# He-Man makes no sense. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 16, 2011, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-man-makes-no-sense/571561 "2011-02-16T08:11:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TravisFromOR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cc9497/32.png) [@TravisFromOR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TravisFromOR)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-man-makes-no-sense/571561/1 "2011-02-16T08:11:12Z")
In the intro “song”, he explains the origin of his powers: > [@](#): > > Fabulous, secret powers were revealed to me the day I held aloft my magic sword and said: “By the Power of Greyskull!” What compelled him to do this? Was he just holding up his sword and saying random things, and happened to stumble upon the proper wording? ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-man-makes-no-sense/571561/2 "2011-02-16T08:18:47Z")
Of all the things about He-Man you could have found to be absurd, this is it? Not the talking cat, the living skeleton or the invisible sorcerer with the big “O” on his shirt? Not the guy with three rotating faces? How about the guys with the metal hands? ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-man-makes-no-sense/571561/3 "2011-02-16T08:22:18Z")
The Sorceress gave him the sword and told him how to use it. Or there is no Prince Adam and the Sword of Greyskull is just your average magic sword. (These are both canon, depending on which continuity you’re including - the three cartoon series and recent toy line use the first, the original mini comics and the movie use (or imply) the second.) ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-man-makes-no-sense/571561/4 "2011-02-16T08:26:49Z")
> [@Tengu](#): > > The Sorceress gave him the sword and told him how to use it. In a farcical aquatic ceremony? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-man-makes-no-sense/571561/5 "2011-02-16T08:40:56Z")
> [@TravisFromOR](#): > > What compelled him to do this? Under the circumstances, I think the more pertinent question is why everyone else didn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-man-makes-no-sense/571561/6 "2011-02-16T09:00:24Z")
I’m sorry, but the fact that prince Adam and He-Man are the exact same person just with different clothes but everybody seems to believe them to be two isn’t the biggest problem here? How is that possible?!! ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-man-makes-no-sense/571561/7 "2011-02-16T09:14:32Z")
I look forward to your concise analysis of the absurdities in _Transformers_ and _Thundercats_. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-man-makes-no-sense/571561/8 "2011-02-16T09:17:37Z")
> [@Sr\_Siete](#): > > I’m sorry, but the fact that prince Adam and He-Man are the exact same person just with different clothes but everybody seems to believe them to be two isn’t the biggest problem here? How is that possible?!! Why does he even need a secret identity, anyway? Both personas have exactly the same sets of friends and enemies. How does pretending to be two different people help him out at all? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 9:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-man-makes-no-sense/571561/9 "2011-02-16T09:29:22Z")
He was just going through that “Holding your magic sword aloft and shouting” phase that most young men of a certain age do. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-man-makes-no-sense/571561/10 "2011-02-16T09:45:05Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Why does he even need a secret identity, anyway? Both personas have exactly the same sets of friends and enemies. How does pretending to be two different people help him out at all? It’s actually quite a good idea. As is, if Skeletor gets it into his head to kidnap a member of the royal family, Adam is the obvious target, as he can use him as a hostage to manipulate Randor and Marlena - a solid plan, if what he thought to be the case were true. As it actually is, all that would accomplish would be to bring He-Man into Snake Mountain. Were he to know that He-Man was Adam, Randor and Marlena would be the obvious targets, in order to manipulate He-Man - an even better plan, for Skeletor, as he could make He-Man hand over the Sword of Greyskull, and thus, at bare minimum, eliminate the defender of Eternia, if not gain access to the powers of Greyskull himself (his ultimate goal). Of course, either plan could fall apart if the non-kidnapped Royals decided not to play ball with him, but they are both solid plans as such things go. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-man-makes-no-sense/571561/11 "2011-02-16T09:48:36Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > I look forward to your concise analysis of the absurdities in _Transformers_ and _Thundercats_. You crack on Cheetara at your own risk. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-man-makes-no-sense/571561/12 "2011-02-16T09:54:53Z")
