2012 marked the thirtieth anniversary of the Masters of the Universe. Half a dozen celebratory figures were added as an additional subscription. Several fan favourites appeared in the line alongside some weak examples.
JEWELSTAR
HIDDEN BEAUTY
This year’s collection started with a particularly awful character in Jewelstar. She was part of a Star Sisters three-pack (with Starla and Tallstar) which also included the Glorybird falcon and a stand.
STARLA
BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL LEADER
Another uninspiring figure, Starla would be a better fit in a superhero line than as part of the Masters of the Universe. Part of the Star Sisters three-pack.
TALLSTAR
LOVELY LOOKOUT
Tallstar includes a number of extension pieces so that her head, arms and neck can be lengthened. She was the third figure in the very disappointing Star Sisters set.
SORCERESS
HEROIC GUARDIAN OF CASTLE GRAYSKULL
From the front, Sorceress looks like she is a great design. The face sculpt is very good. There is a problem with the ugly way the wings are attached to her shoulders. A recoloured Zoar was included with a stand and armour.
FISTO
HEROIC HAND-TO-HAND FIGHTER
Unquestionably the definitive version of the Fisto character. A belt, giant sword and second head allow for an alternative look. Problems with distribution meant some fans could not acquire this superb figure.
FEARLESS PHOTOG
HEROIC MASTER OF CAMERAS
The first of the anniversary figures, Fearless Photog is based on the childhood design submitted by Nathan Bitner to a character-design contest in the 1980s. The figure was never made in the Vintage line as intended.
SHADOW WEAVER
EVIL MISTRESS OF DARK MAGIC
Shadow Weaver is an Evil Horde figure from the She-Ra cartoon. This is the first toy version of the character. She was the 2012 subscription-exclusive figure. The design is both simple and striking.
KOBRA KHAN
EVIL MASTER OF SNAKES
A great version of a favourite figure. Kobra Khan in Classics form was provided with two heads and a little lizard creature which can perch on his shoulder. He also has a blaster to match the Vintage figure’s accessory.
THUNDER PUNCH HE-MAN
HEROIC LEADER WITH A POWER PUNCH
A fairly good version of He-Man that is certainly better than his Vintage equivalent. As well as a shield and translucent sword, he also has a punch-effect accessory. The right hand is a fully closed fist.
DRAEGO-MAN
EVIL FIRE-BREATHING MENACE
Draego-Man was designed by the Four Horsemen for the anniversary set. He’s an ambitious figure which works well. The flaming shield, whip-like flaming sword and plain sword came with the Great Unrest Weapons Pak.
STINKOR
EVIL MASTER OF ODORS
Stinkor is a very good figure that can be displayed with the traditional Mer-Man head or a 200X-style head. The only accessory with the Vintage figure was a shield; additional accessories are included with the Classics figure.
SLUSH HEAD
SCALY GOON SQUAD THUG
Slush Head is from the Space Mutants faction of the He-Man (New Adventures) line. He’s not a great figure. There is a small stopper on the back of the helmet which allows water to be added to slosh around his face.
THE MIGHTY SPECTOR
HEROIC MASTER OF TIME TRAVEL
This anniversary figure was conceived by Scott Neitlich who was the brand manager for the Masters of the Universe Classics line. It’s an interesting figure but doesn’t really fit in with the rest of the line.
HORDE PRIME
SUPREME LEADER OF THE HORDE EMPIRE
Some media presented the Evil Horde as a galactic empire. Horde Prime was portrayed as the faction’s supreme leader. The figure was partly unseen in the She-Ra cartoon. The second head comes from a comic-book design.
SNAKE MAN-AT-ARMS
TRANSFORMED MASTER OF WEAPONS
An interesting version of Man-At-Arms which is based on the storyline devised for the Classics line. The prototype was barely different from the Man-At-Arms figure and was amended after critical reaction from fans.
SPIKOR
UNTOUCHABLE MASTER OF EVIL COMBAT
Classics Spikor is a good interpretation of the character. The action feature of the Vintage toy was replicated by different trident attachments. A replacement left hand was also included with the figure.
