Few could have predicted He-blazing Man’s popularity in the years to come, despite the fact that it was intended to be a lucrative toy line by Mattel. He-Man has been a hugely popular franchise from the inception of the toy line and the succeeding 1983 TV show. The characters have become well-known.
They’re still relevant today after three more animated shows, a feature picture, and several comic books. He-Man and the Masters of the Universe feature a broadcast of characters, each with their own set of skills. In this video, we’ll walk you through some of the franchise’s most powerful and frightening characters, as well as their backstories.
He-Man
Speaking of the most powerful characters, we must begin our journey with the strongest among them all! He-Man, the titular protagonist and loved superhero, is probably the only reason why Skeletor could not take over the planet of Eternia. He starts off as a young prince named Adam, but the powers bestowed upon him by a sorceress gave him superhuman strength. He would simply transform into He-Man by holding his magic sword up and chanting “By the power of Grayskull”. He is referred to as the most powerful man in the universe and his antics justify the hype around him.
We have seen him punch through metal, pick up mountains, and even lift Castle Grayskull to relocate it into another dimension. He is also blessed with super speed and agility, and his durable body can withstand explosions easily. His indestructible sword is a key source of his incredible powers and he is rightly called the real master of the universe.
In the mini-comics version, He-Man has been shown as a barbarian from an Eternian tribe. The planet has been wrecked by many great wars. He-Man comes with some special weapons from an early incarnation of the Sorceress of Castle Grayskull. He defends the secrets of Castle Grayskull from the evil Skeletor. In the popular cartoon version, we see He-Man as Prince Adam of Eternia, the son of King Randor.
The Sorceress of Castle Grayskull grants him special powers that transform him into He-Man alongside his cowardly pet tiger, who is transformed into a vicious beast. The source of his incredible powers lies inside the Castle with the Sorceress as He-Man tries to keep his special identity a secret for the safety of his family. Another cartoon series titled “The New Adventures of He-Man” echoed the storyline of the mini-comics.
However, the live-action films deviated a lot further, tampering with their structure. For instance, there was no mention of his secret identity and we even saw him using a gun in some scenes! In the 2002 TV series, much of the original plot was retained, but it added a more detailed back-story to the protagonist. We learn that he is a descendant of King Grayskull, who was a powerful Barbarian hero and saved Eternia from the Evil Horde. His magical sword channels his ancestor’s powers. However, in all these depictions, the one thing that remains common is He-Man’s incredible strength which makes him the most powerful character of the franchise.
Skeletor
If He-Man is the flag bearer of goodness, Skeletor is his antithesis and the main antagonist of the franchise. However, his powers are no less than He-Man, making him a tough opponent for the superhero. Skeletor wanted to gain access to the secrets of Castle Grayskull to become the master of the universe while He-Man is all that stands between him and his goals. The mini-comics had a rather simple storyline for this iconic villain. He was supposedly an inhabitant of a different dimension, who somehow lands up in Eternia through a multi-dimensional portal. Initially, he simply wanted to return to his homeworld, but with time, his lust for power grew and he wanted to seize control of Castle Grayskull.
There was a significant change in the later mini-comics, where it was hinted that he was Keldor, the long-lost brother of King Randor, but he seemed to be careful so as to keep this a secret. According to DC Comics, Skeletor possessed one half of the Power Sword and was trying to find the other half to unlock supreme powers. In the popular animated series released in 1983, Skeletor is shown as a demon from another dimension and this cruel Dark Lord commanded an evil army.
His mysterious past had possible links with the evil Horde suggesting that Skeletor was left behind after his invasion of Eternia. As revenge for his abandonment, Skeletor gave up his secret location and slowly set himself upon the Snake Mountain, assembling his own army. He-Man was, of course, his arch-rival, and he hatched numerous plans to get rid of his opponent.
As for the film version, the one thing we loved about the narrative was the depth of darkness and gravity of Skeletor’s character. He was way more powerful and even managed to capture the Sorceress of Castle Grayskull. When the franchise was revived in 2002, the narrative where Skeletor could be the Keldor, was once again explored. He trained under Hordak and his face was reduced to a skeleton on being doused in acid during an attack on Randor.
This was further explored in the 2012 DC comics where we learn that Skeletor was initially supposed to be the heir to the throne of Eternia. However, King Miro decided to make his brother Randor the king because Keldor was a half-blood. This made him grow bitter and resentful and eventually, he became the evil Skeletor that we know today. While all of his backstories are fascinating, his powers are no less amazing! In some animated versions, Skeletor is seen more as a comical villain, but his true evil nature was well captured in the live-action movie. It is no surprise that he is our all-time favorite antagonist!
