stranded on Earth, they are faced with the task of recovering the Cosmic Key and getting back to Eternia before Skeletor can gain the power of Grayskull, but Skeletor sends his minions to Earth with the mission of beating them to the Cosmic Key, and chaos ensues as the war between good and evil is transferred to Earth.
Numerous parts of the previously accepted history of the series are omitted in the film, including all references to Prince Adam, as well as Randor and Marlena, in fact it is implied that Castle Grayskull itself is the ruling point of Eternia rather than any royal city. The story concentrates more on the science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
elements of the franchise rather than the fantasy. Aside from The Sorceress and Skeletor there is little reference to magic powers, with most of the characters relying instead on futuristic technology. He-Man himself uses a gun in some scenes in addition to his Power Sword, and he only displays superhuman strength in one scene, when toppling a huge statue. Although He-Man twice utters his catchphrase "I Have the Power" while holding the sword aloft in the iconic manner, he does omit the prefacing clause "By the Power of Grayskull".
Although Mattel had hoped that the movie would boost sales of the toyline, it instead had no effect on the line's falling sales, and the MOTU toy line was finally discontinued in early 1988 under immense financial difficulties. A sequel
Sequel
A sequel is a narrative, documental, or other work of literature, film, theatre, or music that continues the story of or expands upon issues presented in some previous work...
to the film was written, but by 1989, Cannon Films was in such severe financial troubles that it could no longer afford to pay the license fees to Mattel
Mattel
Mattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from...
. Thus the script was transformed into the action film Cyborg
Cyborg (film)
Cyborg is a 1989 American martial-arts science fiction film directed by Albert Pyun. Jean-Claude Van Damme stars as Gibson Rickenbacker, a mercenary who battles a group of murderous marauders led by Fender Tremolo along the East coast of the United States in a post-apocalyptic future.-Plot:A...
, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme
Jean-Claude Van Damme
Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg , professionally known as Jean-Claude Van Damme, is a Belgian martial artist and actor, best known for his martial arts action films, the most successful of which include Bloodsport , Kickboxer , Double Impact , Universal Soldier , Hard Target , Timecop ,...
.
Jack Kirby's Fourth World Connection
In issue #497 of Comic Shop NewsComic Shop News
Comic Shop News is a free weekly newspaper distributed throughout comic book specialty stores. It was launched in 1987 by Cliff Biggers and Ward Batty, both of whom continue to edit it today.- History :...
, comic book writer/artist John Byrne opined that the Masters movie was in part derivative of "Jack Kirby's Fourth World
Jack Kirby's Fourth World
"The Fourth World" is the popular name given to a metaseries of interconnecting comic book titles written and drawn by Jack Kirby and published by DC Comics from 1970 to 1973. The characters and concepts were later integrated into the DC Universe....
", featuring characters now found in the DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
Universe: Orion
Orion (comics)
Orion is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in New Gods #1 , and was created by writer-artist Jack Kirby.-Jack Kirby Era:...
(He-Man), Kalibak
Kalibak
Kalibak is a fictional character, a deity and supervillain published by DC Comics. Created by Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in New Gods #1 .- Fictional character biography :...
(Beast Man), Kanto (Blade), and Darkseid
Darkseid
Darkseid is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #134 and was created by writer-artist Jack Kirby....
(Skeletor). Cross-dimensional travel from Eternia to Earth is via a concept identical to the classic Boom Tube
Boom tube
A boom tube is a slang expression for a fictional extra-dimensional point-to-point travel portal opened by a Mother Box used primarily by residents of New Genesis and Apokolips in DC Comics...
. There are many additional parallels to be drawn from the Fourth World source material to the characters in the film than from the He-Man material.
Byrne wrote, "The best New Gods
New Gods
The New Gods are a fictional race appearing in publications by DC Comics, as well as the title for four series of comic books about those characters. They first appeared in New Gods #1 , and were created and designed by Jack Kirby....
movie, IMHO, is Masters of the Universe. I even corresponded with the director, who told me this was his intent, and that he had tried to get [Jack] Kirby
Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby , born Jacob Kurtzberg, was an American comic book artist, writer and editor regarded by historians and fans as one of the major innovators and most influential creators in the comic book medium....
to do the production designs, but the studio nixed it....Check it out. It requires some bending and an occasional sex change (Metron
Metron (comics)
Metron is a character created by Jack Kirby for his Fourth World series in DC Comics. He was "based on Leonard Nimoy as Spock", and designed as a character who "would frequently change sides [between New Genesis and Apokolips]"...
becomes an ugly dwarf, The Highfather
Highfather
Highfather is a fictional comic book character in the . He is chief of the New Gods of New Genesis in the Fourth World and ruled the fictional planet. Highfather first appeared in The New Gods #1 ....
becomes the Sorceress), but it's an amazingly close analog, otherwise. And Frank Langella
Frank Langella
-Early life:Langella, an Italian American, was born in Bayonne, New Jersey, the son of Angelina and Frank A. Langella Sr., a business executive who was the president of the Bayonne Barrel and Drum Company. Langella attended Washington Elementary School and Bayonne High School in Bayonne...
's Skeletor is a dandy Darkseid!"
Even though director Gary Goddard
Gary Goddard
Gary Goddard is the Founder and CEO of The Goddard Group- an entertainment design firm based in North Hollywood, California.- Work in Theater :...
provided a commentary track for the film's DVD release that makes no such claim regarding any intent to produce a covert New Gods adaptation, he did send a letter
Comic book letter column
A comic book letter column is a section of a comic book where readers' letters to the publisher appear. Comic book letter columns are also commonly referred to as letter columns , letter pages, letters of comment , or simply letters to the editor...
to Byrne in 1994, which was printed in an issue of Byrne's comic Next Men
Next Men
John Byrne's Next Men is a comic book series written and drawn by John Byrne. The first volume of the series was published by Dark Horse Comics between 1991 and 1995...
