Origin He-Man

during 1980s, rumors claimed conan barbarian source of inspiration he-man character. according rumor, mattel had licensing agreement make action figures associated 1982 film of same name starring arnold schwarzenegger. apparently, such idea had modified in order avoid objections parents concerned toyline children promoting film containing nudity , violence.

sweet refuted rumor, saying conceptualized , developed he-man/masters of universe franchise in late 1980 (two years before release of universal pictures film). toyline existed prior movie, beginning production in 1981 , marketing in 1982. @ time, mattel did not have license universal make toys film, resulted in conan properties international suing mattel on copyright infringement, due he-man s similarities conan.

from lawsuit of cpi vs. mattel:

in 1980, cpi, through agent, conan licensing company ( clc ), began negotiations mattel regarding possible licensing mattel of toy rights in conan. during time, mattel received substantial quantity of material on conan character. on july 31, 1981, cpi , mattel executed license agreement whereby mattel granted right make , sell plastic action figures of conan , ancillary characters depicted in conan movie. amended complaint, para. 12. agreement provided, however, nothing in license should construed assignment or grant mattel of right, title or interest in or conan, , rights relating thereto reserved cpi (except licensee use property agreed to). amended complaint, para. 14. agreed that, after termination of license agreement, mattel not make or sell conan toys.

in january 1982, mattel requested license agreement terminated. on april 14, 1982, cpi , mattel entered termination agreement provided materials created , or developed mattel use in connection products under conan license delivered cpi s agent, cpc, have exclusive right use such material. amended complaint, para. 17.

in february 1983, mattel introduced he-man, fantasy character part of new masters of universe toy line of action figures. since time, mattel has featured he-man , other masters of universe characters in, inter alia, television series, comic books, , video tapes. thereafter, cpi commenced action asserting these figures copies of conan, created under license, , cpi s property. amended complaint, paras. 20, 21.

mattel won lawsuit against conan properties, retaining rights on he-man , masters of universe.

originally, he-man presented mattel executives not drawings , wax models, in form of he-man trio: 3 three-dimensional prototype models depicting he-man barbarian, soldier , spaceman. out of 3 concepts, barbarian version chosen basis toyline. considering conan character created 50 years before development of he-man franchise, possible masters of universe borrowed many aspects conan; however, not intended toyline film after legal agreements dissolved. additionally, roger sweet has claimed impressed paintings of fantasy artist frank frazetta when creating he-man. expanding further on barbarian theme, mattel hired comic-book writers , artists such donald f. glut , earl norem , alfredo alcala (who both still working on savage sword of conan comics since mid-1970s) create additional characters (along stories), posters, package inlays, box art , mini-comics distribution action figures.

of 3 original he-man trio prototype models, barbarian themed he-man black haired tanned eastern european or middle eastern appearance. helmet had no horns. later, @ direction of tom kalinske, in mattel s upper management, he-man made more clean-cut , changed blond... plus, he-man s skin lightened, though still tanned.