James Eatock Presents: The He-Man and She-Ra Blog!

Tuskador shoots water?

2012-02-21T10:00:00.001Z

As many of you will know, I am a fan of The New Adventures of He-Man. However, Tuskador is one character I could care less about. I thought the original action figure was a joke, and his appearances in the cartoon were often forgettable. Imagine then my horror when in the public service announcement that accompanied the episode "The Nemesis Within" he demonstrated the ability to shoot water from his trunk! Just when I thought the character could not lose any more of my respect, he did.

(click on the images to see them at full-size)

TV spot alternate takes #3

2012-02-20T10:00:00.003Z

Prior to the debut of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe airing, two differing TV spots were created by Filmation in order to promote series. The cel sequences and backgrounds used in these TV spots primarily came from the episodes "Diamond Ray of Disappearance", and "The Dragon Invasion", as they were two of the first episodes to near completion! In this, the third of four posts, I shall highlight the notable differences between the footage used in the TV spots with the actual completed episodes themselves.

In this piece from the TV spot we see He-Man throw a dragon out of shot. The final piece of animation appears in "The Dragon Invasion", in which the background is different. Oddly, in the TV spot it makes much more sense as the damaged wall should have appeared behind He-Man and the dragon in the episode produced!

On the left-hand side is the footage from the TV spot, while on the right-hand side is the footage as it was produced for the series.

(click on the images to see them at full-size)

In this piece from the TV spot we see Skeletor's laughing head over Castle Grayskull. The final piece of animation appears in "The Dragon Invasion", but was reshot so that the jaw-bridge was open.

On the left-hand side is the footage from the TV spot, while on the right-hand side is the footage as it was produced for the series.

(click on the images to see them at full-size)

A brief review #022 - "Song of Celice"

2012-02-19T10:00:00.004Z

As many of you will know, in 2010 I published The unofficial cartoon guide to He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. At 300+ pages the book features 700+ pieces of trivia, 460+ deleted scenes, 360+ examples of animation reuse, 380+ quotes, 50+ abandoned episodes, and a LOT more! It is the book that NO fan of the Filmation series can live without! BUY IT NOW!

As an incentive, here is my brief review and rating (as they appear in the book) for "Song of Celice"...

This episode has all the makings of a great one, but somehow it falls short. The basic premise itself is wonderful, but too many opportunities are passed by. Instead of seeing more of Celice and the danger Tahryn faces by her absence, we are treated to an out of place sub-plot involving Teela attempting to find and rescue her father. The scenes at Snake Mountain with Celice falling under the command of Skeletor are good, but by contrast the scenes of He-Man and his friends following Yog are not. The final confrontation at Castle Grayskull should feel like an event, but it feels like something is missing. Yog's all-too-brief brief battle with He-Man pretty much sums up the episode. 4/10

Now, may I ask; what is YOUR rating?

TV spot alternate takes #2

2012-02-18T10:00:00.001Z

Prior to the debut of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe airing, two differing TV spots were created by Filmation in order to promote series. The cel sequences and backgrounds used in these TV spots primarily came from the episodes "Diamond Ray of Disappearance", and "The Dragon Invasion", as they were two of the first episodes to near completion! In this, the second of four posts, I shall highlight the notable differences between the footage used in the TV spots with the actual completed episodes themselves.

In this piece from the TV spot we see Teela leap onto a Sky Sled within the grounds of the Royal Palace and take to the skies. The final piece of animation appears in "Diamond Ray of Disappearance", but not within the grounds of the palace. Notice that in the TV spot the background of the Royal Palace is missing an entire layer behind the archway.

On the left-hand side is the footage from the TV spot, while on the right-hand side is the footage as it was produced for the series.

(click on the images to see them at full-size)

In this piece from the TV spot we see Stratos swoop through the shot. The final piece of animation appears in "The Dragon Invasion", but takes place inside Castle Grayskull with Trap Jaw's laser blasts just missing the winged warrior.

On the left-hand side is the footage from the TV spot, while on the right-hand side is the footage as it was produced for the series.

(click on the images to see them at full-size)

Bruce Timm designs Mally.

2012-02-16T10:00:00.001Z

During the She-Ra series the now-legendary Bruce Timm was one of the many character design artists. He would often design a group of new supporting characters should the script so request it. The season one episode "Unexpected Ally" was one of the episodes he worked on to create the supporting cast for. Here we see two illustrations by Bruce as he designs the character of Mally. Once more the artist showcases his amazing ability to draw incredibly beautiful women! The note on the top right is interesting; is states that the final character model should use the body of the first design with the head of the second. If you examine the final character model of Mally in the episode you will see that this actually came to pass!

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

TV spot alternate takes #1

2012-02-15T10:00:00.004Z

FILMATION ART: Royal Palace interior.

2012-02-14T10:00:00.004Z

For the last fifteen years I have collected He-Man and She-Ra animation artwork. As a result I have amassed a pretty large collection! Here I present a piece of original background artwork from the He-Man episode "Diamond Ray of Disappearance" showing the interior of the Royal Palace, specifically a large room with an exiting corridor. I wanted this piece of artwork as it was part of the scene in which we see Prince Adam for the first time disappoint his father, King Randor, by making his excuses and leaving during an attack.

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

And here is how the background was used in the episode...

Six-armed statue.

2012-02-13T10:00:00.003Z

Here is a panning shot from the She-Ra episode "The Laughing Dragon" that I have always wanted to assemble for this Blog, but never quite found the time to. Even though this pan features Adora, Castaspella and Sorrowful, the main attraction is the beautifully-illustrated six-armed statue. I have no clue as to what this statue represents in Castaspella's kingdom of Mystacor, but it is a fantastic piece of Etherian artistry!

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

He-Man's missing arm!

2012-02-12T10:00:00.005Z

I have watched the season one He-Man episode "Quest for He-man" more times than I could possibly imagine since the mid-eighties. It was one of those episodes that I recorded when broadcast, hence it got a lot of playtime! However, when compiling images for this Blog I noticed for the first time that on this particular shot, as He-Man is falling through time and space, the lower half of his left arm is missing! It appears that the paint has been applied to the edge of the line art, suggesting that the camera position is incorrect. Whatever the reason, it is an interesting oddity!

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

Extendar ducks!

2012-02-10T10:00:00.001Z

In issue fifty-two of the UK Masters of the Universe comic we see Extendar's abilities to gain height work to his advantage in reverse! As one of the Rock People, under an evil spell, heads menacingly towards him, Extendar immediately reduces his height ducking the deadly impact!

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

The second change back!

2012-02-09T10:00:00.003Z

Although the Filmation series featured three occasions in which we witnessed He-Man transform back into Prince Adam, The New Adventures of He-Man series never avoided the opportunity to showcase this rarely seen event. In this scene from "He-Man in Exile" you can see that they refer to the reverse transformation as seen in "A New Beginning", but this time make it a little more striking.

