When it comes to fantasy franchises of the 1980s, we can’t help but think of “Masters of the Universe.” This sword and sorcery fantasy franchise began in 1981 with Mattel’s release of the original line of 5.5-inch action figure toys. The characters gained wider acclaim through the 1983 television series, “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe,” which would go on to become one of the most popular animated series of the decade. The series takes place on the fantasy planet Eternia and follows the adventures of Prince Adam, who transforms into He-Man when holding the Sword of Power. He-Man’s feline companion is his pet green tiger Cringer, who can also be transformed into the mighty Battle Cat. Throughout the show’s two season run, He-Man’s primary nemesis is Skeletor, who strives to obtain the powers of Castle Grayskull and rule the universe.

The “Masters of the Universe” franchise expanded with the 1985 animated series “She-Ra: Princess of Power.” In this series, Princess Adora, the twin sister of Prince Adam/ He-Man, fights to free the planet Etheria from the Evil Lord Hordak by using the Sword of Protection to transform into her alter ego She-Ra. She-Ra and her crew were reprised for the 2018 Netflix animated series “She-Ra and the Princesses of Power.” This series ran for five seasons and gained praise for LGBT representation, with a romantic relationship forming between She-Ra and the show’s former antagonist Catra during the final season.

While “She-Ra and the Princesses of Power” concluded in 2020, fans were gifted the latest installment of the franchise, Netflix’s “Masters of the Universe: Revelation” in June 2021. This series focuses on the unresolved story lines of the original series and cast Chris Wood and Mark Hamil as leads He-Man and Skeletor. The series was created by Kevin Smith and the first five episodes are currently available for streaming.

In honor of the impressive legacy of “Masters of the Universe,” take a peek at 45 of our favorite tattoos inspired by the franchise in the gallery below. Then let us know if you’re team He-Man or team Skeletor in the comments section on social media.