I'm sure that you all are asking the same question right now.
What the hell is Masters Of The Universe: Legacies? You're about to get an education.
Masters Of The Universe: Legacies began its conception in April of 2001. It began as my brain child...a sort of cathartic method of me purging my guilt over the death of a dear friend. His name was Damean. One of the nicest guys you could ever meet. The guy was the type of guy that when you met him you just immediately felt welcome. Had one of those kinds of personalities. Poor guy had one hell of a rough life though. Dad didn't treat he or his mother too good. Ultimately that wound up landing his father in prison. Damean didn't stay with his mother. He moved in with a foster family that he affectionately referred to as his "rentals." They seemed to love him and genuinely seemed to care for them. His hardships never stopped though. Poor guys started feeling really bad towards the end. Never got all of the symptoms, but he was just making mention of how awful he'd been feeling. He never complained about it. Just like he never complained about anything else. I believe it was just a mere couple of months before his passing that he was shot in a random act of violence at a mall! Shot in the stomach. Dude just couldn't get a break. He got over that...then found out why he had been feeling so craptacular. He had a brain tumor. It was going to kill him. He wasn't even 19 years old yet. He tried to make amends with his Dad...tried to make it right...but his Dad wouldn't see him. In the end, he died with the people that truly cared about him surrounding his bed. He never complained. Not once. His last words were for his extended family at The Crow Chamberoom (I was apart of that family). Now, you might be wandering why I felt so awful...so guilty about his passing. I felt terrible because I didn't know about his sickness. Didn't even know the poor guy had gotten shot! I had been away from the room for sometime, plus I had been on vacation when he died. Didn't even get to say goodbye...that still draws tears to this day. Damean passed away in March of 2001.
So after finding out my friend had passed away, I wrote a song for him (I will post the lyrics up as soon as I get an opportunity). But that didn't feel like nearly enough. Didn't feel like it was filling the void at all. So I began work on my most ambitious project to date, Masters Of The Universe: Legacies (originally titled Masters Of The Universe: Return). Why a Masters Of The Universe project for Damean? Damean, much like myself, was a huge Masters Of The Universe fan. He collected the originals and since he worked for Toys R Us, he also helped me collect the Commemorative Re-issues. Like I said, he was one of the nicest guys you'd ever meet. Anyway, Damean and I had had a conversation once about how cool it would be to be immortalized as an action figure from your favorite toy line. And since, unfortunately, I don't have the funds to have him made into a Masters Of The Universe (hereby referred to as MOTU) action figure I decided to do the next best thing. I decided to immortalize him as a character in a Masters Of The Universe Comic Book! Thus began the most ambitious writing project I've done to date. It began as a simple outline for a 16-issue comic series. From there, I wrote a very detailed back-story for the events leading up to my story. Then, once I was satisfied with the back-story and the outline for the series...I began work on Issue 1. Issue 1 actually went through several revisions. The piece that I ultimately selected as Issue 1 (which you will see soon) is the one that I felt left me most fulfilled. And the one that I felt the He-Fans would be the most delighted with. Just as I had finished Issue 1 and was moving on to Issue 2, I decided it was time to find an artist. The original artist was a good friend from The Crow Chamberoom, Eric Darrah. Fantastic artist! He had some really great concepts for the characters. Unfortunately, he ran out of time to be able to do the project. So it was off to find another artist. I searched for a very long time for the new artist, all the while finishing Issue 2 and commencing work on Issue 3. Just as was running short on hope, I decided to post on the Fan-Art board at He-Man.Org (blessed be this website, definitely the DEFINITIVE place for He-Fans) that I was looking for an artist for this project. I had several responses to the post. Ultimately I settled on two artists. Both equally excellent at their craft. I chose the very wonderful Andrew Cramer (known as oICEMANo to the He-Man.orgers) to do the interior artwork of the books. And I chose Michael Pedro (known as PRIME to the He-Man.orgers) to do the cover art. These guys are two of the BEST artists I've ever seen and I think that you all will agree. In the following links, you can see concept art for Masters Of The Universe: Legacies. The artists have been credited for their work. There aren't very many here yet, but new ones will be added as they are received.
3 Towers Of Eternia (Original Concept Piece by oICEMANo) - This is a concept for the 3 Towers of Eternia. It is currently unfinished. There will be more to come from this. Notice that oICEMANo has given this more of a Babylonian feel. Gives a bigger and better presence to the 3 Towers.
