The children of the 1980s are fortunate in that they have far too many memories to cherish. While their favorite characters may differ, one thing they all have in common is their affection for He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. The first cartoon series began with the launch of a toy line, but the stories quickly became far more interesting than the typical toy-selling gimmicks.
He-Man became a popular superhero, and he made countless cameo appearances over the years. There was a film starring Dolph Lundgren as He-Man, as well as a much-loved relaunched cartoon series. Other ventures followed, and the franchise’s popularity grew thanks to several intriguing personalities.
The show features far too many colorful characters to keep things interesting, from the righteous and heroic He-Man to the villainous Skeletor and Evil-Lyn. We will take you on a nostalgic voyage as we do a fun throwback of all these great characters in this video.
Prince Adam / He-Man
He is the franchise’s major character, and He-Man is effectively Prince Adam’s alter ego. Prince Adam might be awkward and stupid, but when he transforms into He-Man, he becomes a powerful and valiant hero. There are several origin stories that explain the powers of He-Man.
He is the son of King Randor and Queen Marlena. The Sorceress of Castle Grayskull has provided him with the magical sword that transforms him into He-Man. As Prince Adam, he has a fearful pet tiger called Cringer, but when he transforms into He-Man, even the tiger changes into a vicious armored green tiger and rides into battle with him.
He-regular Man’s missions revolve around defending Castle Grayskull and the powers within it from bad forces. He must also defend Eternia from the invasion of power-hungry enemies. His mentor, Man-At-Arms, and other pals assist him. Castle Grayskull is the source of all his powers, and the Sorceress grants him abilities to transform into the muscular hero.
She can even communicate with him telepathically, and at the first signs of trouble, he is always there to help. For the safety of his family, Prince Adam keeps his identity of He-Man a secret. Only Man-At-Arms, Cringer, and the Sorceress know about his alter-ego according to most storylines. However, the list is expanded to include some others as well in some stories.
He-Man is supremely strong, and he has often laid waste to Skeletor’s forces without any trouble. He also has leadership skills that see him leading missions on most occasions. He is powered by his magical sword, which is virtually indestructible. It can also shoot powerful energy beams at the enemy. In some versions of He-Man such as in the movie adaptation, new characteristics were added, but this is how we have known him throughout the comic books and cartoon shows.
Keldor / Skeletor
If you have a powerful hero, you should have a formidable villain to oppose him. Skeletor has been the franchise’s major nemesis in this occasion. He is Eternia’s most terrible foe, and he is also chasing the secrets of Castle Grayskull. If he manages to get his hands on these, he can be the most powerful man in the universe, and for this reason he keeps fighting He-Man and his allies.
Just like He-Man, the origins of Skeletor vary widely. Generally speaking, he is a demonic entity from another dimension, who is constantly striving for more power. For many, he is actually Keldor, the brother of King Randor, Prince Adam’s father. There have been enough hints throughout the narrative that suggest that Hordak is Skeletor’s former mentor.
Skeletor was a being from another realm that wished to open a portal to his home, according to the early mini-comics. This would lead his troops to conquer Eternia, and he would gain control of Castle Grayskull. With time, the focus of the plot changed to Skeletor’s origin as Keldor, and it appeared that Skeletor was determined to keep his true identity hidden.
The powers of Skeletor have varied depending on his various portrayals, but he has generally been a powerful sorcerer with great knowledge of dark powers. His magical weapon is the havoc staff, and it can shoot bolts of mystic energy from its head. In the Filmation series, it was suggested that he could transport back to Snake Mountain at any moment.
He has some powerful allies who usually work according to his plans, and even without his dark magic, Skeletor is a skilled swordsman. In the animated series of the 80s, Skeletor was voiced by Alan Oppenheimer, who added the perfect high-pitched demonic voice to the character that made him the chilling villain that he was supposed to be!
Hordak
Without the wicked Horde of Hordak, the Masters of the Universe franchise would be incomplete. He was not only the leader of these ruthless warriors, but also Skeletor’s mentor. Hordak had a hideous bony face with red eyes, and he sported vampire-like fangs. His black armor had a bat symbol like many of his warriors. Hordak is shown in various appearances in different media.
In some he looks like a vampire or some bat-like creature, while in the others he seems like a cyborg. Skeletor was one of his old students, but he betrayed Hordak and got him imprisoned in another dimension. Following this act of treason, Skeletor tried to conquer Eternia for himself.
Hordak returns from another universe to exact vengeance on Skeletor, but he must also contend with He-Man and his fellow warriors. Hordak was once a sorcerer, but over time he shifted his focus to science and technology, creating a lethal mix of magic and science. He had a major role to play in “She-Ra: Princess of Power”, where he was the main villain.
In this series, Hordak relied more on technology than magic, and his body could transform into a variety of deadly weapons. In fact, Hordak’s major strength is that unlike his student Skeletor he doesn’t entirely rely on magic. He can transform his arm into an energy cannon, change into a massive tank, and can even become a rocket to traverse great distances.
The comic book versions, however, show more of his dark magic, and even there he is as great as Skeletor if not better! This Dark warlord has been used carefully by the creators because the intention was never to undermine the might of Skeletor. But it is also implied that Hordak is not a lesser threat by any means. Although he is seen as a major adversary to She-Ra, there are some interesting duels with He-Man as well.
Teela
Teela cannot be referred to just He-sidekick Man’s because she is so much more. She is the Captain of the Royal Guard of Eternia, and everyone admires her fighting abilities. She guards the Royal Palace and Prince Adam, despite the fact that she has no knowledge that He-Man and the prince are the same person!
The action figures were released later, but the concept of Teela was one of the first that the creators of the franchise had. The makers were in two minds regarding the character because they feared that it might not appeal to boys. Eventually, they changed their mind and brought out the powerful warrior lady!
As per the initial mini-comics, Teela was a warrior goddess who was a loyal friend of He-Man. She fought alongside him, and rode a unicorn. In the animated series, Teela was shown to be the daughter of the Sorceress of Castle Grayskull. She was not able to raise her due to her responsibilities of guarding Castle Grayskull, thus Man-At-Arms took the infant girl under his care. This identity was kept a secret so as to not endanger her.
Teela grew up to be a powerful and self-reliant young woman who learned martial techniques from Man-At-Arms himself. She had a reputation for being a bit feisty, but she was always dedicated to her job.
She did have a subconscious bond with the Sorceress of Castle Grayskull, but the latter purposely erased Teela’s memories when she found out about her real identity. There have been a few occasions where she started suspecting of a bond between her and the Sorceress, but she could never know for sure.
She is shown to be unaware of the dual identity of Prince Adam, and thus, she is often rude to him for being fearful and lazy. She did have a romantic inclination towards He-Man, and there are numerous instances when she tried to flirt with the gallant hero. We feel that the character of Teela led an important balance between the main characters in the Masters of the Universe franchise.
