Happy Monday! On this final #MastersMonday post from the archives, we’re having fun with one more vintage Masters of the Universe game or novelty item from 1983. Today, I present the Golden Masters of the Universe Jigsaw Puzzle Featuring He-Man “Surprise Attack”!
This puzzle features notable early Masters of the Universe artwork, including a blonde Teela, Skeletor again wielding He-Man’s Power Sword, and a pair of characters whose action figures debuted in 1983: Evil-Lyn and Man-E-Faces.
Unfortunately, I still cannot confirm the artist for Golden on this one, but I will update you if I find that information. While this 63-piece puzzle had extra-large pieces for a finished size of 11.5”x15”, it was also available in the more common 108-piece version measuring 14”x18”. Fun stuff!
It’s #SomethingElseSunday, and we’re back with another Masters of the Universe collaboration alongside Eternian Epic Imagery. Our theme this week is “New Leaders.”
Masters of the Universe has seen many reboots and new takes on its story over the past 40 years. From the Filmation cartoons to The New Adventures of He-Man, DC comics, and the latest Netflix series, the story has never really ended. It’s fun to imagine what happens next, especially who might lead after our current heroes step down. This week, I envisioned Dare, the son of King He-Man and Teela, ruling Eternia with Andra as his queen. I also imagined a new threat: the return of the Snake Men. The rest of the group shared some fantastic photos too, so make sure to check them out.
…
Kings and queens change as new leaders step up to take their place.
Sometimes leaders step down or are replaced. In the worlds of Masters of the Universe and Princess of Power, there are always characters eager for power, and we might even see some unexpected new leaders soon.
Has the Eternian Epic Imagery team caught a glimpse of this new order? Take a look at this week’s photos to find out:
Happy Monday, MOTU fans! For this #MastersMonday, we’re taking another look at the Revolution figures from the Mattel Masters of the Universe Masterverse line. Tonight, let’s check out Emperor Hordak!
Hordak first showed up in the vintage Mattel Masters of the Universe toy line in the summer of 1985, but not in the original Filmation He-Man and the Masters of the Universe cartoon, which had already finished production. Luckily, the leader of the Horde made his animated debut in March 1985 in the He-Man and She-Ra: The Secret of the Sword film.
The film was based on the first five episodes of the She-Ra: Princess of Power animated series, which premiered the following fall. Though He-Man and Skeletor did appear in select episodes, the main antagonist during the 93-episode run of the series was Hordak. The character returned for the 2002 toy line and cartoon, but his story was cut short when the show was cancelled after 39 episodes, just before the Horde storyline could be further fleshed out.
Hordak has also appeared in many storybooks, mini-comics, and recent DC comics as another enemy of He-Man. He came back again in 2018 as the main villain in the She-Ra and the Princesses of Power reboot.
In the closing moments of the Masters of the Universe Revelation animated series, the Horde were teased as being in control of Motherboard while Skeletor was taken over by technology. This storyline continues in Masters of the Universe Revolution, with Keith David joining as the voice of Hordak. The character played into each episode, and his body was still present at the end, so hopefully his story will continue.
Hordak’s design was kept secret until the Masters of the Universe: Revolution series premiered on Netflix in January 2024. About eight weeks later, this Hordak figure was teased, and it was the only Revolution design in Masterverse wave 13. The sculpt and paint match the animated character well, with more silver in the design rather than the usual primarily black armor. He comes with a simple, soft-goods cape, extra fist hands, and an updated version of his classic staff. The figure is advertised as having a “removable head,” but this doesn’t add much since there isn’t an alternate head with a different expression.
Overall, I’m pleased to see this figure included, as Hordak played a significant role in the Revelation series. Still, a few more accessories, such as an arm cannon or an alternate head, would have made a considerable difference.
Masters of the Universe Revelation/Revolution turned four years old this year! I “figure” there’ll be a new figure from this series to share here for the rest of the year!
Happy Monday! On this #MastersMonday post from the archives, let’s have some fun with another vintage Masters of the Universe game and novelty items from 1983. Today, we’ve got the Golden Masters of the Universe Jigsaw Puzzle Featuring He-Man “Eternian Battlefield”!
This puzzle features some great early MOTU artwork featuring helmetless Battle Cat attacking Panthor, Skeletor with what appears to be He-Man’s Power Sword, Zoar chasing Screeech, Tri-Klops looking like he’s already taken Castle Grayskull for himself and is firing a laser at something unknown, and finally Ram Man looking to pick up a spinal injury by butting his head full force into the closed Grayskull drawbridge.
