2009 was the first complete year of Masters of the Universe Classics. To maintain interest in the line, most of the characters selected were longstanding favourites. This was arguably the best year of the entire run.

SKELETOR

EVIL LORD OF DESTRUCTION

The Classics interpretation of Skeletor is very good and instantly recognisable. The head sculpt is superb. The first edition of this figure featured a left hand that was a little too open to hold the Havoc Staff correctly.

STRATOS

WINGED WARRIOR

Classics Stratos is well designed but the wings were stuck in the wrong position behind the arms. The examples shown have repositioned wings. The red jetpack is from the Ultimate Battleground Weapons Pak.

FAKER

EVIL ROBOT OF SKELETOR

A fine version of Faker. Some items in the photos were not included with the figure. The axe and shield were included in 2010’s Great Wars Weapons Pak. The robot head was packed with the 2014 version of Skeletor.

MER-MAN

OCEAN WARLORD

A fantastic figure with lovely sculpting detail and paint shading. Four Horsemen Studios designer Eric Treadaway wanted to ensure that Classics Mer-Man was an accurate representation of the original cross-sell art.

Despite the quality of the Vintage toy, it was a point of contention that it did not look like the accompanying artwork. This is fixed with the Classics figure with the inclusion of a toy-inspired head and an art-inspired head.

ZODAC

COSMIC ENFORCER

Zodac is another superb figure from the Masters of the Universe Classics line. The armour, with its moulded ammunition cartridges, is a very good update with a detailed paint application.

HORDAK

RUTHLESS LEADER OF THE EVIL HORDE

It was a good move to bring the leader of the Evil Horde into the Classics line early on. This interpretation of Hordak is the definitive version of the character. The toning on the skull is particularly impressive.

MAN-AT-ARMS

HEROIC MASTER OF WEAPONS

Classics Man-At-Arms is a very good version of the character with obvious links to the original artwork. The bulky armour is aesthetically strong but is not a good fit. This became an issue with a number of Classics figures.

HE-RO

HEROIC COSMIC WARRIOR

He-Ro was a concept character from the Vintage line who was never made into a figure. The superhero look isn’t a good match for the traditional Masters of the Universe style, but the historical significance is important.

TRI-KLOPS

EVIL & SEES EVERYTHING

Classics Tri-Klops is a great figure which draws from the Vintage and includes 200X elements. The warrior ring accessory recalls the original toy. The metallic sword shown here is from the Ultimate Battleground Weapons Pak.

WEBSTOR

EVIL MASTER OF ESCAPE

A brilliant version of a popular character, Classics Webstor is very obviously a strong tribute to the Vintage toy. The extra limbs are, however, design elements from the 200X era. He has one of the best head sculpts in the line.

TEELA

WARRIOR GODDESS

Teela is striking but the torso sculpt is badly unsymmetrical and the head wobbles on a loose neck peg. The Zoar stand and armour and red weapons are from the Great Wars and Great Unrest Weapons Paks respectively.

ZODAK

MYSTIC ENFORCER

Zodak shows how opportunities to expand the line were used. He is based on the 200X Zodac redesign but uses the spelling seen in promotional material for the original toy. The helmetless head came with Strobo in 2013.

SCAREGLOW

EVIL GHOST SERVING SKELETOR

Scareglow is one of the finest Classics figures. His name was compressed into one word for this line. The Castle Grayskull accessory includes a tiny key which opens a side door into the Classics version of the fortress.

HE-MAN

MOST POWERFUL MAN IN THE UNIVERSE

He-Man was reissued to remove the red eye paint and correct the shoulders of the first edition. The improved figure is the character’s definitive incarnation. The extra heads shown here came with Oo-Larr in 2015.

KING RANDOR

HEROIC RULER OF ETERNIA

Another good figure although the swaying cloak design is an awkward fit. The spear (which was Vintage King Randor’s accessory) did not come with the figure but was included in the Great Wars Weapons Pak.

THE GODDESS

HEROIC TRAINER OF HE-MAN

Classics Goddess is the Sorceress character from the He-Man and the Power Sword minicomic. Some fans had problems with breakages due to the brittle translucent plastic. The accessories relate to the minicomic story.

SKELETOR

EVIL LORD OF DESTRUCTION

Skeletor was reissued with a tighter left-hand grip than the first version. This was to make it easier for the figure to hold the accessories.