VYKRON
ULTIMATE ETERNIAN CHAMPION
Vykron included three sets of armour and weapons based on the Roger Sweet concept figures. Sweet claimed to have come up with the idea for He-Man, although the barbarian design was actually created by Mark Taylor.
SIR LASER-LOT
HEROIC KNIGHT OF GRAYSKULL
This figure was designed by Geoff Johns for the thirtieth anniversary set. It’s clearly influenced by Johns’s comic-book work. (It’s basically Superman in a funny helmet.) A very weak and disappointing addition to the line.
MEKANECK
HEROIC HUMAN PERISCOPE
Mekaneck is a fine Classics figure. Two neck extension pieces were included to replicate the action feature of the Vintage toy. The figure benefits from subtle paint shading. One of the best in the line.
DRAGON BLASTER SKELETOR
EVIL LEADER & HIS DREADFUL DRAGON WITH PARALYZING SPRAY
A good version of Skeletor that uses different forearm and boot parts from the regular figure. The design of the dragon’s teeth is bemusing though. It’s not clear how the creature is supposed to open its mouth.
SNAKE MEN
SLITHERING MINIONS OF KING HSSSS
A very impressive two-pack set which added some great army-builder figures to the Snake Men faction. Four heads were included, along with a selection of weapons. These warriors are some of the line’s best figures.
FROSTA
ICE EMPRESS OF ETHERIA
A nice figure which originates from the Princess of Power line. There was annoyance from some fans about the grey colour. Mattel bizarrely claimed that they couldn’t use white, despite having already done so for Teela.
RATTLOR
EVIL SNAKE MEN CREATURE WITH A QUICK-STRIKE HEAD
Classics Rattlor is a very good incarnation of the character. The quick-strike head of the original was replicated by including a neck extension piece. The armour in the photographs came with the End of Wars Weapons Pak.
CY-CHOP
EVIL HORDE BOUNTY HUNTER
Cy-Chop could have been excellent if designer Terry Higuchi hadn’t been so obsessed with the ridiculously exaggerated style of Japanese animations. The blades are so big that it’s impossible to pose the figure well.
DEKKER
HEROIC TRAINER-OF-ARMS
Dekker is an interesting character who appeared in an episode of the 200X-era cartoon. Two heads were included to represent different stages of the warrior’s life. He fits in rather well with the Classics style.
KING RANDOR
ETERNOS PALACE
This version of King Randor is based on his appearance in the He-Man cartoon. It’s clearly not as detailed as the 2009 Classics release. The design is quite simple but sensibly uses the same head sculpt.
CASTLE GRAYSKULLMAN
HEROIC EMBODIMENT OF CASTLE GRAYSKULL
Castle Grayskullman was the winning entry for the Create-a-Character contest run by Mattel for the thirtieth anniversary collection. The character was conceived by Daniel Benedict. It’s a very impressive action figure.
TEMPLE OF DARKNESS SORCERESS
HEROIC GUARDIAN OF CASTLE GRAYSKULL
Temple of Darkness Sorceress is based on a minicomic version of the Sorceress, although it is interesting to imagine her as a separate character. The grey version of Zoar came with the Great Unrest Weapons Pak.
MOSQUITOR
EVIL ENERGY-DRAINING INSECTOID
Evil Horde member Mosquitor looks incredible in Classics form. If there is one criticism, it is the lack of useful articulation in the ankle joints. The clear chest section is shaped like the Horde bat. The armour is very detailed.
PROCRUSTUS
GIANT GUARDIAN OF MAGIC
Procrustus appeared in The Magic Stealer! minicomic. He was coloured green in the story but the sand colour of this giant figure works just as well. The head sculpt is a good representation of the original artwork.
GRANAMYR
GREAT MAGIC WIELDING DRAGON
Granamyr was a character who appeared in a mincomic as well as the He-Man cartoon. This version uses the colour scheme from the animation. The figure is nicely detailed.