Masters of the Universe #8
☆ Be the first to review + Add to your collection — Join freeMasters of the Universe #8 serves as one of the very few story-media venues where Mosquitor and Sssqueeze — two of the final-wave 1987 Mattel action figures — received any meaningful narrative treatment, since neither character ever appeared in the Filmation animated series before it ended production. The issue therefore represents the Star Comics run doing what the cartoon could not: folding the franchise's tail-end toy releases into ongoing Eternia continuity. As part of the only Marvel-published MOTU ongoing series (13 issues total), each issue carries the added historical weight of being the sole North American periodical comic record for these characters during the property's original run. The story's conceit — Snake Face petrifying an entire city, forcing He-Man and Orko to work independently — also showcases the series' modest but genuine ambition to craft multi-threat scenarios that stretched beyond single-villain-of-the-month plotting.
In "The Getaway," Hordak unleashes a new threat on Eternia with allies Mosquitor and Sssqueeze, turning the city's inhabitants to stone in a shocking twist. With the fate of Eternia hanging in the balance, He-Man and Orko must split up to counter the chaos, testing their courage and ingenuity in a battle that pushes them to their limits. Written by Mike Carlin and brought to life by Ron Wilson’s dynamic art, with Danny Bulanadi’s inks and Evelyn Stein’s colors, this 1987 Marvel classic features a cover by Tom Morgan and Danny Bulanadi.
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We Buy Collections ▸History
The Star Comics imprint — Marvel's dedicated line for children's licensed material — launched the MOTU ongoing series in January 1986 under editor Ralph Macchio, with Tom DeFalco and editor-in-chief Jim Shooter also credited. Writer Mike Carlin and penciler Ron Wilson formed the consistent creative backbone of the run, with Danny Bulanadi providing inks throughout the later issues including #8. The series operated on a bi-monthly schedule and was timed to support Mattel's annual toy-wave releases, meaning issue #8's focus on 1987-wave figures (Mosquitor, Sssqueeze, Snake Face) was deliberately synchronized with Mattel's retail calendar rather than driven by organic story logic. The cover art for this issue was handled by Tom Morgan and Danny Bulanadi, separate from the interior penciling team.
Trivia · 8 facts
- Story title: 'The Getaway,' written by Mike Carlin, penciled by Ron Wilson, inked by Danny Bulanadi, colored by Evelyn Stein, lettered by Jack Morelli.
- Cover art by Tom Morgan and Danny Bulanadi; edited by Ralph Macchio and Tom DeFalco under editor-in-chief Jim Shooter.
- Published by Marvel Comics under the Star Comics imprint; on-sale date March 24, 1987; cover-dated July 1987; bi-monthly frequency.
- Exists in two formats: a Direct Edition and a Newsstand Edition — the standard variant split of the era.
- Full character roster includes He-Man (also as Prince Adam), Orko, Man-at-Arms, Hordak, Mosquitor, Sssqueeze, and Snake Face, with Shout Spout, Rio Blast, and Extendar in cameo roles.
- Mosquitor — introduced as a 1987 Mattel toy and described as the 'evil energy-draining insectoid' of the Evil Horde — never received an animated appearance, making this comic one of his rare story-media showcases.
- Issue #8 was later reprinted internationally: in the Dutch Juniorpress Masters of the Universe series (1987) and in the Yugoslav Politika Gospodari svemira series (August 1989).
- The entire Marvel/Star Comics MOTU run is designated Earth-86051 within the Marvel Multiverse.
Full credits
Reprints
Reprinted in Masters of the Universe #4 (1987), Masters of the Universe / Gospodari svemira #8 (1989), Masters del Universo #6
Key issues in Masters of the Universe
Variants (1)
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