This review originally appeared on Goodreads on July 27, 2020.

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe Minicomic Collection Volume 2

By Various – Dark Horse Books – November 3, 2015

Review by Robin Marx

Like the first volume, this collection delivers a fun look at the mini comics included with the Masters of the Universe toy line. In addition to the later He-Man mini comics not included in the first volume, this book contains the She-Ra: Princess of Power mini comics, the few that were produced for the more space opera-oriented New Adventures line, and some fun fan service-filled comics that were created for the recent Masters of the Universe Classics toy line for adult collectors.

While the volume itself is assembled with every bit as much care and attention to detail as the first, it suffers a bit in that the stories included aren’t quite as entertaining as those contained in Volume One. While the entire line was conceived as a marketing instrument to promote toy sales, the earlier comics had more of a “wild and wooly” feel. As the comic line progressed, the formula became a bit more repetitive and the commercial aspect slightly more obvious. This book is still a fun read and a worthwhile companion to the first, but I missed the weirdness and mystery of the first comics, where the setting of Eternia was less developed.

★★★☆☆

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This review originally appeared on Goodreads on July 3, 2020.

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe Minicomic Collection Volume 1

By Various – Dark Horse Books – November 3, 2015

Review by Robin Marx

The Masters of the Universe toy line was an imaginative mix of fantasy and science fiction, with wildly unique character designs. While the premise has a clear delineation between good and evil (“these guys fight those guys”), it was thought that kids could benefit from a bit more backstory. Knowing more about the characters and the setting they lived in would provide inspiration for children to come up with their own stories, and thus the bonus pack-in mini comics were born.

While the comics were quickly produced and tended to have simplistic, linear plots much like the subsequent Filmation cartoon, they have their own charm. Many of the people that worked on the mini comics were either established pros doing some quick work on the side for extra money, or newcomers who later went on to greater success and fame. It was also interesting to see how the Masters of the Universe setting developed over time. Backstories change, characters are given different roles, etc.

First of a two-volume series, this book was clearly assembled with care. The artwork is presented in a larger format than originally used, allowing the readers to see both fine details and artistic goofs. Footnotes are sprinkled throughout the book, drawing attention to trivia, errors, first appearances, and other interesting aspects of the comics. There are also a number of interviews with members of the shifting teams behind their creation.

All in all, this is a fun look at a part of many kids’ childhoods. The comics were marketing instruments thrown together in haste, but the characters and stories are enjoyable and nostalgia-filled. It’s also an interesting look at the early work of a number of comic creators who would go on to bigger and better things.

★★★★☆

#CapsuleReviewArchive #ComicReview #SwordAndSorcery #DarkHorse #HeMan #MastersOfTheUniverse #MOTU