TOP TEN MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE ACTION FIGURE ACCESSORIES (1982-1988)
The Toy Collectors Guide continues our new monthly feature that highlights various toy lines with a emphasis on a top ten, because honestly, who doesn’t love a good top ten list!
This month, we put the spotlight on the 1980’s Masters of the Universe line with the TOP TEN MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE ACTION FIGURE ACCESSORIES (1982-1988). Mattel created some pretty memorable and iconic characters for their MOTU action figure line, but they also created some equally memorable and just as iconic accessories to go with those action figures. This list puts the spotlight on those amazing vehicles/creatures/playsets that captured our imaginations back in the day.
Top Ten lists are usually subjective by the author, and that is absolutely the case here as well. These lists are meant to inspire conversation and debate, so please feel free to leave a comment with who would make your list. Without further ado, here is November’s Top Ten list. We hope you enjoy and have some fun with it.
Top Ten Masters of the Universe Action Figure Accessories (1982-1988)
Number 10
Night Stalker
Released in 1985
Just the name of Night Stalker sounded crazy cool. He was essentially the evil version of the good and pure Stridor. This was a great sculpt as well, with a unique design. The turret for the laser gun actually moves around on his back. There wasn’t a ton of articulation to Night Stalker, but it was definitely a fun addition to the line.
Number 9
Land Shark
Released in 1985
The Land Shark was a nifty looking vehicle with a shark’s mouth at the front and the figure sitting in the back. When you pushed the vehicle around, the jaws of the shark would chomp open and closed. The Land Shark also included twin cannons and an engine cover. There wasn’t a whole lot else to the Land Shark, but man this was awesome looking and a super fun vehicle.
Number 8
Panthor
Released in 1983
Since He-Man had Battle Cat, Skeletor needed a super cool “steed” as well, so Mattel gave us Panthor. This was a great looking large cat with a nice sculpt and bright purple color scheme, but what made it even cooler was the imitation flocked hair it was covered with. This gave Panthor a unique feature that Battle Cat didn’t have. Also included was a saddle for figures to sit in. The one down side to Panthor is that he had no moveable parts, but that could certainly be forgiven.
Number 7
Snake Mountain
Released in 1984
Skeletor and his crew finally get a place to hang-out with the introduction of Snake Mountain. This playset had a unique looking demon face on the side of a large purple mountain. It’s actually much cooler that it sounds. My favorite thing about Snake Mountain was the snake head microphone, which allowed your voice to be disguised as “frightening and evil” when you talked into it. This was a worthy bad guy playset to the good guy’s Castle Grayskull.
Number 6
Roton
Released in 1984
Roton was a pretty interesting looking vehicle, especially with its two big red eyes on the front of it. It was the first vehicle made for Skeletor’s Evil Warriors, and it was about time! The Roton vehicle had a red saw blade all around it, which spins when the vehicle is pushed forward or backwards. I just love the insane design on this thing and the sinister looking color scheme.
Number 5
Fright Fighter
Released in 1986
The Fright Fighter was a compact vehicle that fit one figure inside. A trigger would activate the flapping wings, and the front pinchers could grab other figures. It also included a radar scanner and laser guns for battle. This was a very cool looking vehicle with a unique dragonfly-like concept, and who doesn’t love watching dragonfly’s!
Number 4
Spydor
Released in 1985
Spydor was exactly what it sounded like, a giant scary looking mechanical spider that shot laser cannons at you. When you turned it on, Spydor would actually walk around the floor with a figure sitting atop of it. This thing moved pretty well and was just menacing looking, and how about that box art!!!
Number 3
Slime Pit
Released in 1986
The Slime Pit was essentially a MOTU version of Nickelodeon’s Slime Time. The premise was fairly simple. A character gets trapped in the pit by a large dragon/dino claw and green slime was poured onto them from the dragon/dino head above. The slime would allow the character to be mind controlled to do Hordak’s evil bidding. This was a lot of fun back in the day and worked really well. Sure, it was pretty rough on the figures, but that’s what they were for, right!
Number 2
Battle Cat
Released in 1982
Prince Adam’s cowardly tiger, Cringer, could change into the mighty Battle Cat whenever trouble was looming. Battle Cat was He-Man’s trusted ally and friend against Eternia’s evil forces. This was a nicely sculpted figure and remains incredibly popular with collectors. This was a must have accessory back in the day to have a proper MOTU adventure.
Number 1
Castle Grayskull
Released in 1982
And now for the big NUMBER ONE Masters of the Universe Accessory from their 1982-1988 run….Castle Grayskull!!! Did you expect anything else? Aside from He-Man and Skeletor themselves, Castle Grayskull is arguably the most iconic item to come out of the Masters of the Universe line. The image of the legendary castle can be instantly recognized by anyone who grew up in that era and if action figure playsets had a Mount Rushmore, Castle Grayskull would certainly be on it. With its trap door, opening & closing drawbridge, throne, laser cannon and weapons armory, there was a lot to do in this playset, not to mention a most impressive front exterior shot of the skull with fangs. This was just freakin cool!!!!
HONORABLE MENTION
Eternia (1986): I know what you’re thinking…..how could this playset not make my top ten list!!! The reason is this was a late release for the MOTU line and wasn’t widely distributed at the time, so not many kids actually had it back in the day. Also, due to its high price and size, it was a tough sell back in 1986. Yes, I know it’s super cool. Yes, I know it’s freaking huge. Yes, I would do a lot of evil stuff to have one, but the fact is……I never knew anyone who actually owned one of these until later in life, so it doesn’t make my Top Ten list. That being said, I love the Eternia Playset and it remains on my ” Holy Grail” list!! This thing was big and was the largest and most expensive MOTU playset ever created. If you are lucky enough to own one of these, you have truly done something right in your life.
Here are a few more super fun MOTU accessories that just missed the cut:
Wind Raider (1982): Among the first wave of vehicles released in the MOTU line, the Wind Raider, had a working grappling hook and winch. This was a great design and lots of fun to play with as a kid!
Zoar: Fighting Falcon (1983): Zoar was one of He-Man’s allies that would assist him in battle. Zoar came with a red bomb pack, perch, a colorful paint scheme and wings that could flap up and down.
Point Dread and Talon Fighter (1983): The Point Dread and Talon Fighter was a bit of a vehicle and playset combo, but what makes it so cool was the actual Talon Fighter. It had a unique design and looked awesome perched atop the Castle Grayskull playset.
Road Ripper (1984): The Road Ripper was a self-propelled vehicle that took off when you pulled the ripcord through it. One thing that I discovered as a kid is the Road Ripper doesn’t work so well on carpet…..Just saying.
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