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A villainous moonlight stroll #3

2012-02-08T10:00:00.005Z

Here is the third of three wonderfully atmospheric illustrations featuring Catra and Clawdeen from the story "The Lost River", which was featured in the rarely-seen four story She-Ra Ladybird compilation book. Artist Glenn Steward utilizes the color palette beautifully to create a striking nightime scene that is bathed in an eerie glow from the moonlight. Notice that only Catra and Clawdeen are given an outline, whereas the background is rendered with no visible outline. Due the moon being located behind the two characters we see a wonderful use of shadows in this piece. With the light source being behind them we see that the pair are given highlights. Also, notice the way in which Catra casts a shadow across the rock formations near her; a nice example of attention to detail.

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

The first change back!

2012-02-07T10:00:00.003Z

Although the Filmation series featured three occasions in which we witnessed He-Man transform back into Prince Adam, The New Adventures of He-Man series never avoided the opportunity to showcase this rarely seen event. In this scene from "A New Beginning" you can see the incredibly creative way the reverse transformation was directed in this series. He-Man would go down on one knee, as if bowing to the Sword of Power. This would be followed by a magical glow that enveloped his body, as Prince Adam slowly appeared once again. A very cool effect!

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A villainous moonlight stroll #2

2012-02-06T10:00:00.000Z

Here is the second of three wonderfully atmospheric illustrations featuring Catra and Clawdeen from the story "The Lost River", which was featured in the rarely-seen four story She-Ra Ladybird compilation book. Artist Glenn Steward utilizes the color palette beautifully to create a striking nightime scene that is bathed in an eerie glow from the moonlight. Notice that only Catra and Clawdeen are given an outline, whereas the background is rendered with no visible outline. The composition of this piece is very nice, as Catra and Clawdeen begin to notice something wrong with the bridge. I like the way in which the bridge is illustrated somewhat heavier than the rock face in the background, once more creating an impressive sense of depth. It appears that Clawdeen has her main caught up in the rope of the bridge...

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

FREE animation art giveaway: The Results.

2012-02-05T10:00:00.001Z

My FREE animation art giveaway which took place for seven days ended last Sunday. In total the "experiment" raised the awareness of this Blog and generated well over 1,900 NEW COMMENTS! I thought you would all be interested to see the people that achieved 50 or more comments, along with how many FREE cels they won! THANK YOU to everyone that took part. I hope you continue to post your comments on my Blog, even when there is no prize in sight! :)

ToonJukka - 308 comments - 6 FREE cels
HB Potlood - 194 comments - 3 FREE cels
Vinto-Man - 151 comments - 3 FREE cels
Tyler Baker - 121 comments - 2 FREE cels
David Monid - 119 comments - 2 FREE cels
Chris (He-Fan) - 115 comments - 2 FREE cels
Fabian - 105 comments - 2 FREE cels
Brett - 103 comments - 2 FREE cels
joseephus - 100 comments - 2 FREE cels
Chris Sunday - 60 comments - 1 FREE cel
Geret - 59 comments - 1 FREE cel
LJM - 59 comments - 1 FREE cel
Buzz Chuck - 54 comments - 1 FREE cel
Go Green at Battin - 53 comments - 1 FREE cel
Daniel Quintero - 52 comments - 1 FREE cel
SirBush - 52 comments - 1 FREE cel
Martn Olivero - 50 comments - 1 FREE cel

Don Manuel's Mother Dragon.

2012-02-04T10:00:00.003Z

Don Manuel's storyboards for the season one He-Man episode "The Dragon Invasion" reveal numerous gems. Aside from beautiful artwork, the appearance of Strongarm, and a few deleted scenes, we also see that he originally requested that the Mother Dragon be a different shade of green, to distinguish her from the other dragons. Sadly, this was something that Filmation did not do. Aside from the request here we see once again another beautifully illustrated introductory piece for his storyboards.

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

A villainous moonlight stroll #1

2012-02-03T10:00:00.003Z

Here is the first of three wonderfully atmospheric illustrations featuring Catra and Clawdeen from the story "The Lost River", which was featured in the rarely-seen four story She-Ra Ladybird compilation book. Artist Glenn Steward utilizes the color palette beautifully to create a striking nightime scene that is bathed in an eerie glow from the moonlight. Notice that only Catra and Clawdeen are given an outline, whereas the background is rendered with no visible outline. I love the way in which the evil twosome are strolling along a narrow path. I should make mention that the tree in the foreground creates a fantastic sense of depth.

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

Prince Adam's bad dream!

2012-02-02T10:00:00.001Z

"Nightmares!" from issue sixteen of the UK Masters of the Universe Adventure magazine tells a unique story in which Prince Adam's dreams are plagued by nightmares so realistic that he seeks the help of the Sorceress! In this dramatic panel we see Prince Adam awaken from a nightmare in which he is killed by Skeletor and the Evil Warriors!

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

Skeletor attacks!

2012-02-01T10:00:00.001Z

Here is one of the most striking panels from the Bruce Timm illustrated Masters of the Universe minicomic "The Terror Claws Strike!" This illustration above many others really does showcase the artist's influences; in particular King Randor's left hand reaching outward which has all the hallmarks of a Jack Kirby illustration! Also, by looking at Teela you can already see Bruce's stylized technique for drawing females which would become one of his best-known traits in later years. And as for Skeletor, as ridiculous as the Terror Claws are, rarely did he ever look this menacing!

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

Modulok attacks Teela!

2012-01-30T10:00:00.003Z

The Masters of the Universe minicomic "The Treachery of Modulok!" features an abundance of small action-packed panels! In these few panels we see Teela confront the villainous Modulok, the star of this particular minicomic. I like the fact that Modulok refers to Teela as the "warrior goddess", something that was pretty much abandoned when the Filmation series came about, even though in this comic her look is clearly based on the cartoon! I also like the third panel in which we can see Modulok strike Teela numerous times, with lots of little points of contact indicated!

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

Disappearing hearts trick.

2012-01-29T10:00:00.005Z

The underappreciated season one She-Ra episode "Bow's Farewell" is one of my favorites. It features a pretty unique story which primarily takes place in Twigget Village, features an impressive set piece with She-Ra, Swift Wind, and one of Etheria's moons, and presents Bow as a valuable and clever member of the Great Rebellion! Throughout the episodes there are also quite a few notable moments of nice direction. In particular, during the opening battle between Bow and the Horde Troopers, we see him use his tricks to escape capture. One of his tricks involves using flashpowder to disappear. A great touch on one such instance has the dissipating smoke form beautiful heart-shaped imagery!

(click on the images to see them at full-size)

Man-At-Arms versus poster glue!

