The History of Masters of the Universe: 1982 Edition

Mattel gave kids worldwide the power in 1982 with the introduction of He-Man & the Masters of the Universe!
The power of Grayskull lives at BIGBADTOYSTORE: bit.ly/BBTStoys
He-Man history & box art:
battleramblog.com
PATREON:
/ michaelmercy
INSTAGRAM:
/ themichaelmercy
FACEBOOK:
/ michaelmercy
My other channel:
www.armchairdirectors.com
Theme "Broke Down Automobile" & end theme "Monkey Brain" by seanpinchin.ca
Available on iTunes

[@DrGonzoChronic]

When I was 4 on Christmas morning I rush out to living room to find both Castle Grayskull and Snake Mountain already set up with action figures all around them. Best Christmas ever!

[@arminsumper]

Memories for livetime 👍 great.

[@lordhoganproductions1050]

MotU toys were all I would get for Christmas cause they were so cheap, about $1.80 per figure. The 80's had the best prices.

[@ansiaaa]

2 bucks??? in the 80's??? wow they were'nt very expensiva in my country either, but 1.80??? I wish they costed that much even here! I would have had them all

[@KnightDarkFight1980]

You were lucky!

[@kalterkakaozumfruhstuck1515]

I was 5... and my Parents told me : You are not old enough, for this - fighting, muscle Monsters!!! So they buy me Smurfs! Desaster!

[@touchingevil2302]

Best toyline ever made. He-man is my childhood.

[@matthewneufer1758]

Them and Conan , Thundercats, and Silver Hawks

[@dkres82]

@@matthewneufer1758 Silver Hawks is so underrated

[@hiattbaladez9037]

He man is great but transformers is better to me

[@Nutflash1978]

Feel so lucky to have been born in 1978, the 80s were probably the best decade in the whole of human history to have been a kid. Awesome music, movies, toys and still have the freedom to go out and play without all the paranoia that the Internet age has created.

[@Ur2ez4me81]

It’s both tragic & sad to go from the 80’s to what’s going on today. Will we ever get those magical & fun times back again?

[@johnathanweber4271]

I was born in 83 and I remember that time being so amazing

[@Real_Dystopian]

I m a 2000s kid who's in love with the 80s. I love these history videos, they're so informative and entertaining!

[@mariocar0727]

Same here! I love stuff from the 80’s

[@baconlordthereal]

ditto

[@Chris-qv5mc]

Those little comics were awesome.

[@chloedog47]

I Still have a bunch

[@666blackmetalful]

They sell a hardcover omnibus of all the minicomics of the 80's on Amazon... 😁

[@BennyLlama39]

The thing I liked about Castle Grayskull was that as kids, me and my brother could use it with Star Wars and GI Joe figures, and whatever else was on hand. 🙂

[@newmod1974]

In 1982, I did well on a report card at school so my Mom took me to Toys R Us to choose a toy. I saw the MOTU toys new on the shelves, and I instantly grabbed the Skeletor figure. I played with that action figure for so long before I ever got He-Man! That was a great Christmas because I received the rest of the figures that were out at that time! Great memories!

[@TheGoddamnJefe]

Kronen Baxter I always wanted that figure as a child but never had it. My girlfriend finally bought for me as a Christmas gift last year. Wonderful girl.

[@amead78]

I was born in 1978 and grew up watching this show. So many good memories of the toys.

[@TheSakaradast]

Castle Grey Skull is still here ,save in my living room ,never captured by Skeletor. since 1986.

[@Gigastorm24]

I gave my Masters of the Universe toy collection away to some kids in the neighborhood who had nothing !! I still remember how happy those children where to get them !! It was worth it to me !! Great video !!!

[@TheGoddamnJefe]

Wil Newman You were a wonderful and kind child amigo.

[@geoffreybenedict2075]

That's how I got my set, someone gave me the castle, and a bunch of figures. It was amazing.

[@nodrip1]

We could all take a lesson from you, sir. Well done!

[@ManScoutsofAmerica]

All of my heman, joes, and Star Wars toys went the same route. Only my mom did it when my brother and I were at school without our knowledge.

[@ReschDMD]

I did the same! We were going to move out of state after 7th grade, so it was a combination of "less to pack," "you're almost 13 and don't play with toys much," and "why not share these with kids who cannot afford them and would enjoy them more."

