Featured
REVIEW: Masters of the Universe; Andra
4.26/5.0 Quills
Rating if the Book Were a Movie: PG
Creative Team
Writer: Tiffany Smith
Art: Adriana Melo
Colors: Giuliano Pertelli
Letters: AndworldDesign
Cover: Nate Baertsch
Editor: Brett Israel
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Ratings
Story: 4.4 Quills
Interior Artwork: 4.4 Quills
Cover Artwork: 4.4 Quills
Dialogue: 4.4 Quills
Mechanics: 4.0 Quills
Editing: 4.0 quills
About the Book:
Following the events of Masters of the Universe: Revelation, Anda is now the Man-at-Arms of Eternos. After a day of training where the question of how to deal with magic comes up while training new cadets for the palace guards. When Duncan comes up and asks her to go to Orkas Island. Where her past catches up to her present.
Reviewer’s Notes:
This story brings a character that was only mentioned in a handful of episodes Filmation Masters of the Universe, and Mike Young’s Masters of the Universe combined. That character is Count Marzo. While the Filmation series portrayed the character he did not have the established back story that he did in the Mike Young series. The fan base online leans toward the Mike Young series appearance as the better of the two versions, and I tend to agree.
That said, this story taking place almost immediately after the first Netflix series adds more depth to the character called “Andra”. Unless I missed something the character has never been mentioned before the Netflix series, and is one of the few non-Caucasian characters in the Masters of the Universe, and makes a great addition to the series in the process.
I love how when Andra is unsure of herself in the new position and then hears from Adam that Duncan thinks that she will do just fine. Boosting her confidence in the process, and when she is sent to Orkas Island at the request of King Randor finally discovers her past and how it relates to her present. While also finding her full confidence in herself and providing proof that she is worthy of the title Man-At-Arms.
While the premise of the story deals with Andra’s past, present and possible future. It also shows that people can make mistakes and as long as they learn from them and improve then anything is possible. Which is a story that we can all benefit from.
The cover art itself is very well done showing the main character Anda on an eternian version of a jet ski called a war whale. The lines are clean and the background is soft, showing just enough in the background to indicate that she is traveling along the water, but leaving the character details and the vehicle details strong and in the forefront to really show who the story is about. Sometimes the main character gets lost in the busyness of the background and so the reader is left wondering who it is about.
The interior artwork looks like it could compete with the Netflix show, the character designs are spot on in comparison and match the characters exactly. The thing that comics allow that animated versions do not, is details. Unless of course you’re watching it on a 100 inch tv. That said I love the seamless blending of the designs making the reader truly understand and visually feel that this is an extension of Masters of the Universe Revelation. The other thing that adds to the interior artwork is the lettering. Lettering in and of itself is an art form as well. The right lettering can make or break a book, and the lettering in this book enhances the storyline exactly how it needs to.
Ultimately the character Andra was a new addition to the Masters of the Universe mythos, but she is a very welcome character who has proven that strength of intelligence, determination and will can overcome, and gives young viewers another hero to emulate and be inspired by. Andra also proves like other characters have that you do not have to have magic to make a difference, which is something that I think brings the story into the real world if you have the resources to back it.
I hope you enjoyed this escapade into the archives. If you like this review, support the creators of this story. Thanks for reading!
