Friday, January 1, 2016

SUPERMAN VS HE-MAN



SUPERMAN VS HE-MAN

THE DEFINITIVE WRITE UP ON THE BATTLE TO PROVE WHO'S REALLY THE MOST POWERFUL MAN IN THE UNIVERSE!



By

John "THE MEGO STRETCH HULK" Cimino
  and
James Eatock

 
Just who is the true Master of the Universe?

Back when I was a kid and obsessed with He-Man and the Masters of the Universe like every red-blooded boy during the mid-80s, I can fondly remember seeing a copy of DC Comics Presents #47 at a friends house in his cupboard. As I thumbed through the issue, I became totally mystified at the fact that Superman actually met He-Man in a comic book -- and could you believe -- they even fought each other! Needless to say, my young mind was totally blown away as I never would forget that legendary encounter. Fast forward a little more than 30 years later and DC Comics releases the 6-issue limited series DC Universe vs. Masters of the Universe in 2013 -- and just like that -- I was transported back to my youth with my mind totally blown again when I saw it on the comic racks. That's when I knew it was time for me to honor this match up, this awe-inspiring comic book confrontation that had left such an impression on me. It was time for The Definitive Write Up on "Superman vs He-Man"!!
Superman teaming up with He-Man in the comics totally blew me away as a kid.

When doing the research for this intriguing write up, I decided to take it a step further. While I'm an expert at comic book history (no doubt), I'm a little flat when it comes to the history of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. So, to give my readers the high-levels of exhaustive and accurate research they expect from my blog, I recruited my fellow Facebook friend and resident Masters of the Universe cartoon expert; the bearded disco-inferno men have come to call -- James "Busta-Toons" Eatock! This is the perfect guy to fill in those gaps and take the readers through the pathways of Eternia without any of us getting lost. So I'm gonna thank you right now Mr. Eatock for taking time out of your hectic schedule and helping me out (not to mention putting up with my constant nagging) and giving this write up some instant credibility to the He-Man community. 

Okay, enough with the Orko-like babble, let's get to the good stuff...

Superman; real name Kal-El was rocketed away from the doomed planet Krypton as an infant by his father Jor-El. Arriving on Earth, the child was taken in by Jonathan and Martha Kent, who raised him as their own child. As Kal grew older, he discovered that due to this solar system's yellow sun, he had gained almost unlimited powers, of flight, speed, strength, endurance and enhanced senses. The name "Superman" was given to him by the reporter Lois Lane, with whom he would come to love and work with at the Daily Planet in his civilian identity as Clark Kent.

Superman carries the utmost respect of any superhero the world has ever known and has become the standard all the others are measured by. He lives by the traditional moral values instilled in him by his foster parents. He is often pictured with a sense of unbounded idealism mixed with restraint provided by his sense of fairness and compassion for others. He is a man with an incredible depth of feeling, often struggling with the differences between the right answer and the practical one. Devoted to promoting "truth, justice, and the American way", Superman has proved time and time again that he is a true hero, capable of whatever bravery or self-sacrifice is necessary to right a wrong or save a life. He is above our common human character flaws; he doesn't feel greed, prejudice, resentment or bias.

While he is one of the most popular and powerful superheroes ever created, Superman is without any doubt the most important. Being the archetype superhero character model for all the others, his relevance and entire comic book-mythos are without equal. "This looks like a job -- for Superman!"

Superman is the greatest hero the planet Earth has ever known.

He-Man; real name Prince Adam is known as the most powerful man in the universe. He uses his great strength to protect Castle Grayskull from all those that seek out its power, and foil the various deadly schemes and machinations of the Evil Lord of Destruction, Skeletor. He continuously displays both the dignity and honor that his duty demands. Whilst his physical strength is without equal, he also possesses great wisdom and a deep rooted sense of morality. In the field of battle, he often seeks resolution and compromise before resorting to violence. He once stated that he only fought when he had to, and that each time he fought, he hoped it would be the last. He-Man is a testament to the strength and endurance, both mentally and physically, that a true hero possesses.

He hails from the planet Eternia which is said to be at the center of the universe. It is a unique planet that balances sorcery and magic with some of the most advanced science and technology in the galaxy. Lush forests, unforgiving jungles, expansive deserts, and deadly regions of ice are just a few of the wondrous locations that exist within the light and dark hemispheres of the planet, with Castle Grayskull standing as the most magical and secret-laden of them all. "By the power of Grayskull!"

He-Man is the greatest hero the planet Eternia has ever known.

What makes Superman and He-Man so comparable and special is not just the fact that they possess untold levels of power that could shatter whole mountains at will, but that they are both truly worthy possessors of that power. They are proud, noble spirits that will protect those who are in need no matter what the cost. Almost invincible god-like figures that truly understand how precious and fragile life is and it's this understanding that earns them such great admiration by their peers and great disdain from their enemies.
 
No matter the odds, Superman will stand up to any challenge that threatens mankind and defeat it.

It's this intrigue that has also made "Superman vs He-Man" such a fascinating match up. Fans couldn't help but ask, Who was truly the most powerful man in the Universe? What would happen if Superman and He-Man ever faced off against each other? Could Superman's super-powers overcome the magic of Castle Grayskull? And DC Comics teaming up with Mattel, Inc. gave them what they wanted with the release of DC Comics Presents #47 (1982) where the two heroes met in a clash for the ages. But the most interesting aspect of the fight was not the action and power displays, but that there was a friendship formed almost instantly between them due to their moral codes and general outlook on life.

He-Man continually turns back the threat of Skeletor and his evil minions to protect the secrets of Castle Grayskull.

So when these two face off and slug it out, it's a little depressing for me. Superman and He-Man are two good guys that should always be on the same side fighting for what is right. Although they would be manipulated into combat with each other by the evil Skeletor, somehow they knew deep down they shared a common bond. How could they not? They were the ultimate superhero of their universe! So when all the formalities and plot-twists were over and Superman and He-Man finally joined forces and cut loose on the dastardly villains, I cheered them on! Hey, isn't this why we love them and the magic of comic books?

Superman and He-Man make a tremendous force for good, they should always be teaming up rather than fighting it out.

Okay, enough with the background. Now that you know who these two super-studs are (like you didn't beforehand) and what this encounter means to me, let's see how they match up in a head-to-head comparison...



TALE OF THE TAPE



Name: Superman 
   
Height: 6’ 3” 
   
Weight: 225lbs

Real Name: Kal-El, adopted as Clark Joseph Kent

Origins: Comes from the planet Krypton. Gained powers from Earth’s lighter gravity and yellow sun.

