Masters of the Universe: The Shard of Darkness

    (MVCreations, 2004)
™ and © Hasbro

Masters of the Universe is the fondly-remembered 1980s cartoon, toy, and comics phenomenon that has recently grown up. Featuring more heroic warriors and truly fearsome villains, this new series arguably paved the way for many more revivals that we all can enjoy.

This story is a fine reintroduction to the world of Eternia. (If Val Staples can work with Orko, then all things are possible!) The art is great, and the colors by Staples and Kevin Senft, really bring things to life.

It’s just not worth 40 bucks.

Sure, there are cover galleries and sketchbooks, but there’s nothing so special that it justifies this kind of sticker shock. DC sells volumes this size for $25 and those are of questionable value when compared to their own Archives and Marvel’s Essentials and Masterworks.

Masters fans have probably already read this story. Those who are curious can easily pick up the four issues reprinted herein, or the $10 trade paperback. The story is definitely worth reading, but the format is for the die-hard MotU collector only.

— Jack Abramowitz
Jump to issue:
  NotesWriterArtist