action figure: Masters of the Universe: Scare Glow

Mattel premiered their Masters of the Universe action figures with an elaborate back story in mini comic book form. He-Man lived on Eternia, a fictional planet decimated by war. The Sorceress of Castle Grayskull had entrusted He-Man with weapons to defend the planet’s fortress from the evil Skeletor. He-Man possessed one-half of the Power Sword and Skeletor had the other half. When combined, the two halves of the Power Sword provided the key to Castle Grayskull. The comic books supplied a wealth of characters as potential toys and soon Mattel and Filmation launched an animated television series based on the characters and their stories.

Masters of the Universe toys trace their popularity to Mattel’s savvy use of comic books, television, and the big screen to create a cohesive world for a consumer product. New variations and characters were regularly added to the line to keep the toys in front of kids. But the products were also popular because they were suited for kids to engage in fantasy play. Masters of the Universe toys allow girls and boys to take on the role of the hero or heroine and have the strength, weapons, and power to defeat the villain.