Home Base: Metropolis

Nicknames: Man of Steel, Man of Tomorrow, Man of Might, Action Ace, the Kryptonian, Big Red S, Big Blue, The Greatest Hero of Any Age, Champion of Truth, Justice and the American Way

Powers: Superman possesses extraordinary superhuman powers. His body acts as a living solar battery that absorbs yellow-sun rays, with these rays he is granted; super-strength, super-invulnerability and super-endurance; making him one of the physically strongest and most durable characters in the DC Universe. He also possesses super-speeds; allowing him to move, react, run, and fly at speeds of nearly a hundred miles per hour to speeds far greater than the speed of light. Super-breath; ability to inhale and exhale huge volumes of air with great force, capable of extinguishing large fires and moving heavy objects such as cars. This also allows Superman to hold his breath for hours in airless environments. The release (exhalation) of highly compressed air through his pursed lips causes it to drop radically in temperature. This is usually referred to as "Freeze Breath", and can cool objects to sub-zero temperatures and freeze air moisture solid. Super-senses (including hearing, smelling, tasting, touching); his sight is the most well-rounded of his senses as he has greater accuracy to detail than humanly possible. This sense also includes the ability to see EM frequencies invisible to humans, such as radio transmissions, infrared light, the bio-electric aura which surrounds all living things, even in pitch-black darkness. Offshoots of this power include Telescopic Vision; which allows him to "zoom in" on far away objects, sometimes hundreds of miles away. Microscopic Vision; which allows him to zoom in on objects that would normally be too small to see, like those on a cellular or molecular level. X-Ray Vision; the ability to see through solid objects, usually with the exception of lead. Heat Vision; ability to emit solar energy from his eyes. Usually resembles bright red or orange laser-like beams, which may be invisible at low temperatures but extremely bright at high ones. The effective range of his beams are hundreds of feet. In addition varying the beam width, height, and intensity, Superman has demonstrated a high degree of skill and accuracy in manipulating his beam. He is able to use this power with surgical precision and at microscopic levels. Since the power can be used invisibly, Superman often takes advantage of that to perform tasks subtly without needing to get into costume. In some cases, these beams can also be used to produce great concussive force rather than heat and have been known to rupture steel plates and pulverize rock. He also possesses regeneration (when absorbing yellow sun rays into his body) and longevity as well as having a super-mind and memory.

Weaknesses: Kryptonite; Superman is most vulnerable to green Kryptonite, mineral debris from Krypton transformed into radioactive material by the forces that destroyed the planet. Exposure to green Kryptonite radiation nullifies Superman's powers and immobilizes him with pain and nausea; prolonged exposure will eventually kill him. The only substance on Earth that can protect him from Kryptonite is lead, which blocks the radiation. Lead is also the only known substance that Superman cannot see through with his X-Ray VisionHe is also vulnerable to most forms of magic, red-sun rays (which weaken him considerably), and just about anything from Krypton

Favorite Expressions:  Great Krypton!”, ” Great Scott!”, ” Up, Up and Away!”, “This looks like a job for Superman!”




Name: He-Man
   
Height: 6' 2"
   
Weight: 286lbs

Real Name: Prince Adam of the House of Randor

Origins: Born to King Randor and Queen Marlena of Eternia, and later imbued with the power of Castle Grayskull.

Home Base: Eternia

Nicknames: The Most Powerful Man in the Universe, Champion of Eternia, Protector of Castle Grayskull

Powers: The power of Castle Grayskull that flows within He-Man has bestowed him with immense superhuman strength. In times of intense physical stress He-Man's adrenaline level escalates, causing a corresponding escalation in strength. This is not accompanied by an additional gain in mass, but does appear to promote increased levels of energy efficiency, which has enabled him to lift Castle Grayskull itself, and even move one of Eternia's two moons out of its orbit. His great strength also increased his physical durability from which he is able to sustain tremendous punishment and recover at an incredible rate. All of He-Man’s bodily functions are at the peak of human efficiency. Notably, his body eliminates the excessive build-up of fatigue-producing poisons in his muscles. As a result He-Man also has superhuman agility, speed, endurance, and reaction time superior to any other humanoid being on Eternia. He is also a superbly skilled warrior, highly proficient in both hand-to-hand combat and swordsmanship. He possesses high levels of intelligence (especially in the field of science) and wisdom. He-Man also has the ability to telepathically reach out to the Sorceress and certain other members of the Heroic Warriors. 

Weapons: He-Man sometimes uses an axe and shield but his main weapon is the legendary Sword of Power (also referred to as the Power Sword). This magical sword's sole purpose is to act as a conduit to channel the power of Grayskull, the source of which is said to exist within the abyss that surrounds Castle Grayskull, transforming Prince Adam into He-Man. Occasionally, He-Man uses the sword to fire blasts at his enemies, deflect rays fired at him, and slice through objects. The Sword of Power is also shown to be indestructible; able to resist melting point temperatures and the most powerful spells of magic. Due to He-Man's attitude towards violence, he rarely ever uses the sword in battle unless it's absolutely necessary. He-Man's harness was fashioned by the Sorceress of Grayskull from Coridite (a rare powerful crystal containing tremendous energy), and added to He-Man's already incredible power.

Weaknesses: Although He-Man is physically highly durable, he is still susceptible to stun beams and sleep gas.

Favorite Expressions: "By the Power of Grayskull!", "I have the power!", "In today's story..."



THE SLUGFESTS





The comics listed in this section are each time Superman and He-man have squared off, had arguments and fought each other. I will also explain each encounter in detail. Unfortunately, all fights and situations are not always so clear cut and I've tried my very best to be fair, objective and unbiased about the outcome of each battle. A "MATCH UP" is considered a round within a fight or face off confrontation. Since situations can be erratic in the story, there can be multiple outcomes between opponents in each fight. I will continually list each "MATCH UP" with a result and tally it. A "MATCH UP" will only result in a "WIN" if the losing character is rendered unconscious, teleported away against their will or immobilized in such a fashion that they are only freed by the other combatant or an ally. There may even be cases when a character gets a victory due to interference of their teammates, partners, etc. This may not be a definitive "WIN" but it will still be tallied against the losing opponent and explained so. When a character gets an "EDGE" result, they had the advantage at the end of the fight but the opponent may still be conscious or fighting on, so it will not be tallied against him. A "DRAW" result means no one was victorious during that encounter. A "NONE" result means there was no way a logical result could be given in that confrontation or situation from the two characters facing off and this can occur for a number of reasons and will be explained in the text. And finally, an "UNKNOWN" result means the ending of the fight was never shown so a definitive result cannot be given. At the end, I tallied up the totals so you can come to your own conclusions and be the judge to see who holds the overall edge in this legendary battle.



DC COMICS PRESENTS #47 (1982)

 

"From Eternia--With Death!"

 

In the Royal City of Eternia, Prince Adam continues to take his training with Man-At-Arms too lightly. His unorthodox approach to the challenges given, exasperate Man-At-Arms, who walks out in a snit. Prince Adam's good-natured jocularity wins him no admiration from Teela, his royal bodyguard, either. In Metropolis, Clark Kent purposely takes a fall to maintain his charade of being oafishly clumsy. An act Kent keeps up to protect his secret identity. Prince Adam, along with his talking tiger, Cringer, take respite within a tavern. Soon enough, Prince Adam's irreverence lands him in a brawl. Teela is quick to step in and end the conflict before it can truly come to blows. Spying a falcon silhouetted against the moon, Prince Adam and Cringer ditch Teela, racing for the Cavern of Power. There, Prince Adam and Cringer are mystically transformed, by the Sorceress, into He-Man and Battle Cat, protectors of Eternia. The Sorceress has summoned He-Man and Battle Cat to once again deal with the looming threat of Skeletor. Standing outside of Castle Grayskull with Beastman, Skeletor once more seeks entry. Raising his power sword above his head, Skeletor strikes the door of Castle Grayskull with all his might. The force of the impact opens a dimensional rift to Earth.

