If you were a child of the 80s, you would probably have been a fan of the Masters of the Universe, the popular franchise that spawned toys, comics, and an animated TV show. One of the most memorable villains in the series was Whiplash, the ferocious and cunning reptilian warrior.
Whiplash was introduced into the Masters of the Universe toy line in 1984, with a unique gimmick that allowed his tail to thrash when the spring-action waist was turned. He made his first appearance in the Mattel mini-comic “The Clash of Arms,” where he was presented as Skeletor’s prime brute minion. He was unleashed upon Fisto as the final and deadliest opponent in a hand-to-hand arena fight, and he instantly overpowered Fisto, causing him serious damage until He-Man came along. Seemingly a feral, savage killing machine with tremendous strength, this comic was a powerful introduction to his character, implying that only He-Man could beat him.
In his later appearances, Whiplash was seen in battles, holding his own against Grizzlor, Jitsu, and several Eternian Guards. Whiplash also made his way into the animated TV series by Filmation, where he quickly became a fan favorite. While initially appearing as another of Skeletor’s henchmen, he was quickly shown to be smarter than he looked; an active and energetic, and also sly and conniving villain, often coming up with crafty schemes of his own. He even branched out for himself as somewhat lead villain of the episode on two occasions: “Trouble in Trolla” and “Betrayal of Stratos.”
Whiplash was reintroduced to a new generation of fans in the 2002 revival of the Masters of the Universe toy line and cartoon. The new series offered a new background to his character, revealing that he was from a race of underground-dwelling reptile creatures called the Caligars. However, unlike most of the other villains whose roles and characters were expanded upon, his portrayal was significantly weaker than his 1980s counterpart.
Whiplash’s most recent appearance was in 2021’s Netflix series, Masters of the Universe Revelation. In this series, he, along with Trap Jaw, Tri-Klops, and Blast-Attak, joined the cult of Motherboard and received various mechanical enhancements, including a mechanical left eye, various armored plates crafted on his skin, and a much larger tail with a wrecking ball at the end of it.
Fans of the Masters of the Universe franchise have been eagerly anticipating the release of the New Masterverse figures in 2023, where Whiplash is being reimagined as a Deluxe New Eternia design. This new version of Whiplash was leaked alongside a New Eternia Clawful, and New Eternia Webstor.
Whiplash remains one of the most memorable and iconic villains in the Masters of the Universe franchise. His strength, cunning, and ferocity make him a formidable opponent for He-Man and the other heroes of Eternia. Whether you remember him from the 80s or discovered him recently on Netflix, Whiplash is a character that will continue to capture the imaginations of fans young and old.
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