The "Hidden Symbols Mystery" is the third mini comic in the vintage Princess of Power toy line. It was released with Bow, Kowl and Bow/Arrow toys in 1985. This comic is notable for introducing Bow and Kowl to collectors. Bow ventures into the Dark Forest. We learn that the Dark Forest is the exact opposite of the Whispering Woods - it's enchanted, gripping those that enter with evil gloom. The Dark Forest is apparently a base of operations for Catra. She spies on the "Great Etherian Archer" and intends to take him to add to her ranks. Catra again transforms into a black cat - but still a diminutive kitten. Bow ventures to rescue the black kitten who seems to be in peril, but the wicked feline sorceress reveals herself, and her plans for the foolhardy warrior.
Kowl, after seeing Bow being captured, rushes to Adora, Speaking in rhyme, Kowl tells the Princess of Bow's trouble. Adora, quickly changes into She-Ra - in front of Kowl (he apparently is aware of her powers here too). "By the Honor of Grayskull" is used again. She-Ra and Kowl rush to Bow's aid. Venturing to the spot where Bow was captured, She-Ra and Kowl only find a cloth with strange symbols. They seek out the Wizardess - presumably the same character that was introduced in the previous mini comic "Journey to Mizar". The Wizardess provides a gemstone that deciphers the symbols on the cloth, and thus Bow's location. She-Ra and Kowl find the door to the Dark Forest, Meanwhile, Catra continues her attempts in seducing Bow. Interestingly, she states how Bow has served Adora for years, even though this is the third Princess of Power mini comic, but the FIRST time we encounter him. Bow refuses, and Catra unleashes her phantom warriors to subdue him. Bow fights back, firing an arrow that strikes two of his targets, but the arrow passes through them. Catra displays how powerful she is by catching the speeding arrow and disintergrates it in her hand. She retaliates by casting a spell over Bow's heart, but She-Ra arrives to foil the spell. She undoes the evil sorceress's spell, and returns the heart to Bow. They escape via Swift Wind, and Catra - having lost the "Heart of Darkness" flees.
Review:
This issue introduces Bow and Kowl well for the most part. However, there is no true motivation for why Bow would venture into the Dark Forest alone. The Dark Forest is clearly Catra's base of operations, so it makes no sense why Bow would risk endangering himself, other than a flawed overconfidence. Catra's interest in him too is not totally clear - is she attracted to him? Is she interested in increasing the size of her army? Will she use Bow to lure Adora? The story also potentially continues to be unclear about the She-Ra/Adora dynamic. Upon transforming into She-Ra, the tiara produces a mask on her face as before - albeit, Adora/She-Ra's attire remains the same. Throughout the rest of the story, the mask appears and disappears at random. At the end of the story, Bow seems to be aware of Adora's ability to "power up" - there is no mention of She-Ra as a separate person who came to rescue him.
Catra continues to display magical abilities that place her as She-Ra's most powerful adversary, morphing into a cat casting spells and easily thwarting Bow's attack. In this story, she shows that she has phantom warriors at her command. In the first issue, she has cat goblins. In the second, catbirds. Though she only has Entrapta as an ally in the toy line, the comics suggest she has a slew of minions at her beck and call. This being said, we don't know what her overall goal is in the series, despite this being the third issue. She wants to conquer Etheria, but why? How far does her power and influence reach? We have yet to get a sense of this. It's a children's mini comic, so such details aren't important. It is suggested that the Dark Forest is where Catra is her most powerful - She-Ra has to use her wits to defeat her. But upon foiling the evil sorceress's spell, Catra retreats in utter defeat. The setup of her being a powerful villain is instantly deflated despite a decent set up. This is a contrived execution of the "villains can't be allowed to win" message.