Investigating the rift, Superman is drawn though to the planet Eternia by an energy tendril. Believing Superman to be Castle Grayskull's protector, Skeletor and Beastman attack. The three men struggle against one another, until a powerful mystic bolt from Skeletor's sword, sends Superman hurtling off towards the horizon. Discovered by He-Man and Battle Cat, they quickly become allies and team up with to oppose Skeletor. Joined in route to Castle Grayskull by Man-At-Arms, the heroes assault the Lord of Destruction. Using his sorcerers might, Skeletor enchants Superman, commanding him to battle against He-Man. As the two heroes lock into combat and match each other blow for blow, it is Superman that eventually bests He-Man and drops the Champion of Eternia with a mighty punch. Skeletor then commands Superman to batter his way into Castle Grayskull. Though compelled to obey Skeletor's commands, Superman still wields enough independent will to use his heat vision to liquefy the ground beneath Skeletor's feet. Trapped within the cooling rock, Skeletor's concentration turns to freeing himself from Superman's ersatz prison. Freed from Skeletor's mental domination, Superman grabs Skeletor, carrying him up into the sky. The arch-fiend then uses another spell to teleport away. Superman briefly regroups with He-Man, Battle Cat, and Man-At-Arms, before flying back through the dimensional rift to return home.
RESULT: WIN: SUPERMAN

TALLY: MATCH UPS: 1  SUPERMAN: 1 - HE-MAN: 0

Since this issue was the very first appearance of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe characters in a comic book (although they appeared in comic form in the mini comics that came with the figures), I spoke with DC Comics Presents #47 writer Paul Kupperberg to see if he had any requirements from Mattle, Inc. before he used them in his story. This is what he had to say:

"Nope, no requirements. Mattle, Inc. came to DC with boxes of prototypes of the toys, before they hit the market, with the names and basic relationships between characters worked out. Beyond that, they didn't have much in the back story and told me to make up whatever I wanted for the rest, none of which they changed, as far as I can remember."




DC UNIVERSE VS. MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE #2 (2013)

"Justice Denied" 
 
Madame Xanadu's shop is under attack by evil magical projections, and John Constantine attempts in vain to prevent the monstrous rats from tearing him and his companions to pieces. Unfortunately, the magic that they were created from is not of this world - it is from Eternia. Evil-Lyn recognizes it, and helps by combining the magic of this world with the magic of  hers, and together, she and John dispel the projections. While Evil-Lyn and He-Man are merely myths for John, he is a myth on their world as well. Even so, the threat of Skeletor, who has found his way to this Earth, is all too real.

He-Man, who has recently been reunited with his mother, Marlena, is curious as to what she is doing in this strange new world. She explains that she was born here. She had been an astronaut. Her ship crossed the dimensional veil, crash-landing on Eternia, where she met King Randor and fell in love. If Skeletor hadn't rewritten her memories and stranded her on her home-planet, she'd still be with Randor today. He-Man admits that his own memory was similarly wiped thanks to Skeletor's use of some kind of "Skull of Power". However, he had not come to Earth to find her. He and Teela joined forces with Evil-Lyn to retrieve Skeletor and use his power to defeat Hordak. Marlena warns that Skeletor will not be too happy to see Evil-Lyn, though. After all, he has taken up with a new woman: Black Alice. Not to mention that the pair are working together to drain the earth of its mystical life-force.

Elsewhere, on the Justice League Satellite, the Justice League is surprised to have their base intruded upon by Skeletor himself. Unfortunately for Superman, Skeletor is aware of the Kryptonian's weaknesses, and uses magic to attack. With the rest of the League's attention, Skeletor explains that he needs minions, and he feels they will do just fine.

Meanwhile, on Eternia, the remaining Masters of the Universe trace the origin of residual mystical readings to Evil-Lyn. This begs the question: did Prince Adam and Teela go with Evil-Lyn of their own volition, or were they tricked? With the aid of a Horde Dimensional Transponder, Man-At-Arms traces Evil-Lyn's energy signature to find out where the prince and his daughter were led.

John Constantine leads He-Man and company to the Batcave, hoping that Batman would be there to help them, but the caped crusader is absent. Suddenly, an incoming teleport brings Batman and one of Skeletor's evil monsters back to the cave, still locked in battle. Using his Power Sword, He-Man comes to Batman's rescue, though he is not so grateful for it. John admits that it was his plan to come see him in the Batcave, because lives are at stake, but they have little time to talk, as Superman appears, under the influence of Skeletor's magic. Though Batman attempts to get Kryptonite to protect himself, he and the others are all beaten out of the Batcave, and forced to contend with the rest of the Justice League, who have also been tainted by magic.

The League focuses on capturing the magicians among their prey, but Skeletor has informed them that He-Man is their real threat, so Superman turns his attention to him. Fortunately, He-Man is strong enough to hold his own against Superman. Realizing the extent of Superman's powers He-man has to take extreme measures and thrusts his Power Sword straight into Superman's chest (to everyone's horror). The magic that controlled the Justice League quickly fades, as Superman collapses, and their horror increases when they realize that the Man of Steel is dead. Luckily for everyone, it is later revealed (in issue #4) that the Superman He-Man killed was a magical facsimile created by Skeletor.  




 


RESULT: NONE 
(While it is true that He-Man got the "win" in this encounter, it cannot be considered a "definitive" victory because it wasn't the real Superman he defeated. But props should still be given to He-Man due to this Superman facsimile being just as powerful as the genuine article.)


MATCH UPS: 2  SUPERMAN: 1 - HE-MAN: 0 




INJUSTICE VS. MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE #3 (2018)

"City of Darkness" 
 
Damian Wayne (as Batman) and his team of the Injusticeverse recruits He-Man and his companions to help them fight against Superman's dictatorship of Earth. As they make an assault on Superman's watchtower, He-Man is able to break through due to his magic. After they defeat the Suicide Squad,  they find Bruce Wayne held captive inside the tower. As Orko tries to free him, they are attack by Wonder Woman and Skeletor. But just before He-Man gets into the mix, he is bathed in heat vision by Superman who flies in and attacks him. Fight continues in the following issue...








INJUSTICE VS. MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE #4 (2018)

"The Ultimate Battleground" 
 
He-man recovers from Superman's ambush heat vision attack due to the magical Kryptec battle armor, which heals him. They battle back and forth in a HUGE slugfest with He-man understanding that there is no humanity left within Superman so he has to kill him in order to save the planet. Almost succeeding, Superman uses Brainiac's machine to take control of He-man's armor and cause him tremendous pain. But the magic of Grayskull overcomes the control and then He-man hits Superman with a tremendous punch that hurts him badly. With Superman down and struggling to get up, He-man unexpectedly turns back into Prince Adam. Superman takes this moment of hesitation by swooping in and grabbing Adam by the neck. Now Batman, Teela and Orko plead with the Man of Steel to let the prince go. Fight continues in the following issue...











