FATE IS THE KILLER

The second Masters of the Universe story from DC Comics was described as a preview, although really it's just another Superman / He‑Man crossover story. Once again we have Prince Adam being summoned to the Cavern of Power where he is transformed into He‑Man in the presence of the Sorceress. This happens in response to Zodac's arrival at the royal palace. This Zodac is initially presented as a powerful cosmic enforcer who demands that Eternia's greatest champion be 'taken for all time from this world' to reside in the cosmos. It's a bizarre intervention that doesn't make any sense in the context of the story. The 'neutral' personality doesn't work here or anywhere else. In the end, Zodac's plan is thwarted anyway, so it turns out he's not as clever as he thought.

Skeletor's goal is what really matters in this story, and once again he's seeking the half of the Power Sword he doesn't possess. He's learned that it lies in the deepest trench of the Dark Sea, and orders Mer‑Man to help him retrieve it. This meddling with magic at the ocean's edge causes strange things to happen on Earth, and Superman ends up getting pulled back to Eternia, this time through an underwater vortex. Skeletor finds the blade and is about to join the pieces when Superman intervenes. He‑Man arrives after fighting Zodac. Somehow the mystical swords get flung about and both He‑Man and Skeletor are struck down. He‑Man dies but is magically restored by the sword's energy. Superman asks what he's doing on Eternia, and we're left wondering the same.

Fate is the Killer has drama but is ultimately unsatisfying. It's certainly the weakest of the five MOTU comics. The idea of a neutral Zodac never worked in the mythos, and here it's just pointless. The supposed neutrality is, of course, a fraud. Allowing evil to exist is inherently bad, but let's not delve into the philosophical arguments on this occasion. The concept of fate is equally ridiculous when it can be overturned, as in this story. This tale doesn't need to feature this version of Zodac at all. Had he been portrayed as evil, it actually would have worked. Despite fighting He‑Man, they're pals at the end. The most interesting thing about Zodac in this comic is the peculiar cosmic chariot he rides through space and time.

The most interesting parts of Fate is the Killer include the depiction of the palace as a mediaeval castle in a beautiful rural setting, the dancing girls at the banquet and Skeletor's Vader-like chokehold on Mer‑Man. He‑Man's curse on Skeletor is curious as well - he says: 'May the dark gods burn his evil soul!'. When the Sorceress points out that He‑Man shouldn't expect any help along those lines, it further reinforces the weakness of Zodac's intervention. Fortunately we have some nice art to give the poor story a much needed boost. Luckily the comics which followed were much better.