Strobo and Plasmar Masters of the Universe Origins Powers of Grayskull figures confirmed!
The Powers of the Grayskull Masters of the Universe spinoff line was short lived in the late 1980’s and only a handful of figures, creatures, and one epic playset made it out of the gate. Masters of the Universe illustrator extraordinaire, Axel Gimenez, reminds us of a wave of figures to be the first six in the Powers of Grayskull line that we now get to complete in the Masters of the Universe Origins line. Set to take place in the pre-historic land of Preternia, the figures that made their first appearance in the Masters of the Universe Classics line, have been slowly making their their way to the Master of the Universe Origins line. In an epic year where we’ve seen the unthinkable happen as Eternia playset has landed on collector’s doorsteps of collector’s and, as we hoped and predicted, 2024 is becoming the year of the Powers of Grayskull. With one Instagram post, Axel pays homage to the first six Powers of Grayskull figures and the artist, Errol McCarthy, who sketched the cardbacks for the figures that were canceled before their time. He also confirmed what we expected that Strobo and Plasmar will be joining the Masters of the Universe Origins line. In an Instagram post, Axel writes:
“A wave planned for that year in the original line, whose figures would be made with complete reuse of others released previously. Since the line was canceled some time before, this wave didn’t happen at that time. All of that was discovered after finding line art by Errol McCarthy for their respective cardbacks a few years ago. In the first picture, from top to bottom and left to right, they are:
– STROBO, SLAMURAI, PLASMAR,
– TERROAR, LORD GR’ASP, SNAKE TROOPER.
They were all made in the Masters of the Universe Classics line at the time. And they are being made now in the Masters of the Universe Origins line.By the time originally planned to make them, and with three of them being Snake Men, they fit perfectly into the Preternia age.”
Let’s take a deep dive into a MOTU retro and check out the figures, their parts and pieces, and the cardbacks for the figures that were supposed to continue one of the greatest toy lines in history.
The Powers of Grayskull
According to the lore, the Powers of Grayskull are a set of magical abilities that grants immense strength, wisdom, and protection against dark forces to the bearer. These powers were first imbued in Castle Grayskull, which served as a center of power for good forces in the universe. The guardian of the castle, Sorceress, possessed the powers and could bestow them on the chosen champions. The powers of Grayskull include strength, agility, wisdom, telekinesis, teleportation, and the ability to communicate with animals. The primary power is the Power of Grayskull, which can grant the wielder incredible strength and enhance their fighting skills. The powers of Grayskull are often sought by the villains of the universe, such as Skeletor, who wants to use them for his evil purposes. However, the powers can only be used for good, and only a worthy champion who possesses a pure heart and courage can wield them.
Plasmar
We have yet to see Plasmar’s figure and card art but we can take a peak back in MOTU history and take a look at his unproduced card art and figure that was produced for the Masters of the Universe Classics line.
Here we can see the 2017 PowerCon exclusive3 pack that included Terroar, Plasmar & Lord Gr’Asp.
In the Battle of Xarkoran, the warrior Plasmar saw his friends and family slain by the Snake Men allied with the Horde. Vengeful, he salvaged a magic crystal that Xarkoran’s scientists had grown from a shard of the mystic Gem of Tamadge. Absorbing its powers, Plasmar gained the ability to control Plasma-Blast energy and generate weapons from thin air! He then hunted the Snake Men exclusively, battling many of their deadliest warriors and even wearing their hides as a trophy until his old friend Clamp Champ later recruited him to help defend Eternos. Because Plasmar could create and master an arsenal of weapons based on those he’d seen in battle like the Horde’s crossbows and Rio Blast’s cyber guns, he gained the nickname “Hot Shot”. Even while serving the banner of King He-Man, Plasmar fought the evil Camo Khan, who had survived the Spell of Separation thanks to Skeletor’s sorcery. The two warriors hunted each other for years in the depths of Subternia, eventually rejoining the conflict on Eternia’s surface.
Strobo also had some unreleased card back art from the unreleased Powers of Grayskull line. Here again it looks like he is battling against 2 Snake Troopers just like on the MOTU Origins Snake Trooper card back art!
Strobo, teased on the Snake Trooper card back, is the light powered cosmic enforcer came out in the Masters of the Universe Classics line. He reused parts from Zodac and Sy-Klone and had a mirrored sticker in the middle of his chest. According to the Wiki Grayskull,
“Strobo is a character who appears in a single Masters of the Universe comic story, but he was seemingly planned for the toyline, as his appearance reuses Zodac’s head with a white helmet and Sy-Klone’s body in fleshtone and red details, plus a blue cape. Strobo’s power is that, when light reaches the reflector on his chest, he spins and sends light in all directions. Strobo’s only appearance was in the story “The Dark Power of Skeletor” from the Masters of the Universe Magazine. In it, Skeletor sends Blast-Attak, Ninjor and Sssqueeze after an spherical container that is buried underground. He-Man, Battle Cat, Rio Blast and Strobo try to stop them, but the villains escape. The container has a fragment of dark star that passed by Eternia, and gives Skeletor the power to spread an evil shadow over the land and control over all territory under the shadow. This allows Skeletor to take over Castle Grayskull, but the Heroic Warriors use a secret entrance to reach the throneroom, and He-Man sends a ray of light from his Power Sword to Strobo’s reflector, whose powers send the light to the meteor and destroy it.”