The artist responsible for the Golden puzzle remains unidentified; this information will be updated if discovered. The 63-piece format was typical for the initial series of Golden Masters of the Universe puzzles, with most later editions transitioning to a 100-piece format the following year. Fun stuff!
Recommended music: X Ambassadors – The Devil You Know
Happy Monday, MOTU fans! For this #MastersMonday, we’re taking another look at the Revolution figures from the Mattel Masters of the Universe Masterverse line. Tonight, we’ll be checking out King Keldor!
The character of Keldor was not included in the vintage Mattel toy line or in the Filmation He-Man and the Masters of the Universe animated series. This all changed for the 2002 toy line and cartoon, as Keldor was immediately introduced as Skeletor’s former self and the brother of King Randor. Some of this backstory was carried over into future DC comics, but the Masters of the Universe Revolution animated series changed the character once again and cast William Shatner to voice him.
In the third episode of Revolution, ‘More Things in Heaven and on Earth,’ we learn that Keldor is the illegitimate son of King Miro and could be the heir to the throne. It’s also revealed that Skeletor is actually Keldor, but he didn’t know about his heritage. What a twist, right?
King Keldor’s appearance was meant to be more of a secret until the series was ready to air, which is why the figure’s inclusion in Mastervese wave 12 did not occur until after the Masters of the Universe Revolution series aired on Netflix in January 2024.
The sculpt and paint on the figure do a good job of matching the animated character. He comes with extra gripping hands and an alternate head with a crown. I think it would have made more sense to include just one head, a removable crown, and maybe another accessory, since this Masterverse release feels a bit lacking. Still, the soft goods cape and fur collar are a nice touch.
Overall, I’m happy to see this figure added to the line. The character played a big role in the Revelation series, and it’s definitely better than getting another Skeletor repaint.
Masters of the Universe Revelation/Revolution turned four years old this year! I “figure” there’ll be a new figure from this series to share here for the rest of the year!
Recommended music: Dead Or Alive – You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)
As we continue our final month of #MastersMonday posts from the archive, let’s have some fun and check out vintage Masters of the Universe games and novelty items. Today, we’re looking at the 1983 Masters of the Universe 3-D Action Game Featuring He-Man!
The game has some great early MOTU artwork, similar to the first mini-comics. You’ll spot both a blonde and a red-haired Teela, a Battle Cat without his helmet, and even He-Man facing off against a giant woolly mammoth. I’m not sure how common this type of board game was in the 1980s, but the design feels pretty unique to me.
The game uses a simple spinner, so it’s primarily luck-based, like War or Candyland, rather than strategy. What makes this game special—and probably why it’s called “3-D Action”—is that when a player lands on specific spaces, you rotate the plastic top ninety degrees. This twist can either help or hurt your spot on the board. It’s a lot of fun!
Recommended music: Tom Walker – Play Dead (Avelino x Raf Riley Remix)
On this #SomethingElseSunday, we’ve got another Masters of the Universe collaboration with Eternian Epic Imagery. This week’s theme is “Winter Chills.”
Sorry for the late post—it’s probably Monday by the time you see this! I just got back from a wild weekend in Las Vegas and finally had time to update the blog. Last week, we got our first taste of winter weather, which gave me the chance to take some snowy outdoor photos and recreate a scene from He-Man & She-Ra: A Christmas Special, a longtime favorite in our house. The rest of the group also shared some amazing shots this week, so be sure to check them out.
…
Winter Chills A favorite memory on Eternia is the Royal twins’ Birthday, which was also the first time Christmas was introduced. There have been other chilly episodes too, like Black Snow and the well-known quests in the 200X series. We’ve seen the Ice Armour He-Man from that show, along with popular characters like Icer and Frosta.
Let’s see how our Eternian Epic Imagery community captured winter moments in this week’s collaboration.
Happy Monday, MOTU fans! For this #MastersMonday, we’re taking another look at the Revolution figures in the Mattel Masters of the Universe Masterverse line. Tonight, let’s check out Battle Armor He-Man!
In the third episode of Masters of the Universe Revolution, ‘More Things in Heaven and on Earth,’ He-Man’s Power Sword is on the fritz, so Andra provides the most powerful man in the universe with a small chest plate attachment featuring the letter ‘H.’ A few minutes later, as He-Man goes into battle, he presses on the H, and it transforms into a new, more complete chest armor – minus sleeves, of course, and we get our first animated look at Battle Armor He-Man.
