ORIGINAL TOY DESIGNS

The quality of the prototypes for the original toys varied in build and design quality. Pictured here are my favourites - Trap Jaw, Teela and Tri-Klops. These models are fantastic, and they reveal the thoughts and inspirations of the designers.

In my view, the best of these figures is Teela. Her design clearly shows the warrior goddess aspect of her character. It's worth mentioning the Tale Of Teela! minicomic here, because the truth of who Teela really is seems to have become lost over the years.

The comic reveals that the Goddess (or Sorceress) of Grayskull is named Teela. By channeling the power of Point Dread, Skeletor was able to create a baby by draining some of Teela's energy. This child was named Teela by Man-At-Arms, who adopted the girl. So the heroic warrior goddess, to give her her correct title, is not the adopted daughter of Man-At-Arms, but the Sorceress of Grayskull herself.

What this means is that you should have two Teelas in your collection of original toys! Forget about the winged Sorceress figure who appeared later in the toyline. Teela the warrior goddess wears the snake outfit; Teela the warrior woman does not.

If you want to read The Tale Of Teela! but don't own a copy, visit He-Man Tales where the minicomic has been scanned. By reading this and other Series Two minicomics, you'll realise the significance of the styling of these prototypes, and how the toyline was originally intended to reflect the barbarian influences that created the Masters in the first place.

Rather than being the chapter of Eternian history which many 'fans' try so hard to ignore, these fantastic origins should be celebrated. Quite simply, these ideas were far superior to anything that followed.