He-Man and the Masters of the Universe franchise is a cultural phenomenon that seems to be woven into the fabric of society. Just when you think He-Man is on its last leg, by the power of Grayskull he always re-emerges. For the past few years, the He-Man reboot film was rumored to be in development. This past April, the film was finally green-lit with popular heartthrob Noah Centineo confirming that he will be playing the iconic character He-Man in the 2020 reboot.
To prepare for this upcoming motion picture let’s revisit some of the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe heroes from our favorite ‘80s show.
He-Man/Prince Adam
Before the craze of Wakanda Forever, there was a royal hero with fantastical abilities even greater than that of the Black Panther. That hero is Prince Adam, an intelligent ruler who masquerades as an oaf to hide the fact that he leads a double life as the universe’s strongest hero. With the help of the Power Sword, Prince Adam is able to assume his alter-ego, He-Man, a charismatic hero with raw strength comparable to the strongest Marvel heroes of today. He-Man is a surprisingly fleshed out character who displays moments of insecurity and doubt while simultaneously providing ample entertainment with his witty jokes and impressive feats of strength. Despite the slightly repetitive nature of each episode, each adventure feels like a new imagining of He-Man’s continuous fight against the powers of evil due to He-Man’s magnetic personality. Unlike other heroes, He-Man isn’t reliant on just his Power Sword (the source of his strength). He-Man has, time after time, demonstrated that his intellect, charisma, and leadership. These are formidable aspects, if not the focal points, of his heroic nature. While there is an argument that He-Man may still be a hero without his Power Sword, we have not addressed the fan-favorite ability that the Power Sword possesses: transforming the timid Cringer into…
Battle-Cat/Cringer
Battle-Cat, as the name suggests, is a ferocious feline that is always ready to enter into combat and is one of the most beloved Masters of the Universe characters. Cringer, on the other hand, is a timid and fearful animal that was rescued by Adam when it was just a cub. The name Cringer was actually given to him by the other children in Eternia due due to Cringer’s tendency to cringe at even the slightest inconvenience. The name stuck, but the Sorceress prophesized that while Cringer may be a cowardly sidekick, for now, eventually Cringer would become a powerful ally for Adam.
Although the physical features of Cringer and Battle-Cat aren’t too different, you are always able to tell when He-Man calls upon the powers of Grayskull. The duality of Cringer and Battle-Cat serves as an interesting foil to He-Man and Prince Adam. Whereas, He-Man and his alter ego are quite similar, Cringer and Battle-Cat seem almost like two different entities entirely. It is difficult to imagine how different He-Man’s adventures would have been if not for the trusty sidekick that he rode into battle on several occasions.
Skeletor
A hero is only as formidable as his villain and Skeletor lives up to his terrifying name. Skeletor serves as the main antagonist and archenemy of He-Man throughout the majority of the series. His sole purpose consisted of conquering Castle Grayskull so that he could obtain the ancient and forgotten secrets held within. With these ancient secrets, Skeletor yearns to conquer and pillage Eternia. In many ways, Skeletor is a sympathetic character. He-Man is already a beloved prince who is surrounded by mentors and friends.
Conversely, Skeletor is always yearning for power and is often foiled by the incompetence of his own henchman. It’s difficult to truly feel animosity towards Skeletor due to his interesting backstory and his light-hearted antics. While Skeletor started off as a relatively serious Masters of the Universe character, he slowly transitioned into a role that had much more comedic relief. The creative strategies Skeletor employs to antagonize He-Man, in conjunction with his hilarious rants to his henchman when they fail, are just a few of the reasons Skeletor is recognizable to so many who have not have even seen He-Man in the ‘80s.
