Masters of the Universe #3

 

  Writer: Val Staples
  Pencil: Emiliano Santalucia
  Color: Blond, Shaynne Corbett
  Letters: Dreamer Designs
  
     I can hear you screaming now. "Troy you two tonic twit, its been so bloody long since your last review of a similar titles why continue to stick it in my eye socket again with this series?" to which i say prepare to have your minds blown a second time. its been a while since i touched base on this series, and it will be a while longer after this that i might talk about it again. so i figure with a marathon im doing right now and were half way into it with 3 out of 5 why not throw the next issue in. here is my previous review on this series. here. Now lets dive into this granny panties we call nostalgia in this comic revamp of a 80's cartoon franchise.
 

The Story

 

       As we left off in the last story it got very bleak at then end of it. with a loss of one of the masters we all would suspect that morale with be low. Val brings the series in a bit of a dark side of things as he begins this issue with a loss of a main supporting character of the series. but grief is short lived as the vanished companion reappears. though not awake he is rushed back to the palace where he is attended too.
 
     Meanwhile the story starts to develop by making a side event which may give further clues on what the story is really about. this comic is another example on how the series has evolved from the toy franchise which it was made out to be in the 80's as we get more areas of the planet eternia shown to us as if it were alive and significant. this is true about the city of Avion, and im not refering to the water. with strange goings on we are back to bringing he-man on the scene. 
 
    Another thing to bring up is Dual Identities for that of many super heroes, many of which is shared by peter parker and bruce wayne. which of course im speaking of the secret identity the issue comes up when Prince adam is brought before his father to go and find he-man to which the young prince feels that he can be as much use as his alter ego. but is quickly dismissed as not having the same skill as the muscle bound barbarian. this plays well for the character as in the old series and the new shows how hard it is to maintain a dual identity, especially if one side is seen as a coward or unreliable.
 
    Overall I give this story part a 3 out of 5. it was good in many parts when fleshing out characters and the world itself. but progress it feels like it is a first issue and its just starting out in the story. there was not much action, and more of emotions being played out in this. so hardly thrilling but many clues on what the plot is about.
 

The Pretty Colours

 

    Emiliano Santalucia the itallian stallion works hard again at the pencil work in this series fleshing out details on characters and the world itself. this is great when you have fans of a series who work on a series they do what they can to make it work. so to me when i see a fan working on a series which they love its hard to knock them down. 
 
    But the colors themselves. I found the colors to be stale in my honest opinion. though they were in the right tone and in the right places. to me it seems almost too easy to give it a really good mark, the background colors can be good and bad as if it turns on and off. some moments its background is great in one scene but that same background in another panel really kills the art. though as a fan of the series i will nit pick it alot. but its still very easy on the eyes but no real dynamics to make it jump out at me. 
  
    The character designs are great and unique, for those who have not read the previous reviews or know about the revamp of the series, the characters have all broke the mold from the toy line predecessors where they were all molded from the same cast. with this wizards are lean and fit, while barbarians will have large arms and square jaw. but man i hate that new sword.
 
   Overall i give the art a 3.5, its great pencil works and coloring, but really its nothing dynamic that would keep the readers interested in the reading sure anyone who is a fan of the series can look at the art and love it cause it reminds them of the old series but to a comic reader the art is not that thrilling. with hope of good action to bring up the dynamics a bit in the next issue.
 

Overall Thought

 

    In the end we come to the story and character development, this was more of a character piece focusing on Prince adam and Teela, though i have to agree with the route they took with adam/he-man dual identity problem it is refreshing to show more character development and that personal conflict on the work they do at being a hero. Teela another character shows us being a tomboy does not mean you don't have feelings. She shows the personal turmoil she goes through pull weight at a young age to show your worth and not being helpless.
 
    The art and character designs, Meh to say the least. very well detailed and great character designs which are consistant, but the art itself is not all that dynamic and not much action to really pull the reader into the comic. just more of an ominous feeling as we all know something is going to go wrong but more or less hoping for a fight to break out. its a good thing its not bird hunting season near avion.
 
    Overall as the story and the art play out, this issue 3 feels more of an issue 1 for this volume. it feels more of a setup of a secondary story, although it is a main storyline. with the balance of the two id have to give this issue a 3.3 out of 5. its not fantastic but it would be integral to pick this up if your planning on following into the entire dark reflection story arc. Id say this issue out of all of them im a little dissapointed in. that the flow of the first two issues now drops more into a character plot from that bad ass action we got in the first two issues of this story arc. 
 
    My time has come up but ill be back later for part 4 of 5, as i try to wrap up this marathon by today, with new comicbook day coming to a close we regale in the new adventures but not forget the ones of old. etc etc something wise to say but im tired so i go to bed, ill be back on thursday morning with more episodes to put up, your all welcome to follow me on comic vine, and be sure to leave your comments in the bar below.