Battle Armor He-Man has appeared in every Masters of the Universe toyline for the past 40 years, but Mattel didn’t show this new version at San Diego Comic-Con 2023 with the other Masterverse wave 11 figures. Instead, they kept it under wraps, along with the other wave 12 figures, until just a few months before Masters of the Universe Revolution came out on Netflix in January 2024.
The figure’s bulkier build and paint job look a lot like the cartoon version, and it’s a big step up from the Revelation He-Man in the first wave. Even though the chin is long, the head sculpt is much better than before. The figure is very poseable, with 30 points of articulation, like many other Masterverse figures. He comes with a nicely painted battle axe, extra hands, a swappable “damaged” chest plate, and removable armor. The Classics line also had swappable chest plates instead of the old action feature, but this is the first Battle Armor He-Man I remember that also includes the classic chest harness.
Overall, I’m happy to see my favorite version of He-Man in the new animated series, and I think Mattel did a great job with this figure for the Masterverse price.
Masters of the Universe Revelation/Revolution turned four years old this year! I “figure” there’ll be a new figure from this series to share here for the rest of the year!
As we wrap up the last month of #MastersMonday posts from the archive, let’s have some fun and check out a vintage Masters of the Universe game and novelty item. Today, we’re looking at the 1983 Masters of the Universe Colorforms Adventure Set!
Recommended music: Cyndi Lauper – True Colors
As we wrap up the last month of #MastersMonday posts from the archive, let’s have some fun and check out a vintage Masters of the Universe game and novelty item. Today, we’re looking at the 1983 Masters of the Universe Colorforms Adventure Set!
If you don’t remember them, Colorforms are thin, die-cut vinyl pieces in bright shapes, usually with printed images, that stick to a smooth, plastic-laminated paperboard background. They were first made in 1951, and their popularity grew in the late 1950s when licensed characters like Popeye and Mickey Mouse were added. In recent years, Colorforms even got its own animated series on Netflix. Licensed Colorforms sets are still made today, featuring everything from Barbie and Batman to Michael Jackson, Steve Urkel, and The Three Stooges.
One hot license the brand used in the 1980s was Masters of the Universe. This ‘Deluxe Play Set’ featured characters from the first wave of the toy line and allowed users to: “Create your own adventure scenes with MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE™ figures – Mighty HE-MAN, ™ MAN-AT-ARMS, ™ BATTLE CAT, ™ SKELETOR, ™ BEAST MAN, ™ TEELA, ™ ZODAC, ™ STRATOS™ AND MERMAN. ™ Set contains 29 COLORFORMS plastic pieces that Stick Like Magic, background, and instruction booklet. Ages 3 and up.”
A fun note about this set is that a helmetless Battle Cat was included in the background, and multiple characters came with different leg options so they could more realistically ride in the saddle. The Castle Grayskull background was updated for a new Colorforms set dated 1985, which added Snake Mountain to the backdrop art and swapped out most of the characters for figures released 1984 – 1986.
Recommended music: GODSOwn DJ – Masters of the Universe
On this #SomethingElseSunday post from the archives, we’re celebrating the life of voice actor John Erwin. News of his recent passing [at the time of the original post] became known this past week, and wow, what a loss!
John’s big break into the pop culture zeitgeist was a recurring role as Teddy on the television series Rawhide. By the mid-1960s, he transitioned into being a voice actor portraying Reggie Mantle on the animated Archie Show. This character role continued in several future Archie series, including the animated Sabrina the Teenage Witch show. The voice acting continued with regular roles in television and films into the 1990s. Some of these were main characters, and many more were incidental background characters.
Remember the scene in Back to the Future Part II when Biff hears the football announcer detail the comeback, mirroring the Sports Almanac, and changes his future? That was John Erwin’s voice. Likewise, the witty tone of Morris the Cat in 9 Lives Cat Food commercials came before Garfield’s similar style. That, too, was John Erwin.
Although these roles define an accomplished career, it is one character who has permanently linked John Erwin’s voice in my memory for over forty years: John Erwin was He-Man.
