Stan Sakai and the Masters of the Universe?

[go]

Dear Readers,
Does anyone have a list of the Masters of the Universe lettered by Sensei Sakai around 1986?
I just found "The Search for Keldor" Hawthorne, CA: Mattel; 1986, 11 pages, full-color illustrations,softcover, catalog # 0007-9120.
Evidently, these books were included with MASTERS of the UNIVERSE action figures and accessories.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Best wishes to all.
go

[Steve Hubbell]

I saw an issue on ebay recently (probably the one you found), and I read an interview where Stan mentions them (I forget which one, have to look it up) but I don't know if he lettered all of them or just some of them. I also have absolutely no idea how many differant booklets were produced either.

Are they the same size as a regular comic (height and width)?

Abayo.....

[go]

Yes, Steve you are right about the auction.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... %3AIT&rd=1
Size unknown.
Any information on which issues Sensei Sakai lettered will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance.
Best wishes to all.
go

[Steve Hubbell]

RABBIT RONIN’S RACONTEUR RAPS:
A CONVERSATION WITH CRITTER CREATOR – STAN SAKAI
by KEN JONES (COMICS INTERVIEW #44, August 1987)

COMICS INTERVIEW: Have you ever done any other lettering in newspaper strips besides that?
STAN SAKAI: I've done lettering for the strip, MR. ABERNATHY. I did the lettering for the presentation for another strip called SHERMAN ON THE MOUNT. I think it was the first three weeks. I do the lettering for the MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE giveaway books.
COMICS INTERVIEW: I love those. My kids always give me all of their doubles. (Laughter.) They're fascinating because of the range of talented cartoonists involved with them.
STAN SAKAI: Yeah, there are a lot of good cartoonists in there. When adults hear I do the MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE books, I get two reactions, either, "Oh! You do those!? or "Oh, you do those." (Laughter.)

http://www.toonopedia.com/he-man.htm
Don Markstein's Toonopedia™
HE-MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE
Original medium: Toys/animation
Produced by: Mattel/Filmation
First Appeared: 1982

Mattel launched the toy line in 1982 with a dozen separately-sold items, including He-Man himself, his arch-enemy Skeletor, his main squeeze Teela, and the Castle Greyskull playset for them to cavort around in. The setting was the extra-dimensional world of Eternia, a sort of medieval/barbarian amalgam, with weird creatures and a few high-tech or magical weapons and vehicles. Mattel added another dozen toys in '83, and kept adding more until 1988, when the line ran out of steam. It was relaunched in '89 with a more streamlined look, but this time it failed to catch on.

Almost immediately, there was a comic book version — mini-comics Mattel used to promote the line. These served mainly to show the various characters and objects in action, suggesting how kids with the toys might play with them. The first 11 were produced by DC Comics. After that, dozens more were produced in-house by Mattel, under the supervision of writer/editor Lee Nordling

Between 1982 and 1987, 58 seperate figures were released, according to information at http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/menu.aspx?menu=59

1982 - 7
1983 - 7
1984 - 11
1985 - 15
1986 - 13
1987 - 5

Another site lists the following info....
http://obscure.dcuguide.com/mastersofuniverse.htm

Mattel action figures and mini-comics:
• The Masters Of The Universe

A total of 49 mini-comics were produced as inserts for the Masters Of The Universe action figures. The first 11 issues were produced by DC Comics in 1982 and 1983. The subsequent 38 were produced by Mattel from 1984 to 1987.

The 11 DC mini-comics are (by Series, in alphabetical order):

"Battle In The Clouds", 1982, Series 1.
"He-Man And The Power Sword", 1982, Series 1.
"King Of Castle Grayskull", 1982, Series 1.
"The Tale Of Teela!", 1982, Series 1.
"The Vengeance Of Skeletor", 1982, Series 1.

"He-Man Meets Ram-Man!", 1983, Series 2.
"The Ordeal Of Man-E-Faces!", 1983, Series 2.
"The Magic Stealer!", 1983, Series 2.
"The Menace Of Trap Jaw!", 1983, Series 2.
"The Power Of ... Point Dread!", 1983, Series 2.
"The Terror Of Tri-Klops!", 1983, Series 2.

• She-Ra, Princess Of Power

11 mini-comics were produced by Mattel as inserts for the She-Ra, Princess Of Power action figures from 1985 to 1987. There are two different versions of the first mini-comic, "The Story of She-Ra". The original edition was included with the She-Ra action figure. The alternate edition appeared as a special insert in the Spring 1985 issue of Barbie Magazine.

• The New Adventures Of He-Man

4 mini-comics were produced by Mattel as inserts for the New Adventures Of He-Man action figures in 1989.

[Maka]

Hello Go and Steve,

I always enjoy how you two are able to find such rare and interesting sidebits of Mr. Sakai's past. You could make a second living as private eyes.

Keep up the search.

Peace,

Maka

[Gaffey]

Are these the booklets you're looking for?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Masters-of-the-Univ ... dZViewItem

I asked the seller if any of the booklets were lettered by Stan.

His response:

"I am not sure...I looked thru them and it says nothing about who wrote them....sorry"

[Becky-Chan]

I remember these when I was a kid, the booklets are I'd say 4x4" or maybe 5x5" square, since they needed to fit behind an action figure whose back card was about 8x10"

Becky-Chan

[Stan Sakai]

I lettered quite a few of these, though I don't remember exactly how many.

Here's a website that has them:


http://www.he-man.org/primary_sects/com ... ndex.shtml