Masters of the Universe

Masters of the Universe

Last year, Mattel made good on something that designers had been hinting at since at least 2015 when the company showed off a mock-up of a Mega Construx Castle Grayskull at Comic-Con International: San Diego (SDCC). After four years of waiting, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (MOTU) was on the cusp of a full-scale brand relaunch, and with the release of the Mega Construx Pro Builders Castle Grayskull, fans could finally build their own scale replica of the famed structure. Now, MOTU is back in a big way, and following the reveal of new Mega Construx sets at this weekend’s virtual edition of Power-Con, last year’s epic set is getting a reissue as the Mega Construx Masters of the Universe Signature Series Castle Grayskull playset.

Designed for kids ages 14 and up (younger builders will enjoy this with help from a grown-up), Castle Grayskull is an immersive, 3,508-piece building set that is based on the gigantic Masters of the Universe: Classics Castle Grayskull that was released in 2013 (itself inspired by the prototype of the toy from the 1980s).

Mega Construx Castle Grayskull Review

For those who enjoy an “unboxing” experience, this set comes neatly packed in a box filled with smaller boxes that feature retro art and contain pieces to build the Castle in sections. I have to admit, I was getting nostalgic flashbacks to my own childhood as I cracked this open and began the process of sorting the pieces ahead of assembly.

The instruction book is a hefty, oversized guide with nearly 200 pages of full-color illustrations.

Mega Construx Castle Grayskull Review

Once assembled, Castle Grayskull neatly folds and can be opened and closed much like the original playset from the early ’80s. He-Man (or Skeletor!) can activate the teeth-guarded Jawbridge by using the Power Sword. Once inside, the included micro-sized, articulated action figures — He-Man, Skeletor, the Goddess, the Sorceress, and Beast Man — will discover weapons racks, a working elevator, the throne room (with trap door!), a dungeon, and the Orb of Grayskull.

As MOTU continues to pick up steam again (two Netflix series’ are coming next year), this set is the perfect entry point for kids new to the fandom or for big kids looking to recapture some childhood magic. It also makes for an impressive centerpiece for the growing Mega Construx Masters of the Universe Signature Series. Additional sets, vehicles, and micro action figures are available now, and the upcoming Panthor at Point Dread building playset connects to the top turret of Castle Grayskull to expand the fun!

Could a Mega Construx Snake Mountain or even Hordak’s Fright Zone be far behind? Inquiring villains want to know!

About the author

James Zahn

James Zahn

James Zahn, AKA The Rock Father, is Editor-in-Chief of The Toy Book, a Senior Editor at The Toy Insider and The Pop Insider, and Editor of The Toy Report, The Toy Book‘s weekly industry newsletter. As a pop culture and toy industry expert, Zahn has appeared as a panelist and guest at events including Comic-Con International: San Diego (SDCC) Wizard World Chicago, and the ASTRA Marketplace & Academy. Zahn has more than 30 years of experience in the entertainment, retail, and publishing industries, and is frequently called upon to offer expert commentary for publications such as Forbes, Marketwatch, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, USA Today, Reuters, the Washington Post, and more. James has appeared on History Channel’s Modern Marvels, was interviewed by Larry King and Anderson Cooper, and has been seen on Yahoo! Finance, CNN, CNBC, FOX Business, NBC, ABC, CBS, WGN, The CW, and more. Zahn joined the Adventure Media & Events family in 2016, initially serving as a member of the Parent Advisory Board after penning articles for the Netflix Stream Team, Fandango Family, PBS KIDS, Sprout Parents (now Universal Kids), PopSugar, and Chicago Parent. He eventually joined the company full time as a Senior Editor and moved up the ranks to Deputy Editor and Editor-in-Chief.

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