In the letter Goddard indicated that Byrne wasn't far off in his comparison between the New Gods and the Masters of the Universe movie, and that it was (in Goddard's words) "greatly inspired by the classic Fantastic Four/Doctor Doom epics, The New Gods and a bit of Thor thrown in here and there." Brian Cronin, author of the "Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed" column, concludes that "the film itself was not intended to be literally a reworked Fourth World, although the intent WAS to make the film a tribute to Jack Kirby - just a tribute to ALL of his work, not just the Fourth World."
New Movie
Grayskull: Masters of the Universe was an announced science fictionScience fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
/fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
based on the toy line. According to Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
, it is produced by Joel Silver
Joel Silver
Joel Silver is an American Hollywood film producer, co-creator of the sport of Ultimate, co-founder of Dark Castle Entertainment and owner of Silver Pictures.-Life and career:...
, and written by Justin Marks, and employing visual special effects to a large degree, as was done with the 2007 war film
War film
War films are a film genre concerned with warfare, usually about naval, air or land battles, sometimes focusing instead on prisoners of war, covert operations, military training or other related subjects. At times war films focus on daily military or civilian life in wartime without depicting battles...
300
300 (film)
300 is a 2007 American fantasy action film based on the 1998 comic series of the same name by Frank Miller. It is a fictionalized retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae. The film was directed by Zack Snyder, while Miller served as executive producer and consultant...
. Warner announced that John Stevenson, director of Kung Fu Panda
Kung Fu Panda
Kung Fu Panda is a 2008 American computer-animated action comedy film produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Paramount Pictures...
will direct the upcoming feature. On 12 May 2009 it was announced that the scripting duties had been handed to newcomer Evan Daugherty, with John Stevenson still attached to direct. In September 2009, Sony took over the rights from Warner Bros to produce the Masters of the Universe live action film after Mattel and Silver couldn't agree on creative direction for the film. Sony and Escape Artists' Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal and Steve Tisch will now start developing the project from scratch for Columbia Pictures. In April 2010, Sony hired screenwriters Mike Finch and Alex Litvak to draft a new script.
The New Adventures of He-Man (1989–1992)
In 1989, two years after the financially disastrous ending of the original Masters of the Universe product line, a second He-Man animated series titled The New Adventures of He-Man, was produced by DiC
DiC Entertainment
DIC Entertainment was an international film and television production company. In addition to animated television shows such as Ulysses 31 , Inspector Gadget , The Littles , The Real Ghostbusters , Captain Planet and the Planeteers , and the first two seasons of the English adaptation of...
to promote Mattel
Mattel
Mattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from...
's short-lived attempt to revive the MOTU brand with a new toyline, simply titled He-Man. The new series is radically different to the original fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
-oriented milieu, shifting to an almost purely science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
setting which sees He-Man transported to the futuristic planet of Primus ruled by Master Sebrian. As He-Man leads the Galactic Guardians, Skeletor bases himself on the evil world of Denebria, where he forms an alliance with Flogg and the Mutants, who are hellbent on conquering Primus for themselves. The series contains clear continuity links to the original Masters of the Universe, and was intended as a continuation of the existing mythology, although some fans see it as a separate canon from the original series due to the differences in style and character portrayal.
Other than He-Man and Skeletor, The Sorceress of Castle Grayskull is the only character from the original series to make regular appearances, acting as a guide to He-Man. Several other characters are featured in the pilot episode, including King Randor and Queen Marlena, who learn of the dual identity of Prince Adam and He-Man.
The majority of the cartoon episodes were written by Jack Olesker, resulting in a tight continuity, which was almost entirely lacking in the earlier Filmation series. Neither the New Adventures animated series or toyline were nearly as popular as the originals, lasting only sixty-five episodes and a few poorly received waves of action figures.
Toyline
In 2002, Mattel launched a new Masters of the Universe toyline with sculpts designed by the Four HorsemenFour Horsemen Studios
Four Horsemen Studios is a group of four action figure sculptors who formerly worked for McFarlane Toys, and whose work has included the modern and classics line of Masters of the Universe toys and the current DCSH and DC Universe Classics lines....
. The new toyline was made surprisingly faithful to the original line, with the characters gently "re-imagined" and updated in terms of sculpting detail rather than radically reinterpreted.
One point of contention for many fans of the original Masters toyline was the redesign of He-Man's Power Sword. According to the Four Horsemen
Four Horsemen Studios
Four Horsemen Studios is a group of four action figure sculptors who formerly worked for McFarlane Toys, and whose work has included the modern and classics line of Masters of the Universe toys and the current DCSH and DC Universe Classics lines....
, this was due to their original re-sculpts being intended for a continuation of the original storyline in which Skeletor had obtained both halves of the Power Sword (hence the new Skeletor figure's dual blades with clear "good" and "evil" hilt designs), necessitating a new sword to be built by Man-At-Arms
Man-At-Arms
Man-At-Arms is the primary title of Duncan, a fictional character in the Masters of the Universe franchise. The figure's tag-line is "Heroic Master of Weapons".-He-Man and the Masters of the Universe :...
and endowed with the properties of the original by the Sorceress
Sorceress of Castle Grayskull
The Sorceress of Castle Grayskull, also known as The Goddess and Teela Na, is a fictional character from the Masters of the Universe franchise.-Original MOTU mini-comics:...
. However, Mattel
Mattel
Mattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from...
decided to reboot the continuity for a new generation of children, and thus the "new" Power Sword design became the "original" version for the new continuity.
The line's faithfulness to the original series made it very popular with collectors, however, suggesting it would have been better served as a collector-based line, akin to DC Direct
DC Direct
DC Direct is the collectibles division of DC Comics, the Time Warner subsidiary that publishes comic books and licenses characters such as Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Flash, Batman, Batgirl and Hawkgirl. DC Direct produces statues, props, replicas and prints for the direct market, a...
