Modulok action figure from the Masters of the Universe Classics line.

Figure Sculpt

Bio

An evil scientist from the Tri-Solar system, Galen Nycroff was incarcerated in Prison Starr for scientific crimes against the galaxy. While awaiting execution, he constructed a device which allowed him to divide his body into pieces, with each part endowed with his own evil consciousness. Slipping out of prison in a series of crates, he was delivered to Horde World where he reassembled himself finding he could now mix and match his parts in a thousand different ways. His skills were observed by Horde leaders and Nycroff became chief technician for Commander Kur, traveling with him to Eternia on their quest to vanquish He-Ro. Nycroff was banished along with the rest of the in invading Horde army to Despondos, serving his leader with his evil inventions.

Modulok’s MOTU Classics Canon

Like the character’s physiology itself, the Classics remixed and combined bits and pieces from earlier canons, adding new details along the way. Galen Nycoff was a scientist from the Tri-Solar System. He was detained on the Prison Starr, where he awaited execution. He built a device that allowed him to separate his body into many pieces which remained linked to his will. He escaped in a series of crates that were delivered to Horde World. Impressed by his abilities, Hordak recruited him as a technician. Modulok participated in the First Ultimate Battleground before being banished to Despondos with the rest of the Horde. When the Horde escaped from Despondos thousands of years later, Modulok served as their scientist. After sustaining an injury in battle, he built Multi-Bot as a reinforcement and discovered he could combine himself with this new creation to form the Ultrabeast. Much later, Modulok returned as part of the Ultrabeast, serving the Unnamed One and participating in the Third Ultimate Battleground. After the destruction of Castle Grayskull, Modulok recovered the trapped spirit of Horde Prime but did not appear to give it to the Unnamed One.

The Masters of the Universe Classics line, launched in 2008, is a new line of action figures based on the classic characters from all aspects of the Masters of the Universe franchise. Available solely from Mattel’s website and aimed purely at collectors, the line also includes biographical descriptions of the characters designed to tie the diverging aspects of the mythos together.

Based on the look of the original 1980s MOTU toys, this new toy line was aimed primarily at the adult toy collector market, often available only through subscriptions (from MattyCollector). Sculpted by the Four Horsemen, these toys were updated versions of previous figures as well as characters that never before had an action figure made of them; such as Filmation’s Queen Marlena, Fang-Man, Lizard-Man, Count Marzo, Granamyr, and many others. The toy line featured many redesigned and updated action figures from the original action-figure line from the 1980s, but it also included characters from She-Ra: Princess of Power (Adora, Madame Razz, Scorpia, Shadow Weaver, and others), The New Adventures of He-Man (Mara, Crita, and more), and the Mike Young Productions series from 2002 (Faceless One, Chief Carnivus, King Chooblah, Ceratus, and others). As the line progressed, characters from all versions of MOTU lore were included, from such things such as prototypes and concept art (He-Ro, Eldor, Demo-Man, Gygor, Vykor, and others), box art from vehicles and model kits (Sky High and the Fighting Foe Men), mini comics (the Goddess, Geldor, and Procrustus), and other books, comics, and media (Despara, Strobo, Goat-Man, and more). There were also newly created figures, exclusive to the Classics toy line, such as Draego-Man, Cy-Chop, Castle Grayskullman, and others. In February 2010, the figures of He-Man and Skeletor were available as Toys “R” Us exclusives packed in two-packs with Superman and Lex Luthor, respectively, from Mattel’s DC Universe Classics action figure line; with this dual line expanded to include two-packs featuring Aquaman/Mer-Man, Hawkman/Stratos, Bizarro/Faker, Supergirl/She-Ra, and Green Lantern/Zodac.

Masters of the Universe Classics surpassed the original 1980s toy line in terms of length, running continuously for seven years with more than 150 different figures produced since its launch in August 2008. Along with the Classics series, MOTU Minis and Giants figures were also released in 2014 and 2015. In 2016, Mattel ended production on the MOTU Classics and MattyCollector.com’s Club Grayskull series, with the production company Super7 now taking over the Masters of the Universe license.