At the part of the Mass when the priest holds up the host and says, “By the power of the Holy Spirit,” I hold my breath.
It is inevitable that one of my children will respond with, “By the power of Greyskull, I have the power.”
If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you’re not up to date with kid-video. Greyskull is the castle where Prince Adam lives. He transforms into the hero, He-Man (be sure to accent “he”), by raising his sword and proclaiming, “by the power of Greyskull, I have the power.”
“He-Man – Masters of the Universe,” a weekly afternoon carton show, is all the rage with the preschool crowd, as well as the after-school crowd.
I have never given the show my complete attention. All my little friends are so involved in He-Man’s adventures that, when he’s on, I find myself in the luxurious position to do something uninterrupted.
After several months of watching glimpses of the action and of hearing my children talk, I understand the show to be set on the legendary planet of Eternia. Prince Adam becomes He-Man to stop Skeletor and Evil-Lyn (the bad guys, in case you didn’t guess it) from taking over Eternia.
Interest in He-Man does not end when the half hour show does. As a matter of fact, it never seems to end. When the He-Man fans are not watching He-Man on television, they are playing He-Man. If they are not playing He-Man, they are at least dressing as He-Man.
For Christmas, 4-year-old John received He-Man’s sword, shield and cuffs. The sword fell apart, which is convenient, because it is now two swords which John and 2-year-old Mike insist on wearing stuck down the back of their shirts.
I didn’t understand this style, but after Mike kept giving me the sword and saying “He-Man” (I think those were his first words) it occurred to me that Prince Adam must wear it that way.
Mike also runs around the house with his arm extended, wearing a mitten on his hand. Someone asked me whether he was pretending to be Michael Jackson. I said I doubted it because he was growling.
The older kids tell me Mike is acting like Clawful, and evil lobster who is one Skeletor’s side.
In addition to He-Man armor, there is a whole array of 5 ½-inch figures depicting the various Masters of the Universe. The collection in our house includes two Skeletors, Battle Armor Skeletor, Clawful, Ram Man, Prince Adam and of course He-Man.
Despite their unattractive, even frightening, appearance these figures sure are popular. Apparently, Orko, the magician, is as difficult to find in the stores as a red-haired Cabbage Patch Doll.
Not only preschool boys, but also girls, are enchanted by the show. What’s behind the He-Mania? Maybe it’s the music, which even I find myself humming.
Or the success might be connected to the faraway setting with the near-to-home moral. At the end of each show, He-Man has a positive message relating the show’s story to his viewers’ lives.
Maybe the reason is simpler yet. My 4-year-old says he likes it because He-Man is a hero.
Whatever the reason, he’s a popular guy. You probably wouldn’t want to marry him, but it would be OK if he married your sister.
April 24, 1985
It is inevitable that one of my children will respond with, “By the power of Greyskull, I have the power.”
If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you’re not up to date with kid-video. Greyskull is the castle where Prince Adam lives. He transforms into the hero, He-Man (be sure to accent “he”), by raising his sword and proclaiming, “by the power of Greyskull, I have the power.”
“He-Man – Masters of the Universe,” a weekly afternoon carton show, is all the rage with the preschool crowd, as well as the after-school crowd.
I have never given the show my complete attention. All my little friends are so involved in He-Man’s adventures that, when he’s on, I find myself in the luxurious position to do something uninterrupted.
After several months of watching glimpses of the action and of hearing my children talk, I understand the show to be set on the legendary planet of Eternia. Prince Adam becomes He-Man to stop Skeletor and Evil-Lyn (the bad guys, in case you didn’t guess it) from taking over Eternia.
Interest in He-Man does not end when the half hour show does. As a matter of fact, it never seems to end. When the He-Man fans are not watching He-Man on television, they are playing He-Man. If they are not playing He-Man, they are at least dressing as He-Man.
For Christmas, 4-year-old John received He-Man’s sword, shield and cuffs. The sword fell apart, which is convenient, because it is now two swords which John and 2-year-old Mike insist on wearing stuck down the back of their shirts.
I didn’t understand this style, but after Mike kept giving me the sword and saying “He-Man” (I think those were his first words) it occurred to me that Prince Adam must wear it that way.
Mike also runs around the house with his arm extended, wearing a mitten on his hand. Someone asked me whether he was pretending to be Michael Jackson. I said I doubted it because he was growling.
The older kids tell me Mike is acting like Clawful, and evil lobster who is one Skeletor’s side.
In addition to He-Man armor, there is a whole array of 5 ½-inch figures depicting the various Masters of the Universe. The collection in our house includes two Skeletors, Battle Armor Skeletor, Clawful, Ram Man, Prince Adam and of course He-Man.
Despite their unattractive, even frightening, appearance these figures sure are popular. Apparently, Orko, the magician, is as difficult to find in the stores as a red-haired Cabbage Patch Doll.
Not only preschool boys, but also girls, are enchanted by the show. What’s behind the He-Mania? Maybe it’s the music, which even I find myself humming.
Or the success might be connected to the faraway setting with the near-to-home moral. At the end of each show, He-Man has a positive message relating the show’s story to his viewers’ lives.
Maybe the reason is simpler yet. My 4-year-old says he likes it because He-Man is a hero.
Whatever the reason, he’s a popular guy. You probably wouldn’t want to marry him, but it would be OK if he married your sister.
April 24, 1985
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