Category: Comics
The Secret Liquid of Life: behind the scenes
Written by Adam McCombs and Jukka Issakainen
We recently got scans of four original minicomic scripts from Danielle Gelehrter, and we thought it would be interesting to start by taking a closer look at the script for The Secret Liquid of Life. Artist Larry Houston also shared a couple of his original pencils for the comic, so we’ll be posting those too. The draft script, written by Michael Halperin (the same person who wrote the December 1982 Masters of the Universe Bible) actually has the title as The Secret of Life.
Also note that the arm in which He-Man holds the Powersword is a little different in the pencil stage, than what it would end up looking after inking.
Fun trivia: Mr. Houston on “The Secret Liquid of Life” and Filmation artists such as Michael Swanigan on “A Tale of Two Cities” were simultaneously (serendipitously?) aiming to add more diversity with named black characters into the world of Eternia during 1983. Swanigan is credited by Don Manuel (who designed Melaktha) as the first on the Filmation staff to show Garn as a black character [source: Power-Con 2018 Panel video].
The date for this draft is May 24, 1983, but the comic would not be released until sometime in 1984. It was typical for both the comic and toy design teams to be working a year or more ahead of the anticipated release date.
In the first page of the script, we basically get a page and a half worth of the actual comic. In the draft, originally it was supposed to be He-Man, the Sorceress and Zodac observing the scene. So in this continuity at least Zodac was to be the neutral Cosmic Enforcer, rather than the Evil Warrior that Mattel was positioning him as on their packaging starting in 1983. Zodac was removed from the actual comic, however, perhaps due to that change from Mattel. That wouldn’t affect the 1983 Filmation series, which still used Zodac as a neutral character, drawing from his first appearance in the 1982 DC comics.
In the opening scene, Prince Dakon is running from the evil villain Geldor, who had already captured Torgul. If you’re wondering where these characters came from, they were invented by Halperin for the story. At this point in the production of the vintage minicomics, Mattel was giving the team (lead by Lee Nordling) quite a lot of leeway to do want they wanted with these stories, and allowing them to create their own characters to fill out the world of Eternia. Larry Houston has stated on his Facebook page (Feb. 3rd, 2024) that Mattel had no designs for the characters, so he designed Geldor, Dakon, Princess Maran and Torgul for the minicomic.
In another piece of behind the scenes trivia, see the comparison below between Larry Houston’s original pencils and the final published page. In the pencils version, we see the early version of the Sorceress, often confused with Teela with her snake armor. The final version is updated to follow the Filmation look, albeit with an all-white costume. The arm bracers are retained, however.
We will alternate the script pages and the comic pages in order, so you can compare the differences between the the two for each part of the story. We’ll also make note of any interesting changes made to the comic. There are some minor dialogue and narration changes as well, which we won’t call out specifically.
Minicomic trivia: A villain being thwarted by shining their reflection back to them would also happen to Grizzlor in his respective minicomic.
Note in the above script page, Halperin actually has He-Man cut off the ogre’s hand, and blood spurts out! Obviously this was a step too far for a comic aimed at young children, and it was changed to He-Man tying the ogre’s hands together, as you can see on the page below:
As you can see, the comic more or less follows the original script, with the biggest changes being the removal of Zodac from the story and the taming down of the bloodiness in the script. I hope you enjoyed this behind the scenes look at The Secret Liquid of Life. Danielle has shared three other minicomic scripts with us, so look for more of this kind of content in the future!