2012-01-26T10:00:00.004Z

Here are some more wonderful storyboard panels illustrated by Tom Sito from "The Greatest Show on Eternia". While the final scene in the episode was pretty well animated, the expressiveness of Man-At-Arms in these panels has to be seen to be believed. The third panel with Man-At-Arms throwing the bucket full of poster glue to the ground is fantastic! Notice that Orko is drawn without any ears; this was actually something many of the storyboard artists did in their boards...

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

A brief review #021 - "The Royal Cousin"

2012-01-25T10:00:00.001Z

As many of you will know, in 2010 I published The unofficial cartoon guide to He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. At 300+ pages the book features 700+ pieces of trivia, 460+ deleted scenes, 360+ examples of animation reuse, 380+ quotes, 50+ abandoned episodes, and a LOT more! It is the book that NO fan of the Filmation series can live without! BUY IT NOW!

As an incentive, here is my brief review and rating (as they appear in the book) for "The Royal Cousin"...

Robby London not only manages to include a great deal of character development in this script, but also turns in an enjoyable action-packed story; featuring a small, but great cast of characters. Prince Jeremy has to be one of the most dislikeable characters to have ever appeared in the series. It is a testament to both the writing, and the voice acting of Erika Scheimer that he also has one of the most believable character turns. The story itself is thoroughly entertaining with Evil-Lyn enjoying her time in the spotlight. As the episode progresses it is interesting to see how each character reacts to Jeremy; and that in itself is what makes the episode better than most. 6/10

Now, may I ask; what is YOUR rating?

Wraparound differences #7

2012-01-24T10:00:00.002Z

FREE animation art giveaway!

2012-01-22T08:00:00.001Z

Have you ever wanted to own a piece of He-Man and She-Ra history? Now is your chance! Until the 29th of January 2012 (one week from now) you can win a free He-Man or She-Ra animation cel by contributing your comments to this very Blog! See the rules listed on the image in this post. As I type this people have already started commenting...

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

Forward's faces.

2012-01-21T10:00:00.002Z

In his storyboards for the season two He-Man episode "Into the Abyss" artist Bob Forward would illustrate beautifully detailed panels, and balance them out with extremely comical panels. Here are two panels that make me chuckle, mainly due to the way in which he has illustrated both Man-At-Arms and Prince Adam in close-up.

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Prince Adam's medallion?!

2012-01-20T10:00:00.005Z

In a previous post I mentioned a panel that featured a gray-haired Teela from "Skeletor's Surprise", a story from issue one of the UK Masters of the Universe comic. Something I did not highlight in that previous post I will now highlight here. Obviously in this panel Prince Adam's look is somewhat different to what we are used to, but most interesting of all is that he is sporting a medallion! Oddly, due to the way in which the artist has illustrated his jacket, the look kind of works...

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

Wraparound differences #6

2012-01-19T10:00:00.003Z

Here are some more examples of how the wraparound segment from "She-Ra Unchained" featured vastly different footage when retelling the events of "Beast Island". The images on the left are from the episode "Beast Island" showing Shadow Weaver taking the Sword of Protection from an unconscious Adora. However, as you can see in the images on the right, in the wraparound from "She-Ra Unchained", even though the first shot is the same, the special effects are not as exposed, and the second shot of Shadow Weaver holding the sword is from a less dramatic angle.

(click on the images to see them at full-size)

Beast Man turns up the heat.

2012-01-17T10:00:00.004Z

Here are a couple of beautifully illustrated panels of Beast Man by Rich Chidlaw from the storyboards to the season one He-Man episode "The Region of Ice". The rendering of the villain in these panels is superb, as is the cross-hatching and grey marker shading. Looking at these panels you would think that the final scene would actually have shadows, but sadly Filmation opted to keep the basic flat colors on show.

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

Coloring Orko like 1996!

2012-01-16T10:00:00.003Z

Back in 1996, working on a computer to create unique graphics was quite a challenge. Adobe Photoshop was still in its infancy, and computers were not versatile as they are now. In the early days of the He-Man and She-Ra on-line community we would create images to keep each other entertained. One of the earliest images I created was by using Paint Shop Pro to recolor Orko. Of course that image is incredibly small that it would not be worth displaying on this Blog, so I have lovingly recreated the image!

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

Wraparound differences #5

2012-01-15T10:00:00.004Z

Here are some more examples of how the wraparound segment from "She-Ra Unchained" featured vastly different footage when retelling the events of "Beast Island". The images on the left are from the episode "Beast Island" showing the moment Adora confronts Hordak and Shadow Weaver as she learns the truth, with Shadow Weaver sending her to sleep with a spell. However, as you can see in the images on the right, in the wraparound from "She-Ra Unchained", the angle is much less dramatic for the confrontation. It is actually amusing to see how tiny Hordak's throne is in this shot. Also, in the following shot, the sleep spell Shadow Weaver places on Adora is formed of a green mist.

(click on the images to see them at full-size)

Light Hope's outside appearances.

2012-01-14T10:00:00.005Z

Light Hope rarely ventured outside of the Crystal Castle in the She-Ra series. Although he appeared in various locations in the season one episode "The Stone in the Sword", those particular locations were still inside the Crystal Castle. His first notable appearance outside of the castle was as a glowing star in the season one episode "Treasure of the First Ones". His second outside appearance occurred in the season two episode "When Whispering Woods Last Bloomed", in which he appeared to She-Ra in his more familiar form.

(click on the images to see them at full-size)

Bob Forward's relaxed companions.

2012-01-13T10:00:00.003Z

Here is a lovingly-illustrated panel from the storyboards for the season two He-Man episode "Into the Abyss" by Bob Forward. Much like the famous transformation sequence in this episode, Robert Lamb's script did not call for this character set-up. It appears that when storyboarding this episode Bob Forward was clearly in a creative kind of mood! The best thing of all is that this panel was beautifully translated to the screen.

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

Wraparound differences #4

2012-01-12T10:00:00.003Z

Here are some more examples of how the wraparound segment from "She-Ra Unchained" featured vastly different footage when retelling the events of "Beast Island". The images on the left are from the episode "Beast Island" showing the scene in which a Horde Trooper steals a horse from a family. However, as you can see in the images on the right, in the wraparound from "She-Ra Unchained", the shots were directed from very different angles, resulting in a much more simplistic look.

(click on the images to see them at full-size)

Evilseed arrives!

2012-01-11T10:00:00.004Z

Here is a beautiful piece of layout artwork from the episode "Evilseed" by the late great Fred Carrillo. This piece was illustrated to give the storyboard artists and director a sense of how the scene may play out. This scene was wonderfully directed in the episode, and this illustration is incredibly atmospheric.

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

He-Man and Night Stalker?

2012-01-10T10:00:00.004Z

In this illustration from issue fourteen of the Masters of the Universe Adventure magazine we can see that the colorist has mistakenly colored Stridor as Night Stalker. This is not the first time the robotic horse would receive a unique paint job. Search through this Blog and you will find another questionably-colored version of Stridor!