Teela
Teela is an Amazonian who is initially tough to love. She is quick to anger and commands respect whenever she enters a room. However, as the series progresses, viewers are shown several different aspects of Teela. Teela starts as a stubborn captain but transitions into a lovable sympathetic character who proves a worthy asset in He-Man’s adventures. Her backstory is actually quite complicated. In some media, Teela is shown to be a clone of the Sorceress while in other media she is the biological daughter of the Sorceress. Her ties to the powerful sorceress are explored in several ways and often serve as an emotional plotline that runs parallel to the main story. When she is not exploring her past, Teela is helping He-Man keep the forces of evil at bay. While any viewer is able to see the uncanny physical similarities between He-Man and Prince Adam, Teela is left in the dark about the two characters being one and the same. This led to several interesting interactions where she reprimands Prince Adam for being irresponsible and not working to be at his fullest potential, while simultaneously being impressed by the power and determination of He-Man. Although the romantic plot between He-Man and Teela isn’t fully explored, there are a handful of scenes that imply there is a mutual attraction between the titular character and Teela.
Orko
At one point in our life, we’ve definitely felt a little like Orko. Orko serves as comedic relief throughout the Masters of the Universe series, with each of his magical attempts misfiring in a new way. Orko’s magical incompetence is attempted to be explained in several ways. In some imaginings, Orko is unable to carry his weight due to missing his magical amulet or wand, while in other imaginings, Orko is incompetent due to being from a different dimension. However, even when Orko returns back to his original dimension, Trolla, he is still unable to show mastery of his powers. Orko does not have an alter-ego like He-Man or Battle-Cat but has proven useful to He-Man in the direst of situations. Whether it be through his magic or his enchanted hat that is able to store an unbelievable amount of items, Orko has cemented himself as a central character in He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. Orko is also one of the characters who knows of He-Man’s double life as the lazy Prince Adam. This proves to be troublesome because Orko almost reveals He-Man’s secret identity to Teela multiple times. The only thing stopping Orko from revealing the secrets of He-Man on one occasion was the smooth explanation and interjection by Man-At-Arms. If not for the intervention, Orko would have misfired not only his magic but also his words.
Man-At-Arms
Man-At-Arms is a soldier who also has a proficient knowledge base on weapons and combat. Interestingly, Man-At-Arms warrior demeanor actually is a misdirection. Man-At-Arms, also known as Duncan, actually prefers to resolve conflicts through non-violent means before escalating to violence. Man-At-Arms role in Eternia is to advise the government on military strategy and ensure the longevity of the planetary monarch. His maturity and knowledge are just a few of the reasons he is a mentor to He-Man and a father-figure to Teela. Man-At-Arms is one of the few characters in the Masters of the Universe franchise who knows that He-Man doubles as Prince Adam when not protecting the universe. Man-At-Arms is an older hero that is vigilant and scouts the edges of Eternia in order to fight off any signs of evil. Man-At-Arms is known for his characteristic mustache and his genuine love for He-Man and Teela.
She-Ra/Adora
The protagonist is actually a twin who was separated from He-Man at birth. However, upon her birth, the Evil Horde kidnapped her and took her to Etheria. From that point onwards, Adora was trained and mind controlled as a member of the Horde. It was not until He-Man is sent to Etheria that she realizes that her upbringing and support were all predicated on a lie. Just like her brother, Adora was able to transform into the powerful She-Ra by saying “For the Honor of Grayskull”. Her powers as She-Ra are similar to He-Man’s. In the series, She-Ra has lifted large robots and even objects that are magnitudes heavier than her own body weights. Her signature move throughout the show was using her incredible strength to throw her opponent and incapacitate them. However, it should be noted that the broadcasting laws at the time were very restrictive and none of the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe characters were allowed to punch any other human or use their weapons in an offensive manner. Despite these limitations, it’s been widely agreed since the publication that She-Ra is an excellent role model for women who look up to strong female characters who defy their captors and take control of their destiny.