. This theory was borne out in the wake of the discontinuation of the mass-market toyline, with NECA
National Entertainment Collectibles Association
The National Entertainment Collectibles Association or NECA is an American manufacturer of collectibles typically licensed from films, video-games, sports, music, and television based in New Jersey...
taking the rather unprecedented step of continuing the toyline through action figure sized mini-statues scaled and sculpted to be aesthetically compatible for display alongside the Mattel toys, thus allowing fans to fill out their collections with other Four Horsemen redesigned characters that had yet to be produced as figures when the toyline was canceled. According to a December 8, 2005 interview with a Mattel representative on he-man.org, NECA offered to produce fully articulated action figures for Mattel without taking any credit, but permission was denied. Instead, NECA was only permitted to produce nonarticulated statues.
Cartoon series
A new animated series was produced to accompany the toyline, made by Mike Young ProductionsMike Young Productions
Mike Young Productions LLC is an animation studio that produces children's TV series. It is named after co-founder and partner Mike Young, and is part of the Moonscoop Group...
and lasting for 39 episodes. This series involved much tighter continuity and a somewhat greater depth of characterization than its Filmation
Filmation
Filmation Associates was an American production company that produced animation and live action programming for television during the latter half of the 20th century. Located in Reseda, California, the animation studio was founded in 1963...
predecessor. It is particularly noteworthy for cementing the fact that Keldor and Skeletor are the same person (although no familial connection to Randor was established), showing Skeletor without his cowl as a floating skull with no neck, and the first animated appearances of Stinkor, King Hiss and the Snake Men (although several Snake Men characters had been previously shown as Horde members in She-Ra: Princess of Power). It was also revealed that Evil-Lyn's father is a powerful sorcerer known as The Faceless One.
Later episodes of this series were retitled Masters of the Universe vs The Snake-Men, and sidelined Skeletor as chief villain in favor of King Hiss, leader of the reptilian
Reptile
Reptiles are members of a class of air-breathing, ectothermic vertebrates which are characterized by laying shelled eggs , and having skin covered in scales and/or scutes. They are tetrapods, either having four limbs or being descended from four-limbed ancestors...
Snake-Men. Hordak and The Evil Horde were to be the main antagonist for the third season if the show had continued.
The 2002 series was considerably more developed than previous incarnations, fleshing out a far more coherent history of Eternia. One episode, "The Power of Grayskull", goes into detail about Castle Grayskull's past, revealing it originally belonged to a barbarian hero named King Grayskull (from whom He-Man derives his powers, thus retconning the phrase "By the Power of Grayskull..." to refer to the king, not the castle), as well as revealing a considerably different background for Hordak, Skeletor's mentor. There were also several major alterations in character from the original series: Adam and Teela, for example, were reconceived as squabbling 16-year-olds (although some fans insist that this was also the age of the classic characters, despite their mature appearances), whilst King Randor was transformed into a far more diplomatically pro-active warrior-king, rather than the amiable but stern-faced character of old. Queen Marlena no longer was clearly stated to have been a stranded astronaut from Earth. Additionally, Teela was redesigned as being much leaner than her previous incarnation, though her basic character outline remained the same.
In addition, the physical transformation when Adam becomes He-Man is far more pronounced than in the original series, making it more plausible as to how no one notices a resemblance between Adam and He-Man. As Adam, he is reasonably fit but nowhere near as tall, muscular or adult as He-Man. Also, in this version, Cringer
Battle Cat
Battle-Cat is a fictional character in the Masters of the Universe franchise. He is a large green tiger, with yellow stripes who serves as He-Man's fighting mount.-Battle Cat :...
does not talk or display near-human intelligence as he does in the Filmation
Filmation
Filmation Associates was an American production company that produced animation and live action programming for television during the latter half of the 20th century. Located in Reseda, California, the animation studio was founded in 1963...
cartoon; here he simply meows when in Cringer's form, and roars when in Battle Cat
Battle Cat
Battle-Cat is a fictional character in the Masters of the Universe franchise. He is a large green tiger, with yellow stripes who serves as He-Man's fighting mount.-Battle Cat :...
's. Interestingly, He-Man's forebear King Grayskull
King Grayskull
King Grayskull is a fictional character from the 2002 version of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. -Fictional character biography:...
, who looks like an older, even more muscular version of He-Man in a nearly identical costume, is depicted as riding an enormous steed similar to Battle Cat. However, instead of being a green tiger, Grayskull's mount is a colossal green lion.
Man-At-Arms
Man-At-Arms
Man-At-Arms is the primary title of Duncan, a fictional character in the Masters of the Universe franchise. The figure's tag-line is "Heroic Master of Weapons".-He-Man and the Masters of the Universe :...
is recast as a sterner, more authoritarian figure with an explicitly military position as the head of the armed forces of Eternos, thus becoming something of a General, and clearly second-in-command to King Randor. This is in sharp contrast to the more avuncular figure in the Filmation series whose place in the military hierarchy was vague compared to his primary role as court inventor. Although the technological emphasis in the new series is not strictly any stronger than in the original, the scale and application of high-tech in the MYP series is much greater. Although still retaining significant fantasy/barbarian elements, the new series displayed Eternos using vast factories to mass-produce fleets of vehicles like Dragon Walkers and Windraiders, of which only single prototypes existed in the original, as well as sundry robots and high-tech prisons.