INJUSTICE VS. MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE #5 (2018)

"The Vengeance of Skeletor" 
 
While Superman is holding Prince Adam by the neck and is squeezing the life out of him, the Sorceress will telepathically contact Adam about the threat of Darkseid on Eternia. He relays the message to Superman about the Lord of Apocalypse and that he has not only stolen the spirit of Castle Grayskull, but has the Anti-Life Equation as well. Zantanna will then tell Superman it was Darkseid and Skeletor's plan to have him fight He-Man so they could attack Eternia. In a rage, Superman tosses Adam aside and attacks her but stops once he sees the error of his ways and the danger at hand.




RESULT: EDGE: SUPERMAN
(I couldn't give Superman the "win" in this encounter because even though he had Prince Adam at his complete mercy when the power of Grayskull faded, it was Zantanna's words that ultimately ended the fight.)

MATCH UPS: 3  SUPERMAN: 1 - HE-MAN: 0 




INJUSTICE VS. MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE #6 (2019)

"The King of Castle Grayskull" 
 
Superman possesses Darkseid's Soul Syphon, the Spirit of Castle Grayskull and the Anti-Life Equation. In essence, he has now become an all powerful god. He wants Prince Adam to guide him through the nexus so he can fix his past mistakes and hopefully save Clark Kent's soul before he became what he is today. Adam agrees as Superman sees billions of different realities and outcomes but they always end with something he couldn't control. Now understanding how to use the Orb of Power, Superman will use the Spirit of Grayskull along with the Anti-Life Equation to save everyone in every reality whether they want it or not. But one thing is certain, Prince Adam must die. As Superman grabs Adam by the neck, Adam is mentally transported to the Rock of Eternity where the wizard SHAZAM bestows him with his power. Saying the magic word, Adam is transformed into SHAZAM and breaks free from Superman's grip. Now enhanced by the Orb of Power and with the magic of SHAZAM, Adam destroys Superman once and for all.




  
 RESULT: WIN: HE-MAN

FINAL TALLY: MATCH UPS: 4  SUPERMAN: 1 - HE-MAN: 1



"SUPERMAN VS HE-MAN" FIGURE SET (2009)

A deluxe figure set released that showcased the Super-Heavyweight slugfest that is "Superman vs He-Man." It was the first released (and most wanted) set in a line that showcased classic DC characters pitted against Masters of the Universe characters that were exclusive to Toys R' Us. This figure set can range anywhere between 80.00 and 200.00 dollars on the secondary market or eBay auctions.

Front card

Back card


THE END??

In 4 official match ups, Superman and He-Man are tied 1 to1. But after reading these battles in the comics (especially DC Comics Presents #47) some "absolutes" have been made very clear when you compare them head-to-head. It's plain to see that as powerful as these combatants are Superman is the physically stronger, more durable and faster of the two. Add in all his other vast array of powers and it's pretty obvious that Superman will win this match up the majority of the time. One might think that he should win this fight every time if it's straight up -- but I think those who come to that conclusion take He-Man's powers too lightly.

While He-Man is a very close second in physical strength, he has 2 major advantages over the Man of Steel that he brings to the table; his fighting ability and the Sword of Power. He-Man has been trained to be the greatest warrior on Eternia, his hand-to-hand and weapon skills are a match for even the greatest warriors in any comic universe. Combine those skills with his physical attributes and He-Man is a tremendous force. Superman on the other hand was spawned from the farms of Kansas and while he has developed great hand-to-hand combat skills that incorporate his greater strength and speed in his own right, it still doesn't match up to the battle-tested skills of He-Man. The other advantage is an even greater one; the Sword of Power! It is composed of pure magic from Castle Grayskull and is totally indestructible. And what's one of Superman's major weaknesses other than Kryptonite? Magic. Reading DC Universe vs. The Masters of the Universe #2 and Injustice vs. Masters of the Universe #4, it's clear as day what damage this weapon can do to Superman. It not only has the potential to humble him, it can actually "KILL" him as well and that's something Superman has to be very prepared for. Once He-Man realizes the harm that the Sword of Power can bring to Supes, all bets are off.


How physically strong is He-Man? Just ask Supergirl.

He-Man is an unparalleled warrior highly trained in the arts of combat. He will have to use his greater skills in hand-to-hand combat and warfare to gain an advantage over the Man of Steel.

But He-Man's greatest chance against Superman is his Sword of Power. Since it's totally indestructible and composed of pure magic from Castle Grayskull, it can cause Superman great harm and even...death.

It's inevitable that fanboys will make their arguments on who they think should win this match up. But truth is, no matter what advantages each combatant has over the other, Superman is still the superior overall. He has way too many options for victory and if he manages to get the Sword of Power away from He-Man, there is not much he can do against the onslaught the Man of Steel has waiting for him. Supes just has to be careful getting to it because like I said before, He-Man has the superior fighting skill-set and he will use it wisely when he is faced against such a powerful foe.

There is no doubt that Superman is superior overall and will win this slugfest against He-Man the majority of the time with his strength, durability, speed and vast array of super-powers.

So in the end, I don't think anyone really doubted that Superman wasn't "The Most Powerful Man in the Universe" despite what He-Man brought to the table against him. But truth be told, both of these champions are at the top of the food chain when it comes to the Super-Heavyweights of fiction. There are not many obstacles they cannot overcome with just their will and fortitude alone. And most importantly, they inspire all those around them. Superman and He-Man are better off fighting together vanquishing the evil forces that plaque their worlds because they make such an unstoppable force for the righteous and they share the same perspective on preserving the sanctity of innocent life. For that, they will always be the standard of what real heroes should be...




Agree? Disagree? Let's hear it fanboys!!


Check out other "DEFINITIVE WRITE UPS" here:

Jack Kirby vs Alex Toth
http://hero-envy.blogspot.com/2013/06/jack-kirby-vs-alex-toth.html

Superman vs Captain Marvel
Thor vs Ulik
Hulk vs Thor
Hulk vs Hercules
Hulk vs Sub-Mariner

Hulk vs Thing


  Authors:


   John "The Mego Stretch Hulk" Cimino
John Cimino is a Silver and Bronze Age comic, cartoon and memorabilia expert that runs a business called "Saturday Morning Collectibles." He buys, sells, appraises and gives seminars on everything pop culture, so if you got something special, let him know about it. He contributes articles to ALTER EGO, RETROFAN, BACK ISSUE and THE JACK KIRBY COLLECTOR from TwoMorrows Publishing, runs the Roy Thomas Appreciation Board on Facebook and has appeared on the AMC reality show Comic Book Men. He also represents some of comicdoms biggest stars and brings them to a Comic Con near you. John likes to think he's the real Captain Marvel, people just don't have the heart to tell him he's just an obsessed fanboy that loves to play superheroes with his daughter Bryn. Contact him at johnstretch@live.com or follow him on Instagram at megostretchhulk.



