Masters-of-the-Universe-Piece Theatre Halloween Special: “The Tomb of Sibor”

October is the spooky month, so just in time for Halloween I present to you a spooky Masters-of-the-Universe-Peace Theatre toy photo story. The name “Masters-of-the-Universe-Piece Theatre” was coined by Kevin Beckett at the now defunct Whetstone Discord server.

Horror elements have been part of Masters of the Universe from the very beginning on – after all, the main villain is a guy with a skull face. However, the horror elements were really dialled up to eleven with the introduction of the Evil Horde in 1985, since the original five Horde members were all clearly based on classic horror movie monsters. We have the Wolfman (Grizzlor), the bug-eyed monster (Mantenna), the Creature from the Black Lagoon (Leech), Frankenstein’s Monster (Modulok) and their leader Nosferatu (Hordak). If you include the female Horde members from Princess of Power, you’ve also got the Evil Witch (Shadow Weaver) and the Cat Woman from Cat People (Catra). The classic horror theme was also continued in the toy version of the Horde’s base, the Fright Zone, which looks like a vintage horror movie set, whereas the Filmation version of the Fright Zone is a Giger-esque industrial gothic monstrosity.

But though the original Horde line-up was an all-star team of classic horror movie monsters, there is one monster that’s missing, namely the mummy. However, the Evil Horde was initially going to include a mummy character, but he never made it beyond the concept art stage. It took until 2018 for the character to be released as an action figure, now named Wrap Trap. Wrap Trap was only produced in limited quantities and is fairly hard to find and pricey, but I got lucky and managed to purchase one for my collection.

So let’s accompany the Evil Horde, as they try to recruit their latest member in…

The Lost Tomb of Sibor

Etheria, the Crimson Waste:

“Scorpia, Catra, you take the point. Wraiths, follow me.”

“Yes, Mistress.”

“Remember, girls, we are looking for the Lost Tomb of Sibor. Scorpia, since your people hail from the Crimson Waste, you have knowledge of this wasteland that the Horde lacks…”

“Yes, but…”

“So I get why you need Scorpia. But why am I here, Shadow Weaver?”

“Because you are Force Captain, Catra. And because Scorpia didn’t want to go without you.”

“I’ll get you for this, Scorpia.”

“So lead the way, Scorpia. You do know where the tomb is, don’t you?”

“Yes, but… I don’t think this is a good idea, Shadow Weaver. The Tomb of Sibor is an accursed place. My people shun it and never go there.”

“Silly barbaric superstition. The Tomb of Sibor contains something of great value to the Horde and I mean to retrieve it for Lord Hordak. And now go, Scorpia. Take us to the Tomb.”

“Yes, but it’s your funeral.”

“Is that a promise?”

“Hush, Catra, she’ll hear you.”

“Here we are.”

“The entrance to the Lost Tomb of Sibor. At last!”

“Are you really sure about this, Shadow Weaver? This place is shunned for a reason. The vile priest Sibor committed unspeakable acts, which is why he was sealed inside a tomb in the middle of the Crimson Waste, so he may never rise again.”

“Scorpia, I never took you for someone who believes in silly old fairy stories.”

“So what’s the deal with this vile priest?”

“According to ancient legends, the vile priest Sibor was infatuated with Naka-Ra, the daughter of King Kartan, ruler of the Crimson Waste. But Naka-Ra rejected Sibor, because he was disfigured by dark magic…”

“Yeah, we know something about that, don’t we, Scorpia?”

“Driven mad by unrequited love, Sibor murdered Naka-Ra. So King Kartan sentenced him to be mummified alive and then magically sealed inside a tomb in Crimson Waste for all eternity.”

“An excellent summary, Scorpia. The Lost Tomb was sealed via a spell from the Netherworld Tablet. A tablet I have recently managed to acquire for my personal library…”

“With all due respect, Shadow Weaver, but Scorpia is right. This vile priest murdered his girlfriend and is clearly dangerous. So why exactly do we want to break into his tomb?”

“To resurrect him, of course, as a servant to the Horde.”

“You want to resurrect Sibor the Vile?!?”

“Sibor was a powerful sorcerer, a master of dark magic. His skills will be very useful to the Horde.”

“You have plenty of dark magic of your own, Shadow Weaver. And you have… what are those creepy floating guys anyway?”

“Those are my Wraiths, mages from Mystacor who were captured by the Horde and enslaved by the power of the Black Garnet to do my bidding.”

“So if you already have two enslaved sorcerers, Shadow Weaver, what do you need this accursed priest for?”

“Because, my dear Catra, he might have knowledge of ancient Etherian magic that is beyond even my skills. And besides, you can never have too many evil sorcerers.”

“Wraiths, I command you cast the spell of opening.”

“Yes, Mistress.”

“I have a really bad feeling about this, Catra.”

“You and me both, Scorpia.”

“Aperta, Aperta, Aperta….”

Swoosh. Crackle. Groan.

“Is it just me or are Shadow Weaver’s Wraiths super-creepy?”

“It’s not just you, Scorpia. They are creepy. Shudder. Though on the plus side, if she has the Wraiths to boss around, maybe she’ll finally leave us alone.”

