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Parts Reuse in MOTU, Part Seven: 1988

Written by Adam McCombs

Masters of the Universe, for all its diversity and creativity, was quite an economical toyline, creatively (and sometimes uncreatively) using and reusing the same molds over and over again throughout its run. Sometimes this was done fairly invisibly, and other times it was as plain as the nose on Faker‘s face.

In this series I’ll be cataloging the reuse of existing molds, in context of what is known and what is likely about which figures were created in what order. For example, He-Man’s prototype was almost certainly finished before Man-At-Arms, so Man-At-Arms reused He-Man’s legs, rather than vice versa. I’ll also include parts that were reused from other toylines.

Sometimes existing parts were modified for use in new toys. For example, Beast Man’s chest seems to have been based on He-Man’s chest sculpt, albeit with a great deal of hair added to it. This didn’t save money on tooling, but it did save some time and effort for the sculptor. I’ll point this out whenever I see it. Whenever a modified part is used again, however, I’ll refer to it as belonging to the toy that used it first (for example, Stratos and Zodac reuse Beast Man’s chest).

I won’t comment on “invisible” parts, such as neck pegs or waist springs that are normally not seen.

First, the toys from 1988 that had (at the time) all new parts. For fun, I’m including unproduced toys as well.

Tytus


Image Source: He-Man.org

Megator


Image Source: He-Man.org

Laser Power He-man

“Ambush” Playset (unproduced)


Image Source: Grayskull Museum

These 1988 designs reused some existing parts:

Laser Power He-Man (Spanish version)

Laser Light Skeletor

There were at least six additional figures planned as part of the 1988 line, but they were never released. These were to be entirely constructed from existing parts, no doubt as a way to inject some quick cash into the dying line at minimal cost. We only know the original name of one of them (Strobo). Edit: Rather than using my made-up names for the rest, I’m going to default to the names they were given when they were released as Power-Con exclusive figures in the MOTU Classics line.

Strobo

Snake Trooper

Terroar

Plasmar

Lord Gr’asp

Slamurai

Note: The above artwork is by Errol McCarthy, sourced from He-Man.org. I’m assuming “Slamurai’s” arms and legs would reuse He-Man’s, although the artist draws them without gauntlets or boots, so it’s possible they might have been new parts.

Parts Reuse series:

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7 thoughts on “Parts Reuse in MOTU, Part Seven: 1988

  1. Interesting about the ‘Ambush’ as you call it (“Watchtower” as the French call it) set.. at is just a extremely early POC mock-up.. I Wonder if any art concepts have been found for it.. That images shows how the internals would work and is pretty easy to reproduce just fom that.. though tere are a couple of parts I don’t understand the need for…

    Still, for such an early mock-up in a catalogue with a piece ID? .. i’m sure it would have to have been further along the line that just that, even if that were the only images they had to give..

    1. It IS really strange to put such an early, rough mockup in a catalog! I mean you get the concept well enough, but normally you’d expect at least a sculpted prototype for a catalog photo.

  2. An enjoyable set of posts.

    It’s funny how I always want more from these lines before I’ve even collected all there is to get already.

    Just nice to know it’s out there I guess.

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