Written by: Dan Abnett
Art by: Pop Mhan
Publisher: DC
When I was but a young lad I enjoyed Transformers, G.I. Joe, M.A.S.K., and numerous other cartoon properties that, in hindsight, were little more than advertisements for toy lines. But, if you were to go look in the storage cabinets in my parents’ garage to this day, you would find more He-Man & The Masters of the Universe toys than anything else (I’d be happy to set a good price if anyone out there is interested. Eh? Ehhhh??). He-Man was, as the kids say, my jam. That does not mean that I’ve gone back and attempted to watch the cartoons. Quite the opposite, in fact. I’ve actually avoided doing so because I’m afraid of what I’ll find. I wasn’t afraid to read DC’s take on the franchise in comic book form, however, and I’m glad, because it’s been a great run so far, managing to update things for more modern, adult sensibilities, while keeping things very much in line with the overall vibe of what’s come before.
Since the inception of this run, the series has been using Hordak as it’s antagonist. Eternia has been overrun by Hordak and his minions and He-Man and the other Masters have been waging a rebellion to try to retake it. In the latest arc, He-Man and his newly discovered twin sister, Adora, have been seeking answers that may help them turn the tide of the war. The creative team has not been playing things very close to the vest with the fact that Adora would end up becoming She-Ra, and this issue is the culmination of that development. Also, the fact that I actually got to write this paragraph, and have it be about something that is nowhere near as deserving of eye rolling as one would expect is pretty darn awesome.
Early on in the series, Keith Giffen infused the storytelling with a bit of tongue in cheek meta awareness that was incredibly refreshing. Sure, the dialogue was still very much in the style one would expect from He-Man, but there were flourishes that made things transcend those expectations, such as Teela’s tirade about how useless Mekaneck is. Dan Abnett’s writing of the characters has been a bit more straightforward, but I feel that he’s finally made the series his own with this arc. I know that the series is spinning off in some different directions after this issue, and I’m not sure if Abnett is going to continue his involvement, but, if we’re not going to get someone that’s going to bring back the subtle tongue in cheek nature, I hope that he’s going to stick around. Writing fantasy dialogue is difficult, in general. Add to that the fact that this franchise in particular has its basis in a cartoon with fantasy dialogue that was often ridiculous and Abnett’s ability to keep things sounding vital is really something to appreciate. There were a few issues toward the middle of the run where things got a bit worrisome, with both the art and writing, that show just how essential having the right minds behind a property like this is. This issue is definitely a showcase for Adora/She-Ra, and Abnett does a great job of selling the final push of her conversion from villain, to conflicted pariah, to full on hero.
The art team of Pop Mhan and colorist Mark Roberts continues to excel. The source material was so colorful that, in attempting a more mature take, it would have been easy to say, “Let’s make it all brown and gray. Brown and gray are all the rage with ‘gritty’ interpretations.” However, everything Mhan and Roberts have done with this series has been incredibly vibrant and alive. Even though they’re presenting and Eternia that is embroiled in a war that has tinged the world they’re drawing with a lot of darkness, they continually find ways to make things pop. The battle that occurs in this issue, which leads to Adora’s transformation into She-Ra, is a perfect example. Mhan’s lines do an outstanding job of conveying the action of the scene, and Roberts shifts the palette from muted blues and purples to more vibrant colors as the tide of the battle turns.
I hope that DC keeps this iteration of the franchise going in one way or another. The creative team is doing a great job of bringing new life to something that, by all rights, should be relegated to bargain bin cheese. I mean, after this war with Hordak is behind him, it seems like it’s about time for He-Man to see Skeletor resurface, right?