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

Wraparound differences #3

2012-01-09T10:00:00.002Z

Back in 2006 I showcased how the wraparound segment from "Beast Island" featured alternative footage when retelling the events of "Into Etheria". Some six years later I thought it would be good to showcase the wraparound segment from the following episode "She-Ra Unchained", and how it features vastly different footage when retelling the events of "Beast Island". The image on the left is from the episode "Beast Island" showing He-Man struggling to break free of his chains. However, as you can see in the image on the right, in the wraparound from "She-Ra Unchained", it shows a much more expressive piece of animation as He-Man attempts to break free!

(click on the images to see them at full-size)

Poor Dragoon...

2012-01-07T10:00:00.001Z

Quite a while ago I revealed that the original ending to the season one He-Man episode "Dawn of Dragoon" had the villain Dragoon fall into the Bottomless Hole of Trolla, never to be seen again. This was changed at the eleventh hour to have He-Man and Battle Cat team-up to save him. Here is another page from the original ending showing He-Man and Battle Cat briefly discussing Dragoon's demise...

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Bow's beard?

2012-01-06T10:00:00.003Z

Here is a fascinating piece of layout artwork from the season one She-Ra episode "Beast Island". In this illustration we can see that the artist has illustrated Bow with a beard! And no, before you ask, it is not a fake beard. The artist clearly did not have a completed model sheet of Bow, or was simply illustrating the character from memory. Either way, it makes for a striking find. Notice also that the heart emblem on his armor is missing. Having drawn a large cross on the image, the head of layout has also written a note at the top of the illustration saying that the artist needs to "see correction"...

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

FILMATION ART: Mystic Mountains.

2012-01-05T10:00:00.005Z

For the last fifteen years I have collected He-Man and She-Ra animation artwork. As a result I have amassed a pretty large collection! Here I present a piece of original background artwork from the He-Man episode "Eye of the Beholder". Even though I have never been a fan of this particular episode, this one single image always stood out to me, as we see the beauty of the Mystic Mountains. Aside from the wonderful detail this artwork is beautifully colored with pinks and purples highlighting the various rock formations that work their way up the mountain. One of the things I love most about this piece is the small gathering of clouds around the summit, indicating just how tall this mountain is!

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

And here is how the background was used in the episode...

YEAR SEVEN BEGINS! :)

2012-01-01T10:00:00.004Z

It is hard to believe that this Blog is entering its seventh year! The scary thing is, as I type this, there is no end in sight! I guess as a "celebration" of sorts, let us look at the old banners that have adorned this long-running He-Man and She-Ra Blog!

2006

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2007

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2008-2009

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The current Snake Mountain-revolving banner has worked well since 2010, so I have no real intention of replacing it just yet...

Fading out...

2011-12-30T10:00:00.002Z

The Masters of the Universe minicomic "Enter: Buzz-Saw Hordak!" was one of the few appearances made by Mosquitor, one of the last action figures released in the toyline. It must have been hard to script a character into a book aimed at kids that sucked blood; with the blood intake visible inside his chest! The minicomic handled his power in a way that was kid-friendly. In these panels by Bruce Timm we see that as Mosquitor drains an individual's "life force", they begin to fade from sight. As much fun as the toy is, I think, in context with the comic, this works better than merely "sucking blood"...

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

Running transformation.

2011-12-29T10:00:00.001Z

In these three panels from the Masters of the Universe minicomic "The Battle of Roboto" we see something unique. Instead of Prince Adam merely standing with his Sword of Power raised transforming into He-Man, here we see him run towards us commanding the power of Castle Grayskull as he does. It is an incredibly original take on something we have seen numerous times before...

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It's that time of year again...

2011-12-25T10:00:00.002Z

Merry Christmas, one and all! Once again I find it appropriate on this day to showcase another Christmas-themed illustration featuring He-Man and She-Ra; this time issue nine of the UK She-Ra comic is showcased in all its ridiculous glory! And, is it me, or are both Skeletor and Hordak illustrated to have a slight smile on their respective faces? I already had enough of Skeletor smiling from "A Christmas Special"...

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

Snake Mountain is introduced...

2011-12-22T10:00:00.003Z

Here is the first storyboard page for the He-Man season one episode "Diamond Ray of Disappearance". Numerous storyboard artists worked on this episode; these fantastic panels being the work of Bob Kline, easily one of the best artists that Filmation ever employed! As this episode is technically the pilot episode, these two panning shots introduce Snake Mountain for the first time; in all its eerie glory! Bob Kline's use of cross-hatching on the second panning shot is impressive to say the least!

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

Victory pose!

2011-12-21T10:00:00.002Z

This illustration by Robin Davies appears on the final page of the Ladybird book "The Iron Master". Whilst He-Man holding aloft the Sword of Power is nothing original, the colors and boldness of this illustration are very strong. I like the fact that we can see the remains of the Iron Master, and the molten rock, at He-Man's feet. A very victorious illustration!

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

Roboto saves the day!

2011-12-19T10:00:00.001Z

The Masters of the Universe minicomic "The Battle of Roboto" was unsurprisingly packaged with the Roboto action figure. This comic takes a very different route from the character's origin in the cartoon; Man-At-Arms being the one that creates Roboto in this story. The heart being the key to Roboto's goodness is a rather ridiculous plot device, but in a strange way it actually works. Interestingly, the action figure came with no heart, even though the minicomic focuses on that aspect of his character throughout. Also, note the color scheme of Roboto in these panels; he is colored very different when compared to the action figure and cartoon model.

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

A brief review #020 - "Dawn of Dragoon"

2011-12-17T10:00:00.004Z

As many of you will know, in 2010 I published The unofficial cartoon guide to He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. At 300+ pages the book features 700+ pieces of trivia, 460+ deleted scenes, 360+ examples of animation reuse, 380+ quotes, 50+ abandoned episodes, and a LOT more! It is the book that NO fan of the Filmation series can live without! BUY IT NOW!

As an incentive, here is my brief review and rating (as they appear in the book) for "Dawn of Dragoon"...

Instead of treating the Orko like a mischievous child, or using him as comic relief, Robby London gives Orko a three-dimensional personality and a history that makes us sit up and take notice. The character interaction between he and Dree Elle is, at times, beautifully scripted, and we get a sense that these two cartoon characters actually do love one another. The sub-plot with Prince Adam unable to transform into He-Man is paced incredibly well with the resolution being a one of the most memorable moments of the series. Of course one of the series' best scenes occurs when Orko and Dree Elle reveal their faces to one another. Orko's homeworld was revisited numerous times during the series, but no other episode did it as perfectly as this. 8/10

Now, may I ask; what is YOUR rating?

Crashing through crystal!

