He-Man and The Masters of the Universe isn’t just another nostalgia-fueled franchise to me. MOTU was my introduction to action figures, comic books (via the minicomics that came with those action figures), and animation. That old Filmation cartoon was my first appointment TV, and my best childhood memories are at the foot of my grandparents’ Christmas tree, opening the MOTU toys my parents spent the year hunting and hoarding for me. So, when Netflix and Kevin Smith announced the latest installment to their controversial He-Man revival, Masters of the Universe: Revolution, I was excited, by sheer mental muscle memory alone.
Plus, I’m in the faction that LIKED Masters of the Universe: Revelation. I was there in 2019 when Kevin Smith mysteriously appeared at Power Con (think San Diego Comic Con, but all HE-MAN) and unexpectedly announced a spiritual sequel to that classic Filmation series, and, in that synopsis, the story presented a Teela-centric concept that made sense to an old fan like me. The only real dangling plot thread from the classic MOTU storyline, in both Mattel’s minicomics and the Filmation cartoon, was Teela’s origin and connection to the Sorceress. Do I wish He-Man had more screen time? Sure, but did I expect it? Not really.
Revelation suffered from the context of a pop cultural trope that, had the series stood on its own without that baggage, might not have been a trope, at all. The fact is, many superhero/adventure films, from some Marvel franchises, to Star Wars, to Indiana Jones, have attempted to shift toward female protagonist leads, often at the expense of the previous male leads “winding down.” A vocal group in fandom has proclaimed this an attempt at emasculating society, and who knows, they might be right. Yet, MOTU has ALWAYS had powerful female leads — He-Man’s mother is an Earthen astronaut turned queen, and the keeper of Eternia’s greatest secrets is a sorcerESS — so tying up Teela’s decades-long dangling plot thread shouldn’t have been SO controversial. LIke I said, it’s all that was left on the table from the original era, really. Alas, the shadow of present trends was cast.
Which is why its new sequel, Revolution, is such a dichotomous story. On one hand, Smith and company seem conscious of offering more He-Man action, while on the other, they maintain their momentum with Teela’s tale. For skeptical fans, I wonder, if Revolution stood on its own, and the original Sorceress had her own prominent co-plot, would the same criticism prevail? Or was Revolution doomed from the start, so consumed by “agenda,” just as Skeletor and his minions are consumed by Mother Board’s techno-virus? Oh, that IS the plot, by the way — that technology threatens to consume the magic of Eternia. Is this an INTENTIONAL analogy for the cynicism of the internet tainting the appeal of a beloved childhood franchise?
Frankly, I don’t care. If I liked Revelation, I LOVED Revolution. While I appreciate the attempt to mature MOTU, what appeals most to me is seeing the characters I’ve loved for decades animated in such a fluid, contemporary style, by Powerhouse Animation Studios. I wish the trailers weren’t as forthcoming with the characters included in this story, from the members of The Evil Horde to Gwildor, from the live action MOTU film, because I would’ve literally leapt from my seat at the sight of them on-screen. For example, as a kid loving He-Man in Arizona, I loved my Rio Blast action figure — Eternia’s own cowboy. His screen time in Revolution is a pure joy.
Because, remember, He-Man cartoons were designed to sell toys. That a rich mythology developed from the DC-published comics and the Filmation-produced cartoon is sheer phenomenon, fueled in part by the imagination of fans when the franchise was absent from the limelight. Revolution knows this and finds many ways to scratch that itch — including an exploration of the show’s subtextual romance that moves our heroes forward even while proving what was there all along. Therein lies when the dichotomy culminates, and perhaps finds purpose — finally, He-Man GETS the girl. And, in spite of the side-eyes of this show’s critics, the girl WANTS to be GOT.
Fortunately a few brief moments of surprise helped compensate for the marketing’s near-full reveals of story and characters, including a mid-credits stinger that was as expected as it was finally exciting to see. As always, the fans have the power to proclaim if a third season is on the horizon for this incarnation of Masters of the Universe. The new status quo offers great potential for stories never told, yet we have enough of that original spirit of fantasy adventure to fuel the franchise in its fun, old school way. Of course, I’m a grown-up now, so Revolution didn’t have me running around raising aloft a wrapping paper tube and shouting, “By the Power of Grayskull!” Fortunately, it didn’t drive me to yell, “Let the power RETURN,” either. I’m all for keeping it around, as long as it lasts.