Arnon (Original Concept Piece by Eric Darrah) - This was Eric's original concept for Arnon, the character that represents Damean. Eric was inspired by Man-At-Arms' classic armor as you can see. Very well done.
Arnon (Original Concept Piece by oICEMANo) - Arnon is a new character to Masters Of The Universe. oICEMANo did a very good job on the design and concept for this original character. Arnon is the character that represents my friend, Damean. Arnon will play a large role in the events of Legacies.
Arnon (Second Concept Piece by oICEMANo) - This is a rough sketch of Arnon with a new costume design. It's actually a very rough sketch. Not much detail but you can get the basic idea of how different the costume is from the original one.
The Beast Man (Original Concept Piece by Eric Darrah) - This was Eric's take on an older Beast Man. A very well conceived and inspired piece. One could only wonder what the comic series would have looked like had Eric continued to do the series. This was my favorite amongst his concepts. AWESOME job!
The Beast Man (Original Concept Piece by oICEMANo) - OMIGOD!! I cannot say enough about this piece. IT IS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!! Along with oICEMANo's INCREDIBLE Mer-Man...these dude's are two folks you wouldn't want to mess with.
Concept Montage f. Evil-Lyn, Beast Man, and Mer-Man (Original Concept Piece by oICEMANo) - This contains a very rough sketch of a new design for Evil-Lyn and rough design for Beast Man as well. But the piece that REALLY takes the cake...MER-MAN!! oICEMANo REALLY outdid himself with this design. He looks like he's ready to beat someone's ass.
Duncan (Original Concept Piece by oICEMANo) - Duncan is an original character for the series. He's a farm hand as the description on the picture says. He'll play a rather large part in the events of Legacies.
Eternian Guard (Original Concept Piece by oICEMANo) - According to oICEMANo, he was heavily influenced by the soldiers of Gondor from the Lord Of The Rings films with his design. I have to say that his taste rules and it really works well for the atmosphere of the story.
King Hiss - Human Form (Original Concept Piece by oICEMANo) - This piece is very well beloved by myself. I never really liked the way the new King Hiss looked, I hate the whole Egyptian motif they are running with. I always liked the original Hiss. oICEMANo did a really FANTASTIC job of using the original Hiss and giving it his own flavor. The enhancements to the costume make it look that much better.
King Hiss - Serpent Form (Original Concept Piece by oICEMANo) - If you never were a fan of King Hiss's original serpent form like oICEMANo and I...you WILL DEFINITELY LOVE THIS!! A writhing MASS of snakes. This is one of my personal favorite concepts. Very well done.
King Randor (Original Concept Piece by oICEMANo) - This is oICEMANo's fantastic take on a very elderly King Randor. He's fast approaching the end of his reign as King of Eternos and the end of his life. oICEMANo did a fantastic job of really conveying the toll that worry and battle has taken on Randor.
Legacies Teaser Poster (Original Concept Piece by Eric Darrah) - Eric was inspired by the comic cover of issue 13 of the STAR MOTU series for this teaser. I really enjoyed the direction Eric was going in with this. Unfortunately it was never completed...but still well done by Eric even in incompletion!
Lord Stratos (Original Concept Piece by oICEMANo) - oICEMANo did a very good job with this piece. It's exceptionally well thought out. 50 bucks to the person that can tell me where those feathers came from that are hanging on his belt. Stratos was always one of my favorite MOTU characters and oICEMANo has done him true justice.
Man-At-Arms (Original Concept Piece by oICEMANo) - This is oICEMANo's take on an aged Man-At-Arms. He's significantly older and highly decorated for his time spent as a Master Of The Universe and as a Defender. Notice his more regal attire rather than the Eternian armor he normally wears.
Mer-Man (Original Concept Piece by oICEMANo) - This is a full body version of oICEMANo's fantastic Mer-Man concept from the Concept Montage piece above. MY GOD, I love this. The villains look better than the heroes by far! Another round of applause for oICEMANo on this one.
Ram-Man (Original Concept Piece by oICEMANo) - This is a very fine piece of art by oICEMANo. Ram-Man has grown significantly older but not nearly as decrepit as Skeletor or Man-At-Arms. He's obviously heavily battle scarred. I really like this one...I think it really stands to be my fav piece thus far.
Ram-Man (Original Concept Piece by oICEMANo) - This is a digitally colored version of the original Ram-Man concept piece.