2011-12-16T10:00:00.001Z

Here is a beautiful illustration from the 1985 UK Masters of the Universe annual. This annual featured a consistent style of illustration where watercolors were clearly the order of the day. This powerful image shows He-Man, having just appeared on the scene, smashing through a crystal cage that had imprisoned his alter-ego for a time. Although not obvious in this illustration, this annual featured a lot of illustrations that had He-Man with very long hair; when compared to his Filmation hairstyle anyway...

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

"Gwildor's Gamble!" #5

2011-12-15T10:00:00.002Z

"Gwildor's Gamble!" from issue seventeen of the UK Masters of the Universe Adventure magazine is interesting in that it takes a movie character in Gwildor, and places him firmly in the comic continuity, which some would say is prior to the movie. This story revolves around the power of the Cosmic Key, and dare I say, would have made for a really good minicomic story to accompany the Gwildor action figure! It is odd how this story appears to at first center around Gwildor saving the day, but suddenly switches to Orko as the hero!

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

A visitor...

2011-12-14T10:00:00.002Z

Once again, Bruce Timm shows why he was one of the best artists to have worked on the Masters of the Universe minicomics. In this panel from "The Terror Claws Strike!" we see Skeletor appear within Spikor's lair. This one single panel shows a fantastic use of blacks to create one of the eeriest and most menacing illustrations of Skeletor that we have ever seen. The pose itself, with the arms folded, also creates a sense of great power.

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

"Gwildor's Gamble!" #4

2011-12-11T10:00:00.002Z

"Gwildor's Gamble!" from issue seventeen of the UK Masters of the Universe Adventure magazine is interesting in that it takes a movie character in Gwildor, and places him firmly in the comic continuity, which some would say is prior to the movie. This story revolves around the power of the Cosmic Key, and dare I say, would have made for a really good minicomic story to accompany the Gwildor action figure! It is amusing how Gwildor's contribution to the story ends here, with him failing to save the day!

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

Sole source of income.

2011-12-09T10:00:00.003Z

Robert Lamb came up with numerous story ideas during his time working on She-Ra. One of many which unfortunately never saw the light of day was an untitled story that would've seen She-Ra attempt to pursuade an island kingdom not to give any further aid to the Evil Horde. Read for yourself!

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

"Gwildor's Gamble!" #3

2011-12-06T10:00:00.002Z

"Gwildor's Gamble!" from issue seventeen of the UK Masters of the Universe Adventure magazine is interesting in that it takes a movie character in Gwildor, and places him firmly in the comic continuity, which some would say is prior to the movie. This story revolves around the power of the Cosmic Key, and dare I say, would have made for a really good minicomic story to accompany the Gwildor action figure! The third panel on page eleven is beautifully colored to create an amazing sense of depth...

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

A brief review #019 - "Quest for He-man"

2011-12-05T10:00:00.003Z

As many of you will know, in 2010 I published The unofficial cartoon guide to He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. At 300+ pages the book features 700+ pieces of trivia, 460+ deleted scenes, 360+ examples of animation reuse, 380+ quotes, 50+ abandoned episodes, and a LOT more! It is the book that NO fan of the Filmation series can live without! BUY IT NOW!

As an incentive, here is my brief review and rating (as they appear in the book) for "Quest for He-man"...

An episode that features such ludicrous colorful characters, combined with a plot detailing the slow decay of a planet sounds like an odd mix. Yet, this episode somehow manages to make it work. Paul Dini, who often delights in character-driven episodes, delivers one that feels like a traditional Saturday morning cartoon. Surprisingly the story of He-Man suffering from amnesia and meeting the strange inhabitants of Trannis becomes the sub-plot. This is because the moment Cringer, Orko, and Ram Man enter the Time Corridor we realize that it is they who are the stars of this episode. Their endearing misadventures make us warm greatly to this crazy-looking episode. 7/10

Now, may I ask; what is YOUR rating?

"Gwildor's Gamble!" #2

2011-12-04T10:00:00.003Z

"Gwildor's Gamble!" from issue seventeen of the UK Masters of the Universe Adventure magazine is interesting in that it takes a movie character in Gwildor, and places him firmly in the comic continuity, which some would say is prior to the movie. This story revolves around the power of the Cosmic Key, and dare I say, would have made for a really good minicomic story to accompany the Gwildor action figure! The numerous panels in which we see He-Man, Teela, and Gwildor travelling through time are wonderfully illustrated!

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

Robin Davies transforms!

2011-12-03T10:00:00.001Z

This fantastic illustration by Robin Davies from the Ladybird book "Skeletor's Ice Attack!" was used as a promotional illustration when Ladybird would advertise their books in magazines. And rightly so! I remember being at school when one kid, who had just managed to acquire this book, came racing over to us. We all stood in the hall, instead of going into class, looking wide-eyed at this awesome piece of artwork! The definition of He-Man's physique looks impressive, but the power of Castle Grayskull that surrounds him steals the show!

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

"Gwildor's Gamble!" #1

2011-12-01T10:00:00.002Z

"Gwildor's Gamble!" from issue seventeen of the UK Masters of the Universe Adventure magazine is interesting in that it takes a movie character in Gwildor, and places him firmly in the comic continuity, which some would say is prior to the movie. This story revolves around the power of the Cosmic Key, and dare I say, would have made for a really good minicomic story to accompany the Gwildor action figure! I like the way in which the heroes casually ignore Orko's warnings in order to listen to more of Gwildor's stories. I think they have their priorities mixed up...

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

Trap-Jaw explodes!

2011-11-27T10:00:00.002Z

Here is a fantastic illustration from the Masters of the Universe minicomic "The Menace of Trap Jaw!" Mark Texeira's illustrative work on these minicomics was always of a high standard, and we can see here his expert use of blacks across the front of Trap Jaw to make the explosion stand out more against the figure in the foreground. The explosion itself is drawn with incredible fury, and the striking lines all around the image just add to the impact of this one panel!

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

Who is Bow talking to?

2011-11-26T10:00:00.001Z

In the She-Ra Ladybird book "She-Ra and the surprise party" Terry Gabbey's detailed illustration reveals an interesting collection of characters that we have never seen before! Although most are seen from the back it is always nice to see an artist's take on characters outside of the main cast. What I want to know though, is who Bow is talking to? "A white-haired female" is not a sufficient answer!

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

A brief review #018 - "Creatures From The Tar Swamp"

2011-11-25T10:00:00.001Z

As many of you will know, in 2010 I published The unofficial cartoon guide to He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. At 300+ pages the book features 700+ pieces of trivia, 460+ deleted scenes, 360+ examples of animation reuse, 380+ quotes, 50+ abandoned episodes, and a LOT more! It is the book that NO fan of the Filmation series can live without! BUY IT NOW!

As an incentive, here is my brief review and rating (as they appear in the book) for "Creatures From The Tar Swamp"...