She-Ra
She-Ra is the female version of He-Man, and she is the Universe’s strongest woman. She-Ra is Princess Adora’s alter ego, just as He-Man is Prince Adam’s alter ego. She is the twin sister of He-Man, and just like him she is a determined and powerful individual who chooses to be righteous in her actions. Princess Adora and She-Ra look strikingly similar, except for a few differences.
She-Ra has waist-length blonde hair, and it is held within her headdress. In both forms she has beautiful blue eyes, and is a great combination of power and beauty! She is usually seen in a short white dress, and she wears golden boots and armor. She has a powerful magical sword with a crystal in the middle, but it only seems to appear when she needs it.
She-Ra is more strategic in her approach than He-Man in many respects. She has superhuman strength and agility, but her particular abilities allow her to telepathically connect with animals. There have been a few instances where she could cure injuries by her mere touch. While the sword is her main weapon, she can change it into many other lethal weapons.
It can be transformed into a powerful shield or a lasso, and can even change into tools that she requires. She-Ra has a few conflicting origin stories, but the animated movie that introduced her offered an interesting one. She was a part of the Evil Horde, until she found out that she was the twin sister of Prince Adam.
It turned out that she had been kidnapped by Hordak as a baby, and following this realization, she was granted the Sword of Power. Her identity as She-Ra is kept a secret, and only a few like He-Man, Man-At-Arms, and the Sorceress know about it. Later, the animated series titled She-Ra introduced her as a main character in an attempt to appeal to young girls.
Man-at-Arms
Duncan’s nickname, Man-at-Arms, has stayed with him so strongly that he is now known by it. This valiant and faithful general serves as the monarch of Eternia’s counsel and is in charge of all military and security matters. He gets his title because of his expertise with various weapons, and he is a powerful ally that He-Man has the privilege of fighting with.
Even without any magical sword, Duncan is a battle hardened general who is quite capable of bringing down the enemy by himself. While there are conflicting stories about Man-at-Arms knowing the real identity of Prince Adam, most of the storylines show him as a close friend and guide, who knows all about the alter ego. He is extremely loyal to the throne, and will do just about anything to protect Eternia and Castle Grayskull.
Teela was reared as his own daughter and trained to be a great warrior by him. Although he was hesitant when the Sorceress offered him the job, he never failed in his role as a father. He trains Prince Adam as well, and in the story where he doesn’t know about his real identity, he is quite dismissive about Adam’s lack of zeal and interest.
He has often been shown as a fatherly figure to Prince Adam, and his sense of responsibility is second to none. The original action figure did not have a mustache, but the 80s animated series added one to give him a mature look. He looks older and wiser, and such a character certainly suits the narrative.
He was voiced by Gary Chalk, and he did a fabulous job creating a character that people cared for and respected. There are instances where he rushes to Teela’s and He-man’s help without a care for his own life. This trusted General has been a great asset for He-Man and the royal family of Eternia, and it was fun to watch this wise, loyal warrior fight the evil forces of Skeletor.
King Grayskull
King Grayskull originally ruled from Castle Grayskull, which appears in the series on occasion. He is Prince Adam’s ancestor, and he defended Eternia by defeating adversaries like the Horde and the Snake Men.
King Grayskull was a just and compassionate ruler, and according to the 2002 Masters of the Universe series, he sacrificed his life for the safekeeping of his kingdom. This happened when Hordak tried to open a portal to Despondos, and Grayskull managed to turn the portal on him.
Thus, Hordak and his army were trapped in that dimension, but King Grayskull had to sacrifice his life as well. When he died, he transferred his powers into the magical sword, and this is the sword that He-Man later uses. Prince Adam changes into his alter ego by uttering the words, “by the power of Grayskull”.
King Grayskull’s wife Veena was the first Sorceress of Castle Grayskull, and his advisers formed the Council of Elders. They were all dedicated to safeguarding the secrets of the Castle and the sanctity of Eternia.
For all of his services to Eternia, King Grayskull was a hero, and as a result, he was granted a place in Eternian heaven, Preternia. Teela and a group of mortals were brought to Preternia by an intriguing plot thread, where he lived alongside the other heroes. Grayskull helped Teela to find a portal that would lead her back to the land of the living. Adam was curious as to why Grayskull was not leaving Preternia through the portal, but he revealed that he was happy with his afterlife.
Besides, if someone left Preternia willingly, there was no coming back. It is suggested that King Grayskull lived approximately five hundred years before the time of Prince Adam, and he has been portrayed as the veteran warrior who protected Eternia until he handed over the responsibility to capable hands.
Andra
Teela used to be friends with Andra, and they used to train together at the Academy. Later, King Randor raises her to the rank of lieutenant, and Lieutenant Andra continues to serve the realm in the same capacity as previously. There is an instance when she responds to an attack and Prince Adam has to stop her because the attack was simply a Trollan magic pyramid that was being used to bring Dree Elle, Orko’s love-interest, to visit.
Andra proved herself to be a useful ally when she unknowingly saved Adam just as he was about to be shot by Mantenna’s crossbow. She is unaware of Prince Adam’s real identity and advises him to run away.
Adam uses the opportunity to transform into He-Man, and he comes back to rescue Lieutenant Andra from Mantenna. There are many tales of her heroics alongside Teela as well. They attack the Horde base War Star, and Andra even saves Teela from two of the troopers. She also helped Orko when he was possessed by the Hate Stones, and he was able to come out of his trance.
“Masters of the Universe Revelation” delves more into Andra. It is set after the destruction of Castle Grayskull, and Andra is depicted as a young mechanic who forms an alliance with Teela, the Royal Guard Captain. They work together as bounty hunters, and embark upon some dangerous missions.
They even infiltrate Snake Mountain to get the magic goblet. When Teela is in trouble during this daring mission, Andra comes to her rescue. Their quest takes them further, as they try to bring back the lost magic and glory of Castle Grayskull. The character of Andra was drawn up way before in the Masters of the Universe comics in the 80s, and her introduction to the franchise showed her as Teela’s friend who served in the Royal Guard. This courageous and strong lady was one of the few feisty women warriors in the Masters of the Universe franchise.
King Randor
King Randor is the legitimate monarch of Eternia and a descendant of King Grayskull. This warrior king is a great monarch who places a high value on the security of his kingdom. He is the father of Prince Adam, but the king has no clue about his son’s secret identity. Prince Adam often comes across as clumsy and lazy, and the king is seen to be disappointed by these habits of his son.
He wants his son to grow up to be a brave warrior who is capable of handling responsibilities, but his hopes keep crashing because of the prince’s antics. However, he is still proud of his son’s honesty and his kind-hearted nature.