While the original concept behind the title "Masters of the Universe" was meant to imply that the one who controlled Castle Grayskull would have the power to rule the Universe, this series redefined the term, "Masters of the Universe" as the name of an elite band of heroic warriors founded and originally led by Captain Randor. When Randor was named King by the Council of Elders he passed leadership of The Masters to his second in command, Man-At-Arms. When the series opens the band consists of Man-At-Arms, Teela, Stratos, Ram-Man, Man-E-Faces, Mekaneck, Orko and Prince Adam. As the series progresses the Masters of the Universe take on new recruits including Buzz-Off, Sy-Klone, Roboto
Roboto
Roboto is a sans-serif typeface family introduced with Android 4.0 "Ice Cream Sandwich" operating system.Google describes the font as "modern, yet approachable" and "emotional".-Development:...
and Fisto.
The transformation of Adam and Teela into bickering teens lends an element of caustic humour (usually Teela complaining about Adam's uselessness), but reduces the strong female presence of the original series. While Teela holds a high position within the MOTU in the 2002 series, she appears considerably reduced from the animal-sensate "warrior goddess" of the original. However, much of this is counterbalanced by the new version of Evil-Lyn. The 2002 series makes it quite clear that, in He-Man's own words, she is "Skeletor's most powerful lieutenant".
The series also featured a backstory for Skeletor. It is revealed that originally he was Keldor, an evil blue-skinned man who dabbled in dark magic, apparently worshiping the banished Horde leader, Hordak. He attacked the Hall of Wisdom where the Council of Elders dwelt, intent on usurping the Elders' power for himself, Captain Randor was summoned to defend the Hall. After an attempt to throw acid on Randor's face, Randor deflected the acid onto Keldor himself, badly disfiguring him. In desperation, the dying Keldor had Evil-Lyn take him to a temple where he could summon Hordak. Hordak saved his life and turned him into Skeletor, upon the agreement that Skeletor would free him from the dimension of Despondos, a promise Skeletor neglected to keep.
The series was intended to have an additional final season, which would have introduced the She-Ra storyline, but the series was cancelled before production.
Masters of the Universe Classics
A line of toys that were debuted in 2008. Sculpted by the Four Horsemen, these toys are updated versions of previous figures as well as figures of characters that have never before had a toy. As of February 2010, the figures of He-Man and Skeletor are available as Toys R Us exclusives packed in two-packs with Superman and Lex Luthor respectively, from Mattel's DC Universe Classics action figure line. Both lines are designed by the Four Horsemen. This dual line has since been expanded to include two-packs featuring Aquaman and Mer-Man, and Hawkman and Stratos, with more expected.Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent American comic book and manga publisher.Dark Horse Comics was founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson in Milwaukie, Oregon, with the concept of establishing an ideal atmosphere for creative professionals. Richardson started out by opening his first comic book...
will be producing mini-comics to be included in Mattel's Masters of the Universe Classics line of toys, continuing the series of mini-comics first introduced in the original He-Man toys of the 1980s. The mini-comics will be written by Tim Seeley
Tim Seeley
Tim Seeley is a comic book artist and writer known for his work on books such as G.I. Joe, G.I. Joe vs. Transformers and New Exiles.-Career:Seeley has illustrated a variety of comics, including Kore, G.I. Joe, G.I. Joe vs...
and drawn by Wellinton Alves, with covers by Eric Powell
Eric Powell (comics)
Eric Powell is a comic book writer and self-taught artist living in Lebanon, Tennessee who is best known as the creator of The Goon.-Biography:...
. According to Seeley, the current mini-comics will finish off the story that was supposed to be the new direction of the original action figure line, before it was cancelled. The story will deal with the The Powers of Grayskull line, which included King Hsss, Tyrantisaurus Rex and He-Ro, tying the toy continuity to the He-Man line, also known as "Preternia He-Man". Seeley also states that the current Mattel line intends to blend the different He-Man continuities and select the best stories and ideas from MOTU history.
DVD
In the Autumn of 2005 BCI Eclipse began releasing DVDs of He-Man on region 1. The spine art of each box set features a segment of a continuous image which, when all shelved side-by side in the correct order, form a long mural depicting locations from the various series, such as Castle Grayskull and Snake Mountain from Eternia, Nordor and the Starship Eternia from Primus, the Crystal Castle and the Fright Zone from Etheria, and finally the revamped versions of Grayskull and Snake Mountain from the 2002 rebooted series.- The Best Of He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe: Top 10
- He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe: Season 1 Volume 1
- He-Man And She-Ra A Christmas Special
- He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe: Season 1 Volume 2
- He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe: Season 2 Volume 1
- The Best Of She-Ra: Princess Of Power: Top 5 Episodes & "Secret Of The Sword"
- He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe: Season 2 Volume 2
- She-Ra: Princess Of Power: Season 1 Volume 1
- The New Adventures of He-Man Volume 1 (December 26, 2006)
- The New Adventures of He-Man Volume 2 (March 27, 2007)
- She-Ra: Princess of Power: Season 1 Volume 2 (April 3, 2007)
- She-Ra: Princess of Power: Season 2 (September 4, 2007)
- The complete 2002 series was released on DVD in 2008 in three volumes, beginning on February 19, 2008. Although these volumes were released in a different packaging format to the previous DVDs, a BestBuy chain exclusive version of Vol. 1 came with an oversized slipcase that continued and completed the spine-art mural, designed to also hold the later-released volumes 2 and 3.
- A box set containing the entire 2002 series was released in September 2009.
Toyline notes
The toyline was initiated by Roger SweetRoger Sweet
Roger Sweet is an American designer. He grew up in Akron, Ohio and graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and the Institute of Design in Chicago, Illinois. He served as a lead designer at Mattel throughout much of the 1970s and 1980s and worked extensively on the Masters of the...
, who managed the line throughout its whole original run. The character of He-Man was given three different designs: an old-fashioned style barbarian, a contemporary military man, and a futuristic spaceman. The barbarian design was the most popular, but the overall design was selected when a chief Mattel executive pointed to Sweet's prototype figures and declared, "those have the power," a line which the Filmation
Filmation
Filmation Associates was an American production company that produced animation and live action programming for television during the latter half of the 20th century. Located in Reseda, California, the animation studio was founded in 1963...
cartoon would paraphrase as He-Man's famous catch-phrase, "I have the power!".