The plot for this episode is relatively simple, but the character writing throughout the script, whilst not spectacular, is above average. Orko is written in this episode more appropriately than many other appearances in the series. During the course of the story we see him learn a hard lesson, and we can almost feel his frustration and pain. Not only are we treated to Orko's origin story, but we also get a fantastic character in Lady Edwina. She steals each and every scene she is in thanks to her wonderful look and Linda Gary's great voice acting. The pacing of this story slows down during the middle of the episode, but it is not enough to spoil an entertaining episode. 7/10

Now, may I ask; what is YOUR rating?

Imp's first appearance...

2011-11-23T10:00:00.004Z

One of the things I tend to forget about the She-Ra series is the way in which the writers originally presented the character relationship between Hordak and Imp; specifically in the episodes "She-Ra Unchained", which was Imp's debut, and "The Red Knight". Both of these episodes feature Hordak clearly treating Imp as if he would any other Evil Horde character in the series. It is strange to watch Hordak admonish Imp and call him names. Thankfully this did not last! As I have expressed before, Don Heckman had the unique ability to write Imp perfectly, and was the one writer to really focus on the character relationship between he and Hordak. When Hordak expresses that Imp is the only one that he can trust in the episode "Friends Are Where You Find Them", Don Heckman proved that you can have a genuine friendship without possible betrayal between villains!

(click on the images to see them at full-size)

Sad Skeletor...

2011-11-22T10:00:00.002Z

Don Manuel was known for his incredibly detailed storyboards throughout his time at Filmation, most notably on He-Man and She-Ra. Very rarely would he put over expressive comedy into his boards. However, in this panel from "Horde Prime Takes A Holiday" we see Skeletor's despondent face illustrated with a great deal of comedic value!

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

How tall is Ram Man?

2011-11-20T10:00:00.002Z

In this storyboard panel from the season one He-Man episode "Colossor Awakes" we can see that the artist has paid little attention to the character model sheets. Ram Man is considerably shorter than Stratos in the show, but in this illustration Ram Man is as tall, if not taller, than Stratos! If you look at Orko in the panel, even he looks a little confused as to the size of Ram Man!

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

Trap Jaw the sailor!

2011-11-19T10:00:00.001Z

As you should all know by now, Trap Jaw is by far my favorite villain from He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. The character was made all the more cooler when Robert Lamb had the character disguise himself as a sailor in "The Ancient Mirror of Avathar". Now, we all know that its a terrible disguise, and yet it fools Prince Adam; I guess in the same way that no one can notice the similarities between Prince Adam and He-Man! What I love about Trap Jaw's disguise is the design and color scheme. In some bizarre twist the disguise suits Trap Jaw incredibly well; the villain could genuinely sport this look throughout the series!

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

"Hide and Sneak"

2011-11-18T10:00:00.001Z

Here is an amusing one page story from issue thirty-seven of the UK Masters of the Universe comic. Here we see Grizzlor and Mantenna playing a friendly game of hide and seek. If this were an episode of the Filmation series the moral of the story would be, "Never play hide and seek with Grizzlor."

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

Furious Skeletor!

2011-11-17T10:00:00.003Z

I have often championed the work of storyboard artist Tom Sito. Amusingly he had the task of storyboarding "The Greatest Show on Eternia"; the episode that many consider to be the worst! Unsurprisingly, due to his talents, the storyboards for this episode are nothing short of spectacular! If you go back and check out my Blog posts for Tom's storyboards for the season one episode "Castle of Heroes" you can see how much fun he had drawing Skeletor; and it appears he had an equal amount of fun drawing the villain in this episode, if this drawing is anything to go by!

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

Hordak activates the freeze ray...

2011-11-16T10:00:00.001Z

Don Manuel is one of my favorite storyboard artists from the days of He-Man and She-Ra. His boards are always incredibly detailed, yet easy to understand. In this storyboard panel from the She-Ra episode "Horde Prime Takes A Holiday" we see his design for the giant freeze cannon that adorns Horde Prime's flagship, the Velvet Glove. I love the fact that he sets up the camera pan to reveal just how large this cannon is in comparison to the tiny characters of Hordak, Mantenna and Multi-Bot who stand to the left of the panel. Fortunately, the freeze cannon in the final episode, having gone through the layout department and background design, retains its awesomeness!

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

Caught by Dragoon!

2011-11-15T10:00:00.002Z

Here is a dramatic and striking storyboard panel by Steve Hickner from season one He-Man episode "Dawn of Dragoon". I love the fact that both Orko and Dree Elle are dwarfed by Dragoon who looms over them from the edge of the rock face! When this episode was translated to screen, even though Dragoon was redesigned, the director managed to make this shot look equally as dramatic...

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

"The Secret of The Sword" adaptation #10

2011-11-14T10:00:00.001Z

Riding high on the success of their numerous Masters of the Universe and Princess of Power books, Ladybird decided to turn the animated He-Man and She-Ra feature, "The Secret of The Sword", into a book! The book was filled with actual stills from the movie and is very nicely presented throughout. Here are the remaining four pages of the adaptation...

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

Throwing the blade.

2011-11-11T10:00:00.002Z

Here is a great action-packed shot from "The Iron Master" illustrated by Robin Davies. As a kid I always liked this illustration; especially the way in which the Sword of Power is about to be caught by He-Man. Also note the beautiful star-filled sky covered by the harsh storm clouds; this is foreshadowing for a forthcoming plot device...

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

Strongarm was Chopper?! #2

2011-11-10T10:00:00.002Z

Here is yet another storyboard panel showcasing how artist Don Manuel illustrated Strongarm in place of Jitsu for the season one He-Man episode "The Dragon Invasion". It is amusing to see dialogue and scenes that would end up as Jitsu's given to Strongarm. I personally would have liked to have seen Strongarm make at least one more appearance in the series...

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

"The Secret of The Sword" adaptation #9

2011-11-09T10:00:00.001Z

Riding high on the success of their numerous Masters of the Universe and Princess of Power books, Ladybird decided to turn the animated He-Man and She-Ra feature, "The Secret of The Sword", into a book! The book was filled with actual stills from the movie and is very nicely presented throughout. Here are pages forty-one to forty-five of the adaptation...

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

Action-packed panels!

2011-11-06T10:00:00.002Z

The Masters of the Universe minicomic "The Battle of Roboto" featured an amazing amount of panels on each and every page. Even more astounding was the fact that these panels were often highly-detailed and full of action! This brief action sequence featuring He-Man, Skeletor, and Two-Bad shows just how action-packed they were. And believe it or not, there are more panels to be found on this page of action! I just removed them to focus on these ones.

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

Queen Marlena cries out!

2011-11-05T10:00:00.001Z

This dramatic Queen Marlena illustration by Robin Davies appeared in "The Curse of Crystal Mountain" from the one-off Masters of the Universe Ladybird annual. Queen Marlena did not have that many illustrations in the Ladybird books so it is nice to see her appear so prominently; even if it is in such bad circumstances.