[@kentucky_bandit3493]

My first toy I remember getting was Skeletor, I got him for "being a big boy" and not making a fuss about my booster shot at about 3 yrs old. My parents bought him for me from Burgess Drug store, I still have him today.

[@Mojo7444]

I remember making my communion and my farther took me to Toys R us. Bought almost the whole collection, even a He-man duffle bag . Thanks Michael for another awesome trip down memory lane!

[@JMan1380]

Zodac is Metron. Something I didn't know until I got into the New Gods. There's a big Kirby influence found in Masters of the Universe.

[@yellowgut]

I asked for these as soon as I saw them, long before the cartoon. My moms words”are you sure? They’re so ugly.” Lol!!

[@psychotodd769]

I am an artist. I can draw anything. That led to tattooing. I've owned and worked in 2 tattoo shops. Not recently cause i got burned out on it. But still draw and paint. .. But what led to me being an artist is he-man. We couldn't afford a he-man action figure. So i drew him. Never drawn b4. But i wanted him so bad that i would draw him. When i finally got him it was the best toy ever. I love all the he-man stuff. Cartoons toys everything. Big part of my childhood. But I'm grateful that we couldn't afford him because it led to a talent i might not have discovered. Plus i appriciated him more when i did get him.

[@vintageproductions3197]

Somehow I was born in 2006 and still grew up with this show

[@felipeterrazas317]

I was born in 1982 so I don’t get to enjoy the first run. But my dad was a geek collector. So he bought double of every figure in the line knowing that one day when the time was right I’ll enjoy MOTU also. So Christmas of 87 he brought out this huge box of everything MOTU and I was blown away. I instantly loved the line. Until Tmnt came into my life but I’ll always have a soft spot for MOTU.

[@XMattingly]

My personal favorite He-Man mini comics were the ones drawn by Mark Texiera. They’re *fantastic*, gorgeously drawn with a classic heavy ink, deep shadows style.

[@Ur2ez4me81]

I remember this one night my older brother had a sleep over & being young I wasn’t able to stay up late but the next morning I went into his room & there was a whole He man set with the castles & just about all of the action figures. I’ll never forget that feeling when I saw the play set sitting on the floor! So cool & the 80’s were awesome!

[@francoispellerin4268]

I still have my eternia play set

[@Juggernuts]

its crazy to me these came out in 1982, i was 3, yet i remember having a bunch of these, although i may have had later figures, i know i didnt have castle greyskull, but i did have snake mountain, i remember the snake head microphone vividly

[@prixelderp5231]

@PC-FX! The Fright Zone!

[@sci90174]

I used to have the He-man figurine, and had always wondered if the power sword was meant to combine with another half of itself but never found out what it was. Until I saw this video. After introducing Skeletor I thought you weren't gonna combine the swords until the part on castle grayskull! Finally! Thanks for removing one more thing off my bucket list!

[@jasonk795]

You put skeletor and He-Man's sword together and it becomes the key to unlock the drawbridge on castle grayskull. There's a slot on the door.

[@wizzrobotix2379]

As a kid, I thought Mer-Man's sword was made of corn/niblets. ;D The yellow color and shape hinted so much to it.

[@kravenbludd]

I remember thinking it looked like niblets, as well.

[@prixelderp5231]

OH MY GOD!!! My brother and i always called it his "corn cob sword!"

[@str.77]

I thought so too. As a matter of fact, I still do. But that's quite clever of Merman - he always has some provisions with himself. Anyway, he was one of the smarter ones, always deserting Skeletor when the going got tough.

[@kal2681]

I always thought it was corn too!

[@tannerjerry]

My dad and i saw castle grayskull at a flea market back in the 80s .i must have been like 4. It wasnt in good condition but i wanted it so bad and New it was more than we could afford. My dad got the guy to lower the price to $6 and . . . Man i was the happiest kid in the world .

[@royce.carroll]

You did this so fast! I appreciate your focus on things that were not covered very well in other places. I still learned a lot!

[@foxhound9781]

I enjoyed this review! Thanks Michael!

[@thehorrorslash8184]

Brilliant work man! I love the detail and quality !

[@manlystranger4973]

Great episode!!! I have watched a lot of video specials about the origins of Masters of the Universe and, without a doubt, this is the best look at and presentation of the actual 1982 toys.

[@Dormition]

Great video! As a kid of the 80s, I never tire of watching these types of videos, brings me back to a simpler time. I’m currently in the process of collecting all of the early release 81 figures, have four so far!