His lack of interest in stately affairs is the only thing that keeps bothering him. To keep the king safe, the prince never discloses that his alter ego is He-Man. When King Randor was first created, he was called King Miro, and the initial mini-comics version showed him as an old ruler.
Although it has not been officially verified, there are ample hints that Skeletor is actually Keldor, King Randor’s brother. The King is not only the ruler of the country, but he is also a formidable combatant. There are several instances where he has been directly involved in fights and has emerged victorious.
He even fought Skeletor’s robots a few times, and this guardian figure is also a potent warrior. He also appeared in the “New Adventures of He-Man”, and this is one of the few characters that wasn’t changed much from its original portrayal. The only thing that keeps changing is his age because some appearances show him as a powerful, bearded, middle-aged king, while the others portray him as an old and wise ruler.
In the 2002 remake of the franchise, his life prior to becoming the king was explored. It was suggested that the Council of Elders, which ruled Eternia after his father disappeared, made him the king after Keldor turned into Skeletor.
Queen Marlena
She is King Randor’s beautiful wife and the mother of Prince Adam. While her husband is the legitimate monarch, she wields equal power and is frequently involved in major decisions. Marlena’s life before she became queen was quite a colorful one.
She excelled as a pilot as a teenager and studied the field of Aeronautics. She was born on Earth, and she even assisted NASA in their space programs. During one such space mission, her spaceship was way off course and she ended up being stranded in Eternia. King Randor took her in, and with time she fell in love with him. She decided to ditch her efforts to return to Earth and stayed by his side as his queen.
With King Randor, she had two children, Prince Adam and Princess Adora. They both grew up to be powerful warriors with the names He-Man and She-Ra as their alter egos. While the king is definitely unaware of Prince Adam’s true identity, it is suggested that Queen Marlena may be aware that her son is He-Man.
The creators of Masters of the Universe were keen to focus adequately on the characters of the King and Queen of Eternia because the major characters of the series were somehow related to them. For this reason, the early comics came up with elaborate backstories of Queen Marlena. There are some versions of Masters of the Universe, where she does nothing more than sit beside King Randor, but most others assert more importance to her character.
According to the storyline of “She-Ra: Princess of Power” Adora was kidnapped by Hordak as a baby. The Sorceress erased the painful memories from all Eternians, but the king, queen, and Man-At-Arms remembered the tragic past. Queen Marlena might not be the most important character in the series, but she certainly holds a lot of them together.
King Hiss
King Hiss is the ruler of a species of interplanetary conquerors, according to the mini-comics that accompanied the toyline in the 1980s. King Hiss hides his actual monstrous form in the garb of a human, and his subjects are a species of humanoid snakes. He has five heads that talk in tandem, and his upper body is made up of five interwoven serpents.
The Snake Men led by King Hiss tried to conquer Eternia, but the defenders of the planet managed to combine their powers and condemned them all to captivity in another dimension. They remained imprisoned for decades before Skeletor freed him to learn about their secret powers.
They formed an uneasy alliance that concentrated on taking down He-Man, the most powerful warrior in Eternia. However, in the aftermath, they both planned to eliminate each other to be the sole ruler.
It is been hypothesized that King Hiss’ magical abilities are comparable to those of Skeletor and Hordak. In his snake form, he can also hypnotize individuals, and He-Man has been left in a trance on several occasions. Rattler later liberated King Hiss from his imprisonment in the 2002 series.
He had help from Evil-Lyn, and it was hinted that Snake Mountains used to be King Hiss’s headquarters back in the day. Even the Sorceress exclaimed that the magical powers of King Hiss are as ancient as the Elders themselves.
In fact, there was a time when the forces of King Grayskull fought the Snake Men to keep Eternia safe. The 2002 series explores the raw evil in his character, and he is shown as a power-hungry and ruthless leader.
King Hiss is unforgiving to his enemies, and he often eats people for fun. However, unlike Skeletor, he does respect his fellow warriors, and this commands greater respect for him among his subjects. For him, the Snake Men are a master race, and the others are simply food or slaves to serve them. This powerful and scary antagonist ranked as high as the likes of Skeletor and Hordak, and it took a combined effort from He-Man and his allies to finally bring him down.
Beast man
We have seen Beast Man as an important Skeletor sidekick, and he was nearly like his right-hand man at times. This was one of the original characters produced by Mattel for the Masters of the Universe toy line, and it was released alongside other notable characters including He-Man, Skeletor, and Man-At-Arms.
According to the mini-comics that followed, Beast Man was one of the loyal followers of Skeletor. This beastly creature could summon wild animals at will and could control them as per his requirements. Beast Man, as the name suggests, looked like a cross between a man and a beast, and he also had freakishly brute strength to take down enemies.
Beast Man is depicted in DC Comics commanding an army of Beastmen who appear to be from the same tribe as him. In his devotion to Skeletor, he even offered to defeat Mer-Man, whom he regarded as a coward. Because it was intended for young children, the cartoon series featured a toned-down version of the character.
This led to a comical portrayal of Beast-Man, and in the cartoon series, he wasn’t as loyal to Skeletor as was suggested before. In fact, he resented being ordered around and wanted to overthrow his evil lord one day.
While the show never explored his origin, it is known that he was a human from Earth who used to torture animals in his farm. He was a technician on the spacecraft that was being piloted by Marlena Glenn, and when it crashed on Eternia, he went to Skeletor’s world. Skeletor groomed him to be the Beast Man and he became a loyal servant thereafter. With his grotesque appearance and Turkish physique, he was certainly one of the respected enemies in the franchise.
Faker
Many people were perplexed when this character first debuted as a toy since he resembled He-Man. His blue skin and red hair, on the other hand, ensured that he stood out from the crowd. It soon turned out that Faker was actually an accomplice of Skeletor, and he merely resembled He-Man.
He was an evil variant of the mighty hero, and many fans thought of him as an evil robot imposter. The animated series doesn’t exactly explore Faker to the fullest and he appears in just one episode. This time, he was given no clear distinction and he looked like an exact replica of He-Man.
Nevertheless, Faker had unusually glowing eyes, and his hollow voice hinted that something was wrong. It was later learned that this difference from the toy-line was simply a cost-cutting technique, and the makers wanted to reuse He-Man’s character model for this one.
We did have a problem with how he was portrayed. Skeletor was seen to have created him from thin air without breaking a sweat. If it was that simple, we pondered why he did not make more and use them against He-Man! His role in the episode was to lure the Sorceress out of the Castle because she would easily mistake him for He-Man.
He pretended to be in pain and the worried Sorceress rushed out. Unfortunately, the real He-Man soon caught up with him, and after a brief fight, Faker stood defeated. There have been several instances in the comic books that show that Faker was not as strong as He-Man even though he looked exactly like the hero.
He was, at best, an average warrior and the cartoon series only proved the point when he was defeated in the wink of an eye. However, the comic stories were clever enough to add that the taste of defeat made him more determined to match up to He-Man someday!