 James Eatock
James Eatock (www.jameseatock.com) has worked officially on the He-Man brand since late 2001 when he was hired to provide the writers of the 2002 cartoon relaunch with a series guide to the original show. Since then he has written a published Encyclopedia comic about He-Man (in the style of the old Marvel Universe Handbooks), produced and performed commentaries on many He-Man DVDs, and has contributed both credited and uncredited to many articles about the most powerful man in the universe. He has also worked officially on the Ghostbusters brand and wrote a story for IDW. Since 2007 he has self-published cereal:geek magazine (www.cerealgeek.com), a glossy 100 page publication dedicated to the cartoons of the 1980s, and during that time published the Unofficial Cartoon Guide to He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. Currently he creates and produces content for Dreamworks' He-Man YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/heman), as well as working on Dark Horse's Masters of the Universe books; He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: A Complete Guide to the Classic Animated Adventures (2016) and the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: A Character Guide and World Compendium (2017). 


95 comments:

  1. FINALLY!!! I've been waiting for another versus thread and you did not disappoint!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a great New Years day surprise and with the great James Eatock no less. The kid in me wants He-Man to win but I have to go with Superman on this one and it was explained perfectly.

    Thunbs up!

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  3. Considering Superman is weak to Magic and He mans strength comes from magic it would be an interesting fight

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    1. Superman and Captain Marvel (magic based powers) are well matched in a fight. I don't think He-Man would last very long against Supes although his magical sword would give him a chance.

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  4. I would be interested in hearing why others think He-Man would win.
    He mans a big boy, he out weighs Supes by 60lbs.
    But the fact that he carries a shield doesn't inspire confidence.
    I would think that anyone with enough power to handle Supes wouldn't need a shield.

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    1. I'm all for He-Man in this. He figures out Superman's technique, sets him into position and "SLICE"! Power Sword takes the Last Son of Krypton's head off. Done.

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  5. Back in the day I would say Superman has this fight all day long. i don`t know about now,but for over a decade HE-MAN toy sales were better than Superman sales.
    I have the utmost respect for the Masters of the Universe franchise.
    Hard to believe the franchise is over 30 years old now and prime for a new movie reboot!

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    1. I totally agree with this. I just hope they go in a serious direction with the He-Man movie and get a legitimate actor to play him. The Masters of the Universe can work because there are so many levels you can take it. I can only hope and time will tell.

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    2. He-man by himself is most likely going to have a hard time with Superman's speed...but with the powers of Shazam, Superman will definitely lose due to the Superior fighting ability of He-Man in combination with the magical powers of Shazam those two powerhouses combined equals an inevitable loss for Superman.
      Without the powers of Shazam, He-man now has to rely on the sword of power finding its mark.

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  6. I absolutely hated that Superman beat He-Man in DC Comics presents 47. Honestly, it killed me.

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    1. It's funny you should say that because my loyalty was always to He-Man as a kid. When Superman humbled He-Man, he humbled my childhood as well...damn you Paul Krupperberg for taking away my innocence!!

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  7. Everybody always gets the first appearance and origin of He-man and Prince Adam wrong in fact At first he-man and Adam were two completely different entities. The first appearance of He-Man was the figure, which came with a mini-comic (I want to say "He-Man and the Power Sword", published 1981) that you were not going to find Adam in.

    The first appearance of Adam was a comic that came out later.

    It might have been a minicomic, but a pretty big part of me wants to say it was DC Comics Presents # 47, "FROM ETERNIA WITH DEATH!". DC Comics Presents was a Superman Team-Up book, so obviously Superman and He-Man fight and then team up against Skeletor. In Dc presents 47 Prince Adam as super strong party animal.

    This issue was published in July 1982, and the next comic I found that had Adam but not Superman was dated November 1982. It's my understanding that the DC MOTU miniseries was the origin of Prince Adam, and that he was seen before that was published back in the Superman Team-Up book.

    It's actually pretty interesting to me that He-Man originally existed entirely without Adam. He was a noble and fearsome Barbarian from the Jungle who went on a Quest to protect Castle Grayskull and was aided by the Goddess who gave him his harness and manacles. Then suddenly Adam shows up and that He-Man is basically retconned out of existence. Bit of a shame really, I liked him

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    1. "He-Man originally existed entirely without Adam. He was a noble and fearsome Barbarian from the Jungle who went on a Quest to protect Castle Grayskull"

      uh he did not know of the castle when he wondered away from his tribe. and he only defeated one beast and was given the harness and such. he didn't have nobility or even personality.

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    2. He tore the huge savage beast in half with his bare hands that's a bit more impressive than just defeating it.

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    3. fair enough, and u totally sidestepped actual merits of "he-man knows grayskull" and "is on noble quest to protect it"

      check ur facts

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    4. Read the original comic the story appears in and explain why the sorceress would give a harness and arm bands to wandering aimless as you put it savage. he-man was well aware of Grayskull and the sorceress well aware of him.

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  8. I thoroughly enjoyed this! Congrats on an excellent article!

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  9. Very nicely written and I agree, Superman would crush He-Man. No questions asked.

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  10. I would say Superman does have the edge, like you said, but the fact that He-Man is magic makes me think he can defeat Superman. And the more I think about it the more better his He-Man's chances get.

    Yes, overall majority Superman takes it but He-Man can win a few as well.

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  11. IMO it depends on the location of the fight. If there is no yellow sun or if magic is involved then He-Man stomps badly, if Supes is at full strength in a power v power battle he wins. I dont think He-Man has any feats that put him above the son of Krypton in regards to speed and that could be key.

    (Skeletor has beaten him i believe and im sure it was something to do with magic)

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  12. Yeah, I'll admit Superman beats He-Man any day of the week, but who has the better physique and tan?

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  13. I believe the Blog authors need to revisit what they say, as there are alternate explanations to the battles such as the one in DC COMICS PRESENTS #47, and review their conclusions.

    For instance, Skeletor doesn’t just use a Power Sword to control Superman, he provides Superman with the 'Power of Grayskull' so that he could fight He-Man on even terms. The power being transferred in the same manner as He-Man's Power Sword provides power to Cringer to become Battle Cat and She-Ra's Power Sword provides power to Spirit to become Swiftwind. The crossover comic even recognises this by stating in one of the captions shown above “..and next thing he knows, Superman has fallen prey to a power beyond any he has ever encountered”. Or to put it another way the Power of Grayskull which Skeletor and He-Man are holding is greater than the power of being a Kryptonian, which Superman holds. This is supported by Skeletor’s Power Sword being able to control and overpower Superman so easily. The fight is not just Superman vs He-Man, but Skeletor w/Power Sword & Superman w/Power of Grayskull vs He-Man w/o Power Sword. It’s consequently not a one-on-one fight and Superman is above his normal power and strength levels so this encounter, should not be considered a "definitive" victory and the result should be “NONE”.