[@autoneurotic]

What a wonderful video Michael! I must say, your collection of figures looks like they were just made yesterday. The condition is most impressive.

[@gijoespanol]

I try to imagine all the effort and work you put only in a short video, I cannot imagine all the work behind a 16+ minutes video. Congratulations for your awesome channel, keep the great work.

[@nicolekoch1332]

I always enjoy your videos; especially the way you pepper in the animated clips with sound bites appropriate to your narration. Keep up the fun work!🖒🖒

[@rodgerq]

Man. I absolutely loved the grayskull playset.

[@gottagetitgaming7759]

Loved this. I had all these when I was a kid. They were the best. Great video as always.

[@stevenholt458]

This stuff should be taught in schools.

[@ryanangelastro504]

Agreed.

[@-Hail-15]

Yeeeeesss

[@jedidm101]

thank you for another great video!

[@billpagan3070]

Michael, Great job on the these segments!!! Love the added movie clips and humor! Very cool👍😁 Bill

[@jimmymeredith5797]

Almost a decade before Chun Li's succulent thighs, we got Teela's. 😜

[@giannistoysdios7152]

Another great, qualitative video! Thanks for sharing, Michael!

[@Sportimus]

Nicely done. Great video that both enjoyable to watch and informative.

[@Officialrezaartgallery]

This was by far the best he-man Doku i have ever seen . Man all my nice nostalgic childgood memories came back. Keep continue i like it😍👍✌

[@33Artworks]

I remember a time back in December 1982, waking up just before Christmas morning seeing He-Man & Teala in my dad socks as Christmas socking on a chair in the Motel room where my family use to live. That was the first time in the middle of the night seeing my childhood hero. I also remember having a dream about the theme of He-Man, but that is another story.

[@THESNEAKERADDICT]

Great vid

[@kushalguha8226]

Great video.It brought back all those fond memories of the 1980's.Thanks a lot...😄😄😄

[@slycooze150]

Another great video! As a kid I was mostly a Star Wars and GI Joe super fan so that was the majority of my toy collections, and even though I loved the He-Man cartoon only had a couple of the toys. But I want to start a new collection now primarily based on your videos!

[@facetina]

Awesome review! I thoroughly enjoyed it!

[@IgorTFerreira]

This comment is from Brazil: First, I'm 41 (present year: 2020), i have to say that your channel is epic! everyone borned between 1975 and 1985 should revive great memories watching your videos! You are doing a fantastic job! keep uploading plz!

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks! :D

[@KinkArcana]

Outstanding as always!

[@retrogc77]

Love your videos man. Always very well done. I remember getting Castle Greyscull for Christmas. Still have some of my figures

[@ReachingHigher001]

Someone just earned themselves a new subscriber. Thanks, Michael Mercy.

[@Creeeator]

I'm 44 and still a MOTU-Fan! And that will never change for the rest of my life.....

[@shakplay3992]

I am 39 i still have He-man figurine my father bought for me.

[@betatrontentetk6615]

Very good video. It demonstrates love and respect. Especially talking about the mythic castle grayskull.

[@LupinosLionheart]

The best about "Masters of the Universe" was the audio play series. Only available in Germany. :D

[@r.g.armstrong2688]

Those 80’s Christmas with these toys waiting for me in the morning of 25th. I still can feel inside of me that rush of waking up just to run to the living room. And the holidays spent playing with the Masters. Dad was still alive and well, Mom was fine… It did seem that it could be last forever. But forever it’s a very short frame of time. I also remember the Christmas of ‘90-92 where instead of the Masters i got vinyls and cassettes of bands like Winger, Motley Crue, Alice Cooper, Judas Priest, Whitesnake. Different vibes but still magical. I wish i could live all of that again. Nowadays Christmas it’s just a sad day, i wonder who feels this way.

[@bartdman95]

Thanks for giving us more knowledge about HE-MAN. THE TOYS THAT MADE US Netflix series gives all an over view. And you added more info to supplement the things they said in the show. As always, your toy history videos are great!

[@NeilSP]

This was my childhood. I remember to stay awake until 7pm to watch He-Man every fridays on my local channel back then. Both He-Man and Thundercats are nostalgic to me.

[@wizzrobotix2379]

Love your creative cartoon-inputs lines. :) And thanks for the vid; it wakes tons of memories in my Grey skull. :D

[@keith2648]

By far the best Action figures and cartoon series ever. And here I am 35 years later with wave 1 and wave 2 on preorder through super 7. Great video.

