Queen Marlena from Storyboard Art looks familiar...

When Mike Young Productions were working on the Animated movie for He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, that later turned to into order for a cartoon show instead, there were some changes made (as is often the case in animation) from early production to what finally landed on our screens.

Checking the storyboards for season 1 episode "The Beginning - part 1", there is a scene with King Randor and Queen Marlena in the Royal Palace of Eternos during the birthday-party for Prince Adam, waiting for the Prince to actually show up.

On a more careful look at the art on the Storyboard frame, both King Randor and Queen Marlena look slightly different from the final versions they would end up with.

But Queen Marlena actually has in the storyboard art a striking resemblance to the classic Filmation Studios' version of Queen Marlena.

This could have been a case of the artist using the Filmation model as placeholder during the storyboarding, before receiving final approved model for the new 2002 model of Queen Marlena.

Whatever is the reason, it is a very interesting "homage".

Comic Cover Homage #2

In previous comic-cover homage blog-post we had He-Man against Skeletor. This time around I thought to take a look at MVCreations' comic cover for "Masters of the Universe" comic Volume 3 - Issue #5.

While the studio previously stopped doing variants during Volume 2-run, they returned to them with Volume 3. Some were He-Man.org Exclusive-covers.

For this exclusive variant cover we have He-Man battling a giant Snake with Kobra Khan in the background gleeful. The cover is drawn by Tim Seeley with colours by Jeremy Roberts. Seeley captures wonderfully the energy of He-Man in a struggle without any weapons against the Snake.

Above is the cover-art without any text and logos.

The cover is an homage to the '85 Golden Super Adventure Book for Masters of the Universe entiteld "Meteor Monsters". Comparing the original cover art, Seeley captured the location well with swamp and trees. As well as Roberts on the colours making it very vivid looking image.

Variant Cover Fun #2

As I've mentioned in the past, variant covers can be lot of fun. Seeing new takes on familiar characters from different artists.

This time I thought I'd talk about the great He-Man.org exclusive online variant-cover for Issue 7 - Volume 3 of the Masters of the Universe comic by MVCreations.

The cover features King Randor and Queen Marlena in their "battle-outfits". We were first introduced to these armor-variants in season 1 episode "Of Machines and Men".

The cover-art is done by Eamon O'Donoghue with colouring by Jeremy Roberts. As a great homage, Eamon drew Randor with the sword he received from Lord Dactys in season 1 episode "Underworld".

Marlena also is holding the sword from 1987 live-action movie "Masters of the Universe" where He-Man (potrayed by Dolph Lundgren) had this particular sword.

Comic Cover homage #1

Couple days ago I showed the He-Man.org exclusive variant comic cover for Volume 3 - Issue 1 of the Masters of the Universe comicbook.

If you thought that it seemed familiar in some way, you'd be correct.

The artist Nathan "Baena" Baertsch paid an homage to vintage comic-covers.

Mainly the booklet that came with said toy: "The Power of Point Dread!"/"Danger at Castle Grayskull!"

It is really great to see these elements in the updated cover. Skeletor looking menacing as ever high above He-Man, shooting a magical-blast from his Sword. He-Man ready with his shield and Powersword on the ground.
Personally I would have also liked seeing Castle Grayskull in the background on the updated cover-art, but the mountain-backdrop helps gear the eyes at the characters themselves.

There was also a mini-comic cover that is similar to the booklet ("The Power of... Point Dread!") but when comparing the covers, my bet goes to Nathan paying homage to the booklet-version. 
Below is the mini-comic version for good measure. :)

Pony-tailed Ancient

More MVCreations goodness this week!
In Volume 1 - Issue 2 of the Masters of the Universe comic, the Sorceress tells He-Man, Man-At-Arms and Orko about the Shard of Darkness and how it was part of the Shakarran Crystal.

In the panel we see six Ancients containing "a powerful evil" inside the Crystal. On the far-right is a pony-tailed Ancient who actually is a nod to Eric "Cornboy" Mayse of the Four Horsemen, toy-sculptors for Masters of the Universe-line back in 2002. 

This interestingly marks the second time Cornboy has made an cameo-appearance in the comics done by MVCreations.

Trap-Jaw homage #2

I already showed you one Trap-Jaw homage last week and here's another one that comes courtesy of MVCreations, the studio that worked on the Masters of the Universe comic during 2002-2004.

The people at MVCreations were fans of the original toy-line and cartoon/comics so they included lot of easter-eggs and homages during the comic's run.

In a special Target-exclusive 2-pack of He-Man and Skeletor action-figures, there was a comic packaged in. The comic showed one panel where He-Man bends Trap-Jaw's mechanic arm.

This is an homage to Filmation series where in season 1 episode "The Diamond Ray of Disappearance" He-Man grabs Trap-Jaw's Lasertron weapon-attachment and bends it.

So you see how Trap-Jaw paying homage exceeds in both cartoon & comic. ;)

Trap-Jaw homage #1

Homages are always fun to an existing material in any situation, be it books or films.

With He-Man and the Masters of the Universe cartoon by Mike Young Productions, the creators were aware of the classic animated series by Filmation and would every now and then throw some nods and homages to it.

In season 1 episode "The Beginning - Part II" the heroes are fighting the villains in the Evergreen Forest and one scene shows Teela fighting Trap-Jaw.

During their battle, Teela manages to cut part of Trap-Jaw's mechanic arm-attachment off, but despite of that, Trap-Jaw still can use a claw with which he grabs Teela's sword...

And bites the tip-part off from it.

Leaving Teela with a shocked expression.

This scene is a fun nod the fans of Filmation series season 1 episode "The Diamond Ray of Disappearance" where Teela chased Trap-Jaw on their respective Sky Sleds away from the Royal Palace and shot him down.

While Trap-Jaw is busy trying to attach his Energy Bow,

Teela lands her Sky Sled and approaches Trap-Jaw.

Who immediately bites on her Sword.

Resulting with Teela looking at the sword in shock.

This wouldn't be the only homage MYP Trap-Jaw paid to the classic cartoon but that is another post for another day. ;)