My earliest television memory is likely the Filmation He-Man and the Masters of the Universe animated series. John’s voice as both Prince Adam and He-Man was present from the opening sequence and featured prominently throughout each 22-minute episode. Erwin’s resonant, commanding voice assured viewers that the hero on screen would “have the power” and act with integrity.
Besides our main heroes, Erwin portrayed dozens of other characters on both the He-Man and She-Ra animated series. I have pictured some of my favorites here. Despite this significant involvement with the popular franchise, Erwin avoided the spotlight. He never wanted a young He-Man fan picturing himself as the hero rather than the animated, larger-than-life personas he saw on screen, and he declined all convention appearances. That means I never actually met the man or saw him give an interview. I only have the positive comments from those who collaborated with him back in the 1980s to tell me that he was a special person, just one who continued to avoid any public appearances despite the demand from a generation of fans.
The lessons and morals of the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe animated series have stuck with me my entire life, and the cartoon was in heavy rotation during my children’s younger years as I hoped to instill those same values in them. So, thank you, Mr. Erwin, for that memorable voice that helped guide the animated wisdom into my mind, and keep it there ever since. Rest in peace.
Recommended music: Rhapsody of Fire – White Wizard (Live)
Happy Monday, MOTU fans! On this #MastersMonday, we continue our look at Revolution figures in the Mattel Masters of the Universe Masterverse line. Next up: Orko!
Across the two seasons of Netflix’s Masters of the Universe: Revelation, Orko the Trollan went through a big story arc. Unlike his earlier appearances in the Filmation cartoon and other stories, this time, Orko struggled with his magic in new ways. In the fourth episode, ‘Land of the Dead,’ he sacrificed himself fighting Scare Glow to save his friends.
In the final episode, ‘Comes with Everything You See Here,’ Orko is brought back to life by God-Lyn’s resurrection. This time, Orko seems much stronger than before and wears a new white outfit, similar to Gandalf the White’s return in The Two Towers.
Mattel didn’t release a second Revelation Orko figure in the Masterverse line, but they kept this new design for the Revolution series. The updated Orko was shown at San Diego Comic-Con 2023 as part of a 2-pack with Gwildor. The set came out just before Masters of the Universe Revolution premiered on Netflix in January 2024. It was initially planned as an Amazon exclusive, but soon became available at other online stores as well.
The figure’s sculpt and paint job look a lot like the cartoon, and Mattel added a creative new stand for the 3-inch floating Orko. He has nine points of articulation, including elbow joints, for the first time since the MOTU Classics line. His ears don’t move like Gwildor’s, but he comes with two new magic effects that fit over his wrists. Orko’s long scarf is missing the gold trim, but could also be included as an accessory, as it can be adjusted a little, unlike the animated scarf seen in the show.
The 2-pack also includes a new version of He-Man’s Power Sword, with a blade that fades from translucent yellow to metallic silver at the handle. These accessories really do add value to the $40 price point. Overall, both figures are solid, and this new Orko is a must-have if you’ve watched the Revolution series.
Masters of the Universe Revelation/Revolution turned four years old this year! I “figure” there’ll be a new figure from this series to share here for the rest of the year!
Happy Monday, MOTU fans! Today we’ve got another #MastersMonday post from the archives featuring another 1983 creature from the vintage Mattel Masters of the Universe toyline: Zoar!
Zoar, known as the ‘Fighting Falcon,’ is an orange-and-blue repaint of an eagle mold previously used in both the Big Jim toyline and the Louis Marx Lone Ranger line. Initially, Zoar was depicted as a mount for Teela and Man-At-Arms. With the introduction of the Filmation He-Man animated series, Zoar’s role was redefined: The Sorceress could only leave Castle Grayskull in the form of the falcon, Zoar.
This change resulted in Zoar having bright orange features, except in certain later mini-comics. My vintage Zoar also appears to be in Sorceress form at the moment, so this Masters of the Universe Classics version will have to stand in. This works well, as the vintage Zoar was released as a gift set with Teela, with packaging artwork inspired by Rudy Obrero’s designs used on Zoar’s solo release.
Recommended music: Yann Tiersen – La Valse d’Amelie (Orchestra Version)
On this #SomethingElseSunday, we’ve got another Masters of the Universe collaboration with Eternian Epic Imagery. This week’s theme is “Tier Two Heroes & Villains.”
This week, our objective was to highlight a lesser-known character from the Masters of the Universe franchise. Given the franchise’s extensive history spanning over four decades and numerous toy lines, the selection process offered considerable variety. Our group discussed the definition of a “tier two” character, and I ultimately decided to exclude characters from the first three waves of the vintage line to focus on those introduced later in the franchise.
