Castle Grayskull

[mjj1976]

To help correct some common misconceptions: Masters of the Universe first existed as a toy line. Mini-comics were packaged with the figures, and while their stories were a bit simplistic, they weren't the quite farce that the cartoon made things out to be. Back then, before the cartoon "ret-conned" things, He-Man was just a heroic barbarian (i.e., not the secret identity of Prince Adam).

Mark Taylor was the main conceptual artist for the early toys, and he had a rather sinister vision of Castle Grayskull in mind. In his theme, the castle was built around the actual skull of a dead giant, the castle extends far below ground, and the combination of imprisoned evil forces and noxious swampland project a withering aura that makes long-term habitation next to impossible.

More specific to my ends is the fact that he provided a picture of the original prototype sculpt, which looks far more detailed and castle-like than what got distilled for easy tooling and mass-production. I'm not saying that this is nearly enough information to plot out a full interior design, but it's a good start.

I hope to discuss the design further with Mr. Taylor, and perhaps get a map from him. However, if he doesn't have the layout cemented in his mind, it might also work out in reverse, with him approving a design created here.


P.S.: As for Harry Potter, provided that the plans are accurate, I wouldn't mind seeing a 3D explorable version of Hogwart's made. (And if I haven't already mentioned it, that's what I hope to accomplish in the long run for Castle Grayskull, too.)


P.P.S.: There have also been several incarnations of Masters of the Universe over the years. My interest for this project is solely in the first line (c. 1982), and even then, only before the cartoon.