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He-Man and the Power Sword sample, the Lords of Power, and the French connection
Written by Adam McCombs
One of the most interesting of the minicomic variants is the sample version of the first comic, He-Man and the Power Sword, illustrated by Alfredo Alcala. It’s called the sample version that because on the cash rebate offer toward the end of the comic, it’s stamped over with the word “SAMPLE” on both sides, indicating that the comic itself was just an early sample, and therefore the rebate wasn’t valid:
As a side note, I’ve done a lot of research about dates for the release of the Masters of the Universe line. Multiple lines of evidence indicate that He-Man was released starting in May of 1982. I’ll note however that the date on the rebate indicates a purchase window of March 1, 1982 to January 31, 1983. There has long been talk of an early test market release for He-Man, on a limited basis, prior to its wide release in stores across the country. It’s possible that these test market figures (typically identified as the “G0” early release MOTU cards) were released in March of 1982, but I’d want more evidence to be able to say that with any degree of confidence. I actually don’t know what the source is for the test market pre-release claim. It could stem from an interview with someone at Mattel, or it could just be a fan theory. If anyone has any sources, please contact me!
Sample Comic and its Logo
Regarding the sample comic in question, I know from my interview with Alfredo Alcala Jr. that his father received a number of copies of this early sample after its printing. In the interview he also referred to the comic as an artist’s proof. Mattel employees working on the brand also received copies of the sample comic, and it may have even been handed out at New York Toy Fair in February of 1982.
A number of years ago, Jukka Issakainen interviewed the creator of the Masters of the Universe logo, Bob Nall. (The interview used to be hosted on He-Man.org.) Jukka asked Bob about the variant logo on the sample version of the comic:
Jukka: I found a pic of the alternative logo of MOTU on the minicomic cover. Can you tell me more about this logo version?
Bob Nall: It mimics the original but is not too good as far as logos go (my opinion). Back in the day, MOTU was taking off and making tons of money so many Mattel entities and others outside of Mattel wanted a piece. These types of anomalies popped up all the time.
Bob Nall: But, I will say this – the logo you are questioning definitely followed the original MOTU logo which I created. It may have been rendered that way for a variety of reasons (who knows) but none of which came through my office for approval. As I said, there were many hands in the pot once the Brand became successful.
My opinion is that the official Masters of the Universe logo hadn’t been finalized at the time the artist’s sample was to go to print, so Alfredo must have created a placeholder for the cover until the final logo was ready to go.
Sample Version vs. Standard Version
So what are the differences between the sample version of He-Man and the Power Sword and the version that came packaged with figures? We know the logo was different, but there is a difference in the artwork on the cover as well. On the sample, the sky is a single color of blue, while the final version has a color gradient going from dark to light blue. The clouds behind Castle Grayskull on the final version of the comic have been redone, with more detail, and they cover more of the page. Finally, the title of the story has been moved so that it’s over rather than underneath the logo:
Lords of Power
As shown at the beginning of the article, the rebate pages were stamped “SAMPLE” on the early version of the comic. But there is one more important difference. On the final page of the story, the Spirit of the Castle delivers a message to the heroes. In the sample version he calls them the “Lords of Power,” while in the standard version he calls them the “Masters of the Universe.” As you may know, “Lords of Power” was one of the early working names for the line. That name was dropped because it was thought that it might have unintentional religious connotations. The sample version of course has the revised name, Masters of the Universe, on the cover. The inclusion of “Lords of Power” on the last page must have been a simple oversight by the editor.
Interestingly, in ads promoting the full collection of the first four minicomics (or adventure books, as they are called), the sample version of He-Man and the Power Sword is pictured:
I’ll also note that there were a couple of other US variants of He-Man and the Power Sword. There was a later reprint, which had a yellow title, fewer pages, and updated advertisements. There was also a version that lacked the word “FREE” on the burst on the cover. You can check out those and other variants here.
