Overview

Elaborate cinematic universes and sophisticated marketing tie-ins are commonplace in entertainment today. It's easy to forget that the transmedia trend began in 1982 with a barbarian action figure. He-Man and the other characters in Mattel's popular Masters of the Universe toy line quickly found their way into comic books, video games, multiple television series and a Hollywood film. The original animated series (1983-1985) was the first based on an action figure, and the cult classic Masters of the Universe (1987) was the first toy-inspired live-action feature film. But it wasn't easy. He-Man faced adversaries more dangerous than Skeletor: entertainment lawyers, Hollywood executives, even the Reagan administration. The heroes and villains of Eternia did more than shape the childhoods of the toy-buying public--they formed the modern entertainment landscape.

Full Product Details

9781476665900

Table of Contents

Reviews

New insights into production cuts and editorial decisions in the latter stages of filming --American Journal of Play This book is a wonderfully meticulous exploration into the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe phenomenon! Brian C. Baer has done a fantastic job! --James Eatock, He-Man and She-Ra: A Complete Guide to the Classic Animated Adventures How He-Man Mastered the Universe is an entertaining and insightful look into the He-Man franchise and its effect on later media franchises. Essential reading for anyone interested in reading about the evolution of the modern media franchise. --Jess Nevins, The Evolution of the Costumed Avenger: The 4000-Year History of the Superhero Finally a comprehensive history of one of the greatest (if not the greatest) action figure line in the history of human civilization! Baer digs deep, and shows the influence of a hero who became much more than five inches of plastic. --Tim Seeley, The Art of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe and Revival With his entertaining and informative look at the cultural significance of these '80s action icons, Brian C. Baer has written a book for gamers and scholars alike that's as colorful and fun as a classic cartoon. --Telly Davidson, Culture War: How the '90s Made Us Who We Are Today (Whether We Like It or Not).

-This book is a wonderfully meticulous exploration into the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe phenomenon! Brian C. Baer has done a fantastic job!---James Eatock, He-Man and She-Ra: A Complete Guide to the Classic Animated Adventures; -How He-Man Mastered the Universe is an entertaining and insightful look into the He-Man franchise and its effect on later media franchises. Essential reading for anyone interested in reading about the evolution of the modern media franchise.---Jess Nevins, The Evolution of the Costumed Avenger: The 4000-Year History of the Superhero; -Finally a comprehensive history of one of the greatest (if not the greatest) action figure line in the history of human civilization! Baer digs deep, and shows the influence of a hero who became much more than 5 inches of plastic.---Tim Seeley, The Art of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe and Revival; -With his entertaining and informative look at the cultural significance of these '80s action icons, Brian C. Baer has written a book for gamers and scholars alike that's as colorful and fun as a classic cartoon.---Telly Davidson, Culture War: How the '90s Made Us Who We Are Today (Whether We Like It or Not).

How He-Man Mastered the Universe is an entertaining and insightful look into the He-Man franchise and its effect on later media franchises. Essential reading for anyone interested in reading about the evolution of the modern media franchise. -- Jess Nevins, The Evolution of the Costumed Avenger: The 4000-Year History of the Superhero Jess Nevins, The Evolution of the Costumed Avenger: The 4000-Year History of the Superhero

This book is a wonderfully meticulous exploration into the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe phenomenon! Brian C. Baer has done a fantastic job! --James Eatock, <i>He-Man and She-Ra: A Complete Guide to the Classic Animated Adventures</i>; <i>How He-Man Mastered the Universe</i> is an entertaining and insightful look into the He-Man franchise and its effect on later media franchises. Essential reading for anyone interested in reading about the evolution of the modern media franchise. --Jess Nevins, <i>The Evolution of the Costumed Avenger: The 4000-Year History of the Superhero</i>; Finally a comprehensive history of one of the greatest (if not the greatest) action figure line in the history of human civilization! Baer digs deep, and shows the influence of a hero who became much more than 5 inches of plastic. --Tim Seeley, <i>The Art of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe and Revival</i>; With his entertaining and informative look at the cultural significance of these '80s action icons, Brian C. Baer has written a book for gamers and scholars alike that's as colorful and fun as a classic cartoon. --Telly Davidson, <i>Culture War: How the '90s Made Us Who We Are Today (Whether We Like It or Not)</i>.

Author Information

Brian C. Baer is a lifelong He-Man fan and pop culture writer from Spokane, Washington.

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