...hard-core fans will love the extensive extras and the retro blast from the past.
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Many action figure lines that hit the market are usually in conjunction with, or after the release of, a successful television series or blockbuster movie. Just off the top of my head I've seen toys of Captain Caveman from "The Flintstones," Captain Kirk from "Star Trek: The Original Series," and most recently Captain Jack Sparrow from "Pirates of the Caribbean." But in the 1980s, it was a common occurrence for the reverse to happen. Classic toy lines such as G.I. Joe, Transformers, and He-Man and the Masters of the Universe became so popular that it wasn't long before they found a home on the Saturday morning cartoon line-up.
"He-Man and the Masters of the Universe" originally was intended to be a line of figures based on Arnold Schwarzenegger's breakout film, "Conan the Barbarian," back in the spring of 1982. Due to the graphic violence and nudity in the picture, Mattel wisely opted to sever the "Conan" ties since youngsters would probably need therapy after seeing bloody beheadings and group palace orgies in a restricted movie. Instead, Mattel decided to make a few tweaks keeping the classic medieval fantasy aspect of "Dungeons & Dragons," and blending in some futuristic "Star Wars" elements to create a brand-new and exciting property.
Set in the fictional world of Eternia, "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe" follows the adventures of young Prince Adam and his friends as they heroically defend the land from evil forces including a wicked sorcerer named Skeletor. To aid in his fight, Adam wields a mystical sword that transforms the teen into He-Man: the most powerful man in the universe. The transformation grants him enhanced strength, speed, and the ability to shazam-up his timid green tiger Cringer into the mighty Battle Cat. Adam's secret is only known by a select few, namely the Sorceress, Man-At-Arms, and a bumbling, comic-relief wizard known as Orko.
This DVD release from BCI Entertainment features the third animated series for the franchise that aired on Cartoon Network in 2002, and is a huge improvement over Filmation's original from the early 80s. The anime-style artwork is eye-catching and sometimes has a three-dimensional feel. I thought the mist and snowstorm effects were a nice touch, and the extravagant backgrounds for Castle Grayskull and Snake Mountain are simply gorgeous. The writing is another step in the right direction, with interesting plot-driven storylines jam-packed with highly detailed action sequences.
Some parts of the show are still a bit cheesy, but purists prefer having some things stay true to the original. The way Prince Adam chants those famous words, "by the power of Grayskull..." is still present, as is He-Man's "I... have... the POWER!" Some of the sound effects have a familiar 80s ring to them, and we also have the transitional clips that connect one scene to another via a brief "He-Man" jingle.
Volume 2 of "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe" contains episodes 14-26 of the first season on three DVDs.
Disc one:
14) "Underworld." King Randor, Prince Adam, and Man-At-Arms head to Subternia to help resume peace talks between the Speleans and the Caligars. Meanwhile, Castle Grayskull is under assault by the Evil Warriors from beneath the surface.
15) "The Monster Within." Beast Man takes control of Man-E-Faces' monster disguise during a battle, causing the hero to doubt his self-worth. Skeleton employs bounty hunters Tuvar and Baddhra to hunt down and capture He-Man. Only Man-E-Faces can save He-Man, but can he muster up the strength to do it?
16) "The Mystery of Anwat Gar." Prince Adam and Man-At-Arms are sent to the island of Anwat Gar by the Sorceress to search for powerful artifacts known as the Legacy Stones. A battle ensues with Sy-Klone, guardian of the Legacy Stones, which gives Skeletor the opportunity he was waiting for...
17) "Roboto's Gambit." Tri-Klops plots to conquer Eternia on his own accord with an army of Bone Monsters. While He-Man and Sy-Klone desperately defend the palace from the onslaught, Man-At-Arms' chess-playing robot, Roboto, tries to convince Teela that he can help.
18) "Trust." In search of the powerful rare mineral Eternium found only in the Ice Mountains, Stratos and Trap Jaw become trapped with each other in a deep cavern after a confrontational battle. Both injured, the two bitter rivals decide to set aside their differences and work together to find a way out of their predicament.
Disc two:
19) "Orko's Garden." Orko heads to the Evergreen Forest searching for Moss Man in hopes of finding assistance with tending the Royal Palace Gardens. Instead, he meets Evil-Seed, posing as Moss Man, who gives Orko magical seeds that sprout enormous vines and capture everyone in the palace. Will the real Moss Man please stand up? Please stand up? Please stand up?
20) "Buzz-Off's Pride." In the land of Veridas, Buzz-Off is defeated by three menacing giants, keeping the incident a secret from the Masters. But when the Masters head to the area on another matter, Buzz-Off's vengeful obsession towards the giants could put the mission at risk.
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[release]23884[/release]