Exploring the series that boasted the Power of Greyskull and one of the greatest villains in television history.
With an all-new live-action adaptation of Masters of the Universe coming to theaters in just a few weeks, it’s time to turn back the clock. We all had our beloved classics as kids, but the true trailblazer was He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.
Growing up in a time when musical ballads reached their pinnacle, the kids of the eighties were exposed to many exceptional television shows that introduced us to some of the most iconic characters to ever enter the annals of pop culture. These incredible characters broke new ground for the genre and established a benchmark that has proved to be hard to live up to. Many of these magnificent characters, whether via reboot or reimagining, are still part of our modern culture today and are accessible on screens all over the world, influencing the imaginations of our children just as they did ours.
At a time when the Star Wars franchise was in its infancy, one of the most iconic television series of all time was unleashed upon the world and changed the dynamics of both children’s television and action figure merchandising.
He-Man and The Masters of the Universe
It’s the one that started it all. He-Man and the Masters of the Universe was born from a new range of mass-produced action figures from toy manufacturer Mattel. After declining the offer to produce a range of toys for George Lucas’ Star Wars franchise, Mattel CEO Ray Wagner commissioned a new line of figures to capitalize on the franchise’s overwhelming success. Concerned that his muscular, chiseled figures wouldn’t reach a broad enough audience to succeed, an animated television adventure series was commissioned to introduce the children of the era to the colorful characters of the mystical realm of Eternia.
It was an overnight success!
A CLASSIC ANIMATED SERIES
Making its debut in 1983, the colorful series boasted characters that were as bizarre as they were alluring to fans of all ages, and within a matter of weeks, they had become household names. Set in the fictional land of Eternia, a place of myth, magic, and fantasy, a young and inexperienced prince, Adam, had been bestowed with a magical sword that could transform him into a muscled super warrior charged with defending the ancient Castle Greyskull from the forces of evil.
Raising his magical sword aloft and uttering the words “By the power of Greyskull” transformed him from his innocent and often clueless persona into the heroic protagonist of the series, He-Man. Prince Adam’s cowardly talking cat companion, Cringer, was also transformed. He became the mighty Battle Cat, a larger, fearless, and armored version of his former self that would serve as He-Man’s noble steed to be ridden into battle.
He-Man was accompanied by many elaborate and colorful companions on his adventures throughout the series. His most trusted ally was Duncan, better known as Man-At-Arms, a master of weaponry who preferred a peaceful alternative to physical confrontation. Not only was Duncan an ally, but he was a trusted friend and confidant who would offer a peaceful alternative to physicality. He was one of only a few individuals trusted with the secret of He-Man’s true identity.
Another faithful companion was Orko, a mystical, bumbling magician who provided a degree of comic relief with his colorful, mischievous antics. The levitating “Trollan” was another confidant trusted with the secret of Prince Adam’s true power and would aid He-Man on his many adventures.
SKELETOR AND THE VILLLAINS AT SNAKE MOUNTAIN
As is always the case, a larger-than-life hero needs an equally powerful archenemy to test his wits against, and in Masters of the Universe, we were treated to a true icon of our culture. The main antagonist was the maniacal Skeletor, a blue-skinned megalomaniac humanoid with a yellow skull for a face. Skeletor was the Lord of Snake Mountain, a dark and sinister structure sculpted into the form of a coiled snake, built into the side of the mountain, and hidden within its depths was an army of evildoers eager to serve their master.
MINIONS
Skeletor’s minions were as colorful as they were monstrous; their lack of intelligence rendered them powerless against the forces of He-Man and his devoted companions. Regardless of the sinister plot Skeletor hatched, his underlings always came up short, victory within reach, and left their sinister leader to fume at their incompetence. The narratives written for these adored characters were as thought-provoking as they were imaginative and boasted the writing talents of Paul Dini and Brynne Stephens, both of whom would go on to be instrumental contributors on the acclaimed Batman: The Animated Series, a show that would be regarded as the quintessential incarnation of the DC Comics character.
A POSITIVE MESSAGE
Masters of the Universe delivered a positive message, with a final reflection delivered by the main characters themselves. Much in the same vein as the great Hanna-Barbera Scooby-Doo cartoons of the sixties, each episode explained the dilemmas faced by the main characters and explained the moral implications of the dramas that had unfolded. On the strength of this positive message and the mix of elaborate, larger-than-life characters, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe ran for two seasons, with a total of 130 action-packed episodes. Both He-Man and Skeletor became household names, and sales of the Mattel action figure range reached lucrative heights to rival that of the Star Wars franchise.
In short, the series was a cultural phenomenon, and despite the release of a tame but fun live-action movie and a rebooted animated series, the original series is regarded as a trailblazer. At a time when Star Wars was at the height of its popularity, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe arrived upon our television screens and captured the hearts and imaginations of an entire generation. To this day, the colorful characters are remembered with an unrivaled affection that evokes a feeling of nostalgia for the hordes of devoted fans.
LEGACY
Either way, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe was, and still is, a true icon of television history. With the Star Wars universe dominating the landscape at the time, the visionaries at Mattel produced an instant classic from the leftover parts of their failed barbarian toy line. He-Man’s impact on our culture was immense, and the characters are still as adored now as they were back then. Its success has propagated a new range of action figures designed for adult collectors, which are just as popular now as they were upon the series’ release.
A NEW ERA
Fast forward to 2026, and He-Man is finally returning to the big screen in Amazon MGM’s Masters of the Universe. The film stars Nicholas Galitzine as He-Man, facing off against Jared Leto’s Skeletor, and it promises to be a landmark piece of cinema. With Travis Knight in the director’s chair and Daniel Pemberton crafting the soundtrack, the film is on course to be a legitimate banger. But can it live up to the brilliance of the classic animated series? That remains to be seen. But with an all-star cast, some incredible production value, and some of the greatest characters of all-time making a triumphant return, the summer of He-Man is here, and long may it reign!
By the Power of Grayskull!
Meet Phil Roberts! He’s the dedicated owner, daily content manager, and editor-in-chief of The Future of the Force. Phil is a budding novelist who turned his passion toward writing about the franchises he loves back in 2016. He’s a huge fan of all things Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies. Phil is a BFI-accredited journalist and a distinguished member of the Film Critics Association UK.
If he’s not catching a movie at the cinema, you can bet he’s streaming something just as awesome!