Observations:
Kowl, after seeing Bow being captured, rushes to Adora, Speaking in rhyme, Kowl tells the Princess of Bow's trouble. Adora, quickly changes into She-Ra - in front of Kowl (he apparently is aware of her powers here too). "By the Honor of Grayskull" is used again. She-Ra and Kowl rush to Bow's aid. Venturing to the spot where Bow was captured, She-Ra and Kowl only find a cloth with strange symbols. They seek out the Wizardess - presumably the same character that was introduced in the previous mini comic "Journey to Mizar". The Wizardess provides a gemstone that deciphers the symbols on the cloth, and thus Bow's location. She-Ra and Kowl find the door to the Dark Forest, Meanwhile, Catra continues her attempts in seducing Bow. Interestingly, she states how Bow has served Adora for years, even though this is the third Princess of Power mini comic, but the FIRST time we encounter him. Bow refuses, and Catra unleashes her phantom warriors to subdue him. Bow fights back, firing an arrow that strikes two of his targets, but the arrow passes through them. Catra displays how powerful she is by catching the speeding arrow and disintergrates it in her hand. She retaliates by casting a spell over Bow's heart, but She-Ra arrives to foil the spell. She undoes the evil sorceress's spell, and returns the heart to Bow. They escape via Swift Wind, and Catra - having lost the "Heart of Darkness" flees.
Review:
This issue introduces Bow and Kowl well for the most part. However, there is no true motivation for why Bow would venture into the Dark Forest alone. The Dark Forest is clearly Catra's base of operations, so it makes no sense why Bow would risk endangering himself, other than a flawed overconfidence. Catra's interest in him too is not totally clear - is she attracted to him? Is she interested in increasing the size of her army? Will she use Bow to lure Adora? The story also potentially continues to be unclear about the She-Ra/Adora dynamic. Upon transforming into She-Ra, the tiara produces a mask on her face as before - albeit, Adora/She-Ra's attire remains the same. Throughout the rest of the story, the mask appears and disappears at random. At the end of the story, Bow seems to be aware of Adora's ability to "power up" - there is no mention of She-Ra as a separate person who came to rescue him.
Catra continues to display magical abilities that place her as She-Ra's most powerful adversary, morphing into a cat casting spells and easily thwarting Bow's attack. In this story, she shows that she has phantom warriors at her command. In the first issue, she has cat goblins. In the second, catbirds. Though she only has Entrapta as an ally in the toy line, the comics suggest she has a slew of minions at her beck and call. This being said, we don't know what her overall goal is in the series, despite this being the third issue. She wants to conquer Etheria, but why? How far does her power and influence reach? We have yet to get a sense of this. It's a children's mini comic, so such details aren't important. It is suggested that the Dark Forest is where Catra is her most powerful - She-Ra has to use her wits to defeat her. But upon foiling the evil sorceress's spell, Catra retreats in utter defeat. The setup of her being a powerful villain is instantly deflated despite a decent set up. This is a contrived execution of the "villains can't be allowed to win" message.
Observations:
- Bow's personality is similar to his cartoon counterpart's - confident, honorable, adventurous, sometimes foolhardy with a streak of arrogance. He's more tolerable in the comics - perhaps because of the limited exposure.
- Catra states that Bow has served Adora for years. With the characters aware of the Crystal Castle, the absence of the Horde and Adora apparently not having a secret identity, could this mini comic series take place in the future AFTER the Etherian Horde was defeated?
- The Horde is totally absent yet again, with Catra as the primary villain in the command of "fodder minions". Her base of operations is revealed as the Dark Forest here - not the Fright Zone. It's possible that the Dark Forest is part of the Fright Zone.
- The Crystal Castle is out in the open as before. At the end of the story, Bow returns with Adora to the palace at Crystal Castle. Here, it seems that Adora and her allies reside at the Crystal Castle, as opposed to the magical fortress being hidden from all.
- The Wizardess makes her second appearance here - having been introduced un-named in the last issue. As before, she provides an artifact that will help She-Ra rescue her friend.
- The spell Catra casts over Bow's heart spotlights the character's main action feature - the heart in his chest "beats" when you push a botton on his back.
- This comic reveals a romantic connection between She-Ra and Bow.
- Catra speaks of the Heart of Darkness, but we don't get much detail about what it is in relation to Bow's heart, and what it is in general. Perhaps Catra gains power from the tainted hearts of those who become enchanted by the Dark Forest.
- The Dark Forest map is a random piece of fabric with symbols that only the Wizardess's gemstone can decipher. Did the Wizardess place the fabric in the interest of drawing She-Ra to her?