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He-Man & nature of power amid uncertainty
In 1977, ahead of the release of what would become the phenomenon that is Star Wars, filmmaker George Lucas approached Mattel for a tie-up to produce licensed franchise toys. It refused, the deal went to Kenner, and the rest became history. Mattel’s resurrection was engineered three years later by a toy designer, Roger Sweet, and his brainchild, He-Man, a broad-shouldered action figurine with a power sword, on a mission to defend Castle Grayskull and the planet, Eternia, from the evil forces of his uncle and archenemy, Skeletor. His inception story might have rested on a missed opportunity, but with his bulging biceps and ripped abs, He-Man turned out to be “the most powerful man in the universe” through the 1980s. “I always wanted to be a He-Man and never could… I knew almost every guy in the world would love to be a He-Man,” Sweet, who died on April 28, at 91, had said in a 2019 interview. Turns out, he was right.
Inevitably, comparisons to Star Wars followed but He-Man was gloriously, almost brazenly, a commercial artefact that wore its purpose lightly, moving from toy to television to comics, a hero conjured in the image of what a toy might demand rather than what a tale might require. For entire generations, He-Man defined heroism, even as it circumscribed the emotional vocabulary available to boys, insisting that power lay in invulnerability rather than complexity, that men didn’t cry or experience fear.
Overall Analysis
The editorial uses the story of He-Man as a cultural lens to explore ideas of power, masculinity, and their evolution over time. It begins with an engaging anecdote about George Lucas and the missed opportunity by Mattel to collaborate on Star Wars. This narrative hook sets the stage for the emergence of He-Man as a compensatory creation—a product born out of commercial necessity rather than artistic vision. The tone here is storytelling and lightly ironic, especially in highlighting how a rejection led to an unexpected cultural phenomenon.
The editorial then shifts to the creation of He-Man by Roger Sweet, portraying him as a deliberately exaggerated figure of strength and dominance. The language emphasizes physicality—“bulging biceps”, “ripped abs”—to underline how power is visually and simplistically constructed. The quote from Sweet adds authenticity and insight into the aspirational appeal of the character, suggesting that He-Man was designed to embody a universal fantasy of masculine strength.
In the second paragraph, the tone becomes more analytical and critical. The comparison with Star Wars highlights the difference between narrative-driven storytelling and commercially driven character creation. The phrase “commercial artefact” is particularly significant—it frames He-Man as a product shaped primarily by market logic. The editorial points out how the character moved across media (toys, television, comics), reinforcing its role as a cultural commodity.
The most critical part of the analysis lies in the discussion of masculinity. The editorial argues that He-Man defined heroism for generations but also limited emotional expression. Phrases like “circumscribed the emotional vocabulary” and “power lay in invulnerability rather than complexity” indicate a deeper critique of traditional gender norms. The language suggests that such portrayals promoted a narrow understanding of strength—one that excludes vulnerability and emotional depth.
Overall, the editorial blends nostalgia with critique, using a pop culture icon to reflect on broader societal ideas about power and identity. The progression—from origin story to cultural impact to psychological implications—gives the piece both narrative appeal and intellectual depth.
Important Vocabulary (5)
- Resurrection – revival or comeback after decline.
- Artefact – something created by humans, often reflecting cultural or historical context.
- Brazenly – boldly or without shame.
- Circumscribed – restricted or limited within boundaries.
- Invulnerability – inability to be harmed physically or emotionally.
Conclusion & Tone
The editorial argues that while He-Man symbolised power and heroism for a generation, it also reinforced a narrow and unrealistic idea of masculinity centered on physical strength and emotional suppression. It invites reflection on how cultural icons shape perceptions of power.
Tone: Reflective, nostalgic, and critically analytical.