Evil-Lyn
Evil-Lyn is a wicked figure who is one of the main female antagonists in the franchise. She is revealed to be an evil witch who uses her dark powers to aid Skeletor. She does, however, have a brain, unlike the rest of Skeletor’s mindless minions. She is always looking out for herself and she only obeys Skeletor because she knows that he is more powerful than her.
In the Filmation animated series, Evil-Lyn had a crucial role and she was easily the most potent accomplice of Skeletor. But there were always enough hints that she would overthrow Skeletor the first chance she got.
Evil-Lyn’s ambitious nature ensured that she often worked independently without any orders from her lord. She seemed to have the ability to act superior to the other baddies of Skeletor’s army. There were times when she tried out her luck elsewhere with other powerful villains too. When the mission failed, she was always quick to return to Skeletor.
Evil-Lyn was a witch, and her magical abilities were one-of-a-kind. She possessed teleportation and mind-control abilities. Her magical rays from her eyes and hands have the potential to cause serious damage, and we have seen her manipulate natural forces as well. We have already mentioned that she was extremely intelligent and had a knack of disguising herself expertly to fool the enemy.
This character was created as an opposition to Teela, and in the series there was an interesting situation where the two had to work together. The series bible also promotes her story as a scientist from Earth, who was on board Marlena’s spacecraft and ended up in Skeletor’s world just like Beast-Man.
Later, in the 2002 animated series, it was revealed that Evil-Lyn was the daughter of the great sorcerer, the Faceless One. This storyline explored her relationship with Keldor, which eventually turned out to be her working for Skeletor. Even here, she always looked for an opportunity to take over Skeletor after realizing that he was not the same man she fell in love with. Twisted, cunning, and opportunist, this villain was one of the best in the show simply because she could often out-think the good guys.
Scare Glow
Skeletor is surrounded by an army of evil fighters, so why not a ghost? Scare Glow is the ghost under his command, and he provides Skeletor with his devoted services anytime he is needed. His body is shown to be translucent and he has a skeletal ghostly aspect. The bones have a strange glow and his overall presentation is enough to spook the enemy. He even wears a mysterious purple cape and carries a scythe.
This ghostly figure originated in another dimension and Skeletor summoned him to work for him. Initially, Scare Glow was reluctant to follow orders, but the supreme powers of Skeletor soon ensured his loyalty. He understood that he could never return to his own realm until and unless he defeated He-Man and his band of heroes.
The adversaries were terrified because of the glow in his bones. As a result, he was dispatched to fight the warriors, and his initial strategy worked. Because Prince Adam was terrified, he was unable to turn into He-Man. However, when he finally did, Scare Glow was defeated pretty quickly. He was not visible in the light and you could only spot him in the dark.
A comic book version of Scare Glow suggests that he was a ruler in his own dimension and he had the power to make the greatest fears of his victims turn into reality. After he was defeated, he pleaded with Skeletor to allow him to return to his own dimension, but the latter refused. Thus, he was forced to stay back on Eternia and he became a permanent warrior for the dark lord. The toy figure of Scare Glow was quite loved by the kids because it was a glow-in-the-dark action figure.
Orko
Filmation first presented Orko as a comic relief character in one of their animated episodes. It not only worked, but Orko quickly became an endearing character in the story. The character was not originally included in the toy line, but he proved so popular that additional action figures were added.
Trolls are a race from the extra-dimensional world of Trolla. Orko is one of them, and they all specialize in magic. Orko looks like he is floating in the air, and he has the appearance of a small blue humanoid. He wears a long robe, a scarf, and a hat, and his face is almost entirely hidden beneath all of this.
Eternia is considerably different from Trolla, right down to the laws. Orko is a master magician in his homeworld, but he is not nearly as powerful on Eternia. His magic spells occasionally fail, and despite his best efforts to assist He-Man, he ends up causing havoc. Besides his uncanny magic powers, Orko can also store any and every random thing inside his hat.
It seems like even the hat is magical because it can store a surprisingly large number of items. A cosmic storm transported him to Eternia, and he saved a young Prince Adam and his pet tiger cub Cringer. Since then, he had a permanent place in Eternia because the king was grateful for his services.
Orko is always amusing and unintentionally ends up being a part of some hilarious moments. There are times when he returns to Trolla, but he decides that he belongs in Eternia now. Orko is the Masters of the Universe equivalent of Baby Yoda, and we loved the addition of such a fun character in the mix of things.
Mer-Man
Mer-Man would have to be right up there with the likes of Beast Man and Evil-Lyn among Skeletor’s henchmen. Almost every edition of the Masters of the Universe media that has appeared since the toy line has featured Mer-Man in some way. He is basically the king of a species that inhabits some parts of the oceans of Eternia.
These are amphibious humanoid species, and at times there are implications that Mer-Man rules over everything in the waters. He looks like a strange humanoid with green skin, which is also blue in some versions. He has a scaly texture like that of a fish and webbed feet and fins. Two fins protrude from the sides of his head, and his bulbous eyes also resemble a proper aquatic creature.
Mer-Man has a strong frame and wields a strange-looking yellow sword in battle. He has fought alongside Beast-Man on countless occasions, and he is equally at home on land as he is in water. In terms of strength, he is no match for He-Man, but under-water he is a force to reckon with. He has the ability to control aquatic life, but his telepathic abilities do not affect sea mammals.
Even his sword has some special powers and he can freeze his enemies with the help of a freeze ray that is discharged by his sword. At times, he is shown to wield a lance or a spear-like weapon. Some stories suggest that Mer-Man was forced to fight for Skeletor after his clan was defeated in a battle with rival clans. He doesn’t quite like the idea of being outside water as much while obeying Skeletor’s orders. While he often partners with Beast-Man on missions, the latter is not particularly fond of him because Beast-Man always wants to be the superior one for Skeletor.
The Sorceress
The Sorceress, or Keeper of Castle Grayskull’s Secrets, is a position, not a person. Various characters have taken on the role of Sorceress, and in most tales, Teela Na, Teela’s mother, is the current Sorceress. Previously, Kuduk Ungol was the Sorceress many years ago. The Sorceress is a powerhouse of magic, and she is powered by the Pool of Power.
She can also foresee the future and teleport herself across great distances. However, there is a small catch. Her powers are restricted to the confines of the Castle because all she can do outside is transform into a falcon and try to communicate about her dangers to the heroes. In a way, the Sorceress is the source of all powers because she is the one who handed over the Sword of Power to Prince Adam that allows him to transform into He-Man.
She has always been He-go-to Man’s advisor, and her magical abilities and great knowledge have come in handy on numerous occasions. The Sorceress lived alone in Castle Grayskull, even giving up her daughter to Man-At-Arms to avoid having to share her responsibilities. She watches over Eternia as a guardian angel, and telepathically communicates with He-Man to make him aware of upcoming dangers.