***

Later, inside the Lost Tomb of Sibor:

“Amazing. We are the first to lay eyes on the face of Sibor in a thousand years…”

“Personally, I’d have preferred if no one had laid eyes on his face for another thousand years.”

“Look, girls, how perfectly preserved his body is thanks to the embalming techniques of the ancients. Most fascinating.”

“I’d rather not look.”

“Wraiths, perform the spell of resurrection as laid down in the Netherworld Tablet.”

“Yes, Mistress.”

“Resurge, Resurge, Resurge”

Groan. Creak.

“Yes, it’s working.”

“I Am Alive. Sibor Lives Again.”

“Welcome back to the land of the living, Sibor. I am Shadow Weaver, second in command to Lord Hordak, Supreme Commander of the Mighty Horde Empire, and I have used the Netherworld Tablet to lift the curse that kept you imprisoned in this tomb…”

“Yeah right, Shadow Weaver lifted the curse. As if her creepy Wraiths didn’t do all the hard work.”

“Never forget that you owe your resurrection to the mercy of the Horde and that you must pledge fealty to Lord Hordak in order to remain alive….”

“My Lady!”

“Ahem, I am here and I am speaking to you as your mistress…”

“My Lady!”

“It’s looking at me. Why is it looking at me?”

“My Lady, You Live.”

“It’s shambling towards me. Scorpia, Shadow Weaver, help.”

“My Lady, my Love, my Naka-Ra! I, Sibor, High Priest of Horokoth, am your most humble servant…”

“Ahem…”

“I think he likes you, Catra. Snicker.”

“Fascinating. Most Fascinating. What an unexpected development!”

“Command and I shall obey, my Lady Naka-Ra.”

“You could start by taking a step back, bub. Cause you kind of reek. Also, have you never heard of personal space? Finally, my name is not Naka-Ra. I’m Catra.”

“But my Lady, do you no longer love me?”

“Eeuw!”

“All this time, in the lonely prison of my tomb, I have dreamed of you and only you, my Lady. I dreamed of holding you, of feeling your warm, soft skin, your genle curves under my hands. I dreamed of holding you again, of loving you again…”

“Eeuw! Scorpia, Shadow Weaver, anybody, Help!”

“Most fascinating indeed…”

“Get off me, you creep! Or I swear I’ll grind you into mummy dust, so Shadow Weaver can use you for her magical concoctions.”

“But my Lady, my Naka-Ra, do you no longer love me?”

“Listen up and listen well: I don’t love you, I have never loved and I never will…”

“Yeah, dude, Catra only loves that despicable traitor Despara. Ask me how I know.”

“But my Lady…”

“Fuck, I don’t even know you. And for the last time, my name is not Naka-Ra.”

“Oh screw it, I’m outta here! Come on, Scorpia!”

“My Lady, wait!”

“Most fascinating indeed. Hmm…”

***

Later, in Hordak’s Throne Room in the Fright Zone:

“And one day, my Entrapta, I shall depose of my accursed brother and rule all of the cosmos and… – Who dares disturb us?”

“My sincerest apologies, Mighty Hordak, for interrupting your… ahem… personal consultation with Entrapta, but I assumed you would want to meet our newest recruit at once.”

“Never dare to assume anything about me, Shadow Weaver. Still, it seems your mission was a success.”

“A most resounding success, Mighty Hordak. We managed to locate the tomb and resurrect Sibor using the Netherworld Tablet.”

“Hi Catra, hi Scorpia! How was the Crimson Waste? Did you find any interesting First Ones tech?”

“Is he… twirling her hair?”

“I told you so, Catra. Hordak and Entrapta are totally sleeping together.”

“Don’t be silly, Scorpia! How would that even work? I mean, does he even have a… well, you know what?”

“You’ve got to ask Entrapta that, not me. Giggle.”

“Shadow Weaver, I would like to meet my newest recruit.”

“Of course, Lord Hordak. May I present to you Sibor, High Priest of Horokoth, wielder of most mighty magics.”

“Sibor, eh? Too complicated. I think I’ll just call you Wrap Trap. So will you loyally serve me and the All-powerful Horde Empire, Wrap Trap?”

“Bow, fool. Lord Hordak is your master now. You only live and walk on his sufferance.”

“My Lord, I thank you for reuniting me with my beloved Naka-Ra…”

“He speaks. Fascinating.”

“He also reeks.”

“Shut up, Imp! So will you pledge your loyalty to me and of course to the All-mighty Horde Empire, Wrap Trap?”

“My Lord, I shall pledge my loyalty to anyone who reunites me with my beloved Naka-Ra.”

“Shadow Weaver, who is this Naka-Ra he keeps speaking of?”

“Well, Lord Hordak, it seems that Sibor – I mean, Wrap Trap – has mistaken Force Captain Catra for his long-dead lover Naka-Ra.”

“Has he now? That’s… unexpected. And quite amusing.”

“Awww, you’ve got a new friend, Catra, That’s so sweet.”

“Shut up, Entrapta.”