    Similarly, for the battle between the cloned Superman and He-Man in DC UNIVERSE VS. MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE #2 there needs to be a consideration that the cloned Superman might actually be more powerful and stronger than normal Superman as the magic clone not only demonstrates Superman-like powers but is magical in construction so should have a greater resistance to magic enhanced warriors, such as He-Man.

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    1. Clone Superman? Ah... in the recent DC Universe Vs. Masters of the Universe. Superman in it is "NOT" a clone. That is the DC52 Universe version of him. As well as all the other characters from the DC Universe. So before making a statement like how Blog Authors need to revisit what they say? You need to take your own advice! And all that was said by James Eatock is correct! He is one of the most authoritative when it comes to the history of Masters of the Universe!

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    2. @Chris Sunday: The Superman that He-Man vanquishes in DC Universe vs Masters of the Universe #2 is a clone created and controlled by Skeletor. You should get your facts straight before popping off at the mouth.

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    3. No, it was created by Dark Orko, cause Skeletor didn't have that kind of power at the moment. And it was identical to the original, with all strengths and weaknesses. Also, magic resistance or not, he is not surviving a Powersword through the chest. No one can, not even Doomsday!

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    4. For DC Comics Presents #47....im what

      “..and next thing he knows, Superman has fallen prey to a power beyond any he has ever encountered”. Or to put it another way the Power of Grayskull which Skeletor and He-Man are holding is greater than the power Of a Kryptonian.

      > This is entirely your speculation and is headcanon.

      “Fallen prey to a power beyond anything he has ever encountered...” is generally another way of saying he was brainwashed. Do you know why?

      Because you are neglecting the fact that the next panel literally says that “his will is no longer is own”:

      http://2.bp.blogspot.com/PrbkjDZtOTLAKb_R4QZKM8KZbN8aCsMw7cPrpEMEEE3SGLigCwj7YXWEFxf4DkXPWeGlngrcOKfz=s1600


      In NO WAY is it ever even remotely implied in the narrative that Pre-Crisis Superman was amped:

      http://2.bp.blogspot.com/eF0kkPIgpJp6E8jbt2X3Q44M_Pj6UPFhM4R1NNpftrgx-DCb848vd5r_5DIWOLx7wbSfph7ejGUb=s1600

      In fact Superman practically wipes the floor with him: http://readcomiconline.to/Comic/DC-Comics-Presents/Issue-47?id=55548

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  14. Superman, has little resistance to magic, but he-man, can get his clock cleaned, easier than superman can! I say superman wins!

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    1. I doubt that seeing as how He-Man beat the devil himself with brute force. Also Ruin a human wrecked supes effectively. Supes can be laid low by exotic rocks He-man has no such weakness His sisster slashed his throat and bled him out and he got better, king hiss ate him alive and he fought his way out with out the power sword but by sheer force of will defeating hiss( could you imagine what He-Man could do with a Green Lantern power ring!). Supes is easily mind controlled on several occasions.

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    2. His sister(in Adora form) slashed his throat by a blade that was specially made to kill king Grayskull(He-mans ancestor). He did not get better himself though. She-Ra healed him with her power, if not he would have died. That being said, unless Supes has that kind of weapon he ends up dead 10/10 times in a battle against He-man. Also, if in dire situation the master of Eternity aka He-man can stop time in the entire universe and transform into his ultimate form, which is countless times more powerful than his He-Man self. Green lantern power ring to him would be like adding a pistol to an arsenal of nuclear rockets.

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  15. It's similar to Captain Marvel defeating him.

    Whenever magic is involved, The Big S has troubles.

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  16. he man and PC Superman are roughly equal in strenght, but I think that unless writers really play out Supes "magical weakness", he has just too many powers he can use against he-man, its just like him taking on Hercules!

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    1. that may have been the rough depiction in the issue, but he-man has never had a strength feat anywhere near superman. PIS, i say. PIS.

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    2. LMAO! You guys need to read up on the new MOTU comics, cause you'll be surprised by the amount of power He-man has. Superman loses 10/10 fights. To Masters of the Universe having lifting strength is an insignificant feat. And lets face it that is all Supes has. Most stupid thing i ever read, him benching weight of the Earth 5 days straight on a god damn machine(must be a very tough machine, to be able to take so much force). LOL

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  17. Superman should have no problem with He-Man because how is He-Man even going to reach him? Hover and shot. Rinse and repeat.

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  18. This was a superbly written article! I can't remember when I had this much fun reading about fiction. You guys literally took me back to my youth.

    Thanks!

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    1. I agree with this. Thanks for a great read.

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    2. Thanks guys, we always do our best to give you the best in comic action!

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  19. Outstanding! I'm a fan of this blog now. Can't wait to get into past threads and looking forward to your future articles. Oh ---- I'm rooting for He-Man!

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  20. Please please do a Hulk vs Iron Man. Especially with the Secret wars reboot, there is no more main continuity fights to cover

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  21. Saw the link on the Mego boards. Whoever wrote this got my attention.

    Superman and He-Man are without a doubt two of the most popular fictional superheroes to ever grace a comic book or cartoon. Both are legendary heroes that command the utmost respect from their peers and the greatest disdain from their enemies. They walk with the same moral principles on two different worlds and both can make the claim to being the most powerful man in their universe. But did you ever wonder which one is more powerful? For the first time ever, the Hero Envy crew joins forces with resident He-Man expert James "Busta-Toons" Eatock and come up with an answer on who would win in a match up between Superman and He-Man! Will you agree? Read the article and find out because -- there can only be one Master of the Universe!


    Nice!!

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    1. Thanks!

      I wrote it because I wanted to give the article as well as my co-author James Eatock the credit they deserve. Mr. Eatock is the He-Man expert as well as a stand up guy in helping me with this write-up.

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  22. I think the question is how many punches can He-Man take before he goes down because we all know he's going down magical sword or not. Yes, he_man is strong, possibly the better fighter but that's it! He man cannot take what Superman has to give for long. That is unless a writer is going to be biased about it.

    Superman=KO in round 1

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    1. Nope he-man out powered satan, satan would cream supes with ease.

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    2. New52 Superman cannot defeat new He-man, that is a fact. Too powerful for Supes. Read the new MOTU comics you'll see. He-man is the master of Eternity, and by sheer will he can stop time, if in dire situation. He also got a new ultimate form which is countless times more powerful than his He-man form which already defeated an exact copy of Superman. 10-10 Supes losses.

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    3. New He-Man only had the Master of Eternity power up for a short time.


      Plus a fake New 52 Superman was whopping He-Man's ass most of that fight.

      Nice try anon.

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  23. I hate when "fanboys" sell he man up short because he's going up against GOD Superman. He-man is gonna take this fight because they are EQUAL IN STRENGTH but he is a much better fighter and the power sword will be the difference. Whoever says Superdud takes this one easy doesnt know he man!!!!!

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  24. This was a fun read.

    Good job guys.

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  25. Very interesting read. I like the Superman and He-Man match-up and the history between them. I thought you guys explained it well and I commend you on the thoroughness of it.

