Warning: SPOILERS for Masters of the Universe: Revelation.

Kevin Smith's Masters of the Universe: Revelation opens with the shocking death of He-Man in defense of Eternia's magic - but does he return later in the season? He-Man has always stood at the center of the Masters of the Universe franchise, the sun around which all other characters orbit. The most powerful man in the universe, he has stood as Eternia's Champion of justice.

While Kevin Smith's Masters of the Universe: Revelation is envisioned as a continuation of the classic series, it takes events in a surprising direction. The first episode sees He-Man sacrifice himself in order to defeat Skeletor, consumed in a mystical explosion. The secret of He-Man's identity is revealed in the most heartbreaking way possible, explaining why Smith called this Masters of the Universe: Revelation, but naturally some viewers will be suspicious. After all, in any fantasy series there's a basic rule; you shouldn't believe someone is truly dead until you've seen the body (and even then you should be wary of believing it).

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But Prince Adam really is dead, as Teela learns during her quest to restore the Sword of Power. Doing so forces Teela to visit Eternia's afterlife. She escapes from Eternian Hell, and finds herself in a mystical realm fashioned after Preternia, ancient Eternia, untouched by evil and darkness. Only the Champions of Eternia can enter into this Heavenly rest, and she is shaken to find Prince Adam is one of the people there - confirming he really did die, though he wasn't done appearing in the series just yet. But, in a twist that doesn't really come as much of a surprise, Prince Adam insists on accompanying Teela back into the real world. He senses Eternia still needs his help.

Masters of the Universe Revelation Prince Adam Becomes He-Man

And then he dies again, because the absence of the bodies earlier on really was important - not because it concealed He-Man's true fate, but because it concealed the survival of Masters of the Universe: Revelation's Skeletor. The Lord of Destruction returns, and kills Adam at the moment of his transformation. But it's important to note this death is real and lasting, for according to the Champions it is not possible to return to Preternia once you have left it. Prince Adam has forsaken his eternal reward, and his fate will now be the same as any other mortal - true death. There's no coming back for He-Man now.

Kevin Smith's Masters of the Universe: Revelation is not He-Man's story, and indeed it goes to remarkable lengths to kill him off. While Prince Adam does return to life, his return is nothing to celebrate - because in narrative terms, it is done purely to demonstrate that He-Man's time is finally over. The Masters of the Universe must now find a way to defeat Skeletor without He-Man - most likely with Teela (voiced by Sarah Michelle Gellar) wielding the Sword of Power instead.

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