Teela Na’s journey to become the Sorceress is quite an interesting one. She was a simple villager, and after her village was attacked, she tried to find a way to defeat the enemy. The magical fortress appeared before her and welcomed her in, maybe because she was worthy! Her predecessor offered her the chance to become the next Sorceress, and she agreed.
The Sorceress looks more like a fairy than a practitioner of magic, and she is the image of righteousness. She helped King Randor fight Hordak, and she has always been a powerful ally in He-Man’s fight against Skeletor. All superheroes usually have someone to rely upon, and the Sorceress has certainly been the backbone for He-Man.
Zodac
Zodac was planned to be a non-committal character who would play no part in the battle between good and evil. However, such a sophisticated concept was difficult for children to grasp, resulting in multiple variants of this character. The action figure had a hint of evil and the card that came with the toy suggested that he was an Evil Cosmic Enforcer who fought the heroes with all his might.
However, the DC comic version focused on portraying him as neutral, who simply oversees all the conflict. His only goal is to maintain balance in the universe and for this, he could help either side of the conflict. Since he is more like a watcher of everything in the universe, he is also aware that Prince Adam is He-Man. The latter toy-lines went ahead with this version of Zodac and dropped the evil from the character.
Because he was presented as leaning towards the good side in the animated series, the uncertainty grew even further. He has been portrayed as an all-powerful character, and in this reality, he is nearly like an almighty. He sends He-Man on a mission to stop Skeletor from reaching Star Seed – the source of all powers in the universe. But there is a twist in the end that suggests that this was all a setup that Zodac purposely organized to test He-Man.
Later, when the character was redesigned in 2002, they made him a black man to add some racial diversity to the franchise. The duality of this character in these multiple versions might be confusing, but overall, he can be seen as this omni-present entity looking over proceedings. Zodac added the much-needed sense of mysticism in the narrative, and for us, he was quite a crucial character despite his small role in the turn of events.
Tri-Klops
Tri-Klops is an essential henchman for Skeletor, and he has had multiple run-ins with He-heroic Man’s troops. He is well renowned for his rotating visor helmet, which has three artificial eyes attached to it. There are various takes regarding the function of these eyes. Some versions suggest that he can see in all directions at once, while a few others imply that he can only see through the front eye and keeps adjusting the visor until he gets it perfectly.
In fact, the three visions are of different kinds – Distavision, Gammavision, and Nightvision. The first one allows him to see things from a great distance, while the second one gives him an X-ray vision. The last one makes him see in the darkness, and with such sight he is quite handy for Skeletor.
Tri-Klops is introduced to the franchise in the first story as a formidable force that nearly defeats He-Man. Skeletor summoned him because the evil ruler was hunting for someone who could equal He-Man’s ruthless strength. Tri-Klops is also a capable spy because of his keen sight, and he can spot attacks before they come. He is an expert swordsman, which makes his contribution in combat equally valuable.
The Filmation animated series goes with this story and pitches him at par with He-Man in terms of strength. This version of Tri-Klops also shoots laser beams from his eyes. He is also considerably more intelligent than most of Skeletor’s thugs and his cunning nature allows him to plan better than the others. Unfortunately, he has seldom been assigned more than a supporting role in the series and we rarely see him in bits and pieces. His designs have been modified with time, but the mechanical feel to the character has purposely been retained.
Trap-Jaw
With his sharp-toothed jaw, Trap-Jaw is a mechanical cyborg who carries quite a nasty bite. He also has a robotic arm that can convert into numerous weapons as needed. Trap-Jaw was one of the first characters created for the toy line’s inception, and the makers were inspired by Moonraker’s Jaws figure.
It is believed that Trap-Jaw is of alien origin because Skeletor accidentally brought him from another dimension. Even his skin is blue or green in the various portrayals of the character, highlighting his alien nature. He was quite a success among a long list of failed villains, and managed to get inside Castle Grayskull and harness its powers. This strengthened him enough to almost defeat He-Man, and the crisis was so serious that He-Man and Skeletor put up a brief alliance, where they combined their halves of the Power Sword.
Trap-Jaw appears in the Filmation cartoon series almost as frequently as Beast-Man. He is no longer a crazed mass murderer because the show was created for children, and the creators gave him a lot of comedic features. He was characterized as one of Skeletor’s most inept henchmen, yet there were instances when he demonstrated some mechanical prowess.
In one of the episodes, he consumed a powerful mineral that made him as strong as He-Man. The series’ lore has an interesting background for Trap-Jaw, where he is an escaped convict. He ended up being stranded on Infinita, and eventually became a servant to Skeletor. However, even though he appeared frequently on the show, his mechanical arm was often on the wrong side of his body! The 2002 series brought back the character in a similar way, and none of it was even close to the dark background laid out for Trap-Jaw.
Stinkor
Stinkor’s name comes from the fact that he stinks and uses it as a weapon. The deadly stink emanating from this humanoid skunk is known as the Evil Master of Odors, and it may discourage even the most powerful opponents. Even the action figures that were created had a musky smell due to the use of certain chemicals.
It was one of the few action figures from the toyline which had a distinct smell. The 2002 version of the show had some interesting backstories on the character. He was a young boy named Odiphus, who belonged to a race called the Pelleezeeans. He wanted to be a criminal, and even as a child he mastered the art of betraying people.
Stinkor even provided the invading enemy with information about their kingdom’s secrets, but he was unlucky since the Sorceress happened to be in town. Stinkor was expelled from his town once his deceitful ways were exposed, and he roamed around Snake Mountain. He stumbled across Tri-Klop’s lab, and some chemical accident brought him the horrid stench. The foul smell was so powerful that it kept the strongest of warriors at bay.
He soon made it clear that the stench could be used as a weapon, and he was recruited for the services of Skeletor. Stinkor was even armed with a gas mask that could direct the powerful stench at the enemy. However, maybe because of his ridiculous origin and powers, Stinkor was never used much in the Filmation animated series. Even the use in the 2002 version was limited, and Stinkor became no more than a passing character in the franchise.
Kobra Khan
Kobra Khan looks like a cross between a man and a snake, and he can use a sleep mist to knock his foes out. When Kobra Khan was pushed down, the action figures in the 1980s had a function that allowed him to spray water. But in the cartoons, Kobra Khan would spray the sleep gas from his hood.
Unlike some of the other sidekicks of the major villains, Kobra Khan was not supposed to add to the comedic value. He was a dark and evil character, who owed allegiances to both Skeletor and King Hiss. This scheming villain seemed all the more mean because of Lou Scheimer’s impeccable voice acting.
He would speak in whispers and hisses, and even the most powerful heroes never scared him. It is suggested that his people were called the Reptons, and they live in an underground world. These people see him as a traitor because he went on to join the forces of Skeletor.