When I opened this thread, I thought it would begin with: “What the hell kind of name is “he-man” anyway? Should I call myself “I-me?” Is my sister “she-girl?”” ---
**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-man-makes-no-sense/571561/13 "2011-02-16T09:57:12Z")
Also, what are the secrets of castle Greyskull that Skeletor is interested in anyway? Why does the good guys’ castle look like a skull? How do we know who is good or evil anyway, is it just because skeletor looks evil? He is far more jolly than the other guys with that laugh. How do we know the king is a benevolent ruler and not an evil tyrant, who keeps in power just because of the secret powers of castle greyskull. As well as the well-meaning but not too bright prince Adam, who doesn’t fully understand what’s going on, and who believes everybody when they claim that they don’t know about his “secret identity” even though it’s very obviously just the same guy looking even more gay. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-man-makes-no-sense/571561/14 "2011-02-16T09:58:35Z")
Didn’t Skelethor live inside greyskull? ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-man-makes-no-sense/571561/15 "2011-02-16T10:05:42Z")
No, Skeletor’s lair is Snake Mountain. Castle Grayskull houses the Sorceress. [Edit - Criminy, you’d think I was a major MOTU nerd. I mean, I liked them and all - and had a LOT (preferred the Princess of Power line, though) - but, sheesh.] ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-man-makes-no-sense/571561/16 "2011-02-16T10:12:06Z")
It’s all a sham. Adam actually takes large amounts of hallucinogenics and thinks he’s some sort of leather-daddy superhero. I mean just look at the [opening theme](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yeA7a0uS3A)! Skeletor is actually his dealer which is why he has a skull face. Every time his friends see him out in the yard swinging the sword around they just roll their eyes and say “he-man” is tripping balls again. :rolleyes: I always wondered why they cheaped out and used the exact same mold for the He-man and Skeletor [del]dolls[/del] action figures (except for the head). :mad: ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-man-makes-no-sense/571561/17 "2011-02-16T10:16:35Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > He was just going through that “Holding your magic sword aloft and shouting” phase that most young men of a certain age do. Does that phase include hanging out with friends with names like “Ram Man” and “Man at Arms” while showing zero interest in the hot half naked red head who follows him around? Sounds more like a lifestyle choice. And as far as I can tell, Prince Adam’s “disguise” consisted mostly of taking his shirt off. ---
**Author:** ![Arkcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Arkcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arkcon)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-man-makes-no-sense/571561/18 "2011-02-16T10:20:39Z")
_SIGH_ Mattel had a bunch of Conan The Barbarian action figures lying around that they couldn’t sell, because the movie was rated R. So they cobbled together a quick and dirty story late one night. I read that on the internet, so it must be true. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-man-makes-no-sense/571561/19 "2011-02-16T10:22:08Z")
> [@Sr\_Siete](#): > > I’m sorry, but the fact that prince Adam and He-Man are the exact same person just with different clothes but everybody seems to believe them to be two isn’t the biggest problem here? How is that possible?!! Hey, if it works for Clark Kent… > [@Superhal](#): > > When I opened this thread, I thought it would begin with: > > “What the hell kind of name is “he-man” anyway? Should I call myself “I-me?” Is my sister “she-girl?”” He’s clearly very insecure about his masculinity. He insists on referencing his masculinity _twice_ in his name, goes about at all times nearly naked showing off his muscles…this is a guy with Issues. ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2011, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-man-makes-no-sense/571561/20 "2011-02-16T10:26:02Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > When I opened this thread, I thought it would begin with: > > “What the hell kind of name is “he-man” anyway? Should I call myself “I-me?” Is my sister “she-girl?”” And once you get over that, what the hell is up with ‘She-Ra’? I was a bit into ancient Egyptian mythology at the time, and got horribly confused trying to digest the apparent reference to the sun god and integrate it with the rest of the series’ ‘mythology’… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-man-makes-no-sense/571561.md?page=2)