>>7441028Maybe, but the idea of a dude changing forms into a superhero goes all the way back to the 1930s with Captain Marvel (Shazam), who was so popular that his books outsold Superman.
Then there’s the heavy influence of Conan. Mattel was actually going to make a Conan line of figs. They even got to the prototype phase, but it ended up not happening. Then He-Man started very shortly after.
When it comes to the animated version, Blackstar was a definite influence because that series was also made by Filmation a few years earlier.
Then there’s Thundarr the Barbarian (pic related), an animated series designed by Jack Kirby. (Thundarr was inspired by Kommandi, a Jack Kirby comic.) If anyone is interested in He-Man, they should check out Thundarr. Pretty sure most of the episodes are on youtube. It’s set in a post-apocalyptic future where humans are slaves to the various mutant races and Wizards, who use such highly advanced tech that everyone thinks it’s magic. Thundarr and his companions travel around the destroyed world, freeing humans and killing all the wizards they can find.
Anyway, I say all that to show that He-Man is an amalgamation of countless influences. It’s literal magic, made up of the best parts of sci-fi, fantasy, the hero’s journey, and toy design. That’s why it’s still so appealing, and how it’s endured so long.
