Beast Man (Original Action Figure – 1982)

Character Bio:
Beast Man is Skeletor’s savage enforcer and master of wild creatures. Fiercely loyal, brutish, and with the power to control beasts telepathically, he serves as muscle for the Evil Warriors. Though not the brightest, Beast Man’s strength, ferocity, and wild instincts make him a constant threat to He-Man and the defenders of Eternia. He lurks in the shadows of Snake Mountain, awaiting orders to unleash chaos upon the realm.

Figure Information

• Toyline: Masters of the Universe

• Wave: Wave 1 (Original 8-back figures)

• Year Released: 1982

• Manufacturer: Mattel

• Country of Production: USA, Mexico, France, Spain, Argentina, Venezuela, Brazil, Italy, India, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia

Figure Design & Features

• Sculpt & Build:
  Beast Man has a unique, furry-like sculpt with shaggy detailing on his torso and limbs to reflect his wild nature. His base body shares molds with other figures (notably the arms and legs), but his head sculpt and chest armor were original. His face features fangs, red-orange skin, and blue/white highlights around the eyes.

• Action Feature:
  Comes with the “spring-loaded punch” feature—twisting the waist makes him strike forward with power, enhancing playability.

• Accessories Included:

  • Whip: Typically black (recycled from Mattel's Big Jim line), though some international versions (Argentina, India) came in brown.

  • Removable Chest Armor: Red harness-style armor with a spiked collar, detailed with fur-like texture.

  • Removable Upper Arm Armor (x2): Two red spiked armor pieces that clip onto each upper arm (biceps). These are unique to Beast Man and often lost or mismatched in loose figures.

Packaging Variants & International Releases

The Beast Man figure, introduced in 1982 as part of the Masters of the Universe (MOTU) line, saw various packaging and production variations across different countries:​

• Taiwan:

  • Packaging: Initially released on the 8-back card, featuring images of the first eight figures in the MOTU series. Early versions lacked the 90-day warranty notice, which was added in subsequent releases. ​retrotoyquest.com

  • Figure Characteristics: Early figures had a soft head with off-white face paint and light blue highlights. Some versions featured white dots in the eyes. The harness had a short strap with neatly applied blue paint on the front. ​Motu Vintage Variants+2Motu Vintage Variants+2Battle Ram+2

• Malaysia:

  • Packaging: Similar to the standard MOTU blister cards but marked with the country of manufacture.​

  • Figure Characteristics: Comparable to the Taiwan versions but with subtle differences in plastic texture and paint application. ​retrotoyquest.com

• Mexico (Aurimat):

  • Packaging: Released in boxes rather than blisters, containing the figure, bagged accessories, and a Spanish-language mini-comic titled "Los Amos del Universo." ​Motu Vintage Variants

  • Figure Characteristics: Notable for unique variants, such as different accessory colors and molds.​

• Spain (Congost):

  • Packaging: Early releases featured the Congost logo on the card.​Motu Vintage Variants

  • Figure Characteristics: Characterized by pale, peach-orange skin tones, a very soft head with white paint, light blue face highlights, and white dots in the eyes. Accessories were in peach-pink tones. ​Motu Vintage Variants+1Motu Vintage Variants+1

• France:

  • Packaging: Marked "Made in France," with packaging reflecting this origin.​Motu Vintage Variants

  • Figure Characteristics: Similar to the Spanish version but with "Made in France" markings on the figure and accessories. Notably, the arms were made of a rubber material, making them soft and bendy. ​Motu Vintage Variants

• India (Leo Toys):

  • Packaging: Featured the Leo Toys branding, distinct from other international releases.​

  • Figure Characteristics: Known for a unique head sculpt with exaggerated facial paint, such as oversized eyes, and softer accessories. ​

• Argentina (Top Toys):

  • Packaging: Localized packaging with Spanish text and Top Toys branding.​

  • Figure Characteristics: Distinctive head sculpts, darker orange skin tones, and variant armor colors. ​Battle Ram

• Venezuela (Rotoplast):

  • Packaging: Featured Rotoplast branding with regional design elements.​

  • Figure Characteristics: Variations in facial paint and plastic quality, making them unique to this region. ​Battle Ram

• Brazil (Estrela):

  • Packaging: Branded by Estrela, with Portuguese text and unique design elements.​

  • Figure Characteristics: Known for more vibrant red armor and occasionally glossy paint finishes. ​

These regional variations contribute to the rich tapestry of Beast Man collectibles, each with its unique characteristics and appeal to collectors worldwide.

Notable Variants

• Soft Head vs. Hard Head: Early versions featured soft rubber heads; later versions used hard plastic.

• Brown Whip Variant: Found in Argentinian and Indian releases.

• Top Toys Variant: Unique sculpt, deeper orange skin tone, often with brown whip.

• Leo India Variant: Recognized for exaggerated facial paint and simplified accessories.

Legacy & Popularity

As one of the original 8-back MOTU figures, Beast Man is essential to any vintage MOTU collection. His bright colors, wild design, and status as Skeletor’s right-hand beast have made him a nostalgic favorite. Complete versions, especially with both red upper arm armor pieces intact, are highly valued in the collector community today.

The first time I saw Beast Man as an action figure was when I went to a friend's house who lived two blocks away from mine. He had 33 figures, two castles, the Attak Trak, and the Dragon Walker. In the end, the legs of his Beast Man figure broke.

Click here to watch beastman video

Since it was an important figure, I traded him for some LEGO, even with the broken legs. I tried to fix it with glue, but it didn’t hold well at the time—you could see the gray glue, hahaha! But I kept it for many years.