DC Comics produced five Masters of the Universe comics as well as the seven Series Two minicomics which were included with the toys. The stories fit into the pre-cartoon era but feature an early version of Prince Adam.
The comics and minicomics have several areas in common. Eternia is a rustic monarchy. The royal palace is a mediaeval fortress. Battles are fierce. Malevolent magic is a constant threat and hosts of demons wreak havoc.
Memorable characters feature in the comics, including Crusher the tavern brawler, Tarrak the court magician and Damon the shapeshifting sorcerer. Ceril the jungle tribe leader provides a link to He-Man’s minicomic origins.
FROM ETERNIA WITH DEATH!
From Eternia with Death! is interesting for its portrayal of Prince Adam. The prince is a carefree wastrel and rabble rouser who enjoys getting into scraps with his burly friend Crusher at the Dragon’s Breath Inn.
When summoned by a mysterious falcon (who is unnamed but we can assume is Zoar), Adam rushes to a secret location called the Cavern of Power. The Sorceress resides here and transforms the prince into He-Man.
The story is a cross-over tale in which Superman is drawn to Eternia. He befriends He-Man but also fights him while under Skeletor’s influence. A purely Eternian focus would have been better, but this story is still quite fun.
FATE IS THE KILLER
Fate is the Killer is another cross-over story featuring Superman. A key theme is Skeletor’s acquisition of both halves of the Power Sword. Mer-Man is ordered to find one piece from the depths of the ocean.
But the greater part of the story revolves around the arrival of Zodac and his weird demand for Eternia’s greatest champion to be taken away for all time to save the planet. It’s a bizarre claim which turns out to be untrue.
Here we see why Zodac’s cosmic interventionist role adds nothing of value to the Masters of the Universe canon. Like Superman, he’s shoe-horned ineffectively into the tale. The neutral observer persona just doesn’t work.
TO TEMPT THE GODS!
To Tempt the Gods! is the first part of a three-part tale. It is this story and its sequels which define the series. Cross-over elements are mercifully absent with the exception of a flashback about Queen Marlena’s arrival on Eternia.
The action begins when a demon horde causes mayhem. It appears that the creatures are attempting to retrieve a talisman from the wizard Tarrak. Beast Man also attacks the birdmen of Avion in search of another artefact.
He-Man learns that Skeletor holds the fate of the Goddess in his hands, and is obliged to obey the villain’s commands until he can find a way to thwart his evil strategy. It’s a strong start to the trilogy.
THE KEY TO CASTLE GRAYSKULL!
The Key to Castle Grayskull! sees He-Man and his allies in search of the remaining artefacts. He-Man encounters his old friend Ceril. There is a flashback explaining how He-Man helped Ceril fight the sorcerer Damon.
Teela, Man-At-Arms and Stratos attempt to retrieve a talisman from the Sea of Blackness but they are attacked by Mer-Man. Skeletor intervenes because he needs the talismans in order to find the Power Sword.
The story takes an interesting turn when a hooded figure, observing the heroes via a magic globe, comments that Skeletor is unwittingly doing his work for him. It implies that it is he, not Skeletor, who is manipulating events.
WITHIN THESE WALLS… ARMAGEDDON!
Within these Walls… Armageddon! starts when Zodac thwarts a demon attack against He-Man and his friends. Zodac says Skeletor would not have sent the creatures and jeopardised his own plan.
Zodac does not reveal the identity of the usurper but summons Zoar with the talismans in order to rescue the Goddess. We then see that the mysterious observer is Damon, the demon sorcerer who terrorised Ceril’s tribe.
Skeletor appears to slay Damon in a ball of fire and succeeds in obtaining the Power Sword. But his victory is short-lived because Zoar snatches away the weapon. The story ends with victory for the heroes.