thecages

Remember He-Man?


A massive chunk of my development into a sane, healthy and straight dude involved total immersion into the world of He-Man and his compatriots.

I never really obsessed over the animated series[1] but the toys, oh sweet mercy, the toys.
The only thing conceivably more valuable than a Masters of the Universe toy was a bicycle. And even that was subject to doubt when a salivating friend would gnaw the plastic wrapping from a new figurine or *swoon* vehicle.

I have a specific memory of the first time I saw a He-Man figurine in a supermarket[2] and can remember vividly each Christmas that involved extensions to my little plastic family.
One kid had the entire Castle Grayskull - I just about refused to visit him.

Mattel had my friends and I firmly in their global hands. It is the first brand which I took any notice of and in many ways it shaped my response to aspirational brands for many years.

I certainly don't think that MOTU affected me negatively in any real way[3], but I am amazed at how strong the lure that I swallowed in 1984 still is.


He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: a short overview

Prince Adam is prince of Eternia, part of the kingdom of Eternos ruled by his father King Randor.
He hides a secret identity as He-Man, the most powerful man in the universe. This secret is closely linked to Castle Grayskull and the Sword of Power.
The three (Adam, Grayskull and Power Swordo) are bound together by the phrase "By the Power of Grayskull......I have the Power" which (along with a mess of lightning bolts) signals the transformation from mild-mannered space-fantasy prince to buff-o-licious loinfur-wearing hulk.


Aligned against He-Man and his sidekicks (Battle Cat, Man-at-Arms, Ram-Man, Orko et al) is Skeletor and his henchmen (Tri-Klops, Buzz Off and more).


Skeletor emerged from the tutalage of Hordak, despot of Etheria(not to be confused with Eternia) and after betraying his mentor's quest to rule Eternia as well, Skeletor assumed the bony throne in Hordak's lair - Snake Mountain - from where he plots to rule the planet himself.

With the players in place the battle for eternia begins as good dukes it out with evil in 22-and-a-half minutes of high adventure and homo-erotic thrills.




The story of the business of the MOTU franchise makes for equally thrilling reading and brings home just what a powerhouse Mattel was in the 80's.

And there's life in this old horse yet as a blockbuster remake of the brain-searing 1987 MOTU film[4] is in progress.


What's funny is that despite the wide reach of the MOTU universe (cult animated show, fan sites, film) it's really just the toys that drive me bonkers.
Especially that sweet fully-loaded Castle Grayskull set-up. oooh..



[1] Though the vocabulary from the series were instant additions to my daily lingo. 'By the power of Grayskull!' - oh yeah.

[2] The same goes for the first time I saw a Hot Wheels car.

[3] Sure, if I had saved that money rather than buying the figurines like my gran' said the compound interest could have had me on a yacht right now.

[4] I know, I saw it and even though I was 10 at the time I instinctively knew that it was kack.