Hordak is a fictional character in the Masters of the Universe franchise. He is the leader of the Evil Horde, an army of savage Demonic warriors, most of whom wear a red bat symbol on their chests to convey their allegiance. He is the former mentor of Skeletor, one of the franchise's main villains.
According to most story media, Skeletor betrayed Hordak and trapped him in another dimension before beginning his own conquest of the planet Eternia. Hordak then returned with a vengeance to take over Eternia for himself.
Hordak is recognizable by his grotesque white (sometimes cream/bone colored) face, with sharp red eyes, his flat snout-like nose, red vampire-like fangs and pointed bat-like ears. He wears a collar of bones and black armor over his chest, emblazoned with the Horde bat symbol.[1] His appearance resembles a vampire or bat-like creature, although in some media he appears more demon or cyborg-like.
Hordak is generally recognized as being the lead villain of the She-Ra: Princess of Power animated series, in which he is the arch nemesis of She-Ra, He-Man's twin sister. In this series, he rules the planet of Etheria with an army of Horde Troopers.
History[]
Minicomics (1985 - 1987)[]
Hordak returned from the dimension in which he was imprisoned to wreak vengeance on Skeletor, his old student, while also making his own attempts to destroy He-Man and seize Castle Grayskull. [2]
He was a sorcerer who had since turned his attention to science, and used a combination of magic and technology in his attempts to conquer Eternia (though he favoured the latter). Hordak was involved in many key events in Eternia's past such as the building of the central tower in The Three Towers of Eternia. When he entered the central tower years later, a buzz-saw weapon formed in his chest which could burst forth and cause untold damage to his enemies. [3]
London Editions Comics[]
The UK comics revealed that he came from the world of Academica, apparently a world dominated by science and industry.
London Editions published a short-lived She-Ra comic series, which also featured Hordak as the main villain, explaining that he divides his time between his rulership of Etheria and his attempts at conquering Eternia. The UK comics also state that there are two Fright Zones that he operates from, one on Etheria and one on Eternia, the latter resembling Mattel's Fright Zone playset.
Filmation series (1985 - 1986)[]
- Main article: Hordak (Filmation)
Hordak was the primary antagonist in She-Ra: Princess of Power, in which he rules a Horde occupied Etheria from his fortress in the Fright Zone. Hordak preferred to use technology rather than magic, and had the ability to transform his body into a variety of weapons. He was opposed in his rule of Etheria by the Great Rebellion.
Many years ago, on Eternia, Hordak and his favourite student, Skeletor, kidnapped Adora when she was an infant, but Skeletor was captured and told Man-At-Arms where to find Hordak. Hordak was able to escape to Etheria with the infant Adora, and he saw to it that she grew up to be a Force Captain in the Horde, thanks in part to the spells Shadow Weaver cast on Adora to make her compliant. [4]
Hordak answers to the supreme ruler of the Horde, Horde Prime, who was implied to be his own brother.[5]
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (2002)[]
- Main article: Hordak (2002)
In the 2002 He-Man and the Masters of the Universe series, Hordak was a Dark warlord from ancient Eternia, who opposed Castle Grayskull's original ruler, King Grayskull, with a massive army. The conflict ended when Hordak commanded his sorcerers to draw Castle Grayskull into the dimension of Despondos. The spell failed with King Grayskull's intervention, and Hordak and his army were banished to the dark dimension instead. [6] Though exiled, Hordak Hordak saved Keldor's life after he failed to assassinate the Eternian Elders, and and transformed him into Skeletor. [7]
Masters of the Universe Classics (2008)[]
Hordak's bio on his card back reads as follows:
Real Name: Hec-Tor Kur™
Second born heir to the Horde Empire, Hec-Tor Kur™ arrived on the planet Eternia® while battling the cosmic warrior He-Ro™. Taking the name Hordak™, he raised an army and challenged the Snake Men™ for rule over the planet. Although he defeated King Hssss™, Grayskull, leader of the free people of Eternia® succeeded in banishing him to the dimension of Despondos™. It was here that centuries later Hordak™ contacted a young alchemist named Keldor™ and began teaching him the ways of the dark arts in exchange for freedom from his extra dimensional prison.[8]
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (2018 - 2020)[]
- Main article: Hordak (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power)
The She-Ra and the Princesses of Power series portrayed Hordak as a clone of his "brother", Horde Prime. Hordak was one of Prime's top Generals, until he was cast out due to a genetic defect and sent on a suicide mission. Instead, Hordak fell through a portal to Etheria, where he quickly set about creating his own empire in an attempt to conquer the entire planet, hoping this act would be enough to convince Horde Prime to take him back into the Horde empire. However, Hordak found that Etheria was cut off from the rest of the universe, and he had no way of contacting Prime.
