Skeletor Figures: The 1982 Original and Later Releases

The original Skeletor is Mattel’s 1982 first-wave Masters of the Universe figure. A complete one has the Havoc Staff, half of the Power Sword, a removable harness and belt, and a mini-comic. Early figures have purple trunks and half-painted boots. Later vintage versions, such as Battle Armor Skeletor (1984), and the modern Origins and Masterverse figures are separate releases.

Skeletor is one of the characters in our He-Man characters guide, which lists every main figure by first release year. For the toy line, the cartoon and the playsets, see the He-Man hub.

What came with the 1982 Skeletor?

He-Man.org’s figure record and The Toy Collector’s Guide’s first-wave list agree on the parts:

• the Havoc Staff, his magic staff
• half of the Power Sword, which joins with the half sold with He-Man
• a removable harness (chest armor)
• a removable belt
• a mini-comic

The mini-comic matters more than it looks. Wikipedia notes that Skeletor first appeared in the mini-comic He-Man and the Power Sword (1981), packed with the original figures, so the character’s story began in the toy box rather than on television. Collectors who want a fully complete figure count the comic as a part.

The figure has six points of articulation and a spring-loaded “power punch”: twist the waist and let go. He-Man.org records that it was released in 1982 and discontinued in 1986 or 1987. It was sold on its own card and in sets with other toys, including Panthor, Screeech, Beast Man and Faker.

A loose figure without the staff, sword half, harness or belt is incomplete. These parts are small and separate easily, so check each one against the list above before calling a figure complete.

How do you tell an early 1982 Skeletor from a later one?

The paint changed during the run. Both He-Man.org and Adam McCombs’s first-production-run history on The Battle Ram Blog describe the same switch:

Both are genuine Mattel figures. Paint can wear, though, so judge the boots and trunks in clear photos from several angles. The same parts list applies to both versions.

Which later Skeletor figures did the vintage line make?

Mattel made several new Skeletor figures before the original line ended. These are separate toys, not variants of the 1982 figure:

Years come from collector archives (The Toy Collector’s Guide, The Battle Ram Blog, He-Man.org) and agree with the ActionFigure411 checklist.

What modern Skeletor figures has Mattel made?

Mattel’s newer lines include Skeletor from the start. He was in the first wave of Masters of the Universe Origins, which Walmart sold as a US exclusive in 2020 before wider release in 2021. Origins figures are 5.5 inches tall and follow the vintage design. Skeletor was also in the first Masterverse wave in 2021, a 7-inch collector line tied to Masters of the Universe: Revelation.

These modern figures are licensed and make good gifts for fans of the 1980s toy, but they are not originals. Check the date and the line name on the packaging; a figure marked Origins or Masterverse is a modern release.

How should you check a Skeletor listing?

Ask for clear photos of the figure from the front, back and both sides, plus each accessory on its own. Compare the staff, sword half, harness and belt against the 1982 parts list, look at the trunks and boots to place the figure in the run, and check that the waist still springs back. For a figure on its card, read the name printed on the card: the later vintage versions carry their own names, such as Battle Armor Skeletor or Terror Claws Skeletor.

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