Collectible Masters of the Universe Action Figures

Before "Masters of the Universe" became a snarky pejorative for arrogant Wall Street traders and jargon-happy Silicon Valley venture capitalists, He-Man, as the franchise is also known, was Mattel's answer to the "Star Wars" action-figure line, which Mattel had rejected just a few years before. That decision turned out to be an unintended gift to Kenner, one of its arch competitors, as "Star Wars" actions figures went on to become one of the best-selling toys of all time. From 1982 to 1988, the five-and-a-half-inch Masters of the Universe (MOTU) figures clogged toy-store shelves, with characters such as He-Man, Teela, and Skeletor, all of whom became the stars of the animated TV show "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe" in 1983, when the FCC lifted the ban on children's programming that was essentially an advertisement for toys. The show expanded on mini-comics that accompanied Mattel’s toy series, telling the story of King Randor of Eternia and his son, Prince Adam, whose secret alter-ego, He-Man, defended the realm against the evil Skeletor. Later episodes incorporated Adam’s sister, Princess Adora—also known as She-Ra—who helped him do battle against the Evil Horde. In 1984, Conan Properties, Inc., sued Mattel for copyright infringement, alleging that Mattel had designed its Masters of the Universe toys using ideas stolen from a failed merchandising agreement with Universal Pictures for the 1982 film “Conan the Barbarian” starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. However, Mattel won the suit after successfully arguing that He-Man toys had been in production before CPI approached Mattel. Cannon films released a live-action film version of “Masters of the Universe” in 1987, though fan interest had already begun to decline, and Mattel discontinued its toys and shows by the 1990s. Mattel launched a commemorative series of the original action figures in 2000, followed by a new cartoon and toy line in 2002.