Over the years, Hordak recruited more followers to his army, and began to experiment with portal technology, hoping to one day summon Prime to Etheria and prove he was not a failure.
Masters of the Universe Revelation (2021)[]
- Main article: Hordak (Revelation)
Hordak was Skeletor's mentor, having introduced him to the Horde and trained him in the use of magic as his acolyte[9]. At some point, Skeletor turned against Hordak and deserted him, but Hordak continued to exert his influence over Eternia in the form of the mysterious Motherboard cult. He eventually returned to conquer Eternia, but was betrayed and defeated by Skeletor.[10]
Netflix series[]
- Main article: Hordak (Netflix)
Hordak revealed himself to Evil-Lyn as the true source of her magic, describing himself as an emissary for his people, and addressing the shocked Evil-Lyn as "daughter".
Behind the Scenes[]
- The original 1985 animation model for Hordak was designed by artists Gerald Forton and Herb Hazelton, based on many different concepts provided by the design department of both Filmation and Mattel.
Appearances[]
Masters of the Universe minicomics[]
- Leech: The Master of Power Suction Unleashed!
- Grizzlor: The Legend Comes Alive!
- Mantenna and the Menace of the Evil Horde!
- Hordak: The Ruthless Leader's Revenge!
- The Treachery of Modulok!
- Escape from the Slime Pit!
- Between a Rock and a Hard Place!
- The Warrior Machine!
- The Menace of Multi-Bot!
- The Hordes of Hordak
- Enter: Buzz-saw Hordak!
Princess of Power minicomics[]
Golden Books Hardcover[]
She-Ra: Princess of Power (cartoon)[]
- Into Etheria
- Beast Island
- She-Ra Unchained
- Reunions
- Battle for Bright Moon
- The Sea Hawk
- The Red Knight
- The Prisoners of Beast Island
- The Peril of Whispering Woods
- The Laughing Dragon
- King Miro's Journey
- Friendship
- He Ain't Heavy
- A Loss for Words
- Horde Prime Takes a Holiday
- The Stone in the Sword
- The Crown of Knowledge
- The Mines of Mondor
- Small Problems
- Book Burning
- The Eldritch Mist
- The Price of Freedom
- The Reluctant Wizard
- Friends Are Where You Find Them
- A Talent for Trouble
- Gateway to Trouble
- The Unicorn King
- Into the Dark Dimension
- Treasure of the First Ones
- Glimmer's Story
- Enemy with My Face
- Welcome Back, Kowl
- The Rock People
- Huntara
- Micah of Bright Moon
- Birds of a Feather
- For Want of a Horse
- My Friend, My Enemy
- Unexpected Ally
- Loo-Kee Lends a Hand
- Of Shadows and Skulls
- Jungle Fever
- Black Snow
- Darksmoke and Fire
- Magicats
- Flowers for Hordak
- He-Man and She-Ra: A Christmas Special
- Return of the General
- A Lesson in Love
- The Pearl
- The Time Transformer
- Above It All
- Day of the Flowers
- Brigis
- The Caregiver
- When Whispering Woods Last Bloomed
- Romeo and Glimmer
- The Perils of Peekablue
- The Locket
- Shera Makes a Promise
- Bow's Magical Gift
- Sweet Bee's Home
- Glimmer Come Home
- The Inspector
- Portrait of Doom
- Hordak's Power Play
- Assault on the Hive
- The Bibbet Story
- Swifty's Baby
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (2002)[]
External Links[]
References[]
- ↑ http://princessofpower.co.uk/pages/images/toys/dolls2000/hordak-box-back.jpg 2000s-era design art
- ↑ Hordak: The Ruthless Leader's Revenge!
- ↑ Enter: Buzz-saw Hordak!
- ↑ The Secret of the Sword
- ↑ The Peril of Whispering Woods
- ↑ The Power of Grayskull
- ↑ The Price of Deceit
- ↑ http://i.toynewsi.com/g/index.php?mode=view&album=Mattel%2FMOTU%2FHordak&pic=03.jpg&dispsize=600&start=0 2009 Hordak action figure biocard
- ↑ Masters of the Universe: Revelation No.2 (Dark Horse Comics)
- ↑ Comes with Everything You See Here