Skeletor (Original Concept Piece by Eric Darrah) - This is Eric's take on an elderly and decrepit Skeletor. He really did a good job of making him look thinned out and wasted away. Eaten up by his dark energies. Fantastic piece!
Skeletor (Original Concept Piece by oICEMANo) - This was the original concept oICEMANo did for the series. I wanted a Skeletor that resembled the movie version of Skeletor. Though heavily disliked by most He-Fans...this is the version I always liked. He seemed so much more menacing.
Skeletor (Second Concept Piece by oICEMANo) - This is the version we will be using for the comic series. This version oICEMANo took some of the elements of movie Skeletor and combined them with his own thoughts of how an aged Skeletor should look. The result was fantastic and a keeper!
Skeletor And Teela (Art by Prime) - Prime really outdid himself with this piece. The piece was not originally done for this project, but I fell in love with it. It was Prime's suggestion that we use something similar to this for Skeletor. Ultimately, I decided this would not work for what I have planned for the series.
Teela (Original Concept Piece by Eric Darrah) - This is a very AWESOMELY done concept by Eric! Eric took elements of the original Sorceress and it looks like even a bit of the Sci-Fi New Adventures Of He-Man Sorceress (inadvertently) and combined them. I really love this piece...definitely my second favorite to his Beast Man.
Teela (Original Concept Piece by oICEMANo) - Another VERY well done concept piece by oICEMANo, this time for Teela. Notice how he combined the elements of The Sorceress and Teela's old Goddess/Snake uniform. Very well conceived.
Teela (Second Concept Piece by oICEMANo) - This is a close-up view of the head of oICEMANo's Sorceress Teela concept. There's a little variance in her facial features but overall not much change.
Trapjaw (Original Concept Piece by oICEMANo) - This redesign of Trapjaw is both creepy and AWESOME. oICEMANo once again has REALLY outdone himself on this. Notice how decrepit Trapjaw has gotten. Creepy....
Trapjaw (Second Concept Piece by oICEMANo) - Oh my!! This is a full body concept of Trapjaw. You can now see in full LURID detail just how creepy and decrepit Trapjaw has gotten. Definitely one of my favorite pieces he's done.
Tri-Klops (Original Concept Piece by oICEMANo) - If you don't like this piece...there is something SERIOUSLY wrong with you. Tri-Klops is oICEMANo's favorite MOTU character and he draws him extremely well. Get ready for a very noble Tri-Klops to be in the forefront of the series.
Tung Lashor (Original Concept Piece by oICEMANo) - Tung Lashor was always one of my favorite villains from MOTU. oICEMANo has captured him perfectly as the Tung Lashor we all know and love. The 80's Tung Lashor that we grew up with. I really LOATHE the new Tung Lashor, I think this one looks much better. Tung Lashor hasn't changed much...but he has gotten bigger and more defined.
All of this will ultimately culminate in the release of Issue 1 of MOTU: Legacies. I hope to have Issue 1 completed by March 2004 (the 3 year anniversary of Damean's passing) but it has been brought to my attention that it could be completed sooner than that.
Also, watch for an official FAQ for the series, coming soon. This website will be updating like mad as things really start rolling. Be looking for the FAQ, a contact page for the artists and myself, a stand alone concept art page, a message board, and a few other surprises. It's all coming very soon!
One more thing before I go, Legacies was/is not a free project to me. I am paying these artists the absolute best that I possibly can afford. I have started up a Cancer Donation Fund in Damean's name. A portion of the proceeds will go to paying the artists for the fine work they are doing on this project, the rest will be donated to a local cancer research facility. If you would like to donate to the fund you can by the following methods:
1. You can donate by cash or money order (US Funds only). Email me at vaderSW1@hotmail.com for more details on this. The subject of your email should be: CANCER DONATION BY MAIL.
2. You can donate by credit card or bank transfer via Paypal. You can donate by following the below link:
I am most grateful for any donations that you can make, even if you can't donate a lot, it's still something.
Take care,
Mike Ficklin II
vaderSW1 to the He-Man.orgers
Everlastingnight to The Crow Chamberoomers
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WEBSITE CREDITS
Website Design - Mike Ficklin
Logo - oICEMANo
Masters Of The Universe is the intellectual property of Mattel Inc. This website is in no way, shape, or form affiliated with Mattel Inc. The artwork involved and the characters are all property and copyright of Mattel Inc.
