If you grew up playing with He-Man action figures or catching the campy 80s cartoon after school, it’s time to revisit some old pals. Writer/director Kevin Smith already wowed fans in 2021 with his anime-inspired reboot Masters of the Universe: Revelation, which picked up right where the iconic series left off. Now he’s back with an all-new chapter called Revolution that cranks everything up to 11.
We step back into the world of Eternia, where Prince Adam transforms into the buff hero He-Man to defend Castle Grayskull from the skull-faced villain Skeletor. Revelation shook things up by focusing more on supporting heroes like Teela while Adam himself took a backseat. This time, the beefy barbarian is front and center again dealing with new threats and responsibilities. Meanwhile, Teela searches for an ultimate power to aid He-Man as Skeletor returns with a techno-magical upgrade courtesy of the ruthless galactic warlord Hordak.
It’s a treat for longtime fans to see familiar faces again while Smith brings his signature wit and surprising twists to the MOTU mythos. Revolution captures the rock ‘n roll spirit of the retro series, serving up epic adventures alongside goofy humor. So slip on your power harness, grab your enchanted sword, and embrace your inner child. We’re going back to Eternia!
A Nostalgic Feast for the Eyes
Revolution stays true to the vibrant look and feel of the 8os He-Mantoon, while bringing the animation up to date with slick modern techniques. We get lovingly detailed backgrounds bursting with strange beasts and alien architecture, evoking epic heavy metal album covers. The character designs mirror the classic toys with their hulking physiques, wild outfits, and über-masculine/feminine features.
SeeingUpdated favorites like Battle Cat, Orko, and Skeletor in crisp HD animation tickles the nostalgia bone something fierce. When Prince Adam holds aloft his Power Sword and shouts the iconic phrase “By the power of Grayskull!” it’s sure to give older fans goosebumps. The transformation sequences have never looked better, with lightning effects and particle magic accentuating He-Man and Skeletor’s new super-charged forms.
The action scenes really highlight the possibilities of blending traditional and CG animation. We get fast-paced supernatural battles as beams of energy and sprays of magic pelt across the screen. Set pieces like Grayskull’s cosmic interior and the hellish Darksmoke realm showcase some serious artistic chops. Things get downright apocalyptic when the forces of technology and sorcery collide, with entire cities and mountain ranges getting decimated in the crossfire.
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While a few sequences feel rushed or visually muddled, overall Revolution is a smorgasbord of retro fantasy wish fulfillment for He-Man devotees young and old.
Familiar Faces and Fan Favorites
Revolution assembles an all-star lineup of vocal talent to bring these iconic heroes and villains to life. Mark Hamill is clearly having a blast as the cackling skeletal warlock Skeletor, chewing scenery with wicked glee. His upgraded form Skeletek cranks the sinister edge up to new extremes. Chris Wood continues his solid take on Prince Adam/He-Man, selling the character’s inner conflicts. And Lena Headey oozes snarky charm as the ambiguous Evil-Lyn.
We get some fresh faces this round including Melissa Benoist (Supergirl) taking over as Duncan’s headstrong daughter Teela. She brings a warmer, more playful energy to the role. Master thespian William Shatner also joins the party as Adam’s cranky wizard uncle Keldor. And Keith David’s deep commanding voice is perfection for the ruthless galactic warlord Hordak.
Revolution expands the colorful MOTU universe by weaving in threads from the She-Ra spin-off series, which deep fans are sure to appreciate. And we get nice moments spotlighting quirky side characters like Orko, Rio Blast, and Evil Seed. There’s plenty of comedic back-and-forth banter between the heroes to balance all the portentous talk of grave mystical forces.
By blending beloved icons with fresh faces, the voice cast strikes the right tone. These legendary warriors feel like old friends you’re catching up with after too long apart. It’s easy to get reinvested in their neverending battles.
Epic Quests and Goofy Laughs
Revolution wastes no time jumping into the action, with He-Man and his allies battling the demonic Scare Glow in a godly gladiator arena. This kicks off an epic five-chapter saga packed with magical mayhem across Eternia’s weird and wild locales. After his father King Randor falls ill, Prince Adam struggles with the choice between ruling the kingdom or defending it as He-Man. Meanwhile Skeletor returns more ruthless than ever, having fused his dark powers with advanced technology.
There’s a lot going on plot-wise, with different factions pursuing various mystical MacGuffins that promise ultimate power. Teela searches for the secret of Snake Magic to restore the magical realm of Preternia. Skeletor seeks to enslave Eternia by infecting its people with a techno-virus. Hordak arrives to fold Eternia into his empire. And Tri-Klops is cooking up his own scheme for conquest in the background.
With so many pieces in play, Revolution struggles a bit to juggle them all sometimes. The pace flags when we get bogged down in mystical exposition about ancient deities and magical legacies. But whenever the story starts to sag, we get an injection of quirky humor or outrageous visuals to pep things up again. There’s plenty of playful banter between He-Man and his buddies to keep things from getting too heavy.
Longtime fans will appreciate callouts connecting Revolution to other corners of the MOTU franchise like She-Ra and the 2002 cartoon. And while you don’t need to have seen Revelation to enjoy this chapter, it does pay off some dangling plot threads in smart ways. Smith clearly revels in expanding this beloved world and seeing his characters grow.
Muscles, Magic, and Metal Mayhem
For all its multiverse spanning action, Revolution stays true to the core of what makes Masters of the Universe so enduringly rad. Behind every beam blast and magical beatdown lies genuine heart, celebrating valor and loyalty in the face of impossible odds. Smith clearly harbors immense love for these characters, flaws and all.
While it stumbles a bit juggling so many subplots, Revolution overall tells a worthy MOTU tale full of humor, weirdness, and breakneck fantasy action. Fans disappointed with Prince Adam’s absence in Revelation should dig his renewed focus here. We also get promising development for supporting stars like Man-At-Arms and Evil Seed.
The bigger spotlight on cosmic baddie Hordak and his shape-shifting progeny hints at future stories blending the worlds of He-Man and She-Ra. And with Revelations shaking up the status quo so dramatically, it will be exciting to see the long-term fallout. Can Teela uphold her duties as the new Sorceress? Will Skeletor ever be free from Hordak’s clutches? Let’s hope Netflix greenlights another chapter so we can find out.
For now, Revolution delivers a lovingly-wrought dose of hard rock heroics true MOTU devotees can sink their battle axes into. By the honor of Greyskull, old school fans and younger viewers alike should find plenty to enjoy in this raucous return trip to Eternia. Let’s give a hearty “I have the power!” cheer that Prince Adam and friends are back where they belong – bashing evil’s face in.
The Review
Masters of the Universe: Revolution
With its bombastic action, cheeky humor, and focus on fan-favorite characters, Revolution casts an entertaining spell that should delight He-Man aficionados. A few pacing issues knock this nostalgic romp down a peg, but the go-for-broke bonkers fun is well worth the price of admission.
PROS
- Slick updated animation while retaining retro style
- Mark Hamill's delightfully unhinged performance as Skeletor
- Expands Masters of the Universe storyworld and lore
- William Shatner and other great cast additions
- Epic magical action sequences
- He-Man takes center stage again
- Teela gets some nice character development
- Good mix of humor and serious drama
CONS
- Story juggles too many subplots
- Some rushed or muddled action scenes
- Pacing drags at times when focused on exposition
- Changes to Evil-Lyn's characterization still questionable
- Finale's outfit changes feel forced