Hordak
To mentor one of the evilest characters of the franchise, you have to harness just as much malevolent power yourself! Hordak, the leader of the Evil Horde, is in every way a capable leader under whom Skeletor trains in his early days. The Evil Horde is a deadly army of savage warriors and Hordak leads them to various conquests. In the early mini-comics series, Hordak was shown to have returned, seeking revenge on Skeletor, who had betrayed him. However, they did have a common enemy – He-Man and the common goal of seizing Castle Grayskull.
Hordak has been described as a sorcerer, who used a combination of technology and magic to conquer Eternia. He was the main antagonist in the 1985 “She-Ra: Princess of Power”. Hordak could transform his body into various weapons to suit his needs. This is where we find out how Skeletor was left behind during an attack led by Hordak, and how an angry Skeletor revealed Hordak’s secret base.
He also finds mention in the 2002 series, where he is showcased as a Dark warlord from Eternia. The original ruler of Castle Grayskull King Grayskull and Hordak wage a war. However, he was banished along with his entire army into a dark dimension. Later, he saves Keldor’s life and renames him Skeletor. There have been other stories surrounding this character, but he is an absolute badass in all of them! He is usually depicted to have a grotesque white face with red eyes and a snout-like nose. He has vampire-like fangs and his ears are pointed, resembling that of a bat.
He is adorned in a collar of bones, with black armor covering his chest that has a bat symbol on it. She-Ra, the twin sister of He-Man is his foremost enemy, but the ruler of Etheria has also been seen engaged in conflicts with He-Man. Hordak could also provide useful insight into the true evil nature of Skeletor and was quite an intriguing character.
Sh’gora
Sh-Gora might have made a brief appearance in the franchise, but it sure as hell was a memorable one. We witness one of the worst baddies in He-Man and the Masters of the Universe that could overpower even Skeletor. Short was basically a demon from another dimension that Skeletor initially planned on using to defeat He-Man. However, things did not go as planned.
Sh’gora proved to be a bit too powerful to be controlled and manipulated while Skeletor couldn’t banish him back to his world either. In fact, Sh’gora now had his own plans, and wanted to rule over Eternia! He imprisoned Skeletor, the very man who brought him into this universe, as well as other notable antagonists like Trap Jaw and Evil-Lyn. Even Whiplash was wounded, but he managed to head back to the royal palace to inform He-Man and the other warriors about the threat.
They realized that this demonic threat from another dimension was a serious one and immediately headed for the Snake Mountains. Sh-Gora, in the meantime, was trying to drain the powers of his captives, and if he were successful, he would become even more powerful. When He-Man and the others reached, Sh-Gora had already teleported away, leaving behind his summoned servants to fight on his behalf. He even overpowered the Sorceress after breaking into Castle Grayskull and transforming the sorceress into a strange creature.
He commanded this transformed beast to attack the evil warriors and the heroic ones alike and for once, good and evil were fighting together against a greater evil. Sh-Gora was trying to create a portal that would pull the entire planet of Eternia into his home dimension. If he managed to do so, it would be irreversible. Eventually, Evil-Lyn managed to break the spell cast on the Sorceress and combined her powers with Skeletor and the Sorceress to put Sh-Gora back to his own dimension. This gigantic tentacle-wielding blob-like creature was way too powerful, but unfortunately, it never became a recurring character.
She-Ra
We have mostly seen her as the adorable protagonist of “She-Ra and the Princess of Power” but she is also quite powerful. She-Ra, or Adora, is the twin sister of He-Man. She was raised by the sorceress Shadow Weaver and was trained to be a member of the Horde.
She was climbing her way up the ranks and was soon set to become a Force Captain. However, at this crucial juncture, a few members of the Rebellion captured her. She was initially hostile, but with time she learned that she was living in an illusion all these years. She-Ra possesses the Sword of Protection that transforms her into the Princess of Power just like He-Man transforms with his magic sword.
Her origin stories vary considerably; one of them suggests that she did not originally hail from Etheria. She was actually a member of the First Ones, one of the most ancient races, and was brought to Etheria through a portal. When the series began, the creators said that they intended her to be about 17-18 years old and was quite a pleasant character. Her long, beautiful blonde hair was tied back in a ponytail and her athletic build was a testimony to her strength. Even with her shifted allegiance, she never changed out of her Horde uniform.
As She-Ra, she grew considerably taller and is often seen in a gorgeous white dress. This noble warrior is true to her values and fought for the wrong side only because she was misled. She is freakishly strong, and heroic as perceived in her fight against the Evil Horde. She-Ra also has remarkable healing powers and her leadership skills made her a capable co-leader in the Rebellion of Etheria. This character was an attempt by the makers to include young girls in the franchise viewership, just like He-Man appealed to the boys, and turned out to be quite a successful idea.
