In the year 2021, a catchy pop song premiered from an eccentric artist that goes by the name of Jax. The song was titled 90s Kids and is a nostalgia trip down memory lane for anyone who grew up in the 1990s. I always had a problem with the song because everyone my age looks at the 1980s as the better decade. It was during the 1980s when pop culture really came into its own. Compared to today, the television shows of the 1980s were better, the movies were more magical, and the toys just cant be topped. Some of the best pop culture properties came out of the 80s. From the A-Team to Knight Rider, to the advent of Nintendo, to G.I. Joe and Transformers, the 1980s were a magical time indeed. It was during this time that Mattel scored a massive hit with their blockbuster Masters of the Universe toy line. Masters of the Universe started as a toy line that was supposed to be based on Conan the Barbarian. Around the time it was being created, Conan the Barbarian was set to premier in movie theaters, and Mattel wanted a proverbial Star Wars killer toy line on store shelves. Luckily for fans of the Masters of the Universe, the Conan license fell through for various reasons, one among them being that the movie was released into theaters with an R-rating. As a result, Mattel went back to the drawing board and came up with an original concept utilizing the fantasy elements of Conan but set on a fictitious fantasy world known as Eternia. Masters of the Universe would be launched by Mattel in 1982 while the Star Wars toy line was still going strong, thanks in part to the recent release of the blockbuster Star Wars sequel, The Empire Strikes Back. Mattel launched the toy line with a hefty advertising budget and made sure kids knew that Masters of the Universe action figures were 5.25 inches in size compared to Star Wars 3.75-inch action figures. An excellent animated series based on the franchise was launched in 1983 and lasted two seasons. By 1984, Mattel was competing directly with Kenners Star Wars toy line for dominance, and soon after the release of Return of the Jedi, fans would tire of the Star Wars brand (gasp!). Mattel would produce the original toy line and several spinoffs (most notably She-Ra: Princess of Power) up until the late 1980s, with the line being relaunched under the name The New Adventures of He-Man in 1990. It would last only another year and be discontinued by late 1991. In 1987, a disastrous live action movie was released in theaters based on The Masters of the Universe starring Dolph Lundgren. It bombed at the box office because fans did not relate to the story and the changes made by Hollywood that did not appear to be based on the original source material. This had a negative effect on the franchise, and enthusiasts started to tire of the line. Mattel would allow the Masters of the Universe franchise to lie dormant for almost a decade until it was relaunched again in the early 2000s. Unfortunately, the brand would fail to ignite interest in younger toy enthusiasts and collectors. There would be numerous attempts to reignite interest in the line over the next several decades, including a commemorative toy line known as the Masters of the Universe Classics. The Masters of the Universe Classics line proved to be very popular with collectors who fondly remembered owning the original toys. In 2021, longtime Masters of the Universe enthusiast Kevin Smith helped launch a new Netflix animated series. Along with the new limited animated series, Mattel released the toy line again to specific retailers. Target and Wal-Mart featured the toys and had shelves full of them just dripping with nostalgia. Unfortunately, the relaunch was met with lukewarm reaction from younger toy enthusiasts and could be found in the clearance aisle within months after being launched. Collector demand was still present, and some of those pieces are selling for strong values on the secondary market even as I write this. From a collecting standpoint the Masters of the Universe toy line offers something of a mixed bag, but not much future potential. While Star Wars is the certified heavyweight of the vintage 80s toy market, brands like Masters of the Universe have limited appeal among long-term collectors. Early factory-sealed pieces are true collectors prizes, with most original carded figures selling for thousands if in near-mint condition. If you are lucky to have and own an original factory-sealed Castle Greyskull or Eternia playset from the original 80s line, you have a grail piece worth potentially tens of thousands of dollars depending on condition. Keep in mind that in order to fetch these kinds of prices, the boxes must be in near mint condition too. Unfortunately, from an investment standpoint, I would not be attempting to invest in the original Masters of the Universe line or even any of the re-releases over the last few decades. Certain 80s toy lines do not have the longevity to compete with high-profile brands like Star Wars, and in upcoming articles I will explore the potential of the G.I. Joe and Transformers toy lines as well, in an age where action figures are no longer coveted the way they once were. Masters of the Universe will always be remembered by the generation of fans that grew up with the original figures and playsets. The problem is in order to have long-term collectability and value in the trade, future generations must also want to own and collect these items. Sadly, in regard to Masters of the Universe, that hasnt materialized as of yet. Perhaps there is a way in the age of Nintendo, iPhones, virtual reality, and Lego to bring Masters of the Universe to a new generation of fans, but I sure wouldnt hold my breath. Close to 50 percent of all toy sales occurring today are going to adult enthusiasts, but thats a topic for another day. For all the original fans of Masters of Universe, may the Power of Greyskull! still resonate with you after all these years. Shawn Surmick has been an avid collector since the age of 12. He currently resides in his hometown of Boyertown, Pa., and is a passionate collector of antiques and collectibles. His articles focus on various topics affecting the marketplace.