The painting above is from the first Masters of the Universe minicomic, He-man and the Power Sword, published in 1981. These small comics were included with action figures. The art in this one, as well as several of the other minicomics, was done by Alfredo Alcala, a prolific comic illustrator in the ’80s and ’90s. I love his work, especially his use of color and his compositional balance.

One of the first books I can remember reading and rereading was The Vengeance of Skeletor, the fourth Masters of the Universe minicomic (also published in 1981). The story and the artwork seemed so otherworldly and mysterious to me. It created a strong emotional reaction that lodged somewhere deep in my subconscious. I find Alcala’s art still strongly resonates with me.

Below are a few illustrations from The Vengeance of Skeletor.