He-Man and the Masters of the Universe - Season One, Vol. 1
He-Man and the Masters of the Universemakes its debut on DVD in a robust collector's set, filled with extras any fan would enjoy. Part one of season one contains a whopping 33 episodes, following the hulky, well-tanned muscleman who masquerades as the irresponsible, goofy Prince Adam by day. The secret of He-Man's dual identity is only shared by The Sorceress (who's only powerful so long as she remains near Castle Greyskull, where she lives), Man-At-Arms (the king's gadget specialist) and Orko, a floating creature whose backwards magic spells often leave everyone with egg on their face (literally). He-Man's legacy was also its focus on family values, illustrated at the end of each episode through a moral lesson given by one of the characters. They range from the useful (Don't judge people by their looks) to the somewhat trite (When you're sad, sing a song). He-Man's nemesis, the wizard Skeletor, remains a fan favorite, accompanied by his motley crew of sidekicks: Beastman, Evil-Lyn, Merman, and Tri-Clops. There's even a little room for romance, though any flirtation between Adam/He-Man and the overeager captain of the guard, Teela, is usually restricted to jealous looks when the other receives the attentions of an outsider.Memorable episodes include "Teela's Quest," in which she discovers her real mother is The Sorceress; "A Friend in Need," a drugs allegory where an insecure (and very scantily-clad) woman becomes addicted to a potion that makes her confident; "Song of Celice," where a woman's powerful singing voice is exploited by Skeletor to conquer Greyskull; and "Prince Adam No More," in which Adam struggles with seeking approval from his father, King Randor. A new behind-the-scenes documentary reveals insight into the series's launch as the inaugural first-run syndicated cartoon; the creators's encounter with a fresh-off-Conan-the-Barbarianstar Arnold Schwarzenegger at a convention ("He looked at our drawings … and was ticked off," recalls creator Lou Scheimer). There's also a featurette in which producers and animators discuss individual episodes, animated storyboards, and scripts. Best of all, the spine of the DVD box (along with seven other He-Man and She-Ra related DVDs) creates a mural of Castle Greyskull and the Crystal Castle. --Ellen A. Kim