The Sorceress
It would be blasphemous to recount the characters of He-Man without mentioning the Sorceress, the reason and source of all of He-Man’s powers. She is a powerful ally to He-Man and has sworn to protect the castle of Grayskull at all costs. The Sorceress serves as a resource to He-Man and his allies, often rescuing or aiding them when it’s needed most. In fact, she is responsible for saving Adora and helping her realize her true potential as She-Ra. The Sorceress is a gracious and powerful protector who is arguably the strongest magic wielding individual in the entire universe. The Sorceress has powers unrivaled by anyone in the series, occasionally even serving as a Deus Ex Machina. The spells that the Sorceress uses most frequently are her abilities to project her own image to give advice or guidance to our favorite heroes, or her transformative powers of turning into Zoar. She’s displayed the ability to augment He-Man’s powers or even give him entirely new powers like the ability to fly. She serves as a magical asset that the heroes always have in their back pocket.
Evil-Lyn
Evil-Lyn is a fearsome magic user who has aligned herself with Skeletor. Skeletor is known for his bumbling useless minions, but Evil-Lyn is the rare exception. Evil-Lyn is unquestionably the second-in-charge on Snake Mountain. Like Skeletor, she has access to a diverse range of spells that can thwart the heroic warriors. Evil-Lyn is able to consistently trick the heroes by using her magic to disguise herself and gain information or sabotage them. Although Skeletor considers Evil-Lyn as his most valuable ally, the trust is not mutual. Evil-Lyn has explicitly stated that she only aligning herself with Skeletor in hopes of taking his powers and realizing her own dream of ruling Eternia. This uneasy alliance fleshes out her character and helps viewers understand her goals and philosophy. Evil-Lyn, despite the name, is actually ambiguous on where her loyalty truly lies. There is a small redemptive arc when she is left to die in a desert with Teela. Although these two starts as adversaries, by the end of the episode there is a deep understanding and mutual respect between the two. Evil-Lyn even entirely abandons the mission that Skeletor has assigned to her because she’s disillusioned by Skeletor.
Some memories are inseparable from one’s childhood. The aroma of a certain food, the hallways of a certain building, or the heroes in a certain television show. Nostalgia is a powerful emotion, but it’s a mystery that a show that was canceled after just two seasons continues to ripple and pulse throughout the webs of culture. Perhaps it’s the genuine friendship and love that Masters of the Universe characters shared for one another. In a world where there are franchises, cinematic universes, and spin-offs, there is something beautiful about a simplistic story pitting a man with a bob cut against a magical skeleton.
“Today we learned about the importance of taking the responsibility to care about our fellowman. If you have a friend who needs help, who’s having a difficult time, do whatever you can to help them out. Because, as you saw in today’s episode, no matter how big the problem, one person, or one living creature, can make a big difference. See you next time.” – He-Man
Although Masters of the Universe is no longer airing on TV, He-Man’s classic legacy of fantasy good-versus-evil is one that persists unto this generation. With the 2020 reboot up and coming, viewers, both old and new alike, will rediscover the whimsical characters that captured America’s heart back in the 80s. For the fans who can sing every line of the Master of the Universe theme song, here’s a refresher list of some more unknown characters.
King Randor
King Randor is the ruler of Eternia and the father of Prince Adam and Princess Adora. Unaware that Prince Adam is actually He-Man, Randor is depicted on the show as being often disappointed by Adam and his lazy attitude. Yet he is also proud of Adam’s kind-heartedness and is frequently seen trying to give his son advice on his soon-to-be kingly duties. King Randor, however, is not just a wise ruler but also has history with being a warrior himself. In his youth he was a distinguished captain who fought against Skeletor with the Eternia army, only taking the throne once his own father disappeared. The courage and bravery he had to display when fighting against Skeletor have, despite Adam’s seemingly oafish demeanor, been well inherited by He-Man.