Early mini-comics, on the other hand, depicted him as a member of the Snake Men. It was obvious that he could not be one of the original Snake Men, given that the Snake Men lived thousands of years ago. He was introduced in the group as a spy for Skeletor, and was supposed to report every action of King Hiss back to his master. But he was never a loyal follower of either Skeletor or King Hiss.
He reported to both about the actions of one another, and all Kobra Khan cared about were things that benefited him directly. He had great rivalry with General Rattlor, whom he always tried to outdo in order to be King Hiss’s best warrior. In the 2002 series, Kobra Khan could spit venom just like the spitting cobra, and it could blind the enemy. He stands out as one of the independent villains who is not bound by allegiances to evil masters.
Roboto
Roboto was a mechanical warrior who fought alongside the heroic warriors, and he was one of the good ones. He has a metallic body and a computerized brain, making him extremely intelligent.
He does not seem to be in any pain, and he is exceedingly brave. Roboto has a strangely transparent body, and you can see his inner-parts working to make him move around. He has a mechanical claw in place of his right hand, and it can easily be replaced with a laser gun or an axe.
The mini-comic edition revealed that Roboto was one of the unique creations of Man-At-Arms, and he even gave Roboto a cybernetically-enhanced heart. This made it possible for him to feel human emotions and interact with his fellow warriors without any trouble.
Roboto was given a single episode in the animated series, and he was said to be from an alien world called Robotica. He landed on Eternia by accident, and Man-At-Arms helped him out. Across all the storylines it has been made clear that Roboto is a braveheart who can even go ahead and fight Hordak all alone. In the 2002 animated series, we saw Roboto sacrifice himself so that He-Man could accomplish his task.
Fortunately, he is only a robot, and Man-At-Arms could repair him completely. He is a great combat analyst because his mind works like clockwork and calculates the best-possible moves that would bring victory. Irrespective of whether you liked him or not, it has to be said that Roboto was one of the fun additions to the group of heroic warriors that made things entertaining for the viewer.
Man-E-Faces
His moniker comes from his unusual ability to change his appearance at any time. He has the ability to change his human visage into that of a robot or a monster. When he changes his face, his personality changes as well. Man-E-Faces is one of the Heroic warriors, but his stories vary in different mediums. The mini-comic version portrays him as an actor, who was captured by the evil Skeletor.
He was made to drink a potion that turned him into a monstrous form of himself, and he kept attacking everyone. There is a constant struggle between his real personality and his monstrous form, which in turn creates a robot personality that is somewhat neutral. Finally, He-Man frees him from Skeletor’s spell, but the monstrous form and the robotic form stay with him. Man-E-Faces takes it as a challenge to continue his fight against evil forces until he gets rid of the curse.
Man-E-Faces was portrayed differently by Filmation, and he was simply an actor who used all of these multiple faces to portray various characters on stage. Even the animated version stayed true to the idea that he was once a nasty guy who changed his ways. He used to scare people simply because he was an outcast himself and was insecure.
When Skeletor captured him, he realized that he did not want to fight for evil, but Skeletor’s dark magic enslaved him nonetheless. The Sorceress and He-Man realized that he was not actually evil, and they used magic to free him from the spell. Man-E-Faces was grateful for the help, and he joined the Royal Court as an actor. The 2002 version, however, goes a step further and shows him as a part of the usual team of warriors led by He-Man.
Mantenna
Mantenna was mostly featured in She-Ra, where he served primarily as comic relief. He was a part of Hordak’s Evil Horde, and even his appearance was amusing. He had four legs, and his eyes seemed to be popping out! In general, Mantenna is a nervous wreck, and keeps stuttering at his wits end. But he is still capable of causing some nuisance with the power beams that he shoots from his eyes.
Freeze rays, gravity distortion beams, and stun beams are in his arsenal, but he messes things up more often than not! Hordak often sends him down a trap door, but there were a couple of occasions when Mantenna made Hordak fall into his own trap.
Mantenna is a creature from another world with extraordinary sensory talents. He can see and hear things from a long distance and is frequently tasked with serving as the Horde army’s scout.
He keeps an eye ahead for danger as the rest follow. When it comes to his missions, Mantenna rarely needs help. Armed with special powers and lethal beams that he shoots from his eyes; he is more than a handful in combat. He may have been no more than a glorified sidekick, but Mantenna fitted in just fine. We believe it would have been a lot more fun if he was one of Skeletor’s minions and had regular run-ins with the likes of He-Man!
Spikor
He is just the latest recruit to Skeletor’s army of evil warriors. Spikor’s name comes from his unusual upper body, which is coated with sharp spikes. This serves as armor for him, shielding him from strikes. The spikes are fused to his body and not some special attachment. His left hand is a trident and it can be extended according to his requirements.
Some versions of Spikor even show him shooting laser beams from this extension. His action figure was quite a unique one, with the spring-action waist and the tiny trident that could shoot out of the socket. According to the mini-comics, he is a blacksmith living in a mountain cavern. He is a weapon expert and is the Man-At-Arms for Skeletor, carving out weapons for him.
Kleffton was his original name, and he was exiled by his own people for attempting to steal a sacred scroll. Skeletor, who never fails to pick up disgruntled spirits and use them for his wicked purposes, eventually discovered him. Kleffton was transformed magically and he became a robotic version of himself. The Filmation animated series turned Spikor into another of the dim-witted minions of Skeletor.
He is probably the silliest of the lot, and his robotic voice makes him seem even dumber. The worst part was that he never really got to use his spikes in the series. It has been acknowledged by the creators of the show that Spikor had the potential to become one of the darkest villains, but they toned things down to make it suitable for children.
Stratos
Do you recall the leader of the Avion Bird People? That was none other than Stratos, and his soldiers were one of He-Man’s most trusted pals. The Bird People, as you might expect, possessed bird-like skills and could soar about.
Stratos also has his acrobatic skills in the air to go with his power of flight and he has often been used as a spy for the heroic warriors. His vision is remarkable and he can spot the enemy from great distances. He basically looks like a muscular man with giant wings that propel him into the air.
Stratos even has a jetpack on his back and this helps him speed up significantly in the middle of a flight. He wears brass knuckles that are capable of shooting lightning at the enemy. It is said that when Mattel first came up with the idea of a character like Stratos, they wanted him to be one of the bad guys. However, their opinions changed quickly and Stratos became a trusted partner of He-Man.
Stratos frequently fly out from Avion to assist the warriors, as the land of Avion is located in the Mystic Mountains. He is married to Delora, a human female, and he has bravely fought Skeletor’s armies on countless occasions. The animated series, however, made Delora his sister and one of the Bird People. He is often seen fighting Ram-Man, and he has been described as one of the main battle comrades of He-Man.
