Warning: contains spoilers for Masters of the Universe: Forge of Destiny #2!
Masters of the Universe has confirmed that one of He-Man’s biggest allies started as a villain. In Dark Horse Comics’ Masters of the Universe: Forge of Destiny #2, one of He-Man’s best friends, Dash Shel, lies in a coma thanks to an attack by the evil Skeletor. Dash has a great destiny ahead, but before he fulfills it, Skeletor has plans for him, turning him into a living weapon to be used against He-Man.
Masters of the Universe: Forge of Destiny #2 is written by Tim Seeley and drawn by Eddie Nunez. At the hospital where Dash lies comatose, his mother comes to him, calling him a “human tornado” who rebelled against all that she stood for. She blames herself for Dash’s condition. Later, Evil Lyn visits Dash’s room, overpowering his nurse. She casts a spell transforming the technology keeping him alive into “something more useful.” Now wired into Anwat Gar’s surveillance system, Evil Lyn tells him to find Prince Adam, the man “who made you into what you hate the most.” Readers see Dash has been turned into a cyborg.
Sy-Klone Is One of He-Man’s Best Friends
Astute Masters of the Universe fans will recognize Dash as Sy-Klone, a member of the Masters’ team and a staunch ally of He-Man. First introduced into the franchise in 1985, Sy-Klone, like most other characters in the line, originally received little in the way of character development. Described by Mattel as a “heroic fist-flinging tornado,” the blue-skinned cyborg Sy-Klone could generate super fast winds. His action figure also featured a distinct lenticular sticker on the chest resembling a map. A visually stunning toy, Sy-Klone left a huge impact on a generation, and has been a part of every revival of the show and toy line.
Sy-Klone Immediately Becomes a Tragic Figure
Sy-Klone has had different origins in different incarnations of the franchise, but Forge of Destiny may be his most twisted yet. Dash was a victim of circumstance, simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Skeletor is responsible for his condition, but the truth has been twisted, and the blame put at the feet of Prince Adam. Dash and Adam were friends, and Dash paid the price. Evil Lyn and Skeletor have turned Dash into something sinister and twisted, planning to use Dash as a weapon against his former best friend.
He-Man Must Now Fight His Former Friend
Masters of the Universe fans know that Skeltor’s plans for Dash are doomed to fail, and he will be reborn as Sy-Klone. For now, however, he is a deadly weapon and if He-Man wishes to stop him, he will have to appeal to whatever humanity Dash has left in him. The original Masters of the Universe was full of characters who were the victims of Skeletor’s evil, and Sy-Klone can add his name to the list. Sy-Klone will one day be an ally of He-Man, and a steadfast ally, despite his villainous origins.
Masters of the Universe: Forge of Destiny #2 is on sale now from Dark Horse Comics!
