It Took 40 Years, But Masters Of The Universe Finally Made An Iconic He-Man Design Canon

Spoilers are ahead for Masters of the Universe: Revolution.

Despite being the lead in the classic sword-and-planet series Masters of the Universe, He-Man has never donned one of his most iconic designs in a canonical tie-in show. Now, Masters of the Universe: Revolution finally canonizes a look made popular by Mattel’s line of He-Man toys. In 2021, Kevin Smith helmed a re-imagining of the classic show with the two-part Masters of the Universe: Revelation. Both Revelation and Revolution, the third part of Smith’s revamped He-Man, are direct sequels to the original Masters of the Universe (1983–1985) animated series.

Even though Smith’s series plays with the original mythology and characters, Revelation and Revolution are part of the same canon as the classic ’80s show. As the Netflix series delves deeper into Castle Grayskull, Eternia, and even the connection between Skeletor and He-Man, new lore is added to that original continuity. Of course, some changes have surprised fans. For example, Revelation sees He-Man boasting a breastplate with a giant “H” across it instead of the armor’s original cross. However, the latest He-Man design update in Revolution is a welcome addition to the Masters of the Universe canon.

Masters Of The Universe Finally Gave He-Man His Iconic Battle Armor

There’s no denying the influence of Mattel’s He-Man toyline on the Masters of the Universe franchise as a whole. In fact, certain ’80s action figure designs are just as iconic as the looks of the character’s animated counterparts. That’s certainly true when it comes to the battle armor version of He-Man. In mid-2023, Mattel released an updated Battle Armor He-Man that was meant to tie into Revolution. The exciting implication was that Battle Armor He-Man would finally appear in animated form; Revolution did deliver — until He-Man’s shocking new power change in the finale.

While Battle Armor He-Man became a massively popular variant thanks to his inclusion on posters and comics, the beloved toy design never became part of the animated Masters of the Universe canon. Even though Mattel continued to make Battle Armor He-Man variants, none of the other series put Prince Adam’s alter-ego in the iconic fit. With Revolution adding to that original continuity, Battle Armor He-Man is officially part of the animated universe. While the battle armor design isn’t one of the biggest changes Masters of the Universe: Revolution makes, it’s one of the most exciting.

Why Battle Armor He-Man Is So Important, Despite Not Being In Any Other Show

While Masters of the Universe: Revolution‘s ending shakes things up for Eternia’s heroes and villains, the season’s earlier episodes also introduce a slew of new, exciting lore. Although the introduction of He-Man’s battle armor design might not seem as significant as other Revolution plot twists and character reveals, it’s substantial because it delivers on an over-40-year-old toyline setup. A huge part of Battle Armor He-Man’s importance is the nostalgia factor, though it also serves as a practical power-up for him. Clearly, Masters of the Universe: Revolution learned from Revelation‘s missteps, hence the fan service.