![]() It’s a minor misstep, however, considering that the rest of his comrades and adversaries boast their signature looks and colorful personalities, be it loyal inventor Man-At-Arms (Liam Cunningham), clownish floating magician Orko (Griffin Newman), valiant guardian Sorceress (Susan Eisenberg), cunning witch Evil-Lyn (Lena Headey), cowardly pet cat Cringer (Stephen Root), ferocious brute Beast Man (Kevin Michael Richardson) or staunch warrior Teela (Sarah Michelle Gellar). ![]() He-Man’s frame now bulges to the point of absurdity, which would be fine-realism certainly isn’t the name of this game-except that his head is too small for his massive shoulders. That alone proves an upgrade for He-Man and company, even if the blonde do-gooder himself is a bit, shall we say, steroidal. Powerhouse Animation Studios, the outfit behind Netflix’s video game-based hit Castlevania, is responsible for the anime-inspired style of Masters of the Universe: Revelation, which retains the basic designs of the original toys and series, and yet bestows them with more brawn and angular features, as well as makes their movements swifter and sharper. Unfortunately for him, his latest scheme is once again complicated by the arrival of He-Man (Chris Wood), the gallant and invincible alter ego of Prince Adam, who wields the power of Grayskull via the aptly (if unimaginatively) named Sword of Power. Its tale begins in conventional fashion, with Skeletor ( Mark Hamill)-the cackling dark lord of Snake Mountain-attempting to use trickery to gain entrance into Castle Grayskull, a stronghold that houses the power of Eternia, as well as the universe. ![]() And at least in these initial installments, it revisits familiar terrain, only to then routinely upend expectations. Moreover, it manages the not-inconsiderable feat of humanizing its larger-than-life heroes and villains just enough to make their story play like more than simply an extended Mattel action-figure commercial.īlessed with a superb voice cast, Masters of the Universe: Revelation (July 23) is the first five-episode run of what will purportedly be an ongoing series. Spearheaded by Kevin Smith, Netflix’s animated saga feels like an organic continuation of the original syndicated TV series that ran for two seasons from 1983-1985 (in the process, it ignores the 1987 film and later 2002 TV show). Thus, it’s with some admitted nostalgia that I report that the new Masters of the Universe: Revelation is a success, at least insofar as it authentically resurrects the franchise’s favorite characters while simultaneously updating them-and their adventures-for the 21st century. As a kid, there was He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, and there was everything else.
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