Future Skeletor MOTU Origins Sketch Book Series Figures Coming

Target’s Summer Geek Out 2026 Drop 3 was packed with MOTU Origins goodness, finally bringing the movie figures and the Sketchbook Series Skeletor up for preorder after collectors outside the U.S. had already been scooping up figures like Man-At-Arms, Tri-Klops, Moss Man, and Ram Man. But the real nugget buried in the promotional video was something that should have every Origins collector paying close attention, because Katie and Quincy Robinson from Mattel didn’t just talk up the current Skeletor release, they made it very clear that this is only the beginning. Their exact words were that this Skeletor is going to be “the first entry of Skeletor into our Sketchbook Series,” which is about as direct a confirmation as you can get that more concept-based Skeletor figures are on the way. We’ve been tracking the Sketchbook Series closely, from the first official images to the early intel about what characters could be joining the line, and hearing Mattel frame this release as just the opening salvo for Skeletor in the series is genuinely exciting. We have a personal copy of The Power and the Honor Foundation book, where the various Skeletor concept designs are catalogued in detail, and looking through those pages, there are some wildly different takes on the Lord of Destruction that could translate beautifully into Origins figures. Some of those early concepts feature radically different color palettes, costume designs, and overall aesthetics that would give Mattel a deep well of material to pull from, and we’re planning to run down the most likely candidates based on what’s documented in the book. The fact that Mattel is openly telegraphing a multi-figure rollout for Skeletor within the Sketchbook Series suggests they see real momentum in this concept, and honestly, the idea of building out a collection of “what could have been” versions of one of the most iconic villains in toy history is the kind of thing that hits the sweet spot for collectors who love the design history behind these characters just as much as the finished products.

Here is the promo video if you have not seen it:

Dragon Blaster

Although no notable action feature is revealed, a precursor to Dragon Blaster Skeletor was illustrated by Colin Bailey. The chains and the lock are identical to those used on the 1985 dragon-centric variant. It’s really cool to see some elements of the concept figures making their way into the vintage lines designs.

Dragon Blaster Skeletor Concept

bombstaroutkast did a fantastic job tranlating the art found in the Power and the Honor Foundation book and turning it into an outstanding figure! As the original art design lacked a Dragon, bombstaroutkast felt he needed to add this element to the design, which we thought was a great choice!

This version of Skeletor also features some notable differences with his original release and vintage figure. For example, bombstaroutkast sculpted huge tusks that protrude from his chest. He also have him a set of black chains, which contrats nicely with the set of silver chains on the Dragon.

The helmet is really the centerpiece of the figure as, in the original concept, it looked like they wanted Skeletor to wear a skull of an animal, which is pretty darn cool! A villain with a skull for a face wearing the skull of an animal is just brilliant!

Evil Incarnate

We can see the early concept of Skeletor as he is contained in the Fright Zone in the holding cell, over the shoulder of Hordak as he commands Grizzlor to attack He-Man.

Skeletor Concept

The original concept for Skeltor featured a similar, yet different, design aesthetic to the Evil Lord of Destruction we know today. In fact, the working name for the character below was Evil Incarnate and this illustration was part of the design process for the character that would become Skeletor.

Battle Armor Skeletor

In a tease on the Fright Zone play set, You’ll also notice a very different chest design for Battle Armor Skeletor as this too draws upon early sketches and concepts.

The MOTU Origins Sketch Book Series Battle Armor Skeletor by bombstaroutkast brings the original concept art to life with an imaginative and faithful execution. In the vintage illustration, Skeletor is depicted with a monstrous armored chest plate featuring a snarling, dragon-like creature mouth, along with clawed feet and a darker look.

The concept figure translates this into a three-dimensional sculpt with impressive detail, showcasing the fierce green dragon head on his armor with sharp teeth and red eyes. The custom it captures the core design beautifully, complete with Skeletor’s classic purple hood, boots. It’s a striking homage that blends vintage inspiration with the talent that bombstaroutkast pours into this work!

Bio-Mechazoid Skeletor

Dated June 22, 1987, this Bio-Mechazoid Skeletor concept by Dave Wolfram represents an early design exploration that emphasized a more biomechanical interpretation of Skeletor. The artwork depicts the villain with a yellow skull beneath his signature purple hood, a silver cybernetic body covered in intricate mechanical detailing, and dark red armor, boots, and belt, replacing the traditional fantasy aesthetic with a machine-like appearance. Rather than introducing a new action feature, the concept focused on refining Skeletor’s visual design, and many of its elements—including the silver color scheme, yellow skull, and cybernetic sculpting—were ultimately carried over into the Laser Light Skeletor figure released in 1988, making this artwork an important glimpse into the evolution of one of the final vintage Masters of the Universe figures.