Early promotional literature from Mattel refers to Skeletor and his followers as the "Masters of the Universe" and an early version of the opening title sequence for the 1980s incarnation also uses this description, and was used on the VHS version of the early episode "The Dragon Invasion." However, later literature and spin-offs use the term "Masters of the Universe" for He-Man and his allies. Series writer Robby London has commented that he noticed the change in description, and personally considers both sides, good and evil, to be the "Masters of the Universe." The 1987 live action film features yet another interpretation of the phrase, as the opening narration claims that whoever occupies Castle Grayskull will have "the power," and this power will make them "masters of the universe."
Links to Conan the Barbarian
There is an enduring urban legendUrban legend
An urban legend, urban myth, urban tale, or contemporary legend, is a form of modern folklore consisting of stories that may or may not have been believed by their tellers to be true...
about the so-called "Conan toyline." The story is that the Mattel Toy Company originally intended to base an action figure line on Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian is a fictional sword and sorcery hero that originated in pulp fiction magazines and has since been adapted to books, comics, several films , television programs, video games, roleplaying games and other media...
, the pulp fantasy character created by Robert E. Howard
Robert E. Howard
Robert Ervin Howard was an American author who wrote pulp fiction in a diverse range of genres. Best known for his character Conan the Barbarian, he is regarded as the father of the sword and sorcery subgenre....
which at the time was the lead in several popular series produced by Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
and due to be the subject of a major movie. However, after viewing the film, the Mattel executives despaired at the thought of promoting a children's toy with ties to a film featuring such graphic sex and violence. Thus they gave their doll blonde hair and re-dubbed him "He-Man". The legend is unverified but persistent. Roger Sweet, the originator of He-Man, asserts that the He-Man/Masters Of The Universe concept definitely was not an outgrowth of Conan. The He-Man concept, later renamed the Masters Of The Universe, was originated and developed by Roger Sweet in late 1980. Later, that initial concept was followed by the original comics by Donald F. Glut. The Conan license had been dropped by Mattel months before the He-Man concept was begun. Such fantasy artists as Frank Frazetta and Boris Vallejo, made famous previously through their barbarian themed art, were undoubtfully a great inspiration for the MOTU creators.
For instance, while designing the first He-Man prototypes, some artists like Mark Taylor brought forth a very Conan-esque dark haired He-Man bearing a horned helmet and barbaric outfit
Although Conan is not "officially" a source of inspiration, Mattel may have taken advantage of his resemblance by hiring comic book artists (mostly working for DC comics and Marvel Comics) to design the mini-comics and box art. Earl Norem
Earl Norem
Earl Norem , often credited simply as Norem, is an American artist primarily known for his painted covers for Marvel Comics books and magazines...
for instance, having worked on countless Savage Sword of Conan
Savage Sword of Conan
The Savage Sword of Conan was a black-and-white magazine-format comic book series published beginning in 1974 by Curtis Magazines, an imprint of Marvel Comics, and then later by Marvel itself. Savage Sword of Conan starred Robert E...
covers for Marvel, was kept in high esteem by Masters of the Universe fans for his astonishing posters, package inlays and box art. The confusion and "Conan toyline" urban myth may have stemmed from the striking similarities between Norem's Conan depictions and He-Man.
Link to Robert E. Howard's characters Kull, Thulsa Doom and the Snakemen
Linking to another figure from the Marvel Universe, Thulsa DoomThulsa Doom
Thulsa Doom may refer to:* Thulsa Doom , a character created by Robert E. Howard* Thulsa Doom , a Norwegian stoner rock band* Thulsa Doom , an album by Reverend Bizarre...
(originally created by Robert E. Howard
Robert E. Howard
Robert Ervin Howard was an American author who wrote pulp fiction in a diverse range of genres. Best known for his character Conan the Barbarian, he is regarded as the father of the sword and sorcery subgenre....
(1906–1936), the resemblance with Skeletor
Skeletor
Skeletor is a featured villain in the Masters of the Universe franchise and the arch-enemy and main antagonist of He-Man. Depicted as a muscular blue humanoid with a purple hood over his yellowing bare-bone skull, Skeletor seeks to conquer Castle Grayskull so he can learn its ancient secrets,...
has this time passed relatively unnoticed, as Thulsa Doom is more King Kull's deadly foe than Conan's (except in the comics, where Conan-Kull crossover material was often seen). Thulsa Doom was depicted by Marvel as a powerful undead wizard bearing a skull head, wielding a scepter and constantly trying to revive the Serpent race
Serpent Men
Serpent-Men have also appeared in the Marvel Comics universe.The original Serpent-Men were a race of reptilian semi-humanoids who were created by the demon Set and who ruled areas of prehistoric Earth. Due to the efforts of Kull and Conan, the original Serpent-Men became extinct about 8,000 years...
in order to access the throne of Valusia.
Keldor and Thulsa Doom share many other important features: in the MOTU mythos, it is revealed that Keldor in his mad quest for magical powers led him to acquire his skull head and being known as "Skeletor" since then; Thulsa Doom the necromancer is said to bear a human face prior to having a similar hooded skull look. Skeletor is hinted as having "extra-Eternian" origins (post-filmation origins are said to be half from Gar, half Eternian, while the pre-filmation shows a completely extra-Eternian Skeletor) and Thulsa Doom's heritage is mysterious (all we know is hat he roamed amongst the first men and the "Old race" ), thus both are depicted as evil foreigners coming to invade a peaceful kingdom, with the eventual help of "snake men" .