[@jesvinsjoseph]

Great work! Made my childhood memories comeback,. There was also Skeletor's ride/cat. It had a really dark packaging too!!

[@brunocamara9223]

Very good videos!! Good job !

[@andyappleton3353]

So glad I found your channel. Best of it's kind on youtube. Subscribed!

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks Andy! I appreciate it. 🙏

[@EugenioAngueira]

Loved the video! Well done!

[@shazmanbound1496]

Thank you for this detail information about "Masters of the Universe" As a newcomer to the franchise this was great.

[@chickenbites8877]

Your videos are so awesome, you gained another subscriber

[@joewolter7478]

They were, by far, my favorite toys. I loved the Star Wars movies, but was in love with Masters of the Universe. I had most all the figures and nearly all the vehicles

[@toohumble1]

This was awesome! Loved the flashback :)

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks, great to hear. :D

[@electriceyeslide5959]

Awesome video, very well done. Kudos!!

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks! 🙏

[@SgtRoxx72]

Another amazing history video Michael! Thank you! I never did collect any He-man toys when I was a kid, although I did watch the cartoon quite regularly. It's amazing to see the toy lines that I missed as a child brought to life through your videos. I focused mainly on GI Joe, and Transformers. Not much money left for anything else. My allowance didn't stretch as far as I'd have liked it to! Loved your skit again! Since we have seen him twice now I wonder if we should come up with a name for 'skit man'? He could be the official Michael Mercy tribe mascot! LOL Just a thought. Thanks again for all the time, talent, and effort you put into your videos. You truly make Saturday mornings magical for me again like when I was a child. Only thing different now is a few grey hairs, and instead of a bowl of cereal I have my trusty sidekick 'Coffee' to go on adventures with 😁 Have an amazing weekend Michael! Thank you again for everything you do! Nerdmasté my brother 🙏

[@MichaelMercy]

I didn't have that many He-Man toys either but I never missed the cartoon. Maybe I'll post something on Patreon asking for suggestions for a name for the "parent." "WHAT THE HEY?!" :D Glad you enjoyed the video, it's nice to know people are enjoying Saturday morning with these beloved characters again. Have a great weekend good brother! :D

[@TheVileOne]

Thanks for the video!

[@MoCa1979Jr]

What a very thorough overview of the entire origins to the MOTU franchise. Even though the toys & cartoons don't hold up today, the nostalgia still makes me love MOTU (& the spin-off POP). With everything from the 80s being remade, I'm somewhat surprised no one has made a new He-Man movie. I guess it's because the newer cartoon got cancelled--even though it was pretty good & reinvisioned the campy old 80s cartoon into a more anime-esque cartoon, with a far better & more cohesive story.

[@technoir78]

What an Amazing job you did! You do He-Man justice

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks!

[@CROMA1927]

Well, thank You. This was a childhood era revisited. 😊👏👍

[@KnightDarkFight1980]

fantastic video. thank you!

[@Bernhard2024]

I love this video. Hope for more videos of Masters of the Universe toys.

[@TimmyME]

When He-man toyline was released in Sweden it changed the world of toys. Everybody had them, even girls. When American cartoons were introduced beyond Disney that is EVERYBODY was watching He-man. This is the greatest toyline ever created.

[@markcrisostomo108]

Love watching your videos. Reminds me of my childhood. I had a lot of the toys that you are featuring. I had to subscribe haha Man I miss the 80s! Cheers man!

[@bobafret5619]

I truly enjoyed this ...brings back memories for sure...hoping for more to come.. maybe M.A.S.K, Centurions, Bravestarr...subscribed and thanks!

[@likonatera7452]

I got what was very likely the first HE-MAN & BATTLE CAT Set ever to be seen in my land. My dad bought it for me on a bussiness trip abroad and I never before had seen such a cool toy in my then short life. Since the set didn't have a mini-comic inside and the toy line was not gonna be available until much later in my homeland I was so fascinated by the wonderful characters and vehicles on the back of the box thatI started my own fan comic inspired by the dark, epic Frazetta-esque painting in the box. I made lots and lots of exciting comic pages for years and I still love the inspiration fuel these figures made on a very impressionable young me back then. This Toy Collection really had a magical Power in it.

[@liamrigby7040]

Another good video of a great toy line had some motu figures long time ago such passion for the subject thank you Michael

[@TheLithGH]

Thanks for posting!!!!

[@joycollecting]

Awesome video!