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

"The Secret of The Sword" adaptation #8

2011-11-04T10:00:00.001Z

Riding high on the success of their numerous Masters of the Universe and Princess of Power books, Ladybird decided to turn the animated He-Man and She-Ra feature, "The Secret of The Sword", into a book! The book was filled with actual stills from the movie and is very nicely presented throughout. Here are pages thirty-six to forty of the adaptation...

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

Adam's shield?

2011-11-03T10:00:00.002Z

A while back in a post I showcased some image captures from the season one He-Man episode "She-Demon of Phantos" in which we see Prince Adam with the toy shield that came with the He-Man action figure. Here in all its glory is the actual model sheet for the shield. It is interesting to see the shield appear in the Filmation show, as it was never given any screen time outside of that one scene! At some point I really should put this next to the He-Man model sheet and create a somewhat "toy accurate" model sheet...

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

A brief review #017 - "Daimar the Demon"

2011-11-02T10:00:00.003Z

As many of you will know, in 2010 I published The unofficial cartoon guide to He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. At 300+ pages the book features 700+ pieces of trivia, 460+ deleted scenes, 360+ examples of animation reuse, 380+ quotes, 50+ abandoned episodes, and a LOT more! It is the book that NO fan of the Filmation series can live without! BUY IT NOW!

As an incentive, here is my brief review and rating (as they appear in the book) for "Daimar the Demon"...

This episode, for all its promise, fails to deliver. One of the biggest problems is the pacing. There is an urgency felt when Daimar is released from the Dark Dimension, but as the episode progresses it becomes a series of random scenes tied together by the Sorceress' Book of Magic. The incidents where the heroes encounter the effects of the eerie mist almost seem pointless, and when Daimar finally appears, the urgency has all but gone. This episode also fails to convince us that Daimar and Orko formed a friendship strong enough for the demon to renounce his destiny of evil. When the sickly-sweet rainbow appears over Castle Grayskull at the end of the episode we are less than surprised. 4/10

Now, may I ask; what is YOUR rating?

"The Secret of The Sword" adaptation #7

2011-11-01T10:00:00.001Z

Riding high on the success of their numerous Masters of the Universe and Princess of Power books, Ladybird decided to turn the animated He-Man and She-Ra feature, "The Secret of The Sword", into a book! The book was filled with actual stills from the movie and is very nicely presented throughout. Here are pages thirty-one to thirty-five of the adaptation...

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

Teela's in a bubble!

2011-10-30T10:00:00.002Z

The Ladybird Masters of the Universe book "A Trap For He-Man" featured a lot of fantastic artwork by Robin Davies. Here I present yet another panel from this exciting adventure in which we see Mer-Man use his powers to incase Teela in a bubble from which she cannot escape! Teela's awkward pose is well illustrated, as is the somewhat angry fish looking back in her direction!

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

Strongarm was Chopper?! #1

2011-10-28T10:00:00.002+01:00

For those that do not know, in the script and model sheets for the season one He-Man episode "The Dragon Invasion" Jitsu is known as Chopper. At no point in the series or accompanying production material does the name Jitsu ever appear! One of the strangest things I found upon obtaining the storyboards for "The Dragon Invasion" is that Jitsu is nowhere to be seen! Instead of Jitsu, storyboard artist Don Manuel illustrates Strongarm, the one-shot villain from "She-Demon of Phantos", in his place. My guess is that at time Don Manuel began storyboarding the episode the model for Chopper had not been finalized, and so he decided to illustrate Strongarm as a placeholder!

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

"The Secret of The Sword" adaptation #6

2011-10-27T10:00:00.001+01:00

Riding high on the success of their numerous Masters of the Universe and Princess of Power books, Ladybird decided to turn the animated He-Man and She-Ra feature, "The Secret of The Sword", into a book! The book was filled with actual stills from the movie and is very nicely presented throughout. Here are pages twenty-six to thirty of the adaptation...

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

Next time...

2011-10-26T10:00:00.004+01:00

Here is another fantastic panel from the Masters of the Universe minicomic "The Terror Claws Strike!" Once again Bruce Timm demonstrates his fantastic command of the comic book page! Skeletor looks almost devilish in his pose in the first panel, whereas in the second panel he strikes a more traditionally defiant villain pose. The coloring throughout these panels is gorgeous, and adds a great deal to the illustrations themselves...

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

He-Man's oddest appearance...

2011-10-24T10:00:00.001+01:00

Out of all of He-Man's appearances in all of the various Masters of the Universe canons, this appearance in the Golden Book "The Trap" has to be one of the oddest. Clearly the artist has looked to the toy for the design of He-Man's head, but his familiar armor is illustrated to look like braces that tuck into his belt! This book is worth investing in, if only to see one of the oddest appearances of the most powerful man in the universe! I am not going to even mention Stratos' crazy beard...

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

"The Secret of The Sword" adaptation #5

2011-10-21T10:00:00.001+01:00

Riding high on the success of their numerous Masters of the Universe and Princess of Power books, Ladybird decided to turn the animated He-Man and She-Ra feature, "The Secret of The Sword", into a book! The book was filled with actual stills from the movie and is very nicely presented throughout. Here are pages twenty-one to twenty-five of the adaptation...

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

A brief review #016 - "Reign of the Monster"

2011-10-19T10:00:00.003+01:00

As many of you will know, in 2010 I published The unofficial cartoon guide to He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. At 300+ pages the book features 700+ pieces of trivia, 460+ deleted scenes, 360+ examples of animation reuse, 380+ quotes, 50+ abandoned episodes, and a LOT more! It is the book that NO fan of the Filmation series can live without! BUY IT NOW!

As an incentive, here is my brief review and rating (as they appear in the book) for "Reign of the Monster"...

As soon as the episode begins we realize that the heroes are not the stars of this script. Skeletor is written to be pure evil, and his alliance with the Torgs sets the episode apart from many others. Of course, the one thing that we cannot help but focus on during the course of this episode is Molkrom; easily one of the best monsters to grace the series. Often the monsters in the series would have some visual quirk to make them less frightening, but Molkrom is hideous and frightening through and through. Although the character dialogue throughout the story is nothing special, the plot and the battle outside Castle Grayskull make this one of the series' great episodes. 8/10

Now, may I ask; what is YOUR rating?

Widget Fortress layout.

2011-10-18T10:00:00.002+01:00

Sometimes in order to make life easier for themselves, the layout artists, the background artists, and the directors, the storyboard artists would illustrate an entire location so that everyone could get their visual bearings! If a lengthy action scene were to take place, as it does in the season one episode "Evil-Lyn's Plot" then staging the action could get confusing, especially as the action in this episode takes place both inside and outside the Widget Fortress. It is interesting to see that the artist planned for the mine entrance to work its way into the back of a large land mass. Slightly more creative than what we got in the actual series...