Queen Marlena
Queen Marlena is Randor’s wife, Queen of Eternia, and mother of Prince Adam and Princess Adora. Although her role in the Masters of the Universe series is much smaller than Randor’s, she has an arguably more interesting backstory. Some series have her as a crash-landed human astronaut that falls in love with Randor, while others simply have her display her skill as a pilot, a markswoman, and a ruler. Either way, she is consistently depicted as an intelligent and perceptive individual, especially as she is shown to suspect that Prince Adam is He-Man, unlike her husband. It is that suspicion that has her defending Adam’s antics, protecting not just her son’s identity but his feelings as well.
Ram Man
Ram Man is one of the most loyal members of the Heroic Warriors and is even more so loyal to Eternia itself. A short and stocky man offset by his flat, face-hugging metal helmet, Ram Man’s loyalty stems from his origin story. Due to his aggressive and dim-witted personality, Ram Man first lived on his own on a patch of barren land. When He-Man tried to approach him, he assumed he was under attack and subsequently tries to fight He-Man, only to lose. In his anger and confusion over losing, Ram Man is magically manipulated by Skeletor to repeatedly ram his head against Castle Greyskull. He is rescued from Skeletor by the Heroic Heroes and realizes that he had been tricked. Thus, he befriends He-Man and the Warriors and promises his unswerving loyalty to the people of Eternia.
Stratos
Stratos is another one of the Heroic Warriors and one of He-Man’s friends. He is of the Bird People race and is thus capable of flight through a combination of his own inherent ability to fly and the jetpack he wears that is powered by the mystical Egg of Avion. He also can project energy from his knuckles, making him an excellent spy and stealth striker for the Heroic Warriors. Despite his unique design and backstory as the leader of the Avion Bird people, Stratos is given very little screen time in the cartoons. Most would not recognize him if it weren’t for his striking red, white, and blue feathered costume. However, he has more than deserved his place on this list due to his loyalty to the Heroic Warriors and representation of the wide range of cultures in the world of Masters of the Universe.
Beast-Man
When it comes to the bad guys, one of the most underrated characters is Beast-Man, Skeletor’s right-hand minion. He is able to telepathically command wild beasts and has enhanced physical strength, which makes him a formidable foe in battle. However, his clumsiness and lack of wit have him failing more often than he succeeds. Depending on the series he is shown to be either a bumbling, unquestioning follower or a resentful yet loyal glory-seeker. Regardless, Beast-Man’s distinct orange and yellow armor and cruel black whip work well as a visual counterpart to Skeletor’s more cool-toned coloring. The two are unmistakably a powerful villain duo. However, there is one other Masters of the Universe minion who Beast-Man frequently works with: Trap Jaw.
Trap Jaw
Trap Jaw is a cyborg that has, as his name suggests, an immensely powerful metal jaw. He uses it to bite through nearly anything and augments what he can’t bite with his arsenal of built-in weapons. A coarse and brazen Masters of the Universe character, he is frequently outwitted by his opponents due to his over-reliance on his metal chomping abilities. In fact, he became one of Skeletor’s minions due to his loss against both He-Man and Skeletor. The two rivals turned sudden companions worked together to trick Trap Jaw into a defeat, upon which Skeletor dragged his unconscious body to Snake Mountain. While he and Beast-Man are usually sources of comedic relief, Trap Jaw does have his moments where his mechanical skills are not only displayed but shown to be competent.
King D’vann Grayskull
King Grayskull is Prince Adam’s ancestor who once lived in Castle Grayskull. Grayskull’s resemblance to Adam comes from the fact that his design is based on He-Man’s prototype character designs. A selfless and clear-sighted ruler, Grayskull was embroiled in a seemingly hopeless war for Eternia with his enemy Hordak. In order to defend his kingdom from the Snake Men, Grayskull went on a journey to find a source of ultimate power and strength. He found that power from an oracle who both showed him a lost sword and gave him a forewarning: he would not survive his battle with Hordak. Despite this, Grayskull valiantly took the sword, imbued it with his inner strength and energies, and died. The spirit of Grayskull is still hidden deep in the depths of Castle Grayskull and will remain there forever.