I selected Optikk, who was introduced in the 1990s animated series The New Adventures of He-Man, and Dekker, who first appeared in the 2003 Mike Young Productions episode ‘The Island’ of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. Although these characters might be considered below second tier, their inclusion in the Masters of the Universe Classics action figure line demonstrates their significance within the franchise. Additionally, I found the contrast between these one-eyed characters particularly compelling. …
Tier Two Heroes & Villains
Back in the 80s and 90s, many toy lines and cartoons added lots of secondary characters to boost sales and keep the series going. That’s exactly what’s happening with the Masters of the Universe toy line these days, too!
MOTU has never had so many different lines and variants since it first started. With all these new characters, each one builds its own fan base, and it makes you wonder what would happen if some of them became the main stars.
Eternian Epic Imagery has taken on this challenge and brought it to life with their amazing photography. See their own pages for full images:
Good evening and happy Wookiee Life Day, MOTU fans! On this #MastersMonday, we continue our look at Revolution figures in the Mattel Masters of the Universe Masterverse line. Next up: Gwildor!
When the Netflix Masters of the Universe: Revelation animated series ended, it was unclear if we would get any more stories from this canon. Thankfully, this universe was brought back for MOTU: Revolution, and the cast list showed some new, but familiar characters, including Gwildor from Thenur.
If that name doesn’t stand out to you, Gwildor was the inventor and locksmith character who provided much of the comic relief in the 1987 Masters of the Universe live-action film. As the technology and budget did not allow for bringing the flying wizard Orko to the big screen, Gwildor served as his practical replacement.
Portrayed in the live-action film by the late great Billy Barty, Gwildor is now voiced by Ted Biaselli. Not only is Biaselli an executive producer for the Netflix series, but also a life-long MOTU fan and Power-Con attendee who was a driving force in bringing the property to Netflix. The third episode of Revolution, ‘More Things In Heaven and Eternia’, is the first MOTU story to feature Gwildor and Orko together as they fight the Cult of Motherboard, spread by Skeletor.
Mattel revealed a Gwildor and Orko 2-pack at San Diego Comic-Con 2023, with the set being available just ahead of the Masters of the Universe Revolution airing on Netflix in January of 2024. I believe they were supposed to be an Amazon exclusive, but were quickly available at other retailers.
The sculpt and paint job on the figure are similar to the cartoon, but I think the head could use a little more detail, or at least a black wash. Gwildor comes with at least 16 points of articulation, including slightly poseable ears. He also comes with his staff first seen in the Masters of the Universe Classics line, as well as his traditional Cosmic Key accessory. Mattel went cheap with this version, which has exactly three paint hits compared to the two colors seen on the vintage weapon released 37 years earlier. 😄
The accessories help, but we’re still looking at a $40 retail price for a four-inch action figure. This release really relies on Orko to make it a good value. Overall, it’s a good figure, and a must-buy after watching the Revolution series.
Masters of the Universe Revelation/Revolution turned four years old this year! I “figure” there’ll be a new figure from this series to share here for the rest of the year!
Happy Monday, MOTU fans! I hope you had a great weekend. For this #MastersMonday post from the archives, we’re looking at another creature from 1983 in the vintage Mattel Masters of the Universe toyline: it’s Screeech!
This ‘Barbarian Bird’ is a purple-and-blue repaint of Zoar, except this time, on the side of the Evil Warriors. This figure is at least the third time Mattel has used the mold, as Zoar was also a repaint of an eagle from the Big Jim toyline. Screech came armored in its “bomb pack”, could flap its wings by use of a lever on its leg, and could sit on the included perch.
The Screech figure was available in window-box packaging by itself, then later in 2-pack gift sets with Skeletor, Battle Armor Skeletor, and Trap Jaw.
The bird is briefly seen in the Filmation He-Man and the Masters of the Universe animated series, and just a few different Golden Books, where he is typically drawn small enough to perch on Skeletor’s arm before flying out to do the bidding of the evil lord of destruction. The vintage toy, being 100% parts reuse, meant that he dwarfed the basic 5.5″ figure and couldn’t reasonably attach to his master’s wrist. This scale was corrected with a smaller version of the character in the Masters of the Universe Classics line more than 25 years later.
Dale's Toys 