Skeletor is one of the most iconic villains of the Masters of the Universe franchise. He is the main antagonist and the most dangerous threat on Eternia, always seeking ultimate power by possessing the secrets of Castle Grayskull. Skeletor was initially presented as an evil demon from another dimension, but his origins became more important later on.
Skeletor was originally an inhabitant of another dimension, which was populated with others of his kind. During “the great wars,” a dimensional hole opened up, and Skeletor was thrown from his home dimension to Eternia. Skeletor initially sought to open a portal back to his homeworld, which would allow his people to invade and conquer Eternia alongside him, before he became more interested in simply seizing the power of Castle Grayskull for himself.
In later minicomics, Skeletor was hinted to be the long-lost brother of King Randor, Keldor, who was said to have disappeared many years ago when he was lost in another dimension. Skeletor was determined that no one should learn the secret of Keldor, as the truth would lead to his destruction. Skeletor was also forced to contend with the return of his old mentor, Hordak, and forged an uneasy alliance with King Hiss.
Skeletor appeared in the Golden Books Hardcover book “The Horde” as a native of Etheria. When Hordak’s horde took over Etheria, Skeletor willingly became Hordak’s student. Together, they learned how to master the usage of the most powerful mineral in the universe, Etheramite. Skeletor was too young to master the power of Etheramite, but he tried to use it anyway, leaving his face with its skeletal appearance. He took some of Hordak’s Etheramite and left Etheria, looking for his own world to rule. Skeletor eventually came to Eternia and established himself at Snake Mountain. Years later, he finally mastered the usage of Etheramite and increased his power, planning to take over both Eternia and Etheria. However, his usage of Etheramite revealed his location to his former mentor Hordak, who came to Eternia to punish him for his betrayal.
In the DC Comics written by Paul Kupperberg, Skeletor was presented much the same way as he was in the early Minicomics. He sometimes refers to himself as “The Dark Lord.” Skeletor was already in possession of one half of the Power Sword and managed to find the second half when Mer-Man led him through an underwater dimensional portal on Eternia’s ocean floor to locate the missing half of the Power Sword on Earth.
In the Filmation series, Skeletor was the primary villain in He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, as well as the supporting antagonist in its spinoff series, She-Ra: Princess of Power. Skeletor was described by the Sorceress of Castle Grayskull as a demon from another dimension. He was a pitiless villain who commanded an army of warriors from his headquarters in Snake Mountain. Skeletor’s past was shrouded in mystery, but it was revealed that he had once been a member of the Evil Horde and studied under Hordak, becoming his favorite pupil.
With Hordak having left Eternia for another world, Skeletor set himself up in Snake Mountain and recruited his own army of henchmen, seeking to conquer Eternia and capture Castle Grayskull. Skeletor became the arch-enemy of He-Man and concocted various schemes to eliminate him. Later, he would be reunited with his old mentor, Hordak.
Hordak eventually betrayed Skeletor by offering him a partnership in his conquest of Etheria. Skeletor accepted the offer and traveled to Etheria, where he quickly realized that Hordak had no intention of sharing power with him. Instead, Hordak planned to use Skeletor’s army as a disposable force, sacrificing them in his battle against the rebels led by She-Ra, He-Man’s sister who fought alongside the resistance against the Horde.
Hordak’s treachery eventually led to a confrontation between him and Skeletor, which resulted in Hordak capturing Skeletor and holding him captive. However, Skeletor managed to escape and swore revenge against Hordak, leading to a long-standing rivalry between the two villains.
As the series progressed, Skeletor’s backstory was further developed, revealing more about his past and motivations. It was revealed that he was once Keldor, the brother of King Randor, and that he had undergone a transformation that left him with a skull for a face.
In addition to his appearances in the original animated series, Skeletor has appeared in various He-Man comics, as well as in the 1987 live-action film Masters of the Universe, where he was portrayed by actor Frank Langella.
In more recent iterations of the Masters of the Universe franchise, Skeletor’s origin story has continued to evolve. For example, in the 2021 Netflix series “Masters of the Universe: Revelation,” Skeletor is once again presented as a former pupil of the Sorceress of Castle Grayskull, but this time he is not banished to Despondos. Instead, he and his army of minions attack Castle Grayskull in a bid to claim its power, only to be defeated by He-Man and his allies. In this version, Skeletor is voiced by Mark Hamill, who brings a suitably sinister and charismatic performance to the role.
Despite his evil nature, Skeletor became one of the most iconic villains of the 1980s, thanks in part to his distinctive appearance and his catchphrase, “I’ll get you, He-Man!”
Skeletor’s origin story has undergone several changes over the years, as different writers and creative teams have sought to flesh out his backstory and motivations. From a simple demon from another dimension to a former prince of Eternia and pupil of the Sorceress, Skeletor remains one of the most iconic and enduring villains in pop culture.
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