The French Connection
The story doesn’t end there, however. For reasons unclear to me, the French version of He-man and the Power Sword was partially based on the US sample version (the same goes for the French Canadian version). On the cover, the French edition has the official Masters logo (or the official French version of it), but it is colored according to the unofficial logo from the US sample. The sky on the illustration is the solid blue of the sample version. The title appears below the logo, like the sample version. However the clouds are the revised version that appeared in the standard version:
The final page of the story in the French edition also mirrors the US sample. The Spirit of the Castle addresses the heroes, twice calling them the “Seigneurs de la Force” or Lords of Power (literally “Lords of the Force”):
Why did the term Lords of Power end up in the French version of the comic? I don’t know. However, this isn’t the first time early lore ended up in French materials. In an early French catalog, Mer-Man is said to be a companion of He-Man, and Stratos is said to be a companion of Beast Man. We know Mattel originally planned to have Mer-Man as a Heroic Warrior and Stratos as an Evil Warrior. You can read more about that here.
Bonus: extras in the French edition of He-Man and the Power Sword:
The French edition is interesting for other reasons as well. It contains a number of coloring pages, based on some of the US wave 2 minicomics:
Best of all, it also had a two-page photo, featuring an early Teela prototype with Barbie-style leg articulation, the Castle Grayskull model used for catalogs, blue beard Stratos, and striped tail Battle Cat:
I hope you’ve enjoyed this exploration of some interesting variants of He-Man and the Power Sword. Bonus for Patreon supporters only: Here are some additional coloring pages from the French edition of Vengeance of Skeletor. Also, look for an upcoming video where Mega Jay Retro and I discuss this topic at length!
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The Spirit of Grayskull
Written by Adam McCombs
The Spirit of Grayskull, also known as the Spirit of the Castle, is a reoccurring character in early Masters of the Universe stories. I’ll plot out the development of the character and the places it appeared.
The very first attempt at a Masters of the Universe story was Don Glut’s “Fighting Foe Men” treatment, prior to the first minicomics. Although the Spirit of Grayskull doesn’t appear in The Fighting Foe-Men, Mattel did provide this feedback regarding his treatment of Castle Grayskull:
Castle Grayskull
- More mysterious
- Should hold vast treasures
- Should hold secrets of the universe
- Add dangers for the unwary
Apparently one of things Glut added to make the castle more mysterious was to add “the Spirit of the Castle,” which appears in three of the four minicomics he wrote.
He-Man and the Power Sword
We see the Spirit appear first in He-Man and the Power Sword, the first published minicomic in the Masters of the Universe line. As Skeletor and Beast Man approach the castle, the Spirit warns them away:
An eerie voice — that of the castle’s all-present Spirit — warned them: “Go back! The secrets and treasures of Grayskull are for no one to posses! Go away…”
To which Skeletor responds:
“I defy you, Spirit of the Castle! Your many secrets shall be mine! I hold half of the mystic Power Sword! I shall soon possess the other half which is hidden within your walls. Then I will have full power! And none of your deadly traps will stop me!”
Later in the story, they encounter a metal door barring their way:
But as they touched the door, the Spirit of the Castle cursed them and unleashed its ghostly demons.
Skeletor vanquishes the ghost demons with his sword and says:
“Again I defeat you, Spirit of the Castle! Now, to seize your greatest treasure!”
Eventually the heroes are able to defeat Skeletor and Beast Man and send them running away. On the last page of the story the Spirt appears over the castle and says:
“You truly are the ‘Masters of the Universe’ who are destined to protect my secrets from evil forces. You should at least have some small reward.”
At this point the Spirit gifts them with Teela’s unicorn steed.
King of Castle Grayskull
In King of Castle Grayskull, Teela replaces the Sorceress (aka Goddess) as the guardian of Castle Grayskull.
Teela listened as the Spirit of the Castle spoke. “Legend tells of a warrior who will find the split halves of the Power Sword. One half is hidden at Eternia’s highest point. The other is beneath its hardest rock. With both halves, he can enter the castle and claim the throne and the secrets of the universe. You are to be the guardian here!
Skeletor manages to get both halves of the sword and tricks Teela into thinking he is the warrior spoken of by the Spirit. Skeletor defies the Spirit of the Castle:
“These things are mine!” he shouted to the unseen Spirit of the Castle. “The secrets of the universe are now at my command. Soon Eternia and all other worlds will belong to me. I am now king!”