King Hiss
This character featured in the Mattel toy line but wasn’t seen in the original animated series. It was only during the 2002 revamped version of the animated series that we got to see King Hiss. As his name suggests, there’s a clear connection to the reptilian side of his character. He has a humanoid form but can also shed his skin and become a writhing mass of serpents.
If we go by the original mini-comics that came with the toys, King Hiss was the ruler of an ancient race of conquerors that looked like humanoid snakes. On the planet Eternia, King Hiss and his men were engaged in a battle to conquer the planet; nevertheless, the magical powers of the planet’s Elders foiled their plans. They get trapped in a limbo-like dimension, where they stop aging and exist in a comatose state.
Several hundred years later, his right-hand man, General Rattlor manages to free him. We know the Snake Mountains to be Skeletor’s base, but it used to be King Hiss’ headquarters once upon a time. The two deadly villains form an unlikely alliance for a common cause; to conquer Eternia and destroy its protector, He-Man. They also conspired to obliterate one another once their primary objective was fulfilled.
The 2002 cartoon version projected him as a power-hungry, tyrannical ruler who was ruthless towards his enemies. However, unlike Skeletor, he did not abuse and disrespect his minions. This inspired fierce loyalty amongst his men, adding to his strength as a powerful army. King Hiss had some mysterious magical powers that were no less than the likes of Skeletor or Hordak. The Sorceress of Castle Grayskull reveals that King Hiss’s magic is as ancient as that of the Elders. His special ability was to transform into his snake form at will. He had a remarkable hypnotic ability in his snake form, capable of stunning the likes of even He-Man.
Evil-Lyn
She is the only female member of the Evil Warriors, serving as the second-in-command to Skeletor. She was a powerful witch and way smarter than many of Skeletor’s minions. Evil-Lyn was not at par with Skeletor, but being an opportunist, she wouldn’t hesitate to take over her master’s powers. She is ambitious and wishes to rule over Eternia one day. Her powers of darkness came in handy several times. Skeletor commands her but there are times when she acts independently as well. We have usually seen her with a magic wand that is crowned with a crystal ball. However, she doesn’t need an external instrument to generate her magic.
She hails from a wild underground city called Tundaria in Eternia. Her parents are powerful forces in the world of sorcery and magic. Her father is the renowned sorcerer, The Faceless One, and doesn’t approve of his daughter working for the wicked forces. He wishes that she would reflect on her choices one day and change her course of action. Although Evil-Lyn turns to the evil side, she still feels some bonding with her father.
In the cartoon shows, we loved this fearless character despite the side she fought for. She was in charge when Skeletor left the Snake Mountain, and her mannerisms reflected her evil wit. While the cartoon version focused more on her magical powers than her fighting skills, she could use her magical disguise to misguide her opponents. In one of the episodes, she even confesses that she served Skeletor only to usurp his powers one day and wasn’t trustworthy. Her character does undergo a sea of change towards the end when she moves away from the immoral.
In the live-action movie, the role of Evil-Lyn is played by Meg Foster, who is a seductress, calming Skeletor in his moments of hysteria. There is also a hint of a romantic relationship between the two. However, when Skeletor absorbs the power of the universe and does not share it with her, she deserts him. This was certainly an intriguing female character that played through the shades of black and white!
The Sorceress
The Sorceress of Castle Grayskull is one of the principal figures in the franchise, guarding the secrets of the castle. Technically speaking, she is the all-powerful deity of the storyline. Her character is played by various people through the years. She is the pool of all magical powers, but there is a catch. All of her powers are restricted to the confines of the castle; she is powerless outside its premises.
She transforms into a falcon to telepathically communicate with her trusted associates when a crisis arises and has been seen contacting He-man from afar. The Sorceress made He-Man the powerful hero that he is. She also provided the Sword of Protection to Princess Adora and became the source of her powers. The Sorceress is beyond the petty battles between good and evil but is always reliable as a trusted advisor and mentor to the good folks.
When King Grayskull ruled over Eternia, his wife Queen Veena became the Sorceress of Grayskull. In the earlier stories of Masters of the Universe, a similar entity was referred to as the Goddess while Queen Veena worshipped this entity. She is truly selfless and demands no acknowledgment of her help.
She simply resides within Castle Grayskull and watches over Eternia while practicing her magic. She can also foresee the future and possesses complete knowledge of the past. Instances exhibiting her teleportation skills have also been shown. While her appearance changes in various narratives, the powers remained more or less the same.
