In this modern world of hyper articulation and media accuracy, it's easy to forget where we came from. As an action figure aficionada with an appreciation for the fundamentals, I'm a sucker for a back to basics approach. And as someone who wants to see this stuff live on beyond me, I'm conscious of the need for good quality entry level product. Kids aren't going to get hooked on $20 Origins figures, not in this economy. Five to ten dollars is the sweet spot, something a kid could buy with their allowance. If Star Wars figures were $20 in 1995 I might be normal.
Since 2026 is finally the fabled Movie Year spoken of in hushed tones by brand managers of the distant past, Mattel made sure to have He-Men of every conceivable size and style ready for the MOTU movie merchandising blitz. At the base of the pyramid are Mighty Masters. This is Masters of the Universe boiled down to its most essential elements. A-list characters, key weapons only, six points of articulation, $4.97 retail.
Throwing it back to 1982 but at a more compact 3.25", Mighty Masters launches with the Man that is He and the evil lord of destruction alongside shortpacks Man-At-Arms and Beast Man. They actually have a slightly better range of motion compared to the vintage figures because of their ball jointed heads and, y'know, actually hinged hips instead of weird proprietary rubber bands that are a pain to replace 40 years on. As far as I can tell their shoulders are only swivels, so don't mistake these for mini-Origins. They also don't pull apart, although you can take off their chest armor with some effort.
Like the early vintage figures, they all have the same power punch action feature--pull back at the waist and release to make them clobber the crap out of each other. He-Man's got his Power Sword, Skeletor his Ram Staff, and that's all you really need, isn't it? They look cool standing there. They're fun to pick up and fiddle with. You can carry one in your pocket. What's not to love?
Although these are definitely targeted at kids, there's something appealing for adults looking for a cheap hit of nostalgia as well. Five bucks is the same price as a Blokees kit, only you know what you're getting. They seem to be selling pretty well, too (which is why Duncan and Beast Man aren't in this review, although that might have more to do with these being functionally Walmart exclusives and my local Walmart sucking. There's also Battle Armor variants of the main men as well as Fisto and Trap Jaw, allegedly). If not for yourself, get 'em for your kids or niblings. Introduce them to a Skeletor untainted by Jared Leto. Pass on the knowledge of the First Ones. This is the way.
...hey, didn't that get a movie this year too? Huh. I forgot.
