Mattel's Masters of the Universe toy-line remains one of the most popular toy franchises of the 1980s with its wide variety of characters from Wizards, Barbarians, robots, space explorers, and other weird beasts and creatures. It's the perfect fit of Sci-fi and Fantasy worlds into one amazing universe. The Original toy line ran from 1981 to 1987. With that, here is my personal top 10 list of the original Masters of the Universe toy line.
Battle Armour He-man and Battle Armour Skeletor
Battle Armour He-man and Skeletor were releases in 1984 as part of wave 3. With this one i had to put them together as they have the same action feature built in, the chest contained a spring-loaded rotating drum with three "damage indicators". As with previous versions He-man came with his half of the Power sword and Ax and Skeletor was package with the Havoc staff and his half of the Power sword.
Photo Credit see link
https://www.he-man.org/collecting/toy.php?id=566
#9 King Hiss
King of the Snake men
The King Hiss figure was released in 1985 as part of wave 5 and came with removable armour with a snake body underneath it. King Hiss was package with a green Snake Staff and the Shield of Ka as well as arm covers and front and back chest cover.
Photo Credit see link
https://www.he-man.org/collecting/toy.php?id=1261
#8 Trap-jaw
Wizard of Weapons
Number 8's pick is the vintage Trap-jaw figure, he is a member of the Evil Warriors (Skeletor) This figure had few different play features like movable jaw and a loop in his helmet that can be used as zip line, weapons included were a hook attachment, gun attachment and a claw attachment and like Tri-clops Trap-jaw was packaged with a bonus Warriors ring.
Photo Credits See link
https://www.he-man.org/collecting/toy.php?id=547
#7 Hordak version 1
Leader of the Evil Horde
Hordak is another one of my childhood favourites, if my memory serves correct i think i ended of with 3 of this figure when he came out. Hordak was packed with a white crossbow and a red bat for his arm, there is actually 2 versions of his armour one has a Horde bat on the back and red ribs on the side.
Photo Credit see link
https://www.he-man.org/collecting/toy.php?id=344
#6 Scareglow
Evil Ghost of Skeletor/ Evil Ghost Serving Skeletor
Scareglow was release as part of the final wave in 1987, this figure came with a purple cape and the Scythe of Doom which is a recoloured Scythe from the Castle Grayskull play set, with 2 variations of the Scythe one being green and the less common Glow in the Dark Scythe of Doom. Scareglow has become a fan favourites over the years and one of the more expensive figures to collect with just a loose figure fetching over $200 Canadian.
Photo Credit see link
https://www.he-man.org/collecting/toy.php?id=1279
#5 He-man v1
The Most Powerful Man in the Universe
He-man was originally release in 1981 as part of the first wave of Masters of the Universe figures, he was package with a Battle Ax, Shield and his half of the Power Sword. The only action feature He-man had was a twist waist and power punch action. For me he makes the top 5 as one my original 3 figures.
Photo Credit see link
#4 Roboto
Heroic Mechanical Warrior
Roboto was release as part of wave 4 in 1985 and was one of the last figures i remember getting as a child if memory serves me correct i got him when camping with my late Grandfather, the figure was packed with 3 attachments for his arm a Ax, A laser and a claw. He also has a unique action feature when you turn his waist the gears move his mouth which from a personal note sand is not a good thing to his gears.
Photo Credit see link
#3 Mer-man
Ocean Lord
Mer-man is one of the figures i never had as a child but always wanted him, partly it was his look and he shares the cover of one of my favourite mini comics with He-man ( Battle in the Clouds). Mer-man was part of the original wave 1 in 1981 and has 2 versions one has a painted green belt as seen in the picture below and the other the belt is not painted, he was packaged with yellow armour and the Sword of Rakash.
Photo Credit see link
#2 Skeletor v1 with half boots
Lord of Destruction
The original Skeletor was release as part of wave 1 in 1981 and had a few variations in paint and colouring. Some has purple trunks and black belt with half painted boot or all black trunks and half painted boots then black trunks and all paint boots, the figure was package with purple armour and a waist belt, Havok Staff and his half of the Sword of Power.
Photo Credit see link
#1 Stinkor
The Evil Master of Oder's
This is one figure i never had as a child yet he is my all time favourite figure, he shares the same mold as Mer-man. Stinkor was release as part of wave 4 in 1985 and came package with a recoloured armour from Mek-a-mek and a blue shield that was originally packed with Castle Grayskull, the figure had a unique feature as the plastic had patchouli oil in it to give him a stinky smell. The below photo is a year or so old but at one point i was trying to get 50 of the original figure i believe i stopped at about 46 before selling of most of these.
Photo Credit me, for more details on this figure see link
https://www.he-man.org/collecting/toy.php?id=1256
These are the Top 10 Masters of the Universe vintage figures in my personal option, please comment below with yours and stay tuned for my next top 10 lists
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