The "Thulsa Doom versus King Kull" duality along with the "Snake men
Serpent Men
Serpent-Men have also appeared in the Marvel Comics universe.The original Serpent-Men were a race of reptilian semi-humanoids who were created by the demon Set and who ruled areas of prehistoric Earth. Due to the efforts of Kull and Conan, the original Serpent-Men became extinct about 8,000 years...
" plot may have been a solid basis to develop the Skeletor character.
Mattel MOTU action figures, accessories & playsets listing of the 1980s
The action figures themselves were often repaints and head-swaps of existing characters, outfitted with different equipment; for example, Stinkor was originally a color-swap of Mer-Man wearing a re-colored version of Mekaneck's breastplate. For much of the original line, there were limited molds. Two chests, hairy and smooth, one belt/pair of shorts, and three sets of arms and legs (smooth muscular, evil 'claw' fingers/toes, and hairy). Teela had her own mold, which was later duplicated for Evil-Lyn. When the second wave appeared, several new molds were used (Ram Man, Man-E-Faces, and Trap Jaw all had new mold pieces). Wave three incorporated the same torso for Whiplash and Buzz-Off. New legs were shared with Whiplash, Buzz-Off and early released of Clawful. Wave Four saw the introduction of more unique body parts (i.e. Leech, Mantenna and Sy-Klone) with Moss Man and Hordak being the only character to use entirely old body parts. Wave 5 was entirely new body parts for all but one character (Tung Lashor) whilst the final wave returned to the "classic" look.Each action figure featured 5 points of articulation (possible head, arms and legs), removable armour, a weapon accessory and a spin loaded "Power punch". All 8 characters featured the spring-loaded twisting waist, but it was Wave 2 that saw additional action features unique to the character such as Tri-Klops's rotatable visor and Ram-Man's spring-loaded legs. Each figure would also come packaged with a mini comic. The line debuted in 1982 with just four figures to begin with: He-Man, Man-At-Arms, Skeletor and Beast-Man. Later that year the remaining four characters from Wave 1 were released. They were Stratos, Teela, Mer-Man and Zodac. Each figure came with removable armour, a weapon and mini-comic. Mekaneck was the first character from Wave 3 to appear in shelves at the tail end of 1983. The rock warriors, Stonedar and Rokkon arrived in the UK a full year before the rest of their wave 5 counterparts. This may have been due to their appearance in the UK Masters of the Universe fortnightly magazine in 1986. Originally Beast-Man was meant to be He-Man arch rival, Stratos was an evil warrior and Mer-Man and Tri-Klops were both intended to be heroic warriors. This changed by the time of their release.
Mattel Masters of the Universe Vintage Toys [1982-1988]
ACTION FIGURES / WAVE 1 / RELEASE 1982| Character | Log Line | Allegiance |
|---|---|---|
| HE-MAN | Most Powerful Man In The Universe | Heroic Warriors |
| MAN-AT-ARMS | Heroic Master Of Weapons | Heroic Warriors |
| STRATOS | Heroic Winged Warrior | Heroic Warriors |
| TEELA | Heroic Warrior Goddess | Heroic Warriors |
| SKELETOR | Evil Lord Of Destruction | Evil Warriors |
| BEAST-MAN | Evil Savage Henchman | Evil Warriors |
| MER-MAN | Evil Ocean Warlord | Evil Warriors |
| ZODAC | Evil Cosmic Enforcer | Evil Warriors |
{| class="wikitable"
CREATURES / WAVE 1 / RELEASED: 1982
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| BATTLE-CAT || Heroic Fighting Tiger || Heroic Warrior ||
|}
{| class="wikitable"
VEHICLES / WAVE 1 / RELEASED: 1982
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| BATTLE-RAM || Heroic Mobile Launcher || Heroic Warrior ||
|-
| WIND RAIDER || Heroic Assault Lander || Heroic Warrior ||
|}
{| class="wikitable"
PLAYSETS / WAVE 1 / RELEASED: 1982
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| CASTLE GRAYSKULL || Heroic Fortress Of Mystery & Power || Heroic Warriors ||
|}
{| class="wikitable"
ACTION FIGURES / WAVE 2 / RELEASED: 1983
{| class="wikitable"
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| MAN-E-FACES || Heroic Human...Robot...Monster || Heroic Warrior ||
|-
| RAM-MAN || Heroic Human Battering Ram|| Heroic Warrior ||
|-
| EVIL-LYN || Evil Warrior Goddess|| Evil Warrior ||
|-
| FAKER || Evil Robot Of Skeletor || Evil Warrior ||
|-
| TRAP-JAW || Evil & Armed For Combat || Evil Warrior ||
|-
| TRI-KLOPS || Evil & Sees Everything || Evil Warrior ||
|}
{| class="wikitable"
CREATURES / WAVE 2 / RELEASED: 1983
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
|ZOAR || Heroic Fighting Falcon || Heroic Warriors ||
|-
| SCREECH || Evil Barbarian Bird || Evil Warriors ||
|}
{| class="wikitable"
VEHICLES / WAVE 2 / RELEASED: 1983
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Location !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| ATTACK TRAK || Heroic Battle Machine || Heroic Warriors ||
|}
{| class="wikitable"
PLAYSETS / WAVE 2 / RELEASED: 1983
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Location !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| POINT DREAD & TALONE FIGHTER || Frontier Outpost || Heroic Warriors ||
|}
{| class="wikitable"
ACTION FIGURES / WAVE 3 / RELEASED: 1984
{| class="wikitable"
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| BATTLE ARMOR HE-MAN || Most Powerful Man In The Universe || Heroic Warrior
|-
| BUZZ-OFF || Heroic Spy In The Sky || Heroic Warriors
|-
| FISTO || Heroic Hand To Hand Fighter || Heroic Warriors
|-
| MEKANECK || Heroic Human Periscope || Heroic Warriors
|-
| ORKO || Heroic Court Magician || Heroic Warriors
|-
| PRINCE ADAM || Heroic "Secret" Identity To He-Man|| Heroic Warriors
|-
| BATTLE ARMOR SKELETOR || Lord of Destruction || Evil Warriors
|-
| CLAWFUL || Warrior With The Grip Of Evil || Evil Warriors
|-
| JITSU || Evil Master Of Martial Arts || Evil Warriors
|-
| KOBRA KHAN || Evil Master Of Snakes || Evil Warriors
|-
| WEBSTOR || Evil Master Of Escape || Evil Warriors
|-
| WHIPLASH || Evil Tail Thrashing Warrior || Evil Warriors
|}
CREATURES / WAVE 3 / RELEASED: 1984
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| STRIDOR || Heroic Armored Warhorde || Heroic Warriors ||
|-
| PANTHOR || Evil Savage Cat|| Evil Warriors ||
|}
{| class="wikitable"
VEHICLES / WAVE 3 / RELEASED: 1984
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| DRAGON WALKER || Heroic Sidewinding Beast/Vehicle || Heroic Warriors ||
|-
| ROAD RIPPER || Heroic Warrior Carrier || Heroic Warrior ||
|-
| ROTON || Evil Assault Vehicle || Heroic Warrior ||
|}
{| class="wikitable"
PLAYSETS / WAVE 3 / RELEASED: 1984
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| SNAKE MOUNTAIN || Evil Stronghold of Skeletor || Evil Warriors ||
|}
{| class="wikitable"
ACCESSORIES / WAVE 3 / RELEASED: 1984
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Character !! Log Line !!