Shokoti
This wicked sorceress is often hailed as the Mistress of darkness and fear because of her ability to use it against her enemies. She holds a horned headdress and her pale bluish skin and lifeless eyes symbolize give off an unwelcome vibe. Her look is completed with a red cape. This was one of the most popular action figures of the 2013 Club edition of the “Masters of the Universe Classics” toy line. She belonged to a blue-skinned humanoid species called Gar but her family background is unknown.
Shokoti was trapped inside a pyramid to hold in her evil sorcery. One of her minions named Masque, however managed to raise her from the desert sands. When Stanlan, the royal archaeologist’s assistant was exploring the pyramid, Shokoti used him to lure in He-Man, Ram Man and Battle Cat into a trap. They came searching for him but Shokoti uses her supernatural powers to create an illusion.
In fact, they were on the verge of being sacrificed to the Sleeping Beast once it woke up. The Sorceress came to the rescue and Stanlan finally overcame his fears. He used the Power Sword and managed to save the three of them. Eventually, He-Man defeats the Sleeping Beast and Shokoti vanishes in a flash of light.
Moss Man
As the name suggests, Moss Man is man, made of moss who can camouflage into foliage. He also controls all forms of plants and vegetation on the Evergreen Forest. Moss Man lives in harmony with nature in this mythical paradise and has very minimal role in the cartoon series. We see him as a mere spy, who observes the enemy secretly in the disguise of a plant. However, he is quite a heroic character and has rescued people in danger several times by communicating with the plants. The action figure that released was basically a repainted Beast Man figure that was covered with fuzzy moss.
In the 2002 re-launch of the series, he was surveyed in more detail and depicted as one of the most powerful entities in Eternia. He is more of an urban legend with occasional hints that his powers could be even greater than He-Man. Moss Man is the kind spirit who keeps the Eternian forests in order. His goal is to stop his nemesis Evil Seed, who wants the plant world to take over the human world.
He has helped He-Man a few times and in one of the episodes, we even witness him save the masters from one of Skeletor’s strongest traps. His appearances are relatively sparse and we feel that this character could have developed better. Initially, he was supposed to be the heroic counterpart for Stinkor, but things didn’t quite work out because the latter was never a part of the original series.
Zodac
This could have been one of the more complex characters of the franchise if explored correctly. Zodac would simply be the neutral bystander in the battle between good and evil. However, this was a complicated concept to be put together in a show for children.
In 2002, when the character was redesigned, he was made into a black man to add racial diversity. Zodac is one of the earliest characters conceived by Mattel, and his early action figures came with the catch-line “Evil Cosmic Enforcer”. He is shown as human but has claw-like feet, a standard trait of the line’s evil characters. The card that comes with the toy states that he would attack the heroic forces, but it was quite an ambiguous description.
Later DC Comics features him as a neutral character who simply tries to maintain a balance between the two sides. He is more of an observer of the universe, and knows Prince Adam’s secret identity as He-Man. In the animated series by Filmation, Zodac is seen in three episodes, and the character clearly leans towards the good side.
He has no scenes with Skeletor or even shown in collaboration with any of the evil forces. According to the series bible, Zodac is a member of the Council of Elders and their leader. He kept a watch over Eternia, but he never interfered in the natural course of events. This muscular silent observer of the universe happens to be one of the first characters in the franchise to wield a gun!
Beast Man
Another notorious supervillain of the franchise, The Beast Man, controls wild beasts. He is Skeletor’s right-hand man and his freakish strength makes him a formidable enemy. When Mattel was creating the characters for Masters of the Universe in the early 1980s, Beast Man was among the first seven that they thought of. The action figure was released pretty early, and the mini-comics show him as Skeletor’s closest and most loyal ally.
His ability to summon and control wild beasts plays in Skeletor’s favor in some of the missions. The cartoon portrayal is in line with that of the mini-comic series with slight changes. For instance, despite being loyal to Skeletor, he detested being bossed around him by him and hoped to overthrow him one day.
In one of the episodes, he is even thrown out of Skeletor’s crew for the same. Without the Snake Mountain backing him he felt powerless. He planned to kidnap King Randor, and partly succeeded before He-Man rescued him. He returns to being Skeletor’s minions and in the later episodes has no more than a comical character. While he can control almost all animals, Panthor, Battle Cat, and Cringer are immune to his powers. We don’t get to know much about his background but it is revealed that he was a human from Earth, and abused animals all the time.
He worked as a technician on a spacecraft and crash-landed on Eternia before becoming Skeletor’s minion. The live-action movie makes a few changes to this character as we see him growling instead of speaking. He could use high-tech weapons and follow orders meticulously. However, the film doesn’t explore his ability to control animals at all which is a letdown. The 2002 re-launch of the series saw him become a much larger creature with a hunched back. However, his background goes amiss this time as well.