DC Comics launched a new monthly book to help mark the 30th anniversary of the debut of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. If issue #1 is any indication of what’s to come, fans of Mattel’s action figure franchise can rest assured their beloved characters are in good hands. It’s filled with great artwork and an intriguing story that keeps readers engaged.
Issue #1 is entitled “The Seeker” and kicks off with woodsman Adam dreaming of a world where he leads a small army in an epic battle with an evil skull-faced archenemy. He awakens to realize he must embark on a journey to discover his purpose and what the dreams mean. However, the sinister figure in his visions is very real and will stop at nothing to keep Adam from realizing who he really is. The wicked creature is Skeletor and he sends his minion Beast Man to keep Adam from reaching his destination. He doesn’t want the woodsman to realize his place in the world of Eternia as He-Man.
Writer James Robinson takes the source material very serious and pens an excellent first chapter. He describes the beginnings of He-Man and details his hero’s journey. You can tell Robinson is excited to be working with such an iconic character and strives to bring Mattel’s universe to vivid life on the printed page. He doesn’t treat it like a comic book based on a child’s toy. He respectfully digs into the origins of Adam and He-Man on a level both adults and kids can enjoy. Robinson is intent on putting He-Man on the same level of quality sword and sorcery characters like Conan and Kull are put on.
Artist James Tan delivers artwork fitting for such a wondrous and rich landscape as Eternia and its heroes and villains. His muscular accents on the characters brings to mind Frank Frazetta’s work on Conan. Of course it’s a bit more animated and tailored for comic books, but it’s similar nonetheless. Each panel is beautifully detailed and the illustrations help bring writer Robinson’s words to life. Richard Horie, Tanya Horie, and Carrie Strachan add vivid colors to Tan’s drawings which beautifully accent them.
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe Issue #1 is perfect for old fans and people who are interested in jumping on board and trying something new. You don’t have to know who the characters are to understand what goes on in this. It starts from the beginning and doesn’t take it for granted that every reader grew up through the 1980s and 1990s collecting the action figures and playsets while watching the TV series. I think readers young and old will appreciate what writer Robinson and artist Tan bring to the table in this first chapter. It’ll leave you craving more and excited to see He-Man knock heads with Skeletor in the very near future.
For more articles by Eric Shirey, check out:
The Dark Knight Marathon” Gets Texas Fans Ready for New Batman Movie
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