    I am a big Superman fan and to be honest, not many characters are able to go toe to toe with him, especially during his PC days. He-Man did that so he is no slouch and a true heavyweight. Another thing I commend you for is that you mentioned they were both the most powerful men in their universe and that was a good call. But there is only one most powerful man in the universe and that is Kal.

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    1. Really a human Calling himself Ruin creamed supes.

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    2. Except they made a mistake. New52 Supes and new He-man share the same universe. In one of the issues of He-man - Eternity wars, Tella shows He-man the future of what happens if Hordak is not defeated. It shows all planets in the universe destroyed by Fright Zone, and it includes the new52 Earth. Also He-man is now much much more powerful than Supes.

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  26. Great job as always John. You are the definitive resource when it comes to superhero history and brawls. Looking forward to more. Keep up the good work.

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  27. If He-man's power comes from down in the Abyss in front of Castle Grayskull, his strength comes from the Center of the Universe, where the Big Bang started and created the entire Universe. It was established in the Filmation cartoon that Eternia is at the center of the universe. He-man in the Filmation canon has the strength and power of the very energy that created all of the universe, whereas Superman only has the power of one yellow sun. He-man has all the power of every sun, star, galaxy, planet, moon in the entire universe.

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  28. Anyone who doesn't think Superman will beat He-Man is just a fanboy. Come on people,the facts are facts! Similar strength, yes, but that's it! Superman takes this fight 10 out of 10 times.

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    1. Fan yes, fanboy no. Saying Supes wins 10/10 times is just ignorance. If you bothered reading the new MOTU comics you would know that it is the other way around. I read most of new 52 Superman and all of the new DC MOTU, and sorry to tell you, but at the moment new 52 Superman has no chance against new He-man. This is He-man warrior form easily defeating exact copy of Superman, He-mans "Master of Eternity" form would treat Superman as humans treat a mere fly, a small annoyance. 10/10 fights Superman losses.

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  29. Top notch job from top to bottom as always John. Your work is outstanding and always a treat. Keep up the good work.

    Eric

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  30. He-Man will definitely have major problems with Superman's flight, speed and ranged attacks. The only thing He-Man has is strength, but he's NOT as strong as Superman so what does it even matter? I cannot see any possible outcome without Superman standing triumphant at the end. Simply put: He-Man cannot beat Superman.

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    1. Simply put: you have no idea what He-man does or how powerful he is!

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    2. Regardless. He is not as powerful as Superman despite is power levels. Read the blog again! Even the "big time" He-Man expert agrees so you lose all credibility.

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    3. @AnonymousJanuary 7, 2016. Have a look at how the Blog is written. It uses "I" not "we" for example. It suggests only one author wrote the opinions in the Blog and fully reviewed the Blog. The opinions expressed are probably those of John Cimino and not the He-Man expert. The Blog appears to be misleading and seems to be misrepresenting both the He-Man expert and He-Man.

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    4. I understand you are a He-Man fan but your bias is laughable.

      Sure, this is written in first person, it's John Cimino's blog. BUT it was written with James Eatock and they both had their say in the final product. You don't think all the He-Man info was Eatock's??? You don't think he had his say on what would happen in the fight between the two?? He was the co-author!!! He's the He-Man expert!! It's even stated in the article. So regardless what you think, you are out voted and the leader of your He-Man community agrees with the result that Superman gets the edge over He-Man!!! You have no argument here! You can try, but it's pointless.

      SIMPLY PUT: Superman has 3 votes (me, John and James) while He-Man has 1 vote (you)

      You lose all credibility when your leader/general/spokesperson doesn't believe in the character he represents. Don't blame me, I didn't write the article, I just agree with it.

      I know you'll respond again but I'm through with this and nothing you can say will change the fact that Eatock gives Superman the edge along with the majority. It's a democracy when it comes to this fictional fights you know, so the majority wins. Superman wins. So I commend James Eatock on his honest opinion and voicing and unbiased look at this fight.

      You. You're left out in the cold.

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    5. Just to add my two-cents in this argument but I find it funny that the anonymous He-Man fan is trying to sidestep the fact that James was ransacked by a ton of negative comments on these boards (that have been deleted) to point of being called a "Judas". James even mentions it on his blog and FB wall. There was a firestorm of hatred against him for putting out this article with John Cimino.

      I ask, if James had no say in the final results (as the anonymous fan states), why did it have such a negative response on him? And why did he cringe at all the backlash??

      It's so easy to see.

      The problem is that He-Man fans feel betrayed by James, but credit to him, he was just being honest and for that he gets my respect. And I'm another believer in the result so the votes go to Superman 4 (me, anonymous, John, James) and He-Man 1 (anonymous He-Man fan).

      By the way, my name is Greg, a regular reader of Cimino's blog.

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    6. People need to liten up and realize all this stuff is just fiction comics and toys and made up and really not worthty of vitrol.

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  31. This blog has been getting a lot of praise so I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. I wasn't disappointed. Great job on an entertaining read.

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  32. Anyone but me ever notice that He-man is actually a rip off of an 60's hanna barbera carton? Young Samson and Goliath. Both use a magic item to transorm into legendary strong men, both transform there pets into fearsome battle beasts, cringer becomes battle cat and samsons dog becomes a huge lion named goliath that shoots lasers from it's eyes and has claws that cut through anything. Young Samson and he-man Both even have the same goofy hair cut.

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  33. I do find it interesting that James "the He-Man voice of the community" would give the edge to Superman?????? I mean honestly, who wouldn't question that?? Big black eye to the He-Man community if you ask me.

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  34. Damn good write up!

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  35. He-Man has to use the Power Sword to beat Superman and if he loses it I still think he has the power to beat Superman.

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  36. Excellent and informative post. Good job guys.

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  37. Every time I see this I can't help but be sad due to the betrayal of James Eatock. He-Man beats Superman and James should have backed him up!!! Us true He-Man fans will never forgive him.

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  38. As much as He-Man has to offer when it comes to pure raw strength, he still doesn't have what it takes to take down the superhero kingpin, Superman. Anyone who thinks that is totally trolling.

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  39. John, you have one of the best super hero blogs out there. It's always an entertaining read. I especially like these write-ups on character encounters. This one, as well as the others, never disappoint.

    In this fight, Superman definatley takes the edge over He-Man. And you mention it in a nice way by being unbiased when describing how the encounter will play out. Good stuff.

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  40. More Superman propaganda by fanboys, nice.

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  41. Every time I see this I can't help but think of the betrayal of James Eatock aka the Judas. I will never buy any of his books on He-Man again.

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  42. Many of these comments are cringeworthy.

    > Literally someone arguing that To Masters Of the Universe “lifting strength feats are insignificant”. Which is a ridiculous and arbitrary assertion based on a narrative that exists in one comic and doesn’t exist in another. If Superman’s lifting strength feats > He-Man’s striving strength feats, then Superman has the superior feats. Get over it.

    Never mind that

    A) people don’t know how and when lifting strength and striking strength go hand in hand and when they don’t.

