He-Man

He-Man ("The Most Powerful Man in the Universe") is the fictional heroic lead character in the toy series Masters of the Universe and the various spin-off products and media related to it. The most prominent is the animated series He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, produced by Filmation Studios. The syndicated series premiered in 1983 and ran until 1985, for a run of 130 episodes. In the series, He-Man and his friends defend Eternia and the secrets of Castle Grayskull from the evil forces of Skeletor.

Overview

As with many parts of the Masters of the Universe story, He-Man's background and origins were somewhat revised in successive versions of the story and it is sometimes difficult to reconcile the various versions.

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Starting with the third series of mini-comics released with the original toys, He-Man's true identity is Prince Adam, the son of King Randor and Queen Marlena, the rulers of the planet Eternia. Marlena is from the planet Earth, making He-Man only half-Eternian.

Related Topics:
Prince Adam - King Randor - Queen Marlena - Eternia

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Prince Adam was granted the power to transform into He-Man by The Sorceress of Castle Grayskull by holding aloft his magic sword and proclaiming "By the power of Grayskull... I have the power!"

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Prince Adam's pet is a cowardly green tiger named Cringer. When Adam changes to He-Man, Cringer becomes a giant (and brave) armored green tiger named Battlecat, who serves as He-Man's steed. Adam is friendly with Teela, the female Captain of the Royal Guard, who has a crush on He-Man.

Related Topics:
Tiger - Cringer - Armored - Teela

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Castle Grayskull, which resembles a gigantic skull, is the source of the Power of Grayskull. Inside the Castle lives the Sorceress. Part falcon and part woman, she possesses the magical ability to fully change herself into a falcon. The Sorceress is among the most powerful magic-wielders on Eternia. She has limited use of the power held within Castle Grayskull, but only for the purpose of its protection. She also communicates telepathically with He-Man, and was the person responsible for introducing Prince Adam to the power of changing into He-Man.

Related Topics:
Skull - Falcon - Magic - Telepathically

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To protect his family, He-Man keeps his ability to transform secret, sharing the knowledge only with Man-At-Arms, Orko, Cringer/ Battle Cat and The Sorceress. The original cartoon series indicated that the dragon Granamyr also knew his secret. The UK comic series also implied that Zodak knew the truth as well. At the beginning of the New Adventures of He-Man series, Prince Adam told his parents the truth before going into space to protect the planet Primus.

Related Topics:
Man-At-Arms - Orko - Dragon - Granamyr - Zodak

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Adam has a twin sister named Adora, theoretically the Princess of Eternia, but in fact a leader in the Great Rebellion against Hordak on the planet Etheria. He-Man made several appearances in the television series.

Related Topics:
Adora - Hordak - Etheria

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He-Man's chief adversary is Skeletor, a blue-skinned muscleman with a skull for a head, wearing a cowl. He is skilled in black magic as well as all forms of combat. Skeletor's weapon of choice is his Havok Staff, a ram's skull atop a large rod which serves to channel his magic and amplify his powers. Though his origin is mysterious, a tie-in comic inferred that Skeletor was Keldor, younger brother of Eternia's ruler King Randor's (Prince Adam's father).

Related Topics:
Skeletor - Black magic

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Skeletor's base of operations is Snake Mountain, a fortress made of polished black basalt, which has a giant stone snake coiled around it. Snake Mountain is located on the Dark Hemisphere of Eternia.

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