He-Man and the Masters of the Universe Magazine #9 is the Winter 1987 issue.
There’s a peculiar Tang contest ad, which states that the first
prize is ten VCRs, the second prize is 500 chairs, and the third prize is 5,000
t-shirts. After a bit of puzzling, one is forced to conclude that this is just
poor writing and that they are, for example, giving a VCR to each of ten kids, rather
than ten VCRs to one kid. While we’re on the subject, there’s another super-dated
Kool-Aid Koolers ad here with a garishly-dressed kid who’s wearing at least
three shirts (this ad at least makes it explicit that they’re awarding just one
VCR and one chair to contest winners).
There’s a plug for the 1987 Rumplestiltskin film; there’s no mention of the fact that Cannon
Films, which produced it, was also doing the He-Man movie, or that Billy Barty,
who played the title character, had been cast in it (this latter tidbit,
however, does appear on another page with information on the film’s casting and
plugs for the re-run of the Christmas Special and the Power Tour).
We have a full-page feature on martial artist/actor Ernie
Reyes, Jr., who will be better known to many of you as either “that little kid
from The Last Dragon” or “the guy
from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The
Secret of the Ooze,” depending on how old you are and where your interests
lie.
This issue’s comic story, “Raid on Snake Mountain,” features
a remarkably coherent plot and a relative lack of silliness (emphasis on relative; it’s inexplicable that
Skeletor’s left his brand new ray gun unattended while He-Man and company
stroll in through the front door). The story does a good job, though, of
showing that Ninjor can actually be a pretty awesome henchman.
The activities here are the usual fare. The only Earl Norem
poster included is the cover (although there’s another piece of his work
inside); also included is He-Man-themed gift wrap “to make your holiday
presents look super powerful,” although good luck wrapping more than one thing
with it.
Read it HERE