    And

    B) That Superman can hurt people who hurt him in durability, ergo his striking strength feat must be at the very least roughly up to par (People don’t know things like Newton’s Third Law and Attack Potency)

    > Someone Arguing that PC Supes was “amped” or protected by magic in order to fight on He-Man’s level, showing poor reading comprehension in the process (like neglecting the rest of the comic scan)
    > Same arguement for New 52 Superman for little reason.
    > Arrogant elitists who have no clue as to what they are talking about erk me the most.
    > He-Man fanboys salt and venom against the author’s who genuinely put their time into this.

    Disgusting. But what do I know, I’m just a guy who’s commenting on an old post.

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    1. Don't feel bad that you missed the firestorm. I'm always appreciative of posts and glad you enjoyed the blog and debate (in any year).

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    2. I enjoyed your blog and debate. The comments though....ew. Kinda wish there was better feedback and less contextomy.

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    3. You're telling me. James was called a "Judas" and even got death threats from crazed He-man fanboys for his supposed betrayal of agreeing that Superman would defeat He-man. It was ridiculous. I had to delete about 50 comments of hate mail. Ahhh, such is the life of comic fans.

      Thanks for the words.

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    4. Why did sups beat human because DC brought out Mattel so thats why super best heman...an Mattel would of did the same for heman if they had brought DC comics

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  43. Human is the better it just DC comics hate to see human best shows be cause of DC had brought master of the universe ...so they wanted there champion to win no matter what the story... He man stab super with his sword. But it was a robot come on dc
    Really.... An master of the universe would of did the same thing if DC would
    Of came to them

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  44. It so lame the sups best human DC comics wanted they boy superman to win even as a Android...

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  45. This is a easy win for HeMan every time. if both fighters are close even or even remotely close in physical ability the guy with a sword will win every time. A trained swords man will always win vs some one with just fist it's not a fair fight. remove the names,Think of a great UFC fighter in a cage vs a world class sword fighter who wins ever time? The sword fighter dose. we all know HeMan sword can kill superman. So very easy win for HeMan.

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  46. Superman vs He-Man round 3 in INJUSTICE VS. MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE!!! Can He-Man finally take the title from Supes? Let's go HE_MAN!!!!

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  47. After He-man lands that haymaker, look how Superman is struggling to get up. He's in the exact same position He-Man was when Supes landed his haymaker back in DC Presents 47.

    I think He-Man had the advantage in Injustice vs MOTU #4. WOW. He looked like a beast.

    Who cares that Supes grabbed Prince Adam at the end because that was only situational. During the actual fight between the two He-Man had the advantage.

    Hey, He-Man had this one coming as he lost the first one to Supes. I like that he got the better of Superman, they are both equals so why not?

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  48. I'm sorry, but He-Man won that encounter with Superman in InJustice vs MOTU #3-5!

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    1. Yes and no, but ultimately no.

      I'll give their physical encounter to He-Man, as he had Superman on the ropes. But once the Power of Grayskull faded and He-Man transformed back into Prince Adam, Superman took advantage and had Adam at his mercy.

      You have to remember, even though Superman was hurt after He-Man's haymaker, he was still conscious and still struggling to get up so the fight wasn't completely over yet. Sure, one more blow by He-Man would've ended it, but that blow never happened. Superman managed to get the advantage at the end of the fight but didn't necessarily defeat He-Man either as Zantanna stopped it. But there is no argument that Superman was on the verge of killing Adam before the fight ended.

      I believe that He-Man had the edge in the brawl, but the fight didn't end there. Until the fight is completely over can I give it a final result. Either way, I think He-Man came out looking better than Superman in this fight overall despite the circumstances. So He-Man fans should rejoice!

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    2. Yes, you are right John. Tim Seeley has written an incredible tale. It's fun and that's how it should be.

      Mark

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    3. I will rejoice now!!!

      He-Man tied up the rivalry and killed Superman!!!

      By the Power of Grayskull!!!!! WHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

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  49. He-Man got the better of Superman in their toe-to-toe slugfest in INJUSTICE vs. MOTU #4. But in issue #6 is where things really started to change.

    Both combatants were powered up BIG TIME so the playing field was pretty much even. I would even give the edge to Superman because He-Man had the Orb of Power and power of Shazam while Superman had the Orb of Power, Spirit of Grayskull, Anti-Life Equation AND Superman's natural superhuman power.

    Hate to say it, but He-Man looked so much better overall in this series and kicked ass.

    HE KILLED SUPERMAN!!!

    It erases all the bad dreams and memories I had as a kid after I read DC Comic Presents #47 back in the day.

    Thank you Tim Seeley!!!!

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  50. Good stuff, but this really is a mismatch. If you took each hero based on his peak performance, maybe He-man could win at arm wrestling, but Superman has too much going for him. Simply put, He-man is not a speedster, doesn't fly, etc.

    He-man vs. Hulk might be a more interesting battle, but I think the "Green Giant" (as my friend's Taiwanese mom called him when Ang Lee's movie came out) would win that one, too.

    BTW, I wish they made a Teela vs. Wonder Woman toy set. Granted, that would be the most lopsided of the DC vs. Masters line, but it still should've been made. That's two highly prominent characters missing.

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  51. This is one of those times where my preferences clash with the majority of the material. Early mini-comic He-Man was tremendously strong, but he wasn't Superman strong like he'd become in the Filmation show. He was, I would say, maybe twice as strong as Iron Man. Maybe. That might be pushing it. That's my favorite version of He-Man though, and most of what the writer here had to say doesn't even really apply to him. Sure he protects Castle Grayskull from Skeletor's diabolical clutches, he's friends with Ram-Man and Man-at-Arms and Teela, but there's no Prince Adam to be seen and rather than being the jovial, wise old soul he seemed in Filmation, he was a very noble-savage kind of figure, with a certain amount of arrogant trash talking to go along with his strength and his great love for Eternia. If that He-Man were to fight a more worthy match for him, like say, Golden Age Superman, that might be a more interesting team-up for me - though of course I still think Superman would be stronger.

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  52. Great comparison but i think super man can beat he man.
    https://swordskingdom.com/he-man-swords

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  53. Sorry but your scoring was completely borked. You concluded it was a tie 1-1, but it wasn't, you even showed He-man killing a clone of Superman with all the exact same powers/memories/everything. It doesn't matter that it wasn't superman if it functionally was. 1-2 He-Man.

    Also in that other fight, since when does He-Man suddenly revert to prince adam against his will while he still has the power sword? He doesn't. In fact, in the TV episode "Quest for the sword", He-Man lost his power sword and his friends were worried that he would NEVER be able to revert to prince adam again, and would be stuck as He-Man forever.

    So that draw is actually a win, since he was winning before he was force reveted.

    He-Man pretty much won all but the ancient comic when superman could sneeze-destroy galaxies, which is retarded.

    Also He-Man is stronger than Superman, he can call upon as much of the power of Grayskull as needed for the task at hand. He-man can power up more and more, but rarely needs to. He essentially borrows an amount of power from an unlimited well of magic.

    Then there is Master of Eternity He-Man...

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