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

"The Secret of The Sword" adaptation #4

2011-10-17T10:00:00.001+01:00

Riding high on the success of their numerous Masters of the Universe and Princess of Power books, Ladybird decided to turn the animated He-Man and She-Ra feature, "The Secret of The Sword", into a book! The book was filled with actual stills from the movie and is very nicely presented throughout. Here are pages sixteen to twenty of the adaptation...

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

The Moonstone chamber.

2011-10-14T10:00:00.001+01:00

As I have professed many times over "Glimmer's Story" from She-Ra's season one is by far one of the worst of the series. However, dare I say this; there are a few good moments in the episode. One of which is the inclusion of the Moonstone, and the awesome temple-like chamber that houses it. What I like about the Moonstone concept is that it gives Bright Moon a certain mysticism; something that was sadly missing for much of the series. It was established early on that Queen Angella was a being of magic and could link herself to her castle, but many of the writers never addressed that story. It is just a shame that the Moonstone appears in one of the poorest episodes of the series...

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

Heroic run.

2011-10-11T10:00:00.001+01:00

During his time on the Masters of the Universe minicomics Bruce Timm showed numerous examples of classic comic book artwork; he was clearly an artist who had grown up reading Marvel Comics. His influences were clear to be seen in each and every illustration. Here is a panel from "Enter: Buzz-Saw Hordak!" in which we see He-Man running towards us. He-Man's physicality and his pose, and the spot black shading on the figure, are clearly influenced by the late great Jack Kirby!

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

"The Secret of The Sword" adaptation #3

2011-10-10T10:00:00.001+01:00

Riding high on the success of their numerous Masters of the Universe and Princess of Power books, Ladybird decided to turn the animated He-Man and She-Ra feature, "The Secret of The Sword", into a book! The book was filled with actual stills from the movie and is very nicely presented throughout. Here are pages eleven to fifteen of the adaptation...

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

Reading a comic...

2011-10-09T10:00:00.001+01:00

In issue sixty of the UK Masters of the Universe comic, one reader in particular poses a very interesting question to Scrollos! I like the idea of Skeletor picking up a copy of the Masters of the Universe comic and learning all of the secrets! Sometimes these kids were way ahead of the writers of the comic...

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

Deleted scene from "Evil-Lyn's Plot".

2011-10-07T10:00:00.001+01:00

Here I present four pages of a deleted scene from the season one He-Man episode "Evil-Lyn's Plot". In this scene we see Teela teaching Prince Adam how to use a bow and arrow. There are some very amusing sight gags in these panels that would have made for an entertaining scene. The punch line when Teela leaves is good, proving once again that much of Prince Adam's incompetence is merely an act. While this scene is unnecessary, it is still a shame that it was cut for time. At the end of the scene you will see that Prince Adam unsheathes the Sword of Power from a different angle than what we are used to. This sequence was supposed to have been used here, and in the previous transformation in the episode, but for some reason they did not use it on the one transformation sequence in the episode. This animation would eventually be used in season two's "The Rainbow Warrior"...

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

"The Secret of The Sword" adaptation #2

2011-10-06T10:00:00.001+01:00

Riding high on the success of their numerous Masters of the Universe and Princess of Power books, Ladybird decided to turn the animated He-Man and She-Ra feature, "The Secret of The Sword", into a book! The book was filled with actual stills from the movie and is very nicely presented throughout. Here are pages six to ten of the adaptation...

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

A brief review #015 - "A Beastly Sideshow"

2011-10-04T10:00:00.002+01:00

As many of you will know, in 2010 I published The unofficial cartoon guide to He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. At 300+ pages the book features 700+ pieces of trivia, 460+ deleted scenes, 360+ examples of animation reuse, 380+ quotes, 50+ abandoned episodes, and a LOT more! It is the book that NO fan of the Filmation series can live without! BUY IT NOW!

As an incentive, here is my brief review and rating (as they appear in the book) for "A Beastly Sideshow"...

The first act of this episode is very strong, with a great feeling of suspense, as Beast Man slowly lures Cringer into a trap. However, by the time act two comes around it feels like an average capture and rescue plot; the story deserves much more than that. In a script in which Cringer should be the star, it is surprising that he is only in the episode sporadically. There are some good moments in this episode, and the directing throughout is worth taking note of. Sadly, these brief scenes cannot save an episode that slowly falls into the average category. He-Man's ridiculous confrontation with Skeletor at the end of the episode sums up the script. 4/10

Now, may I ask; what is YOUR rating?

The Diamond Sword...

2011-10-02T10:00:00.003+01:00

I was always a fan of this illustration from the 1987 UK Masters of the Universe annual showing Skeletor with what appears to be He-Man's Sword of Power. The sword is actually the Diamond Sword of Goman; an indestructible weapon, which Skeletor acquires as the story begins. If you own any of the Masters of the Universe comics by DC, this illustration will be instantly recognizable as one of the panels originally illustrated in issue three by George Tuska! It is fair to say that the 1987 annual features a lot of art swipes...

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

"The Secret of The Sword" adaptation #1

2011-10-01T10:00:00.002+01:00

Riding high on the success of their numerous Masters of the Universe and Princess of Power books, Ladybird decided to turn the animated He-Man and She-Ra feature, "The Secret of The Sword", into a book! The book was filled with actual stills from the movie and is very nicely presented throughout. Over the course of the next month or so I will be showcasing the pages for your enjoyment! Here are the first five pages of the adaptation...

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

Prince Adam in trouble...

2011-09-30T10:00:00.001+01:00

Here is an interesting panel from "Nightmares!", a memorable story that appeared in issue sixteen of the UK Masters of the Universe Adventure magazine. Prince Adam on the run from the Evil Warriors is unable to journey any further and falls at the feet of Skeletor! At some point I will showcase the entire story, but for now you have this panel to enjoy!

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

Gray-haired Teela.

2011-09-29T10:00:00.005+01:00

Issue one of the UK Masters of the Universe comic features a very odd and unique-looking panel in the story "Skeletor's Surprise", in which we see Teela with gray hair! Not that there is anything wrong with gray hair, but to see it on Teela is rather bizarre. The following page has her revert back to her striking red hair, so the colorist was clearly not paying attention...

(click on the image to see it at full-size)

A mighty effort!

2011-09-26T10:00:00.004+01:00

There's nothing quite like a Don Manuel storyboard! In this illustrated sequence from the episode "Disappearing Dragons" we see the moment when He-Man is bound by the giant robot Bellatron. What I love about Don's illustration is that he focuses on the extreme frames showing He-Man struggling, and succeeding, to break free of his bonds! Fortunately the animation in the episode was just as striking as these images! So much so that I actually purchased a group of cels from this sequence...

(click on the image to see it at full-size)