Inspired by He-Man.org’s Roast Gooble Dinner podcast, welcome to PGPoA’s latest MOTUC Bio Discussion!

Moss Man Bio

Real Name: Kreann’ot n’Horoshâ„¢

Thought of for many centuries to be an urban legend, the creature called “Moss Man” was, in fact, an ancient Eternian nature god and ally to King Grayskullâ„¢. During the rise of Skeletor and the subsequent battles with the Snake Menâ„¢ and Horde invaders, Moss Man often joined forces with the Masters of the Universe, helping to protect freedom for all forms of life. He was instrumental in helping them win the Second Ultimate Battleground, using his powers over plant life and his “fur” of forest green to fool and frustrate his wicked foes.

Portrait Art Source: Original card back

First off, I have no idea what’s going on with that “real name.” But to paraphrase Captain Kirk, “What does a god need with a surname?”

As for the name itself, all I can think of when I read it are those gibberish words C-3PO throws out when he’s playing storyteller for the Ewoks in Return of the Jedi.

About this “urban legend” thing: I get what the Bio Writer (BW) is going for, but “urban legend” seems like the BW was trying too hard to be hip. Urban legends usually center around modern civilization and its trappings–even the Moth Man was entangled with UFOs and so forth. But who would refer to Bigfoot–who lives in the forest–as an “urban legend”? He’s just a legend, which I think makes a lot more sense for someone like Moss Man.* Yeah, I know it seems like I’m splitting hairs here, but “urban legend” just seems a bit demeaning…”urban legends” are pop rocks and soda, stolen kidneys and vanishing hitchhikers. Legends are Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster.

Weirder still is the idea that he’s an actual nature god. What does it mean to be a “god” in the MOTU universe? That’s an idea that could use some unpacking…it certainly makes Moss Man sound like one of the most powerful creatures in Eternia. So can he be killed? Does his every appearance serve as a, well, deus ex machina due to his immense power? Does he power wane with how much plant life is harmed or destroyed?

Moss Man being an “ally to King Grayskull” isn’t something I recall from the Millennium series, so that’s intriguing. And then there’s the “Second Ultimate Battleground.” The first one, as I recall, involved Tytus, He-Ro and King Grayskull, so it sounds like the second Ultimate Battleground is some sort of momentous battle between He-Man and his allies and another foe–whether it’s Skeletor, the Snake Men or the Horde, we don’t know. My hunch? It’s a battle between He-Man and the “Masters” (bleh) and the Horde, in the midst of which Skeletor betrays Hordak, the Horde is defeated and Skeletor takes over the remnants of the Horde and escapes into space with his new army.

But more about that when we get to Optikk…

* Yes, there’s the whole “Batman as urban legend” idea that’s used sometimes in the comics, but note that Batman haunts Gotham City.