Queen Veena Grayskull
Queen Veena Grayskull is the wife of King D’vann Grayskull, the de-facto queen of Eternia, and the ancestor of Prince Adam and Princess Andora. She can shapeshift into a hawk, bearing a striking resemblance to the Sorceress, who is a character that repeatedly comes to the aid of He-Man during his adventures. While she only makes a cartoon appeared in the 2002 series, Queen Grayskull is the first Masters of the Universe character to warn King Grayskull of the Horde. She was able to stop the Horde from devouring Eternia, but her warning also led to her husband’s downfall as well.
Battle Lion
Like He-Man’s Battle Cat, the Battle Lion was both King Grayskull’s pet and war mount. Named Granger, the lion could use King Grayskull’s powers to aid him in his battles.
He-Ro
Originally planned to be the protagonist of a canceled prequel titled Powers of Grayskull, He-Ro was one of the most powerful wizards out of the He-Man characters and would lead the fight for Eternia against King Hiss and his Snake Men forces.
Similar to He-Man, He-Ro would also be an alter ego for a young man named Gray, upholding the theme of dual identity in the He-Man franchise. While Adam shouts, “By the power of Grayskull!” to transform into He-Man, Gray used a similar but slightly different phrase to transform into He-Ro, “By the power of good, I strive for peace!”
Goddess of Eternia
Desperate to protect the Power of the Universe after King Grayskull’s demise, the Council of Elders transferred it from the Sword of Power into the deep recesses of Castle Grayskull. They also broke the original Sword of Power in half so no one could abuse its endless potential of power until an heir worthy enough to wield it again was born. While she’s depicted as a young woman, the Goddess of Eternia is a character whose role was to train warriors in charge of protecting the Power of the Universe and the broken Sword of Power. Within He-Man mythos, the warriors trained by the Goddess of Eternia often went under the guise of He-Man.
Wun-Dar
One of the warriors trained by the Goddess of Eternia to protect the broken Sword of Power and its properties deep within Castle Grayskull before Prince Adam’s debut as He-Man, Wun-Dar battles with a ray gun and cosmic armor granted by the Goddess of Eternia after rescuing her. While Wun-Dar was also known as He-Man, his savage battle style is a reflection of his origins from the underground city Tundaria where it’s every person for themselves.
Starchild
Appearing only in the comics and cartoons of the He-Man franchise, Starchild is a small child with magical powers that identify those she loves with a glow. With this power, Starchild can fend off any potential enemies who simply wish to abuse her powers for evil schemes. She makes an appearance in the Filmation episode The Starchild as well as in the Larry DiTillio episode Bargain with Evil.
Scare Glow
One of the antagonists called upon by Skeletor to impede Adam and his friends during their adventures, Scare Glow is a skeleton ghost warrior from an alternate dimension, though it’s never specified as to where he’s from and how he gained his powers. With a translucent body, it is impossible to see Scare Glow during the day, rendering him only visible at night. He uses a scythe dubbed the Scythe of Doom, and has an ethereal glow around his bones which strike fear into anyone daring enough to battle him—even Adam was unable to transform into He-Man when facing off Scare Glow until Clamp Champ throws Scare Glow from Adam’s path, buying him the time to transform and ultimately giving him the power to defeat Scare Glow.
Panthor
The evil counterpart to He-Man’s Battle Cat, Panthor is depicted as a large purple panther-like creature more commonly known as Diylnx in the He-Man franchise. He is Skeletor’s war mount and often skulks by Skeletor’s side in his lair at Snake Mountain when not in battle.
Spikor
Serving Skeletor as his blacksmith, Spikor’s rare appearance took on many different forms, especially in the cartoon series. While he’s typically drawn as a human-like figure with spikes covering his body and with a trident for a left arm, in the cartoon, Spikor is sometimes shown with a regular left arm instead of his trident-arm.