Unfortunately, his character was not developed sufficiently and was eventually simply forgotten. The 2002 series also brought back Stratos, and this time some small changes were made to his appearance. Stratos actually highlights one of the issues with the franchise – they did not fully exploit some amazing characters with great potential to enhance the storyline!
Mekaneck
Because of his ability to extend out his prosthetic neck to incredible heights, Mekaneck has been dubbed the heroic human periscope. This allows him to see over large distances, and his espionage abilities make him a valuable asset to the gang of heroic warriors. His bionic neck was the expertise of Man-At-Arms.
Mekaneck’s original neck was damaged in a storm, and Man-At-Arms did the repair work. Unfortunately, he also lost his son in the violent storm and he kept looking for him since then. Mekaneck was loyal to the throne and was a member of the Royal Guard.
Later, it was revealed that his son was being held captive by the villainous Count Marzo, and he attempted to trade the throne of Eternia for his release. Mekaneck and Buzz-Off have collaborated on numerous occasions, and their combination of spies was extremely spectacular. This character was brought back in the 2002 cartoon series, and he could now bend and twist his neck as well.
The neck could be stretched to infinite heights and he is also portrayed as a great warrior. Mekaneck also has night vision and his telescopic sight allows him to see a threat before it hits. However, the 2002 show made his personality somewhat guarded. He is always insecure about himself, and he felt that his special ability was useless. He used to think that he was inferior to the other warriors. This inferiority complex lured him into the traps of Count Marzo on one occasion, but Mekaneck eventually got back the confidence in himself.
Webstor
Webstor is a bizarre mutant who is a hybrid between a man and a spider. He is a member of the bad forces. Because of his propensity to retreat from impossible situations, he is best recognised as a master of escape.
Webstor wears a suit with a black widow spider symbol on his chest. He also packs long ropes with hooks that help his escape plans more often than not. Webstor had an interesting role in the Filmation cartoon series, where he was portrayed as a cunning and stealthy thief. He could sneak into the heavily protected Royal Palace, and he always had some nice comebacks for Skeletor’s rude jibes.
The show was known for depicting the majority of the villains in a negative light, with practically everyone being incredibly foolish. Webstor, on the other hand, was one of the smarter members of the group, and he was capable of taking on significant tasks. In one of the missions, he is seen working with Kobra Khan, and their strategy has nothing to do with Skeletor’s directives.
Kobra Khan is the leader among the two, but Webstor is also an important character in the storyline. The earlier comic series had an intriguing backstory of Webstor. He was a skilled mathematician and he could strategize his way out of the most difficult traps laid for him. His puzzle-solving ability impressed Skeletor and he was supposed to build the invincible trap for him that would defeat He-Man and his allies.
He-Man is trapped, but when he manages to find his way out, Webstor has respect for him and allows him to escape. The 2002 series used Webstor as more of a freelance villain who mostly worked independently. He was always a silent villain and he preferred to lurk in the shadows.
Ram Man
The Masters of the Universe has a unique nomenclature! They always found a way to link each individual’s behavior to their name, which delighted the audience! For instance, Ram Man charged at things like an enraged ram. He would simply knock out opponents or heavy obstacles with a powerful charge. His head was covered in a supremely solid helmet and this metal helmet allowed the impact to be successful.
He clearly had superhuman strength, but the source of his strength hasn’t been revealed. He is a member of the heroic warriors, but he is somewhat of a loner. He wanders around the barren lands and is quite territorial. He attacks those who trespass his land and this is how he met He-Man.
He-Man attempted to converse amicably, but when he was attacked, he fought back. Ram Man has been defeated, and he takes his defeat very seriously. Skeletor uses this chance to brainwash him, convincing him that He-Man is a villain. He is made to ram into the gates of castle Grayskull, but it doesn’t take long for him to realize that he is being used. He understands that He-Man is not his enemy, and this is when he joins the heroic forces.
The Filmation series tones down his aggressive nature considerably and adds some cartoonish features to the character. He is re-launched in the 2002 series as a Turkish figure contrary to his dwarfish character before. It is shown that underneath the helmet he has another metal plate covering his head. This powerful, yet childlike character was fun to watch, especially because of his bizarre attacks!
Clawful
If you have just seen the Filmation series, you will recall Clawful in a far different light than he was introduced! Although this mash-up of a man, a crab, and a lobster was still absurd, the addition of fins gave him the appearance of an ocean creature.
He still had the strange claws, but both were of the same size unlike initially, when the right claw was a lot bigger. Clawful was one of the bad guys, and his powerful claws could crush the enemy. He comes across as the lead villain in one of the episodes, and he steals an artifact from Orko’s homeland, Trolla.
He commands the likes of Trap-Jaw, and Skeletor refers to him as his right-hand man in another episode! (Actually, Skeletor does this to a lot of his minions!) Later on, his appearances gradually blend in with those of the ordinary villains, and he ceases to be unique. In the second season of the show, Skeletor grows distrustful towards him, and this makes Clawful resent his master.
He is smarter than some of the other minions of Skeletor, and he vows to take over his place one day. Many other villains also thought of doing the same, but Clawful was gutsy enough to say it to his face. He has quite a personality, and when he is abused by Skeletor, he merely laughs it off.
We are not a fan of the portrayal by the 2002 series, which simply turns him into a silly character for laughs. This was not quite in line with the previous narratives and it seemed unfair that such an amazing character would drift into a laughing stock!
Two Bad
Two Bad is a villain who has two heads in the same body, similar to Siamese twins. The two portions of his body are essentially diametrically opposed, as though they belong to two separate species.
The right half resembles a strange blue creature, and the left half is purple, scaly, and has a yellow band on the forehead like an eyebrow. The two heads have two unique personalities, and as a result, they often argue with one another. Despite such shortcomings, Two Bad is a master strategist. He is sometimes used as comic relief, but there is more to this character.
Two Bad’s initial notion is fantastic. The writers attempted to make him into a complicated character, with one half being benevolent and the other wicked. The Filmation series does not spend much time on the character, and what little time he does get is devoted making him look like an idiot.
He is portrayed as irresponsible, and the two heads are seen playing games when he is assigned guard duty. A comic series later highlighted the character, and according to that narrative, Two Bad was quite a useful assistant for Skeletor. The heads could be put to good use every time they worked together. In the 2002 series, this character is restricted to a few cameos, and they never carved out a proper plot involving him.
Whiplash
With a tremendous stroke of his thick tail, this lethal anthropomorphic reptilian beast could knock out the opponent. It has the strength to slam through boulders and other hard materials, and this reptile-man mutant made good use of it whenever he got into difficulties. Whiplash was a member of the evil warriors, and he is sometimes used as the muscle for Skeletor’s plans.
