Stratos (Original Action Figure – 1982)

Character Bio

Stratos, the winged warrior from the sky city of Avion, is a heroic ally of He-Man and a key member of the Masters of the Universe. As the leader of a race of bird-people, Stratos has the power of flight, using his jet pack and wings to soar into battle. He aids in scouting and aerial attacks, often patrolling the skies over Eternia in the fight against Skeletor's forces.

 

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, India, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia

Figure Design & Features

• Sculpt & Build:
  Stratos shares many parts with other early figures. His body is similar to Beast Man’s, but he has a unique ape-like head sculpt with goggles and a beard. His gray skin, feather-textured chest, and flight gear make him stand out among the heroes.

• Action Feature:
  The standard spring-loaded punch action is present—twist the waist and let him swing!

Accessories Included

There are two key versions of Stratos based on color configuration:

1. Red-Winged / Blue Jetpack Stratos (most common in the U.S.)

2. Blue-Winged / Red Jetpack Stratos (more commonly found internationally)

Both versions feature:

• Removable Wings (2): Pegged into his arms.

• Removable Jetpack: Snaps onto his back.

• Note: He does not include handheld weapons.

Packaging Variants & International Releases

✅ USA (Mattel)

• Packaging: Standard 8-back blister card with red background and comic booklet.

• Figure: Usually red wings with a blue jetpack. Gray plastic, painted beard, and red harness strap.

✅ Taiwan & Hong Kong

• Packaging: U.S. style.

• Figure: Early runs of both variants were produced here. Good paint detail, soft rubber heads.

✅ Mexico (Aurimat / Rotoplast)

• Packaging: Box-style packaging instead of blister, labeled Los Amos del Universo.

• Figure: Unique plastic feel, sometimes blue harness variants with softer plastic wings.

✅ Spain (Congost)

• Packaging: Congost-branded blister card, localized in Spanish.

• Figure: Lighter gray skin tone, often with blue wings and red jetpack. Softer plastic.

✅ France

• Packaging: Shared molds with Spain, some packages marked "Made in France."

• Figure: Blue-winged versions more common here. Sometimes uses Congost tooling.

✅ Brazil (Estrela)

• Packaging: Portuguese-language cards with Guerreiros do Universo branding.

• Figure: Variants with bold paint apps; often red harness strap, sometimes odd color mixes.

✅ Argentina (Top Toys)

• Packaging: Cardback in Spanish with Top Toys logo.

• Figure: Notable for rougher plastic, pale or off-colored gray skin, and uniquely sculpted heads.

✅ India (Leo Toys)

• Packaging: Indian-marked cardbacks with Leo branding.

• Figure: Chunkier heads, simplified paint, soft plastic. Commonly blue-winged variant.

✅ Venezuela (Rotoplast)

• Packaging: Local branding with Rotoplast logo.

• Figure: Unusual combinations of wing/jetpack color and plastic quality. Scarcer.

✅ Malaysia

• Packaging: Standard-style blister packaging.

• Figure: Often featured the red-winged version, softer details, sometimes slightly glossy.

Legacy & Popularity

Stratos is one of the original 8-back figures and remains a unique character due to his winged design and beast-man hybrid appearance. While he never received the same level of fame as He-Man or Man-At-Arms, his visual style and color variations have made him a fan-favorite among collectors—especially those chasing international and color configuration variants.

Loose figures are fairly easy to find, but complete ones with matching wings and the correct jetpack can be much more valuable, particularly country-specific versions like Leo or Top Toys.