Stinkor
One of the few action figures from its time to intentionally be packaged with an odor, Stinkor is a humanoid skunk with the magical ability to use his stench as a weapon. With only an appearance in the 2002 cartoon, Stinkor was eventually accepted into Skeletor’s ranks after causing an explosion in Tri-Klop’s lab. Due to his odious smell, Stinkor has special armor that keeps his stench under the wraps, though this doesn’t stop Skeletor and his other evil comrades from trying to get him out of the room.
Tri-Clops
Appearing in the 1980s and 2002 series, Tri-Klops is an inter-dimensional bounty hunter whose eyes rotate around his head on a visor. Not only skilled with the sword, but Tri-Klops is also able to see in all directions, see through solid objects, see in the dark, and see enemies coming from long distances. While only depicted in the 1983 and 2002 cartoons, Tri-Klops is also able to shoot rays of destructive energy from his rotating eyes. Obedient and not one to show his emotions, he is considered one of Skeletor’s chief henchman.
Two Bad
In the 2002 series, Two Bad appeared as one of Skeletor’s henchmen. Originally a pair of mercenaries hired to destroy He-Man, Skeletor fused them into one body after they failed in their mission. However, they only appeared in the 1980s cartoon to replace two other evil warriors: Beast Man and Trap Jaw. This is because their action figure was due to be released at the time and there was a push to promote Two Bad through that one episode. Regardless of the cartoon series, Two Bad is typically depicted as an evil warrior in Skeletor’s gang with two heads constantly arguing with each other.
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe has been rebooted, re-released, and remade constantly since its inception. Its eye-catching design and simple yet passionate plot are timeless, allowing a viewer to enjoy its playful setting and diverse cast of characters wholeheartedly.
Additional He-Man Characters
Leech
Leech is a member of the Evil Horde. A muscle-bound green monster, he resembles an amphibian and has powerful suction cups on the palms of his hands, the bottoms of his feet, and around his mouth. The primary power of Leech is his ability to latch on to his enemies and drain them of their life force, incapacitating them in their efforts to stop him. This foul “Master of Power Suction” was first released in 1985, and the figure was actually able to stick to smooth surfaces in real life!
Multi-Bot
Another member of the Evil Horde, Multi-Bot is the “evil robot of a thousand bodies,” and can reconfigure his robotic body into countless different configurations. By default, he has two torsos and heads atop a set of three pairs of legs. He was created by the sinister Modulok, who made use of Multi-Bot’s multiple configurations to confuse and overpower his enemies.
Modulok
A flesh and blood version of Multi-Bot, Modulok is the “evil beast of a thousand bodies,” and can reconfigure his body as he pleases. As a prolific scientist, Modulok is credited with the creation of Multi-Bot in his own image. He is one of only a few members of the Evil Horde that does not bear the signature bat emblem of the Horde. Modulok’s figure is quite unique in that it comes with twenty-two individual plastic pieces, each of which can be recombined and reconfigured in countless fearsome forms.
Rotar
Rotar is a member of the Heroic Warriors. His signature characteristic is his lack of legs; instead, this half cybernetic warrior balances upon a spinning top, allowing him to spin along the earth at breakneck speeds. With this ability, Rotar is able to outplay his opponents and avoid any number of potentially lethal attacks. Rotar’s energy is stolen by Skeletor in order to make the evil nemesis Twistoid.
Twistoid
A member of the Evil Warriors, Twistoid is the evil version of Rotar, created by Skeletor using the Energy Zoid machine. Like his progenitor Rotar, Twistoid can spin at unbelievable speeds to battle his opponents and avoid deadly attacks. The Twistoid figure is one of the most sought after figures from the entire He-Man line, as it was released late into the series’ original run and did not see very prolific sales.