“Due to Wrap Trap’s affinity for and infatuation with Force Captain Catra, I recommend assigning him to Catra’s Force Squad, Lord Hordak.”

“An excellent idea, Shadow Weaver. Wrap Trap, you are to report to Force Captain Catra at once.”

“I thank you Lord Hordak, for allowing me to serve under my beloved Naka-Ra once more.”

“I’m going to kill you for this, Shadow Weaver. One day I swear I’m going to kill you.”

***

Later, in the Crimson Waste:

“Hi folks, it’s me, your friend Loo-Kee again. I hide everywhere, even in really scary places like a lost tomb in the Crimson Waste, to bring you the moral of today’s story, which is my sacred mission as appointed by the all-powerful Federal Communication Commission.”

“In today’s story, Wrap Trap is in love with Catra, but Catra is not in love with Wrap Trap. That’s okay, cause someone we fall in love with people who don’t feel the same. But Wrap Trap kept harassing Catra and tried to hug and kiss her, even though Catra didn’t want him to and said so, repeatedly. And that’s not okay. Cause consent is important, kids. Anyway, gotta go now, cause this tomb is really creepy and also dusty – hatchoo!”

***

Because Wrap Trap was never made as a figure in the vintage Masters of the Universe toyline, he never had a backstory either, so a new backstory for him was created for the Masters of the Universe Classics release, which basically took the plot of the movie The Mummy and transported it to Etheria. I mostly stuck to that backstory – with one exception. I made Catra rather than She-Ra the reincarnation of Wrap Trap’s lost love, because Catra dealing with a lovestruck mummy is a lot funnier. Plus, Catra looks a lot more like the reincarnation of a vaguely Egyptian princess than She-Ra.

In the Filmation She-Ra: Princess of Power series, Catra and Scorpia are rivals united only be their dislike for Adora. In the 2018 She-Ra and the Princesses of Power cartoon, they share a rather one-sided friendship, where Scorpia has a massive crush on Catra, while Catra is her usual prickly self and keeps pushing her away. Their relationship in this story is mostly based on the newer version.

Another thing I really liked about the 2018 She-Ra is the oddly endearing friendship/romance between Hordak and Entrapta, which I’ve decided to adopt for quite a few of my stories now. In fact, I tried to recreate the famous Esteban Maroto poster of Evil-Lyn draped at the feet of Skeletor’s throne (which like most of Maroto’s Masters of the Universe art was created for the German Masters of the Universe comics) with Hordak and Entrapta. I couldn’t quite get Entrapta in the right pose, but it still works, especially with Hordak twirling her hair.

The Horde Wraiths appeared in a handful of episodes of the 2002 He-Man and the Masters of the Universe cartoon as Hordak’s magic wielders and are basically stand-ins for Shadow Weaver as a way of getting around the She-Ra rights mess (legally, He-Man and She-Ra are considered separate properties, which is why it’s so difficult for She-Ra and her supporting cast both good and evil to appear in Masters of the Universe and vice versa). There was a Horde Wraith figure made in the Masters of the Classics toyline and I initially got one of them to complete the Evil Horde and then a second one, when I found one for a good price on eBay.  There actually are three Horde Wraiths featured in the 2002 cartoon, but it’s unlikely I’ll get a third one unless he’s really cheap.

According to the bio created for the Horde Wraith figure, they are mages enslaved by Hordak to do his bidding, because enslaving people is what the Horde does. According to the bio, they Wraiths are Gar mages, which is why their hands are blue. However, there are no Gar in Etheria, so I made them mages from Mystacor enslaved by Hordak and Shadow Weaver to serve as Shadow Weaver’s personal flunkies instead.

Because their appearances in the 2002 cartoon are very limited, the Horde Wraiths hardly ever speak, though they chant a few spells. I actually checked what the Wraiths were chanting before writing their dialogue, but they basically just chant “Despondos, Despondos, Despondos”, when they try to banish King Grayskull to the dark and evil dimension of Despondos (spoiler alert: The spell backfires and Hordak and the rest of the Evil Horde wind up in Despondos instead), which is basically the equivalent of chanting “Bielefeld, Bielefeld, Bielefeld” when trying to banish someone to Bielefeld (which some folks would say is a worse fate than being banished to Despondos). So just borrowing the Wraiths’ chants from the 2002 cartoon was out.

There actually is a con-lang named Kudu-Kesh that was created for Masters of the Universe Revelation/Revolution, but again using that con-lang for the Wraiths was out as well, because Kudu-Kesh is an Eternian language and the Horde are on Etheria, a completely different world. So in the end, I just went the time-honoured route and had the Wraiths chant in Latin instead. At least, it’s reasonably correct Latin – unlike the time when an Irish spell to summon a demon in an episode of Buffy the Vampire slayer turned out to be a news item about bus lanes in Dublin instead. Not that summoning busses isn’t a lot more useful than summoning demons in most real world situations.

That’s it for today, folks. I hope you enjoyed this Masters-of-the-Universe-Piece Theatre Halloween Special, because there will be more.

Disclaimer: I don’t own any of these characters, I just bought some toys, took photos of them and wrote little scenes to go with those photos. All characters are copyright and trademark their respective owners.