The mini-comics implied that Whiplash is so strong that only He-Man can defeat him. The Filmation series seemed to have loved the character and they used him repeatedly. His initial appearance suggested that he was simply a brutish thug working for Skeletor, but slowly the brains behind the power were revealed.
Whiplash functioned as a stand-alone villain at times, commanding a horde of terrible creatures beneath Eternia. His origins are said to be in Demon Zone, a realm beneath Eternia where all of these animals live. The 2002 series made this character a lot weaker, and restricted him to mere background appearances. There was just one episode that explored his world, but even this episode did not exactly highlight Whiplash. The greenish reptilian man was one of the forgotten villains, but his short stay was impactful nonetheless.
Buzz-Off
You guessed it correctly! Buzz-Off is a humanoid bee who buzzes around, much like the other phonetics have some meaning for the character. The Bee People hail from the Mystic Mountains, which have been revealed to be home to various alien species.
Buzz-Off is one of them, and his introduction to the franchise was as the heroic spy in the sky. He serves He-Man and his allies, and because of his flying abilities, he can scout the surroundings for them. Besides his bee-like abilities, Buzz-Off has insect visors that allow him insect vision if required.
When the Bee People were attacked by Skeletor, an episode of the Filmation animated series was dedicated to them. The episode, however, focuses on his race rather than Buzz-Off. An improved version of this character debuted in the franchise’s relaunch in 2002. He seemed more insect-like than before, and he is quite a distrustful leader. There is a storyline, where he and his people refuse to ally with the heroes, but finally he joins the Masters.
Skeletor was stealing a powerful substance produced by his people, and he eventually realized the threat posed by the dark lord. Buzz-Off is not exactly gifted with too many abilities apart from his ability to fly around.
Yes, he is very agile, and a decent fighter, but that is just about it! It was amusing to watch this humanoid bee try to attack his enemies with his magical axe that fired energy beams. He might not have been the greatest fighter, but he certainly had a personality to remember!
Modulok
Modulok was a member of the Evil Horde, and his specific talents made it very easy for the opponent to become confused. He could transform into thousands of other shapes in a second, and he was a fearsome opponent. There are a few versions of this character which show him working independently, while he is perceived by many as a part of the Evil Horde.
However, unlike the other members of the Horde, Modulok doesn’t have the bat symbol on his uniform. Filmation’s take on this character was also an interesting one. They turned him into a crazy scientist who wanted to prove to the world that he was a genius. He tried to conduct experiments that would allow him to control all of Eternia, and for such efforts he was jailed in the Royal dungeons.
In his altered form, he quickly escapes captivity and volunteers to join Skeletor. Modulok sets out to prove himself to the evil lord, who initially dismisses him. He has a personal grudge towards Man-At-Arms, and there is a storyline in which he manipulates Roboto into becoming an evil robot.
He even had some twisted plans to use Man-At-Arms’ brains to acquire all of his scientific knowledge. Eventually, Modulok pledges his services to Hordak, who is obviously more appreciative of scientific minds. He is tasked with a plan to invade Eternia, but when he fails, Hordak demotes him to be a cook. Modulok was used in She-Ra as well, and he never failed to impress as the evil mastermind.
Fisto
Fisto is a powerful, well-built warrior with a metal fist in his right hand. The fist is not obvious whether it is removable or part of his body, but the character was fun. He was one of the heroes, and his main power lay in his fist. His powerful blows could smash through the hardest of surfaces, and they could do some effective damage to the enemy as well!
He is known for his hand-to-hand combat skills and his unusually large cybernetic hand can be a mean force to reckon with! Like some of the other transformed heroes, Fisto too, started off as a villain. He served Skeletor and terrorized the forests. His interactions with He-Man made him a changed man, and he chose the righteous path.
In the 2002 reboot of the franchise, he is depicted as a man who holds a grudge against the Snake Men. He is Duncan’s younger brother and has no recollection of his background. He has often been portrayed as a bad-tempered character, and there are some hints to suggest that he is the actual father of Teela.
He was a wounded soldier back in the day when the Sorceress fell in love with him, and Teela was conceived. This conflicted hero was a bit complicated in comparison to some of the simpler characters, and maybe for this reason, the shows never went deep into his stories.
Moss Man
Moss Man is one of the good people, and he is formed of moss, so he blends in perfectly with the flora and greenery. He lives in the Evergreen Forest and has an uncanny power on plant life. He lives in perfect harmony with nature and was of great help because of his ability to blend into the surroundings. Moss Man could easily turn into a plant and carry out his espionage duties.
He also had the brute strength of an ape, and he was agile enough to avoid being spotted. During such transformations, even his arms would turn into branches, and he had some special cameo appearances in the Filmation animated series.
His character is given significantly greater weight in the 2002 series. Moss Man is one of Eternia’s most powerful beings, and there were times when he appeared to be more powerful than He-Man. While he tries to maintain harmony in the Evergreen Forest, his evil counterpart, Evil Seed, wants the plant world to take over.
Moss Man helps He-Man deal with a serious threat, and saves the heroes from one of the strongest traps laid out by Skeletor. The initial idea behind Moss Man was to make him face off against Stinkor, but that never materialized, except for in a mini-comic. The action figure looked surprisingly similar to Beast Man and they could only be differentiated by color and texture.
Kuduk Ungol
Before Teela Na took over as Sorceress of Castle Grayskull, she was the previous Sorceress. Little is known about her time or existence, and it is assumed that many of the events occurred before the beginning of contemporary Eternian history.
During her time, Castle Grayskull was more of an ancient legend, and Teela Na was not sure what would befall her when she accepted the offer to become the next Sorceress. Kuduk Ungol apparently vanished in thin air after she surrendered her duties to the next in line.
Kuduk Ungol is said to have lived a long life and been responsible for Castle Grayskull for a long time. Teela Na took her to the Pool of Power when she arrived, and Castle Grayskull put her to the test to see if she was pure and kind enough to be the next Sorceress. This character is shrouded in mystery and all we have is a faint idea of her past. However, there is no doubt that she was extremely important in safeguarding the secrets of Castle Grayskull for all that time!
Sssqueeze
He was a member of the Snake Men, and his allegiance was to King Hiss. He has the ability to stretch his arms in an almost unnatural way, and he has not had any character development. King Hiss is shown summoning him from the dimension where all of the Snake Men are imprisoned.
The 2002 animated series, however, had quite a makeover for this character. He was seen with snake heads instead of his arms, and he was tasked with checking the true loyalties of Kobra Khan. This character has been criminally under-used because even in the 2002 series, he was merely a passing glimpse!
There are so many fascinating characters in the Masters of the Universe franchise that it is impossible to keep track of them all. Many characters have multiple representations in various incarnations, and the storylines are extensive. We tried to bring you a collection of all these characters, and if you appreciate our efforts do not forget to check out our other videos on the Masters of the Universe franchise!