Kevin Smith’s Masters of the Universe series gets a comic book prequel

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

We're still waiting to hear when Masters of the Universe: Revelation, the animated series that has Kevin Smith as showrunner, is going to be available to watch on the Netflix streaming service, but it looks like its release date is going to be very soon. Especially since Dark Horse Comic has announced that they'll be publishing a four-issue comic book series that will serve as a prequel to the show. The first issue of this prequel series is set to reach store shelves on July 7th.

Smith crafted the story for the comic book with Masters of the Universe: Revelation writer Tim Sheridan and fellow Revelation executive producer Rob David, who was also the creative director and a writer on the DC Comics Masters of the Universe books that were released between 2012 and 2020. The synopsis: 

Following a vicious Orlax attack on his father King Randor, He-Man learns the creature is linked to the origin of the sword of power. To save Randor and put an end to the chaos, He-Man embarks on an epic journey that pits him against his longtime foes Skeletor and Evil-Lyn, and sees Teela take the reins of a powerful legacy.

Mindy Lee provided the artwork, with Stjepan Sejic handling the cover art for issue #1 and Dave Wilkins providing the covers for the remaining issues. There will also be an issue #1 variant cover with art by Mike Mignola and Dave Stewart, and variants for the other issues with art by Bill Sienkiewicz, Walt Simonson with Laura Martin, and more.

Sejic and Mignola/Stewart's issue #1 art can be seen below.

David had this to say about the project: 

When the Masters of the Universe franchise first launched nearly 40 years ago, each action figure came with a comic book to enable children to further explore the world of Eternia. Now, in partnership with Dark Horse, we will go back to our roots to set-up the upcoming “Masters of the Universe: Revelation,” television series with a world-shattering comic book tale."

Following the July 7 release of issue #1, the rest of the issues will be released on August 11, September 9, and October 13.

A follow-up to the 1980s Masters of the Universe cartoon, Revelation will focus on 

the unresolved storylines of the iconic characters, picking up where they left off decades ago.

The voice cast includes Chris Wood as Prince Adam/He-Man, Mark Hamill as Skeletor, Lena Headey as Evil-Lyn, Sarah Michelle Gellar as Teela, Liam Cunningham as Man-At-Arms, Griffin Newman as Orko, Stephen Root as Cringer, Henry Rollins as Tri-Klops, Tony Todd as Scare Glow, Justin Long as Roboto, Jason Mewes as Stinkor, Phil LaMarr as He-Ro, Alicia Silverstone as Queen Marlena, Diedrich Bader as King Randor/Trap Jaw, Tiffany Smith as Andra, Susan Eisenberg as Sorceress, Cree Summer as Priestess, Kevin Michael Richardson as Beast Man, Kevin Conroy as Mer-Man, Harley Quinn Smith as Ileena, and original Skeletor Alan Oppenheimer as Moss Man.