MOTU Origins | Skeletor

For every Hero there’s always that arch nemesis that causes all the trouble and chaos that runs the narrative. With Masters of the Universe, it is obvious that He-Man needs someone to punch into action if you have grown up having those vintage action figures, but with no one to beat up after seeing the Filmation animation. Skeletor is actually the comedic foil in that classic cartoon and forever to be that villainy that everyone thought to be as scary as the way he appeared to be. But over the years with various iteration of the character’s portrayal has changed, and with the new MOTU Origins you’ll certainly have nostalgia feels with the new action figure!

The Masters of the Universe Origins has certainly captured nostalgia in the bottle with Mattel’s renewed focus in making sure the brand return in a big way. The action figures have been quite challenging to track down for serious collectors out there. It’s even more challenging internationally with distribution not as what it used to be.

It certainly feels like 1983 again although this time you don’t see those over flowing in retail shops. The modern take on the action figure range has been greatly exceeded beyond probably Mattel didn’t expected to be as the toyline has been previously exclusive to a collector focused community with the very successful Masters Classics.

This time around returning to retail and making it available to a more general audience has been quite the challenge as most of the first and second wave has been very difficult to find. But with the constant release Mattel made sure He-Man and Skeletor can still be acquired and with that it builds interest for those new to the brand and its mythology.

Nostalgic Cardback in a Modern Way

Just like He-Man, this modern representation of Skeletor comes in a blister cardback that takes you to the time Mattel introduced the brand featuring the first eight figures or what longtime fans call it an “8-back” and with that includes Skeletor with 7 other figures from the first wave of the toyline.

The bursting rocks with a starry blue sky is certainly a call back to the brand’s identity and not only that it also features some impressive artwork that makes MOTU synonymous with other 80s property that still continue to be relevant today. The brand new artwork at the back featuring Skeletor with that short description defines the character, and not just some campy comical villain in the classic cartoon.

Lord of Destruction from Despondos

In the early minicomics, Skeletor was depicted as a creature from another dimension which became a consistent part of his origin in the various iteration of the character. But by the time the 2002 reboot series it solidified one of that revealing part of Skeletor that he is Keldor, the half-brother of Randor.

This would be his depiction post-Filmation through other interpretation in other medium that includes the graphic novels. This figure does not come with the original vintage head, but a modern take of the character which shares inspiration on the comical side how he appeared in the Filmation animation series.

Though longtime fans aren’t keen on this version and prefer the vintage head that the toy originated with, and as of this writing this variation of the Skeletor head would be included in the Deluxe Edition that would become the Battle Armor version of the character. Just like most of the MOTU Origins figure, Skeletor is scaled at 5.5 inches tall as side-by-side with He-Man.

Featured Articulation:

• Head at the Ball Joint
• Ball Joint at the Shoulders
• Swivels/Bend at the Elbow
• Hinges at the Wrist
• Turn at the Waist
• Hinge-like Ball Joint at the Thighs
• Swivels/Bend at the Knee
• Boot Cut Swivel
• Ankles Moves Side-to-Side

Modular Interchangeability

Every MOTU Origins figure can interchange body parts with another figure (Sold Separately) as explained previously with He-Man and Skeletor, but there are other figures due to working gimmicks have limited in this function. Most of the basic figures like Skeletor with the arms, hands, torso, head, feet and lower part of the body can be swapped with the other figures.

Armed for Destruction

Skeletor comes with a similar minicomic from Wave 1 with two accessories bagged, which are the half-power sword and his signature Havoc Staff in deep blue matching the color of his armor and plastic loin cloth.

The gimmick for the half-power sword takes back to the 1983 vintage toyline when you have both halves together (the other half with He-Man) you can use it to open the door to Castle Grayskull, which was the main concept of the toys pre-Filmation animation and as told included in the minicomic that came with the figure.

It is still carried to MOTU Origins with that concept about the half-power sword, but most fans don’t need half of it as Prince Adam included in the Sky Sled vehicle ( Sold Separately) can use the full power sword to open the door of Grayskull.

Overall Skeletor is one of the sought after figures from Wave 1 that has all the accessories that he had in the vintage toyline, but the head sculpt design is less desired just like how the new head design for He-Man had a mixed reception. There’s nothing like a retro-vintage figure if everything from the original toys had inspired this modern iteration of these MOTU characters.

Despite having a ‘goofy-looking’ head sculpt you don’t see a Skeletor anywhere on Philippine retail, and mostly some would buy He-Man first before getting a Skeletor to start with their collection. Most of the time they’re after Skeletor because of another thing, which is the other half of the power sword that also completes the main pair of good guys and bad guys.

Skeletor is part of the first wave for Masters of the Universe Origins from Mattel, which is distributed in the Philippines by Richwell Global Inc retailed at ₱ 999.75 (**$ 26.98 AUD | $ 20.86 USD) that was acquired at Ollie & Co Glorietta. For more about MOTU Origins and the store that carry this toyline follow them on their social media via Facebook!

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