The Toys of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe

Can you feel that? The book and toy world is a-buzz with something…

Is it bees? That would be the most exciting but since that fateful summer of 2020 when stuck-at-home Nerds on Earth writer Abram took up beekeeping in an attempt to stay active. Bzzzzz, good honey.

But, no, it’s not those types of bees, it’s Buzz-Off, a classic character from the vintage 1984 line of Masters of the Universe figures, as illustrated on page 26 of The Toys of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, the epic tome by Val Staples and Dan Eardley.

The gorgeous, 4,000+ pound book from Dark Horse Books is filled like honeycombs in a hive with delicious photos and glorious write-ups of every single Masters of the Universe figure and playset.

The Toys of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe

Even a casual fan will enjoy flipping through this book, although doing so will take approximately two weeks, if one reads night and day. Officially, the book is 750 pages and weighs in 6.9 pounds. It’s a beast, man.

It’s massive, like the Eternia playset, and chronicles all the toys of He-Man line. Even She-Ra. The book is divided in to chronological sections. So, the original line of toys are found in the opening several hundred pages of the book and each figure, vehicle, and playset receives their own spread, all listed alphabetically. It’s an absolute nostalgia power trip.

The book’s later sections detail the newer lines of toys. Interviews – like the one with the Four Horseman, famed action figure sculptors – are sprinkled throughout the book and it also includes beautiful timelines and much, much more. It’s 750 pages of hair rock gloriousness.

YouTube influencer “Pixel Dan” Eardley and He-Man historian Val Staples worked together to cultivate every item across all the complete toy lines, including: 1982’s Masters of the Universe, 1985’s Princess of Power, 1989’s He-Man, 2002’s Masters of the Universe relaunch, and 2008’s Masters of the Universe Classics!

It is expertly-researched and documented, includes unique variants, and offers photographic reference of the heroic figures and playsets from decades of development. Insights into the origins of the products are fascinating.

It is truly the perfect addition to any Masters of the Universe fan’s collection. I adore mine. I thought I was a MotU fan before but this single book rekindled my passion for the line in the way none of the newer cartoons or toy lines have ever done.

The book has people all atwitter, even by the 4 dozen or so folks on Mastodon. It is currently under $40 on Amazon, which is bonkers considering the page count. Toys of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe is highly recommended and I have high hopes that Dark Horse books will create a similar product for GI Joe, MASK, TMNT, and other classic toy lines.