This Earl Norem poster features an interesting blend of toy and toon continuity. Hordak is in toon colors, but features his cape and "shield" from his toy. He's also using magic lightning, unlike the techno magic he used in the show. Imp and Fright Zone are exclusive toon designs. The description suggests the toy continuity, in which Hordak ventures to Eternia to fight Skeletor AND HeMan. Perhaps at some point, Hordak would've retreated to Eternia after being defeated in Etheria - capturing Grayskull would be a last resort, and a perceivably simpler task than keeping an entire planet under his control.
One of the figures I hope gets an entry in Masters of the Universe Classics Collectors Choice line is the Horde's answer to Rio Blast - his "brother" Colonel Blast. Based on the same preliminary concept, the "Blast Brothers" are essentially the same entity, separated into two different characters along the developmental track. According to the Power and Honor Foundation catalog, the Brothers Blast started off as "Firepower Man" in a concept by Ed Watts in 10/3/1984. The concept was passed on to Filmation, who used the character as a Hordesman, and modified his design accordingly. In the 1985 Season, the 52nd She-Ra episode "The Wizard" featured Colonel Blast as a primary antagonist. He was only featured in the series this one time commanding Horde Troopers at the outpost of Moorstone. The toy concept continued to evolve beyond this cartoon appearance, and became the interstellar sheriff Rio Blast, who was an ally of He-Man in the vintage 1986 wave of the Masters of the Universe toy line. Though developmentally the same entity, there's no reason why Colonel Blast and Rio Blast can't be two separate and distinct characters.Rio Blast was released in the new Masters of the Universe Classics toy line in 2014. He would be a great expansion to the Evil Horde, and could use the hollow chest technology used by the new Buzzsaw Hordak figure. Colonel Blast could be Rio's estranged brother, who takes an alternate path, and has himself cybernetically modified to spite his brother, and be a match for him. Hopefully, we get a figure of him in the Masters of the Universe Classics Collectors Choice line sooner rather than later. Double Trouble is the glamorous double agent serving She-Ra in the Great Rebellion. According to Bustatoons, Double Trouble would have been Glimmer's cousin if she appeared on the show. She would've hailed from the Kingdom of Green Glade, and performed a roll not too different from her Masters of the Universe counterpart Man-E-Faces. Unfortunately, she's the only vintage She-Ra toy character that never made it into the show - perhaps because of her ambiguous double agent role in a girl's line...
Prototype pictures feature a preliminary depiction of Double Trouble in different colors - powder blue and purple. This image lines up the first 8 figures of the original POP line - with Catra and She-Ra in the center of the lineup. With Catra being She-Ra's arch nemesis in the toy line, it's very likely that this original lineup was intended to have 4 villains (Castaspella, Double Trouble and Glimmer - those to the right of Catra), and 4 heroes (Bow, Angella and Frosta - those to the left of She-Ra). Due to feedback received in play testing sessions with girls and parents, colors were softened or made more neutral, and most of the villains became heroes. Double Trouble's colors were switched to a more neutral set of greens, and she was only Catra's ally under false pretenses. Though Double never appeared in the show, she was depicted in coloring books, mini comics and children's books. Here limited status has garnered a fan following, and she finally had a figure released in the 2014 Masters of the Universe Classics line. Horde Prime is the Supreme leader of the Horde Empire. An exclusive creation of the Filmation cartoon series, he supplants Hordak as the true leader of the Evil Horde. Many fans resent this character, feeling that Hordak should be the true leader - as the toy mini comics suggest.
Horde Prime's appearance has been a mystery for years. The UK comics did provide a humanoid depiction that was radically different from the show. And despite his action figure's appearance, many think that there's still something missing. He's been described as Hordak's brother, who looks like the same organic race that he hails from. Prime looks to be the same stature as Hordak - the primary explanation for his larger depiction is that it's a type of Wizard of Oz smoke and mirrors to intimidate minions. He has a normal sized humanoid son named Zed, which could support this theory. It could also be a current form - as Horde Prime is thousands of years old. She-Ra seems to be the key to destroying Horde Prime, who is apparently the heart of the Horde Empire. |
AuthorMike Jenkins is a fan of Princess of Power. All posts will explore past and present of the world of She-Ra. Archives
January 2018
Categories
|