We don’t see the Spirit again until the end of the story, after Skeletor has been defeated again.
With Skeletor departed, the Spirit of the Castle appeared again. “I must make sure that the halves of the Power Sword are never again used for evil,” said the chilling voice. “I shall send them into another dimension where even clever Skeletor will have great difficulty finding them.”
“Centuries may pass before the true king comes to claim his throne and fulfill the prophecy of the legend,” said the Spirit. “Go then, Masters of the Universe, and fight evil wherever you find it!”
He-Man and Teela did as ordered. As they departed, the Spirit of the Castle seemed to smile, knowing that at the proper time He-Man would prove himself to be the true King of Castle Grayskull.
Vengeance of Skeletor
In this story, the Spirit appears only at the very end, after the heroes have once again defeated Skeletor and his forces:
“No doubt they will invent new plots of evil,” said the Spirit of the Castle, appearing. “But you, the Masters of the Universe, will be ready for them.”
MOTU Bible
The Masters of the Universe Bible, written December 1982 by Michael Halperin, contains the next appearance of the character, now called the Spirit of Grayskull. In short, in order to hide the power of the Council of Elders and the Hall of Wisdom, the council transformed themselves into the Spirit of the Council. Then the Hall of Wisdom was transformed into the foreboding Castle Grayskull, with “the wisdom” (meaning perhaps the Spirit of the Council?) becoming the Spirit of Grayskull. The relevant text is quoted below:
ZODAC, the wise leader of the Council of Elders, called to the stars for advice. In a shimmering, gleaming beam a figure appeared out of the cosmos — the figure of an elegant and beautiful woman adorned in snake shaped armor and bearing a twisted snake-headed staff.
For centuries Eternia dwelt without fear, the SORCERESS told them, and now the time of testing fell upon the planet. For too long the Council had made all decisions; Their people had lost the ability to think for themselves. The time had arrived to cut the umbilical cord and permit Eternia the right to exist on its own.
The Council listened to the vision which promised them that if ever the forces of evil should try overcoming Eternia a champion would arise to defend the planet. A champion not seen in all the universe. A being so powerful and filled with good that evil, no matter how mighty, could not stand against him. However, with all the champion’s virtue he needed one more element to make him the ultimate ruler of the Universe — he required the collective wisdom of the Elders. And that he would not have until he proved himself against the dark forces.There Lay the danger. For if the evil powers discovered the secret — this key to destiny — they might destroy all that’s harmonious in Eternia. Once that occurred light would go out all over the planet and it could end with the same fate as Infinita.
Zodac gathered the Council of Elders in the Hall of Wisdom and collectively they concentrated their mind force until the sheer power of their consciousness created a mighty force field. At that moment, an implosion cracked through the corridors of the Hall and the Council disappeared in a blinding flash of energy. Only Zodac retained his human form as one of the Eternia’s guardians. In the Council’s place existed a mass of light at once denser than the densest material in the universe and as light as a ghost. It rose to the topmost parapet of the Hall of Wisdom where the Spirit of the Council looked to the far horizon — past the Evergreen Forest; beyond the Vine Jungle; above and through the Ice Mountains to the sealed Space Portal. It knew that one day an Infinitan would discover how to break the spell. That evil person would search the magnificent Hall of Wisdom. The Spirit, along with Zodac determined that it would not be found — at least not in its present state.
A great aura of energy burst forth from the mass of light which had been the Council of Elders. It surrounded the Hall of Wisdom and an astonishing shuddering and shimmering arose as the very air around the Hall glowed with a cosmic light. Anyone witnessing the experience would have seen in incredible sight – almost mirage-like, the Hall’s very atomic structure shifted; the molecules seemed to run wild as the building changed form.