[@Moocow9991703]

Brilliant video, really enjoyed visiting my childhood 😊😊😊

[@filmandpage1138]

The Masters of the Universe was by far my favorite toyline growing up. I had all the figures in the original line up. I never could get Grayskull though. I did have snake mountain however.

[@aztecautobot7404]

Great job on this video , the part with the Dad freaking out on the scary looking Skeletor figure so true L0L (:

[@marsiozo]

Masters of the Universe....this is where the toy collecting began for me back around '84... Still got me figures from back then...and few years ago I got all the stuff I never got as a kid hahaha ;) By the way...does anybody else here had their parents give away about 90% of their favourite toy collection to nephews? I still recall when I was about 20...living on my own..coming home to my parents' house.... I was like....mom....where is my star Wars B-Wing, AT-ST's and M.A.S.K Outlaw and all the other stuff? Well...yeah your nephew came along and he liked them, so we gave it to them..... I didnt freak out but was clearly dissapointed ....well at least they knew to NOT give away my G1 Transformers and Masters of the Universe, since they knew those were always my favourite.... But OMG...how sorry I felt for all the M.A.S.K, vintage Star Wars and G.I. Joe stuff.....

[@elcowabungahe-man6156]

Love your videos of MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE

[@JoeSelf1982]

I voted for this on Patreon and I'm glad it won even if it was a very tough decision. Another great video, Michael. I'm impressed with your research and hard work telling the backstory of MOTU. I look forward to the 1983 edition down the road. For any and all He-Man fans out there, please check out the excellent POWER OF GRAYSKULL doc on Netflix as well as the He-Man episode on THE TOYS THAT MADE US. Nerdmaste!

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks Joe! Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for voting! It was a fun one to make. Nerdmasté! 🙏

[@andiwootton7861]

I had all the Masters of the universe toy's when I was young from Andi they were great fun to play with and kept me occupied for hours

[@jasonhinman3765]

Stratos and Trap Jaw. My favorite action figures. I had Trap Jaw repelling everywhere with the hole in his helmet. The Christmas of my 2nd grade, my house caught on fire. I had just gotten so many He-man figures. I also got Snake mountain that year, I think it was 1983. That year Christmas was a curse. I lost everything, and only tasted the joy of having everything. December 26 we were homeless. Only my father could possibly make it seem adventurous. He bought us each BB guns, and stated that we are mature enough to have them after surviving the house fire. This was our first day in our rental several miles in the sticks. It was not expected, nor did each of my two brothers thought asking for a gun was an option, despite A Christmas Story being the most popular Christmas movie, which he obviously drew interest from. In the course of a week, we moved from the town to the country. Hotel to very old farm house rental. I was never happier, and now I have bought and sold, and bought again just about everything I've lost in that Christmas fire. I am still a fan of He-man and have made thousands buying and selling Masters of the Universe items.

[@chrischilders6239]

Brings back my child hood for sure. Shoot brings back memories of me just learning how to use the phone and calling my 1st grade friends when thriller came on tv

[@bastianbux5107]

Thanks for the history

[@BrianBoruish]

Just found out an hour ago putting my kids to bed that Evil Lyn's staff GLOWS IN THE DARK! Never knew this as a kid. Anyway, my search for other he man toys that glow in the dark led me here. If anyone knows of other glow in the dark he man stuff let me know. Not Scare Glow either...everyone knows that :)

[@MichaelMercy]

Really! I didn't know either, that's awesome!

[@grsslgcy32]

I was introduced to MOTU from the 2002 series ironically, I was a kid when the series came out on CN along with the figures I’ll never forget the day I got He-Man I got all the happy meal figures that year too. Great memories now I love MOTU and still have my original figures!

[@thabuloodles9209]

The days Michael your a living time machine once again love it

[@dylanacevedo968]

Very Nice review!

[@johnclose4637]

Always loved the toys they bring my good memories come back that's why I still collect them

[@johnhall2483]

This is a great video and u did an awesome job. He-Man and the MOTU will always be the greatest toy/franchise in the universe!

[@MichaelMercy]

Thanks John, glad you enjoyed it. :D

[@arsenalforever5877]

Thanks so much for bringing back a piece of my childhood !!

[@MichaelMercy]

Happy to hear it. 🙏

[@williammcclanahan1792]

Started buying up the new set . Loving it

[@jkukurugya]

I have so many of these in my parents' attic it's crazy, I've really got to find them all again.