Zodac
Also known by the spelling Zodak, Zodac is a mysterious intergalactic enforcer from the world of Masters of the Universe. His true nature is neutral amongst the conflict between good and evil that permeates this story. Despite a generally humanoid appearance, Zodac has clawed feet. As Zodac sees most of what happens in the universe, he knows early on that Prince Adam and He-Man are one and the same. Throughout the history of He-Man, Zodac has been presented rather inconsistently as being a neutral actor and a warrior commanding the power of Evil.
Dragstor
Dragstor is a cybernetic warrior and a member of the Evil Horde. His signature characteristic is the tire built into his chest, along with the engine attached to his back. Using the two together, he can propel himself horizontally along the ground at rapid speeds. Dragstor is the fastest member of the Evil Horde, and strikes fear into the hearts of all who oppose him. The exhaust from his engine is generally accepted to be toxic and a weapon in its own right. The figure for Dragstor is highly popular, as it can be launched at high speeds along tables or other flat surfaces, mimicking the villain’s special power.
Blade
A mercenary and experienced warrior, Blade is one of the evil warriors who works for Skeletor. As his name suggests, Blade is an aficionado of sharp objects. His main weapons include two swords as well as a flurry of knives. Physically, he is tall, fair-skinned, and balled, with jacked muscles, a grey beard, and an eyepatch over his left eye. As part of the task force sent by Skeletor to find the second Cosmic Key on Earth, Blade works alongside Karg, Saurod, and Beast Man to thwart the forces of good. Although Blade manages to come face to face with He-Man in single combat, he backs off once He-Man is reinforced by Teela and Man-At-Arms. Later on, Blade is commanded by Skeletor to whip the captive He-Man at Castle Grayskull’s throne room. However, in the battle that follows once Man-At-Arms arrives at the castle, Blade falls into one of the Castle’s deep recesses and has never been heard from again.
Tung Lashor
A pink and black reptilian figure, Tung Lashor is a member of the snake men and a villain in the world of the Masters of the Universe. He wears black gloves over his frog-like, three-fingered hands, and has a yellow portion at the tip of his tongue. As his name suggests, Tung Lashor is distinguished by his versatile tongue, which he uses to attack and entrap his enemies. His tongue also secretes a poison that only adds to his danger. In the She-Ra series, Tung Lashor is a member of the Evil Horde, although he appears quite physically different from his previous iterations. Tung Lashor is an upbeat, brash fighter with almost youthful characteristics. He is eager to come to his superiors’ aid and is often portrayed in humorous ways to balance more serious moments in the series.
Kobra Khan
Kobra Khan is a villain from the He-Man universe. A creature halfway between a cobra and a man, Kobra Khan has the special ability to exude a “sleep mist” which will knock out any enemy unfortunate enough to come close to him. Originally presented as a member of Skeletor’s posse, Kobra Khan was later revealed to have dual loyalty to the Snake Men’s leader, King Hssss. The action figure for Kobra Khan was a unique one. In order to replicate the sleep mist ability of the character, his action figure had the ability to spritz water out of its mouth! In contrast to his amphibian brethren Tung Lashor, Kobra Khan usually maintains a serious manner and is often understated and sullen in his appearances. He is overall a quiet yet sinister fellow and not one to be trifled with in the slightest.
Clamp Champ
Clamp Champ is a unique character, as he was the only black character present in the original Masters of the Universe line from Mattel. He serves on the side of good as a member of the Heroic Warriors. He is also the personal bodyguard for King Randor and Queen Marlena at the Royal Palace of Eternia. Clamp Champ’s signature weapon is a super strong clamp, which has the ability to secure any opponent who stands in his way. This so-called “master of capture” is endowed with super strength, super stealth, super hearing, and super sight. All of these attributes make him an excellent choice for a fearsome fighter on the side of righteousness.