The wisdom of that which once was the Council understood that the demons of Infinita would look for the magnificent edifice embodying all that it wise and good. But if they saw a dark and forbidding place they might go aside. The wisdom of the Council planned to hide the once beautiful hall behind the rocks, trees and overgrowth of the Evergreen Forest.
When the atoms and molecules slowed the Hall of Wisdom ceased to exist. In its place stood the dark, green, crenelated fortress of CASTLE GRAYSKULL. Its craggy towers and black windows looked out upon Eternia. The most striking feature of the castle was the entrance. The portal had the face of a skull. The skull’s lower jaw created a jawbridge and anyone wishing to enter had to have immense courage. Behind these walls and within the corridors of Grayskull dwelt the wisdom transformed into the Spirit of Grayskull. The Sorceress remained guarding the castle against all intruders. Zodac would sail the universe, keeping watch over Eternia, keeping vigilance over those who believed in virtue and wisdom, but not interfering with the natural course of events. Thus did Castle Grayskull slowly subside out of sight and the minds of all Eternians except as myth and legend.
MOTU Bible
The transformation of the Hall of Wisdom into Castle Grayskull is actually illustrated in the Kid Stuff story, Castle Grayskull, although the Spirit of Grayskull is not mentioned:
Filmation
The Spirit appears in only one Filmation episode, “Teela’s Triumph.” In the story, the Spirit of Grayskull appears as a floating head in the Eternos Palace courtyard. Clearly this is based on the Halperin Bible, as it’s not called the Spirit of the Castle and it has no visual similarity to the Spirit in the Glut/Alcala stories. He appears to tell Adam, Teela and Man-At-Arms that the Sorceress has disappeared. The Spirit tells Teela that she must guard Castle Grayskull while the others search for the Sorceress.
When Teela enters the castle, the Spirit instructs Teela to take her rightful place on the throne of Castle Grayskull. He instructs her in the use of Grayskull’s power and advises her when Skeletor and his minions try to take over. Teela is able to fend off the Evil Warriors until He-Man is able to rescue the Sorceress.
The Power of Point Dread
Spirit’s next minicomic appearance would be in The Power of Point Dread, part of a comic/record set that came packed with Point Dread and the Talon Fighter. Like the earliest comics, this was illustrated by Alfredo Alcala. The author of this story, however, is unknown.
In the story, He-Man notes that, after dispatching Skeletor and Beast Man, the Talon Fighter and Point Dread are his key to entering Castle Grayskull when he lands on top of the tower. The Spirit of the Castle appears and addresses him:
“That’s correct, He-Man. Yes, once again, you have saved the Castle from Skeletor, He-Man. I thank you.
“Return now to your city. Skeletor’s spell is broken. The king is well and the monsters have vanished.”
Piu Comics
The Spirit appears several times in the Italian Piu comic series. The Piu series is based closely on the look of the original four Alcala minicomics, so it’s no surprise that the Spirit appears occasionally throughout the series.
The Spirit of the Castle
In this story, we don’t actually see the Spirit, but Teela calls on it using a spell that forces Beast Man and Mer-Man out of the Castle. All of the Piu comic scans in this article come from Ben Massa/Orko’s Keep:
The Mockery
In this story we get to see the actual Spirit of the Castle illustrated, which looks very much like Alfredo Alcala’s interpretation. In the story, Teela warns the Spirit of Skeletor’s immanent arrival so it can thwart his attempt to take over.
Ice and Fire
The Spirit appears again in “Ice and Fire.” In the story, Teela calls on the Spirit to help her save Stratos and Zodac:
Update: Øyvind Meisfjord has pointed out that the Spirit also appears in the Eternia’s Deadly Maze Boardgame:
It also shows up at the end of the “Cloudy Climbs” story in one of the early Golden coloring books:
Personally, I’m quite fond of the original Spirit of the Castle concept. I actually have a very nice custom glow-in-the-dark version of it, shown below. You can read more about that here:
Thank you to the following individuals who are current Patreon supporters!
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