Minicomics were released with Masters of the Universe action figures throughout the life of the Vintage line. The later stories never matched the dramatic landscapes of Series One or the creative storytelling of Series Two.

The first two series are sometimes referred to as the pre-Filmation era because they preceded the cartoon series. The first four tales had a barbarian feel; the second set presented an agrarian society and questing heroes.

Nevertheless, some later minicomics are worth a look because they added interesting characters and background stories to the lore, even if those introductions obliterated the earlier themes. The better tales are shown below.

THE CLASH OF ARMS

It is never explained how Fisto’s steed Stridor knew the kidnapped warrior was taken to the Circle of Doom arena, nor how He-Man had never noticed it standing a stone’s throw away from Castle Grayskull, but I still like this story.

It features some of the best Masters of the Universe characters. It’s a proper good-versus-evil story. The jeopardy that Fisto endures feels authentic. The artwork has some odd colour choices but is still well done. A decent tale.

THE SECRET LIQUID OF LIFE!

It was common for the later minicomics to parade a variety of monsters against the heroes, and this story is no different. However, the antagonist, who seeks immortality, is an interesting character who devises a clever plan.

Geldor was not produced as a toy during the Vintage era. He finally appeared in the Classics line in 2013, thirty years after the publication of this minicomic. He returned as a limited edition Origins figure in 2025.

SLAVE CITY!

He-Man rescues the beautiful Princess Rana of Targa from a horde of evil creatures. Rana describes how her land was enslaved by Lodar. He-Man subsequently loses his memory and has to fight a captured warrior named Garn.

Garn and Rana have never been produced as action figures, but Lodar was added to the Classics line in 2018. An interesting detail about the minicomic is that Lodar was originally named Zodac; the name had to be altered.

MASKS OF POWER

Alfredo Alcala returned to illustrate several minicomics in the third series. The style employed here is very different from the Series One stories. It’s more cartoon-like but still reasonably dramatic. This tale is about magic artefacts.

The orcs featured in the story seem to have become quite popular characters in their own right. Perhaps it is the simple mischief which appeals. Alcala also brought back his sea creature from The Vengeance of Skeletor.

SIEGE OF AVION

This minicomic features Delora, the human wife of Stratos, who had previously appeared unnamed in the story entitled To Tempt the Gods! It also attributes the power of flight of Stratos’s people to the Emerald Staff of Avion.

The staff never appeared as a toy in the Vintage era but was an accessory in the Classics line. The minicomic is a decent story that features more Alcala artwork. His representations of Snake Mountain actually look like the toy.

KING OF THE SNAKE MEN

The personnel behind the minicomics changed as time went on. One of the illustrators who contributed drawings to several stories was Bruce Timm. His pictures were dramatic. They feel different from their predecessors.

This tale is included here because it introduces King Hiss and provides a Snake Men background story. Look out for the creature who would eventually appear as Origins figure Reptilax. Kobra Khan’s role is noteworthy here.

THE SEARCH FOR KELDOR!

Another story drawn by Bruce Timm and written by Steven Grant. It is an important addition to MOTU lore, even though it disregards the origin story of Skeletor from the Series One minicomics. Keldor is unseen in the tale.

The story is notable for Scare Glow’s claim to be ‘the ghost of Skeletor’. This could imply the Lord of Destruction had previously died (my preferred story) or Scare Glow was a phantom serving Skeletor (the official later canon).

RETURN FROM TERROR ISLAND!

This minicomic was written during the Vintage era but not published. It was discovered by a MOTU enthusiast and sold briefly on his website. An uncoloured version was subsequently included in the Dark Horse minicomic book.

It is an intriguing tale that has Evil-Lyn as the antagonist. Rattlor and Tung Lashor are working for Skeletor, which is not unfeasible considering the tenuous alliance that was established in King of the Snake Men. A good story.