Lord Fallen Eldor of He-Man.org came across this fascinating, never-published He-Man comic from the 1980s, apparently made by Whitman Comics.

It’s a very different origin story for He-Man, with a level of character development that rivals the MYP series. There’s something approaching actual pathos in He-Man’s story–and they even explain where he got the goofy name. It makes for an intriguing might-have-been for the MOTUniverse.

Here’s what the eBay description was:

ADRIAN GONZALES (1937 – 1998) drew for such 1960s Philippine comics publications as Hiwaga Komiks and Tagalog Klasiks. Like many of his countrymen, he went to work for the US market during the 1970s, where he drew for Unknown Worlds of Science Fiction, World’s Finest, and others.

This is the original art for page 3 of an unpublished Masters of the Universe origin story, retelling He-Man’s origin, circa 1984. The art is in very good condition with light overall wear and aging. The image area measures 14″ x 17″.

This story is so different from any Masters incarnation we’ve ever seen–even the early minicomics–that I’d love to know what the story is behind it.

Anyway, start here and change the end number (3, 4, 5) to move forward. They go up to 32 and end on an unfortunate cliffhanger… http://www.lewiswaynegallery.com/images/12498_3.jpg

Also, I want a Moonspinner figure now.

Also: what’s the deal with Man-At-Arms referring to a sign written in English as “mysterious runes”? A lot going on in this comic!