“Why can’t I get these pancakes to cook right? I’m following the recipe!”
Masters Of The Universe vol 3 #5
MV Creations (July, 2004)
STORY: Emiliano Santalucia & Val Staples
WRITER: Lori Ann Scott
ARTIST: Emiliano Santalucia & Enza Fontana
COLORIST: James Offredi (assisted by Diedre Vance)
SELECTED COVER ART: Enza Fontana & Jeremy Roberts
LETTERER: Ed Dukeshire
EDITORS: Monica Lopez, Vicki Jaeger, Ian Richter, & Geoff Walker
Skeletor says nothing as he sits helpless in the ruins of what was once Zalesia. King Hiss only stops berating him when his men bring in Evil-Lyn. The Faceless One mystically binds his weakened daughter to the chair, but when Hiss insists he deliver on his promise before the task is complete, the Faceless one reminds him of the last time he did that. In the past, during the first invasion by the Snake Men, Hiss had Evil-Lyn kidnapped, even then seeking the power to control Serpos. At the time, the Faceless One had a face and was the Lord Of Zalesia as well as a member of the Council Of Wisdom, the elders from whom He-Man would later gain his powers. However, because the Council is against mates and children they refuse to help rescue her. With no recourse, the Lord Of Zalesia was forced to do as Hiss wanted to protect his daughter, and Eternia nearly fell. Trying to stop Serpos, Hiss, and their new blue-skinned ally alone resulted in failure, as well as the destruction of Zalesia. His lordship was forced to give up his daughter and his Havoc staff to the blue-skinned man in a cloak (not sure if it’s Keldor or Keldor’s father…how old is he compared to Evil-Lyn?) while the city crumbled. The Council managed to stop Serpos and punished the lord by turning him into the Faceless One. In the present he still bears those scars and is willing to hand Eternia to Hiss again to save his daughter…I’d wager a bit more eager now after what was done to him.
What they got right: If this isn’t canon to the show it darn well should be. As an origin for the Faceless One it works perfectly, and this is from a guy sick of tragic origin stories. I also like the nod to the Eternia towers playset from the original toyline. We also have an idea how Keldor/Skeletor got his Havoc Staff.
What they got wrong: But that one councilor, a blue-skinned elf-eared woman who kept calling the child an abomination and that they should let her die…I wanted to punch her in the face so badly. The others were trying to be sympathetic to his at least, one guy even thinking they might “be in error” as he put it before bitch woman spoke again. This is how you create enemies and for all the blame the Faceless One deserves she’s just a terrible person and should get some blame for practically driving him to King Hiss.
Recommendation: This is a great storyline and a good series. You really should pick it up.
BW Media Spotlight 
I do plan to pick up these back issues the next time there’s a good weekend sale at my local comic shop. They’re there. Just waiting for a good deal. Last weekend, I read my MOTU 2002/2003 comics. I’m very impressed with what MV Creations did with MOTU. Also, I can thank you and your reviews because they led me to purchase those back issues at my local comic shop when there were good weekend deals. This weekend, I look forward to reading some MOTU 2003 comics (the 6 issue series). Just before Christmas, I was able to purchase all 6 issues for 50 percent at my local comic shop. I also got MOTU Star Comics #1 for only 1 dollar! (thanks to that 50 percent deal). I actually liked that Star version of MOTU, so I plan on picking up some other back issues from that series such as the one with Ninjor in it and also issue 5 (I think ) that has the big battle scene. I’ll have to look back through your archives to read over some of your past reviews of Star MOTU.
This storyline you mention today sounds mature without being extremely violent or sexual.
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Shadow Wing, your written reviews on MV Creations’ MOTU comic books are very well crafted and persuasive as to the artistic and story value of these comics. Your writings have persuaded me to purchase these comics, and I’m glad I have. I am thoroughly enjoying reading the MV Creations run of MOTU. Based on what you have written, I know that I also now have to obtain the 2004 run of MOTU. MV Creations’ MOTU comics are prime examples of what happens when you take awesome artwork and well crafted writing to forge together into a comic book of high quality.
Now I’m curious to see what your written reviews will be like for the DC MOTU comics from the 2nd decade of the 21st century.
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I’ve already reviewed the issues I own from when I bought them. Just do a search.
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I see. You must have done those reviews when those comics came out back in 2012, 2013. I will search for those reviews of yours (I didn’t realize you had reviewed those….I just started reading your site on a more constant basis starting in 2015).
I stopped by my local comic store today to scope out what they currently have for MOTU back issues. They barely have any left now. All their 2004 MOTU comics are gone along with the Marvel ones from the 80s. I was very disappointed. On the other hand, I’m glad then that I got all the 2003 MOTU back issues, the 2004 MOTU Orko Issue 8, and the Marvel He-Man #1 at this particular store back in late December. But when I finnd those 2004 MOTU issues again, I will be sure to pick them up.
Thank you for providing this service of reviewing back issues. It really helps people decide whether a particular series is worth purchasing. So I will be sure to research your reviews on the DC issues because your writings provide very valuable information.
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