|-
| WEAPONS PACK || Arms & Armor ||
|}
{| class="wikitable"
ACTION FIGURES / WAVE 4 / RELEASED: 1985
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance
|-
| THUNDER PUNCH-MAN || Leader Of The Heroic Warriors Now Packs A Powerful Punch || Heroic Warriors
|-
| MOSS-MAN || Heroic Spy & Master Of Camouflage || Heroic Warriors
|-
| ROBOTO || Heroic Mechanic Warrior || Heroic Warriors
|-
| SY-KLONE || Heroic Fist Flinging Tornado || Heroic Warriors
|-
| DRAGON BLASTER SKELETOR || Evil Leader and his Dreadful Dragon With The Paralysing Spray || Evil Warriors
|-
| SPIKOR || Evil Master Of Untouchable Combat || Evil Warriors
|-
| STINKOR || Evil Master Of Odors || Evil Warriors
|-
| TWO-BAD || Double Headed Evil Strategist || Evil Warrior
|-
| HORDAK || Ruthless Leader Of The Evil Horde || The Evil Horde
|-
| GRIZZLOR || Hairy Henchman Of The Evil Horde || The Evil Horde
|-
| LEECH || Evil Master Of Power Suction || The Evil Horde
|-
| MANTENNA || Evil Spy With The Pop Out Eyes || The Evil Horde
|-
| MODULOK || Evil Beast Of A Thousand Bodies || The Evil Horde
|}
CREATURES / WAVE 4 / RELEASED: 1985
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| BATTLE BONES || Collectors Carrying Case || Neutral ||
|-
| NIGHT STALKER || Evil Armored Warhorse|| Evil Warriors ||
|}
{| class="wikitable"
VEHICLES / WAVE 4 / RELEASED: 1985
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| BASHASAURUS || Heroic Combat Vehicle || Heroic Warriors ||
|-
| LAND SHARK || Evil Monster Vehicle || Evil Warrior ||
|-
| SPYDOR || Evil Stalker || Evil Warriors ||
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable"
PLAYSETS / WAVE 4 / RELEASED: 1985
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| FRIGHT ZONE || Evil Trap Filled Stronghold Of Terror || The Evil Horde ||
|}
{| class="wikitable"
ACCESSORIES / WAVE 4 / RELEASED: 1985
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| THUNDER PUNCH HE-MAN AMMO|| || ||
|}
{| class="wikitable"
ACTION FIGURES / WAVE 5 / RELEASED: 1986
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| FLYING FISTS HE-MAN || Heroic Leader With The Arm Swinging Action || Heroic Warriors
|-
| EXTENDAR|| Heroic Master Of Extension || Heroic Warriors
|-
| RIO BLAST || Heroic Transforming Gun-Slinger || Heroic Warriors
|-
| ROKKON || Young Heroic Comet Warrior || Heroic Warriors
|-
| SNOUT SPOUT || Heroic Water Blasting Firefighter || Heroic Warriors
|-
| STONEDAR || Heroic Rock People Leader || Heroic Warriors
|-
| TERROR CLAWS SKELETOR || Evil Leader With The Claw Swinging Action || Evil Warriors
|-
| HURRICANE HORDAK || Ruthless Leader And His Whicked Whirling Weapons || The Evil Horde
|-
| DRAGSTOR || Evil Transforming Warrior/Vehicle || The Evil Horde
|-
| HORDE TROOPER|| Evil Collapsing Robot || The Evil Horde
|-
| MULTI-BOT || Evil Robot Of A Thousand Bodies || The Evil Horde
|-
| KING HISS || Dreadful Disguised Leader Of The Snake Men || The Snake Men
|-
| RATTLOR || Evil Snake Men Creature With The Quick Strike Head || The Snake Men
|-
| TUNG LASHOR || Evil Tongue Shooting Snake Men Creature || The Snake Men
|}
CREATURES / WAVE 5 / RELEASED: 1986
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| MANTISAUR || Evil Insectoid Steed || The Evil Horde ||
|-
| MONSTROID || The Ultimate Battling Monster || The Evil Horde ||
|}
{| class="wikitable"
VEHICLES / WAVE 5 / RELEASED: 1986
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| BLASTER HAWK || Heroic Land & Disc Launcher || Heroic Warriors ||
|-
| LASER BOLT || Heroic Road Rocket || Evil Warriors ||
|-
| FRIGHT FIGHTER || Evil Dragonfly Attack Vehicle || Evil Warriors ||
|-
|}
PLAYSETS / WAVE 5 / RELEASED: 1986
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Location !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| SLIME PIT || Evil Pit Of Gruesome Ooze || The Evil Horde ||
|}
{| class="wikitable"
ACCESSORIES / WAVE 5 / RELEASED: 1986
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| JET SLED || Heroic Rocket Pack & Jetback || Heroic Warriors ||
|-
| MEGALASER || Heroic Wind-Up Beam Blaster || Heroic Warriors ||