Snake Face
In a nod to the traditional Greek myth of Medusa, Snake Face has the superpower to change anyone into stone when he reveals his collection of snakes. He is affiliated with the Snake Men and first appeared alongside Sssqueeze when summoned by King Hiss from the Snake Men’s imprisoned dimension. Snake Face has a scaly body, with red snakes emanating from every orifice of his face, hence his name. He uses his stone changing ability on He-Man, who is able to use the strength of his Power Sword to cancel out this transformation. Furthermore, He-Man goes on to reflect Snake Face’s power back onto him, using his Power Sword to redirect Snake Face’s strength and turn the snake man himself into stone. Snake Face makes an appearance in the Energy Zoids ark as well, where he plays a key role in capturing Rotar in order to create the vile Twistoid.
Mantenna
First appearing in She-Ra: Princess of Power, Mantenna is a servant of the Evil Horde. His signature features include his four legs, as well as his exploding antenna-fixtured eyes. He wields a crossbow in his servitude of the forces of evil. He is one of the original four members of the Evil Horde, and boasts “spy sight,” allowing him to blast a multitude of energy beam variants from his eyes. These include stunning beams, freezing rays, and gravity manipulating beams. Mantenna also has a stutter and is frequently used for comic relief at his own expense.
Rattlor
A member of the Snake Men, Rattlor is a snake headed humanoid villain. He has a snake tail in addition to two arms and legs, and has red scales with blue stripes down each limb, and a pale yellow chest. He is loyal to King Hiss, and appears periodically in the Masters of the Universe and She-Ra: Princess of Power series. The action figure for Rattlor featured not only a spiraling snake staff but also a rapidly extending neck – perfect for acting out action-packed sequences from the world of He-Man.
Ninjor
One of the more niche characters from the Masters of the Universe line, Ninjor was released quite late in the toy line’s original release. He is a crony of Skeletor, and is a shinobi ninja warrior. Only his eyes are visible beyond the black veil that shrouds his entire upper body. His weapons of choice are the bow, katana, and nunchuks. Ninjor has the honor of being one of the most evil beings of all reality and all time, and he is called upon by Skeletor to battle the forces of good. In addition to his military prowess, Ninjor is a deadly shadow warrior, who can play off of the shadows in an arena using his super stealth and silence. However, Ninjor is ultimately countered by the super attentiveness of Clamp Champ, allowing him to be revealed and eventually bested by He-Man.
Snout Spout
Although Snout Spout might look somewhat threatening, he is in fact a member of the Heroic Warriors. A cybernetic warrior with a robotic elephant’s head atop his human body, Snout Spout carries immense quantities of water in a special backpack. He can then use his robotically enhanced snout to blast water at enemies, fires, or anything else that needs watering in the name of righteousness. Also known as “Hose Nose,” Snout Spout was one of the more exciting action figures to be released in the original lines. His action figure could spray water from its snout, perfectly capturing the hero’s superpower.
Gwildor
Making his first appearance in the 1987 Masters of the Universe live-action film, Gwildor is a pleasant dwarf fellow from the Thenurian race. He is a famous inventor and master of locks and was the original creator of the first Cosmic Key. A classic inventor trope, Gwildor is presented as rather absent-minded, but also kind, intelligent, and strong of heart. Although he is tricked into giving the original Cosmic Key to the vile Skeletor, Gwildor saves the day by providing He-Man with a prototype Cosmic Key. The action figure for Gwildor was highly coveted, as he came with a scale Cosmic Key!
Grizzlor
Grizzlor is a bestial member of the Evil Horde. Hailing from the wilderness, Grizzlor’s greatest ability is his super strength. He bears a crossbow, a coat of dense brown fur, and razor-sharp claws. His main article of clothing is his pair of black boots. He occupies a sort of cryptid reputation amongst the inhabitants of Eternia, similar to a Bigfoot. Grizzlor is generally presented as an unthinking beast, although his physical strength makes up for his lack of tactical skills. He is often used for comic relief and acts like a child in many instances. This has led some to believe that Grizzlor is not inherently evil, and has just been manipulated into following the vile ways of the Evil Horde. The action figure for Grizzlor is a particularly fun one, sporting the character’s signature mane of thick hair.