Strobos bio reads: Chosen as Zodac’s replacement in the Cosmic Enforcers, Strobo was tasked by the Overlords of Trolla to investigate his predecessor’s assassination on Eternia. Finding Jitsu ruling Snake Mountain and evil spreading across the land, Strobo carried out his Masters’ assignment by forcefully maintaining neutrality in He-man’s absence. He turned the tide of several battles, fighting both with and sometimes against, the remaining Masters of the Universe. Stobo wears armor enhancements originally created by the scientists of Anwat Gar. His chest plate can project force fields and energy blasts to stun or even disintegrate those who oppose his will. Strobo uses the forces of light to battle his enemies.
Lord Gr’asp
Lord Gr’asp had some unreleased card back art from the unreleased Powers of Grayskull line where he is battling Plasmar.
Lord Gr’asp Card Art
Roy Juarez and team are on ? blending an homage to the original concept sketches for Lord Gr’asp’s card art with an updated trio of teases in the in the background!
Since Lord Gr’asp was announced as a MOTU Origins Walmart exclusive figure back on October 3, 2023, we’ve been searching hi and low for the official images and we finally struck pay dirt! Lord Gr’asp was supposed to be released as part of the MOTU spinoff line, the Powers of Grayskull, but the line was canceled in 1987 with many unproduced figures left on the drawing board! Lord Gra’sp was one of these figures and he is a mashup and a reuse of parts from several iconic Masters of the Universe figures. Originally one of several unnamed characters planned for the 1988 wave of the Masters of the Universe toyline, the character appeared on unreleased Mattel cardback artwork illustrated by Errol McCarthy. In 2017, the character was given the name Lord Gr’Asp and released as part of a three-pack with Terroar and Plasmar. Given that we saw King Grayskull and Moaty the Moat Monster using the Powers of Grayskull branding, it would be amazing if Lord Gras’p was carded as he was intended for the cancelled line.
Lord Gra’sp is made from the basic MOTU Origins body, Scareglow’s cape, Clawful’s claw, and Sssqueeze’s head. His paint app is black and yellow with mint chip green accessories.
He comes with a black snake staff that comes packed with other Snake Men and a snake shield. He’s has yellow snake skin detail running up his arm from his giant claw.
Terroar
Terroar’s unreleased card art features a cool scene where the Shapeshifter with the Sinister Shriek is attacking Slamurai!
Terroar’s updated card back art features him battling against Sharella riding Turbodactyl, and with a very different looking Castle Grayskull in the background. It could be that this is taking place in pre-Eternia and the Castle was much newer and less battle worn back in those days.
Terroar Official Images
Below are all the official images of Terroar.
Terroar has a purple and black paint app with red on his oversized neck extension. He is a mashup of Whiplash, Trap Jaw, Rattlor, and Mosquitor.
With 3 swappable arm weapons gun, hook and claw, Terroar is ready for battle Trap Jaw style!
Slamurai
In the unproduced card art for Slamurai, it shows him trying to beat back at the onslaught from Lord Gr’asp!
In the updated card art for Slamurai for the MOTU Origins line, we see Slamurai as the aggressor and Lord Gr’asp raising his shield to fend off the attack.
Slamurai Official Images
Slamurai which is a cool white ninja repaint version of Ninjor! It’s amazing to see another heroic warrior in the mix to fend off the Snake Men.
He has a new Ninja heroic logo on his chest which is different than the Evil Warriors ninja logo of Ninjor!
This figure now comes with a blue bow and arrow, white nunchucks and a silver sword. He also has human boots for his feet, unlike Ninjor who has the monster feet.
Snake Trooper
In the unproduced card art for the Snake Trooper, we see them trying to get one over on Strobo.
The Snake Troopers were introduced in a three pack that was inspired by the unreleased 1988 vintage concept wave. The price per set that year was $165.00, and surprisingly, it is still available at the Big Bad Toy Store. Here are the promo pics and also the final product from 2019:
Snake Trooper Official Images
The Snake Trooper is made from a Horde Trooper body with Rattlor’s head.
Since the Snake Trooper shares the main body with the Horde Trooper, the same cool action features apply!
He comes with the Horde Trooper staff and the Snake Men shield.
Complete Your MOTU Collection
Be sure to check out our Masters of the Universe shop pages where we’ve curated figures from MOTU Origins, Masterverse, Classics, Vintage and more so you can find the figures you need easier!