|-
| STILT STALKERS || Heroic Battle Stilts || Heroic Warriors ||
|-
| SLIME VAT || Tub of Slime Pit Ooze || The Evil Horde ||
|}
ACTION FIGURES / WAVE 6 / RELEASED: 1987
{| class="wikitable"
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| CLAMP CHAMP || Heroic Master Of Capture || Heroic Warriors
|-
| GWILDOR || Heroic Creator Of The Cosmic Key || Heroic Warriors
|-
| KING RANDOR || Heroic Ruler Of Eternia || Heroic Warriors
|-
| ROTAR || Heroic Master Of Hyper-Spin || Heroic Warriors
|-
| SORCERESS || Heroic Guardian Of Castle Grayskull || Heroic Warriors
|-
| BLADE || Evil Master Of Swords || Evil Warriors
|-
| BLAST-ATTACK || Evil Blast-Apart Robotic Warrior || Evil Warriors
|-
| FAKER II|| Evil He-Man Imposter || Evil Warriors
|-
| NINJOR || Evil Ninjor Warrior || Evil Warriors
|-
| SAUROD || Evil Spark-Shooting Reptile || Evil Warriors
|-
| SCARE GLOW || Evil Ghost Of Skeletor || Evil Warriors
|-
| TWISTOID|| Evil Speed Twisting Robot || Evil Warriors
|-
| BUZZ-SAW HORDAK || Ruthless Leader Of The Evil Horde || The Evil Horde
|-
| MOSQUITOR || Evil Energy Draining Insectoid || The Evil Horde
|-
| SNAKE-FACE || Most Gruesome Of The Snake Men || Snake Men
|-
| SQUEEEZE || Evil Long Armed Viper || Snake Men
|}
{| class="wikitable"
CREATURES / WAVE 6 / RELEASED: 1987
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| BIONATOPS || Heroic Bionic Dinosaur || Heroic Warriors ||
|-
| TURBODACTYL || Heroic Repile With "Jet" Wings || Heroic Warriors ||
|-
| TYRANTISAURUS REX || Most Terryfying Dinosaur In The Land PRETERNIA || Snake Men ||
|}
{| class="wikitable"
GIANTS / WAVE 6 / RELEASED: 1987
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| TYTUS || Heroic Giant Warlord || Heroic Warriors ||
|-
| MEGATOR || Evil Giant Destroyer || Evil Warriors ||
|-
|}
PLAYSETS / WAVE 6 / RELEASED: 1986
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| ETERNIA || The Ultimate Battleground || Neutral ||
|}
ACCESSORIES/ WAVE 6 / RELEASED: 1987
{| class="wikitable"
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| BEAM BLASTER || Heroic Warriors ||
|-
| CLIFF CLIMBER || Motorized Mountain Battle Equipment|| Heroic Warriors ||
|-
| SCUBATTACKER|| Motorized Underwater Battle Pack|| Evil Warriors ||
|-
| TOWER TOOLS || Evil Robot Of Skeletor || Evil Warriors ||
|}
METEORBS / WAVE 6 / RELEASE 1987
{| class="wikitable"
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| ASTROLION || Heroic Lion With Amazing Brute Strength|| Heroic Warriors
|-
| COMET-CAT || Heroic Panther Is The Fastest Of The Meteorbs || Heroic Warriors
|-
| COMETROID || Heroic Meteorb with Heroic Might || Heroic Warriors
|-
| TUSKOR|| Heroic Mammouth Busts- Force-Fields With Tucks || Heroic Warriors
|-
| TY-GRRR || Heroic Tiger Meteorb|| Heroic Warriors
|-
| CROCOBITE || Evil Crocodile With Crushing Jaws || Evil Warriors
|-
| DINOSORB|| Evil Dinosaur Stomps To Start Quakes || Evil Warriors
|-
| GORE-ILLA || Evil Ape With Monstrous Muscle Power || Evil Warriors
|-
| ORBEAR|| Evil Grizzly Bashes Enemies With Claws || Evil Warriors
|-
| RHINORB|| Evil Rhino With Horrible Ramming Horn || Evil Warriors
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable"
ACTION FIGURES / WAVE 7 / RELEASED: 1988
{| class="wikitable"
! Character !! Log Line !! Allegiance !!
|-
| LASER POWER HE-MAN || Heroic Master of Light Energy || Heroic Warriors
|-
| LASER LIGHT SKELETOR || Evil Master of Light Energy || Evil Warriors
|}
FUERZE T
In 2003 Argentinian toy company Tops Toys used the molds from the vintage Master of The Universe. They released 8 characters that were released in Argentina.ACTION FIGURES / WAVE 1 / RELEASE 2003
{| class="wikitable"
! Character !! Allegiance !!
|-
| PLATONO || Heroic
|-
| SHIDOSHI || Heroic
|-
| TITANO || Heroic
|-
| TEKNO || Heroic
|-
| DESTRUCTO || Evil
|-
| PANTANO || Evil
|-
| CARNIVOR || Evil
|-
| FELINOR || Evil
|}
{| class="wikitable"
External links
- MOTUClassics.Com - Visual Checklist & Collector's Guide
- Masters of the Universe and other Mattel action figures